Cleveland Indians Handicapping: 2006 Season Preview

From 2003 to 2004, the Cleveland Indians improved by 12 wins. They followed that up by improving by another 13 wins. Where will these Cleveland Indians be in 2006?

It is easy to expect a lot from these Indians. They have a young cohesive hitting lineup. No chemistry problems on the team at all. Their pitching staff is actually pretty decent considering they gave up Bartolo Colon not too long ago.

With all that said, if you are expecting similar success in 2006, be prepared for a disappointment.

Their improvement in 2005 from 2004 was strictly on their play on the road. As a young team, they had troubles on the road in 2004. Their unity and strength actually made them a better road team than home team in 2005. At home they were 43-38 (-13 units) but they were an impressive 50-31 (+22.15) on the road.

There is no way we can expect them to have so much success on the road in 2006. If they are going to be successful in 2006, they will have to figure out how to win some more games at home. 43 like last year will not cut it.

Another problem for these Indians was their play against left handed pitching. They were 50-58 (-17 units) over the past 2 seasons. They are a much imprved 122-93 (+25 units) against right handed pitching.

If they can pick up their play at home and against lefties, these Indians will have a successful 2006. Otherwise, watch them tank as so many up and coming teams have in the past.

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San Francisco Giants Handicapping: 2006 Season Preview
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Florida Marlins Handicapping: 2006 Season Preview
The past two seasons have been pretty identical for these Marlins. 83 wins and about -16 units in both of the two seasons.The Marlins have shown some success against left handed pitching as compared to right handed pitching. Vegas is correctly decidi...

Toronto BlueJays Handicapping: 2006 Season Preview
The Toronto Bluejays are either going to be a very exciting team in 2006 or a very mediocre underachieving team. They made a lot of offseason moves that should catapult them to the top of the American League. It is just unfortunate that the Yankees a...

Chicago Cubs Handicapping: 2006 Season Preview
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Washington Nationals Handicapping: 2006 Season Preview
The record books are going to show the Nationals as a very average 81-81 team with poor hitting in 2005. Their ballpark is very pitcher friendly so their pitchers seemed sensational and hitters seemed horrendous. A pitching friendly park allows them ...

Atlanta Braves Handicapping: 2006 Season Preview
The Braves win the National League East division every year. With the Phillies and Mets being teams notorious for choking, is there any reason to believe these Braves should not repeat again? No.It is not only that these Braves win games, but they wi...

Tampa Bay Devilrays Handicapping: 2006 Season Preview
When people think about slum teams in baseball, they think of the Devil Rays. They average about 65 wins a season over the past 7 seasons. This is 97 losses. So you can imagine always betting against them, right?I would beg to differ. The past two se...

Baltimore Orioles and The History of Camden Yards

In April 1992, Camden Yards opened its doors as a brand new $100 million facility that was designed under the architectural guidance of HOK Sport and constructed by Danobe Construction. Located just two blocks from Babe Ruths birthplace in downtown Baltimore, the centerfield at this 85-acre facility is also the site at which Ruths father once operated Ruths Caf. In the beginning, there was some debate over the name to be given to the new ballpark. Some felt that it should be named Oriole Park after its tenants, the Baltimore Orioles, but others were set on calling it Camden Yards. In a pleasing compromise, the park was ultimately named Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Just like every other ballpark in Major League Baseball, a number of memorable events have been hosted at Camden Yards. Among them, the 1993 All-Star game was held here. In September 1995, Cal Ripken Jr. awed fans by competing in his 2,131st consecutive game and, ultimately, breaking the record set by Lou Gehrig. The following year, in 1996, Eddie Murray hit his 500th career homerun. In addition, the only no-hitter ever pitched at this ballpark was thrown by Hideo Nomo in 2001.

