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Why is baseball the best sport on the planet? Discuss. (7 Viewers)

USA team's fate being in the hands of players representing foreign countries is quite the irony lol
 
You've to know that an Italian descendant never ever loose his citenship as long as the parents do their duty on time by declaring their kid to the embassy / consulate (not so long ago there was no limit for that).

And indeed in sports, what we call "oriundi" sometimes choose to represent Italy instead of the country where they were born or live. Famous examples are Camoranesi in football or Marcel Jacobs in Athletics.

I didn't know it was also the case in baseball.
 
Angry Fan GIF
 
I have tickets this year for games at:

- American Family Fields (Miller Park), Milwaukee
- Rate Field - Chicago (White Sox)
- Citizen's Bank Park - Philadelphia
- Daikin Park - Houston

Anything I absolutely need to try for food at any of the parks and anything I shouldn’t miss from a view or experience perspective??

Other parks I’ve been to - goal is to hit them all by 2030….ranking these from my favorite to least favorite:

Stadium - first visit
1) Yankee Stadium (old), Bronx NY (Yanks) - 1979
2) Fenway Park, Boston MA (Red Sox) - 1979
3) Dodger Stadium, LA, CA (Dodgers) - 2019
4) Camden Yards, Baltimore MD (Orioles) - 2018
5) Coors Field, Denver CO (Rockies) - 2025
6) Wrigley Field, Chicago IL (Cubs) - 1996
7) Petco Park, San Diego CA (Padres) - 2016
8) Chase Field, Phoenix AZ (Diamondbacks) - 1999
9) Globe Life Field, Arlington TX (Rangers) - 2025
10) Angel Stadium, Anaheim CA (Angels) - 2014
11) Yankee Stadium (new), Bronx (Yanks) - 2009
12) Shea Stadium, Flushing NY (Mets) - 1997

Been to over 200 games at Old Yankee Stadium. Will always miss this park.

Fenway is a dump but a must-visit and iconic. Plus I doubled off the Monster in a charity softball game (got thrown out at third stretching it).

Dodger Stadium is just fantastic views. Stand behind home upper level and you can see LA and the ravine at the same time. You get a sense of baseball history like you do at the first two parks and Wrigley too.

Camden just felt like a 1930s park. Love the warehouse in right, love Boog Powell’s BBQ, awesome sight lines.

Man, I loved Coors. Upper right field balcony, was the oldest guy up there pregame and putting back $4 beers with the best of em. The fan are incredible. Down 15-6 in the 5th to the fucking Pirates, nobody left, everyone still cheering, never seen anything like it. More on this later.

Wrigley is another must visit. I’ve been for a day game, a night game, and a rooftop party across the street. Honestly, gimme both and I’d be happy.

Petco Field was just a great experience. Good fans, good food, perfect weather, great sight lines. Gaslight District is a 4 min walk too. Can’t beat the location.

I loved Chase Field when it opened in 1999 as the BOB (Bank One Ballpark). $6 32 oz drafts, I saw a Jose Jimenez no hitter there, the pool, the retractable roof, the slats they open on the walls to bring in a breeze in center. It was awesome. Now the AC can’t keep up with the heat and the whole place smells musty. It was a top 4 for me but it’s free falling fast. I hope they stay in town and get this fixed up. Also if you go, the draft room on the 3rd floor is a low key great place for elevated sight lines, good local beers, and fairly good better-then-ballpark food.

Angel Stadium was meh and the fans didn’t care about the game in the lower sections. Friday night, seeing and being seen is all they cared about. Low key hated this place, actually. I also loathe their too small spring training facility (Diablo Stadium in Tempe).

New Yankee Stadium is just weird. It looks like the old one but feels like an Amazon warehouse. Outfield views are horribly bad because of the giant boxy thing in center. Really don’t like this park. It must feels…..I dunno…..artificial.

I’d rather swim in the fucking East River than go to Shea. I did complete a 15 beer/9 inning challenge once there in 1997 when they played McGwire and the Cardinals, so I guess that’s something. I hated that stupid Apple in centerfield that would rise up when the Mets hit a dinger. To hell with Shea Stadium.
 
That Pirates vs Rockies game wasn’t the best I’ve been too (that’d be the infamous Pedro game in September in the Bronx in ‘99 when he struck out 17 in a brilliant 1 hitter)….but this game was probably the funnest I ever attended.

IMG_3267.webp
 
bergs said:
I have tickets this year for games at:

- American Family Fields (Miller Park), Milwaukee
- Rate Field - Chicago (White Sox)
- Citizen's Bank Park - Philadelphia
- Daikin Park - Houston

Anything I absolutely need to try for food at any of the parks and anything I shouldn’t miss from a view or experience perspective??

