Major League Baseball

[Rex Grossman]

Is anyone interested in this?

I started to get into it last spring because MLB.TV (www.mlb.tv) was such a good deal and I could watch in HD via the PS3.

I've been a semi-regular guest on the US sport/pop culture podcast Americarnage (www.americarnage.co.uk) so I've agreed to take part in their fantasy baseball league. There are presenters and TV types (including the guy who hosts ESPN's fantasy baseball podcast for crying out loud) so I'm going to get killed. I don't even understand how my team works.

Anyway, the season started yesterday with Oakland beaten by Seattle in Tokyo. They're playing again right now (I've got a live stream open on my desktop) and the season really kicks off back in America in a week's time.

Play ball!

[bradigor]

Yep, watch it on and off (less so now I don't have ESPN anymore).

I support the Detroit Tigers, so expecting a big season ahead, especially with Verlander, Fielder, Inge and Cabrera.

[Rex Grossman]

Yep, watch it on and off (less so now I don't have ESPN anymore).

I support the Detroit Tigers, so expecting a big season ahead, especially with Verlander, Fielder, Inge and Cabrera.

Yeah, the Tigers should be good to watch?

Have you looked at MLB.TV? I bet you'd love an NHL version of it. It's amazing.

[bradigor]

I asked NHL about an app, they didn't fully confirm, but should be coming to XBL next season.

How much is MLB.TV?

[Rex Grossman]

MLB.TV is about £70 a year for the standard version, for an extra $10 you can watch on iPad, iPhone and consoles.

[Wickedkitten]

I haven't watched it really since I moved back over here but MLB seems like a pretty good deal

[Rex Grossman]

I haven't watched it really since I moved back over here but MLB seems like a pretty good deal

It's a total bargain. The NFL equivalent is far more expensive and offers far less. MLB.TV is such a good deal it's the main reason I've taken an interest in the sport.

[Charliemouse]

I like a bit of baseball though my team the Pirates are just about the shitest team around and have not made the play offs in about 30 years now.

[Rex Grossman]

I like a bit of baseball though my team the Pirates are just about the shitest team around and have not made the play offs in about 30 years now.

One of teh things that bothers me about baseball is the way that teams can stay bad for so long. Not like the NFL.

[kyletherobot]

I always watch out for the Giants results after a visit to AT&T park a couple of years ago in their World Series season, and I saw them last year on ESPN a couple of times too.

I'm a big fan of Brian Wilsons beard, so I hope that is enough to qualify me as a supporter.

[LaParka]

Love watching baseball. Always seem to have it on late at night whilst playing on the DS etc.

Still not picked a team though. Was thinking of picking the Pirates because of Pittsburgh, but I just can't bring myself to do it.

Its an odd sport where teams can just cruise by every year with no real investment (like Pirates) and still make money.

I also find it hard to keep up with just the sheer amount of games played.

[ilpostino]

Love baseball, thanks to channel 5.

Now I'm in Toronto I follow the Jays pretty heavily during the season. They've looked good in Grapefruit league games this spring and hopefully can keep the momentum going.

They showed flashes of turning the corner last season, but consistency ruined them. They play a good, aggressive style of ball and if they can get more production outside of Bautista they could make the playoffs for the first time in what seems like forever. Lord knows the Leafs aren't getting there any time soon so the city needs someone to cheer!

Hopefully I'll get to see a few games this season, too. If I do I'll throw the pictures up here.

[Rex Grossman]

Love baseball, thanks to channel 5.

Now I'm in Toronto I follow the Jays pretty heavily during the season. They've looked good in Grapefruit league games this spring and hopefully can keep the momentum going.

They showed flashes of turning the corner last season, but consistency ruined them. They play a good, aggressive style of ball and if they can get more production outside of Bautista they could make the playoffs for the first time in what seems like forever. Lord knows the Leafs aren't getting there any time soon so the city needs someone to cheer!

Hopefully I'll get to see a few games this season, too. If I do I'll throw the pictures up here.

[OneDvBmbr]

Missed this thread when originally posted. Been looking for somewhere to talk baseball!

I always watch out for the Giants results after a visit to AT&T park a couple of years ago in their World Series season, and I saw them last year on ESPN a couple of times too.

I'm a big fan of Brian Wilsons beard, so I hope that is enough to qualify me as a supporter.

Like you, I'm a Giants fan after going to a game at AT&T Park. Got family that live in the Bay Area and they know one of the co-owners (they move in much more illustrious circles than I do!) and got seats in the Dugout Club just behind home plate when I visited in September. Loved the whole experience and so been following the start of this season quite closely - my first real season following baseball in any form.

So-so start so far. Whitewashed by the D-Backs in the opening series, but come back to life a little since then. If the pitching can be as strong as it should be, then the Giants should go well and hopefully make the post-season this time around. Unfortunately it looks like Wilson is out for the season needing Tommy John surgery but there's a really deep bullpen so hopefully can work around that.

