Pete on April 5: "...the Boston Red Sox have the edge on the New York Yankees for the World Series."

Stan on April 5: "...I have even higher-than-usual hopes about the Yankees..."

Does the fact that the National League hasn't won an all-star game since 1996 actually mean anything?

From The Washington Post:

ST. LOUIS, July 14 -- The fatal flaw in baseball's much-dissected decision to award home-field advantage in the World Series to the winner of the all-star game-- a rule that was instituted in a fit of frustration over the infamous tie game of 2002 and kept because, well, some powerful people liked it -- was revealed yet again on a pleasant summer night at Busch Stadium. It would be easier to convince folks of the inherent fairness of the midsummer classic's World Series tie-in if it weren't for this minor problem:

The National League is not allowed to win.

And so, come the end of October, the World Series will begin yet again in the home park of the American League representative -- and at this point, they might as well just make the policy permanent -- following the AL's 4-3 win Tuesday night, its 12th in the last 13 all-star games, including the tie.

We interupt all the negative talk about the budget and economy with this happy news: the 2009 baseball season starts tonight.

I wish my bloggers-in-crime Andrew and Pete all the best for their teams, which I believe are the Red Sox and Nationals, respectively.  Me?  I have even higher-than-usual hopes about the Yankees because of the addition of Sabathia, Burnett, and Texeria, and a healthy Rivera, Posada, Matsui, Wang and Chamberlain.

And even though I have very lasting memories of the old Yankee Stadium, I can't wait to see a game in the new one.

For a policy wonk, Washington dashes your best hopes so often, it's a cliche.  Last night, as I sat freezing above home plate one out away from a 2-1 home opener win in the top of the ninth for the Washington Nationals over the Atlanta Braves, I knew it was too good to be true.

Sure enough, Nats catcher Paul Lo Duca failed to stop an overthrown fastball in the dirt and the tying run scampered home from third. A thunderous groan went up at the prospect of another Washington sports debacle -- in extra innings on a cold night to boot.

Then, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Ryan Zimmerman hit a 1-0 fast ball over the center field wall on a rope for a walk-off home run.  It doesn't get any better than that in Washington.

I grew up in New York City. I have one memory of going to Ebbets Field, and I often tell people that if the Dodgers hadn't left Brooklyn I would probably still be living there. But by the time I became a baseball fan, the Yankees were not just the only team in NYC, they were my team.

They still are. I've mellowed a bit in recent years (I no longer hate the Red Sox; I just root against them and hope they lose to every team they play), but going to Yankee Stadium is still close to a religious experience for me.

As a baseball fan, I'm angry. As someone who believes in markets and risk/reward, I'm not shocked or suprised in the slightest and consider everyone else who is to be naive.

I am a huge Yankees fan.

I grew up in Brooklyn.  Although I have one memory of watching the Dodgers play at Ebbets Field, by the time I was old enough to develop a loyalty to a team the Yanks were the only one left in New York.  I can still give you the names, numbers, and positions of every player on the 1961 Yankees. I still grieve over Bill Mazeroski's homerun in the seventh game of the 1960 series against the Pirates.  Thurman Munson and Bucky Dent will forever be heroes.