Mammoth Baseball Fan

500 Homerun Club & Efusjon Invite you to come hit a home run

2009-11-07T23:43:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the 500 Home Run Club®, LLC, the exclusively authorized, internationally recognized organization founded to celebrate the awe inspiring achievements of the greatest home run hitters in baseball history. The club operates with the endorsement and support of both Major League Baseball and the Baseball Hall of Fame.

MLB Drew more than 73.4 Million Fans to Games this year Despite Economic Woes

2009-10-07T16:07:00.000-04:00

Major League Baseball announced today that despite the nation's worst economic downturn in 80 years, the 30 Clubs drew 73,418,479 fans during the 2009 championship season, producing the fifth largest total attendance in MLB history.

Two of Major League Baseball's most historic franchises, the reigning World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies and the Boston Red Sox, set all-time club records, drawing 3,600,693 and 3,062,699, respectively. The Los Angeles Dodgers led the Major Leagues in attendance with 3,761,669 for an average of 46,400. Nine clubs drew more than three million fans (Dodgers, New York Yankees, Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers) and 10 clubs averaged more than 35,000 fans per game (the above clubs plus the San Francisco Giants).

Because of the economy, this year's total is 6.6 percent less than last year's total, but is actually only 5.2 percent lower when accounting for the reduced capacities of the two new ballparks in New York. The total number of seats available at Citi Field and Yankee Stadium is approximately 1.5 million fewer than at the old ballparks.

As household spending decreased and national unemployment figures across the United States reached a 26-year high of 9.7 percent in August, many of the clubs that saw the largest decreases in attendance played in markets that suffered unemployment rates that exceeded the national average.

"Major League Baseball is grateful to all of its fans for their remarkable enthusiasm for the national pastime this season," said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. "Given these challenging economic times, I am exceedingly proud of the manner in which our Clubs have responded, demonstrating a deep commitment to maintain baseball's stature as the most affordable and the most family-friendly sport. The 2009 attendance being among the five highest figures of all-time reflects the vibrancy and resiliency of our game."

In addition, Minor League Baseball drew 41,644,518 fans this season. When combined with MLB's total, more than 115,000,000 fans attended a Major League or Minor League game in more than 200 cities.

source>>>

St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers both clinch playoff spots

2009-09-28T17:27:00.000-04:00

The National League's St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers have both cemented post-season appearances, with the Cardinals also clinching the National League Central Division title.

If the current standings hold true, the Dodgers are poised to wrap up the NL West title over the scrappy Colorado Rockies within the next couple of days. The Rockies, however, have a bit of a fight on their hands for the NL Wildcard with the surprising Atlanta Braves breathing down their necks.

On the American League side, the New York Yankees clinched the AL East title yesterday, September 27, following the team's three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox, but the Sox remain poised to walk off with the Wildcard this week because they have a commanding lead over the Texas Rangers. With their 100-win record, which is the best in baseball, the Yankees will have the home field advantage throughout the post-season.

The Detroit Tigers remain in a race for the AL Central title with the Minnesota Twins, and the two teams play a four-game set beginning tonight, which will likely decide the division.

The playoffs are scheduled to begin Wednesday, October 7, but so far ticket sales have been a little weak for some brokers, with the exception of Yankees, Dodgers and Red Sox tickets.

MLB line and odds: Marlins -1.5 to keep Mets on slide

2009-08-25T15:56:00.000-04:00

The Mets just dropped 3 of 4 from Philly, and their schedule will only get tougher coming up.

The Marlins are next on the list and the Mets have to travel and head to Florida after a miserable series with the Phills.

More bad news after hearing that David Wright will likely be done for the year, is that Santana had some arm and elbow issues and may be out for a bit.

He was scheduled to start Tuesday but will miss. Taking his spot is Nelson Figueroa, who has been shaky. Opposing him is Sean West who already had a big game against NY this season.

The betting odds in this one show the Marlins as a -205 favorite now that Santana is out. The total went from 7.5 to 9 and 9.5 at some books. Get up to 295% in total sign up bonus and bet these MLB odds at SBGGlobal.com.
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Figueroa has not faced Florida since 2002. In his most recent outing he lasted less than 2 innings allowing 6 ER's to Arizona back in early August en route to a 6-5 loss against the MLB betting line.

Even including the healthy Mets line-up from last year, they have lost a combined 5 of 6 against the MLB betting line and odds when Fig takes the hill.

That spells trouble considering West has shown good numbers in his last 3 outings. The only flaw is that even though he allowed just 6 ER's in those outings, he only pitched 14 innings.

The Marlins went 2-1 against the MLB betting odds, and odds-makers feel strongly about West against the Mets listing him as a steep favorite.

The Marlins have just come off losing 2 of 3 to Atlanta and will grab an easy win against the MLB betting odds Tuesday.

