blonde poker forum

Baseball season starts next week so time for all the guys with NFL avatars to dump them and get a MLB team

So who supports who?

Who is gonna win the World Series this year?

Who is this years Tampa Bay Rays?

Lets go Mets

braves ftw obv. avatar changed over from jets earlier today in anticipation of the new season

anyone know what if any coverage there's gonna be on uk tv this year? I think c5 have lost the rights

Gaints all the way! but they suck :(

Five didn't lose the rights - they just decided not to do it any more.

There was one crazy rumour that the MLB were willing to let the BBC have the rights for free as long as they comitted to two seasons but it looks like nothing came of that, so looks like you'll have to shell out for the pay-tv Us sports channel on sateliite.

Cleveland Indians for me...til death do us part! 

Chicago Cubs are my team, think it must be something to do me loving an underdog. Hoping to get to see them play in May.

ESPN America its been renamed. MLB tv also available, shows plenty of games only about £10- £15 depending on the package u get

Mariners for me  :)up.



New manager, Griffey back  Ichiro + Johjima in form at the World Classic and we can't possibly be any worse than last season , I hope .....

No doubt Monkeyboy will be along soon going on about his Giants but we all know they are rubbish  ;nana;

Love Ichiro, but shouldn't be with Seattle!

Ive been to Pac Bell Park twice, so have to support the Giants (I wanted to jump in McCovey cove, but thought better of it)

Wouldn't mind Phillies doing well again, only cos my good mate moved over to Phillie two years ago, and his a big fan now.

Say it aint so Joe!

This has totally depressed me,i have had nasn for a few years but i always loved ch5's coverage it's what got me into baseball.If 5 get rid of all its US sport what will the insomiacs of the UK do,there is only so much babecast a man can take.

Dejected Cubs fan BTW,just like Newcastle United-kick me in the nads at every oppurtunity.

 :redcard: Don't even think that Dave, Ichiro is god and is right at home at Safeco Field thank you very much  ;nemesis;

 :redcard:


I think this year whilst we are not going to win the World Series i think we'll give the play offs a good run and envisage that we'll finish over .500

mlb tv for the win - every game of the season available to watch for just $80

Giants have some really good starting pitchers. Just a matter of them finding form from previous seasons and they will push the Dodgers

To save me having to change my Aiai avatar :D

(http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/5360/100pxnlwsflogo.png) (http://img208.imageshack.us/my.php?image=100pxnlwsflogo.png)

(http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/3261/100pxsanfrancisco49ersl.png) (http://img208.imageshack.us/my.php?image=100pxsanfrancisco49ersl.png)

(http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6919/230pxphoenixcoyotessvg.th.png) (http://img208.imageshack.us/my.php?image=230pxphoenixcoyotessvg.png)

(http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/8053/phoenixsunslogo.th.png) (http://img6.imageshack.us/my.php?image=phoenixsunslogo.png)

Jury still out on Zito - and how old now is Randy Johnson? (although no complaints with the latter coming over - even if he ends up just passing on some of his experience)

Fingers crossed :)

zito can still turn things around and Johnson is old and expensive at $15m for 1 season but as you say the knowledge he can pass on is invaluable.

Lincecum will lead the rotation and looks good again this year.

After all the money we were wasting keeping Bonds on the roster - $15m is chicken feed :D


I reckoned it would take us 3 seasons after we got rid of Bonds - probably still stand by that before we're putting in a good challenge :)

(though i said the same about Gretsky taking over as GM at the Coyotes, and time is running out (though we are getting better)

Do you Giants fans think you've got enough to beat the Dodgers to the division ?

77Dave - Who'd  you fear most in your division, Braves or Phillies ?

like i said earlier i dont think we'll go all the way (though didnt think that a few years back and was nearly proved wrong!)

I tipped the Dodgers last year to go all the way (and it pained me to say it!) so still think they'll be the team to beat in our division - i reckon though that there won't be a 12 game gap between us this season
 

The Giants were 18 games under .500 last yr so just getting back to .500 will be a good improvement. The Padres will be the worst team in baseball this year, worse than the Pirates and the Royals.

