Love To Hate: The Dark Side of MLB Fandom

Obi-Wan once warned Luke Skywalker by saying, "Don't give into hate. That leads to the Dark Side!". Obi-Wan's words still ring true to this day and if only his warning could be heard by current baseball fans. It seems as though the line between disliking a team and obsessive hate has been blurred. There is a dark side to baseball fandom, and I'm not talking about bandwagon fans.

A perfect example of this blurred line is the rivalry between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A's. I've noticed that quite a few A's fans are more happy when the Giants lose than when the A's are win. And it's hard for me to view them as real A's fans when they seem to be so obsessed with hating the Giants that they ignore their own team's success. 

AJ Griffin could've pitched a perfect game, but the cliche haters have to tweet about how much they hate the Gnats (a term as clever as a Ke$ha lyric) and how much they hate the fact that the Giants are trending and the A's aren't (Really? You're team won and you're more concerned with trending topics?) or that the Giants get more exposure or have bandwagon fans (with memes that are as old and tired as Madonna's career).

Giants fans do it, too. I don't like the Dodgers, but I don't tweet "#BeatLA" daily when the Giants aren't even playing them. I'm more concerned with the game and seeing my team play, then letting my disliking of the Dodgers take over. I don't brag about how we won two World Series championships in three years. That was then, this is now. You can brag about how many titles your team has won but as Babe Ruth once said, "Yesterday's home runs don't win today's games". 

Newsflash: Any sports team that gains success, especially championships, will gain bandwagon fans. Whether it's the Giants, Angels, White Sox, ect…if they're winning, the bandwagon gets bigger. I'm all for civil trash talk, but there are some fans that have given into the "dark side", here's how:

1. Daily bashing of a rival team and/or their fans. If you tweet daily about how much you hate a certain team or player, it shows immaturity and that you're one dimensional. It's especially pathetic if the rival team that has earned your social media hatred isn't even playing your team (or playing at all). If you complain about a team and their fans everyday, it shows that you're a person who thrives on negativity. Your status updates, your tweets, memes, ect…we get it. You're the Taylor Swift of your team's fanbase.

2. A loss means more than a win. If a team's loss is your focus more than your team's win, how can you call yourself a fan? 

3. "All their fans are the same". This is seriously one of the stupidest thing I've read or heard people say about any team's fans. That's like saying all baseball players take steroids/PEDs. Every team (keyword EVERY) team has fans that represent the team well and fans that don't. If you had bad experiences with a team's fanbase, that sucks. Bringing it up every chance you get just makes you sound bitter. Move on with your life.
4. Celebrating injuries. If you get genuinely happy when a player gets injured, you're a whole new level of low and have no class. I don't care how much you hate a team, these guys are out there living their dream. An injury is serious and has the possibility to take their dream away and you're happy about that? 

I don't' expect Giants and A's fans to hold hands and sing "Give Peace A Chance". I don't expect Yankees and Red Sox fans to have a BBQ together. However, it would be nice to see more civility between rival teams and their fans.

Thanks For Reading,

Jordan

Things Baseball Fans Need To Stop Doing (Part 3)

This is the final installment in my "Things Baseball Fans Need To Stop Doing" trilogy. I hope you've enjoyed the previous two and I hope you enjoy this one.

1. Acting like you're better than everyone. I don't care if you are a Yankees fan, an A's fan, or even a Giants fan - you are not better than any other fan. My #1 team (Giants) have won two World Series titles in the last three years. Do I think I'm better than a Mets fan? No, I don't. I don't think I'm better than any fan of any team in Major League Baseball. Baseball fans need to realize that just because you wear a jersey of a team or have them as your Twitter avi, doesn't mean your better than someone who roots for a different team. Have some class. Nothing is more annoying than people saying "We're the realest fans in MLB!". 

2. Assuming that a few bad fans represents an entire fan base. I don't care what team you name, each team has their loyal, diehard fans that have decency and class and they also have their disrespectful classless fans. If you think your team only has respectable fans, then you probably still think Santa Clause delivers presents on Christmas Eve. Don't assume that just because you've seen (or heard) fans that are disrespectful and just plain stupid, it doesn't mean they represent the entire teams fanbase. Teams have a lot of fans from all walks of life and to throw them in with the bad apples isn't fair to them. It's like saying all guys are the same or all women are the same. They're not. Maybe it's just the people you choose to be around or experience.

I've experienced Giants fans who think they're better than everyone (98% of them being bandwagon fans that I wish were apart of the 78,000 people that signed up to live on Mars). I've harassed by A's and Dodgers fans. Do I think every fan of those teams are the same? No. I've met a lot of fans from all those teams that are genuine fans and awesome people. I know it's not going to bring peace between rivals and no people aren't going to think before they post their daily cliche "I hate Gnats" or "A's fans are jokes" tweets, but I hope at least there will be some that will use their brains - wishful thinking, I know.

3. Blaming umpires because your team is losing. I'll admit, MLB umpires this season have been, for the most part, terrible (i.e. that infamous Rays/Rangers game earlier in the season). I also know that they're human and humans make mistakes. However, blaming them for every time your team loses or is losing is stupid. You can't blame umpires if you're team isn't getting the job done. If a player swings his way to a strikeout, who's fault is it? The player. Learn the difference between a blown call and a team that's struggling.

