Countdown to Opening Day

[GADZOOKS]

Here are my pre-season picks for the MLB BASEBALL SEASON 2008 sponsored by Pepsi and Taco Bell!

Playoff teams in BEIGE BOLD

AL EAST -

1. BOSTON RED SOX
2. NEW YORK YANKEES
3. TAMPA BAY RAYS
4. TORONTO BLUE JAYS
5. BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Notes: I could of went with the boring Boston, New York, Toronto, Balitmore, Tampa ranking I did for the past two years and not be off-base, but I think the Devil Rays are a nice young team that could make some minor waves. Nothing special is happening in Toronto and the Orioles look as grim as the season finale of The Wire (hi-ohhhhhh).

AL CENTRAL -

1. DETRIOT TIGERS
2. CLEVELAND INDIANS
3. CHICAGO WHITE SOX
4. KANSAS CITY ROYALS
5. MINNESOTA TWINS

Notes: It will be fun to see the Tigers and Indians fight for the top spot in the AL Central. I give Tigers the slight edge because of their awesome line up, but I would not be suprised if Cleveland takes it. Meanwhile, the W. Sox, Royals, and Twins all have decent to mediocre teams that will duke it out for a meaningless third place. Good luck, guys!

AL WEST -

1. LOS ANGELES ANGELS
2. SEATTLE MARINERS
3. TEXAS RANGERS
4. OAKLAND A's

Notes: I know shit about this division, but the Angels didn't get much worse so I will give the nod to them. Seattle really looked like shit after they blew a pretty lofty lead last year heading into the playoffs. The Rangers get the third spot because the Oakland A's look terrible.

and now, my favorite league of all the leagues, NATIONAL LEAGUE!

NL EAST -

1. NEW YORK METS
2. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
3. ATLANTA BRAVES
4. FLORDIA MARLINS
5. WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Notes: Even though I have the Mets on top like most smart baseball fans do. I would not count out the Phillies or even the Braves of winning this division. I was tempted to put the Phillies above the Mets but they invested in the chokejob that is Brad Lidge so fuck them. I could only pray for one of these teams to have a gigantic collapse at the end of the season again. Last year's was wonderful!

NL CENTRAL -

1. CHICAGO CUBS
2. MILWAUKEE BREWERS
3. HOUSTON ASTROS
4. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
5. CINCINNATI REDS
6. PITTSBURG PIRATES

Notes: I hope this year will be better for the Central but the only teams that got somewhat better are the Cubs and the Astros, while every other did nothing or got worse (or got Dusty Baker). The Brewers should still be able to be decent and give the Cubs a fight (the Astros rotation is too abysmal to compete ). Here's to barely making it above .500! Fukudome!

NL WEST -

1. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
2. LOS ANGELES DODGERS
3. COLORADO ROCKIES
4. SAN DIEGO PADRES
5. SAN FRANSICO GIANTS

Notes: I feel the Diamondbacks are the best team in the National League with the Mets just a smidge behind them. It's amazing what a shit uniform change can do for your team. I'm saying Joe Torre is going to get the Dodgers act together to make a wild card run while the Rockies and Padres prove that their last season surges were merely apparitions. The Giants will have to at least make peace that Barry Bonds are not going to fuck up their shit anymore.

WORLD SERIES: DIAMONDBACKS IN 6 AGAINST THE TIGERS

THOSE ARE MY PICKS AND IM STICKING TO THEM (until the All-Star break where I will openly weep about the Cubs sucking. Stay tuned!)

[Geggy]

I think its retarded that red sox is opening the season in fucking japan. they're the defending champs, they ought to open at home for the sake of the boston fans. dice-k is the product of japan so i guess its all about the money. indians will go all the way this year. just kidding, red sox repeat!

Edit: I'm going to visit wrigley field in june for the first time. I grew up watching them cubbies play afternoon games at wrigley when i had chicago station at home before TNT took over. Wont be the same without harry carey singing "take me out the ballgame" during 7th innning stretch though.

[Pentegarn]

Originally Posted by Geggy

I think its retarded that red sox is opening the season in fucking japan. they're the defending champs, they ought to open at home for the sake of the boston fans. dice-k is the product of japan so i guess its all about the money. indians will go all the way this year. just kidding, red sox repeat!

Edit: I'm going to visit wrigley field in june for the first time. I grew up watching them cubbies play afternoon games at wrigley when i had chicago station at home before TNT took over. Wont be the same without harry carey singing "take me out the ballgame" during 7th innning stretch though.

True it isn't the same, but there's something to be said for the special celebrity guests that are now singing it. Think about it:

We've had Jeff Gordon call Wrigley Field, "Wrigley Stadium"

Ozzy sing "Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks, I don't know what I'm supposed to do"

And Mike Ditka sing it so fast he was finished before the pipe organ was halfway through the song.

[WhiteRat]

The season has kicked off in the Land of Anime, which means it's now time to cheer for a Twin (Joe Mauer is dreamy) today. Living in an area that primarily features Devil Rays games makes it difficult to enjoy some good ol' fashioned baseball played in a dome. I contemplated ordering MLB Extra Innings this year but a fellow Twins that I work with beat me to the punch and ordered it himself. The kind soul gave me an open invite to watch any and all Twins games at his place, free of charge. He even said he'd fire up the grill from time to time as well. I'm pretty excited for what should be a decent season.

Anyone else plan on getting Extra Innings this year?