World Series

So what could be my favorite time of year has rolled around again. (I say 'could be' because my Mariners are NOT in the playoffs and Portland has yet to get the Expos to relocate so�I guess Christmas time still wins out.)

So as the final weeks of baseball draws to a close and we can be certain the the US will win this "World" Series yet again (As Eddie Izzard would say "Very well done indeed") I was just wondering if there were any fans among the fru.

If my team can't be there I'm hoping for a BoSox vs Cubs series myself. Go underdogs!

Go Cubbies! (I just love saying that)

Ew.
Sports.

Well, I'd be with you on that sentiment (and was for many years) but then I found that the love of hockey IS genetic and passed from Canadians so as much as I tried to fight it. I couldn't. You should have seen my family during the olympics! So I was resigned to liking one sport.

And then I met my boyfriend, an avid baseball fan. All it took was one trip TO the ballpark to get my hooked. My dad had been trying for years but never took me to an actual game. THAT'S where the fun is. Not the boring on TV waiting for something to happen stuff.

And then last year the women's world cup finals were here in Portland and went just because it was not very often you have the opportunity...got hooked. And now because of the SARS thing they were relocated BACK here this year! I'll watched China beat Russia on Sunday and this weekend I'll be back in my red and white watching China take on Canada.

Oh, Canada...

Oooh! I was at yesterday's match and got to root for Canada when they beat China. w00t!

I stand corrected. I watch them play Sweden this weekend.

But cool that you were there. I was at the Opera. Let it not be said that I am not well-rounded.

Yeah, Canada is good, strong on defense, weak on offense. Big on long passes into nothingness. Should prove to be an interesting match :)

Yeah, ew.�

Especially ew, BoSox.� Bunch of overpaid whiners.� Living in Massachusetts, it's�enough to make me a Yankees fan.

Always cheer for the National League.� The DH rule represents all that is evil and soulless in baseball.

I admit that it's a weird rule. But I've embraced it. I'm a Seattle fan. We have the greatest DH ever (or did if he decides to announce his retirement) and it's clear that he is as much of a talented ball player as any of them out there.

Here's the main pros for the DH rule:

Sorry hitting pitchers:
I really don't want to see a pitcher who hasn't held a bat since college step to the plate spin like a top, blow a knee and throw the bat into the third row. Now there are exceptions of course but most are painful to watch.

Having a stacked lineup makes for better baseball:
No more easy outs. No more putting the pitchers down as a guaranteed out (if they are not an exceptional hitter). I'd rather see Edgar Martinez, Frank Thomas or Brad Fullmer hammer a scorching hit, then The Big Unit flail like a 5 year old.

and that clearly outweighs the cons:

DHs could drain the team financially. A guy getting paid to hit run and steal but that gets to sit out the other half the game. But if that happens its more management's fault for poor budgeting (see the A's for guidelines on that).

NL fans whinning...but then we are already used to that.

Having a stacked lineup makes for better baseball:
No more easy outs. No more putting the pitchers down as a guaranteed out (if they are not an exceptional hitter). I'd rather see Edgar Martinez, Frank Thomas or Brad Fullmer hammer a scorching hit, then The Big Unit flail like a 5 year old.

and that is exactly what I dislike about the American League. the attitude that everything has to be about power and show, rather than strategy. the pitcher has a very important role in the lineup, and when he comes up with a runner on base and fewer than 2 outs, he can sacrifice himself to advance the runner into scoring position. that's HUGE.

the NL is about strategy, baserunning, and manufacturing runs. the AL is about blasting the ball out of the park and impressing people.

Do I want to see a ball blasted out of the park...sure. But that's not the only option for a DH. Mr. Bonds has that area covered. We have just as much strategy, baserunning and manufacturing of runs only without the interruptions of the pitcher (his job is TO PITCH) swinging the bat like a AA player in the middle of what is billed as a major league game.

And...that's another thing I like about the DH rule...It's only in one league. It� makes us different. People can decide what they like and be that. It makes for interesting interleague play and an exciting world series. I just don't understand�the NL fans that think we have to�all be the same as them.

