Pittsburgh – Its editors describe it as: “so close to the action you might get spit on.” And, from the first read, I can see why that’s absolutely true.

FantasyBaseballDugout.com, a new fantasy baseball tips site owned by Saint Davids, Pennsylvania-based Olympic SEO, is the brainchild of Bob “BallparkBob” Bentz and his nephew Jonathan “BatBoy BeeZee” Bentz. The two men share a love for fantasy baseball and, quite frankly, got bored with winning their respective leagues each season.

BallparkBob, who started playing fantasy baseball in college in 1980 when it was still called “Rotisserie Baseball,” claims to have won his fantasy baseball league 19 of the past 28 seasons, including nine in a row at one stretch. BallparkBob, who is often mistaken for Cleveland Indians’ pitcher Paul Byrd, said that his goal is to spread the word about winning fantasy baseball leagues. “There’s a lot of bad fantasy baseball players out there,” said BallparkBob, “but, it’s the ones who do the research that should win. That’s where Fantasy Baseball Dugout comes in.”

BatBoy BeeZee has similar ideas for Fantasy Baseball Dugout. “A lot of fantasy baseball websites are overwhelming for first time players, because the game is very driven by statistics.” Every website has injury information, statistics, mock drafts and trade analysis, “but our site has news and research players with all levels of experience can use.”

When I first reviewed Fantasy Baseball Dugout, I was impressed by the amount of information that they had on the site in such a short amount of time. The site is also not just a statistics-laden one, but offers player profiles and player projections. It offers inside information that is far more topical than what you’ll find in the fantasy baseball preview magazines. It’s a site that a pure baseball fan would also enjoy reading and learning about the MLB.

“A lot of websites also fail to pay attention to fantasy baseball players who use auction formats for drafts, but we haven’t forgotten about them, either,” said BeeZee.

Fantasy Baseball Dugout offers free fantasy baseball advice, but it does hope to capitalize on its baseball fan traffic by selling advertising. The site already has secured advertising from a discount baseball equipment company, a ticket broker, and even a dating site promoting sexy women. Hey, I guess fantasy baseball nerds need love too.

When asked what are the most important fantasy baseball tip that he could give me, BallparkBob responded by saying: “draft more closers than your competition—saves is the easiest category to win. Don’t ever pick a player just because he’s on your favorite team or is one of your favorite players. And, don’t ever go to a game and tell a major leaguer during BP that he’s on your fantasy baseball team. He doesn’t care.”

“Hey Pat Burrell, you’re on my fantasy team!”

Baseball in the United States dates back to the 1840s, but many other countries picked up and played the sport soon after. In Cuba, students who enrolled in the United States educational system returned home to the island nation with a bat and a ball. The popularity of the game in Cuba was so high as to be considered part of the identity during the war for independence during the late 1800s.

The Spaniards assumed that the baseball practice and teams were just a cover-up for the preparation to go to war. Throughout the Caribbean region, Cuban players spread their newfound knowledge which increased the popularity of the game. It was two Cuban brothers who carried the game to the Dominican Republic and Cubans in the country of Venezuela along with Venezuelan nationals who had matriculated in the U.S. brought the sport to Venezuela, beginning in 1895 and to the island of Puerto Rico in 1897.

In Mexico, it was also Cubans who had fled from the island during its struggles for independence that brought baseball to Mexico. The Cubans in Mexico were assisted by U.S. merchant marines and railroad workers. Various regions of Mexico were converted to the sport during the years from 1877 to 1899. In terms of popularity, the sport of baseball is number one in Cuba, Dominican Republic and Venezuela with a strong showing in Puerto Rico.

Mexico still places football as the dominant sport. In Central America, baseball is also very popular. In the United States, players from Latin America and Puerto Rico have become a growing force in major league baseball. There are professional leagues organized in Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

As in the rest of the world, football (soccer) is unquestionably the most popular sport in Latin America. Yet, it is also true that in much of the Caribbean basin, baseball is the number one sport. In fact, where U.S. imperial power spread throughout the world, and in Latin America specifically, the influence of baseball was the strongest. During a military occupation, many countries were introduced to American baseball.

It has been said that if Fidel Castro had been a better baseball player, the history of the Cold War might have played out very differently. Castro is an avid fan and once played the game. The reverse is also true: Orlando Hernandez "El Duque" left Cuba in 2000 and played for the New York Yankees in the World Series.

Baseball season in Latin America stretches from October to January. The winners of the four national leagues meet in February to play the Caribbean Series. Mexican players participate in a summer minor league that has connections with the U.S. Minor League Baseball governing body. Mexico has been given Triple A status. There are also Dominican Republic and Venezuelan summer rookie leagues that are affiliated with Minor League Baseball.

Although professional baseball existed in Cuba from 1878 until 1961, it was abolished by the Cuban government at the professional level. The Cuban national team now dominates the world amateur competitions, winning gold medals at Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996.

About 30 percent of the major league players in baseball today are connected to Latin America in some fashion. Either they are from Latin America or are descendants of Latin Americans who grew up in the U.S. In the general population, only eleven percent of the people are from Latin America. Latino baseball players overwhelmingly are foreign born and claim Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic as a birthplace.

Unfortunately, some of the major teams have gained a reputation for an almost sweatshop approach to baseball academies in the Latin American region. Young boys with talent are signed and sent to these training regimens where life is harsh in the hopes of winning a contract with one of the major clubs. Many of these players travel to Latin America to play the winter league baseball games in the Latin American leagues.

The countries in the Caribbean basin that are baseball enthusiasts send national teams with championship titles to participate in the Caribbean World Series each year since 1949. For players of Latin American descent, the opportunity to play in Major League Baseball is high success and tremendous financial gain.