A safer wager is Florida on the run-line as they will win this one by 4+ with an offensive explosion. Prediction, Florida 7-4. Get up to 295% in total sign up bonus and bet these MLB odds at SBGGlobal.com. source>>>

Judge sets hearing on Chicago Cubs sale

2009-08-25T15:54:00.001-04:00

A bankruptcy court judge on Monday set an Aug. 31 hearing to expedite procedures in the sale of the Cubs from the Tribune Co. to the Ricketts family.

Judge Kevin Carey set the quick hearing to simplify and shorten the legal motion process as part of completing the deal.

A two-year quest to sell the Cubs ended on Friday as the parent Tribune Co. signed a definitive agreement to sell 95 percent of the franchise to the Ricketts family for $845 million.

Tom and Joe Ricketts will have management control of the joint venture as its 95 percent owner. Tribune Co. -- which owns the club, Wrigley Field and approximately a 25 percent interest in Comcast SportsNet -- will retain a five-percent ownership interest.

The Tribune Co., which filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year and owes $13 billion to creditors, outlined in papers sent to the court a two-step process that should culminate with the sale of the team. The first was the overall bankruptcy protection.

The second, the Tribune explained last week, is voluntarily placing the Cubs under Chapter 11 protection so that "the franchise can emerge free and clear of Tribune Co.'s financial obligations."

Once the deal is approved by the court, it will be submitted to MLB, where just like any other transfer of ownership it must be approved by a 75 percent vote of the 30 clubs. If the bankruptcy court proceedings are indeed expedited, the transfer could be approved at the next owners' meeting set for Nov. 18-19, appropriately enough, for Chicago's O'Hare Airport Hilton. source>>>

Are the Yankees really the best team in baseball?

2009-08-25T15:52:00.001-04:00

1. New York Yankees: You knew that season series with the Red Sox would turn around sooner or later.

2. Los Angeles Angels: The lineup is full of .300 hitters, but strange as it sounds, is there enough pitching to go all the way?

3. St. Louis Cardinals: There really is no glaring weakness or serious question mark on the roster, and that makes them a very narrow favorite in the NL.

4. Philadelphia Phillies: You gotta love that lineup, but can a team with a closer who has a 6-plus ERA win a second consecutive World Series?

5. Los Angeles Dodgers: Don't look now, but they've been a .500 team for nearly as long as the Rockies have been playing .600-plus baseball. But that said, expect a strong finish.

6. Boston Red Sox: It's not looking good for a Billy Wagner acquisition, so they need their own pieces -- Tim Wakefield, Daisuke Matsuzaka, etc. -- to have an impact down the stretch.

7. Colorado Rockies: If you haven't figured it out already, you're just not paying attention: Nobody has played better baseball since JIm Tracy took over on June 4.

8. Texas Rangers: Nobody expects them to beat the Red Sox in the wildcard chase, but they're making it pretty interesting, aren't they?

9 Tampa Bay Rays: Too many good hitters -- B.J. Upton and Pat Burrell, to name two -- are underachieving for another miracle to occur.

10. Detroit Tigers: You can't like their chances in the playoffs, as the lineup doesn't produce much against quality pitching.

11. Atlanta Braves: There's a chance here for a run at the wildcard, as the rotation is deep, and could get a boost from Tim Hudson. But like the Giants, the offense is a bit short.

12. San Francisco Giants: Everybody knows there isn't enough offense -- especially with Freddy Sanchez's shoulder keeping him out of the lineup. But the defense isn't very good, either.

13. Florida Marlins: Can they ride Josh Johnson and a handful of productive hitters to a late wild card run?

14. Chicago White Sox: No team in serious contention looks less like a contender than the Sox. And Jake Peavy still is a ways from getting a chance to make a difference.

15. Seattle Mariners: Nice season so far for Jack Zduriencik, Don Wakamatsu and Co.

16. Chicago Cubs: Only $845 million for a slightly disfunctional team that could get blown up this off-season. What a bargain. source>>>

After Twenty years The Pete Rose debate shows no signs of dying

2009-08-24T15:56:00.000-04:00

In the category of baseball controversies that not only don't die but don't even taper off a little bit, we have now had two decades of the argument regarding Pete Rose.

We have come to the 20th anniversary of Rose accepting a lifetime ban from baseball for gambling on baseball. In every single moment during these 20 years, you could start a heated debate among baseball fans anywhere, by uttering these four simple words: "What about Pete Rose ..."

It is a classic debate. Against Rose is the fact that he violated the game's first commandment: Don't bet on baseball. For Rose is the argument that his stature as a player was such that he must be reinstated and made eligible for the Hall of Fame.

Over the years, Rose's own conduct damaged his cause. For 14 years he denied that he bet on baseball. He then produced an autobiography in which he admitted that he had gambled on baseball and then lied about gambling on baseball. Not only had he bet on baseball, he had bet on Cincinnati Reds games when he was managing that club.