Spectators who visit Camden Yards will be greeted with a variety of amenities, including the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame memorabilia, the Camden Club and sports bar, a cafeteria and gift shop. Additionally, fans can enjoy a stroll on Eutaw Street, which houses cement imprinted bronze baseballs that are designed to commemorate homeruns that have been hit at the facility. The design is Camden Yards is in amenity in itself as it has revolutionized the way that new facilities are constructed. A combination of steel columns, beams and trusses have made it a classic, while its 48,000 spectator capacity have made it accessible. Although its concrete trusses, a brick facade, natural grass playing surface and an asymmetrical playing field have served as inspiration to modern facilities being built, Oriole Park at Camden Yards itself was influenced by other ballparks, including Fenway Park, Ebbets, Forbes and Wrigley Field.

Baltimore Orioles fans can also participate in regular tours at Camden Yards, which includes a closeup look at the suites, scoreboards and control rooms, press levels and the dugout. Public tours are given daily with private tours available upon reservation. For those who desire an even closer look, perhaps a meeting with one or more of the Baltimore Orioles players or coaches would fit the bill. Time permitting, baseball notables may sometimes be found signing autographs up until 45 minutes prior to the opening pitch.

Collectors who wish to request an autograph from any one of the players on the Baltimore Orioles roster should send their letter and a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) to:

Players Name

c/o Baltimore Orioles

Oriole Park At Camden Yards

333 W. Camden Street

Baltimore, MD 21201

Fans requesting an autograph should limit their request to two items per letter. Popular items to have signed include photos, index or trading cards, baseballs, etc. Patience is key when requesting autographs through the mail, but the best time to reach an athlete is often during the off-season.

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Mike Lowell vs A-Rod

The major difference between Mike Lowell and Alex Rodriguez is quite simple: Mike Lowell had cancer, and A-Rod is a cancer.

In 2000 Alex Rodriguez was essentially the face of baseball. He signed the largest contract to date in American sports, one that would pay him $252 million over 10 years. We all know this, but what is also surfacing especially lately is his cancerous behavior that brings teams down. It is common knowledge that both Seattle and Texas improved when A-Rod left, earning him the nickname The Cooler. Many players have attributed the success post A-Rod, to the fact that he thought he was better then everyone else. He treated teammates like they were little leaguers, and always made it sound like he was more committed and worked harder than everyonewhich is a big thing to say in an era where there really is no offseason, since everyone is working hard year round.

Rodriguez has also been very contradictory in the media. Saying that he went to Texas because of the young talent they had stockpiled in their system, and then just a few years later requested a trade noting that If they had said Alex, its going to be you and 24 kids, I never would have come to Texas. Hes burned bridges everywhere hes been, and that didnt stop when he got to the Bronx. He was also the center of what can only be compared to a high school romance gone wrong, when he informed the media he wouldnt speak to team captain Derek Jeter. It takes a lot of testicular fortitude to come into a new city and publicly attack the centerpiece of a sports dynasty. I guess thats just another reason I cant stand Alex Rodriguez, and now that A-Rod will likely opt out of his contract at the end of the season, the Red Sox, have shown lots of interest in signing him.

Mike Lowell came to Boston, as baggage. He wasnt really wanted, he just sort of came with Josh Beckett. But Lowell has made a home here in Beantown. His teammates respect him, and have nothing but compliments for how hard he works on and off the field. Hes made some terrific plays at third, and done his part at the plate. Last season Lowell notched a career high 47 doubles, making use of the Green Monster every chance he got. This year Lowell was an All-Star, currently leads the team in home runs (15), and has really stabilized the middle of the order with the lackluster starts by Manny and the ailing Ortiz. But the best part about this guy is he WANTS to be here! And his teammates want him to stay. Would I like to see him back? Hell yeah. Its hard to replace that well-rounded of a player said captain Jason Varitek. I understand why the Red Sox refuse to negotiate a new deal with Lowell midseason. They wouldnt do it for Varitek or Schilling, and now its precedent. But I plead with top management not to let this guy slip away.

