True Sport Fans

Change We Can Believe In

2010-09-22T17:19:00.006-05:00

On June 10th, the Blackhawks ended their 49-year championship drought, and they hoisted the Stanley Cup. The team spent the summer celebrating and partied like crazy. Now, the fall is here and so is training camp. It’s a new season, and quite a bit has changed since the Blackhawks won the cup.

The Blackhawks were able to keep their four superstars, Patrick Kane, Jonathon Toews, Patrick Sharp, and Marian Hossa. However, many key players from the cup-winning team are gone. The list includes starting goalie Antti Niemi, playoff hero Dustin Byfuglien, key defenseman Brent Sopel, forward Kris Versteeg, and many other key role-players.

A new cast of players joins the cup-winning players to start a new season. However, there’s a different feeling around this year’s Blackhawk team. It’s a feeling of uneasiness. Now I’m just some blogger, and I’ve been wrong before, but I say calm down Blackhawk fans. Here are three reasons to get excited for change.

Young talent: Just a few short years ago, the Blackhawks welcomed up some young prospect with a lot of potential. Their names are Patrick Kane, Jonathon Toews, Duncan Keith, and Brent Seabrook. Those four players have turned into superstars.

With the many veterans departing in the offseason, the door has opened for a new breed of young talent. Former first round pick Jack Skille hopes to stick on the roster, while fellow first rounder Kyle Beach may get his big chance. Another name to remember is Igor Makarov. Makarov has turned heads early in training camp, and could make an impact.

Another prospect looking to make the team is Nick Leddy. Leddy was acquired from Minnesota in the Cam Barker trade. Leddy is just 19-years old, but has been impressive in camp. He may not make the roster for opening night, but expect Leddy to get his chance at some point this season.

Another young player who has solidified his spot on the roster is Corey Crawford. Crawford will be the backup goalie behind Marty Turco (see below on Turco). With the departure of Antti Niemi and inevitable release of Cristobal Huet, Crawford will get his shot to be on the roster. Crawford made his NHL debut in 2005, but has only played in eight games since then. Now, the 25-year old will get his chance to prove he can stay around.

Turco Time: The Blackhawks were unable to bring back cup-winning goalie Antti Niemi. After a long arbitration process, Niemi left Chicago and is now a San Jose Shark. The Hawks acted quickly by bringing in veteran goalie Marty Turco.

Turco is 35-years old, and many people may argue that his best days are behind him, but Turco is still a top-tier goalie. In the 2009-10 season, Turco finished with a .913 save percentage. Just barely more than Antti Niemi’s .912 save percentage.

More importantly, Turco gives the Blackhawks a reliable veteran between the pipes.
The Blackhawks aren’t losing anything with Antti Niemi. He will go down as a playoff hero, but now, it’s Turco time!

Key Newcomers: With all of the notable departures in the offseason, most people forgot that the Blackhawks made a few signings.

The first pickup was 24-year old forward Viktor Stalberg, who was acquired by trade. Stalberg gives the Hawks a playmaking forward, to make up for the loss of Kris Versteeg. He should fit right into the mix.

A couple days later, the Blackhawks brought in their biggest signing. He is 6’8, 258 lb. John Scott, a defenseman who came from the Minnesota Wild. Scott will undoubtedly be known as the new enforcer on the ice. In just 51 games, Scott racked up 90 penalty minutes, many of those coming from fights. It won’t take long for Scott to become a fan favorite.

Toward the end of the offseason, the Blackhawks brought in veteran winger Fernando Pisani and 26-year old center Ryan Potulny.

The names like Niemi, Byfuglien, and others will be missed, but their production will be made up for with the key newcomers.
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It’s a new season with some new players, but the one goal is still the same. The Blackhawks return most of the key players of the championship team, with some new players that are hungry to hoist the cup.

It’s been a long, crazy offseason of celebrating and enjoying the victory. The Blackhawks are champions, but that’s now in the past. In the words of Troy Brouwer, "As soon as the season starts, we raise our banner and give the Stanley Cup back to the league. From then on, it's just trying to win that again."

You can follow us on Twitter: @TrueSportFans, @TSF_Blackhawks, @ChrisEmma51, and @Plinske.

Breaking Down The Candidates

2010-08-26T19:07:00.004-05:00

A sad season came to a sad ending for Lou Piniella, as real life struck. Piniella was forced to leave the Cubs to tend to his ailing mother. Nothing had gone right for the 2010 Cubs, and in July, Piniella had announced his retirement, but it came to an end sooner than originally expected.

Now, the Cubs are forced to look ahead. The Cubs have played 15 rookies in the ’10 season, and the youth movement has officially begun for the Cubs.

On Monday, the Cubs made another move by naming Mike Quade as interim manager. However, the Cubs organization has now started their search for a new man for the open skipper position. Several candidates have emerged for the job.

TSF gives a look at each candidates, listed in althebetical order by their first name.

Bob Brenly- Brenly has been a great color commentator, so it would be sad to see him leave the booth. Let’s face it; he’s ready to be a manager again. Brenly has one thing that most people at Wrigley have never seen: a World Series ring. Brenly will most likely be interviewed, but it all depends on if he wants to leave his comfortable, stress-free, high-paying job in the television booth.

Eric Wedge- the Cubs brought Wedge in for an interview on Thursday. This came as a surprise to many Cubs fans, but Wedge could be a possible fallback option. Wedge had a decent six-year run with Cleveland before being fired after the 2009 season. Wedge won the AL Manager of the Year award in 2007, but that’s basically the only thing that makes him a strong candidate. Hiring Wedge would be a fallback option at best.

Joe Giardi- The move would make sense for the Cubs. Girardi won NL Manager of the Year with the Marlins, and led the Yankees to their 27th World Series in 2009. He’s proven that he is a great skipper. Even more, Girardi is a native of Peoria, IL, and has family in the Chicagoland area. But the big factor is if Girardi would want to give up his job in New York. Girardi has players like Jeter, A-Rod and other veteran leaders. Why would he give that up to take over a messy Cubs team? Those are questions that Girardi has to answer, and he will get a phone call from the Cubs before anyone else. Will he answer the call?

Joe Torre- The man has been a success everywhere, and he may be looking for a new challenge. His contract with the Dodgers expires after this season, and it appears likely that the Dodgers won’t make the playoffs. Torre would be a great short-term option, but the Cubs aren’t looking for a short-term guy. I wouldn’t be surprised if Torre changed zip codes, but don’t expect a move to Wrigley.