4. Not paying attention the game. Every team's fanbase is guilty of this. You've probably seen them at a game. They're the people - usually with great seats - who are glued to their cell phones or some other mobile device. Why would you spend money on a game (or attend if someone paid for your ticket) if you're not going to watch the game. It's as bad as doing the wave. If you're that bored, leave.

5. Leaving before a game is over. Seriously? You're gonna pay money to go to a game and leave before it's done? That's like paying to go see a movie you really want to see and then leave half way into it. I don't care if you're team is winning by 15 or losing by 15 - if you're true fan, you should be there until the final out. Whether it's 9 innings or 20, leaving before it's over (unless it's because of an emergency) is ridiculous.

6. Complaining that your team isn't trending on Twitter. Really? Your team just won and you're complaining because they're not trending on a social media website? If they don't trend, does that mean they didn't really win? No, so stop. It's freakin' Twitter. Majority of trending topics have all the intelligence of Jose Canseco's tweets. If you want your team to trend so bad, add their hashtag to every tweet or subtweet. That should be enough tweets to get #Astros trending (besides when they're beating the Angels).

7. Disrespect for the A's. A's are my #2 and so this is a little bit biased, but the lack of respect for the A's is ridiculous. From people saying things like "They're doing pretty good, it looks like they'll be around for a while". Really? A's are one of the oldest teams in MLB. And for the people that down O.co and the lack of attendance. One section of O.co is louder than most "full" ballparks. Are far as passion, ask Jon Heyman. Aside from the death threats, A's fans showed their love for their team and ballpark. Wake up and realize A's are contenders. If you can't see that, your vision is worse than Angel Hernandez.

Things Baseball "Fans" Need To Stop Doing (Part 2)

Welcome to the sequel to my semi-popular post "Things Baseball Fans Need To Stop Doing" because let's face it, there are too many annoying things that fans do and it can't be contained in just one blog entry.

1. Wearing the wrong team attire at a game. If you're going to attend a baseball game, whether you're rooting for the home team or the visiting team, wear the right attire. It looks incredibly stupid to wear a an Angels hat to a Red Sox vs. Yankees game. It doesn't matter if you're an Angels fan - if they're not playing at the game you're at, what's the point of wearing the hat? If you're at the game because you were invited, understandable - but don't wear a hat (or jersey) of a team that's not playing. If you hate both teams, just wear regular clothes.

2. Being arrogant. I don't care if you've been a fan your whole life or a fan for only a couple of years - a fan is a fan. I've been watching/following baseball since I was 5. 20+ years of watching games, tracking stats, ect. For as long as I've followed the game, I will never be arrogant to think that I know everything or look down on a fan who's only been following for a few years. Baseball fans need to stop looking down on fans who have less experience with the game. If someone's a new fan with a genuine interest/love for the game, you should welcome them to the greatest sport on the planet.

3. Fan bashing at games. Not every fan that's at the ballpark is rooting for the home team. That doesn't mean they deserve to be verbally unfortunately sometimes physically assaulted for that. They're there to enjoy a game, just like you. Who cares if they're wearing a hat or jersey of the opposing team? If I'm at AT&T and I see a Dodgers fan, I'll say some jokes here and there but I'm not going to spend the entire game harassing them. In my mind, they're a fan that doesn't get to see their favorite team unless they come to the city they live in. They're there to enjoy the game and they have the right to. You can still have from friendly banter during the game, but be respectful. 

4. Cleat Chasers. You give female fans (who actually care about the game) a bad name. You wanna sleep with baseball players, that's your business but get i under control. No one wants to hear it. Your desires are like needles - don't share them.

5. Not knowing when your team is playing. We all have busy schedules, jobs, obligations, commitments, ect. but thanks to MLB.com and baseball apps, there is no excuse for tweets like "Did the A's win today?" when it's an off day. If you're a fan, you should know when you're team is playing. I can't count how many times I've seen "#LetsGoOakland" or "#BeatTheSox" on Twitter when neither team is playing that day. There are plenty of free apps to have on your phone and/or iPad (or iPod) to keep you up to date with team schedules - use them.

Thanks For Reading,

Jordan

"You Play Ball Like A Girl" - Sexism In Baseball

I know this won't end the problem of sexism in baseball, but I figured maybe it'll get a few people to think before they speak/act (I know, it's a stretch):

Dear Sexist Baseball Fans,

Just because women have different parts than you, it does not give you the right to look down on them. It does not give you the right t stereotype them. It does not give you the right to assume that you know more about the sport of a baseball than they do. Just because they're female, it does not make them any less of a fan and it does not make them any less educated on the sport of baseball. Just because you have a penis, it doesn't mean it makes you better than them.

Stop calling every female baseball a fan a "cleat chaser". First off, it makes you sound like a moron. Secondly, not every female fan's goal in life is to round the bases with every player they see. Thirdly, as with any word/term/phrase, LEARN what it means BEFORE you use it.  I've had a lot of conversations/discussions with female fans in regards to baseball. And honestly, the know more about the sport than most guys. I see a lot of them going on to become great sports journalists/reporters (hopefully one of them takes Amy G's job…like tomorrow).