Sure I will be the first to admit that A-Rod, if he opts out, will be the best player available. Hes crushing the ball this season with 34 dingers and 100 RBIs to date. Hes got 498 career HRs to Lowells 178. By the numbers the Red Sox would be crazy to sign an older Mike Lowell over A-Rod. But sadly life isnt always about the numbers. Mike Lowell has a championship, and A-Rod doesnt (who knows if he ever will). And personally I would much rather have a character guy like Mike Lowell in the clubhouse then a gutless, un-clutch Alex Rodriguez.

Chris King is a graduate of Bentley College in Waltham, Massachusetts, and an avid New England sports fan.

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Buying a Discount Baseball Glove

Baseball gloves can be pricey additions to the game. For beginners, cheaper gloves available at discount retail stores are probably the best. For those who wish to advance their game, or for those who already play pro-or-semi-pro baseball, they certainly want the higher- end models. For anyone who wants to buy a baseball glove, it is usually the case that they want discount baseball gloves.

You can find discount baseball gloves in a variety of places. The Internet is certainly one of the best avenues to find discount baseball gloves. With the growing worldwide marketplace, there is, without a doubt, no shortage of discount baseball glove suppliers. A simple Internet search for “discount baseball gloves” will produce more results than you can sift through in a day.

One of the best ways to find discount baseball gloves is by looking for outdated or discontinued models. Many stores will have regular clearance sales to eliminate excess or overstocked merchandise as well. You will likely find excellent deals on baseball gloves by being at the right place at the right time. You can also email companies to ask about any upcoming specials or sales; most will be happy to tell you.

Another wonderful tool in finding discount baseball gloves is Ebay. Ebay is the largest online marketplace with millions of users and hundreds of thousands of sellers. Sporting goods is one of the most popular categories, by far. You can find great deals on baseball gloves, even custom baseball gloves, on the Ebay Web site. If you find a really great seller with really great deals, you can expect to save 50% and sometimes more on high quality baseball gloves. A little research can certainly yield tremendous savings.

If youre just starting out in your baseball career it is probably best to look for discounted or used baseball gloves. Doing so will allow you to get a feel for what style and size fits you best and save you the time of breaking in a brand new glove.

Baseball Gloves Info provides detailed information about custom and discount baseball gloves, as well as baseball batting gloves, baseball glove reviews, and advice on how to break in baseball gloves. Baseball Gloves Info is the sister site of Baseball Bats Web.

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Barry Bonds - Mixed Emotions Over the Homerun Record

So Barry Bonds hit his 756th homerun late Tuesday night on August 7th, 2007. How do you feel about this? Are you excited to see such a great record broken? Are you aggravated because it was Bonds who did it? For most people the answer is likely both.

Bud Selig called Bonds afterwards. Hank Aaron had a message on the big screen in the outfield. Neither seems too excited for Bonds. The fans cheered, but some booed. So why was there so many contradicting emotions? Are we truly upset that Bonds broke the record when we believe he used steroids? When Bonds broke the single season record by knocking 73 homeruns out, there wasnt such an outcry about steroids so we didnt complain so much then, but still some people complained. There was no real outcry when McGuire hit 70 a few years earlier. In fact people were more excited for McGuire than they were for Bonds. As much as we hate the steroids issue, it is not the steroids that causes so many people to be angry with Bonds breaking the record, or even not care about it. What really gets to many of the fans is Bonds disposition throughout his career.

Bonds has never been one to embrace the fans. He has had multiple issues with the media. As his career has moved along, he has turned many of the media and the fans against him with his sour attitude. It was his angry disposition that has turned the realm of baseball against him and rather than embrace him for breaking the record, many have become irritated with it instead.

Sure, if Bonds had been the cheerful sort all along, there would still be those who would complain and want an asterisk next to the record. If he would have embraced the fans from the beginning, there would still be those who would boo at him when he broke the record. However, there would have been many, many less anti-Bonds fans. Selig would have been in attendance and clapped. Aaron would have been there to cheer him on. As McGuire had saved baseball with his record breaking season while he was on steroids, the fans loved him and the fans would have done the same for Bonds if he hadnt turned them against him.