Mike Quade- When Lou Piniella left the Cubs on Sunday; Mike Quade was surprisingly named the interim skipper. He began his time as manager with three-straight wins. Quade was a finalist for the job in 2007, and has a great track record in the minor leagues. The Cubs are looking for a guy who can handle young players, and Quade may be the guy. If not, the Cubs wouldn’t have put him in charge of the rest of the season.

Ozzie Guillen- At first glance, it seems like a long shot. Ozzie is public enemy #1 on the north side of town; he openly hates Wrigley Field, and openly hates Cubs fans even more. But consider this. Ozzie’s White Sox are falling out of contention in the AL Central division, and he is in hot water with management. He has history of being unpredictable, so anything can happen. If Ozzie were to leave the White Sox, he would immediately be considered for the Braves and Marlins job openings, but there’s no reason to count him out of the Cubs job.

Pat Listach- Prior to the 2009 season, Listach was a successful manager in the Cubs minor league system. The former Cubs managed for two years in Double-A (West Tennessee in ’06 and Tennessee ‘07) and one year with Triple-A Iowa in 2008. After that, Listach has served as a coach with the Nationals, and is more than qualified for the job. However, the Cubs would most likely veer toward Ryne Sandberg or Mike Quade before hiring Listach, so his chances of being hired are pretty slim.

Ryne Sandberg- This move seems to make sense. Ryno is a Cubs legend has been groomed through the Cubs system. Now, it appears he is ready. He has developed young talent, and the 2011 Cubs appear as if they will be a very young team. Who better to handle the young talent than Ryno? Sandberg appears to be the favorite to get the job, but as any Cub fan will tell you, anything can happen.

You can follow us on Twitter: @ChrisEmma51, @Plinske, @TrueSportFans, and our Cubs account, @TSF_Cubs

TSF Fantasy Football Preview

2010-08-12T13:05:00.010-05:00

It’s mid-August. That means a few things are for certain. The weather is hot, the Cubs are far out of playoff contention, and football season is around the corner.

For those football fans, this means one special thing. It’s fantasy football time!
Fantasy football drafts are being organized, marking a special day for every football fan, because as all fantasy football players know, the draft is half of the fun.

But with football season fast approaching, one might feel overwhelmed by the changes in the NFL. Favre might retire? Well, you probably knew about that already. But there are other subtle changes that may have gone unnoticed. This could create a problem in your fantasy draft.

Fear not! TSF has your guide to a successful fantasy football draft. We’ve got your must-get players, sleepers, busts, and more for your fantasy draft. Here are ten tips to a good draft and a good fantasy football season.

Titans RB @ChrisJohnson28

1.) Draft Chris Johnson!: Each year, there is that one player who’s the no doubt can’t miss. This year, he’s Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans. He is the undoubted #1 overall pick in your fantasy draft. Johnson has uncanny speed and power, which makes him an unstoppable force. More importantly for fantasy owners, he is a threat for rushing and receiving points. His 503 receiving yards in ’09 put him second among running backs. Take Chris Johnson!

2.) Stick to running backs in the first round: Usually, running backs go high in the first few rounds. This makes sense, they bring in the most points and have the most fantasy value. But often, there is one quarterback who stands out, and can be taken in the first round. This is often Peyton Manning, Drew Brees or Tom Brady. This year, no quarterback stands out as a first round selection. Take a running back in the first round, and then go for a quarterback or receiver in the second round.

3.) When drafting a QB, think of the interceptions: In most leagues, a quarterback will be penalized for interceptions. If you’re in a league that doesn’t, you’re lucky. When picking a QB, it’s important to think of who’s prone to throw interceptions. The ultimate example of this was Jay Cutler, who killed fantasy owners with his 26 interceptions in ’09. Be cautious when picking a gunslinger, because he may just shoot you.

4.) Avoid the “problem child” wide receivers: We all love to watch the antics of guys like Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, and Brandon Marshall, but the fantasy reality is, it’s a risk taking these players. For example, owners who took Marshall highly were forced to ride out the suspension with him. Be careful when taking a cocky, problem wide receiver. Proceed cautiously, or you may just find yourself in trouble as well.

Colts TE Dallas Clark

5.) Think QB when taking a tight end: The key to drafting a good tight end is to draft a tight end with a good quarterback. More importantly, a quarterback who throws to his tight end. Some QB’s are more prone to throw to their TE than others. The ultimate examples are Tony Romo and Peyton Manning, who often utilize Jason Whitten and Dallas Clark. That’s a part of what makes these guys successful. When picking a TE, think of who their quarterback is.

6.) Don’t jump for a team defense: Drafting a good team defense is always important, but you have to do so carefully. No defense is THAT good where they need to be taken in the early rounds. Let somebody else be the first to take a team defense, then follow suit. No defense is worth taking so early, so wait back and fill the important needs, then when somebody else makes a move, you do the same.

7.) Don’t intermix bye weeks: This is an important thing for all fantasy football owners to remember. Never take players with the same bye week. This means a few things. Don’t draft a starting and backup player at a position who has the same bye week. This is especially important for quarterbacks, because if you have two QB’s with the same bye week, you have to draft a weak free agent. Also, don’t take too many players from the same team. For example, if you’re a Bears fans, don’t take Cutler, Forte, Hester, and Olsen. When the Bears are on a bye week, you’re in big trouble. Be careful during the draft. Always look for that bye week.

8.) Take rookies: The average Joe who plays fantasy football is thinking of the star players and guys who remember watching last season. You’re not the average Joe, because you’re reading an article on how to draft well. Think of the newcomers! Taking a rookie is a low-risk move with high rewards. My top rookie available is Ryan Matthews, the starting running back for the San Diego Chargers. He could be the biggest sleeper of the draft. I would advise taking him if available in the second round. Think young and you will be rewarded!

9.) Draft sleepers:
Matt Leinart- The southpaw is entering his first season as “the guy” with the Cardinals. With Kurt Warner retiring, Leinart will be the starter, and he will have Larry Fitzgerald and company readily available to throw to. Leinart could be a steal. Take him as a backup, but chances are, he could be “the guy” on your fantasy team as well.

Jimmy Clausen- I should add that I’m a huge Notre Dame fan, so you can take this however you’d like. But, Jimmy Clausen will most likely beat out Matt Moore for the starting job. Clausen has an NFL cannon, and he’s been ready to be a starter. He could be a late round steal for your team.

Tim Hightower- He was a sleeper last year, but was overshadowed by his impressive cast in the desert. This year, Leinart and the Cardinals may need help from a strong running game, and that’s where Hightower comes in. He had a great year last year, and don’t be surprised if he has another great season in 2010. Take Hightower if he’s on the board, and you won’t be disappointed.

