[mastert]

I predict the demise of baseball in a generation if they don't modernize. I just don't care any more.

Q-"Longtime baseball fan"-BE

Sadly, I agree. I've become disillusioned with the amount of money teams will pay for players (see Meche, Gil), the lack of competitive balance (only 4 teams ever really have a chance in spring training to win the world series), and the resistance of the league to implement instant replay. I also get tired of the wimps that play baseball (I scratched my hand, I can't play or my pitcher can't pitch on 3 days rest).

I'm a huge hockey fan. Replay has been used for nearly 20 years and is WILDLY successful. A salary cap keeps salaries down a bit so I can still go to 6 or 7 games a year and gives at LEAST 10 teams a chance to get to win the cup. You'll see guys go for 10-20 stitches and lose 5 teeth and only miss 1 shift.

I think baseball could come back if they did the following

- Pare 25 games off the regular season. I don't want to watch baseball in November.
- Allow manager 2 challenges like in American football on things like close plays on the basepads and on foul balls.
- Put a salary cap and salary floor in place so the competitive balance is better. Force owners out if they refuse to put a competitive team on the field. ie. the pirates or the royals
- Infact, lets contract, make the league 24 teams. The talent level is awful and it isn't getting better. Most kids don't play baseball anymore. I stopped playing at 13.
- Go back to the weekend doubleheader and give teams 2 days off during the week.

I think what put the nail in the coffin for me was the tie at the all star game. That's when I started liking American football more than baseball and I don't think it's getting back to number 2 anytime soon

[rtpoe]

On to the League Championship Series(es)!

Once again, the Twins did an EPIC FAIL in the first round, getting swept by the Yankees. Some may say if they had Justin Morneau in the lineup, things would have turned out differently (they would have lost in four games).

The Phillies rolled over the Little Red Machine, and not just because of great pitching. The Reds defense was crap.

The Braves defense was crap, too, but at least they were hitting. Not enough to beat the Giants pitching, though. You do have to give the Giants a lot of props for their salute to Braves' manager Bobby Cox after beating him in his last game.

And the stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas now that the Rangers have won their first ever post-season series (in the franchise's 50 years of existence). The Rays couldn't touch Cliff Lee.

Phillies vs. Giants: The Phillies are just better all around than the Giants. The long delay won't bother the Phil's pitching staff, but their offense has been looking shaky (the Reds defensive miscues hid a lot of it). The Giants will still need some luck to win it, though. Phillies in 5.

Rangers vs Yankees: The Yankees won't be facing Cliff Lee until Game 3... but the first two games are in Texas, and the Yankees aren't that good on the road... And Lee could also start Game 6 or 7... Keep in mind that the team stats are very similar. In their favor, the Rangers have speed...and Jorge Posada can't throw anyone out anymore. Speaking of which, much of the Yankees' "greatness" is reputation. In addition to Posada's troubles, Jeter is 36 years old and just had the worst season of his career. Andy Pettite and Mariano Rivera are also on the downside.... I'm rooting for Texas in 7.


p.s. For those who think Cliff Lee or Carl Crawford will be a Yankee next year, don't forget...Derek Jeter is also a free agent at the end of this year. How much will the Yankees have to pay him?

[luvdemwhoppers]

iiffin you ever need an exmaple of crash and burn, look no further than the TB Rays WTF?

Did I call out those fu(in Rays or what? Time for LDW turn on the crystal ball to aid in a prediction for the WS.....

Texas/Phila......bet on it.

[solvegas]

Hoping for Texas - Giants face off. Would be nice to see teams that don't go to the World Series very often ( or never in Texas' case ) go. The Skankees can wait it out another year. Don't really care anyways.

[mcgarp]

F$*K the Yankees!  Here's to any team that can beat them!  Go Rangers, take it all the way.  For a team that was bankrupt at the beginning of the season, I wish them well!

[rtpoe]

Hoping for Texas - Giants face off. Would be nice to see teams that don't go to the World Series very often ( or never in Texas' case ) go. The Skankees can wait it out another year. Don't really care anyways.

Almost there, Solvegas...

The Rangers gave the Yankees a Texas-sized whuppin' and took the series before the hometown fans in six games! And it's nice to note that the TV ratings for the series were higher in Texas than in NY.... The Rangers aren't likely to dethrone the Cowboys, but they can now stand at their side with pride.

[solvegas]

With the Yankees losing, one of my shift managers will be tortured by the rest of us all day long.  He is from the Bronx so I'm sure he is miserable. 

[luvdemwhoppers]

I'm half right on my prediction. Now lets see what happens
now

[RandomX]

I've been a Yankees fan since I knew what they were. I'm originally a NJ gal though, so there was no bandwagoning involved.

WOO! Go Yankees!

What's that? They're out?

Oh, well then screw baseball. I'm going to watch some football.

RandomX(Woo! Go Skins!)

[rtpoe]

And Solvegas wins! The Giants edged out the Phillies 3-2 in Game Six to take the pennant. With the winning runs on base, Ryan Howard watched Strike 3 go by for the final out (just like A-Rod watched Strike 3 go by to end the Yankees' 2010 year).

Get ready for some "old school" baseball in the World Series! Both teams were assembled the old-fashioned way: collecting players here and there without shelling out lots of cash. Cody Ross, the NLCS MVP, was acquired on waivers from the Florida Marlins in late August. Basically, the Marlins put him out on the curb with the trash, and the Giants were the only team that thought he was still useful. The Rangers' Colby Lewis, who won two games for them in the ALCS, was pitching in Japan last year....

Oh, here's A-Rod thinking about what he's going to be doing this winter while the Rangers celebrate. The most fun part about it is that the Rangers are still paying A-Rod; they owe him close to $25 million as their part of the deal that sent him to NY...

[Q_BE]

Hoping for Texas - Giants face off. Would be nice to see teams that don't go to the World Series very often ( or never in Texas' case ) go. The Skankees can wait it out another year. Don't really care anyways.

You and me both, bud. I guess you get your wish (and mine). I wanna see what baseball does with this epic failure of a TV ratings matchup.

Q-"Over/Under a 10 share happening at least once during any game of the World Series"-BE

[luvdemwhoppers]

That 3rd inning was dizasta for me.
Now, let me be and give me time to get the egg off
my face.

[solvegas]

I don't know how the TV ratings will be but I like this matchup. Two teams that several " experts " in the sports world who didn't think they would even reach the playoffs are now monkees uncles. If the Padres hadn't collapsed in the last two weeks of the season the Giants would not be in. And Philly had such a good season with a powerful bullpen that " everybody " knew they were in the World Series. It's what makes sports fun to me. For crying out loud, Wisconsin beat mighty Ohio State ! The Cowboys, if they lose to the Giants, will be out to pasture  . So like the eminent philosopher said, yanevuhknow.

[luvdemwhoppers]

Jimmy Two times has weighed  in on the Cowboys chances....
"they're out to pasture, out to pasture."

[Shara]

damn you baseball, usurping my shows