Diversity. Tolerance. Peace, man. Cool. Yeah!�

We have just as much strategy, baserunning and manufacturing of runs

let me know the next time you see an American League team execute a suicide squeeze.

I watched the Red Sox execute this move on more than one occasion this season. Once against the Marlins.

Let me start by saying that I'm not a huge baseball fan.� I have a passing understanding of the rules (just like my take on hockey, football, and soccer), but you don't have to be a scholar to enjoy the show.�

Everyone likes to see people performing well.� This is why I don't complain about outrageous salaries anymore.� If I could hit like McGwire, with that consistancy, presence, and the results, I'd expect a massive paycheck too.� But I actually enjoy the NL because you get to see the pitchers at the plate.� It's partly strategy, but also reality.� If you spend your time learning to pitch well, you aren't going to hit well.� Just like if you practice hitting, you're going to be a lousy pitcher.� He's paid to pitch, but that shouldn't excuse him from offense.

Wouldn't it be fun if, during the series, the teams played by the rules prevailing in the home park?� So in Wrigley (God willing... and he's a Cubs fan too), the AL team sends their pitcher to the plate.� And in the AL park, the Cubs get a DH.� Oooh... I like this idea.� Let's see how that AL 'strategy' plays out.

Agreed.� Diversity, et al.� You don't have to be like us.� We're just showing the AL the path of the righeous.� Whether you follow it is your own business. :-)

Wouldn't it be fun if, during the series, the teams played by the rules prevailing in the home park? So in Wrigley (God willing... and he's a Cubs fan too), the AL team sends their pitcher to the plate. And in the AL park, the Cubs get a DH. Oooh... I like this idea. Let's see how that AL 'strategy' plays out.

that actually is how the world series games (and now any blasphemous interleague regular season games) are played.

in theory, that should always give the National League team an advantage - at the NL park, the AL team has one less batter than they're used to having, but the NL team has its normal lineup. in the AL park, the NL team gets an extra batter, but the AL team has no special advantage.

and that is exactly what I dislike about the American League. the attitude that everything has to be about power and show

Dunno about that. The National League totals for runs scored and home runs hit beat American league the last 5 years in a row. Individual national league players have led in slugging percentage 8 out of the last 10 years, home runs 5 of 10 years, OBP 4 out of 10 years, runs scored 8 of 10 and most RBI's 7 out of last 10 years.

I'd say except in OBP the "power and show" goes to the National League over the past 10 years.

Stats here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/

I thought the world series was a foot ball thing...

No...that's superbowl and I know many baseball fans that are still upset that we don't get as good commercials just because they play ONE GAME and we play a series.

It's hard to root for the Cubs, as they are our arch-nemeses in St. Louis, but I'd rather see them there than the Braves and Yankees again.

I'm rooting for the Giants because I want Barry Bonds to play for a champion. He's one of the greatest players of all time but people will always add "but he never won" if they don't.

I like the GMs of Boston and Oakland so I wouldn't mind them winning.

The Braves have been the best team over the last 11 years and have only one championship to show for it so I wouldn't mind if they won.

Ridiculous Yankee fans keep asking what's wrong with the yankees. They are one of the two best teams and if they won it would show the criticial fans how wrong they were. Of course I am a Met fan so a certain amount of Yankee hated is called for.

The Cubs haven't won in almost a century. If they won though wouldn't Cub fans lose their identity?

The one team I'm rooting against is the Twins. They don't deserve to be in the post season and they don't have the charm of the Cubs.

We won't lose our identity, but we might shed some of the hangers-on.� Chicago professional teams are notoriously bad, with some short bursts of greatness.� The Cubs are long overdue.�

Really, with the exception of the St. Louis fans, how is it possible to root against the Cubs?� That's just ebil.

Devine right of kings baby!

Well, I was very excited at the start of the playoffs, but now I'm just depressed. 'Cause y'know... Red Sox fan.

It ain't over till it's over. (although it probably will be by the time I finish my post).

It's kinda like the SNL sketch after 9/11 where the red sox fan was urging other red sox fans to do their patriotic duty and rally FOR the terrorists since everything they get behind goes down in a big way.