Major League Baseball

[bushido_man96]

Is anyone here into the MLB? Pitchers and catchers are reporting, and the pre-season will be here before you know it.

Who is your team? I like the Cubs and the Royals, but will watch just about anything. Now don't tell me who you don't like, just who you like!

I love watching baseball because there is so much that can happen. I like to watch, thinking to myself, "who will hit for the next cycle?", or "who will throw the next no-hitter?", or "who will pitch the next perfect game?" Baseball is also so rich in history, that I love reading up about the game's past.

My wife says I am into too much sports. Can that really be?

[Patrick]

I'm a huge Yankees fan.

[gheinisch]

The Atlanta Braves here. I've been one all my life, even in he years where they were lucky to win one game. Looks like the team just is going to be sold to Liberty Media I believe. Hope that doesn't mean a lot of changes.

[bushido_man96]

I'm a huge Yankees fan.

What are your feelings on the Mariano Rivera signing right now, Patrick? And how do you feel about the whole A-Rod scenario? It seems like that is the big news right now out of Yankee country.

I sure hope the Cubs quit messin' around and sign Zambrano to a contract that he deserves. He as been their most consistent pitcher over the last 5 years, and I don't think the Cubs can afford to keep waiting on Prior and Woods to come around and stay off the DL.

I am also hyped about Soriano being a Cub. Him, Derrek Lee, and Aramis Ramieriez...what a line-up! Now, to shore up that pitching.

Do you wish that the Yankees would have held on to Soriano, Patrick?

[Patrick]

There isn't really much of a situation with Mariano Rivera. He's under contract and he'll pitch. I really believe it's more of the media than anything else. Like, the day before yesterday, I think, I listened to him talking to the press that day, in its entirety. And he sounded fine and reasonable, like he always is. Yet, what seemed to be a majority articles that came out of that press session focused on one line of it, which was that if he becomes a free agent, everyone will get a fair chance. Of course, he also said that he wants to be a Yankee, that the Yankees have never disrespected him, have always taken care of him and so on and so forth. Personally, I think we should just sign him now, so that he doesn't have any options to consider next year. I can understand wanting to hold off, but who is going to fault Cashman for signing Mariano Rivera? If we do and he never pitches again, anyone who looks back a couple years from now and says it was a big mistake just isn't being reasonable.

As far as A-Rod... I don't know if there is a scenario, unless you are talking about him being able to opt out of his contract after this season. At the end of the day, that is a negotiated right in his deal, so he can do it if he wants. Personally, I want him to retire as a Yankee. The fact is, if we get any other third baseman in the game, we take a step down at the position.

As far as Soriano, I like him, but if it's him or A-Rod, no. A-Rod is just a different class of player.

[patusai]

If I had to choose, I am a Sox fan. At least I was happy that I saw them win the World Series in 2005 (before I die). My uncle, a loyal Cub fan, never saw the Cubs win the big one.

[french fri25]

New York Mets!!!

[bushido_man96]

As far as Soriano, I like him, but if it's him or A-Rod, no. A-Rod is just a different class of player.

I don't know, 40 homers, 40 steals, the guy can play. I think A-Rod is a great player, but he just needs to get out of the doldrums.

[Patrick]

Soriano can definitely play and I like him, like I said, but he's only hit 40 homers once. A-Rod's done that 7 times. Soriano's only hit above .280 twice. A-Rod's done that for 11 straight seasons. Soriano had his best ever OBA last year with .351. A-Rod's had a higher OBA for 9 straight seasons and for 10 of his 11 full seasons. A-Rod's a complete player. And they are the same age. Soriano's best seasons (2002 and 2006) haven't really been as good or better as A-Rod's worst, except for A-Rod's 1997.

[bushido_man96]

Good point. Will A-Rod be back to normal this year?