The NL West is the weakest Division i do think anyone can come out of the decision (except the Padres)

Phillies are by far a greater team than the Braves. Maybe even the Nationals above the Braves this year.

15 - 20 games back this season then ..... ;whistle;

Steady now  :D

Oi mr 61-101, 39 games behind the Angels and 14.5 games off even finishing 2nd bottom of the division................ ;whistle;

aye, as a mariners fan you were praising the nationals - saved you the wooden spoon last year........... ;)

 ;hide;  Yes, can't deny that.

Terrible home form and even worse on the road but no way do i see a repeat happening this year. Wakamatsu seems to have shook things up and freshened up a poor roster from last year.

 Having Griffey jnr back will help as well, maybe not as much on field but will help put more bums on seats as Safeco was eerily quiet on too many occasions last year.

Of course i was praising the Nationals, or rather anybody they were playing, the wooden spoon was a close run thing last season ... ;D

Haven't been able to raise an interest since the closed down my beloved Expos

Sounds like now is the perfect time to pick a new team Phil

How about jumping to the Rays, would be a good fit for you

Just talked to a few mates in SF who go to alot of the giants games and they seem to be pessimistic about the coming season :)

After much deliberation and a visit to the MLB site I have plumped for Detroit as my new team........well somebody has to support the city now that Obama has said no more cash for the car industry.......and they are called the tigers like my rugby team......and like a true brit they must start as underdogs in their division......ticks all the boxes

Sounds good Phil, the Tigers actually have 1 of the biggest wage bills in the leagues. They were expected to win the division last year but hugely under achieved.

They dropped Gary Sheffield yesterday swallowing the remaining $14m on his contract. Sheffield is on 499 home runs No.8 on the active list of players, but at the age of 40 was a disruptive influence in the clubhouse.

What do you think about Sheffield joining the Mets then Dave ?   ;goodvevil;

Well we picked him up as a free agent, no contract details yet but i assume 1 yr and a few million

As long as he doesnt upset the clubhouse he should be a good addition to the outfield.

I was disappointed the Mets didnt pick up Pudge Rodrigez but the 1 player to trade for who would sent the Mets to the World Series is Jake Peavy of the Padres

I think that because the Tigers released Sheffield and are still paying him his $14m salaryfor the year,  he was available for the league minimum $400k for this season.

Was surprised myself that Rodriguez ended up at the Astros, although given his age/salary there probably weren't that many potential suitors for him.
 

wwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

One of the Giants problems last season was our strength in depth in our batting line up (i think Molina led with 16 HR's and less than 100 RBI's), with our pitchers pitching good games only to lose by the odd run due to no back up from the batters. First game of the season for the Giants is an afternoon game from AT&T Park so mlb.tv FTW :)

Lincecum on the mound looks a bit wild but got thru the first inning unscathed, then 2 hits and 1 hit batter led to a 2 out 3RBI treble to give us a 3-0 first inning lead against the Brewers - hope this is a sign of things to come :) i hope bringing Renteria into the early line up will help get the top order on base so that we can drive in a few more runs this season

Just watched highlights of Giants game 10-4 great start.

Went to 3 games in the last month while in the North America, I think managed to get to see 3 contrasting sides of ballparks.

Wrigley Field pics are in my US roadtrip thread.

Also went to Rogers Centre to see the Toronto Blue Jays vs Yankees, the ballpark is a bit of an eyesore and is known for being a bit souless as the Jays rarely get it much more than half full. Fortunately we got lucky as a few things came together to make it a near sell out, the Jays has the 2nd best record in baseball  at the time, Roy Halladay was pitching for the Jays, A J Burnett was pitching for the Yankess who had left the Jays last year when he had an option to re-sign and therefore got a lot of stick and this was one of A- Rod first games back for the Yankees.

(http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/2765/134ykq.jpg) (http://img38.imageshack.us/my.php?image=134ykq.jpg)


(http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/8029/139v.jpg) (http://img38.imageshack.us/my.php?image=139v.jpg)

I went to see the Mets on Monday, they were playing the Washington Nationals who are awful. The new stadium Citi Field is in an impressive ground and I like the fact that these new baseball parks still have some character unlike a lot of the MFI flat pack grounds we get in this country. It was memorial day in the US on Monday and boy did I get to experience that at the game, live feeds to troops in Iraq before first pitch references to fans in the ground in their army and navy gear.