Rose insisted that he had always bet on the Reds to win, but baseball's prohibition on gambling is clear and inclusive. It is posted on the wall of every Major League clubhouse, and in more than one language.

Circumstances did conspire against Rose after he accepted the ban, which followed an exhaustive investigation by John M. Dowd, formerly a prominent Justice Department attorney. In the ban agreement, Rose did not have to admit guilt and could apply for reinstatement after one year. But as part of the agreement, Rose also voluntarily accepted a lifetime ban.

After the agreement, then Commissioner of Baseball A. Bartlett Giamatti stated publicly that he believed Rose had bet on baseball. Of course he believed it; otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to the trouble of banning baseball's all-time leader in hits. Giamatti, a former president of Yale University, was a brilliant man, whose commitment to the game was truly profound, and was expressed in language that was eloquent, at times poetic. Giamatti was appalled that a leading figure in the game could be involved in baseball betting.

Just eight days after the ban, Giamatti died of a massive heart attack. Some of his friends believed that the extreme stress of the Rose investigation and the subsequent banishment was a contributing factor in his death.

The next two Commissioners -- Fay Vincent and Bud Selig -- were very close friends of Giamatti. Had Giamatti lived, he might have reinstated Rose. But the two subsequent Commissioners were not positioned for a lavish show of mercy in this case.

Rose had some momentum behind an application for reinstatement in 2003. However, the furor over his admission of gambling, and the fact that he couldn't produce anything resembling a penitent public face, derailed his chances.

Reinstatement in and of itself is only a portion of the issue with Rose. If he is reinstated, then he would presumably be eligible for election to the Hall of Fame.

On one hand, it is difficult to rationalize the National Baseball Hall of Fame not opening its doors to the all-time hits leader. This is, after all, "Charlie Hustle," the epitome of effort, a gamer for the ages.

On the other hand, there is the seriousness of Rose's offense. You have heard people say, "They let all those steroids guys play; why can't Rose be reinstated?"

These are apples and oranges. The users of performance-enhancing drugs cheated, but they cheated with the intention of gaining a competitive edge. They suffered from an impulse that was simultaneously wrong and human.

There is no "but" with gambling on baseball. It is all wrong. So Rose said he only bet on his team to win? If Rose bet on the Reds four times a week, what did he tell the rest of the gambling community about the other three games?

The fact is that baseball's worst time in history, its least credible moment, its lowest position morally, spiritually, emotionally, came in 1919, when members of the White Sox conspired with gamblers to throw the World Series. For historical purposes, they became the Black Sox.

Much of the history of baseball can be seen as a reaction to that event. Its leadership became centralized. The first Commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, began his tenure by banning eight White Sox players from the 1919 team for life. There was no appeal from his ruling, even though there was considerable evidence that Buck Weaver was innocent.

But from that time forward, the worst baseball-related sin anybody in the game could commit was gambling on the game. So in the scheme of baseball crimes, what Rose did was first-degree murder. For that, he received what amounted to a life sentence.

Can a two-decade banishment be considered enough of a price to pay? Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, a former teammate of Rose with the Phillies, took this position in a statement quoted by The Associated Press on Saturday, saying, "Twenty years have passed; isn't that enough?"

And Rose is 68 now. Perhaps advancing age will make him a more sympathetic figure.

There is a middle road, a compromise solution available. That would be a limited reinstatement.

For those who demand that Rose must be in the Hall of Fame, make him eligible for election to the Hall. For those who demand that his punishment for betting on baseball must be a lifetime punishment, prohibit Rose from taking any position with any club in organized baseball. In this way, both Rose's greatness and his sins could both be clearly recognized.

In the absence of that sort of compromise, what will happen? Shortly after taking over as Commissioner, Selig said that it was very unlikely that he would reinstate Rose during his tenure. Nobody knew at that time that Selig's tenure would be 19 years, if one assumes that he will retire at the end of his current contract, which runs through 2012.

In recent years, Selig's responses to Rose-related queries have been much more non-committal. His most recent answer to a question about Rose's status was, "It is under review." So there is, once again, renewed speculation about a possible reinstatement.

Even now, 20 years into Rose's forced retirement, the controversy over his status refuses to go quietly away. Such is his stature in the game and in banishment from the game.

He was always notable for the way he played. Eventually, he was even more notable for what he accomplished and the records he set. Now, he is notable by his absence.

The argument about his reinstatement will go on as long as the banishment goes on and Rose is still alive. In fact, if he is not reinstated during his lifetime, the argument will probably take on the quality of something very much like eternal life. source>>>

Baseball reacts to Ortiz, Manny news Players wonder whether names on list should be revealed

2009-07-31T16:35:00.000-04:00

Add the names of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez to those that have been leaked from the list of 104 players who tested positive for the use of performance-enhancing drugs during Major League Baseball's 2003 survey testing. And the big question now on the minds of many observers -- ironically, in the wake of supposedly anonymous identities getting leaked by unauthorized, unnamed sources -- is, what will happen with the rest of the names?

