Season Previews: Cleveland Indians

With Spring Training games starting this week, it's time for one of our favorite things in all the world: Season Previews. Three years ago, they began as a semi-serious analysis and ended up as half-assed haiku. We're just gonna go with what we know. Continuing on with our preview of the American League Central, here's Melissa with the Cleveland Indians.

I think that I shall never see
a tea mug lovely as Grady's...


Oh, wait - we're supposed to do haiku. Never mind.

Tribe fans all want to
wipe '09 from history books,
forget it ever happened.

Season Previews: Toronto Blue Jays

With pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training camps this week, it's time for one of our favorite things in all the world: Season Previews. Three years ago, they began as a semi-serious analysis and ended up as half-assed haiku. We're just gonna go with what we know. Continuing on with our preview of the American League East, here's Melissa with the Toronto Blue Jays.


Doc has gone. Scoots, too.
Who's left? Gimpy Vernon Wells
And his Twelve-point-five.

Never fear, Jays fans:
Hill and Lind can hit taters
and Marcum has healed.

And if nothing else,
there is always hockey, eh?
Uh-oh, never mind.

[Drunk Jays Fans] | [Blue Jay Hunter] | [Hum And Chuck]

Season Previews: Philadelphia Phillies

Now that it's Spring, it's time for one of our favorite things in all the world: Season Previews. Two years ago, they began as a serious analysis and ended up as half-assed haiku. We're just gonna go with what we know. Nearing the end of our preview of the National League East, we present to you: the Philadelphia Phillies.

It is great to be
the World Phucking Champions
and set cars on fire.

But 2009
brings more challenges for Phils:
Cole reigns as the ace,

But Chutley's still hurt,
The Bat has left the building
and Moyer is old.

Bullpen is solid.
Rollins' PECOTA is strong
and RyHo is clutch.

Can the Phils repeat?
Yet another Mets collapse
Might well make it so.

[Beerleaguer] | [700 Level] | [Plunk Chutley]

Happy 4th of July

We hope everyone has a relaxing, safe and fun Fourth!

-- Sooze, Lizzy, Sarah & Melissa

Voodoo Sabermetrics: Chase Utley

Welcome to our eighth edition of Voodoo Sabermetrics. This week we tackle one of the hottest bats in baseball, Philadelphia Phillies second baseman, Chase Utley. We generally polish off our Voodoo posts with Jon Pyle (see Hotness and SMI) but we have a special treat for you today, instead.

Sooze, Babes Love Baseball
Jolliness - Chase Utley's jollity sparked the moment his first big league hit went yard for a grand salami. He's enjoyed a steady .300 career batting average ever since, not to mention a hot start to the 2008 season, nailing 23 homers and 66 RBIs to date. He's jovial in a young Joe Morgan way. Plus, he rocks those rosy cheeks sometimes, which tips the scale of jolliness just toward Santa Claus. But naturally, Chase Utley gets a Soft Little Puppy on the Jollity Scale.

When I think of people who name their kid Chase, I think of yuppies. And when I think of yuppies, I think of California. When I think of California, for some reason I get that Joni Mitchell song stuck in my head. But just the unbearably high parts. Which brings me to this theme song... even though I should have probably chosen this one.

We Have a Winner!

Congratulations to Sarah, the devoted Cleveland Indians fan, whose dedication to her Tribe at the home opener proved sweet enough to earn 53.8% of the votes to win an MLB.com gift card, along with a sweet BLB t-shirt and cap.

Thanks to all who voted!

[BLB Ballpark Photo Contest]

Okay, Seriously This Time

So, we realize it took two extra days for us to decide on the four finalists for the BLB Ballpark Photo Contest, but it was really difficult. We sincerely apologize for the delay and thank you for your patience. Here they are, in no particular order.

#1. Melissa had many favorites, but ultimately settled on this old school pic of Becky at Wrigley Field from 1983. *Editor's note: Sooze did some detective work and found a recent picture of this life-long Cubbies fan, at Wrigley of course.

The Fab Four

We are at our happiest when at ballgames, and it seems you are, too. We asked you to send us your favorite picture from the ballpark, and we received an over-whelming response. Some were hilarious, some were heart-warming, some were totally inappropriate. But you'll have that, since most of you found us via google search for "babes."

So, we're having a little trouble choosing the pictures we liked best. We're gonna need another day or two. Posted above is a photo of fellow blogger Clare. She gets an A for effort.

Below is Camp Tiger Claw. So hot.


Check back tomorrow for the four finalists to see if you're one of them!

[BLB Ballpark Photo Contest]

That Certainly is a Hot Dog

Just a friendly reminder that we'll be choosing our favorite ballpark photos this Tuesday before handing over the giant responsibility of dubbing the most awesome one to our lovely readers.