Johnny Knox- Knox had a breakout season in 2009, and became a big target for Jay Cutler. He should see an increased role in 2010, and that will make him a solid choice in a fantasy draft. Take Knox with a late round pick, and he will reward you.

10.) Draft busts:

Chicago Bears RB @chitownforte22

Matt Forte (@chitownforte22)- Forte followed up a tremendous rookie season with a terrible sophomore slump. This year will be a big challenge for the young running back. The Bear brought in Chester Taylor, and are hoping for competition in the backfield. Forte was the only guy counted on last season, but if he struggles again this season, Taylor will be the starter. Avoid Forte with a high pick, and choose a more reliable back.

Tim Tebow- He is talented, we all know that, but he’s not worth being drafted in a fantasy draft. Tebow will have a reduced role with just a few plays per game, much like what Michael Vick did in ’09. Unless you’re related to Tebow, do NOT draft him.

Darren McFadden- He’s an above average player on a bad team. That makes him a bad player. We all know McFadden has potential, but it doesn’t matter if he has nothing else around him. Avoid McFadden, because there is no reason to expect anything better from him.

Terrell Owens (@terrellowens)- It seems like a perfect situation for TO in Cincinnati, but he hasn’t proven himself to be a top-tier receiver again. He will rank third or maybe fourth in stats among the Bengal’s receivers. Carson Palmer can only do so much. Take Owens with a late pick if anything, but don’t take him highly, it’s not worth it.

You can follow us on Twitter: @TrueSportFans, @ChrisEmma51, and @plinske

New-Look Bulls Built To Win

2010-07-29T02:46:00.012-05:00

Chicago Bulls GM Gar Forman (left) and Exec. VP of Basketball Operations John Paxson (right)

At the beginning of July, every Bulls fan was dreaming of the next “dream team.” The Bulls cleared cap space for a “first tier” free agent like LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, or Chris Bosh, and Bulls fans dreamed of another dynasty.

But things turned out a little different than most Bulls fans originally expected. Wade, the Chicago native, decided to stay put in Miami. Chris Bosh also decided to join the Heat. And as we all know, LeBron made “the decision” to take his talents to South Beach.

This left teams all around the NBA angry (see Dan Gilbert) and left without an answer. However, to the Bulls credit, they decided to be proactive. They may not have signed Wade, Bosh, or Wade, but during the past month, the Bulls have made themselves a championship contention.

It started on June 5th when the Bulls hired Tom Thibodeau, a former assistant with the Boston Celtics. Known as a defensive guru, Thibodeau was a key part of the Celtics’ success, which includes a championship in 2008, and nearly another one in 2010.

Ray Allen (left) talking w/ Thibbs during the NBA Finals

As an assistant in Boston, Thibodeau coached Kevin Garnett, one of the best defensive players of the past decade. He was also a huge part in the development of young point guard Rajon Rondo. Even in their loss to the Lakers during Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the Celtics displayed their defensive dominance, as they held the Lakers to 32% and just 83 points.

Thibodeau joins a Bulls team that barely snuck into the playoffs in 2010, and was eventually eliminated by LeBron and the Cavaliers. However, GM Gar Foreman has quickly built the Bulls into a title contender.

The first big addition was Carlos Boozer, the 6’9 superstar power forward from the Utah Jazz. Boozer was signed on July 7th, just one day before LeBron James made his decision. At this point, it appeared the Bulls were out of contention for James, so Foreman acted quickly, and brought in Boozer.

Boozer brings the Bulls the physical post presence that they’ve been look searching for. During the 2009-10 season, Boozer averaged 19.5 points per game and 11.2 rebounds per game. Expect big contributions from Boozer on offense and defense, but more importantly, he will take pressure off of young Bulls center Joakim Noah.

With the departure of Kirk Hinrich, the Bulls were desperately in need of a guard. They turned to 6’7 shooting guard Ronnie Brewer, formerly of the Memphis Grizzlies. Brewer averaged 8.8 ppg in 2009-10, but did so on a losing team. With all due respect to Memphis, the Bulls will be much better than the Grizzlies, and expect Brewer to be a big factor.

With his big frame, Brewer gives the Bulls a slasher on offense, something they haven’t had for a while.

The Bulls didn’t stop there. Badly in need of a shooter, they again looked in Utah, and signed Kyle Korver. Korver is widely known as one of the best pure shooters in the league. He boasted a 53% three-point field goal percentage in 2009-10, and gives the Bulls a much-needed sharp shooter from beyond the arc.

Ronnie Brewer throws it down against the Hawks

The Bulls have filled in the roster by adding key role players like guard C.J. Watson, who was brought in from Golden State in a sign and trade. In addition to Watson, the Bulls finally signed center Omer Asik, who they had taken in 2009.

After a lengthy wait for his arrival, Asik will finally bring his 7’0, 255 lb. frame to Chicago, where he will come off the bench and be a key role player.

These key new additions will join a roster loaded with star power. They will join 21-year old point guard Derrick Rose, the undisputed star of the team. Rose is the whole package on both ends of the court, but for the first time, he has a talented supporting cast, meaning good things lie ahead for Rose.

Joakim Noah is the Bulls’ man in the middle, and he will be a completely different player with a new and improved supporting cast.

The Bulls took a brief glance at aging veteran Tracy McGrady, but it appears that he is unlikely to sign. With open roster spots remaining and plenty of cap room to spare, the Bulls are likely to sign a few more role players for the bench. Signs point to the Bulls adding either Roger Mason Jr., Keith Bogans, or Rudy Fernandez.

Kyle Korver (left) & Carlos Boozer @CBoozTheBull (right) all smiles

The Bulls may not have landed LeBron, Wade, or Bosh, but that’s ok. The NBA’s Eastern Conference will be a hotly contested conference, and the Bulls appear ready to contend. The Bulls are lacking the glitz and glamour that Miami now has, but they do have a team built to win.

The Bulls have a new coach and new additions like Boozer, Brewer, Korver, and other key role players. The Bulls won’t have the star power of Miami, Boston, or Los Angeles, but they don’t need it. They have one of the best rosters in the NBA, and they are most definitely a contender for a championship.

You can follow us on @Twitter: @TrueSportFans, @TSF_Bulls, @ChrisEmma51, and @plinske

"The Decision" Seperates LeBron From The Legends

2010-07-20T13:50:00.012-05:00

Times have changed in the sports world, but some things remain the same. Athletes in every sport, from baseball to handball all want to win. Every athlete is ultra-competitive. It’s in their nature. That’s what makes them the best.

But, there is one thing that’s changed greatly. We just “witnessed” it a few weeks ago, as LeBron James decided he would “take his talents to South Beach.”

