American League Baseball

Man, do I love baseball, and we're knee-deep in it. Even though there are a ton of distractions with nba and hockey playoffs, baseball always takes a backseat this time of year.
Time to sound off, baseball fans. I want to know who your favorite AL teams are. Do you have a NL fave as well? I'd love to hear you talk about your favorite pitchers or position players, the increasing number of japanese and other asian players entering the u.s. market and their impact, which division features the toughest or tightest competition--you know, that sort of thing. Anything related to baseball, but especially AmericanLeague stuff. How do you feel about the designated hitter? Interleague play? Is the luxury tax an acceptable alternative to a salary cap?
I won't tell you not to whine about A-rods salary, but if you're gonna talk about that stuff with me, you'd better know your stuff. I also don't give a rip about Barry Bonds HR record, unless you want to also discuss how the improvements in equipment, facilities, and the 162 game season factor into the increased no. of players able to hit HRs--I also don't mind getting into the use of steroids and corked bats...
So long as it's baseball, it's all good.

oh i cna get into some ball with yo im a bit drunk now though so ill have to post back later but to start my favorite team is the mariners... they are having a very rough start.. and i respect bonds a lot equipment and # of games helps him but hes still done it in less plate appearences the DH is ok.. i dont kow how i really feel what i really hate is intentional walks but i will post back later more sober

Hooray! Not only do you actually WANT to talk baseball, but you also love the mariners? How lucky for me! Whenever you're ready, I'd love to hear what you think about the pitching rotation--does Melvin need to shift the starters around to shake things up, or are the guys fine the way they are? Do you think Joel Piniero EARNED the 2nd spot in the rotation, or was it GIVEN to him to send a message to Freddy Garcia, and do you think he still deserves to be ahead of Freddy, the team's premiere starter the last several years, and the workhorse w/ the most innings, with a fairly low and steady e.r.a.?
The M's are something like 12 games down in the AL west--do you think there's ANY chance for them to gain enough ground within their division to turn team morale around? I've seen them make up 12 games in a month and a half--in 1995, late August and September, they came from behind to overtake Oakland and Anaheim and won the division. Ah, yes, the "refuse to lose" season, with Ken Griffey jr, Edgar and Tino Martinez, and Randy Johnson. Wasn't that the season that RJ pitched the single-inning relief appearance that won the AL west ? Speaking of Johnson, I'm glad he got that perfect game the other day. Anyway, I could ramble on forever about these guys, so I'll stop now.

i don't really enjoy baseball until it nears time for the playoffs, but I'm an Angels fan because they're my home team. I don't want to come across as a front runner because they're in first, but yah, they kick ass! 😮‍💨

Blue Jays fan. hahahaha

Don't you like Toronto? I think it'd be neat if you did. I thought it was against your guys' (canadians, i mean) religion to watch anything but hockey during the season. Speaking of, if you want to break off from our topic a bit and talk hockey with me, that's fine, too. I love the game, and I'd love to get a Canadian perspective on the "americanization" of the game. We could talk about the relocation and dismemberment of ex-canadian franchises, the changes in the rules since hockey reached it's height of popularity in the us--changes made intended to increase offensive production (since the average american has no interest in defensive play and only watch to see fights and a ton of goals)--anything. Be honest if you have an opinion--I'm not gonna go apesh*t on you if you say anything about how we violated the purity of the game, because I think we did. What province do you live in? I'll guess Ontario.

No i love them. Tends that everybody loves Red Soxs and or Yankees now.
American didnt change any of the traditional canadian hockey. It was actually the Russians and the other European nations. They play a completly different game. The relocation of franchise on Canadian soil is the reason that the players get paid in American Dollars but the Canadian teams get revenue in Canadian dollars.
Also, alot of Americans dont understand hockey also. Same with the Europeans. We strive to play the game and you can tell with our players. Aside from a few Europeans and/ or US players, the majority dont take the sacrifices we do. And yes, i live in Ontario.

O,Canada!

Yeah, the Am-Can same number figure salary cap thing always irked me. It's not fair. But the Canadian dollar is stronger than it has been in quite a while, isn't it?
I'd love to go on, but I'm sooo tired, so I hope we can talk more later.

Yeppers. But atleast Canada the best in the world for the sport so im not worried.

My favorite team is the Phillies but i also like the Athletics cause they used to be Philadelphia and i like the Red Sox. I like the Reds too. And i also like the Angels a little but i dont no why i just like them.

I'm guessing you live somewhere on the east coast, based on your fave teams. As for the Angels, you probably like them because they are well-managed with a starting lineup that could give anyone a run for their money. What a pain in the ass those guys can be--I respect them, because being a Mariner fan, we have to play them about 15 times a year, so I'm well aware of their capabilities. Solid defense, clutch hitting and a great bullpen.

Yeah.... i live in New Jersey.... I am only about 15 minuters away from the Phillies new stadium.

How's the stadium? I'm curious about the dimensions of the new ballpark. Is Jose Mesa still active? I try to keep tabs on as many of the former Mariners as I can. Even though I personally think that Mesa is a pimple on the ass of humanity, it was nice to see him on a squad for more than just one season. If I remember correctly, he left about 4 years ago, maybe 5. Does that sound right to you? They've been having a couple of productive seasons the last few years. Good for them. They've got a pretty solid rotation. It would be nice to see the Mariners and Phillies in interleague.

Mesa was a free-agent this year. He blew a lot of saves for us last year and now he is with the Pirates and doing great. Figures. The stadium is great. There is a lot to see and it makes games even funner because there will be many more people there because of the new stadium and when the Phillies do good during the game it's very loud. It's feels like the world series cause it sounds like they're cheering for a homerun when its only a ssingle.

tigers are my team but if 'm rooting for a team in the NL its the giants

ED-gar, ed-gar...ICHIRO! ICHIRO!..too bad I don't watch the 120 game season..i only watch Playoff Series..and this year I think the Mariners will sink..I hope not, cuz when October comes..I'm gettin' back on the bandwagon; that is of couse if they compete..and oh, yeah! they should get Freddy Garcia, out of there!

umm.. i tohught there was 168 games in the season?

that is if a team gets swept in the post season.

Isnt it 165 games?

its 162 or 160..i remember the Mariners won 116 and lost something like 44 or 50.