(http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/2818/226j.jpg) (http://img38.imageshack.us/my.php?image=226j.jpg)

(http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/2961/234hnr.jpg) (http://img38.imageshack.us/my.php?image=234hnr.jpg)

Overall I have to say Wrigley was my favourite, a lot of the charm of going to baseball is the history of the game and Wrigley is all about that. All 3 games were a really good afternoon/night out and all reasonably priced didn't pay more the $25 for any seat. When i go back to the states i will definitley be going to see more games.

Oh and no mentions of how bad the Cubs are or I will set MR T on you, about halfway in is where the "entertainment" starts.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA2kJZjo6EA

Just had a little punt on the Tigers

If you're going to have a small punt on any team at the moment then you might not go far wrong with an each way bet on the Giants who surprisingly are 80/1 with Stan James and Ladbrokes at the moment. Having watched every game this season on mlb.tv at the moment they are playing really well, both Lincecum and Cain look like possible Cy Young winners - Cain already has 8 wins on the season and is tied 3rd and Lincecum is 3rd in total strikeouts with 102 and pitched a complete game shutout on Friday to earn his 6th win of the season, added to that is the 6 wins for 45 year old Randy Johnson and the Giants have 3 pitchers inside the top 17 for most wins.

Just lately the batting has picked up too, moving Rowand to the top spot in the order saw him go on a 20 game hit streak earlier in the season and with the non-league find of the season last year with Pablo Sandoval proving that the end of last seasons figures were no fluke the giants have two decent clean up hitters with Molina again leading the way with RBI's and home runs. Since the away trip to Seattle the offence has stepped up a notch and they are putting some decent road trips together to match the 20-9 home record meaning that at the moment their overall record is 33-28 and while this is 7 games behind the runaway Dodgers who have by far and away the best record in the major league it means we share top spot in the current wild card race.

With Cain pitching later today going for win number 9 at home to sweep the A's the winning roll could well continue and i dont think the 80/1 will be around for much longer.......

Went to my first ever game last week.. A's against Twins.

Awesome experienece even though it was a pretty small crowd.

Joe Mauer is sheer class.

Just checked Betfair there.....

Giants to win World Series are 80.0
Giants to reach the World Series are 7.4!

Confused . Com!! lol

I checked the betfair price too - noticed only £2 is available on the 80/1

I had to laugh at the division price also, ok we are 7 games behind the dodgers but there is still over half the season still to play

To win NL West on Stan James

Dodgers: 1/80
Giants: 14/1
30/1 bar 2

Granted at the beginning of the season i said we'd do well to overtake the Dodgers this season but with 100 games still to play i dont think the division is over yet :)

Little Panda Sandoval cleans up again in the first - he'll soon be overtaking Big Panda Molina as Giants RBI and Home Run leader!! :D

Last Sunday I went to my first ever Baseball game, Seattle Mariners v Minnesota Twins.
Although I did enjoy the experience (and the food) I didn't think the game was that great, but thought that might be down to my ingorance. But on reading the paper the next day they alsio thought the game was a bit of a grind.

Go Mariners!

(http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii19/Indestructable_photos/Mariners.jpg)

PS The Seattle Sounders stadium is next doot and spotted this poster.

(http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii19/Indestructable_photos/Seattle2009022.jpg)

gg scottm :D

9 for Cain in a 7-1 sweep of the A's - and another thing thats improved vastly this year is the support given by the bit part players this year. The improved form for the giants started when Rowand was moved to the top of the order and Uribe was brought in to play at 3rd with Sandoval moving to 1st. In this game both Rowand and Uribe were rested yet their replacements Torres at the top of the order gets himself on base 3 times going 3 for 4 and Schierholtz hits a 3-run inside the park home run.

80/1?!?!?!?!?!  ;dingdell;

Did you have to say that Indy  ;nemesis;

On the plus side the Mariners may get more TV coverage now they have Indy as their new No1 fan ;whistle;

Maybe :D 

But i'll just wave goodbye to the chance of  a  .500 record just now ..... cheers Indy  ;yellowcard;

Weeeeeeeeeee !!