This was a very interesting moment in sports. Three of the giants of the game, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, decided they would rather form a dream team than be the best.

The 80’s arguably brought us some of the best NBA basketball ever. The three best players in the game were Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson. What did all three of these players have in common? Three things- They all wanted to win, they were the best, and they stayed in one city (Jordan’s embarrassing run in Washington doesn’t count).

The NBA has always been a sport based on the individual athlete. When you think about the Lakers, you think of Kobe, the Suns, you think of Nash, etc. Forming a “dream team” has been unheard of until 2007, when the Celtics brought in Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to join Paul Pierce.

But that was different. Garnett left behind a middle of the road Timberwolves team, and Allen left a sinking ship in Seattle. What we saw this July was completely different.

James left Cleveland, his home. He left a franchise that he had helped rise from the ashes. James could have won championships in Cleveland, a city that isn’t used to doing so. He disappointed a whole city who embraced him, and left behind a legacy that would have lasted forever.

His legacy was set. James was the king of Cleveland, and was the face of the entire state. James’s legacy was left on the streets of Cleveland with his burnt jerseys.

LeBron James was the Cleveland Cavaliers, and was everything Cleveland had. But he left is behind for South Beach.

This move would have been absurd in the 80’s and even up to a few years ago. The decision came as a surprise to the greatest player ever, and the man who LeBron idolizes, Michael Jordan. When asked about James’s decision, Jordan said the following.

"There's no way, with hindsight, I would've ever called up Larry [Bird], called up Magic [Johnson] and said, 'Hey, look, let's get together and play on one team. But that's ... things are different. I can't say that's a bad thing. It's an opportunity these kids have today. In all honesty, I was trying to beat those guys."

Jordan’s comments point out an interesting observation. A lot has changed in this modern era of sports. Legacies are different. We saw it a few years ago, when Wisconsin’s hero Brett Favre ditched the Packers, and forced every cheese head to rename their dogs from Brett to Aaron.

Even a few years before then, the city of Chicago saw its own hero, Sammy Sosa, leave town and never apologize.

It’s growing increasingly more common for an athlete to leave behind a lot. We just witnessed such an occurrence with LeBron James.

LeBron’s move to Miami was another example of a superstar tarnishing his legacy. He is moving into Dwayne Wade’s team, and will be another member of the team. No matter how many titles he wins with the Heat, it won’t compare to the title’s he could’ve won in Cleveland.

If LeBron was indeed “The King,” he would have stayed home in Cleveland and won titles on his own, because he’s the best. That’s the competitive nature that the greats like Jordan, Bird, and Magic had. James is taking his talents to South Beach, but in Cleveland, he leaves behind a tarnished legacy.

You can follow us on Twitter: @TrueSportFans, @ChrisEmma51, and @plinske

2010 MLB Second Half Predictions

2010-07-15T18:11:00.002-05:00

The first half of the 2010 baseball season is in the books. Some things have gone exactly as expected, other things have been shocking. So far, we’ve seen two perfect games (almost three), the first utility infielder chosen as an All-Star, and Jose Bautista is leading the league in home runs.

As we currently sit at the All-Star break, it’s natural to look ahead at what the rest of the baseball season has to offer.

True Sport Fans’ writers Chris Emma (CE) and Ryan Plinske (RP) give their look ahead what will happen the rest of the season in our TSF Second Half Preview.

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American League

AL East

New York 56 32 .636 - -

Tampa Bay 54 34 .614 2.0

Boston 51 37 .580 5.0 3.0

Toronto 44 45 .494 12.5

Baltimore 29 59 .330 27.0

AL East Division Winner:
CE - Boston Red Sox: Ever since the emergence of the Tampa Bay Rays, the AL East has been the best division in baseball. Thus is the case in 2010. That and the early success of Toronto have made this division one of the best in a long time. The only thing that I can say for certain is Baltimore won’t win the division. Toronto hung around for a while, but they appear to be dying. The fact that the Boston Red Sox have survived their injury troubles says they will win the division. They will only get better with Beckett, Ellsbury, and everyone else on their disabled list. Expect Boston to narrowly beat out the Yankees for the division title.

RP - Boston Red Sox: Ok so did any of you reading this think I would have chosen any other team other than my beloved Red Sox! They have the third best record in baseball at the All-Star Break with nearly every key player out with an injury. The list of players goes from Josh Beckett, Adrian Beltre, Clay Buchholz, Mike Cameron, Manny Delcarmen, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jeremy Hermida, Mike Lowell, Jed Lowrie, Victor Martinez, Dustin Pedroia, Junichi Tazawa, and Jason Varitek. David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis have been leading the charge for the offensive prowess the Red Sox have had this season. Heading into the 2010 season many people had written off David Ortiz has being a productive piece in the Sox lineup and his month of April fed right into their lap. However, Ortiz heated up more than any one else in the league from May on with nine home runs in May and recently winning the Home Run Derby. The pitching staff is led by none other than Clay Buchholz… yes you heard that right. WHAT THE BUCH is the leader in most of the pitching categories while Jon Lester is superb as always. Terry Francona never has a problem with plugging in the right guys for each situation and will continue to do that as the season winds down.

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AL Central

Chicago 49 38 .563 - -

Detroit 48 38 .558 0.5

Minnesota 46 42 .523 3.5

Kansas City 39 49 .443 10.5

Cleveland 34 54 .386 15.5

AL Central Division Winner:
CE- Minnesota Twins: The AL Central has seen a wild first half, capped off with the White Sox taking over first place. After a first half with rumors of being fired, Ozzie Guillen proved he’s one of the best managers in baseball. In the end, I believe the Minnesota Twins will come out on top of the division. They will make a few key acquisitions prior to the trade deadline, and that will put them over the top.

RP - Detroit Tigers: The Detroit Tigers have one of the most potent offenses this year with Miguel Cabrera leading the charge. Cabrera is looking to become the first triple-crown winner since Carl Yastrzemski did it in ’67. Miggy has 22 home runs to go along with 77 rbi’s with a .346 batting average. The Tigers added Johnny Damon during the offseason and Damon looks to be the Damon of old while giving this young Tigers team much needed postseason experience. They also have a great young pitching staff of Justin Verlander, Armando Galarraga, Maz Scherzer, and Rick Porcello. The Tigers will win the Central with ease.

