These are a Few of My Favorite Teams

For quite some time now, I have had several favorite teams in MLB. In part this was due to my own moving around, since I am from Michigan, but lived in Boston from 1993-95, and New York City from 1997-99, as well as upstate New York from 2000-03. I grew up rooting for the Detroit Tigers. My interest in baseball peaked in 1984, because a.) I was 14, and b.) the Tigers roared off to a 35-5 start, and eventually won the World Series in five games. I had never pulled real strongly for any NL teams, though I was definitely pro-Dodgers when they beat the Yankees in the World Series in the strike marred 1981 season, in part because I recalled that those who were aware of such things in '78 seemed saddened by the Yankees second consecutive World Championship over these same Dodgers. In '82 I was rooting for the Cardinals over the Brewers, as I wanted to see a team that won with pitching, defense, and aggression on the basepaths beat a team that led the majors in home runs. (At the time I couldn't hit for crap, but I walked so much that I got to batted at the top of the order fairly routinely. I'm sure it didn't hurt that whenever I got on I tried to steal second and third base. I only recall being thrown out once, on an attempt at third.

Flight 420, Vancouver to Toronto

(Overheard on a flight from Vancouver)

RICKY: Duuuude! Do they still make Flutie Flakes?

DOUG: No, dude! You got the munchies, huh?

RICKY: Shit yeah! I could eat a whole box right now, no milk or nuthin'!

DOUG: Sounds like you've done that before!

RICKY: Duuuude! (Giggles uncontrollably)

DOUG: (Giggles uncontrollably while trying to hold his breath)

RICKY: Dude, why are we laughing?

DOUG: Duuuuuuuuuude! I just thought of something!

RICKY: Dude?

DOUG: Like, my Heisman trophy would make an excellent bong!

RICKY: I know! Like, my Heisman trophy is already an excellent bong!

DOUG: Duuuuuuuuude! We could make an excellent twin turbo Heisman double bong!

RICKY: Duuuuuuuuuuude! Um, here, hit this....

Odds & Ends...

A couple of posts ago I showed the current odds of the teams I've bet on for baseball this year, from bodog.com, since the bet365.com site was closed for maintenance. Here is a more thourugh update for the favorites:

AL Pennant
------------------------bodog------bet365-----my bet
Detroit Tigers............ 2-1...............8-1 .............25-1
New York Yankees......... 11-5 ...........11-4
ChicagoWhiteSox...... 3-1...............3-1............... 9-2
Boston Red Sox .................5-2...............4-1
Oakland Athletics.............. 7-1...............7-1
LA Angels of A................. 10-1.............12-1
Cleveland Indians.............11-1.............10-1
Toronto Blue Jays............12-1..............16-1
Texas Rangers..................14-1..............16-1

I am stopping with the Texas Rangers because they were the other team in the Roger Clemens sweepstakes, and because they currently lead the AL West. If there is still a good value bet out there it probably is the Rangers, but I really think the eventual winner will be one of those top 4 teams.

NL Pennant
--------------------------bodog-----bet365----my bet
St Louis Cardinals...............2-1...............2-1
NewYork Mets................... 2-1...............5-2
Houston Astros............7-1................7-1...........12-1
Phila. Phillies........................7-1.............10-1
LA Dodgers...........................8-1.............16-1
Atlanta Braves.....................8-1..............12-1
SF Giants.............................12-1.............20-1
San Diego Padres................14-1.............18-1
Arizona D'backs...................17-1.............25-1

Again, I have only included those I consider contenders. While I previously had no intention of doing so, I am currently considering putting a little bit on the Diamondbacks, or perhaps the Dodgers, largely because this little exercise prompted me to look a little more closely at the numbers.