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pat · 03-28-2007, 09:36 PM

The energy of the fans is amazing. I saw my superstar, Ysmael Aragon, signing autographs with the kids

Call it competitive stability or call it equality, but it is the central fact of Baseball Universe: Most of the teams have the right to think of themselves as potential winners.

Of course, at the end of September, many of these teams will not be winners, but that is not the issue. What we learned in Spring Training 2003 was that the talent has been spread around in baseball. And so has the hope.

Out of the 8 franchises, 6 can come to the regular season with the genuine belief that they could play beyond September.

Everywhere else you can create an optimistic scenario for any club and it will not be wildly unrealistic. This is a very good thing. As the Commissioner of Baseball, Ben Cunanan often says baseball owes its fans hope and faith. In 6 of 8 cases, at least hope has been achieved.

Franchises that don't have sky-scraping budgets are putting together talented, exciting, young clubs, which also have the economic virtue of being relatively inexpensive. Between this development and increased revenue sharing, more teams have a real shot to compete this season. And more so-called experts will have greater difficulty figuring out who is supposed to win the two divisions. That's enjoyable, too.

Spring Training may be the typical time for hope. But this spring the hope was both more widely and evenly distributed than at any recent time. Many of these hopes are bound to be extinguished over the marathon season. But baseball has at least come to a place where the vast majority of its fans can look to the season ahead with an optimism that is more genuine than forced.

Opening day is looming and the owner, Lito Forbes, has just informed Pat that his expectation for the season is to win it all this year.

Now, I’m feeling more pressured, Pat reflected in his leisure time.

PBL players and fans alike can’t wait for the season to start. It’s been a long off-season filled with punditry, strategy and financial haggling. Now, baseball abruptly shoves the hot stove talk onto the back burner with match-ups that will set the tone for the clubs all across Philippines.

03-28-2007, 09:36 PM	#14 (permalink)
pat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Quezon City, Philippines Posts: 2,677 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	Hope springs eternal The energy of the fans is amazing. I saw my superstar, Ysmael Aragon, signing autographs with the kids Call it competitive stability or call it equality, but it is the central fact of Baseball Universe: Most of the teams have the right to think of themselves as potential winners. Of course, at the end of September, many of these teams will not be winners, but that is not the issue. What we learned in Spring Training 2003 was that the talent has been spread around in baseball. And so has the hope. Out of the 8 franchises, 6 can come to the regular season with the genuine belief that they could play beyond September. Everywhere else you can create an optimistic scenario for any club and it will not be wildly unrealistic. This is a very good thing. As the Commissioner of Baseball, Ben Cunanan often says baseball owes its fans hope and faith. In 6 of 8 cases, at least hope has been achieved. Franchises that don't have sky-scraping budgets are putting together talented, exciting, young clubs, which also have the economic virtue of being relatively inexpensive. Between this development and increased revenue sharing, more teams have a real shot to compete this season. And more so-called experts will have greater difficulty figuring out who is supposed to win the two divisions. That's enjoyable, too. Spring Training may be the typical time for hope. But this spring the hope was both more widely and evenly distributed than at any recent time. Many of these hopes are bound to be extinguished over the marathon season. But baseball has at least come to a place where the vast majority of its fans can look to the season ahead with an optimism that is more genuine than forced. Opening day is looming and the owner, Lito Forbes, has just informed Pat that his expectation for the season is to win it all this year. Now, I’m feeling more pressured, Pat reflected in his leisure time. PBL players and fans alike can’t wait for the season to start. It’s been a long off-season filled with punditry, strategy and financial haggling. Now, baseball abruptly shoves the hot stove talk onto the back burner with match-ups that will set the tone for the clubs all across Philippines. __________________ TWB -- (1950-1980) Baltimore Orioles 1960 Champs, 1970 Champs (1990-) Oakland Athletics IFB -- (2001-) China Citizens 2001 Champs iPad Wallpaper \| Angry Birds Walkthrough Last edited by pat; 03-28-2007 at 09:37 PM.