As I have mentioned already. There would still be fans who would boo him, but lets face the facts. The fans love the homerun! For the homerun, the fans will forgive a lot. Those same fans are a vengeful lot though, and if you turn them against you, nothing will be forgiven. Bonds second greatest mistake was to turn to steroids. (allegedly!) wink wink! Bonds greatest mistake of them all though, was to turn the media and fans against him though the years.

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Atlanta Braves & The History of Turner Field

Commonly referred to as the Home of the Braves in honor of its tenants, Turner Field hosted its inaugural Atlanta Braves game in April 1997. With the capability to seat more than 50,000 fans, spectators regularly pack themselves into this facility featuring a combination of vintage baseball styling and modern amenities. Speaking of amenities, Turner Field offers constant game updates via the Atlanta BravesVision video board, the PlazaVision board and more than 500 television monitors throughout. Inside the ballpark, spectators are invited to do the tomahawk chop in conjunction the 27ft. neon tomahawk, which resides atop the video board.

The playing surface at Turner Field is created with the use of prescription athletic turf, which features a drainage system and hybrid Bermuda grass. The facility features three different seating levels, which includes the Field level, Lexus level and upper level. The Lexus level offers 58 private suites and Turner Fields exclusive membership club known as the 755 Club. The upper level features a spectacular view of downtown Atlanta and the Field level gives spectators a close view of the action on the field.

One of the most notable, and historical, events held at Turner Field include the 1996 Summer Olympics. The Atlanta Braves Museum and Hall of Fame, which is located on the grounds of Turner Field, offers additional information on the history of the facility and the ballclub. In addition, it showcases more than 500 Atlanta Braves artifacts dating back to 1871. Open yearround, the Atlanta Braves Museum and Hall of Fame is among the most popular stops for tourists and sports fans. For those who participate in the Turner Field tours, a visit to a luxury suite, the press box, broadcast booth, dugout, Scouts Alley, the clubhouse locker room and The Plaza are typically on the list of scheduled stops.

Tooner Field, which is a special childrens area of Turner Field, is presented by Cartoon Network and is a new $3.4 million project featuring cartoon-themed baseball decor. Measuring over 13,000 sq. ft., Tooner Field allows youngsters to challenge their skills in a fun way and while enjoying one of the newest additions to Turner Field.

From young and old to small and tall, Turner Field offers something for every fan. Although most come to enjoy an exciting game of baseball, touring the museum or watching the little ones enjoy an afternoon at Tooner Field is a terrific way to spend some time before the game starts. The great American game of baseball is no longer just an ordinary day at the ballpark. Today, its a host of activities leading up to the big event that is sure to be a fun-filled day for everyone.

Collectors who wish to request an autograph from any one of the players on the Atlanta Braves roster should send their letter and a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) to:

Players Name
c/o Atlanta Braves
755 Hank Aaron Drive
Atlanta, GA 30315

Fans requesting an autograph should limit their request to two items per letter. Popular items to have signed include photos, index or trading cards, baseballs, etc. Patience is key when requesting autographs through the mail, but the best time to reach an athlete is often during the off-season.

Read the latest Atlanta Braves news, Fantasy Baseball news and all other baseball news on http://www.sportsnews24h.com/Baseball/

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Backing Up In The Field In Little League Baseball

While managing or coaching in youth baseball for the last 18 years, I have found that teaching 11 and 12 year olds how to back each other up in the field can help keep them in the game on almost every play. Of course I learned the importance of backing up the hard way over the years, when sure groundouts would translate into a single and three base error. Or, as my older brother Howie would call it, a Little League Home Run. All youth baseball coaches know what a Little League Home Run, is right? You know, when the shortstop or third baseman overthrows the ball to first base, followed by yet another overthrow to second or third, allowing the batter to run all the way around the bases to the tune of cheering parents, which builds to a crescendo as the batter touches home plate. What can easily be described as one of the most exciting plays for the offense can also be one of the most frustrating things for the opposing coach to deal with. With some practices before and during the season reviewing defensive situations, a team can learn when and where to back up certain plays. Remember, these situations must be practiced until they become second nature to the players, and during the game, when the situation comes up, the manager or coach can yell out instructions to remind players of their responsibility.