Mariners back over .500  ;cheerleader;    and only 2 games back from the division leaders

Weeeeeeeee
 ;applause;

anyone else noticed ESPN on 417 sky channels is now free for everyone! Has baseball games live everyday. Been ill for a week in bed and it was great to have baseball.

Didn't know that, cheers.  8)

    So ESPN have officially taken over Setanta's 46 Premier league matches and have stated that under the new banner they will also be showing all the other major league US sports for a £9 package,so thats a discount from Setanta.I hope that they will go down the lines of having some UK based programmes and maybe we will get a return of Jonny and Josh but most of all Mike Carlson,I'am sure they would pick up a better following for the US sports  if the were explained by these presenters rather than just expecting people to jump in at the deep end.
    On a side note i was really surprised how many yanks were watching the confederation cup whilst i was in Vegas this year(and really into it).Whilst playing poker i was often asked about the EPL with many of the under 30's having a favourite team and looking forward to the new season and especially the world cup in SA.Is the USA falling in love with the beautiful game?

That's £9 if you subscribe to Sky Sports,£12 if not,a lot of money for a single channel.

  Yeah your right,but if you already had the full Setanta package it's cheaper than before and i was presuming most people who had the football package already had Sky sports which is probable not right as i know a few who just had Setanta football just for the lower league coverage.

in the original setanta package, you had 12 channels, including sports such as golf, UFC, european football from loads of countries, SPL, EPL, Major league baseball, Ice hockey, NFL, Plus CelticTV/RangersTV etc etc all for £12.99

ESPN so far have only announced EPL and MLB for £9........thats not enough for my £9 TBH (Setanta's Big draw for me was SPL and UFC)

Well we will just have to see what comes out in the wash,I'am sure i read somehere that the SPL was going to Sky sports and as the UFC rights are owned by Espn surely it will still be shown.

EDIT; looks like it's still up in the air  (from digital spy)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
It's four days to go until UFC 100, and there's still no TV deal announced for the show - it's expected they'll sign a one-off for this show and then sign a long term deal from 101 onwards.

The Telegraph say it'll either be Virgin1 or Bravo showing it, and that the announcement won't be made for another day or two. They also say ESPN or Five are likely for the long term deal.

Still, even if the deal's announced tomorrow, this is cutting it really fine to get the event publicised. Especially for a show featuring a British fighter in Michael Bisping.

two main reasons i had setanta were for the american sport and USPGA - now i can get the baseball on MLB.TV and the USPGA has moved to Eurosport2, so i get what i want for cheaper than paying for setanta.

might be different when hockey season starts after baseball finishes - dunno how much that is yet.

On the plus side i watched Pablo Sandoval hit his first ever grand slam in last nights win over the Marlins to go further clear in the wild card race - no 80/1 on offer now, hope everyone got a few bananas each way on? :)up

Yeah Matt I like the look of the Giants for the wild card spot in the national league, I don't really rate any of your potential rivals for that spot.

Hoping the Cubs can still win the central, given how massively our batting lineup has under achieved in the first half of the season to be only 2 games back is a relief. If we bat anywhere near our potential 2nd half of the season we should get there.

one problem for the cubs is that it is looking like the only way they can make the post season is by winning the central division as the AL East looks very strong during the first half of the season

Cubs are in the NL central, so in theory we are one of the rival to the Giants for the wild card spot. In the AL i agree the wild card is sure to come from the East with the Yankees, Red Sox and improving Rays in that division.

:D cubs, white sox - central divisions, same difference

Dam Dodgers keep winnings, means Giants will be ok for Wildcard though, won again last night :)

Jury has reached a verdict - ffs trade Zito

Best starting pitching by a mile in the National League, most shut outs - nearly twice as many as any other team, two 10 game winners, the big unit and also a player demoted from the rotation returning when Johnson gets injured and pitching the first giants no-no since 1976.

So what happens when we play the team with the worst offence in baseball having crushed them in each of the first three games? Zito gives up 6 runs in 3 innings....... GET RID NOW!!