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AL West

Texas 50 38 .568 - -

Los Angeles 47 44 .516 4.5 8

Oakland 43 46 .483 7.5 11

Seattle 35 53 .398 15.0

AL West Predictions Division Winner:
CE- Texas Rangers: The first half of the season brought the emergence of a new MLB power, the Texas Rangers. The division appeared to be a wide-open race at the beginning of the season, but the Rangers have lived up to Nolan Ryan’s bold 92 win prediction. The team is loaded with powerful bats, and now they have an ace, after the acquisition of Cliff Lee. When it’s all over, the Rangers will be the best in the west.

RP - Texas Rangers: The Rangers going into this season lacked that ace of their pitching staff but found themselves with one nearly three months later in journeyman Cliff Lee. Lee was acquired from Seattle for 1B Justin Smoak but was a great deal for both sides. Texas’ offense may pack as much fire power as the Texas sun during the summer months. Their lineup is led by Josh Hamilton, Vladamir Guerrero, and Ian Kinsler. The free swinging Vlad hasn’t missed a beat with his new club as he is the teams leader in home runs and his usual self at the plate. The Rangers now can match their impressive lineup with their pitching with the acquisition of Cliff Lee. Texas has too many weapons not to win the west.

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AL Wild Card Winner:
CE- New York Yankees: The Yankees are too strong and have too much money invested in this season to not make the playoffs. In the end, New York will barely squeak into the playoffs.

RP - Tampa Bay Rays: The Tampa Bay Rays will win the wild card behind guys like Longoria, Pena, and Upton. The Rays have arguably the best young talent in the game today. Joe Maddon will look to mimic their previous postseason run with this years club.

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AL Rookie of the Year:
CE- Brennan Boesch: Boesch gave his young Tigers team a huge contribution in the first half of the season. When it’s all over, he will be rewarded for this season.

RP - Neftali Feliz: The young flame throwing right hander for the Texas Rangers has been as close to perfect all year as you can get. He has saved 23 games in 25 save opportunities. He also has a 3.82 ERA to go along with 42 strikeouts in 37.2 IP.

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AL MVP:
CE- Miguel Cabrera: How can you against Miggy? He may win the Triple Crown this season. He will be an easy pick for AL MVP.

RP - Josh Hamilton: Hamilton has been putting up career high numbers for the first half of the season with 22 home runs, 64 rbi’s, and a .346 batting average. He will edge out Miguel Cabrera for the award simply because he is playing in a much more difficult role and has more credibility with the voters in this stage of his career than Miggy does.

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AL Cy Young:
CE- David Price: The Price has been right for Tampa Bay. They used their first overall draft pick on David Price, and he has been well worth the investment. He has 13 wins at the break, and he will win 20 at the end of the year.

RP - Jon Lester: For the record this is not my biased Red Sox opinion taking over, Lester has simply been one of the best pitchers in the league this year if not the best. He is 11-3 on the year with a 2.78 ERA. He also has 124 strikeouts to go along with 44 walks in 120 IP. Lester has also 2 complete games under his belt in his 18 starts.

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AL Champion:
CE- Minnesota Twins: The Twins have a new home, and a new outlook. They have become one of the kings of the AL, and they will come out on top, and earn a trip to the world series.

RP - Texas Rangers: The Texas Rangers have just too much offense for any one team to handle this year. They also have a solid pitching staff with guys like Lee and Feliz leading the way.

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National League

NL East

Atlanta 52 36 .591 - -

New York 48 40 .545 4.0

Philadelphia 47 40 .540 4.5

Florida 42 46 .477 10.0 7

Washington 39 50 .438 13.5

NL East Division Winner:
CE- Philadelphia Phillies: The upstart Braves are determined to win the world series in Bobby Cox’s last season. Their young, impressive lineup has carried them to a lead at the break. However, Philadelphia will jump both Atlanta and New York, and will win their third straight NL East title.

RP - Atlanta Braves: Bobby Cox has this year’s club playing the best baseball in a long time for the Braves. The newest acquisition at short is Alex Gonzalez who leads all shortstops in home runs with 17. This will significantly increase the power outage in that lineup with guys like Heyward, Prado, Infante, Jones, McCann, and Glaus. The pitching staff is always one of the best but with Tommy Hanson as the ace they aren’t going to be an easy out.

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NL Central

Cincinnati 49 41 .544 -

St. Louis 47 41 .534 1.0

Milwaukee 40 49 .449 8.5

Chicago 39 50 .438 9.5

Houston 36 53 .404 12.5 13

Pittsburgh 30 58 .341 18.0

NL Central Division Winner:
CE- Cincinnati Reds: The NL Central had the potential to be a wide-open race, but it’s quickly become a two horse race. Cincinnati’s young lineup has them at the front of the central, and when the regular season is over, they will still be on top. Dusty Baker will lead the Reds to the top.

RP - St. Louis Cardinals: The St. Louis Cardinals have arguably the best 1-2 combo in the league in terms of pitching with Wainwright and Carpenter. Albert Pujols and Matt Holiday are too explosive for this team to die down during the stretch.

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NL West

San Diego 51 37 .580 - -

Colorado 49 39 .557 2.0

Los Angeles 49 39 .557 2.0

San Francisco 47 41 .534 4.0

Arizona 34 55 .382 17.5

NL West Division Winner:
CE- San Francisco Giants: It seems to be routine for the NL West to be wide open. This is once again the case in 2010. San Diego is the surprise leader at the All-Star break. When it’s all over, I think the Giants will win the west, jumping from fourth place to first place.

RP - Colorado Rockies: Ubaldo Jimenez will have the Rockies riding high into October with his stellar pitching. Troy Tulowitzski when healthy is one of the best defensive shortstops in the league today. Jim Tracy’s bunch will look to repeat what they did without him back in 2007.

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NL Wild Card Winner:
CE- Atlanta Braves: The Braves have too impressive of a lineup. They will not be left out of the playoff picture. They will not win the division, but they will win the NL Wild Card. Expect the Braves to be playing in October.

RP - Philadelphia Phillies: After an impressive first half the Phillies will easily take the wild card with Roy Halladay and Ryan Howard leading the way. However with supporting players like Victorino, Werth, and Utley they shouldn’t be on the outside looking in come October.

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NL Rookie of the Year:
CE- Stephen Strasburg: The 2010 class of rookies is simply incredible. In the end, Stephen Strasburg will earn the rookie of the year award, the first of many accolades in his career.

RP- Jayson Heyward/Stephen Strasburg: For the first time since Butch Metzger (San Diego Padres) and Pat Zachry (Cincinnati Reds) shared the award in ’76 the same will happen this year with Heyward and Strasburg. Both players had outstanding debuts as Heyward went yard for the first time against Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano and Strasburg had 14 strikeouts against the Pirates. They both are well deserving of this award and I hope MLB does the right thing.