Accept the fact that there are female baseball fans. They love the sport, just like you. When they watch at home or at a ballpark, they want to enjoy the game just like you. They have opinions about the game, just like you. They will root for their team just like you root for yours. Will you always agree with their opinions? Of course not, and they won't always agree with yours (and if you're a sexist baseball fan, they're better of acting as if you don't exist). But that's one of the great things about being a baseball fan - you don't have to agree all the time and you don't even have to like the same team but you can find common ground in the fact that you love the greatest sport on Earth.

In closing, being a sexist does not make you a better fan or add to your "equipment" (or whatever "clever" name you have for your male sex organ). Sexism is a disgrace to baseball (and it shows how a little of a man you are). Instead of looking down on them or attacking them via social media (I'm calling you out, "keyboard warriors"), accept that girls love baseball, too. Baseball is too a great of a sport to let sexism poison it.

Sincerely,

Jordan

Things Baseball "Fans" Need To Stop Doing

They invade ballparks. They invade social media. They're easy to find, hard to get rid of. They claim to be "baseball fans" but really they should be banned like PEDs.

These are the things that baseball "fans" need to stop doing.

1. Freaking out of everything. I tend to loop this in with being a bandwagon fan. This is ever so apparent on Twitter during a game. These "fans" literally lose their minds of everything little things that their team does wrong. A pitcher could stand a certain way that they don't like and they're running with a cross and nails ready to crucify him on the mound.

No team is perfect. It's ok to get upset when they're not playing their best. But blowing up after every little thing (especially when it's early in the season/game) is ridiculous. If the team gives up 10 runs and 5 errors the 7th inning, there's reason to get worked up. If they give up a run in the 1st inning, there's no need for "I give up! I'm done with this team!".

If you can't stick with your team when they lose, you don't deserve to cheer when they win. Simple as that.

2. Touching a ball when it's in play. There's no better way to piss of your team and it's fans simultaneously in less than 5 seconds than to touch a ball that's in play. I understand catching a game ball is exciting, but unless it's a foul ball or a home run - don't touch the freakin' ball! If you love your team as much you deck yourself out in their shirts and hats, you'll keep your hand to yourselves.

3. The wave. I'll be nice on this one. Frankly, the wave is annoying. It's distracting. It annoys the players and fans. I get that fan interaction is big and I'm all for it, but you paid to watch the game - so watch the game.

4. Being sexist. This pisses me off more than bandwagon fans. I get extremely annoyed when female fans - legitimate female fans - are looked down upon and/or referred to as "Cleat Chasers". A fan is a fan. Half of the fans that I talk to regularly are female and know more than male fans. Like I said, a fan is a fan - regardless of gender.

5. Wishing harm on opposing teams/players. It's ok to not like a team or player, but wishing that they would get injured is just plain stupid and makes you sound like an idiot. These guys - whether you like them or not - are living their dream. They're playing a sport that they love. Wishing an injury on them is wishing for that to be taken away from them.

Imagine if you're dream was to play baseball and people were wishing that you'd get injured. There's nothing wrong with trash-talking, just don't be malicious about it.

6. Booing former players that used to play for your team. Not every player wants to stay in the same place for their entire career. Some want to move on, explore other possibilities. Booing them for that makes you sound like a bitter ex-girlfriend/ex-boyfriend. Let go and move on (this especially goes out to Giants "fans" who STILL boo Cody Ross).

7. Verbal abuse towards girlfriends/wives of players. This is another thing that pisses me off about baseball "fans". These women have to deal with their guy being on the road and away from home for weeks and months at a time. Some have children to raise. Some are on the road. They have demanding lives and the last thing they need is idiotic trolls spewing hate towards them for no reason. 

They're human beings just like you. They have feelings. They're trying to be supportive of their man while having a life of their own. Stop being a tool and leave them alone. Seriously.

I could go on for a long time with the annoying things that "fans" do, but I think you get the point. If you're guilty of any of these - do the sport a favor and either stop or get out.

Thanks For Reading,

Jordan

Diamond Dynasty: Have The Giants Become The Yankees?

If you're a baseball fan, you're familiar with them. After the teams has a successful season, those that could've cared less are suddenly standing in line at a Target or Sports Authority buying as much team "swag" as they can fit on their body. These fans are not only just flat out annoying, but they are a poor representation of a team's true fanbase. Two teams in particular have suffered from this greatly, and they are the basis for my latest Bullpen Blast post.

In 1996, the New York Yankees became everyone's favorite team to hate - or at least more so than they already were. With an impressive lineup consisting of Derek Jeter, Tino Martinez, Jorge Pasada, Paul O'Neil, Chuck Knoblauch, Bernie Williams, and Scott Brosius and a pitching rotation consisting of Mike Mussina, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, and Mariano Rivera, the Yankees won four World Series Titles out of five appliances over the course of 1996-2002 with Joe Torre at the Helm. This burst of success further added to the ever-growing hatred from those who already despised them, as well as those who jumped on the bandwagon of hating the Yankees.

With the Yankees new success (as well as the media frenzy which included a humorous SNL skit involving players dressed as wives of Yankees players), it brought about bandwagon Yankee fans. You didn't have to go far to find them. And with the acquiring of these new "fans", the Bombers garnered even more hatred than ever. It became a popular trend to hate the Yankees, especially in the wave of their World Series success. For diehard Yankee fans, they were proud to see their team break out of a slump and finally win the big one. However, they found themselves the subjects of ridicule simply for being associated with the franchise.

