Baseball is almost here! And more importantly, that means the over/under game is back. It seems as though everyone is an expert this time of year. Somehow we convince ourselves that we are better at predicting baseball outcomes than everyone else. Well, AFITB is putting that to the test again in 2017. On our most recent podcast, Paul and I took on each other, Vegas, and PECOTA at predicting over/under win total lines. This game is a way for us to preview each team, with the added benefit of being able to lord the title of baseball expert over the other at season's end. To see how the results ended in 2016, click here.

Like we said on the podcast, we want to open that contest up to you as well! Think you know more about baseball than us? You probably do. But go ahead and prove it anyway. Here's the link to our contest. We explain the scoring system over there. At the end of the year, we'll buy the winner two baseball books of his/her choosing (within reason, people). Personally, I'm excited for this one.

A new tradition: I’m going to start this post every year with the terrible votes from the previous year. On the 2016 ballot, Mike Sweeney (24.7 career bWAR), Jason Kendall (41.5), David Eckstein (20.8), and Garrett Anderson (25.6) all received real votes from real writers. My tradition might be short-lived, though. In December, the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) voted to make all ballots public after the collective vote is revealed. However, that starts next year. So, we have one more year to soak in the terrible vote. Who will get a vote this in 2017? J.D. Drew? Tim Wakefield? How about Matt Stairs? We’ll all find out on Wednesday night.

And with that, here's how we would vote. As with any Hall of Fame discussion, you will definitely disagree with us. We even disagree with each other.

Hello, baseball fan. We should be set up for a very entertaining 2016 playoffs. We thought we'd make it even better by hosting a little contest, with the opportunity for you to win some cash. The same competitive juices led us to create the Over/Under game we played with PECOTA and our listeners at the beginning of the season.

This game is pretty simple. From the 2016 playoff teams, you must construct a team of players. The only stipulation is that you must have at least one player from each of the 10 playoff teams. Scoring will be a rotisserie system with the following stat categories: OBP, SLG, HR, RBI, SB & ERA, WHIP, SO, W, SV. Your team will contain these positions: C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, OF, OF, OF, DH, SP, SP, SP, SP, RP, RP, RP, RP, RP. The team that wins the league will win $50 ($25 from both of us). If I win, Paul will pay me $25. And if Paul wins... yeah you're right, there's no chance of that.

Many of you know this has been Vin Scully's final season announcing baseball games. He is certainly a baseball treasure and should be fully honored as he heads off into retirement. But, we shouldn't forget about his friend and broadcasting peer, Dick Enberg. Enberg is retiring at the end of 2016, as well. Despite being overshadowed by Scully, he still deserves of our appreciation.