we're Talking Baseball

[zill]

Another week and it'll be time to switch gears to baseball.

I'm kind of psyched because the minor league Vancouver Canadians are now the farm team of the Toronto Bluejays, an organization that actually uses its farm teams. Players play there instead of being vapor trails passing through to the big show.

The reason I'm excited is because the Jays have something like 7 of the top 78 draft picks, in a very deep talent pool this year, and we could see some really talented kids honing their skills here in Vancouver. Even better, wouldn't it be cool if Wayne Gretzky's son was one of the players drafted by the Jays (a real possibility)?

I can't wait to get out for a nooner at Nat Bailey stadium.

And yeah, I'm a Yankees fan, though with a soft spot for the Rays.

[Frau_Blucher]

All I know is that ESPN just said "Twins four, Royals nil." Something insidious is going on here.

[plagiarism]

I don't think I could ever get too excited about rookie league ball. The kids are too young and too far from MLB. You don't even know whether any of them will make it to the majors.

High A and AA are the best levels to watch. The future stars are rising quickly. AAA is overstocked with MLB has-beens and never-weres. And the best prospects often skip AAA. I lost interest in going to games when the local team went from AA to AAA. I've got some free tickets, and I don't know I'll even use them.

I remember when I was a kid seeing Tim Raines, Tim Wallach, Tony Phillips, Charlie Lea, and a few more future pros playing for the AA Memphis Chicks. The Expos were my second favorite team, after the Cardinals. Bummer about the 1981 strike. Otherwise, good times.

[zill]

Ah well, I just love baseball. I played until I was 16 and couldn't gwt my Flock haircut to stay under my batting helmet. My son is in little league now and I'm really enjoying the game again.

[Spectre General]

[quote]Originally posted by zill
I'm kind of psyched because the minor league Vancouver Canadians are now the farm team of the Toronto Bluejays, an organization that actually uses its farm teams. Players play there instead of being vapor trails passing through to the big show.
[/quote]

The Jays use their farm teams because they can't afford to buy all the good players, which is how it's done nowadays. As a Yankees fan you should know that. And how can you be a Yankees fan and be excited about the Blue Jays and have a soft spot for the Rays? You do know there's more divisions than the American League East right?

Ever notice how all the hype about "prospects" are from the really terrible teams like the Pirates, Royals or Nationals? It's like commentators/writers for poorly performing teams have nothing good to say so they just focus on "all the young talent in the farm system." Which half the time gets traded away/sold to some major-market team for an aging has-been anyway. If not right away then a few years after their debut, and that's probably because their terrible team can't pay them what they're worth. The sad thing is, the Jays would be a decent team in any other division, but they'll never be able to compete with the money that the Yankees and Red Sox throw around.

I'm a lifelong baseball fan, it's my favorite sport, but I really really hate the politics of baseball now, it's becoming more and more like European Soccer, which is why I always cheer when some underpaid team like the Marlins or Rays get to the World Series.

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What is love after all
but occasional steps
of a dance.........
.......In a trance?

[zill]

Seriously, what else is there beyond the Yankees, Sox, Jays and Rays? The rest of the league is theoretical to me. These are by far my favorite teams to watch, by far.

[Spectre General]

[quote][i]Originally posted by zill[/i]
<br>Seriously, what else is there beyond the Yankees, Sox, Jays and Rays? The rest of the league is theoretical to me. These are by far my favorite teams to watch, by far.
[/quote]

I dunno, The National League?

Also you forgot the Orioles...well I guess I can't blame you for that one.

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What is love after all
but occasional steps
of a dance.........
.......In a trance?

[zill]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Spectre General[/i]
<br>
I dunno, The National League?
[/quote]

Yawn.