The Most Wonderful Time of The Year.

Santa, you can sit yourself right back down. 'Tis the season for something much more wonderful.

Last night I was in the shower and started singing a new Christmas Carol. Wrong time of year? No. Baseball  season is the most wonderful time of the year. Enjoy!

On the first day of baseball, the Padres gave to me...
 an extension to Chase Headley

On the second day of baseball, the Padres gave to me...
Two golden gloves
and an extension to Chase Headley

On the third day of baseball, the Padres gave to me...
Three good innings from the pen
Two golden gloves
and an extension to Chase Headley

On the fourth day of baseball, the Padres gave to me...
Four runners rounding third
Three good innings from the pen
Two golden gloves
and an extension to Chase Headley

On the fifth day of baseball, the Padres gave to me...
FIVE SERIES RINGS
Four runners rounding third
Three good innings from the pen
Two golden gloves
and an extension to Chase Headley

On the sixth day of baseball, the Padres gave to me...
Six consecutive games of Quentin playing
FIVE SERIES RINGS
Four runners rounding third
Three good innings from the pen
Two golden gloves
and an extension to Chase Headley

On the seventh day of baseball, the Padres gave to me...
Seven bats of swinging
Six consecutive games of Quentin playing
FIVE SERIES RINGS
Four runners rounding third
Three good innings from the pen
Two golden gloves
and an extension to Chase Headley

On the eighth day of baseball, the Padres gave to me...
Eight Dodgers sulking
Seven bats of swinging
Six consecutive games of Quentin playing
FIVE SERIES RINGS
Four runners rounding third
Three good innings from the pen
Two golden gloves
and an extension to Chase Headley

On the ninth day of baseball, the Padres gave to me...
Nine players Byrnes is refinancing
Eight Dodgers sulking
Seven bats of swinging
Six consecutive games of Quentin playing
FIVE SERIES RINGS
Four runners rounding third
Three good innings from the pen
Two golden gloves
and an extension to Chase Headley

On the tenth day of baseball, the Padres gave to me...
Ten NL teams the Friars outplaying
Nine players Byrnes is refinancing
Eight Dodgers sulking
Seven bats of swinging
Six consecutive games of Quentin playing
FIVE SERIES RINGS
Four runners rounding third
Three good innings from the pen
Two golden gloves
and an extension to Chase Headley

On the eleventh day of baseball, the Padres gave to me...
Eleven bags of swiping
Ten NL teams the Friars outplaying
Nine players Byrnes is refinancing
Eight Dodgers sulking
Seven bats of swinging
Six consecutive games of Quentin playing
FIVE SERIES RINGS
Four runners rounding third
Three good innings from the pen
Two golden gloves
and an extension to Chase Headley

On the twelfth day of baseball the Padres gave to me...
Twelve playoff runs forthcoming
Eleven bags of swiping
Ten NL teams the Friars outplaying
Nine players Byrnes is refinancing
Eight Dodgers sulking
Seven bats of swinging
Six consecutive games of Quentin playing
FIVE SERIES RINGS
Four runners rounding third
Three good innings from the pen
Two golden gloves
and an extension to Chase Headley


Merry Baseball Season Padres Fans!

Dear Baseball Fans....

Dear Baseball Fans,

The start of another baseball season. The deep breath of anticipation as we await what February through October is going to bring to us. The next nine months of hope, speculation, heartbreak and triumph lay in front of us as we prepare for another long season. The great plays, the dramatic late innings, the home runs, the pitching dominance and every win or loss, we will be there.

These nine months are just as hard on them as they are on us. The hours we spend talking and wondering what this season will hold. The research we put in and all the moves we should have made in the offseason( and all the ones we shouldn’t) all come together and we plan our season.

As we plan our Spring Training trips, break out our teams gear, and pound our glove to get it ready for the first time since last October, it’s hard not to think that this is not our year. How much preparation we have put in, how much time we will have to sacrifice? How much work we will miss, how much money we will spend, how many minutes, hours, days we will spend in front of the television or radio, listening to every crack of the bat and every third strike call? It doesn’t matter. We will be there, we will be following and darn it, WE DESERVE THIS!

It doesn’t matter what our rivals say, it doesn’t matter what the analysts say or how long our odds may be. Let them all talk, let them all doubt, because no matter what, we will back our team. We will root, root, root for the home team. We will make our pilgrimages to our personal baseball cathedrals.  With every win we will feel the sensation of victory and every loss, the agony of defeat. We take them hard. Just as hard, if not harder than the players. Harder than we should admittedly, but still doesn’t hurt any less. For it will all be worth it come fall as we chase a Division and League Championship and make our claim for the best in the game.