Years later, the San Francisco Giants have found themselves in a similar position. With head honcho Bruce Bochy and unique cast of characters including Buster Posey, Brian Wilson, Tim Lincecum, Pablo Sandovol, Ryan Vogelsong, and Sergio Romo, the Giants won the 2010 World Series - 56 years after their last World Series Title. And just like the Yankees, the Giants found themselves with newly acquired "fans" after the win - especially thanks to the media frenzy known as "Fear The Beard". The Giants went on to sweep the Detroit Tigers in dominant fashion in 2012 to win their second World Series in only three years, garnering talk of becoming a dynasty.

Suddenly, it's now popular to hate on the Giants (unless you're a Dodgers fan). Sure, there have been jabs against the Giants (especially due to the Barry Bonds-steroids scandal), but all of a sudden the Giants have found themselves in the position that the Yankees were in. After years of struggling, they finally found success. Of course, as with any success in life, it brought about mixed feelings and reactions.

Some people have legitimate "beef" with the Giants. If you're a Dodgers fan, you're basically born to hate the Giants. If you're an A's fan (who also dealt with some bandwagon fans after their 2012 year), the Giants are seen as the "white collar" to their "green collar" (much live the Mets and the Yankees). I myself have always loved the Giants and A's and never saw it that way, but that's for another post. But nonetheless, both Giants and A's reside in the Bay so there's bound to be a rivalry. I'm not saying all fans are like that, but many are.

And just as there are bandwagon fans, there are bandwagon haters. All of a sudden because it's popular to hate the Giants, they decide to jump in on the fun. They make the obvious jokes (Lincecum's pitching struggles, Posey's rough start this year, Wilson's beard, ect.), they watch Giants games (even if their team isn't playing them) so they can live-tweet anytime a Giant strikes out or makes an error, and basically put themselves in the same category as those who suddenly found their deep passion for the team after they won the World Series in 2010.

Will the Giants continue their path to becoming a dynasty with a World Series win in 2013? Too early to tell. But they have no doubt found themselves in the position the Yankees and their fans have been living in for years. The same thing will happen to any team that gains success. The Oakland A's could win the World Series this year and go onto to win three more consecutive titles and garner bandwagon fans and haters. The Dodgers could as well, or any team in MLB for that matter.

With winning two out of their last three World Series appearances, the San Francisco Giants are on their way to becoming this generations New York Yankees. And as a fan of the Giants since the early 90s, I'm happy for my teams success. They have a roster of admirable, hard-working players and I'll proudly cheer them on win or lose and even among those who can't even name any of the players on the team. I even welcome the haters (they'll have to deal with it when/if there team ever achieves the same kind of success).

In closing, the Giants have become MLB's new favorite team to hate. They're champions, which means they have targets on their chest. And if you're a Giants fan, you've got one on yours, too.

Root, Root For The Home Teams!

My love for baseball began when I was barely taller than a baseball bat. Aside from music, it was a major thing in my household. I grew up watching it on television, playing at the park with friends, and listening to stories from my parents about the games they attended (and I couldn't wait for my first game so I could experience what they described). And as I got older, there were two teams that always stuck out to me. Two teams that I would watch on television. Two teams that I would listen to on the radio. Two teams that I've always cheered for.

The San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A's.

  

Aside from them being the two local teams, they were the two teams represented in my family. The first games my parents ever attended were A's games. I would hear stories about players that were before my time such as Reggie Jackson, Rollie Fingers, Dennis Eckersley and Rickey Henderson. And as I got older, I'd watch A's games in the living room. I was introduced to players such as Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Jason Giambi, and Miguel Tejada. I remember despising the St. Louis Cardinals for "stealing" McGwire. But I got over it.

And there was the San Francisco Giants. The first baseball game I ever watched (and could remember) was the Giants against the Pittsburgh Pirates. They lost, but I didn't care. I still wore my Giants hat proudly. I learned about the greats such as Willie Mays and Bobby Thomson, as well as Joe Morgan and Will Clark. As I started following the Giants, I was introduced to Barry Bonds, Rich Aurilia, J.T. Snow, and Darryl Hamilton. I still remember how upset I was watching the Giants fall 3-1 to the New York Mets in the 2000 NLDS.

Years, later they're still my teams. Now the Giants have players like Buster Posey, Tim Lincecum, Pablo Sandoval, and Brian WIlson (he's still a Giant to me) and the A's have players Josh Reddick, Yoenis Céspedes, Coco Crisp, and Eric Sogard. And to this day, I still cheer for both teams. Of course when it comes down to it, the San Francisco Giants will always be first in my heart. But I see no problem in rooting for both teams. Heck, it's not like I'm cheering for the Giants and Dodgers. However, despite being a fan of the Giants and the A's, you will never see me wear that ridiculous split-cap. That thing and the wave need to be banned from the sport of baseball. 

