Fan News

With new stadiums come the firsts. The first strikeout thrown, the first strikeout victim hurt, the first home run hit, and the first win, loss, and save completed.

We can add a new one to that list, first Phillies fan thrown out. It may just be a dubious honor. But for a Phillies fan you should hold it with honor and pride.

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A fearless forecast? There’s no such thing; everyone fears injuries.

This forecast is based on teams' abilities to play old school baseball, which should be  new school baseball in these post-steroid days.

Judging from the content of blogs covering the team, the fans of the Washington Nationals are grumpy. That is easy to understand when considered in the context of last year's 102-loss season. However, since the grumpiness is evident even during discussions of obvious improvements to the team, one might accuse us of holding a grudge.

I was asked to appear on a national overnight sports radio program last night, and was asked to dissect the NL Central division.

Of course, on paper, the Cubs are the obvious favorites. But we all know that titles aren't won on paper. Yet if you look at what the other teams in the division have done this offseason, you certainly have to like the Cubbies chances to three-peat this year.

Now, I recently wrote an NL Central preview for this site, so I won't go into detail. But in reviewing the challengers to the Cubs throne, two candidates emerge above the others.

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Now it’s only my first year doing fantasy baseball, but three weeks in, and I’m already hooked. In fact, I see a lot of parallels between fantasy baseball, and ABC’s Lost.

Both are excruciatingly frustrating (I can’t seem to be able to trade Jermaine Dye no matter how hard I try!!), while still incredibly addicting and exciting.

The Chicago Cubs' 25-man roster is complete.  After careful consideration, the Cubs have decided to go with Rule V draft pick David Patton and Angel Guzman. 

The odd men out are Jeff Samardzija and Chad Gaudin.  Samardzija had an outstanding rookie season working out of the Cubs' pen.  The 24-year-old Samardzija was 1-0 with a 2.28 ERA in 2008 with one save.  The Cubs believe Samardzija will eventually be a starter once he masters another pitch. 

With the opening pitch of the 2009 season just hours away, why not drop in my two cents on what will happen, who will happen, and who won't.  So, one man makes his picks on the 2009 season.

AL MVP

1.      Kevin Youkilis, 1b, Boston: Youk went from an on-base machine to a power hitter (29 HRs) who still gets on base close to .400.

He will bat fourth in this powerful lineup and have protection in front and behind. A career year awaits.

2.      Miguel Cabrera 1b, Detroit

I had to find out: Just what makes this group tick?

I'm a life-long New York Mets fan approaching 50 years of age. I have been following Major League Baseball for as long as I can recall and have been to many games in many cities. Needless to say, I've interacted with fans from all walks of life.

New York has two very popular baseball teams: the elite, historic, decorated Yankees and the Mets, the team that never fails to disappoint.