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NL MVP:

CE - Joey Votto: Votto almost didn’t make the All-Star game. This would have been the biggest tragedy of fan voting for the All-Star game. Votto will help lead his Reds to the division title, and will be recognized as the NL MVP.

RP - Albert Pujols: The Machine currently has 21 home runs and 64 rbi’s to lead the Cardinals. He also has a .308 batting average and will continue to see more pitches because of the production by Matt Holiday.

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NL Cy Young:

CE- Ubaldo Jimenez: This one is a no-brainer. At the break, Jimenez has 15 wins; one of those was a no-hitter. He will win 24 games in 2010, and will easily win the Cy Young.

RP - Roy Halladay: The only thing Doc Halladay hasn’t done since coming to Philadelphia is play quarterback for the Eagles. He already has a 10-7 record with a perfect game already under his belt. Doc already has tossed 7 complete games and 3 of them were complete game shutouts. This is nearly the average for Doc in a season but look for him to stifle opposing hitters with his incredible arsenal of pitches.

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NL Champion:

CE- Atlanta Braves: What’s not to love about the Braves? They have six All-Stars! They will win the national league, and will be in the world series.

RP - Philadelphia Phillies: The Phillies have just too much offense and Roy Halladay for any team to stop late into October. Also, Charlie Manuels bunch knows what it takes to make it to the fall classic as they have done so each of the previous 2 seasons.

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World Series Prediction:

CE - Minnesota Twins over Atlanta Braves in 7 games: Twins fans are so excited about their Twins, they aren’t even thinking about Brett Favre. The Twins will come out on top, beating the Braves in a thrilling seven game series. The M&M combo of Mauer and Morneau will triumph over the upstart Braves.

RP - Texas Rangers over Philadelphia Phillies in 6 games: Cliff Lee will be back in Philadelphia but this time facing his former team but with an entirely different offense. The Rangers have way too much power from either side of the plate with guys like Hamilton, Vlad, Kinsler, Young, and even Andrus. Ron Washington’s bullpen will be lead by rookie sensation Neftali Feliz and will be un-hittable against the ‘Phiten Phils.

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Major League Dreaming

2010-07-08T15:23:00.011-05:00

Day after day, game after game, year after year, a minor league baseball player travels from one city to another staying in bad hotels and eating average food in a cramped clubhouse.

Minor leaguers ride buses and play in front of small crowds drawn in by unusual promotions and strange mascots making appearances.

The road to the big leagues is a long, tiring road with few rewards along the way. But this is a road that all baseball players have to travel to live the dream of becoming a major league baseball player.

On Wednesday night, the Kane County Cougars and Peoria Chiefs traded in their usual minor league environment for one of baseball’s cathedrals, Wrigley Field.
As a part of the third annual Road to Wrigley game, the Cougars and Chiefs were given the opportunity to play under major league lights at one of baseball’s oldest and most historic ballparks.

Wednesday’s game gave each team’s players, coaches, staff, and even writers a brief escape from minor league life, and a taste of life in the big leagues.

The teams went through their normal pregame routines, but spent a little time before that exploring the ballpark. Many players took a personal tour of Wrigley, some players even brought their own cameras. One thing everybody had in common was a feeling of awe and excitement.

“Words can’t really describe how it feels to play in a place with so much history and tradition,” said Kane County SS Mike Gilmartin, who finished a home run away from the cycle during his night at Wrigley. “So many great ballplayers have played here. Just to be on the field that they have played and be in the same batter’s box that they’ve been in, it’s pretty breathtaking.”

The Chiefs defeated the Cougars, 5-2, as Naperville (IL) native Ian Krol was handed the loss. Krol, who is one of Oakland’s top prospects, grew up a lifelong Cub fan, so he was thrilled to be given the chance to pitch at Wrigley Field.

“It was pretty exciting for me,” said Krol. “I did my rituals before the game. I came down here early enough to soak it all in so I didn’t have to rush myself. It was just unbelievable.”

With the game in the books, the each team will return to the minor league life. After getting a brief taste of the major league dream for one night, each player returns to small ballparks, average food, and Birdzerk appearances, but not without the motivation of future games at Wrigley Field.

You can follow us on Twitter: @TrueSportFans, @ChrisEmma51, and @Plinske

Road to Wrigley: Kane County Cougars vs. Peoria Chiefs

2010-07-07T15:02:00.001-05:00

Hey Everyone, Ryan Plinske here and will be keeping an up to date feed on our twitter site True Sport Fans so definitely check us out during the day today! Heres the first of many pictures...

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Your 2010 MLB All-Stars are...

2010-07-05T17:55:00.000-05:00

On July 4th TBS hosted their annual MLB All-Star Selection Show to unveil this year's bunch of All-Stars and did they ever. Joe Mauer and Albert Pujols were the leading vote getters for their respected leagues with Mauer receiving 5,372,606 votes which is third all time only behind Ken Griffey Jr. (’94: 6,079,688 votes) and Albert Pujols (’09: 5,397,374 votes).

Joe Mauer had this to say on being named to this years All-Star team and being the leading vote getter,

"Actually I didn't know that, but that's a really cool honor," Mauer said before the Twins' home-stand finale against Tampa Bay. "Just to make it to an All-Star Game, but to be the leading vote-getter and be voted in by the fans is pretty special."

Just to put this in retrospect, Mauer has yet to home run in 121 at-bats at the Twins new stadium, Target Field this year. His power might be down but the ‘Mauer-Power’ is running on a backup generator.

Joining Mauer in Los Angeles or Anaheim, whichever city is hosting this years Mid-Summer Classic is teammate and 1B Justin Morneau, who just edged out Yankee Mark Teixeira down the stretch either by help of pre-pubescent Justin Bieber or a record number of online votes via MLB.com. Justin Morneau had some big things to say on being in the starting lineup with Mauer by saying,

"I think it's kind of a compliment of whatever you want to say to our fans that we've been drawing so well," Morneau said. "My teammates, the campaign they put together for me was kind of cool. You look at the names of the last two [Twins] that started it ... [Rod] Carew and [Harmon] Killebrew, so that's pretty cool."

Mauer and Morneau aren’t the only pair of teammates starting in this years All-Star game as New York (AL) has 2B Robinson Cano and SS Derek Jeter while Tampa Bay has 3B Evan Longoria and OF Carl Crawford and Texas has the duo of OF Josh Hamilton and DH Vladamir Guerrero.

Rounding out the rest of the AL reserve slots were catcher John Buck of Toronto who is replacing the injured Victor Martinez. Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler is also replacing another injured Red Sox, Dustin Pedroia while Kinsler’s teammate Elvis Andrus is heading to his first ever All-Star Game.