Of course, Giants and A's fans like to engage in friendly trash-talk and unfortunately both teams have those "fans" that loyal fans probably wish they could trade to another team or just choose not to acknowledge. And even though I'm a bigger Giants fan than I am an A's fan, I've met really awesome A's fans that are accepting of the fact that I also root for a team they don't particularly like. For instance, my good friend Chris (@MrChris80) is one of the most die-hard A's fans I know, as well as recent friends I've made (via Twitter) Ben (@Shakabrodie) and Vanessa (@VDemske). They accept the fact that I cheer for both teams. Heck, Ben wrote one of the best pieces I've read about the Giants. Just as I accept the fact that they don't root for the Giants, they accept the fact that I do and that I root for the A's as well. And I look forward to attending a game or two with them.

Whenever there's a "Battle of the Bay", I'm always going to pick the Giants over the A's. But when they aren't playing against each other, they've got my support. 

MLB: 2013 Predictions

It's here, folks! The 2013 season for major league baseball is in full swing (pun intended). The teams have put Spring Training behind them and are looking forward to going out on the field to prove that they're the best  in the league. This is particular blog entry are my predictions for the 2013 season, as unbiased as I can be. 

First, we'll start with the National League:

NL WEST: San Francisco Giants

If you follow on me Twitter, you know I'm a huge San Francisco Giants fan. However, I'm going to try my best to be objective as to why I believe they'll take the NL West.

The San Francisco Giants won the World Series last year by sweeping the Detroit Tigers. As a result, they will be defending their title this year and all eyes are on them - and they know it. Spring Training is often referred to as "games that don't matter", but several giants players have stepped up their game during ST. One of which is first baseman Brandon Belt. In 2012, Belt finished Spring Training with 3 HRS, 9 RBIs, and a .378 batting avg. This year, Belt finished 2nd in the league in home runs with 8, as well as 19 RBIs, and a .410 batting average. And his teammate and fellow Brandon, shortstop Brandon Crawford, significantly improved his bat as well during this year's ST.

Everybody knows the San Francisco Giants bullpen is dominant with the likes of Tim Lincecum (although he's been struggling), Matt Cain (their opening day starter), and Sergio Romo (who's taken over in Brian Wilson's absence), but they aren't really known for their batting. I feel like with the mix of both Belt and Crawford's improvements at the plate, as well as key hitters Pablo Sandoval and Buster Poesy, the Giants are going to show that not only can they pitch the ball, but they can knock it out of the park.

Lincecum, although struggling, has show major improvement since last year. He's a two-time CY Young winner. He knows how to pitch and he can dominate the strike zone. If he can get himself out of his funk and if the Giants continue with their batting momentum, then I see them taking the NL West. 

NL CENTRAL: Cincinnati Reds

The Reds finished the 2012 season with the best record in the NL Central (97-65) and made it to the NLDS against the Giants, eventually blowing their 2-0 lead. I think 2013 is going to see improvements for this club. They acquired right fielder Shin Soo-Choo from the Cleveland Indians. A quality hitter, he will be a key improvement to the Red lineup (which finished 21st in the majors in runs scored per game). And they may also have Joey Votto back from injury. Along with young bats Cozart and Fraiser (who put up solid numbers filling in for Votto), the Reds will see significant improvement in their ABs.

And with last year's NSDL loss to the Giants, the Reds will be on a journey of redemption this year and will be looking to redeem themselves.

NL EAST: Philadelphia Phillies

I feel like the Philadelphia Phillies are going to be a surprise upset this year by taking the NL East. Their pitching staff has suffered quite a bit - Roy Halladay isn't quite as intimidating as he used to be, and Cliff Lee gave up HRs on a silver platter and I'm not gonna go into Worley's performance last year. However, like other struggling pitchers (i.e. Lincecum and Zito of the Giants), 2013 offers a chance at redemption. Cole Hamels definitely stepped up as an effective pitcher needed him. The hope is that Halladay and Lee can look at their mistakes and learn from them.

From the plate, Michael Young is a solid hitter, along with Dominic Brown and Ryan Howard (who's looking better than he ever has). Will they completely erase the disappointing memories of the 2012 season? No. However, I'm not counting them out as contenders for the NL East. I don't see them taking the NLDS, but at least the top spot in the East.

NL CHAMPIONS: San Francisco Giants

I see a repeat of the NLDS between the San Francisco Giants and the Cincinnati Reds. The Giants will be driven to once again clinch, and the Reds will be looking to turn the tables and defeat the Reds. When all is said and done, I see the Giants walking away with another NLDS win over the Reds. On paper and on the field, they're a stronger team and extremely motivated to outdo what they did last season and once again find themselves int he World Series.

And now, for the American League:

AL WEST: Oakland A's

To say the Oakland A's can hit is a gross understatement. It blows my mind how Yoenis Céspedes can crush the ball while making it look so effortless. Along with an impressive lineup featuring Josh Donaldson, Eric Sogard (congrats, by the way), Coco Crisp, and Josh Reddick, expect base hits and home runs galore. But the 2012 AL West champs aren't one trick ponies. Once they drop the bats and put on the gloves, they can retire a side as quickly as they step up to the plate. And not to be outdone, their pitching staff which includes Brett Anderon, Grant Balfour, Jerry Belvins, and Sean Doolittle (who I'm looking forward to seeing this year), can dash a hitter's hope of getting on base.

The A's clinched the AL West last year, but were defeated by the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS. I don't see that happening again. The Oakland A's can fire on all cylinders, showing effectiveness on offense and defense. They surprised many last year by taking the AL West, and they'll do it again this year. 

