Mind you, I also wrote: "The Houston Astros are the best team never to win a World Series. That should change this year." I'll try to work at least one howler into my Twins preview.

How about these from the Capt. Obvious files:

"Lefthander Oliver Perez should stick in the fourth or fifth spot of the rotation. Perez, who was acquired in the Brian Giles deal, has a major league ERA of 4.67 in 39 starts, all but five of which were with the Padres. He's posted good, but not spectacular numbers in the minors, but given that he does not turn 23 until August, he still has time to develop into a quality starter."

AND

"Canadian Jason Bay was acquired with pitcher Oliver Perez and a PTBNL in the deal that sent Brian Giles to San Diego. Bay had shoulder surgery in November, but is expected to be able to play on opening day. If he cannot play, expect to see Mondesi shift to leftfield and Craig Wilson start in right. A healthy Jason Bay will greatly help the Pirates, as he hit .303 with 20 homers and 24 steals last season for the AAA Portland Beavers. Expect to see Bay in leftfield for the Pirates for many years to come."

That was from just my Pirates preview. They're not letting me do the Reds preview this year because of gems like:

"If the Reds are to deal Griffey, they need to find a long-term solution for centerfield, because Reggie Taylor isn't it.

Unfortunately Wily Mo Pena isn't it either, largely due to his lackluster defense. Pena presents a problem for the Reds. He was rushed to the majors after accumulating all of 51 AAA at-bats. He's also out of options, so if the Reds do try to send him to the minors, they risk losing him to a waiver claim, and there's a number of teams that would be willing to take a chance on a 22 year old outfielder that can hit for power. He'll likely end up making the team and rotting on the bench, which is neither good for player nor team."

Ooops.

It's not that they're not letting you do the Reds, Moffatt, it's that I'm the designated Insane Predictor this year, and I wanted the Reds because they're going to play the Yankees in the World Series this year so I will be previewing both league champs. (And I don't for the life of me see how the Yankees are a "highly unlikely" World Series participant, Jonny!)

Join the Yankees in their Hunt For a Reds October, coming to a ballyard near you in April! (Oooh, I think I just wrote the headline for the Reds preview.)

I know, I know. But it's much more fun to tell everyone that I lost the gig because there's either a conspiracy against me or I'm just plain incompetent.

Oh, gosh, both of THOSE things are still true!

I knew you nattering nabobs of negativity were out to get me!

Check out Pena's similar batters through age 22, according to BR. In order: Pete Incaviglia, Willie Horton, Reggie Jackson, Willie Mays, Ruppert Jones, Mel Hall, Steve Kemp, Barry Bonds, Jeff Kemp, Dave Winfield. Ruppert Jones might make a reasonable comp.

I warrant that my upcoming Mets' preview will contain no Anna Benson jokes.

for the life of me see how the Yankees are a "highly unlikely" World Series participant

Think of that as your own personal shout-out.

Guys, I wondered if anyone could provide a general question and answer area in this forum somehow? I am sorry to post within the most current thread, but I'm not sure where else to ask. My son and I are coming up to Skydome for 3 days, 4/20-4/22. We have a noon time arrival on the 20th into YYZ and a 7:58 departure out of there on 4/22. We have tickets to both Yankee/Jays games, but I wondered if someone could help me by offering suggestions as to what else to see while we are up there. It would be neat to go to the Toronto Zoo, but I can't figure out the public transportation up there to get us from the Skydome to there. (We are staying at the Renaissance and have no car). If anyone wants to email me offline, I can be reached at kmpataky@gmail.com. Thanks in advance.

Heathcliff was so right about Seattle. And I was so very wrong.

7:58pm is departure on 4/22

Jeff Kemp

The former NFL QB and son of the US VP candidate under Bob Dole? Or Jeff Kent> Oh, I see ... one of the pantheon of Bad Yankee Free Agent Signing, Steve Kemp ...

Kevin, the Toronto Zoo is a good exhibit, but it's located way north and east of the city, and I would only want to go there by car. Moreover, I wouldn't trust the weather to cooperate at this time of year.

Depending on how old your son is, the Ontario Science Center, down the road from Skydome, is a load of fun for the geek in all of us: http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca. The CN Tower (http://www.cntower.ca), right next to the Dome, is way overpriced, but it's worth at least one visit, and the lines could be shorter in April (though perhaps not, if Yankee fans are in town). And there's a very cool permanent dinosaur exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum, pretty affordable too: http://www.rom.on.ca. Those are some suggestions from an expatriate Torontonian.

Okay, I need to go figure out how to make links work in our new site. Tres embarassing....

Excellent suggestions Jordan, thanks! The CN Tower is a must. I was up in it with my wife in August 2001, the last time I was there. It took 1:45 waiting in line before we were able to make it to the elevator!