At last the Cubbies offense has woken up (11-3 since the all star break), looking like a straight race for the NL central between us and the Cards who have traded for a bit more offence before the deadline. We are in with a shot of the wild card now and it certainly is no guarentee which division it comes out of in the national league.

Well we've managed to stay above .500  just !!!
Made a couple of nice trades in the last few days and not losing any of our better performers either surprisingly.

Gonna need a helluva run to get anywhere near the wildcard as we're 6 games back ( soon to be 7 as Texas are 5-0 just now :( ) of the Red Sox  and  have Texas and Tampa to get past as well.

Still hoping though - C'mon the Mariners  :D

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxjpAyO8Qu0

reallllly really bad calls there. How the hell can they get these wrong. pissed me off no end.

(http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/4753/sweep.th.jpg) (http://img215.imageshack.us/i/sweep.jpg/)

now it gets interesting!! :)

How the hell are Philly underdogs against the Dodgers tonight?

I know Cole Hamels hasn't pitched as well this year as last, but he's up against a rookie (the third youngest ever to start a game 1 playoff series!), the Phillies have greater hitting, running and defense.

The only place I can give the Dodgers an edge is in the bullpen but in a game in for 7.5 runs the starters should go very deep.
Charge! 5/4 available.

maybe the dodgers finishing with the best record in the NL - finishing 19 games above .500 at home and Kershaw having a better record over the course of the season than Hamels

Hamels getting beaten up big time in his only post season game against the rockies probably doesnt help either

Yankees to beat the Angels.... I rushed in thinking I was betting on the phillies not looking at anything and low and behold i've gone and lumped on the bloody yankees to beat the Angels.... any comfort in this horrible horrible msitake??

+1

Betting on the yankees is rarely a massive mistake, the Man Utd of baseball. Currently 2-1 up.

and 3 seasons later we make it to the world series!! Goooooo Giants!!

i am so buzzed! although knackered watching it last last night :) bring on the finals""

/sigh :(

Know this is a bit after the Lord Mayors show BUT I cannot let this statement go without challenging it.  I ran one fo the bigger US facing sportsbooks for three years and in that period the yankees will have played 500+ games and I can count on one hand the number of times the book needed the Yankees to win.  They are easily the most overbet team in  USA professional sports and everyone that makes a line knows it and in many cases shades the line further than it should be.  They are up there with Man Utd, England and the lakers in terms of teams that, if I make them value on my own odds line I will look again to see what I have missed and even if i can;t see anything I would be reluctant to bet on.

Ha it was a bit a throw away statement, as encouragement not that I can remember making it.

Anyway I watched last nights game, really tense affair Rangers against the Giants must be massive odds against to be the World Series earlier in the year or one of the more unlikely pairing at the start of the playoffs

Yes Giants had a real good surge at the end of the season and had to win the last game of the regular season to clinch the division. Been underdogs vs each team so far and expect the same in the world-series. was tempted to head over for a game but I simply cannot afford it!

had to win last game of the season only because we'd blown the first two chances. We played division rivals padres over the last 3 games with a 3 game lead so could have easily sewn it up before last game. We were favourites against the braves, especially with home field advantage - yes we were underdogs against the phillys but i think we are slight favourites over the rangers with better starting pitching line-up and bullpen

bad start and took 4.6 on the giants, level now in the 3rd.

the Beeeeeeard brings it home, what a game 11-7 :)

Went to AT&T park earlier in the year, great ballpark in an amazing location.

Its fantastic stadium been to it a fair few times, seen a few hit into the water by bonds too which was special.

Another amazing game from the giants, pwning them so so bad 9-0. WTF is happening 11-7 now 9-0 :) 2 more games win win for the title.

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE CHAMPIONS!!

I love baseball, yesterday the Giants created history coming from two games down in a best of five series to win. A grand slam by Buster Posey sealed the amazing comeback :) lets just hope the Yankee's get done tonight in the final game of their series.

SF Gaints back from the dead.

Another back to back wins and its all down to the final game tonight to see who goes to the World series.

Caine is ABEL!

Another remarkable comeback, sf giants in the World Series ;) after needing to win 3 on the bounce.

2-0 up for SF Giants, peaking at the right time, 2 more wins pls.