Jameson McStout here, the boss pulled me away from my pint to write about a developing story in our sports world. Whispers of a potential baseball franchise are getting around faster than a floozie after a fifth of whiskey. For a city without any sports teams just two years ago, it’s becoming a very real possibility that a third franchise is on the way. The DUBA Oktoberfests, Dublin’s first team, in only its second season sits alone atop the standing in football (the silly American football, tell me again why they wear pads?). While the basketball team, the Bar Brawlers, are struggling to start the year after making the playoffs in the sport’s inaugural season.

Why, then, a baseball franchise? To find these answers, I wanted to hear what the people had to say. So where is the best place to find out what the locals think about the possibility of baseball coming to their city? The Pub of course. Here are a few of the juicer responses:

“I watch the Americans in the stands, they get to drink, curse and yell at people. What Irishman doesn’t love to do these things?”

“It will never replace cricket. What’s better than the bowler throwing a googly?”

“Men in tights? A bunch of sissies if you ask me”

“Baseball is a great way to generate revenue for the city, build tourism, and put Dublin on the sports world map. It will create thousands of new jobs, new marketing and advertising capabilities, and stimulate the local businesses and economy.”

That last quote, while that kind of intelligent talk is not welcome in the Pub and the gentleman who made it was promptly removed, does fairly well to sum up why this move would be good for the city of Dublin. Even with the relatively new sports scene, the city is screaming for more, and you might not find a better time to start a baseball franchise in Dublin.

The city is so serious about its bid that not only does it have a proposed name for the team, the Nutty Irishmen, but work is being done it Scotland for a location of a possible minor league affiliate. Rumors are swirling that a name has been proposed for that team too, the Scottish Highlanders. That’s all I could find for now, I’ll report anything new, after I finish my pint.

-Jameson McStout
-The Chaser