The prize for the sweetest pic is a $50 MLB.com gift card, and a BLB t-shirt and cap. So send your photos -- but please not of your body parts. That was sick dude, and I swear to god if I ever find out who you are I'll punch you there -- by Tuesday, June 24th and cross your baseball-loving fingers until Friday, cause those are some badass accolades.

Also, pictures of lone hot dogs -- relish or no -- do not count. Hot dogs cannot wear t-shirts, hats, nor spend gift cards online.

[BLB Ballpark Photo Contest]

Third Time's Not A Charm

Things were going well for the Metropolitans tonight. Superstar Johan Santana pitched 7 fabulous innings, with zero earned runs -- and left the game with the Mets up over the Diamondbacks 4-0. Scott "Best Name Ever" Schoeneweis even managed to score a hold after some trouble with Joe Smith in the 8th left the score 4-2.

And then came Billy Wagner.


For the third consecutive time in as many tries, Wagner notched yet another blown save... and the Mets lost to the D'backs 5-4 (in 10 innings). Bad things come in threes, I suppose. When reached for comment, the ever-eloquent Wagner said:

”I suck right now.”

Indeed, good sir. Indeed you do.

[Faith & Fear In Flushing] | [Metsgrrl] | [Hot Foot]

Curt Schilling: Not A Big Kobe Fan

One of the perks of being a multi-championship winning pitcher for the beloved local baseball team is that when the local basketball team makes it to the NBA Finals, you can score some pretty sweet courtside seats.


And if you're Curt Schilling, and you get courtside seats right next to the L.A. Lakers bench, you're going to dish all about it on your blog.

From the first tip until about 4 minutes left in the game I saw and heard [Kobe Bryant] bitch at his teammates. Every TO he came to the bench pissed, and a few of them he went to other guys and yelled about something they weren’t doing, or something they did wrong. No dialog about “hey let’s go, let’s get after it” or whatever. He spent the better part of 3.5 quarters pissed off and ranting at the non-execution or lack of, of his team. Then when they made what almost was a historic run in the 4th, during a TO, he got down on the floor and basically said ‘Let’s f’ing go, right now, right here” or something to that affect.

I am not making this observation in a good or bad way, I have no idea how the guys in the NBA play or do things like this, but I thought it was a fascinating bit of insight for me to watch someone in another sport who is in the position of a team leader and how he interacted with his team and teammates. Watching the other 11 guys, every time out it was high fives and “Hey nice work, let’s get after it” or something to that affect. He walked off the floor, obligatory skin contact on the high five, and sat on the bench stone faced or pissed off, the whole game. Just weird to see another sport and how it all works.

I would assume that’s his style and how he plays and what works for him because when I saw the leader board for scoring in the post season his name sat up top at 31+ a game, can’t argue with that. But as a fan I was watching the whole thing, Kobe, his teammates and then the after effects of conversations. He’d yell at someone, make a point, or send a message, turn and walk away, and more than once the person on the other end would roll eyes or give a ‘whatever dude’ look.

Kobe's response?

Asked if he was disappointed in Schilling's comments, Bryant responded, "Go Yankees!" and pumped his fist, drawing laughter from reporters Wednesday.

Kobe Bryant, a Yankees fan? Makes perfect sense.

[38 Pitches] | [Center Field] | [Yahoo!]

Send Us a Pic of Your Hot Self

Would you like to win a gift card to MLB.com? Of course you would. All you have to do is send us a picture of yourself at a ballpark.

State Farm was kind enough to hook us up with a $50 MLB.com gift card (details below) to give away to one lucky BLB reader. To become eligible to win this and other sweet prizes, just send us one picture of you alone, with friends or family, however you roll at a ballpark. The four of us will then pick our favorite photo, submitting it to a BLB poll, where our readers will choose their favorite. The winner will receive the gift card and a badass Babes Love Baseball t-shirt and hat. It's that simple.

You can send those pics to babeslovebaseball@gmail.com. We will choose our faves on Tuesday, June 24th and open the readers poll until that Friday, when we will announce the winner. We can't wait!

The Hook-up: State Farm is working alongside MLB once again with this summer's Call Your Shot consumer promotion, going down at the Home Run Derby during All Star festivities. Fans can enter to win once a day until Tuesday, June 24th at sfCallYourShot.com. The grand prize winner will stand on the field next to the one and only David Ortiz during the derby to call the home run location of a single delivery to Big Papi.

Injured wrists make it pretty tough to swing a bat, so Ortiz will not be participating in the actual Call Your Shot Challenge. There will be a contest between eight other soon-to-be-named hitters and the top 2 will bat in the promotion, giving the fan 2 chances to win the prize.

