vance_the_cubs_fan

We're averaging 8 pitches an inning. I think Ward saw six of those 16 pitches too.

Well, with all the swinging at the first pitches, Moehler might throw a complete game.

Nice catch by Edmonds... I hope he didn't hurt himself.

Holy Crap! Where was Kosuke throwing that one?

It's either ESPN or the Astros announcers for me.... I'll take ESPN, reluctantly.

DP, plz.

I could see Portland getting a team. My guess is that they wouldn't want to put another team in California or Flordia, so after Portland, Indianapolis, San Antonio, and Vegas would go to the forefront.

Ward has some pretty good numbers versus Moehler.

Also, if MLB decided to expand it's going to go to the markets that sell themselves better to baseball. First, whatever locale that gets a team will probably have to promise to build a stadium with as little contribution from MLB as possible. If an area isn't willing to get public funding for a stadium, MLB will look elsewhere. These areas will also have to convince MLB that they can put butts in the seats. Those two things will factor greater than the actual market size. Also, my guess is the expansion fee would probably approach 500 million. So, it will take some deep pockets to make it all happen.

That's an excellent idea, I'd still like to see Houston sent to the AL West in the meantime to even things out. I would move Arizona before Houston. But then you create the problem of having only 4 teams in the NL West. I definitely think a realignment is in order, and expansion seems to be one way to achieve equality. Indianapolis as an AL team is an intriguing prospect, since you've got Cubs, Cards, and Reds fans in the city. Most of the area surrounding Indy from my experience tend to be Reds fans. This would be a good time to create an MLB franchise there, since the Reds suck perennially, a franchise could easily sway those fans to a new home team. You're not going to move Cubs or Cards fans at this point, but certainly with the Reds fans, I think an alternative could be enticing for those based in and around Indy. It also helps that with the success of the Colts, I think it's safe to say that there is a heightened sports attentiveness, and that certainly would bode good for any MLB team. Interleague would actually help an Indianapolis team out tremendously, as any Cards or Cubs matchups in Indy would certainly pack the house. I don't like interleague play, but if Indy were an AL team, there is no doubt that it would be good for a startup franchise to sell tickets. You can't just move a team to the other league unless you want an interleague series nearly every week of the season as would be necessary if you had two 15-team leagues. That's the reason it's set up this way. If you move to 16 team leagues, you don't have that problem.

Because I demand my Michael Brenly updates.

Thank god we didn't.

That's an excellent idea, I'd still like to see Houston sent to the AL West in the meantime to even things out. I'm not sure Houston would agree to a move. To move an existing franchise, they will have to agree to it. What I could envision though is something like this: American League East Yankees Red Sox Orioles Jays North White Sox Twins Indians Tigers South Rays Rangers Royals San Antonio or Charlotte (new franchise) West Angels A's Mariners Portland or Vegas (new franchise) NL East Mets Phillies Nationals Marlins North Cubs Cardinals Brewers Pirates South Astros Braves Dbacks Reds West Rockies Dodgers Padres Giants Now, I recognize a few problems. The Cardinals fit better in the NL South than the Reds, but the Cubs and Cardinals wouldn't approve any plan that puts them in separate divisions. The Marlins also could shift from the East to the South in the NL, with maybe the Pirates going to the East and the Reds to the North. No divisional alignment is going to be perfect. This one, however, wouldn't cause anyone to shift leagues, so it would be easier to gain approval. If we shifted some teams across leagues, the geography might work a bit better.

If they had 32 teams, get rid of the wild card and have 2 leagues with 4 divisions of 4 teams each. You have to win your division to go to the playoffs.

I'm looking forward to seeing how all of secondary looks. I've been hearing good things about Scandrick, Ogelsby, and Ball in the early goings of camp. Courtney Brown has replaced Watkins in the 1st team dime package too. I've heard that Scandrick has looked great on special teams.

As a Cowboys fan, I'm looking forward to seeing how Adam Jones looks at CB and Mike Jenkins as well.

They make them. I have one, really sharp (relatively speaking). I think I got it in a Sports Authority. Thanks. I'll have to look for one next time I make a trip.

I'm predicting rain in Daytona today.

That one works. Burnt is OTC.

Thank God! Phillies win!

damnit, Lidge!

cash

Wow....Double Play! =D>

Never count on the Phillies for anything. [-X