David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez
Ortiz, Ramirez named
Complete coverage
- Ortiz tested positive in '03; Manny named
- Manny mostly mum
- Ortiz responds
- Timeline of 'The List'
- Sox support Ortiz
- Baseball reacts
- News upsets Yankees
- Bodley: Reveal names
- Ortiz lifts Sox
- Ortiz's statement
- Drug Policy in Baseball
- Ortiz's bio/stats
- Ramirez's bio/stats

Sights and Sounds
Ortiz responds
MLB Tonight
Bodley
Reynolds & Duquette
Ortiz comes to plate
Photo gallery

"Can somebody in baseball, please -- we're all begging people -- get that stupid list out and move on?" White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said on Thursday night in Chicago. "This is ridiculous. This is embarrassing. This is a joke. Whoever is there is there, get them out and that's it.

"Every week we've got to come up with this thing. It's getting old. We all know the list is out there. It's like, who's going to be next? I think we should do it. Believe me, if that list is going to be out there, it's not going to be any problem for baseball. Maybe people will be upset, disappointed. But there are already a few names out there. Maybe they need to talk about it. Maybe we need to talk about this every week to get people's attention, but it's not the right way to get attention."

Prior to Thursday, the names of Barry Bonds, Jason Grimsley, Alex Rodriguez, David Segui and Sammy Sosa had also been made public. Ortiz confirmed Thursday's report, which first appeared on The New York Times' Web site, quoting unnamed sources, was accurate. Ramirez has declined to comment.

A-Rod, when asked about the latest revelations, said, "He's my friend and I care for David. I have nothing else to say about it."

Several of his Yankees teammates were more expansive in their responses.

"That list, names are going to keep coming out," Mark Teixeira said. "I agree with everyone else who says just put it all out. It's ridiculous. Just let all the games go on and let everyone deal with it at the same time. Every two months things come out. It's not good for the game. It happened in 2003. Let it all come out, let everyone talk about it for one or two days and then we can move on. I don't understand how something that was supposed to be anonymous can come out in the first place."

"Too bad for everyone, once again, we're sitting here talking about it," added Yanks shortstop Derek Jeter. "I'm pretty sure someone will come up with something else. I'll stick to what I said before: Not everyone was doing it. You're talking about 100 people. There are a lot more than 100 people playing baseball. It's unfortunate that we have to sit here and talk about another name a couple of months later. I wish that wasn't the case but unfortunately it's the situation."

The Players Association is ardently against releasing the names. Regarding the '03 results, the Players Association was supposed to destroy the tests, but officers of the federal government, investigating the case against the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, seized them under a warrant from an MLB-approved lab. They are still in government possession and the union continues to contest the seizure with the case at the federal appellate court level.

The tests are supposed to be under court seal and the union again on Thursday said it would fight to maintain that legal privacy. Major League Baseball declined to comment and deferred queries to the union.

"That list was supposed to remain confidential, so whoever is leaking it, I can assure you, he isn't from the Players Association," said Dave Bush, a pitcher with the Brewers. "I don't know who has it or who knows about it, but that list is not supposed to be out there. At the time that test was taken, it was to remain confidential. The situation we're at right now -- with testing -- is because of that '03 test, so it's irrelevant who was on it. It's sensational now."

"This is all kind of pointless to be honest," said Jonathan Papelbon, Boston's closer and a teammate of Ortiz. "What's the point of even talking about [what happened] six years [ago]? That's the way I feel about it. I don't see the point of releasing any names."

"From a players' standpoint, it's not going to do any good to see the people you love and you care about have their name tarnished by the entire list coming out," said Mariners veteran Mike Sweeney. "In the same breath, if it does come out [in its entirety] maybe we can move on. I think the entire list will eventually get out."

"I wish they would just get the whole list out there," added Seattle left-hander Jarrod Washburn. "It's bad for the game to keep dragging it out. It stinks that all of these guys used performance-enhancing drugs, but when names on the list keep coming out every couple of months, it just keeps opening a wound that we're trying hard to close."

In 2003, 5-to-7 percent of the players tested positive for using performance-enhancing drugs, reaching a threshold that led to the establishment of MLB's current drug policy that includes random testing and was renegotiated three times. In '03, there were no punitive measures and the names were not supposed to be disclosed. Suspensions and/or fines began in '04.

As far as performance-enhancing drugs are concerned, the current program calls for a 50-game suspension for the first positive test, a 100-game suspension for the second and a lifetime suspension with a right to seek reinstatement after two years for a third. All three are accompanied by a loss of salary for the suspension. A different set of penalties apply if a player tests positive for a stimulant.

Ramirez, who now plays for the Dodgers, is the only Major Leaguer to violate the drug policy this season. He lost 50 games from May 17 to July 3, a suspension that cost him $7.7 million of his $25 million salary, which is partially deferred.

