Baseball

[Ed209]

Anyone have even the remotest bit of interest in it?

I genuinely think its a great sport

I fear this may be a very short lived thread knowing the occupiers of this board.

[Alcatraz]

You're in luck Ed because I could talk about it for hours. For my sins, I'm a Mets fan....

Guessing the Rangers must be your nearest MLB team?

Edited May 12, 2012 by Alcatraz

[strummer77]

You're in luck Ed because I could talk about it for hours. For my sins, I'm a Mets fan....

Guessing the Rangers must be your nearest MLB team?

[kaosmark2]

Already got more responses than my last few comments on the cricket thread!

And yeah, I'm also interested as to what could make it great. I figured it was pretty similar to rounders?

[Alcatraz]

Already got more responses than my last few comments on the cricket thread!

And yeah, I'm also interested as to what could make it great. I figured it was pretty similar to rounders?

Edited May 12, 2012 by Alcatraz

[strummer77]

[Ed209]

You're in luck Ed because I could talk about it for hours. For my sins, I'm a Mets fan....

Guessing the Rangers must be your nearest MLB team?

[theampersanddevil]

Got into it after a trip to Fenway in 2003.

Red sox were chasing a wild card spot and game clocked in at under 3 hrs and went right down to the last pitch.

Was told then, it wasn't always as exciting or as fast as that, but hey ho I made my choice. I was hooked.

It helped that I identified with a club that hadn,t won in years. I loved the ground, the wooden seats, everything. It felt special. I don't think I would have felt the same if it was played out in a big modern stadium.

[Alcatraz]

Rangers are on fire this season so far. It's a pleasure to watch them play. This year really could be their year. Two world series defeats in two years has been nasty for the locals, but they have to be favourites this year after their start.

[Ed209]

Yup. Hamilton is on a different planet at the moment. 9 homers this week alone, (2 last night and another one today), 18 for the season, over 40RBI and hitting over .400. This could be a very special season. Problem is Dallas gets very very hot in the summer, it will probably slow them all down a bit, including Josh. But they flying right now, and Yu Darvish is looking like he's the real deal, which is good considering it cost $57mil just to talk to him, and a $60mil contract on top.

Hamilton's contract is up at the end of this season. Rangers just have to give him whatever he wants if they want to build a franchise for the long term. $150mil over 5 years is what people are thinking to keep him here.

Mets have made a decent start, tough division though, Nationals and Braves started very strong

[Alcatraz]

Yup. Hamilton is on a different planet at the moment. 9 homers this week alone, (2 last night and another one today), 18 for the season, over 40RBI and hitting over .400. This could be a very special season. Problem is Dallas gets very very hot in the summer, it will probably slow them all down a bit, including Josh. But they flying right now, and Yu Darvish is looking like he's the real deal, which is good considering it cost $57mil just to talk to him, and a $60mil contract on top.

Hamilton's contract is up at the end of this season. Rangers just have to give him whatever he wants if they want to build a franchise for the long term. $150mil over 5 years is what people are thinking to keep him here.

Mets have made a decent start, tough division though, Nationals and Braves started very strong

Edited May 12, 2012 by Alcatraz

[Ed209]

Ah cheers for that. Looking forward to it, everything I've heard about the sport seems interesting and with Liverpool's owners being the Sox's owners I've heard more and more recently.

Might try and get into it over the summer because I like cricket too...

[Gre]

I really like baseball as a game (used to enjoy it on Channel 5 & I saw a few games on ESPN America recently), but I just can't get into MLB for one simple reason; 162 games. Its too much - you lose a game in the afternoon, who cares? You've still got 2 more games against the same team, and possibly one the same day.

I know the reason is money, and because its (relatively) physically undemanding for the non-pitchers they can do it, but it completely takes me out of following the sport. (I have a similar opinion on Ice Hockey & Basketball.)

Even the World Series takes a week and a bit... I just can't stay excited about a sporting event for that amount of time.

Contrast that to the NFL, where every game matters and seasons end on a single moment in the playoffs with no comeback... that's the American sport for me.

Edited May 13, 2012 by Gre

[philipsteak]

I love cricket, and it's as close as you can get to that really. As Al says, lots of stats, Played at a similar pace, there's lots of levels of complexity to the sport, and no two games are ever the same, it can be over in 54 pitches, or can go on for ever.

[dondo]

I lived in Canada for 6 months in 1993 and got into it whilst out there- was good timing as the Blue Jays were on there back to back World Series wins- I even managed to get to a couple of games which was great. I used to watch it on TV back here a bit but have drifted away from it over the years- not because I don't enjoy it just it's moved onto a channel I can't get and I have a real job and kids now

[Alcatraz]

Should say if anyone fancies dipping back into it at a sociable idea, 5 Live Sports Extra (online as well) do a game every Thursday (usually from 7pm or something)

There's much to be said about listening to baseball, again it goes back to its similarities with cricket. But Josh Chetwynd who was on Channel 5's coverage is still involved, and is a nice little break to the States on a Thursday night

[Stevo_ru]

Got into it after a trip to Fenway in 2003.

Red sox were chasing a wild card spot and game clocked in at under 3 hrs and went right down to the last pitch.

Was told then, it wasn't always as exciting or as fast as that, but hey ho I made my choice. I was hooked.

It helped that I identified with a club that hadn,t won in years. I loved the ground, the wooden seats, everything. It felt special. I don't think I would have felt the same if it was played out in a big modern stadium.

[Ed209]

Off to the Rangers Ballpark again this evening for their first game against the A's, first vs second in the division, Rangers have lost their last two, Yu Darivsh opening. Should be a good atmosphere. We love Yu longtime

[Ed209]

Was at the Rangers game last night when lightning hit the ball park. Was seriously the loudest thing I've ever heard in my life. The way the Twin's first base runner hits the deck is hilarious though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0Q7QQCIrjs

All star break then. Come at a good time for the rangers I think. Have a few injuries to our pitchers at the moment, got 3 starters to come back in the next few weeks. Records been poor last fortnight or so, but 2 back to back extra innings walkoffs against the twins have got things back on track after a 5 game losing streak.

This All-Star game deciding homefield in the world series is total shite. both last two world series Rangers had the best record but missed out on homefield because National League won the All-star game. All star games should just be a bit of pointless family fun, A mid-season jolly. Why try and make it something its not.

[Alcatraz]

That's nuts!

Truly hate the All Star break. The Home Run derby has to be one of the most tedious events in sport, and the All Star game has no interest to me and frankly I don't understand how it ever really meant something.

So welcome back regular baseball!

Should say, I'm doing an American trip in September and have tickets for a Giants-Dodgers and Mets-Phillies game. Couldn't be happier. Two massive derbies and finally a bit of live baseball!

[Ed209]

That's nuts!

Truly hate the All Star break. The Home Run derby has to be one of the most tedious events in sport, and the All Star game has no interest to me and frankly I don't understand how it ever really meant something.

So welcome back regular baseball!

Should say, I'm doing an American trip in September and have tickets for a Giants-Dodgers and Mets-Phillies game. Couldn't be happier. Two massive derbies and finally a bit of live baseball!