It is hard to contain the excitement as players arrive to Arizona and Florida to brush off the dust and begin this journey. We will be there, too, and we will enjoy the ride.

Rejoice fans, for it is baseball season.  May your season be as enjoyable as mine will be!

Sincerely yours,

A Diehard Baseball Fan

 

 

Free Money: The 2013 Baseball Betting Bible

*In no way, shape, or form is this expert opinion, I just have a gambling problem

Are you one of the suckers trying to hit the baseball betting jackpot this season? Can you see into the future and know who is going to win it all this year like some kind of fortune teller? Have you accurately predicted the last three years World Series teams? If so, please call me, I would like to have some insider information.

I am sure she is an expert.

Betting on baseball is fun and winning is even more fun. I usually only get to have to fun of making my dumb bets and detest the casino workers laugh at me while counting my money. Not this year. This is the year I make it out of the casino with enough money to go back next year and make more ludicrous wagers.

For starters, the odds of the divisions.

Who is parlaying the Astros and Marlins with me?

My winners:
Braves, Cardinals, Giants, Blue Jays, Tigers, Angels

Now you are thinking wait Bret, you picked three of the predicted AL division winners? That is hardly something you are giving us insight about.. I do have a rebuttal. I did this because those teams are seriously freakin' good. Each of these three teams have the best teams on paper.

 -You are trying to tell me the Tigers won't win the division? The same team that made it to the World Series last year and then, oh yeah, added Torii Hunter and Victor Martinez to the already powerful lineup.
-Sorry, A's fans, the only thing doing the Bernie this year will be the Coco Crisp bobblehead giveaway, the Angels have the West locked.
-Blue Jays...They are starting a Cy Young winner-knuckleballer on opening day, and picked up Josh Johnson, Mark Burhle, Melky Cabrera and Jose Reyes. They seem to have the East locked over and aging Yankee team and a Red Sox team full of ???

Just wait 'til Interleagues where I can hit, too!

The NL Race I feel is as open as upper deck seats at Petco Park. I chose these teams in the west because with the crap shoot the NL may be, if you are looking to take a bigger risk, the reward may be in your future

-I picked the Braves this year because of what they did to their offense. Losing Chipper Jones but picking up the Uptons' to add to Heyward? I feel the Nationals might have a slight edge with their baller rotation and that snot-nosed kid Harper they have, but to get a good ROI (return on investment for those non-business folk), Braves are 8/5 vs. Nationals 5/6.
-Cardinals never seem to be a bad pick. Sure, the Reds have won the division last two years, including last year by 9 wins, but it comes down to the ROI factor. I never can count the Cardinals out because of  their potent lineup filled with potential All-Stars. Yeah, Chris Carpenter out for the year doesn't help, but doesn't that guy get hurt every year.
-I will say it now in capital letters: THE NL WEST WILL BE THE MOST COMPETITIVE DIVISION IN BASEBALL THIS YEAR. Now that I have that out of me I will explain why I picked the Giants. It is simple: chemistry. As much as I hated seeing them win the Fall Classic two of the last three years without having the best team, they play well together. I know emotions aren't supposed to get in the way and looking at the Dodgers lineup it is hard to bet against them, but the Giants have a knack of winning and with another better ROI. If Zito can pitch like he did in the playoffs last year and Tim Lincecum's hair cut can renew his pitching of old, this team can be good.

Someone looks ready for a Harry Potter remake.

Pennant Odds:

My two picks for the pennants this year are the Washington Nationals and the Detroit Tigers. But wait! You didn't even pick the Nationals to win the division! True. I did not, but there are still two wild card slots and the Nationals WILL make the playoffs. Their lineup is good and their staff (if Strasburg is allowed to pitch this year) is made for playoff series. The Tigers have the best team in baseball in my opinion and you can see my reasoning in the graphic below.

World Series:

My pick for the World Series this year is the Tigers. The AL Playoffs is going to be tough but I can't bet against a team that went to the World Series last year AND got even better this year. Their rotation is deep and their lineup is powerful, I just hope they don't take a dump in the big one. Personally, I want to see how big of riot the people in Detroit can muster up. After the Giants winning it all last year and creating havoc, the people in MoTown must have taken it personal.


So, go ahead and listen to me. If you want to get paid this season, follow along to my step by step guide of how to strike it rich this year betting on baseball. You may not deem me an expect, but you are the one looking for tips, so obviously you have no clue neither. I still am going to make a silly 80/1 Padres World Series bet, because who knows? They still have to play the game and at least we aren't the Astros.

That's a bet the even Pete Rose would take.

Go Padres