"I see both sides of it," said White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle, who tossed only the 18th perfect game in MLB history on July 23. "When we got tested, they said it never was going to come out. So for that reason I can see it not coming out. But it seems like it's giving baseball a bad name. Every couple of weeks, every month, one name gets leaked out here and there. It's almost like, get it all out and get it over with and go forward."

"Don't just keep busting out two to three names a year or whatever it is," said Cardinals pitcher Joel Pineiro, who played with Ortiz and Ramirez on the '07 Sox. "Just get it out there now, get it over with. I'm pretty sure some people are going to have different opinions. So many good things have happened for the game. We've got all this good stuff going on and it just goes back to the names coming out. It hurts the game. Hopefully we can just get it out of the way, get it over with and enjoy the game for what it is."

"I don't sit here and judge people one way or the other," said pitcher Derek Lowe, another former Boston teammate who now plays for the Braves. "Everybody has the opportunity to take stuff or not take stuff. I don't think they're bad people for doing it. I'm probably in the minority. Baseball is baseball. You still have to get guys out."

Lowe and Johnny Damon, who both played with Ortiz and Ramirez on the Red Sox, wonder if the news will taint Boston's 2004 World Series championship team.

"That probably is what's being said, and that's what makes guys like me upset," said Damon, a member of a team that swept the Cardinals in the '04 World Series and is now playing for the Yankees. "I was never in that conversation with guys who said when and where they would do it. It wasn't in lockers. That's the tough thing. I've never been in that conversation."

Ortiz, Jason Varitek and Kevin Youkilis are the only players remaining on the active roster from the Red Sox teams that won the World Series in 2004 and '07, although Youkilis played a minor role in '04.

The '04 Red Sox clawed back from an 0-3 deficit in the American League Championship Series to defeat the Yankees and win the first World Series title for the franchise in 86 years.

"I clearly didn't know of anything that was going on," said Lowe, the winning pitcher in Game 4 of the '04 World Series. "Fair or not fair, you have to look at both sides. In 2003, people said everyone was going to get tested, but nobody was ever going to know. From what I understand, people who were taking it at that time were notified that they had failed. But at that time, who cared?" source>>>

MLB News: Trades, Roy Halladay, Martinez

2009-07-31T16:30:00.001-04:00

Yankees facing race against Red Sox for Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay. Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi's best hope now is to get the Yankees and Red Sox in a bidding war for the former Cy Young winner, and according to a source, that's exactly what he's trying to do. Both the Yankees and Red Sox have issues to address in their starting rotations, but the prospect of keeping Halladay away from the other team could play as much into the situation as anything. Halladay would give either team an enormous edge. - NY Daily News

Red Sox after Tribe's Victor Martinez. The two sides have been talking Victor Martinez for weeks now, but Boston has been reluctant to give up Clay Buchholz as part of the deal and Cleveland has not been interested in some of Boston's lesser prospects. By trading their ace, the Indians have signaled that they are building for the future. Trading Martinez and his $4.5 million contract now would allow the Indians to have maximum financial flexibility, and clear room on their roster for the power bats they have sitting at Triple-A. - Providence Journal

Blue Jays would trade Halladay to Dodgers for five or six prospects. The Blue Jays have told the Dodgers they can get Roy Halladay without trading anyone off their major league roster, for five or six prospects. The Dodgers said no, arguing that would gut their minor league system. They already had thinned the system considerably last summer, trading six prospects to get Manny Ramirez, Casey Blake and Greg Maddux. The Blue Jays also said they would take fewer players if Clayton Kershaw or Chad Billingsley were one of them. The Dodgers said no to that too. No to Kershaw? Of course. No to Billingsley? There has been discussion within the organization about whether to reconsider that stance, although the Dodgers are not expected to do so. source>>>

MLB TRADE DEADLINE: TODAY, 4 P.M.

2009-07-31T16:27:00.000-04:00

The sobering words were spoken at a World Series. They also apply to today's trading deadline in major league baseball.

Before Game 7 of the 1982 World Series, St. Louis manager Whitey Herzog was about to go to the field for batting practice. As he did, a few journalists in his office told him the many factors his team had in its favor that night in the one-game showdown with Milwaukee for the title.

Herzog responded to all their evaluations as he walked toward his office door, his fists jabbed into his Cardinals windbreaker. "It doesn't mean anything if we don't execute," he said.

Soon after the trade deadline passes at 4 p.m. today, you'll be able to hear "winners" and "losers" declared. But no playoff berths will have been clinched. Even the teams that appear to have done the best in this year's trade market must still go out and play well in the big-game glare to reach the World Series.

As many years of baseball have shown us, if a team has an abundance of talent but doesn't execute -- doesn't play the game properly -- it puts itself in jeopardy of losing to a team with inferior talent.

