Well, since there has not been a sports topic since the NCAA tournament maybe it’s a good time to discuss the ‘national past time.’  (Despite Mayor Marshes’ hatred of the sport)
So, how about some predictions for the post season, thoughts on the future of the sport or discussion on the revelations of two of the sports biggest personalities being accused and (one of them so far) admitting to the use of P.E.D.‘s.  Not sure if this is a hopeless cause for a thread but worth a try.

Yes, let’s discuss the most disgraced national sport in America.

My prediction: Manny Ramirez will be found to have used performance enhancing drugs. Ooops.

He was taking a feminine fertility drug…maybe he just wanted to have babies?

His estrogen was just a bit off. 
Bobaloo, did you used to be into baseball?

I think it is interesting that baseball is looked at as a disgraced sport because of ped’s.  Seriously, look at NFL players and tell me that a linebacker was just made to be 6’ 1” 260 lbs with no body fat due to a lot of pushups.
However, I believe that the heads of MLB are at fault for trying to hold on to scared records (in their eyes) and then try to convince the American public that all is well now that there is a testing policy in place.  This approach has led people to have the notion that baseball is now the only sport that is disgraced, but really the same behavior is everywhere.  There is still no accurate test for human growth hormone in any sport.

I say just make it all legal and let these idiots destroy their bodies and minds for big forearms. Perhaps, eventually, the balance will shift back to more “clean” players.

Dont the fans have some responsibility in all this? I mean, no one can pretend that they are surprised when these behomoths test positive.

And havent all players always used some kind of “enhancing” drug or another? How is this new form any different than the cocaine, tobacco, and assorted other drugs athletes have been using for decades, if not always?

The (PFKaP) - 07 May 2009 11:07 PM

Don’t the fans have some responsibility in all this? I mean, no one can pretend that they are surprised when these behemoths test positive.

You nailed it on this point.  (which is why I corrected your spelling for you)
But the fans are surprised each time a new name comes out in all of this and it shakes the sports world for weeks.  It is all centered around pro-baseball right now.  During the time of outrage, fans say the sport will never be the same but yet attendance and tv ratings never feel that effect. 
The truth is that this is happening in nearly every high school with a significant sports program where kids have the potential to go play at a major college program.

I can’t wait to see what happens when they start testing NBA players.

Steamboater - 07 May 2009 10:14 PM

His estrogen was just a bit off. 
Bobaloo, did you used to be into baseball?

Not really. I tried, I really tried and I do enjoy going to the park to watch a game now and then. I just can’t stand to watch it on tv and I’m not a statistics guy, except for racing.
It’s just so disappointing to see all these “heroes” - ARod, Ramirez, Bonds, etc. - being exposed as the cheaters they are.
I know that there are plenty of faults in the NFL, but don’t they have a decent testing policy in place?

yeah, i was SHOCKED to discover arod and bonds were on pills.

SHOCKED i say!

People totally look like that in real life without drugs.

yeah.

The NFL gets a pass in all of this somehow.  They do have a testing program for steroids and as soon as the public (and even congress) heard bout it, everyone was thrilled and felt that ped’s were completely out of the sport.
What critics point out is that there is no testing for human growth hormone, inaccurate tests for testosterone boosters and there is no independent oversight over the program.  So if Tom Brady tests positive for something, who knows how it will be reported.
It almost doesn’t matter though because football doesn’t care.  They just put the best sports product out there and everyone watches.  (Two years ago a linebacker was busted for steroids and finished 2nd in the defensive player of the year award).  It doesn’t have the crutch of romanticism and stats that baseball struggles with.
But seriously, look at those guys.

back to the topic

nl west maybe the dodgers hang on long enough to get manny back and win a weak division
if not the young arms in sf may rise up and sneak in

nl central looked like the cubs by default, but larussa and the cards have a little life in them ... without zambrano and knowing the cards will keep grinding out wins ... cubs need to watch out

nl east the phillys look like they will remain steady, the braves and marlins will be a little tougher this year, but this boils down to the mets   will they underachieve for one more year?

al west can texas score enough runs to get by the ailing angels and the solid mariner team

al central this looks like the comedy central are you kidding me kc is leading the division after april .... a bunch of teams with some talent resembling reno 911 .... how about the indians and i don’t know why

al east toronto is just warming first place up for a little while longer ... arod will come back and so will the yankees, the rays have started their recovery by stealing bases at record rates, but the sox are showing depth and experience ... theo has the team well positioned for the long season good arms are getting rested and will provide the boost come july and august, big papi still hasn’t found his range yet the young farm hands are coming through and jason bay is reminding us of manny who?  bosox will prevail

Most of what I know about baseball comes from my 10-year-old girl, who is a fanatic. Here’s what she has to say about this season:

“I thought the Indians could turn it around, but they’re in last place. I hope they can get out of last place by the All-Star break.

I hope the Dodgers won’t totally collapse without Manny.

The Boston Red Sox have another good chance at the championship.”

Edgy Mama - 09 May 2009 12:18 PM

Most of what I know about baseball comes from my 10-year-old girl, who is a fanatic. Here’s what she has to say about this season:

“I thought the Indians could turn it around, but they’re in last place. I hope they can get out of last place by the All-Star break.

I hope the Dodgers won’t totally collapse without Manny.

The Boston Red Sox have another good chance at the championship.”

the tribe may heat up with the weather ....  the al central is going to turn out to be a weak division and there will always be time to get back into the race ....

the same holds true in the nl west ... the dodgers should have time to catch up even if they falla few games back ......

the sox look like they have a great chance ... remind her to go see the tourists play as much as possible ...

Very nice EM.  Please tell your daughter that she is sooo much more insightful than that crazy tattttms guy.  I kid, but her thoughts are actually right on.  I loved the game at her age and just love passing it on to my kids of 5 and 7 now. 

Great insight tattttms as well and I agree with you for the most part. 
I thought the last couple years with the Rockies and the Rays coming out of nowhere were great.  I think the fact that an underdog came out of the AL East will help any small market or crappy team know that they have a chance.

So anyway, predictions:

AL East: As said before, the Rays breaking the barrier leaves this division open for anyone, except the Orioles.  Toronto looks good and have good pitching, but they haven’t played in division yet.  I’ll painfully go Red Sox.

AL Central: This is a weak division, but is seems like anyone has a chance each year, except for Kansas City.  Well, this year is different as far as the Royals are concerned.  I’ll go White Sox.

AL West:  My 2nd favorite team growing up was the Mariners because of their logo with the M and the triton.  I just think that Scioscia and the talent will make it.  I’ll go Angels.

AL Wild Card: Yankees, maybe…maybe not.  I hope the Rays, Royals or Twins can do something. 

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NL East: The Mets should be good enough now that they solidified their bullpen, but I don’t trust it.  Marlins could be really good, but they do better as a wild card apparently. I’ll go Phillies.

NL Central: Similar to the Mets, the Cubs just know how to suck.  Milwaukee could really be a factor despite losing their two best pitchers.  For some reason, I’ll go St. Louis.

NL West: Really, since all the other teams suck: Dodgers

NL Wild Card: Marlins.  However, I’d love to see the Brewers or Reds come through.

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Basically, I’ll mess this all up.  The Mets and Cubs are my greatest risks to keep out of the playoffs in the NL, but they’ve earned that doubt.

The video quality is really bad.

She’s already a big Tourists fan. We attend every Sunday home game, and this year, she might be able to attend some night games during the summer. She’s promised that she’ll try to sleep in the mornings. She’s halfway through her score book already this season!