Kevin - I second Jordan's suggestions of the ROM and the Science Centre. In particular, the Science Arcade exhibit of the Science Centre is a real hoot.

Also, in no particular order...

* The Art Gallery of Ontario
* Fort York (literally minutes from the Dome errr. Rogers Centre)
* Hockey Hall of Fame (also minutes from the Dome)
* Tour of the Ontario Legislature aka Queens Park (if thats your cup of tea)

I can not recommend the Science Centre too highly. It's loads of fun.

The zoo is cool, but it's so far, and the animals are probably all huddled out of sight, muttering "Snow? Snow?"

I've always found that the animals are more alert in the winter. Go see them in the summer and they're just lying around like slugs.

Hockey Hall of Fame (also minutes from the Dome)

Hey, this site is www.battersbox.ca, not www.penaltybox.ca

The zoo isn't too bad by public transit. Click here to see how to get there.

The ROM is always good, as is the Science Centre. Sadly, most stuff I know is further out so no public transit.

The R.O.M.'s dinosaur exhibit is closed for the timebeing I believe..

I took my girlfriend to the Science Centre a few weeks ago and we had an excellent time. If 2 twenty-somethings can have fun there, I'm sure you and your son would have a killer-good time. Also there is an IMAX theatre there that shows stunning films.

The Bata Shoe Museum is good for a quirky educational exhibit. It's located in downtown Toronto.

If you check out the city of Toronto's website; there is a FULL listing of all the tourist traps... er.... attractions that the city has to offer.

Good luck and enjoy your stay up here!

Mick, I combined Steve Kemp with Jeff Burroughs and ended up with Jeff Kemp. You could do this with Steve Howe and Gordie Sundin(!!) to get Gordie Howe.

It should be noted that the Science Centre is not downtown. It is in Don Mills but can be reached by a 20 minute bus ride from Pape subway station.

It is a good time.

The Zoo's Website says it can be reached by an 86A Scarborough bus. How do I get to that from the Sky, I mean Rogers Center, by foot?

Kevin, it's definitely a bit of a trek, but if the 86A is what you're after, you'll need to take the subway out to Kennedy station.

For that, you can take the Yonge line north from Union Station (which is connected to Rogers Centre by the Skywalk) to Bloor, and from there take the Bloor/Danforth line east to the very end of the line. Alternatively, it looks like there's a bus that runs from Sheppard station. I don't which is quicker, but that would be easier - just take the subway north from Union to Sheppard station. Either way, you're looking at a fairly lengthy subway ride, plus a long bus ride on top of that.

If the weather is good, though, it's definitely worth the trip.

If you're a baseball buff (not to mention, a Yankee fan) take the 10-minute walk down to Queen's Quay and catch the ferry to Hanlan's Point. There you will find a plaque (though I have never seen it personally) that marks the spot where Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run. Minus the water, it's a driver and 5-iron from the Rogers Centre (formerly known as Skydome)

This thread is of course about... well, it's about articles we haven't posted and you haven't read. Which is why we're giving directions to the zoo and all.

Anyway, I'll be doing the Atlanta Braves preview this year, and I thought long and hard about utilizing the aid og a graphic to help me out. Make my argument for me.

I decided against that; instead, I will be providing nothing but... thoughtful analysis? Let's hope so, anyway.

However, I still want to share my graphic aid with Box readers. So, here is the rejected graphic for this year's Atlanta Braves Preview:

So you can probably figure out where I'm going with this...

Thanks guys - I have alot to work with now. If anyone else has anything else to offer, please do so offline at kmpataky@gmail.com. One thing for sure is you guys are passionate about your city!

Magpie, I think it's emininently reasonable to do a thoughtful analysis accompanied by a freakazoid graphic and headline. The only purpose of the grafx and hed are to draw attention to the piece and pique a reader's curiosity into starting it. If you headline your article "Atlante Braves Preview" or allah forbid "Thoughtful Commentary on the 2005 Atlanta Braves," well, who's gonna read that? But with your graphic and a hed like "It Came From Turner Swamp," well, you got something there.

Well as long we get to do graphics with our work, here's one for the Colorado Rockies:

Lmao. That was classic, Lucas.

Yeah, you're looking at a good 1.5 hours from the SkyDome to the zoo. Me Grimlock should know, he lives in the neighbourhood.

Malvern, represent!

Has there been any consideration of adding a page that helps reads figure what to do in Toronto if they come from out of town? I can remember at least a dozen threads where virtually the same info's been repeated (not complaining, simply a suggestion).

...There might even be some grant for promoting tourism available to Da Box. Could be something to check out during a tour of the Ontario Legislature ;-)