In honor of the start of the upcoming Major League Baseball season, I thought I would pay tribute to America’s Game by listing my top 10 most favorite baseball movies. I have included a little explanation as to why each film made this list, and if your favorite diamond flick didn’t make the list, then I apologize for your bad taste in baseball movies. No really, please feel free to add to this list and we will see just what sports bettors like about silver-screen web gems.

Please note that there are hundreds of baseball-themed movies, and I am only ranking the ones that I have personally seen and enjoyed. I have purposely left-off baseball documentaries and histories to include only baseball flicks with strictly entertainment value. Otherwise, this list would begin and end with Ken Burns’ epic documentary “Baseball,” and HBO’s “When it was a Game.” 

The Lineup.

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This year’s seed selection for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is, in all respects, bulletproof: take a look at the teams that have advanced to the Final Four and you’ll see two overall No. 1 and No. 2 seeds. It is important to note that something like this hasn’t happened in 14 years, when three No. 1’s and a No. 2 advanced; all four top seeds made it to the final. The committee must be in their offices doing cartwheels right about now. 

Not only was the committee right on point when it came to its seed selection, but most analysts and journalists were in tune as well, making the teams that are now in the Final Four rank in the top 8 in terms of selections. So, after a very exciting month of pure, unfiltered basketball we have the teams everyone picked in advance to be where they are now: Florida, Ohio State, UCLA and Georgetown will see a lot of action very, very soon.

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Spring Training Results Matter?

We are nearing the advent of another Major League Baseball regular season and some will have increased expectation because of the off-season moves that perhaps have made the team look improved. Expectations may also be evoked by a stellar spring training season a team is having, and it is hoped to carry forward into April when the games really count.

The question is do spring records count and offer a sign of what is to come? The cold hard truth? It means everything to the rookie trying to earn a spot on the 25-man roster. It means everything to the pitcher that had off-season surgery. It means everything for the career journeyman looking for a team to squeeze out yet another year. It unfortunately, means absolutely nothing for expectations for the coming year. It means a lot to those of us betting preseason baseball, building a bankroll for the regular season.

Spring results are just that, spring. Let’s take a look at some proof, and for those inspired by your team having a great spring, sorry! For those rooting for teams having a rough spring? There is still hope after all! The ’99 Kansas City Royals gave high hopes to their fans, as they had a stellar spring going 22-9. They ended up in disappointment as the Royals finished 64-97 in the regular season. Baltimore went 20-9 in the spring of ’02, only to finish 67-95. Detroit was the biggest disappointment of all in ’96 going 20-10 in the spring, but finishing just 53-109!

Teams that have had a bad spring, like the Yankees in ’01 may have had their fans a bit on edge, but finished at 95-65. The Braves in ’97 closed out the spring with a 10-18 mark, only to go on and win 101 games. The Giants in ’01 left camp with an abysmal 9-21 mark, but claimed 90 wins in the regular season.

The facts are pretty revealing. Teams that have outstanding springs over a 12-year period or so, have combined to win about 51% of their regular season games, and teams that have had horrible springs, also win about 51% of their games. The only lesson here, is that hope springs eternal, not the record of your team in the spring.