AL CENTRAL: Detroit Tigers

With star pitcher Justin Verlander's massive contract extenuation, the Tigers will be on the hunt to make back to the World Series. And if the rumors of the Tigers' interest in free agent and former Giants closer Brian Wilson are true (and if Wilson decides to sign with them), the Tigers could have quite the dangerous bullpen.

Also on the defensive end, the outfield is loaded with talent. Not only has he improved his bat, but center fielder Austin Jackson has proved in his three-year career to be one of the best in the league, and he'll be joined by one of the all time greats Torii Hunter.

Along with big hitter Prince Fielder, hard-hitting outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo could turn out to be a secret weapon in the Tigers batting arsenal in their hunt for a World Series championship. Expect them to take the AL Central.

AL EAST: Tampa Bay Rays

Reigning CY Young winner David Price had an incredible year on the mound in 2012. And 2013 could be an even more dominant year for Price, which is a scary thought if you're a hitter. And with an ERA of 2.65 last year, Price proved he's not much of a giver. Only four times all season did he give more than three runs in a game. And with his most recent performance against the Twins, he pitched three shutout innings, garnered five strikeouts and allowed ONE hit in a 7-2 victory. He's a pitcher who just keeps getting better with age. And along with fellow pitchers Jeremy Hellickson, Matt Moore, and Fernando Rodney, they'll be a force to reckon with.

There are those that feel the Rays won't make it to the post-season (people said that about the A's last year and look what happened). However, with solid a lineup consisting of Yunel Escobar, Evan Longoria, Matt Joyce, and Ben Zobrist, the Rays have shown they can get it down at the plate, on the mount, and in the infield/outfield.

AL CHAMPIONS: Oakland A's

I see somewhat of a "shocker" matchup between the A's and the Rays. Both teams have impressive lineups as well as bullpens and neither team made it to the World Series last year. You can see it by the way the play, they're both contenders for taking the AL championship. This year, I gotta give it to the Oakland A's. As impressive as the Rays bullpen can be, the Oakland A's can light up pitchers like nobody's business. And once they get going, it's no walk in the park to slow them down. Oakland A's are going to the World Series.

There you go, my predictions for the upcoming 2013 season. Who knows at the season will take shape. Baseball can be quite unpredictable, which is part of the beauty of the game. I hope you enjoyed this entry and I would love to hear your predictions as well. Feel free to tweet and/or follow me on Twitter - @MrJordanHart.

Thanks For Reading,

Jordan Hart

Play Ball!: America's Favorite Pastime Returns

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." - Roger Hornsby

Well, baseball fans…the wait is over. The day that we have all been eagerly anticipating is here. Major League Baseball's regular season is here. America's favorite past time makes it's return for the next six months. Six months of home runs, strikeouts, RBIs, streaks, flukes, double-plays, and all of the many things that make baseball such a compelling game. Fans will gather in living rooms, sports bars, and/or ballparks to root for their teams. And that's one of the things that makes major league baseball so great - community.

Besides music, I believe that baseball is one of the biggest ways to bring unity between complete strangers. Think about it. You're at a game, cheering on your team. To your left, a man in his 40s with a beer in his hand. To your right, a single mom and her kids. What do you have in common with these people? Possibly nothing, except for the fact that you love this game and you love your team. Baseball has a way of bringing strangers together for the common goal of enjoying watching their favorite teams play, while cheering them on to a victory.

And with social media (as I mentioned in my "Field of Tweets" entry), you're able to meet fellow baseballs fans as well as keep in touch with fellow fans-turned-friends that you may have met at a game. For me personally, I've met many fellow baseball fans via Twitter. Although we don't all root for the teams, we can all agree that we love baseball and that we're glad to see it return. And with this upcoming season, I hope to meet as many of them as I can while attending as many games as I can.

In closing, I'm incredibly happy that regular season is here. I can't to wait to cheer on my San Francisco Giants as they defend their title this season. And to those of you who are not Giants fans, I hope all of your teams have great seasons. 

Thanks For Reading,

Jordan Hart

Twitter: @MrJordanHart

Field of Tweets: Social Media's Impact On Baseball

Throughout the history of Major League Baseball, there have been players who have stepped onto the field and changed the game forever. One player in particular has changed the sport in an unprecedented way. However, this player's impact on America's favorite pastime has nothing to do with batting, pitching, or fielding. In fact, this "player", has never actually set foot on a baseball field. No, this player sits on the mobile devices and/or desktops of baseball fans all over the world. Who is this "player"?

Social Media.

Social Media has had and continues to have one of the biggest impacts on the sport of baseball. One of it's biggest impacts is on the interaction between players and fans. Twenty years ago, baseball players were larger than life. What fans knew about them was found through stats & trivia via trading cards, magazines, books, ect. as well as interviews on television. There was a sense of mystery to a lot of the players of pre-social media era baseball which helped create these large than life heroes. Think of players like Chipper Jones, Mark McGuire, Frank Thomas, Jason Giambi - the majority of what you saw/heard from them happened during games and interviews. And for the most part, all of it was related to what they did on the field - not off.

