A Friendly Beating

The Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field are just perfect for a night of baseball. I mean it's been asked a million times before but is there a better ballpark in the Majors? Probably not.

You have a the great seats, the old school park, the hot dogs and the clear, crisp Chicago sky. Then to top it off, your team slams the Atlanta Braves for seven runs before the fourth inning is over!

The Cubs are looking lethal against Atlanta today and it's hard to argue that they won't figure in some October activity. Could this, their 100th year, really be the season that breaks the drought?

Well with Ryan Dempster well in control with 39 strikes from 63 pitches at the fifth inning mark, things are looking very good right now.

O's look way better than Yanks

The Yankees are being worked by the Orioles...I must be dreaming. Baltimore hasn't had a winning season in a decade for crying out loud!

Today's game at Camden Yards has the O's up 8-2 at the bottom of the seventh, with the Yankees looking pretty shakey at the plate.

The YES network commentators are now trying to deflect attention away from the poor Yanks outing by discussing the new hotel being built behind right field. Nice try fellas but looks like the AL East is gong to be a little tougher this season.

You have to like the O's - they're kind of cool as underdogs. But I think they should bring back the old school cartoon bird logo. That was particularly cool and suited the club's personality more.

Isn't the orginal still the best?

I'm watching a Padres - Rockies game that might never end. It's the top of the 11th and Tulowitzki is up with one out. No score.

Ground out into double play - hot damn - I've seen more hits on a Billy Ray Cyrus record. This could go all night.

Meanwhile, I watched Star Wars before the game and may have to reconsider my 'original' trilogy rankings. I mean the obvious call is that The Empire Strikes Back is the best of the three. It has the stunning opening sequence on the planet Hoth, the Jedi training scenes with Yoda, the introduction of Lando, the romance between Han and Leah, and of course, the brilliant showdown of Luke and Darth. I agree, it's hard to beat.

But I think all too often fans and commentators alike forget the wonder of the original. In A New Hope we fall in love with the characters, we learn their backgorunds, we best witness Luke's innocence and Han's bravado, and we get the comedy of 3-PO and R-2. In addition, I can't look past that middle act inside the Death Star; it's just a thrill to watch our heroes on the run within the enemy camp.

I might just bump this film to the top of my trilogy list - for now anyway.

PS. The game has since moved onto the 13th inning...

The competition is Royally screwed

Just how good are the Kansas City Royals?

Well they've gone from laughing stock of the majors to the 2008 cinderella team - and practically overnight!

Currently at 7-5, the Royals are atop the AL Central division and not looking like slowing down. And the real indication that they're a legitimate pennant contender? They bounced back to trounce the Minnesota Twins 5-1 after dropping three in a row. That type of resilience goes a long way when August rolls around.

The Royal's Brian Bannister pitched the second complete game of his career and did it in a frigid 29 degrees. Hey look, it's hard enough getting your shorts on in that type of cold let alone pelting a fastball. Bannister gave up only one walk and one unearned run, and struck out three. Yes, this is not a dream...the Royals are a good team.

What a great catch...I think...

I could actually visualize Melky Cabrera's against-the-wall catch today...amazing, I know.

I just listened to the Jays vs Yankees game on MLB.com Audio, the first time i've tuned into a radio call in a while. And what a refreshing change it was. Not only was the call on the Jays' Fan 590 as solid as it gets but the beautiful simplicity of listening to sports on the radio once again was, well, like music to my ears.

Sure, there's nothing like sinking your backside into a well-worn couch, chewing through a bag of pretzels and taking in a game on a giant LCD screen. But to shake things up a bit, I wholeheartedly endorse rediscovering the radio call.

For some people, I'm sure this is no revelation - perhaps you listen to ball games in the car or at the desk at work. But for those who've forgotten all about the old wireless amidst the plasmas, i-pods and pay per views, do yourself a favour. The radio game is still a treat, even when your team loses 3-2 on opening day.

Who's the new guy?

Opening day!

Fresh cut grass, the aroma of hotdogs, the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd and the fat guy blocking the view from your otherwise perfect $50-3B-line seats. There are a few days on the sporting calendar that make being a sports fan worthwhile and opening day is one of them.

The Nationals vs. Braves game in Washington DC's new ball park had everything - big hits, some runs and a suspenseful 3-2 win for the home team. And who will forget the boos the President received as he walked out for the opening pitch? I mean this was a home game for the big guy. I'd hate to see how opposing fans treat the chief next time he gets the starting assignment.

Barry Who?

Barry Bonds images - chiefly those of his lifesize bobblehead - have been completely removed from the San Francisco Giants' AT&T Park. That's right; if you're looking for signs of Barry you might have more luck on ebay...or not.

If it's billboards celebrating "756" runs you seek, however, forget it. Apparently the Giants are rebranding and refreshing for 2008. Yes folks, it's time to move on.

I feel San Francisco's pain; On the one hand, baseball's all-time home run champ was an integral part of your organisation for many years and deserves continued recognition. On the other, the guy has steroid allegations and perjury charges following him like that mutant odour on Seinfeld. At some point, don't you have to sell the car and wash your hair with tomato sauce?

The secret to NY success

If you're a Red Sox or Blue Jays fan, fuggettaboutit!

The NY Yankees clinched the American League East division title last week. So what's new, the New Yorkers have now won the division nine years straight. But while most experts believe the Yanks win because of their amazing talent and "genius" manager, I'm here to tell you it's the uniforms, haircuts and names that inspire their success.

Uniforms.
When i think of the intimidating and menacing Bronx Bombers, I picture the gray uniforms. That's G-R-A-Y. Yes the pinstripes are more famous, but you must realise the power of the grays. They're understated and underrated. It's inevitably the uniform movie makers use when re-creating the "scary" Yankees as well. Remember when Ricky Vaughn had to take 'em on in Major League? "C'mon Ricky, give 'em the heeeeeater!"

I digress.

Haircuts.
Then there's the Steinbrenner enforced haircuts. Jeter's is army sharp. So is A-Rod's--with a touch more styling--and even Johnny Damon looks tougher as a Yankee. Throw in Jason Giambi's five o'clock shadow and Randy Johnson's mo and you've got the makings of a regular Mean Streets posse.

And so to the names...

Names.
Robinson Cano: sounds like Robinson Caruso but not. Exotic, mysterious, an unknown quantity. Spells bad news for the opposition.

Hideki Matsui: Face it, Japanese names always sound cool.

Johnny Damon: He could be the quarterback-jock in any teen movie. Or maybe the lead singer of a punk band. It's only rock 'n roll but I like it.

Derek Jeter: Rhymes with "heater" and "beater", and contains the word "jet" so basically he's fast, and if you're not on his team you're screwed.

Melky Cabrera: Didn't I have one of those at Starbucks this morning? Whatever, it's a smooth name man.

Yep, may as well give them the World Series trophy too.