Conversely, a team that doesn't have the most talent but that does executes consistently -- hits the cutoff man, makes double plays and takes the extra base -- gives itself a chance to beat a team with a more dazzling roster.

In that Game 7 in '82, the Cardinals executed beautifully at a key moment. They threw out a Milwaukee runner who tried to go from first to third on a single to right. They wound up winning, 6-3.

TIGERS' INTERESTS: As the trading deadline approaches, it's clear the Tigers could use a boost in four areas (in no particular order of priority): starting pitching (they didn't plan to have two rookies in the rotation, as they do now), left-handed hitting (Carlos Guillen can alleviate their imbalance there), relief pitching (with Joel Zumaya headed for shoulder surgery) and backup catcher (an experienced big-leaguer who has shown run-production ability). The Tigers' chances at acquiring any of those?

They could change hour-by-hour today, or minute-by-minute as the deadline approaches.

OUTSIDE INFLUENCE: For Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski, as for any general manager of a contender, two potential last-minute factors can loom at the trade deadline beyond the trade offers themselves: recent struggles by his team and deals by his competitors.

Until their 13-run outburst Wednesday night, the Tigers ranked last in the American League in runs in the few weeks since the All-Star break. Asked how that slowdown affects his interest in getting a hitter, Dombrowski said, "It doesn't affect it at all. It was our interest before, and it continues to be an interest."

Dombrowski said that he's not swayed by any trades fellow contenders might make: "I think you have to take care of your own situation first and foremost and not react to what other people do. That would continue to be what our plans are." source>>>

More from Former MLB commissioner Fay Vincent on Pete Rose

2009-07-30T20:09:00.001-04:00

Former baseball commissioner Fay Vincent is taking every opportunity to weigh in on the recent New York Daily News story that said current commissioner Bud Selig was "seriously considering" reinstating Pete Rose to the game.

Vincent, a strong critic of any potential reinstatement of Major League Baseball's all-time hit king, had this to say yesterday on ESPN's Jim Rome Is Burning:

"Selig's not going to be wobbly on gambling at this stage, especially with what happened in the NBA. This issue is not about Pete Rose. It's about the effectiveness of the deterrent."

High & Inside would like to see a panel discussion pitting Vincent and Selig against Rose backers such as Hank Aaron, Mike Schmidt, and Joe Morgan. Also, to add spice, throw in a few Hall of Famers who think Rose greatly tarnished the game with his admitted gambling. source>>>

Angels now sit atop MLB power rankings

2009-07-27T16:51:00.001-04:00

Each year after the all -- star break the better teams begin to show their strength. This year is no exception.

The Phillies, Yankees, Dodgers and Angels have all recently gone on significant winning streaks, establishing themselves as the teams to beat in their divisions.

As a consequence of their winning ways, the Phillies have put the pressure on the Marlins, Mets, and Braves in the NL East. The Red Sox and Rays are struggling to keep pace with the Yankees in the AL East while the Rangers and Mariners are losing valuable ground to the Halos in the AL West. In the NL West the Rockies and the Giants are now long shots to overtake the Dodgers for the division crown.

These are my final Sunday of July power rankings with last month's rankings in parentheses at the end of the paragraph.

1) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Even with Torii Hunter and Vladimir Guerrero on the DL, the Halos are scoring runs in bunches as they are getting key hits daily from Kendry Morales, Mike Napoli, Howie Kendrick, Erick Aybar and Juan Rivera. Brian Fuentes leads the AL in saves. I expect the Angels to bolster their pitching through at least two acquisitions this week. (4)

2) New York Yankees. The Bronx Bombers are tough to beat at home (34-17). Set-up man Phillip Hughes has been a strikeout machine. Mark Teixeira leads the AL with 25 home runs. The Yanks have a knockout punch in Mariano Rivera at the end of the game. Derek Jeter is hitting .320.
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Alex Rodriguez (he doesn't look right at the plate) still hasn't hit with his customary power, yet this team beats everyone in the AL easily except for the Red Sox (0-8). (7)

3) Philadelphia Phillies. The Phils are built for their home park with power hitters who routinely reach the seats. No lead is safe in this homer haven. The Phils have legit MVP candidates in Raul Ibanez, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley. Cole Hamels looks like he is finally pitching like the Series star he was last fall. Whatever the price, the Phillies should meet the Blue Jays' demands and acquire Roy Halladay before the trade deadline this week. (11)

4) Los Angeles Dodgers. Baseball teams are judged on wins and losses and the Dodgers have more wins than anyone in the majors (61). L.A. has speed at the top of the line-up. Power with Manny Ramirez and Andre Ethier. The Dodgers have a star in lefty Clayton Kershaw. LA must pick-up a starting pitcher and a set-up reliever for the stretch run. Other than that the former Brooklyn Bums are ready for the playoffs. (2)