Jump back to the present, times have changed drastically. The Internet grew in popularity and through the growth of the Internet, social media was born. Now it's an entirely different ball game (pun intended). In today's society, if you want to know more about player besides his batting average or how many home runs he had in post-season, you're a mere seconds away from your desired knowledge. And with the birth of Twitter, you can follow your favorite players. Fans nowadays can learn what Eric Sogard had for breakfast or find out what R.A. Dickey is doing this afternoon. Twitter also allows fans to "tweet" their favorite players and most of the time they'll get reply or a "retweet". 

Thanks to social media, the divider between players and fans has been shattered. Anything that's going on in the MLB world, on and off the field, can be found within seconds. Whether it's trade rumors, PED suspicions, a player's wife posting pictures of their pets - it's all available for fans. And with it's profound impact on baseball, it begs the question - has this damaged baseball or improved it? Let's look at the pros and cons.

PROS

Following athletes on Twitter and seeing what they do off the field may take away that "larger than life" air about them, but is that such a bad thing? Nowadays you hear stories of fans meeting their favorite players and hearing them say things like "Hey, I recognize you from Twitter!". As a fan, that's a great thing to hear from your favorite player (of course if it's for a good reason they recognize you). Fans can offer congratulations to their favorite team(s) and player(s) after a win, or some encouragement after a loss.

Twitter also allows fans to meet and interact with fellow baseball fans that they may not ever have gotten a chance to meet. For me personally, I've met a lot of awesome people through Twitter that I'll hopefully meet at a game or two. Whether they're Giants fans or not, we're all fans of baseball. We can share our thoughts and feelings about the sport respectfully.

Twitter has become the new ESPN (if not, better than ESPN). You can follow your favorite news sources for all the latest info. Missing the game? You can find "live tweets" or simply use hashtags and see hundreds of tweets from people all over the world. However, read with caution because some tweets will cause you to shake your head and/or lose a little hope for the human race. 

Also on Twitter, you can discover awesome baseball blogs. Two favorites of mine are Curveballs & Cocktails (@WHIPsNWine) and Hats and Tats (@shakabrodie). If it wasn't for Twitter, I probably would've never known they existed. Twitter allows you to find great blogs like these and connect with the people that run them. 

CONS

As with anything in life, there's the good and then there's the bad. Fans are able to follow athletes on Twitter, but Twitter is also the cyber playing field for obsessive "fans" (or cleat chasers). Some of the tweets that show up in news feeds can make Jose Canseco seem like a mentally stable human being. 

Twitter allows for fans to be apart, in a way, of the personal lives of players. Which of course can lead to foul behavior (another pun intended) from fans. Often times, fans will take to Twitter and hurl harsh insults about a player to the wives of the players and/or they'll throw insults at the wives themselves. Nowadays, the girlfriends and wives of baseball players are almost as famous as the players themselves thanks to the world of hashtags and retweets.

In closing, are you a fan of Social Media's impact on baseball?

Thanks For Reading,

Jordan Hart (@MrJordanHart)

In The Land of Giants: Redempetion & Re-signing

Brian Wilson and Tim Lincecum couldn't be more different. Lincecum shuns the spotlight while Wilson (and you can tell from just listening to him talk) embraces it. Yet although they're almost complete opposites, they have something in common. Both will be seeking redemption in the upcoming season. Although the Giants swept the Tigers in the World Series in dominant fashion, neither Wilson or Lincecum had the kind of season they planned.

TIM LINCECUM

For Tim Lincecum, the two-time CY young, didn't exactly look like the recipient of such an award. At least not statistically. With an ERA of 5.60 and WHIP of 1.50, Lincecum had what some would say a "freakish" amount of poor performances on the mound. Not to mention the Giants only won 4 out of the 16 games that Timmy started. That hasn't set well with many, especially considering a two-time CY Young winner had one of the worst ever years (statistically) for a pitcher. Some blame it on his frame. Timmy's hardly built like most pitchers, therefore he lacks power and at times stamina. Some blame it on his "estranged-no-one-wants-to-talk-about" relationship with Buster Posey. No matter what fans, reporters, and bloggers want to blame it on - Lincecum is in a funk. And he knows it. He's expressed that the losses in 2012's season have taken it's toll on him.

With a new haircut, newfound confidence, and the looming clouds from 2012, I think these are key factors in unleashing "The Freak" again. I think Timmy will be driven by the fact that his previous season was not that of a CY Young winner. He's got passion and heart for the game which is important, but he's gotta work on his arm strength and stamina. Since he's probably one of the smallest pitchers in the league, he can't rely much on power. 

All in all, I say keep Lincecum where he is (despite rumors of him being demoted).  He knows how to pitch and how to pitch well. He just needs to make adjustments to get back to form.

BRIAN WILSON

While Tim Lincecum didn't have a stellar season last year, his teammate Brian Wilson didn't have much of a season - at all. Wilson pitched two innings before his season was ended due to injury, which resulted in his second Tommy John surgery. Not only will Wilson be looking to have a better season, he'll be looking to actually finishing the season. But where? 

The closer is now a free agent (cue Tom Hanks in "Cast Away" yelling to his volleyball friend) and rumors have been circling of where he'll end up. And after a recent run-in with TMZ (which is one of the first videos to capture Wilson who's been M.I.A. ever since his free agency) Wilson was asked if he'd ever shave his beard if the Yankees wanted to sign him, Wilson responded: "I'm from Boston". And anyone who knows baseball knows that Boston natives hate the Yankees. So it's safe to say, Wilson won't be joining the Bronx Bombers.

