MLB 08 Season

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:13 pm

New Braves Uni's look cheap.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:15 pm

In HD it REALLY looks good.

Yeah, I'm not feeling those Braves uniforms. Chipper with the 1st HR in the new park!

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:55 pm

Inuyasha wrote:New Braves Uni's look cheap.

Agreed. Thankfully they are the alternates so I won't have to see them that often. Hopefully they will now retire the RED ones they wore the last few years. Those were even more atrocious. However, the new hat is pretty sweet. I like the all blue.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:24 pm

I kind of like that Braves dark blue jersey, looks pretty nice to me.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:34 pm

SEMINOLE wrote:The Real Opener should be Monday when the Reds play. THAT is a tradition that the MLB has truly ruined!!!

Selig single handedly has destroyed much of the tradition of baseball.

Nozzleman_216 · Post by **Nozzleman_216** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:44 pm

WOW! What a finish! Zimmerman pounded that on a ROPE!!!

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:47 pm

That ball was destroyed. I had no idea how some of those balls the Braves hit didn't get out. Tex and McCann both hit balls harder that dipped and hit the top of the wall...that one carried. Guess it's just the matter of hitting it to left instead of right and right center. You learn a little bit about how the ball carries at new parks in the first few games and they have certainly learned something there tonight.

Regardless of what the media says...it's gonna be a long year for the Braves I think. I hope I'm 100% wrong.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:49 pm

I thought Tex's was long gone...freakin' dot off the top of the wall.

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:49 pm

Ryan Z.... man, he's 23 now. I can't wait to see him in a few years!

What a game!

Sadly, it's one of only 5 or 6 broadcasts i'll see them on here in Ottawa unless I win the lottery and shell out $300 for the sports pack that has Extra Innings amongst other things.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 11:05 pm

I really liked that camera they were using which was like it was on the roof of the stadium. Is this a new cam ESPN will use this year or just was able to do because of the new stadium?

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 11:22 pm

Inuyasha wrote:I really liked that camera they were using which was like it was on the roof of the stadium. Is this a new cam ESPN will use this year or just was able to do because of the new stadium?

Me too! I was thinking.. "I wish that was in MLB 2k8".

TheGamer · Post by **TheGamer** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:10 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:Regardless of what the media says...it's gonna be a long year for the Braves I think. I hope I'm 100% wrong.

You know what I feel the same way. A lot of the media is banking on the Smoltz-Glavine-Hudson rotation. I'm just not seeing it. Smoltz and Glavine are probably coming to the end of their careers, which were great, but I don't think they can recapture the magic from the 90's. I think the Mets and Phils have too much offensive power.

On another note, I wish the Cubs could get a new stadium in the Chicago burbs and get out of Wrigley. Surprising how much fuss is being made about Sam Zell wanting to sell the naming rights and making a profit to put back into the team. Hell the Wrigley Co has been getting free advertisement for the last 27 years, make them pay if they want to keep their name on the building.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:17 am

I was at the game tonight, and it was a real pleasure. After that PB in the 9th, we were thinking we'd be there for some time, because there was just no offense going on for anyone. And it was getting a little chilly. But hey, big Z comes through! That ball was just a few feet from where Chipper's HR ended up, and they had very similar trajectories, too. I knew Chipper's was out when he hit it, but Zimmerman's I thought might hit the top of the wall. What a way to end the opener!

The park is nice. It feels pretty small, and cozy. The concourses are all pretty open, and you can see the field as you walk around or wait in line for a beer, which is really nice. The video screen is SICK! It's HUGE and so crisp. They must have had problems with the replay system because we didn't see any replays until they showed a quick reel of the night's highlights in the 7th or 8th inning, and after that the replays were up and running as per normal.

There sure are some kinks to work out, but it's pretty damn cool to have a real urban stadium to see a ball game at, not some theme-park feeling, remote building in the middle of an endless parking lot. There is so much building going on in that area, it's ridiculous. We parked up on the Hill near the Library of Congress and it was a pleasant 15-20 minute walk each way. There seemed to be plenty of good spots to park closer to the stadium, as well, and with decent Metro access, it really seems like they got it right. At least until the Anacostia floods. . . . Capital Hill residents who are ball fans can just ride the bike or walk, it's pretty nice.

It seems like the Braves did the Nats a solid by agreeing to play this game, so hats off to them for being a class organization. I find it exceedingly odd that they had this one-game series, but I guess the Nats pulled some strings to get this game on the Sunday night broadcast.

But what a way to start the season! Any time the Braves lose, it's a great day for me, and for it to be the Nats that do it, even better. I'm glad I got the chance to come down and see this one. I can tell you I've waited pretty much my whole life to see Baseball back in DC, and now to have a real baseball stadium, it's just awesome. I'm sure I'll make it down at least a couple of times when the Mets are there, and i'm really looking forward to it.

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:59 am

Great ending...the fans deserved something special last night and got it.

Hard to believe that here in Toronto, the Skydome already feels dated and sterile. I think it was the last stadium built before all of the retro ones started popping up. I can only imagine how many games I'd go to if we had a classic ballpark. Don't get me wrong, I'm still a fan and support the team, but the thought of sitting in a dome (roof open or not) just isn't the same!