5) Boston Red Sox. Boston has two aces in Josh Beckett and Jon Lester. David Ortiz (13 home runs) appears to be a threat once again. Boston like Philadelphia should make a serious offer for Halladay. With one more legit starting pitcher to go along with the league's best 'pen, Boston should be strong enough to hold off the Rays for a playoff spot. The Red Sox offense clicks at home (32-14), but still is vulnerable on the road (24-25). (1)

6) Texas Rangers. Ron Washington's club is fighting to keep pace with the Angels. Josh Hamilton needs to have a huge last two months for this club to stay in the race. Despite the flu bug running through this team, the Rangers continue to play excellent defense, have a very good 'pen, and have stars in Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, and Nelson Cruz (23 home runs). Starting pitching is always the question in Texas let's see if the Rangers can add a Jarrod Washburn or Doug Davis at the deadline. (9)

7) St. Louis Cardinals: The Cards added right-handed bats Mark DeRosa, Matt Holliday, and Julio Lugo to the offense sending shock waves through the NL Central. Albert Pujols is still the most feared hitter in the game. Starters Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, Joel Pineiro, and Kyle Lohse get the job done for manager Tony La Russa. The 'pen is the question, but St. Louis is now the team to beat in the NL Central. (12)

8) Tampa Bay Rays. Last year's AL champs are still searching for the magic of 2008. Manager Joe Maddon doesn't quite know what to expect from a rotation whose ace is now righty Jeff Niemann (9-4). The Rays are still vulnerable to left-handed pitching, the best evidence being the perfect game thrown at them by White Sox southpaw Mark Buehrle on Thursday. The 'pen is not a sure thing. Carlos Pena hits home runs (24), but his batting average (.219) sinks the team more often than not. (8)

9) Colorado Rockies. It's hard to ignore the strides this club has made since Jim Tracy was named skipper. The Rockies may be overachieving right now, but they have been leading or close to the NL Wild Card lead long enough to be taken seriously. Brad Hawpe, Troy Tulowitzki, and Todd Helton need to hit over the next two months. The Rockies starting pitching doesn't have much of a track record outside of Aaron Cook and Jason Marquis (two pitchers who are not thought of as the best in the NL). (10)

10) Detroit Tigers. The Tigers are very tough to beat at home (31-15) and inexplicably poor on the road (21-29). Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson, and Armando Galarraga are all throwing the ball very well. Fernado Rodney closes games while Bobby Seay and Brandon Lyon set him up. More help is needed in the 'pen. Miguel Cabrera is their MVP candidate. Tiger offense still very inconsistent. (3)

11) Chicago White Sox. The Sox are built to hit the long ball. If they are going to beat Detroit they better start hitting at home (27-23). The 'pen has shown signs of cracking this month. Is there a physical issue with closer Bobby Jenks? Has set-up man Scott Linebrink been over worked? With Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, and currently injured John Danks as starters the Sox better win their games because Jose Contreras and Bartolo Colon are unsteady at best. (18)

12) San Francisco Giants. Bruce Bochy counts on wins from Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum each time his all stars take the mound. Barry Zito has pitched acceptably well compared to his first two years in SF. The key is getting some offense to take the pressure off the pitching staff. At some point the Giants must add another major league bat (Aubrey Huff, Freddy Sanchez, or Nick Johnson?). The 'pen has been reliable. Jonathan Sanchez and Ryan Sadowski now need to fill the void left by the injury to Randy Johnson. Will the NL catch up with Pablo Sandoval? Giants, like the A's in the early 2000s, would be a scary team to meet in a five game playoff series. (13)

13) Chicago Cubs. The Cubs haven't hit the ball like they did in 2008. Still with the Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, Derek Lee, and Milton Bradley this team must be watched carefully to see if they pull out of their offensive doldrums. The 'pen is less than spectacular with walks and home runs the major culprits in late game collapses. Cubs need a starter to pick up for Ted Lilly (DL) and Ryan Dempster (due back Tuesday). A trade for a pitcher for this team (like last year for Rich Harden) is necessary. (16)

14) Houston Astros. Starters Roy Oswalt and Wandy Rodriguez are on hot streaks. Other veteran starters Brian Moehler, Mike Hampton, and Russ Ortiz will need help over the summer, won't they? Still with Miguel Tejada (.329), Carlos Lee (59 RBI), and speedy Michael Bourn (.287) this team wins games (swept the Cards last week). Colorful Jose Valverde is one of the most reliable closers in the game. (22)

15) Seattle Mariners. The M's don't hit much. Russell Branyan is having a career season at the plate (24 home runs). Seattle's pitching is outstanding. King Felix Hernandez hasn't pitched a bad game in two months. Jarrod Washburn is everything Seattle thought Erik Bedard would be. Closer David Aardsma has been lights out. Yet the Mariners more than likely will be sellers this week because their hitting is so sub-par. The M's offense is too weak to catch the Rangers or the Angels this year. (19)