By backing each other up, we are accomplishing a number of things. First, outfielders backing up infielders helps keep them in the game instead of being hidden somewhere in the outfield daydreaming or swatting flies. Second, backing up helps teach young players the game of baseball. The third reason to practice backing up is the most obvious: to keep the opposition from moving up. In my experiences coaching, I have found that the best two skills to practice in youth baseball are backing up and baserunning.

Any of us who have managed youth baseball knows that the team that throws the ball around in the field the least will play an important part in keeping the game competitive. The first thing I always like to teach my defense on a base hit is for the outfielders to throw the ball back into the infield by hitting the cutoff, either shortstop or second baseman. Late in the game, or in a close game, however, I like to teach my outfielders to run the ball in, if the runners arent advancing extra bases, to prevent possible throwing errors. We have all seen situations where the outfielder tries to throw out the runner at first base from the outfield, which I emphatically try to discourage. Outfielders should also never throw the ball back directly to the pitcher. It is an unnecessary throw that could only lead to errors, which could force the opposing baserunners into scoring opportunities.

There are literally dozens of back up situations in youth baseball, but I will go over five. The first one we practice is a bunt when no man is on base. I teach the right fielder to begin to move in to back up the first baseman. The right fielder should run to the foul line first then come up the line. The right fielder should not end up too close to the first baseman because if he does an overthrow will go past him also.

The second situation we practice occurs when there is a man on second base. The left fielder should back up the third baseman on a steal. Again, the left fielder goes to the foul line first then proceeds up the line, but does not come up too close to the third baseman. Remember, a good short stop will also back up the throw.

The third back up situation is with a man on first and a ball hit to the left side of the infield. The second baseman will cover second base for the force out. We also teach the right fielder to back up the throw to prevent the baserunner from taking extra bases on an overthrow. The right fielder will end up in short right center field when backing up.

The fourth situation is the same as the previous one, except there is a man on first base and the ball is hit to the right side of the infield. In this situation, the shortstop covers second for the force. The left fielder will run in the direct line of the throw from the second baseman or first baseman, follow the ball, and back up the throw. He will end up in short left center field.

The fifth situation is a little tricky. There is a baserunner on first and the batter bunts. If the baserunner at first is fast and the third baseman fields the bunt deep toward home, third base might be left open for the runner on first to go all the way to third. This happens because the shortstop will cover second and the second baseman rotates to first. What we teach is when there is a man on first and the batter bunts, the leftfielder comes all the way to the infield to cover third base.

As any baseball fan knows, backing up a defensive play is all part of the game. In youth baseball, the importance of backing up is magnified in importance. Coaches need to practice different situations. Not all at once, but maybe go through 2 or 3 at each practice, and by the end of the season, the team will be exposed to many of the back up situations that occur during a game of youth baseball.

http://www.YouthSportsClub.com
http://www.VideosForCoaches.com

Marty Schupak has coached youth baseball for 18 years and is the video creator of “The 59 Minute Baseball Practice”, “Backyard Baseball Drills”, “Winning Baseball Strategies”, “Hitting Drills & Techniques” and author of the popular book, “Youth Baseball Drills”. He is a principle of Videos For Coaches and also President of the Youth Sports Club, a group dedicated to making sports practices and games more enjoyable for kids.

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The Importance Of Wearing Batting Gloves

The design for batting gloves is pretty basic on the surface. But because they are so important each manufacturer has its own unique approach. Each manufacturer has its own designs as well. These designs the manufacturer hopes will create stand apart gloves.

Some manufacturers of baseball batting gloves include Easton, Franklin, Mizuno, and Rawlings. They make each with a variety of materials, including leather and fabric. The gloves work well to allow batters to rely on their equipment without thinking about how it performs. They offer players the ability to grip the bat and properly protect their hands from the elements. The materials used are waterproof, and some of the gloves come with anti-microbial materials. Some retailers can also offer the convenience of purchasing baseball equipment online.

