Major League Baseball
 

I know some of you follow it, it's time to get a bit more discussion happening.

Anyone catch the Cardinals match just now? Fair whack from Bennett with bases loaded, could have only been a better atmosphere if they were 3 down!

We lost about $3k on it at work, so I shouldn't be happy, but I backed them. I love my shorts in the baseball because they're more reliable than most other sports.

Anyway, continue discussion...

Yeah that game was quite the thriller.

The Dodgers are going great this season, I'm picking them to go close.

boring

I agree, baseball is crud, but only when you don't have money riding on it; otherwise it's great!

Hmmm.... last time I checked this was a cricket site. Take your heresy elsewhere.

Not sure what happened to my Atlanta Braves this year, but it sure has been heartbreaking.

Ive become an Insomniac, and baseball is on almost every nite on channel five in england, and i dont mind it to be honest

Saw some of it last night after work, it's not bad at all. Kept me interested enough to watch again tonight if I can be bothered.

Yeah, I became so happy with being awake all night that I decided to work night shifts, then I could watch more baseball..

Baseball rocks! Any predictions on the post season? Is Detriot for real? Who wins the AL Wild Card?

Yep, not just the empty-minded slog a lot of people seem to think it is, quite good to watch. I haven't got a clue how the leagues work though, it's too complicated at 2 in the morning.

I'll explain.

There are 2 leagues: The American League and the National League (the AL uses the Designated Hitter, who bats for the pitcher, the National League doesn't.

The 2 leagues are sub-divided into 3 divisions, East, Central, West. The teams will play many matches against teams in their division, less against teams out of their division but in their league, and will play very few matches outside of their league (known as inter-league play.) There are 162 games in a MLB schedule.

There's a post season as well, which I cba to explain.

There are two leagues: American and National. The major difference between the two is the role of a "designating hitter". The DH does not have to field a position, he can just hit in the lineup. In the American League, the DH is in place. This means the pitcher (bowler) does not have to bat, which makes the American League style of play more offensive as pitchers in baseball generally can't hit. Conversely, in the National League, there is no DH, so the pitcher has to hit. Often times this means an automatic out for the opposing team. The National League is hence more defensive style of play and requires a lot more strategy. I prefer the AL myself.
The game is not as easy as Cricket aficionados tend to make it (my first love is cricket mind you, but I love baseball as well). It involves a lot of strategy and skill, just like any major sport. Some of the great baseball rivalries are just as stirring as those of Cricket's. Yankees/Redsox rivalry is probably the best rivalry in American sports.

ive played baseball for about 3 years now only becuz cricket isnt so popular here in canada. but me and my buds still play cricket.

The post season involves the winners of each division (in both leagues) being involved in a playoff, and the best NL team and the best AL team play in the World Series.. The winner of which is, well the best..