Other parks I’ve been to - goal is to hit them all by 2030….ranking these from my favorite to least favorite:

Stadium - first visit
1) Yankee Stadium (old), Bronx NY (Yanks) - 1979
2) Fenway Park, Boston MA (Red Sox) - 1979
3) Dodger Stadium, LA, CA (Dodgers) - 2019
4) Camden Yards, Baltimore MD (Orioles) - 2018
5) Coors Field, Denver CO (Rockies) - 2025
6) Wrigley Field, Chicago IL (Cubs) - 1996
7) Petco Park, San Diego CA (Padres) - 2016
8) Chase Field, Phoenix AZ (Diamondbacks) - 1999
9) Globe Life Field, Arlington TX (Rangers) - 2025
10) Angel Stadium, Anaheim CA (Angels) - 2014
11) Yankee Stadium (new), Bronx (Yanks) - 2009
12) Shea Stadium, Flushing NY (Mets) - 1997

Been to over 200 games at Old Yankee Stadium. Will always miss this park.

Fenway is a dump but a must-visit and iconic. Plus I doubled off the Monster in a charity softball game (got thrown out at third stretching it).

Dodger Stadium is just fantastic views. Stand behind home upper level and you can see LA and the ravine at the same time. You get a sense of baseball history like you do at the first two parks and Wrigley too.

Camden just felt like a 1930s park. Love the warehouse in right, love Boog Powell’s BBQ, awesome sight lines.

Man, I loved Coors. Upper right field balcony, was the oldest guy up there pregame and putting back $4 beers with the best of em. The fan are incredible. Down 15-6 in the 5th to the fucking Pirates, nobody left, everyone still cheering, never seen anything like it. More on this later.

Wrigley is another must visit. I’ve been for a day game, a night game, and a rooftop party across the street. Honestly, gimme both and I’d be happy.

Petco Field was just a great experience. Good fans, good food, perfect weather, great sight lines. Gaslight District is a 4 min walk too. Can’t beat the location.

I loved Chase Field when it opened in 1999 as the BOB (Bank One Ballpark). $6 32 oz drafts, I saw a Jose Jimenez no hitter there, the pool, the retractable roof, the slats they open on the walls to bring in a breeze in center. It was awesome. Now the AC can’t keep up with the heat and the whole place smells musty. It was a top 4 for me but it’s free falling fast. I hope they stay in town and get this fixed up. Also if you go, the draft room on the 3rd floor is a low key great place for elevated sight lines, good local beers, and fairly good better-then-ballpark food.

Angel Stadium was meh and the fans didn’t care about the game in the lower sections. Friday night, seeing and being seen is all they cared about. Low key hated this place, actually. I also loathe their too small spring training facility (Diablo Stadium in Tempe).

New Yankee Stadium is just weird. It looks like the old one but feels like an Amazon warehouse. Outfield views are horribly bad because of the giant boxy thing in center. Really don’t like this park. It must feels…..I dunno…..artificial.

I’d rather swim in the fucking East River than go to Shea. I did complete a 15 beer/9 inning challenge once there in 1997 when they played McGwire and the Cardinals, so I guess that’s something. I hated that stupid Apple in centerfield that would rise up when the Mets hit a dinger. To hell with Shea Stadium.
Click to expand...

immediate reaction was how the hell shea made your top 12. still probably doesn't deserve it, place was the absolute worst.
 
bergs said:
Anything I absolutely need to try for food at any of the parks
Click to expand...
Sausage Trifecta (Brat, Italian and Polish) in Milwaukee. Thats not a menu item, just get all 3.

There's a Geno's in CF in Philly, at least there was when I was there.


bergs said:
Other parks I’ve been to - goal is to hit them all by 2030
Click to expand...
My 43rd park will be Seattle this summer, then I've seen them all. I'm not counting the A's minor league stadium in Sacramento, but I'll visit their new park in Las Vegas when it opens. And of course I saw them in Oakland.

Have you not been to Frisco? That is a Top 5 park for sure.
 
BarrieJ3 said:
Any favs of all new fangled gizmos and gadgets or things you’re seeing every team/coach utilize?

Been out the coaching game for a decade and evals/season starts Saturday. Picked up 1 or 2 things, and now being hammered with marketing everywhere.
Click to expand...
Ehh, I don’t keep up with that. I watch all these kids come out with so much crap. Don’t even get me started with the damn sliding mitts. Fricken 8u teams, every kid has one. 8u cannot slide headfirst into OR back to a bag. If you can’t slide headfirst, why spend hundreds on useless equipment???
 
krafticus said:
Ehh, I don’t keep up with that. I watch all these kids come out with so much crap. Don’t even get me started with the damn sliding mitts. Fricken 8u teams, every kid has one. 8u cannot slide headfirst into OR back to a bag. If you can’t slide headfirst, why spend hundreds on useless equipment???
Click to expand...
Oh, yeah, lol not their gear, was just looking at training aides.

I’m surprised they even let them have those at that point. I’m not built for kids in 2026, the team would be told they don’t even come out of their bags.

Obviously every kid DOES need a chain to pop though.

IMG_7565.gif
 
I saw seats upstairs behind the plate were premium because of the view of the bay... I thought, who the eff goes to a baseball game to see the views outside the park?!

We did a tour the day before the game. I was wrong, the flview from those seats is amazing.
 
bergs said:
I have tickets this year for games at:

- American Family Fields (Miller Park), Milwaukee
- Rate Field - Chicago (White Sox)
- Citizen's Bank Park - Philadelphia
- Daikin Park - Houston

Anything I absolutely need to try for food at any of the parks and anything I shouldn’t miss from a view or experience perspective??