The other AL reserves are second baseman Ty Wigginton (BAL), third basemans Adrian Beltre (BOS) and Alex Rodriguez (NYY), outfielders Jose Bautista (TOR), Torii Hunter (LAA), and Vernon Wells (TOR). The reserve designated hitter is none other than Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz… yes that’s right you did hear it correctly. The supposedly washed up player was selected to this year’s Mid-Summer Classic.

The pitchers for the AL are Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester from Boston, Trevor Cahill (OAK), Fausto Carmona (CLE), Neftali Feliz (TEX), Phil Hughes (NYY), Cliff Lee (SEA), David Price (TB), Mariano Rivera (NYY), CC Sabathia (NYY), Joakim Soria (KC), Matt Thornton (CWS), and Jose Valverde (DET).

The National League lineup didn’t produce many surprises unless your surprised with Atlanta Braves phenom Jason Heyward being voted in by the fans as a surprise. I always put him in as a write-in vote until they officially put him on the ballot and lets just say a lot of others did the same as me. The other NL starters are catcher Yadier Molina (STL), first basemen Albert Pujols (STL), second basemen Chase Utley (PHI) who will be replaced by Martin Prado (ATL) due to an injury. Hanley Ramirez (FLA) is the shortshop while David Wright (NYM) is at third base. The outfield consists of Ryan Braun (MIL), Andre Ethier (LAD), and Jason Heyward (ATL).

St. Louis Cardinal Yadier Molina had this to say after finding out he was named a starter after their 7-1 victory over the Brewers,

"It's an honor, always, I feel good. I can't wait. It's going to be fun."

The reserves for the NL packs some major fire power as Adrian Gonzalez (SD) and Ryan Howard (PHI) are the reserves at first base. The other NL reserves are second baseman Brandon Phillips (CIN), shortstop Jose Reyes (NYM) who is replacing the injured Troy Tulowitzki (COL), third baseman's Omar Infante (ATL) and Scott Rolen (CIN). The outfield consists of Michael Bourn (HOU), Marlon Byrd (CHC), Corey Hart (MIL), Matt Holliday (STL), and Chris Young (ARI).

Jose Reyes from the Mets had this to say on being named an NL reserve this year,

"All the things I've been through the past year and a half, and now I'm selected to the All-Star Game one more time -- that's huge for me."

The pitching staff for the NL may be the best I have seen in quite some time as Roy Halladay (PHI), Ubaldo Jimenez (COL), and Tim LIncecum (SF) are the biggest stars on the staff. However the rest of it almost gets better with guys like Jonathan Broxton (LAD), Matt Capps (WAS), Chris Carpenter (STL), Yovani Gallardo (MIL), Tim Hudson (ATL), Josh Johnson (FLA), Evan Meek (PIT), Arthur Rhodes (CIN), Adam Wainwright (STL), and X-Factor Brian Wilson (SF).

So after all the names one guy sounds like he’s missing from the list right? A 6-4 right hander with electric stuff from DC well not so fast as Washington's lone representative was Matt Capps? How can this All-Star game go without a guy like Stephen Strasburg and if you thought the talk surrounding this kid would die down as we get closer to the break, well sorry its not. This kid has not only been the talk of the league but the talk of the nation as everyone was anxious to see what he could do out there on the field. This year Strasburg is 2-2 with a 2.45 ERA with 53 strike outs and 10 walks. National League manager Charlie Manuel had this to say about Strasburg as an All Star,

"He got quite a bit of consideration," Philadelphia's Manuel told TBS during the selection show. "He is going be an All-Star for a long time. What does he have, five starts? I just felt there are other guys who have started 18 to 20 games. I just felt, 'leave him alone and let him get used to the major league level.' "

As nice as it would have been to see this kid named to the game its even nicer knowing he’s getting that extra rest for the second half.

Here’s the 2010 AL All-Star Game Lineup:
C: Joe Mauer (MIN)
1B: Justin Morneau (MIN)
2B: Robinson Cano (NYY)
SS: Derek Jeter (NYY)
3B: Evan Longoria (TB) 
OF: Josh Hamilton (TEX)
OF: Ichiro Suzuki (SEA)
OF: Carl Crawford (TB)
DH: Vladamir Guerrero

Here’s the 2010 NL All-Star Game Lineup:
C: Yadier Molina (STL)
1B: Albert Pujols (STL)
2B: Martin Prado (ATL)
SS: Hanley Ramirez (FLA)
3B: David Wright (NYM)
OF: Ryan Braun (MIL)
OF: Andre Ethier (LAD)
OF: Jason Heyward (ATL)

Those are your 2010 All-Star Game lineups and remember, THIS ONE COUNTS!!! I know that may be ridiculous but does it really matter after all… if you ask Bud Selig he’d say it does.

First Half Review of the Cubs

2010-07-03T11:23:00.010-05:00

For a team that hasn’t won a championship in 101 years, one would think a better motto would be chosen than “A Way of Life.” The saying is taunting to Cubs fans who long for better days.

Fittingly enough, that is the official motto for the 2010 Chicago Cubs, a team that enters Saturday 12 games under .500 and 11.5 game behind Cincinnati for the division lead. Also, a team that just lost 12-0 to the Reds, and only gather two hits, marking their second two hit game, and third 12 run defeat.

As Saturday brings the halfway point in the season, everything has gone terribly wrong for the team once deemed as the “Loveable Losers.” But something is different about this year’s addition. The Cubs have lost the loveable part this year, and they are just losers.

What is it about this year’s team? They’re boring to watch, don’t hustle, don’t seem to care, and are predictable like the grass is green.

The Cubs that used to be the “superstars” have become washed up primadonnas. Coming off a career year, Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee is hitting .229 with just ten home runs.

Meanwhile, power hitting cleanup hitter Aramis Ramirez, who was supposed to be the missing piece from last year’s team, is hitting just .177. Even Randy Wells is hitting better than that. But did Ramirez seek the help from first year hitting instructor Rudy Jaramillo? Nope, Ramirez claims he’s his own hitting coach. Yeah Aramis, how’s that working out for you?

The Cubs biggest problem is their $90 million ace, who has bounced from the rotation to the bullpen back to the rotation, and now into anger management. Carlos Zambrano continues to be the team’s biggest problem, and now he’s paying the price, as he sits on the restrictive list. He is expected to return after the All-Star break, but he will be back in the bullpen, fortunately far away from Derrek Lee, who he tried to attack during a game last week.

Zambrano is another overpaid Cub who has given the team little to no contribution in 2010. This season, he represents everything that is wrong with the team.

