Baseball

Baseball Season

This year's Post Baseball preview section features 2004 as baseball's "golden age of pitching." How will the Orioles fare this season? Any team can emerge this year to make the playoffs, but the Orioles are optimistic that they could claim baseball's ultimate prize.

Author Harvey Frommer was online Friday, April 9 at 11 a.m. ET to discuss major league baseball, its history and his latest book, "Red Sox vs. Yankees: The Great Rivalry."

Frommer is a noted sports journalist and the author of more than 30 sports books, including "Growing Up Baseball," "Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball," "New York City Baseball," The New York Yankee Encyclopedia and "A Yankee Century: A Celebration of the First Hundred Years of Baseball's Greatest Team." A professor at Dartmouth College, he wrote for Yankees Magazine for 16 years.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

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Harvey Frommer: Go morning:
It is very nice being on Washington Post.com again and also being around to see another baseball season launched. Lots of exciting things this spring. All teams start out equal and all fans start out equal. Unfortunately, soon a lot of hearts will be broken. There is special new hope in Baltimore. And for Red Sox fans - - -this may be their year. But the Yankees will have a lot to say about that.
Any way - - -play ball!

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New York, N.Y.: George Steinbrenner has celebrated several championships as owner of the Yankees. In your opinion, have they won because of him - or in spite of him?

Harvey Frommer: When he doesn't meddle with managers and players - they win because of him. He put his money where his mouth is.

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Washington, D.C.: Do you think the Red Sox will ever be World Series champs, with the Yankees organization spending as it does?

Harvey Frommer: Hope springs eternal in New England - and money is not allthere is to winning - look st the Marlins.

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Washington, D.C.: There has also been a lot of animosity between fans of these teams.
Which is a more hostile environment for visiting fans - Fenway or Yankee Stadium?

Harvey Frommer: Both ball parks can be hostile environments depending on who packs them on any given day.

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Frederick, Md.: I read today that Mayor Williams has proposed a public funding for a stadium that would be built near RFK.

What are the prospects for that plan, and can we count on the Expos moving here in 2005 or 2006?

Harvey Frommer: I hope for your sake and for others fans in the area that a team does come to DC. Write your Congressman.

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Bangor, Maine: 1. Why is the Red Sox and Yankee Rivalry so magical?

2. Why are you a Yankee fan Harvey? (Seriously)

Harvey Frommer: The rivalry is magical and mystical and good for baseball - -it is a clash of fans, teams, cities, owners, players, media personnel. It is good for baseball.


I am a Yankee fan because I am a native New Yorker and winning is better than losing. Less frustration rooting for the Yanks.

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