I’m an admitted bandwagon baseball fan. I love the sport of baseball but I don’t love any specific team. The last team I loved was the Montreal Expos — and we all saw what happened to the Expos. However, each year I latch on to a few teams and watch those teams a little bit more. Who are my favorite baseball teams in 2008?

Los Angeles Dodgers
The combination of Joe Torre and Manny Ramirez trying to climb the mountain all the way to the World Series is a good story. Those two long-time rivals are now fighting for the same cause on the other side of the country.

Chicago Cubs
The lovable losers are actually winners this year. This is one of the best Chicago Cubs teams in a long time. If the Cubs are ever going to end their World Series drought, wouldn’t this be the perfect year?

Texas Rangers
The Josh Hamilton story is just too cool not to follow. Hamilton has gone from heroin to hero in record time. Although the Rangers don’t have much of a chance to make the postseason, they have an puncher’s shot.

Tampa Bay Rays
Who can’t love what the Tampa Bay Rays are doing. In years past, the Devil Rays were one of the worst franchises of all-time. Seemingly overnight, the Rays are now making a run at the American League playoffs.

Photo: Newscom

Post from: Knuckle Curve

For those unfamiliar with the Greinke story, it’s a story about a fallen star who has now found his way back on the right path. Greinke was a star high school pitcher who was a first rounder in the 2002 draft. Between his high school success and his current success, Greinke had to overcome both depression and social anxiety disorder. He missed almost the entire 2006 season as he dealt with his illnesses.

Last season, Greinke started to show the promise on the pitching mound that had him being compared to Bret Saberhagen just a few seasons earlier. Currently, Greinke appears totally in control on and off the mound.

For a good read on the on Greinke’s history, check out this exclusive interview. If you want to hear a Greinke interview, Deadspin has the audio. While he comes off a bit odd in his interview, he’s definitely one of the best stories of 2008.

Post from: Knuckle Curve