Top Ten Things Babes Love Baseball is Thankful for in 2011

We're thankful for so many things. Baseball, beer, and shoes being the three most important, obviously. Oh, and family of course... but there are so many baseball-related things to be grateful for that we felt the need to compile a list and share it with all of you. No, Joe Mauer is not one of them. He's disappointed us to no end this season and really, we'd rather not talk about it. Wouldn't want him to land on the DL with hurt feelings.

10. A nice hot stove. Although Marea's favorite NFL team sucks ass this season, Sooze's is doing quite well. The best actually. But there have been other MLB offseasons in which football has not gotten us through the winter. Not even close. And it's because of the NFL's blatant disregard for happiness that we are incredibly thankful for MLB Network. Best. Channel. Ever.

9. The Dugout: The Official Chatroom of Major League Baseball. If you haven't read one of these little gems, you are totally missing out. In fact, we're disgusted with you. Just click the link.

8. Players like C.J. Wilson. Without guys like him to make fun of, this blog would be boring as hell and we probably would've given up a long time ago. Thanks, buddy.

7. The Youtubes. Thank you to all you nerds out there who tirelessly post videos of protected content that you know MLB will be taking down in just a matter of time. We enjoy them while we can.

Happy Trails, Jon Miller and Joe Morgan

Good news on the MLB announcing front today: after 21 years, Jon Miller and Joe Morgan will no longer be tag-teaming Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN.

The World Wide Leader's executive vice president had this to say in a prepared statement of total nonsense:

Over the last two decades, Joe went from Hall of Fame player to one of his sport’s top analysts and Jon’s Hall of Fame voice and tremendous knowledge of the game have connected with baseball fans everywhere. We owe them our deepest thanks for an outstanding body of work.

White Sox The Club Premieres Sunday

The highly-anticipated Chicago White Sox reality show The Club premieres on MLB Network -- the greatest channel ever in the history of television -- Sunday at 9pm ET.

Personally, I'm pretty pumped. Sure, as a Twins fan, I'm supposed to despise the White Sox. I'm not supposed to like their manager either. Unfortunately, Ozzie Guillen is just too awesome. And how could anyone not love Carlos Quentin or Paul Konerko? Mercy!

As Ed Price of MLB Fanhouse put it:

MLB Network got full access to a group that includes the game's most entertaining manager, Ozzie Guillen, and its most unpredictable GM.

The Friendliest Analyst in the Universe

It has been previously documented on BLB that we weren't quite convinced that Sean Casey is the nicest guy on the planet. However, the (most recently) former Boston Red Sox first baseman's latest agenda has us thinking otherwise. He's actually pretty jolly.

Casey, 34, has decided to retire after 12 mostly under-achieving -- he twice was just one RBI away from triple digits -- yet friendly seasons in the big leagues, serving time with five different teams. He will now embark on a new journey with the MLB Network as a studio analyst. A channel which devotes 24/24 hours in a day to baseball? Yes please, I'll take two.

The perky cornerman became a three-time All-Star during his eight seasons with the Cincinatti Reds, later moving onto Pittsburgh and Detroit, and finally finishing his career in Beantown last year by batting .322 in 69 games with no longballs and 17 RBIs.

Happy Trails, Happyman.

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