Mainly getting my fix on ESPN America - not really wanting to fork out for MLB TV on top of my bloody expensive Sky subscription.

[Rex Grossman]

Mainly getting my fix on ESPN America - not really wanting to fork out for MLB TV on top of my bloody expensive Sky subscription.

You should find a few friends who want to share the cost. For some reason it allows multiple log-ins but tells you not to do it.

[Ren]

As a Rangers fan the last 2 seasons has been heartbreak beyond words. They where 1 out away from winning it all twice last season and that was their 2nd straight WS loss

I'm starting to understand what Buffalo bills fans must have felt in the early 90s

[Rex Grossman]

As a Rangers fan the last 2 seasons has been heartbreak beyond words. They where 1 out away from winning it all twice last season and that was their 2nd straight WS loss

I'm starting to understand what Buffalo bills fans must have felt in the early 90s

I've developed a real soft spot for the Rangers after visiting north Texas last spring. Baseball is a distant second (at best) to American football in that part of the world and the Ballpark at Arlington is dwarfed by Cowboys Stadium next door. They seem like proper underdogs.

[LaParka]

Humbers just thrown a perfect game for the White Sox against the Mariners :omg:

[thefriscokid]

20 years since we won our first World Serie against the Braves, come on Jays!!!!!!!

[LaParka]

Anyone catch the Yankees Red Sox game last night? Boston were up 8 - 0, Fox cut away to show the ending of the perfect game in Seattle and when they came back it was 8 - 7. Then the following inning the Yankees scored another 7 to make it 8 - 14. Finished 8 - 15. Bonkers.

[ilpostino]

Anyone catch the Yankees Red Sox game last night? Boston were up 8 - 0, Fox cut away to show the ending of the perfect game in Seattle and when they came back it was 8 - 7. Then the following inning the Yankees scored another 7 to make it 8 - 14. Finished 8 - 15. Bonkers.

I was in the pub talking to the missus about it, saying that it was pretty much done. We went home, I played some Trials then turned on the telly to see that it was 14-7.

Everyone hates the Yankees but they never quit, I'll give them that.

[Rex Grossman]

Humbers just thrown a perfect game for the White Sox against the Mariners :omg:

And almost messed it up on the very last pitch!

[Ren]

Seen to many Japanese pitchers flop over the years to really buy into the hype when a new one comes over but Yu Darvish looks like the real deal

[Rex Grossman]

Seen to many Japanese pitchers flop over the years to really buy into the hype when a new one comes over but Yu Darvish looks like the real deal

And the Rangers looks awesome.

Even better than the past two years. Hope they can finally win it all this season.

[bradigor]

Detroit not having the best start to the season. Steady enough start, but need to kick it up a gear soon I feel.

[ilpostino]

So how many more games do we reckon it'll take before Pujols actually hits a home run?

I know he's a slow starter but he's usually knocked a few over the fence by now...

[ilpostino]

Mariano Rivera tore his ACL warming up yesterday in Kansas City. At 42, that could be him finished in the game.

Huge loss for the Yankees and baseball in general if he's done. I hate the Yankees but not Rivera. Best closing pitcher the game has ever seen.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/7888133/mariano-rivera-new-york-yankees-carted-field-apparent-knee-injury

[TehStu]

Oh, we do have a thread!

Anyone watching the NLDS? My Cardinals are looking ropey, after winning the first game. We're looking at going 2 down to the Cubs at this rate. Not good, best of 5. Doesn't really surprise me, we've had an odd season of thrashing most people, and frequently getting thrashed, by the Cubs included.

Anyway, we've won it recently and have had two world wars since the Cubs won, so I don't begrudge them. Also, this is the year they win the world series in BTTF 2.

[ryodi]

With my Red Sox having a terrible season made worse by them firing Don Orsillo I've been watching whatever playoff games have been on at a reasonable hour in the UK on mlb.tv.

The complete capitulation by the Astros to the Royals last night was amazing to watch. 6-1 up and cruising with the stadium rocking they let the Royals score 5 runs in the 8th and they had no reply. The ball park went quiet and I'd be very impressed if they manage to win the series in KC after throwing a lead like that away last night.

[Timbuktu]

Last night was an entertaining one all round with homers everywhere and the atmosphere for all the games felt fantastic, even through mlb.tv. I'd love to go to a postseason game at some point, it must be amazing to go to a Cubs game in Chicago now. I'd been to a feel Mets games, usually in mid-summer it's never anywhere near that full and lively.

I follow Red Sox really and Fenway always feel pretty crowded, even this year when they had no hope of making October. I am optimistic for next year though, they looked good towards the end, more so than I would be if I was a Yankee anyway.

Rooting for the Cubs, Mets, Royals and the Rays, that would be some line up.