Baseball

The start of the new baseball season is still several weeks away, but I have to admit I am getting pumped up for my Phillies to defend their 2008 World Championship.

As I was reading through a book last night, , I  managed to find myself in 1961, the year Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth’s single season home run record.

What I was looking for was some more baseball knowledge to then pass on to all the kids at school who don’t really care (Some might say that’s everyone), but I found a mystery that needs to be solved.

In my previous piece, I said I tend to gloss over outfielders. If that's true (and it is), I flat out ignore pitching. Those of you looking for sturdy analysis of more than just the super-elite starters and closers should look elsewhere because I'm just going to hit the aces of the aces.

In other words, these are not the previews you're looking for (with a wave of my hand).

It should hopefully be a fun read though...

THE PITCHERS

I continue the all-time tour with the defending AL Champion Tampa Bay Rays.
 
Since we’re dealing with over a century and thousands of players on my lists, I will assume the DH role for both leagues. I will limit the teams to 25 players. I’ll carry 13 batters and 12 pitchers for each team.

The big news yesterday was Joe Girardi's decision to flip-flop Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon in the batting order, making Jeter the leadoff man.

A lot of people have expressed their opinion on the move, and as you might expect the opinions are mixed.

Let's take a look at some of those from around the Internet.

Newsday's Jim Baumbach

You've all had 20 minutes to look at this diagram. Does ANYONE think its correct? No? Good. Welcome to the University of Chicago, lesson one: hate everything—U of C Masters Student and Teaching Assistant.

Josh Ellis is far from the only person to believe this maxim, though he is the author. There seems to be a belief that to be a true fan of a team, you've got to hate it. Every coach is an idiot, no player is worth his contract, the owner is as cheap as it comes—no one is safe from the fury.

As most of us know, there is more to life then sports. Kids grow up watching their favorite athletes, and view them as role models. Baseball is America’s pastime, and arguably its most popular sport. Unfortunately, baseball has been sending a bad message to children.

When Alex Rodriquez got accused of steroids, the baseball world was shocked. Arguably the biggest baseball icon was accused of cheating. When he admitted to using steroids, the media attacked him with questions for a week and eventually the news dwindled down.

In my brief time as a writer on the Bleacher Report, I've made it my practice to write about my beloved Red Sox. They are the team that makes my heart palpitate. "Born and Bred Red Sox Red" is the unofficial mantra I've coined for myself.

Baseball justice has become skewed in favor of forgiving and forgetting. In doing that, however, it has forgotten eight players who probably deserve a little bit of forgiveness by now.

Every baseball fan, it seems, knows the story.

It begins with the utter dominance of the 1919 Chicago White Sox in the American League. The freight train that was the White Sox stormed through junior circuit, winning 88 of 140 games (a winning percentage of .629, or roughly 102 wins today). 

Ahh! The wonders of the modern age. I changed my cable service to include the MLB Network yesterday. I'll let you know what I think of it in days to come, but for now, let me fill you in on the whereabouts of Dr. Mike Marshall, expert kinesiologist and former Cy Young winning closer.