[jbock13]

It's interesting to note how American League biased this thread is

I've never been a huge National League guy. Part of it comes from the majority of the strange ballparks and the dimensions of the ballpark (see Mets, Padres, Astros ballparks)

My father is a Reds fan, it certainly makes All Star Games interesting.

[Sly Fox]

For the record, the AL bores me in general. That lack of strategy involved and the massive classification based on payroll doesn't help the situation.

I grew up around Cincinnati as an NL guy and I still generally only follow the Senior Circuit living in Houston.

And for the record, Minute Maid Park is the primary reason why I have any interest in going to Astros game. It has one of the best game day atmospheres anywhere in baseball. The intimacy of the fans to the field is splendid. I'm not sure how MMP gets lumped in with the other two stadiums listed.

[Schfourteenteen]

If only there was a City Wok next to Citi Field....it would make so much sense.

[jbock13]

For the record, the AL bores me in general. That lack of strategy involved and the massive classification based on payroll doesn't help the situation.

I grew up around Cincinnati as an NL guy and I still generally only follow the Senior Circuit living in Houston.

And for the record, Minute Maid Park is the primary reason why I have any interest in going to Astros game. It has one of the best game day atmospheres anywhere in baseball. The intimacy of the fans to the field is splendid. I'm not sure how MMP gets lumped in with the other two stadiums listed.

I think you misunderstood. Minute Maid is a great, beautiful park, I saw an Astros game a few years ago when I was doing summer work up in Tyler. I was just elaborating on some of the outfield walls where they go in and out randomly instead of just a circular diamond. True, some AL parks are like that, but not as much as NL. Like at Minute Maid where the porch section on the left bulges out and if you miss to the right, you have to hit the ball an extra 20 feet. Also the hill in center field... isn't that kind of dangerous? haha so that's what I meant.

[BJWilliams]

For the longest time, my hometown minor league team, the Norfolk/Tidewater Tides, was a Mets AAA affiliate, while the closest Major League team was the Baltimore Orioles (with Atlanta a close second I think). Course the Tides are an O's affiliate these days

[Th3rd]

i was very disappointed when the Tides got reassigned as the O's farm team (and when the Richmond Braves got moved to GA)

I was very happy to see a team come to DC though (even if I think that the other cities should have shut up and let Norfolk make a real bid for them)

[BJWilliams]

That was a sad day Th3rd...seeing the Mets these days I see guys who all made stops in Norfolk on their way to the show (including local boy David Wright)

[Th3rd]

i remember when Piazza was down in AAA because of injury and I got to see him play... think I got his autograph as well.. its so weird going now and looking at the new logo... orange does not go well with the Tides haha

[TDDance234]

The Tides stadium is still one of the best places to catch a baseball game. I haven't lived in the 757 for 9 years now and one of the things I miss most is going to see the Tides play.

[BJWilliams]

Remember the Mets vs Tides exhibitions?

[Th3rd]

those games always seemed to sell out....

i remember as a little kid you always wanted to get the fastest speed pitch on the machine... that and you always wanted to be in the picnic area haha

[BJWilliams]

those games always seemed to sell out....

i remember as a little kid you always wanted to get the fastest speed pitch on the machine... that and you always wanted to be in the picnic area haha

lol...never got in the picnic area myself...and I always tried to do the speed pitch...course then you had the kids who came in their little league hats/uniforms and would pitch and be going 40-50 mph...

[adam42381]

Boston, at 0-6, looks awful. Not the start I'd envisioned.

[flamehunter]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6310125

Ramirez retires after being notified about a drug issue by MLB. Rays are not off to a good start indeed.

[jbock13]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6310125

Ramirez retires after being notified about a drug issue by MLB. Rays are not off to a good start indeed.

Isn't it a bit ironic that the day Ramirez retires, we win our first game? I'm kind of dissapointed though, I thought he would work in our lineup, but such goes life.

Anyways, I was so happy to finally just relax and watch the Rays win one. Also, Red Sox look as if they will get it back together pretty soon.

[Sly Fox]

I remember the Mets vs. L-Mets exhibitions. We used to stand behind a rope on the warning track and heckle George Foster & Kevin Mitchell.

[LUminary]

So, who has been the biggest surprise so far? Indians? Orioles? Royals? Rays (sorry, jbock)? Red Sox?

I guess any time the Indians are 7-2 that question sort of answers itself.

[jbock13]

So, who has been the biggest surprise so far? Indians? Orioles? Royals? Rays (sorry, jbock)? Red Sox?

I guess any time the Indians are 7-2 that question sort of answers itself.

I'm going to have to say the Red Sox. They should be embarassed that we scored 16 runs on them. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but I almost had to pinch myself.

Many Rays fans were sort of in denial about this year. I thought we'd still win 80 to 90 games, but our hitting coach needs to go, now. People don't realize we were last in offense last year and still despite that finished with the best record in baseball.

[Sly Fox]

It has to be the Tribe. Look at that lineup and tell me how they won 8 straight. Their success gives all clubs without NY/Boston/LA payrolls a glimmer of hope.

[PAmedic]

It has to be the Tribe. Look at that lineup and tell me how they won 8 straight. Their success gives all clubs without NY/Boston/LA payrolls a glimmer of hope.

or Philly/Chicago. only 1 LA team in the top 10 and they're not a good ROI if you ask me.
which you didnt. Carry on.


http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/salaries/teams

[Schfourteenteen]

Does that include ex-players who are still getting paid? Oliver Perez, Luis Castillo and Bobby Bonilla(!) still count against the Mets

[jbock13]

The Cubs and the Mets are both examples of how money doesn't buy wins...

[TDDance234]

Does that include ex-players who are still getting paid? Oliver Perez, Luis Castillo and Bobby Bonilla(!) still count against the Mets

Bobby Bonilla gets something like $1 million a year for the next 30-something years, I believe.

[jbock13]

Folks in Boston must be about to mash the panic button about now. The thing that's made me laugh is Johnny Damon is killing them at the plate.

[Schfourteenteen]

Does that include ex-players who are still getting paid? Oliver Perez, Luis Castillo and Bobby Bonilla(!) still count against the Mets

Bobby Bonilla gets something like $1 million a year for the next 30-something years, I believe.

1.1 for 25. Unreal.