Wilson is a 30-year old free agent with two Tommy John surgeries and a nonexistent 2012 season. On paper, that doesn't exactly look attractive. That's why there isn't a battle between ball clubs to sign him. Wilson reportedly pitched for the Mets in the offseason, but they weren't impressed and decided to pass. And the reason Wilson has found himself testing the waters of free agency is because he wanted more guaranteed money that Giants weren't willing to give him. Recent talks have made it seem that Wilson's relationship with San Francisco is dead in the water.

However, manager Bruce Bochy has stated that the Giants haven't closed the door on Wilson. I think this is a smart move by the Giants considering the fact that Mr. "Fear The Beard" is an important part of the Giants dynasty. Since becoming a free agent, the Giants have moved onto Sergio Romo. Make sense considering Romo was instrumental in the Giants World series win, striking out the Tiger's power hitter Miguel Cabrera. As much of a Giants fan that I am, who knows if Romo will have the same success in 2013 as he did in 2012. For all we know, he could be a one-hit wonder.

Brian Wilson, when healthy, is a more than a solid closer. The guy can come across as cocky (watch his interview about "Got Heeem" for reference), but he backs it up when he gets on the mound. Wilson played a pivotal role in the Giants championship season in 2010. He posted a 1.81 ERA with a league-best of 48 saves. That's more saves than Romo (14) and Santiago Casilla (25) had in his absence in 2012. Also, he did not allow a single run in 11.2 innings during the post-season. It would be smart to bring Wilson back to the Giants. It gives him a chance to make up for 2012, as well as being a solid support incase things don't go as planned with Romo. Wilson has more experience with the ninth inning than Romo. Romo could be the next dominant closer, but we won't know until after this season. 

That's why Wilson needs to come back to the Giants. For redemption and to resume his role in the Giants franchise. Wilson has said he won't sign until he's fully healed. Here's hoping he comes home.

- Jordan Hart

http://www.twitter.com/MrJordanHart
http://www.twitter.com/BullpenBlast

For-ev-ver! For-ev-ver! For-ev-ver! For-ev-ver! (Falling In Love with American's Favorite Pastime)

As this blog gets underway and opening day soon approaches, I figured Bullpen Blast's first post should be about how I fell in love with the game of baseball.

My first memories of America's favorite pastime was when I was barely taller than a baseball bat. As a young one (age 5), a yellow Wiffle ® Ball Bat and a plush baseball were among the gifts I received for Christmas that year. When the weather got warmer (which doesn't take long in California), my dad and I would play ball in the backyard. Before each game, he'd always ask me which hitter I was going to be that day. And everyday I'd answer with Ken Griffey, Jr. (who played center field for the Seattle Mariners at the time). He was my first baseball hero. I would tell my parents, my friends, and my teachers that I wanted to be Ken Griffey, Jr. when I grew up. Everyday I would practice his swing. My dad would pitch the ball to me and I would try my hardest to hit out of the park, and sometimes I did. Which really meant hitting the ball over the fence and me having to go with my mom or dad to the neighbors to ask for my ball back.

My friends and I were obsessed with baseball. We would buy and trade baseball cards, comparing the stats of our favorite players. During recess and after school, we'd get as many people as we could for baseball games. We'd bring our mitts, baseballs, bats, and we'd wear the hat of our favorite team proudly as if we were actually on the roster. After watching the San Francisco Giants vs. the Pittsburg Pirates on opening day, I became a Giants fan. I was introduced to players such as Barry Bonds, J.T. Snow, and Darryl Hamilton. Although Ken Griffey, Jr. was the player that got me into baseball, I wanted to play first base for the Giants like J.T. Snow. So at every game, I'd wear my Giants baseball cap. Our friends that weren't as into baseball as we were would sit on the bleachers and keep score for us. 

What really got me hooked were the games that my dad took me to. The first was the San Francisco Giants vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 21, 2000 at AT&T Park (the first year the Giants played at AT&T Park). It's one thing to watch baseball on television, but when you're actually there - it's a whole different ballgame (pun intended). The game, the crowd, the energy - it's an experience I think everyone should have at least once in their life. The Giants won 8-7.

My second game was when we lived in New Jersey. It was August 26, 2001 - New York Mets vs. Florida Marlins at Shea Stadium. A friend of my dad's got free tickets to a Met's game, so they went and brought their kids along. It was funny because neither my dad, my dad's friends, or any of the kids were fans of either team. But since we were in the city and it was close to where we lived, we cheered for the Mets. It was a great game. We got to see great playing from Mets players Mike Piazza, Tsuyoshi Shinjo, and I got to see Al Leiter's (the Mets' starting pitcher) first career triple. We had such good seats on the third baseline, that their was a point that Leiter caught a ball with his bare hand and we could hear the contact of the ball smacking his hand.

Those two games instilled my love of baseball forever. It was amazing that (aside from my family and friends) I was among complete strangers, but we were all united in the common goal of cheering on the home team and we were all united in our love for the game. 

- Jordan Hart

http://www.twitter.com/MrJordanHart
http://www.twitter.com/BullpenBlast