Beginning in 2006, the World Baseball Classic between the United States, Puerto Rico, Japan, Mexico, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, was held. Nicaragua did not attend, but Cuba did send a team. The tournament was won by Japan, which was a tremendous surprise to many if not most of the observers.

Not just the majors but even just baseball as a sport itself? Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Mark Macguire, and now Alex Rodriguez are all great athletes whose reputations have been tainted by the use of steroids. I love baseball, it's my favorite sport to watch, but with all the talk about steroids going on and about, I dont even know anymore...

I started a Fantasy Baseball League on yahoo. It is a free league. I had six teams and we drafted are teams. I then wanted to add two more teams, but because we had already drafted i couldnt add the other players. So i thought i would delete the existing league and start a new one. I thought this would be easy, but for some reason i can not find anywhere to delete the league.

If you know that would be helpful.

In my fantasy baseball league, we are allowed to keep 6 players. We can also trade draft picks for players. Is there any way that I can determine whether or not I'm getting fair value for my players that I choose to trade for picks?

This Guy Says: Yankees in 4 Red Sox in 5 Phillies in 3 Dodgers in 4

I am a 17 year old boy living on long island. I have never played baseball on a team before and I am not really athletic. However I can play the infield decently. I want to play baseball this summer but I need a league for beginners. Is there a league for beginners around my age on Long Island?

Wouldn't that get performance enhancing drugs out of baseball and football? Truck drivers have to pass a drug test, why not athletes? It sounds pretty simple to me, what am I missing?

I'm 14 right now, and someday (as soon as possible) I want to play on a minor league baseball team. My question is, how good do you have to be? How hard do you have to work, and do you think it is possible for me?

I'm moving to florida and a way to make friends is to join an older baseball league. How do I contact any league if there is such?

• Youth League Play
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Middle ground, economical youth league ball with all the materials and qualities of a high end ball

Wilson A1050B Youth Little League Baseballs, Dozen

• Senior-league bat with a -8.5 length-to-weight ratio
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Designed for senior league play, the BX79 Reflex Bat offers a light length-to-weight ratio of -8.5 for a strong swing. Constructed of 7050 aircraft alloy, the BX79 Reflex has a 2 5/8-inch diameter barrel, a thin 29/32-inch handle, and a cushioned grip. The BX79 Reflex bat complies with all current bat association performance standards.

Easton BX79 Reflex 8.5 Senior League Bat

Jimmy Kimmel Live - The second part of Jimmy's interview with the 2011 Little League World Champions

To me, I enjoy attending minor league baseball games a lot more than attending major league games. It is a small stadium with less obnoxious ads. You do not know the names of the players, you are just plain watching baseball. You have the excitement of rooting for a team, but you barely care at the end of the day so there is no frustration. The price allows you to get much better seats like above the dugout or behind the plate. What do you guys think? All opinions on the basic question are accepted. It is a poll.

Product Description
Includes Little League Sticker. Innovative patented design of the C-Flap guard helps prevent injuries to the cheek and jaw. Easily mounts to the ear flap of the batting helmet, covering the side of the face exposed to the pitcher, without obstructing vision or air flow. Lexan plastic construction is stronger than most batting helmets. Padded inner surface provides added protection. Builds confidence for both big and little leaguers. Instructions and hardware included inside package. Drill, (7/32" drill bit), Phillips screwdriver required for installation. Helmet sold separately. Patent #4,677,694.

C-Flap Facial Protection for Right-Handed Batter's with Little League Sticker from Markwort

clemens batting helmet stickers

I know professional baseball has a pension program but how does it work? How long do players have to play to be eligible? What is the amount paid each year? Do players get pension payments the year they retire or do they have to wait until regular retirement age?

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High Performance bat featuring the new K series alloy. Every detail of this bat was designed to manage vibration energy thus improving the player's game by superior design.

Anderson Bat Company Senior League KXR-8 Baseball Bat

I am in a 10-team rotisserie fantasy baseball league. We can have 2000 innings pitched. We can start 3 starters and 2 relievers, along with 3 general pitchers. We have a total of 5 bench players we can draft too consisting of hitters and pitchers. How many starters and relievers should I draft? And once I do draft, how should I start them? 4 starters and 4 relievers? Thanks for your help!

Product Description
New for 2012! Gain an serious edge on the competition this season with the all-new Miken RZR! The RZR is built with the developing ball player in mind. Gaining confidence at the plate is the first step in becoming a baseball great. Miken knows that hitting a small sweetspot can be hard for younger players. That's why they've brought Massive Sweetspot Technololgy to the RZR. Massive Sweetspot Technology optimizes barrel flex which results in an enormous sweetspot and maximum performance! Players will experience hitting like never before, with mis-hits becoming a thing of the past. The RZR is constructed with Miken's E-Flex 700 Alloy which allows for thinner walls to maximize barrel rebound and performance! This is the strongest alloy that Miken has ever used on a senior league baseball bat! E-Flex 700 will help young and experienced players alike start destroying the ball, at a price that won't destroy your wallet! Miken: Elite Equipment for the Elite Player! The RZR is BPF 1.15 Certified and features a USSSA stamp. It is backed by a Full 400 Day Manufacturer's Warranty.

2012 Miken SLRZ10 "RZR" Senior League Baseball Bat 28"/18oz.

I caught a baseball about 10 years ago at a world series game. I have caught many others since then. Now I am not sure which one is the one from the world series game. I would like to give it to someone as a gift but I want to make sure I have the right ball.
The one I think is it is a Cooper it says official league, solid core center, and a lot #.If this is not the world series one. is it possible that it could be from a regular season game?