The management and manager have been left without an answer thus far. Lou Piniella is a legend, and will be a hall of famer, but in 2010, he’s been left without an answer, and eventually, it will cost him his job. General Manager Jim Hendry has little to no job security; he’s the reason the Cubs have this team on the field.

The team is stocked up on aging veterans who are either passed their prime, or are just plain bad. There have been a few emerging youngsters, as Starlin Castro and Andrew Cashner were brought up to the big leagues, but that move was made out of desperation more than anything.

Meanwhile, the Cubs new ownership has been as lost as everyone else. The Ricketts family thought they were buying into a potential World Series caliber team, but must have forgotten they’re the Cubs. Now, they’ve become focused on putting gigantic eye sores all over the ballpark (see Toyota sign, giant noodle, etc.), not including the biggest eye sore, the actual team.

So as this 2010 Cubs season continues to spiral out of control, the only solution is simple, send those responsible packing!

The Cubs have veterans near the end of their contract, so they will be the first to go. Ted Lilly will be definite trade bait, as he’s been a consistent pitcher during this season. Lilly is in the last year of his contract, so he will most likely be dealt.

Derrek Lee still has some value, despite his terrible season. If he agrees to a trade, he may not be a Cub for too long.

With young, rookie outfielders like Tyler Colvin waiting, veterans like Kosuke Fukudome and Xavier Nady may be dealt as well. Fukudome has come nothing close to his potential when he was signed by the Cubs prior to the ’08 season. His Cub career seemingly peaked on his first game, as he went 3-3 with a game-tying home run. After that, it’s been a lot of frustration.

Meanwhile, Nady was brought in to be a key utility piece in the outfield, and was supposed to provide depth, but the club has faced so many issues, and Nady hasn’t performed well, so that move appears to be a bust.

Other potential pieces of trade bait are middle infielders like Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot, and Jeff Baker, who would make a great addition to a contender, which they were expected to do with the Cubs.

The bottom line is, this season has spiraled too far. Another 12-0 embarrassment is unacceptable, even for the Cubs.

Beautiful Wrigley Field is seeing a decrease in attendance, as the Cubs have dipped under the 38,000 mark many times this season. Tickets haven’t been hard to come by, and frankly, nobody wants to see the Cubs play.

Part of it can be credited to Blackhawks hangover, as the city of Chicago relearned what it was like to win a championship, and have a fun team to root for. The Blackhawks featured a team of fun, exciting players to watch and cheer for. The Cubs cannot boast the same regards.

But that’s just a small thing. Cub fans have high expectations each season, and when things go terribly like they have in 2010, the fans hold their team accountable.

Soon enough, the management will be held accountable, and things will quickly change. Hendry will be fired, Piniella will be fired, and veterans will be dealt. A new day in Cubs baseball will come, with new faces all around, but for now, we wait and watch the pathetic brand of baseball that’s a way of life for Cubs fans.

Goodbye Rosie

2010-06-26T11:47:00.006-05:00

Prologue: On Friday, I had the opportunity to go to the College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium, a major event to cross off my bucket list. As you may know, this is the last year of Rosenblatt Stadium, as it will be demolished and replaced by a new ballpark in downtown Omaha. In my one day at “The Blatt,” I try to delve into what makes the College World Series so special.

For ten summer days, the sports world turns their attention to the state of Nebraska. The Men’s College World Series brings hundreds of thousands of baseball fans to Omaha, Nebraska each June, as the champion of college baseball is decided.

But the seemingly simple event in a simple town isn’t as simple as it may seem. There is so much history behind the event that makes memories that last a lifetime.

There are so many different things that make the College World Series at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium such a special event. When you drive down Interstate-80 past Rosenblatt, you may get a quick glimpse of what looks like a fairly average ballpark. But it’s the history and memories that make the place special.

Rosenblatt opened in 1959, and has been hosting baseball teams and fans each summer. The stadium was opened due to the efforts of Omaha mayor Johnny Rosenblatt, and has been bringing memories ever since.

It’s hard to understand what makes Rosenblatt and Omaha so special in June until you exit off the interstate, and drive toward the ballpark.

As you make your turn onto 13th St. in Omaha, you head towards an old ballpark that brings together so many people. Old friends reunite, college students and alumni travel to root on their team, and young aspiring baseball players dream of their chance to play in the College World Series.

The streets are aligned with vendors. Everybody is selling their piece of memorabilia. You can buy hats, jerseys, t-shirts, and whatever else you’d like.

The unique thing is these vendors park their stands in the front lawns of local resident’s homes. Parking is also run the same way, as Omaha residents invite baseball fans to park in their yards, and join the party. Just another sign that this is Omaha’s event.

The College World Series brings in people from all over the country. Many fans are local Omaha residents who make a trip to Rosenblatt as routine as a trip to the doctor’s office. However, all around the parking lot, you’ll see logos of schools from all around the country. Schools in the CWS and even those who didn’t make it are all well-represented.

The food all around the ballpark is what makes this event so great. Food of all different varieties fills the areas surrounding the ballpark. This is the main reason why Omaha natives root for LSU, as they hope to eat some Cajun cuisine with the Tiger fans.

It’s the energy around the ballpark that makes the event special, but the memories are all made inside Rosenblatt.

As you walk into the ballpark, you can instantly feel the excitement. Fans from all of the participating teams fill the ballpark in their school’s colors. For the casual fan, you’re left to find a team to root for. TCU has been the sentimental favorite this year. I personally rooted for UCLA because I love their (not denim) powder blue.

The crowd is always anxious for each pitch, and every ping of the aluminum bats. A home run to the bleachers lifts the decibel levels loud enough to shatter windows at the monkey dome across the street at the Omaha Zoo.

Each trip to the ballpark brings different memories for baseball fans. Some people like myself make their first trip to the Blatt, some are making another routine stop at their summer home.

The end of an era at Rosenblatt has brought a lot of sadness for the locals in Omaha. The new ballpark will bring fantastic, modern amenities, but just doesn’t hold the history and camaraderie of Rosenblatt.

So as I left the ballpark after a great day, you could sense that feeling in the air. The history will be left at the soon-to-be empty lot along the interstate, as Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium will be torn down. The final year brings back happy memories and a bittersweet feeling.

As I left the ballpark, I felt like I experienced every College World Series in one day. That’s what Rosenblatt does. Fitting enough, as I left the ballpark, the song on the radio sang, “Goodbye Rosie.” Couldn’t have said it better.

You can follow us on Twitter: @TrueSportFans, @TSF_OnThisDay, @ChrisEmma51, and @plinske