The winner will also receive an all-expense paid trip for four to the All-Star Game and State arm Home Run Derby, first class hotel accommodations in New York, tickets to a Broadway show, and a MasterCard gift card worth $1,000. Ten more fans will win first place prizes of a $300 MLB.com gift card and 25 second prize winners will get their hands on a $100 MLB.com gift cards.

By the way, last time Sooze entered an MLB sweepstakes, she almost won a date with Alyssa Milano. Instead, she won an autographed Alyssa Milano baseball. (So close.)

[Epic Carnival] | [The 'Ropolitans] | [Walkoff Walk] | [East Coast Bias]

Voodoo Sabermetrics: Chipper Jones

Welcome to our sixth edition of Voodoo Sabermetrics. This week we break down one of the most awesome players ever, #10. Chipper Jones.

Sooze, Babes Love Baseball

Jolliness - Well, he isn't called Chipper for his jollity, this much I know. We'll let Extra P. cover that base, though. But if happiness were a batting average, Jones would be all smiles. Heading into tonight's game against the Cincinnati Reds, the life-long Atlanta Braves switching-hitting badass is batting .418 with 14 longballs and 39 RBIs on the season, after smoking career homer #400 Thursday night.

Chipper gets a George Clooney on the jollity scale. The man is like a fine wine: the older he gets, the better he is and the more jolly he makes this girl.

Happy Memorial Day

Pictured above are the boys from Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq, enjoying America's Pastime. The guy at first? That's Jimmy, and we are his #1 fans.

Today we honor our troops, the brave men and women who have fought and died for our freedom, and those who are still fighting today. So before you fire up the grill and drink your case of Schlitz, stop for a moment of silence, and say thank you.

[Center Field] | [Baseball Musings]

Dramatic Rallies Are Hot

This photo of Pat Burrell's rear, meant mostly to make Melissa's day, was snapped after the Philadelphia Phillies tough-as-nails left fielder smashed a 3-2 pitch from San Francisco Giants righty Brian Wilson into the left-field seats with two out in the bottom of the tenth Friday night for the game-winner.

After 5 upper-nineties fastballs whizzed by The Bat, he took the sixth one deep for his ninth homer of the season. This marks Burrell’s third career walk off, and first since 2002.

[The 700 Level]

Have an Ice-Cold Slump Buster

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Sarah Turns 21 for the 9th Time

Happy Birthday to our lovely Sarah, who is so awesome that she makes ninjas want to climb trees and wail on their guitars.

We won't say exactly how old she is today, but if you're any good with math, you may have figured it out by now. When she's not obsessing over Jorge Posada or rocking out to Pat Benatar (love is, indeed, a battlefield) she is writing kickass shit at one of the zillion online ventures she is a part of.

We're lucky to have such a hilarious, talented lady in our presence. Here's to a very Happy Birthday, a fabulous dinner with your hunky man, and many, many Stoli Razzes with Sprite.

Season Preview: Chicago Cubs

Now that the official baseball season is almost upon us, we're finishing up with Season Previews. Last year, they began as a serious analysis and ended as half-assed haiku, which we're just gonna keep rolling with.

One hundred years is
a helluva long time for
lovable losers

Can the Cubbies stay
healthy? Beat the silly "curse"?
That billy goat sucks

At least Dusty's gone
Sweet Lou and his crew might just
win it all... at last.


[Bleed Cubbie Blue] | [Thunder Matt's Saloon] | [League Of Her Own] [Cubby Blue]

Season Preview: Philadelphia Phillies

Now that Spring Training has started, we're continuing on with Season Previews. Last year, they began as a serious analysis and ended as half-assed haiku, which we're just gonna keep rolling with.

First, it was Ryan
Then last year Jimmy won it
Could it be Chase now?

Center feels empty
Sadly, Bacon Pants is gone
Hawaiian takes charge

And as for left field
The Bat's in a contract year
He'll hit lots of bombs

Still need pitching help
Lidge is hurt; Flash kinda stinks
Moyer's a grandpa

Thank heavens for Cole
Too bad Kendrick got traded
Hope he likes Japan

Can the Phils repeat?
Beltran mouthed off, he said no
Braves are the real threat

[The 700 Level] | [Beerleaguer] | [We Should Be GMs] | [Plunk Chutley]

Season Preview: Texas Rangers

Now that Spring Training has started, we're continuing on with Season Previews. Last year, they began as a serious analysis and ended as half-assed haiku, which we're just gonna keep rolling with.

Nolan Ryan. No-
lan Ryan. Nolan Ryan.
Nolan Ryan RULES.


[Lone Star Ball] | [Ranger Fans] | [Baseball Time In Arlington]