The Internet offers customers a fast and convenient way to find whatever they need. Players have a large selection at their fingertips and with such selection can choose good equipment at prices that work within their budgets. Because they can buy merchandise that is of the necessary quality to play the game well and at prices that work for them, players of all skill levels can rely use the Internet as a reliable resource to peruse the many different batting gloves available and find the particular gloves that work for them.

Visit http://www.homerunmonkey.com to find top quality baseball batting gloves. With a huge selection baseball equipment, customers can find whatever they need for the right price. Visit the web site today to find the equipment that works best for you.

You can find excellent baseball equipment online, at Home Run Monkey. This site is a retailer for all kinds of baseball equipment, such as balls, caps, bats, and baseball batting gloves, to name a few. You can easily purchase great baseball equipment by visiting http://www.homerunmonkey.com or by calling 1 (888) 771-3111.

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Rogan Alan McDowell was born on December 21, 1960 in Cincinnati. He represented the Major League Baseball for 12 consecutive seasons from the year 1985 to the year 1996. He partnered with the well-known teams of the league including the New York Mets, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers. His association with the American League was with the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles. Few would forget the grace and movements of this player-turned- coach during the colorful days of his career.

This class player, a product of Bowling Green State University, who bats and throws right made his debut in the Major League on April 11, 1985 in the Final Game. The eleven years of his active playing career was known for the commitment and dedication this player exhibited throughout, irrespective of the team with which he partnered. His farewell game was on August 14, 1996 in his final game of the Major League.

The Atlanta Braves hired this player as a pitching coach for their team in October 2005, an incident thus replacing Leo Mazzone. A player well known and a mentor and coach matured, and committed McDowell was known to wear Kilts off the field. Many a record is waiting to be bettered by his staff in the coming years under his stewardship in the Atlanta Braves.

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What once was known as Americas national pastime is quickly becoming one of the most popular sports around the world. The game of baseball has grown in popularity almost globally with professional leagues in many countries including Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Canada, and all throughout the Caribbean. With such a diverse following amongst its fans the growth of baseball magazines and its related industries has grown tremendously over the past decades. There is virtually every element of information regarding the game available to those who actively seek it out.

Baseball magazines have become more and more specialized over the course of the last twenty years as the growing number of recorded statistics kept by major league baseball has increased. As opposed to some magazines of years gone by that would cover all the major sporting events, there is now a trend to highlight and isolate individual sports in order to give fans more specific knowledge about the one sport they love most. For baseball fans this has become quite a bonanza as there are baseball magazines that feature everything from pure statistics and the sports top stories to the specialty magazine which may feature such things as baseball trading card values or who to draft in the upcoming seasons fantasy draft.

There is also the internet to consider. Many baseball magazines are now published and available online either in a downloadable format or on websites dedicated strictly to what is considered the news of the day. This may include such information as daily player transactions, the latest scores and standings, or even game odds giving the fan the best idea of who will win that days games.

As far as the history of baseball is concerned, some of the most notable and long lasting publications are still around years after their initial publications. The Sporting News, Baseball Digest, and Street and Smiths Baseball Annual are still among the top sellers even today. As such, the early issues of these baseball magazines are currently some of the most sought after items by collectors worldwide. Among the most treasured are those featuring stories and interviews from past superstars of the game. Original magazines from the 1950s featuring the likes of Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays attract top dollar by baseball enthusiasts everywhere.

The most important aspect of todays baseball magazines is the variety that can be had. If you are a casual fan looking for reviews of last season or previews of the next there is plenty of material available. If it is the breakdown of individual player stats that gets your attention the market is full of publications for you as well. When looking for information any baseball fan can always find what they need at a reasonable price given the options that are available.

Ian Botham runs his own online sports goods mail order business as well as several sports related websites.
Go here to visit one of his sites regarding Outdoor Sports Gear articles and resources:

http://www.sports-gear-world.info

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