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:49 am

I was thinking about this last night....

It wouldn't surprise me that the reason it was the Braves was the connection to Lerner, the new owner of the Nats. Sort of "old vs new" connection.

As for why it was only a one game series, I bet the Nats requested it so that they now have time to work out any remaining kinks in the stadium.

The exhibition game on Saturday was limited to 25,000 (for the construction workers, etc) and last night was the first "full house".

I imagine they are poring over reports of complaints, transportation issues, etc. before the next home game......

I was just stoked to see the Nationals, as they don't get a lot of TV time up here in Canada without Extra Innings..... and as an old Expos fan who's stuck with them, I like to see them when I can.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:32 am

Gangrel wrote:I was thinking about this last night....

It wouldn't surprise me that the reason it was the Braves was the connection to Lerner, the new owner of the Nats. Sort of "old vs new" connection.

Well I guess you aren't aware that Stan Kastan, the President of the Nats was part of the Braves regime for YEARS as their President so I'm sure there are plenty of connections that made it happen.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:38 am

Zeppo wrote:I was at the game tonight, and it was a real pleasure. After that PB in the 9th, we were thinking we'd be there for some time, because there was just no offense going on for anyone. And it was getting a little chilly. But hey, big Z comes through! That ball was just a few feet from where Chipper's HR ended up, and they had very similar trajectories, too. I knew Chipper's was out when he hit it, but Zimmerman's I thought might hit the top of the wall. What a way to end the opener!

The park is nice. It feels pretty small, and cozy. The concourses are all pretty open, and you can see the field as you walk around or wait in line for a beer, which is really nice. The video screen is SICK! It's HUGE and so crisp. They must have had problems with the replay system because we didn't see any replays until they showed a quick reel of the night's highlights in the 7th or 8th inning, and after that the replays were up and running as per normal.

There sure are some kinks to work out, but it's pretty damn cool to have a real urban stadium to see a ball game at, not some theme-park feeling, remote building in the middle of an endless parking lot. There is so much building going on in that area, it's ridiculous. We parked up on the Hill near the Library of Congress and it was a pleasant 15-20 minute walk each way. There seemed to be plenty of good spots to park closer to the stadium, as well, and with decent Metro access, it really seems like they got it right. At least until the Anacostia floods. . . . Capital Hill residents who are ball fans can just ride the bike or walk, it's pretty nice.

It seems like the Braves did the Nats a solid by agreeing to play this game, so hats off to them for being a class organization. I find it exceedingly odd that they had this one-game series, but I guess the Nats pulled some strings to get this game on the Sunday night broadcast.

But what a way to start the season! Any time the Braves lose, it's a great day for me, and for it to be the Nats that do it, even better. I'm glad I got the chance to come down and see this one. I can tell you I've waited pretty much my whole life to see Baseball back in DC, and now to have a real baseball stadium, it's just awesome. I'm sure I'll make it down at least a couple of times when the Mets are there, and i'm really looking forward to it.

Great recap, Zeppo. Glad you had a good time. It was beautiful on ESPN HD.

Had a ticket to the Tigers home opener but had to turn it down. Rainy and crappy here in Detroit, but still would have liked to go. Hope they get it in. Am taping and will watch when I get home tonight.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:12 am

Zeppo wrote:I was at the game tonight...

Ah, so you'd rather attend this momentus civic event than play OTP against a bunch of single-braincelled idiots who speak only by meowing like cats? Wise choice

Cool impressions and I'm glad to here the ballpark lives up to expectations.

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:46 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
Gangrel wrote:I was thinking about this last night....

It wouldn't surprise me that the reason it was the Braves was the connection to Lerner, the new owner of the Nats. Sort of "old vs new" connection.
Well I guess you aren't aware that Stan Kastan, the President of the Nats was part of the Braves regime for YEARS as their President so I'm sure there are plenty of connections that made it happen.

Er, yes, I mean to say Kasten, not Lerner.......

I humbly stand corrected.

jLp vAkEr0 · Post by **jLp vAkEr0** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:31 pm

Yeah, Santana is good.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:41 pm

how come the dodgers got rid of the drawings on the outfield walls? Looks like the outfield wall is like old Dodger stadium. Went back to the original sky blue than the darker blue they had last year.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:09 am

Yanks win finally their home opener vs the Jays after a rain delay. Melky Cabrera was awesome for the home team while J. Gibbons should have made a couple of wiser decisions with the score still tied 2-2. I hope he doesn't last past this season.

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:07 am

Don't forget Time Warner Cable's free preview of MLB Extra Innings this week. I watched the last few innings of the Giants/Dodgers game last night. Man, what a treat it is to listen to Vin Scully call a game... "Furcal carries the mail at second..." (meaning he was the winning run in the ninth).

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:16 am

He always had a good arm, the question was if he could be consistent and stay out of injury problems. On a chilli night in NYC, A.J. Burnett was throwing consistently 96mph fastballs keeping the Yankees at bay. Rubber match on thursday.

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:19 am

If this story had been a couple of days ago, I would have expected this to be an April Fool's joke. What a weird story:

http://www.local10.com/sports/15791815/detail.html