Other parks I’ve been to - goal is to hit them all by 2030….ranking these from my favorite to least favorite:

Stadium - first visit
1) Yankee Stadium (old), Bronx NY (Yanks) - 1979
2) Fenway Park, Boston MA (Red Sox) - 1979
3) Dodger Stadium, LA, CA (Dodgers) - 2019
4) Camden Yards, Baltimore MD (Orioles) - 2018
5) Coors Field, Denver CO (Rockies) - 2025
6) Wrigley Field, Chicago IL (Cubs) - 1996
7) Petco Park, San Diego CA (Padres) - 2016
8) Chase Field, Phoenix AZ (Diamondbacks) - 1999
9) Globe Life Field, Arlington TX (Rangers) - 2025
10) Angel Stadium, Anaheim CA (Angels) - 2014
11) Yankee Stadium (new), Bronx (Yanks) - 2009
12) Shea Stadium, Flushing NY (Mets) - 1997

Been to over 200 games at Old Yankee Stadium. Will always miss this park.

Fenway is a dump but a must-visit and iconic. Plus I doubled off the Monster in a charity softball game (got thrown out at third stretching it).

Dodger Stadium is just fantastic views. Stand behind home upper level and you can see LA and the ravine at the same time. You get a sense of baseball history like you do at the first two parks and Wrigley too.

Camden just felt like a 1930s park. Love the warehouse in right, love Boog Powell’s BBQ, awesome sight lines.

Man, I loved Coors. Upper right field balcony, was the oldest guy up there pregame and putting back $4 beers with the best of em. The fan are incredible. Down 15-6 in the 5th to the fucking Pirates, nobody left, everyone still cheering, never seen anything like it. More on this later.

Wrigley is another must visit. I’ve been for a day game, a night game, and a rooftop party across the street. Honestly, gimme both and I’d be happy.

Petco Field was just a great experience. Good fans, good food, perfect weather, great sight lines. Gaslight District is a 4 min walk too. Can’t beat the location.

I loved Chase Field when it opened in 1999 as the BOB (Bank One Ballpark). $6 32 oz drafts, I saw a Jose Jimenez no hitter there, the pool, the retractable roof, the slats they open on the walls to bring in a breeze in center. It was awesome. Now the AC can’t keep up with the heat and the whole place smells musty. It was a top 4 for me but it’s free falling fast. I hope they stay in town and get this fixed up. Also if you go, the draft room on the 3rd floor is a low key great place for elevated sight lines, good local beers, and fairly good better-then-ballpark food.

Angel Stadium was meh and the fans didn’t care about the game in the lower sections. Friday night, seeing and being seen is all they cared about. Low key hated this place, actually. I also loathe their too small spring training facility (Diablo Stadium in Tempe).

New Yankee Stadium is just weird. It looks like the old one but feels like an Amazon warehouse. Outfield views are horribly bad because of the giant boxy thing in center. Really don’t like this park. It must feels…..I dunno…..artificial.

I’d rather swim in the fucking East River than go to Shea. I did complete a 15 beer/9 inning challenge once there in 1997 when they played McGwire and the Cardinals, so I guess that’s something. I hated that stupid Apple in centerfield that would rise up when the Mets hit a dinger. To hell with Shea Stadium.
Click to expand...

Get to PNC in Pittsburgh, of the dozen or so ballparks I've been to, it's my favorite by a good deal. And for as shitty as Shea was, Citi Field is awesome, top 5.

I'd recommend getting a Schmitter at Citizen's Bank Park, but it looks like those Philly idiots discontinued it a while back.... :tdown:
 
Irish said:
Get to PNC in Pittsburgh, of the dozen or so ballparks I've been to, it's my favorite by a good deal. And for as shitty as Shea was, Citi Field is awesome, top 5.

I'd recommend getting a Schmitter at Citizen's Bank Park, but it looks like those Philly idiots discontinued it a while back.... :tdown:
Click to expand...
They did away with The Schmitter.
Burnt Ends Cheesesteak at Bull's BBQ would be the signature sandwich to get.
 
Fox is smoking that good crack. In no way shape or form does a team who lost to Italy and then had to rely on them to sneak into the quarterfinals be in the #1 spot.
Screenshot_20260313_093025_Instagram.webp
 
The margin between two team on any given day varies a lot. The best teams in baseball still lose 35% - 40% of their games.

Anything can happen in a single game - it is one reason baseball IS the best sport. You never know what might happen.

There is a reason we have to play for six months & 162 games only to end up with a tiny margin between the teams vying for the championship. A four-game pool play followed by a single game elimination bracket is going to have crazy variance.

I certainly wouldn't take Italy over team USA in a seven-game series. Losing one game to Italy doesn't teach us much about team USA (especially knowing Team USA's manager might have been resting some of his best players for what he thought was an assured quarter final game tonight.)

I'd rank the DR as top seed, USA and Japan close at 2nd/3rd. In a single elimination bracket anything can happen, all eight teams have a shot.

Let the games commence -=- DrStrange
 

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