16) Minnesota Twins. Take the Twins out of the Metrodome and bad things happen (20-30) on the road. The Twins blew a 12-2 lead to the A's this week in Oakland. The Angels came from behind to beat closer Joe Nathan. Lefty swingers Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Jason Kubel carry this club. The starting pitching and the 'pen have been a problem for manager Ron Gardenhire all season. If the pitching somehow straightens out Minnesota will be tough because they win at home (28-20) and the crowds will be huge in September as the team closes its domed home for good. (5)

17) Milwaukee Brewers. Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun are the two stars on this team. GM Doug Melvin will get manager Ken Macha another arm for the 'pen and one for the rotation (Cliff Lee?). Macha has done a remarkable job keeping this team in the race, juggling his 'pen nightly. (14)

18) Atlanta Braves. You can never count out a Booby Cox team, especially if it has pitching. Starters Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez, Tommy Hanson, and Jair Jurrjens can win any game they start. Closer Rafael Soriano has been lights out all year. If Chipper Jones, Brian McCann, and Yunel Escobar hit the Braves will be the NL Wild Card dark horse team. Martin Prado (.326) has been a revelation in the infield and Nate McLouth (.257) anchors the outfield. (20).

19) Florida Marlins. Florida has a great one-two pitching punch in Ricky Nolasco and Josh Johnson. Hanley Ramirez might spoil Albert Pujols Triple Crown bid by winning the NL batting title. The 'pen has been much better than anyone thought possible led by A's castoffs Kiko Calero and Dan Meyer. Cody Ross needs to pick things up with the bat. Starting pitching will tell the story for the Fish. Other than Johnson and Nolasco the remaining starters are very unreliable. (15)

20) Oakland Athletics. Because of their pitching, the A's are still a team that can beat you. Gio Gonzalez threw a great game against the Yanks. Trevor Cahill shut down the Twins with the help of a 15-run cushion. Brett Anderson pitched a masterful two-hitter in Fenway Park. Dallas Braden gives the team seven innings, of two-to-three run ball virtually every time he pitches. Closer Andrew Bailey is finally showing signs of fatigue as he is missing his spots more than earlier in the year. This team, despite its poor record (41-55), hasn't quit on the manager. The A's should make more trades this week seeking more impact AA or AAA bats. The Matt Holliday trade was set in motion once he was acquired last winter from the Rockies. Newcomer Brett Wallace can hit and might be the A's Buster Posey (Giants top prospect) before too long. (25)

21) Toronto Blue Jays. Even if the Jays move Roy Halladay this week they are a decent team. Marco Scutaro is having a career year at shortstop. Aaron Hill is an all-star second baseman. Lefty Ricky Romero is in the mix for AL Rookie of the Year. Adam Lind has arrived as one of the top DHs in the league. Blue Jays hope to rebuild with a trade of their ace pitcher. If they get what they want the road back will be much shorter. If not this club will need to find two starting pitchers for next season. (6)

22) New York Mets. Only Johan Santana prevents this team from falling further in the rankings. Mets might be the most dysfunctional organization in baseball. GM Omer Minaya, manager Jerry Manuel, and assistant GM Tony Bernazard all might be looking for new jobs next season. If Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran return this season perhaps the team might move up in the rankings. K-Rod must be wondering what he got himself into by signing with this disorganized finger- pointing crowd. (17)

23) Arizona Diamondbacks. Talk about disorganized teams. The players have spoken out about the club's lack of hustle, makes one wonder what the manager A.J. Hinch thinks about his team's effort. All that aside, Justin Upton, Mark Reynolds, and Stephen Drew are keepers. Dan Haren could win the NL's Cy Young award. Starters Jon Garland and Doug Davis are on the block along with relievers Jon Rauch and Chad Qualls. (28)

24) Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles are going more with their younger players that should mean the end of the Baltimore careers for Melvin Mora and Aubrey Huff. Outfielders Adam Jones and Nick Markakis, plus catcher Matt Wieters are the core stars of the future. Watch for more pitching prospects to make their debuts this summer. (23)

25) Cleveland Indians. The Tribe usually puts on a late season rush when the club is hopelessly out of the race. Will they trade either Victor Martinez (Boston) or Cliff Lee (Texas)? In any case it's unlikely manager Eric Wedge will be back next year. Closer Kerry Wood might help a contender down the stretch too. (24)

26) Cincinnati Reds. Reds have one of the best 'pens in the league. Trouble is the club doesn't hit very much. Once Jay Bruce broke his wrist the lineup lost one of its top power bats. If pitcher Homer Bailey is the real deal and Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto make comebacks in 2009 -- joining Aaron Harang (trade bait) and Bronson Arroyo -- then Dusty Baker has a chance to see his club get back into the race. Too many "ifs" still remain for this team. (21)

27) Kansas City Royals. The Royals have the makings of a good rotation with the breakthroughs of Luke Hochevar and Brian Bannister. After two lackluster years it's tough to see manager Trey Hillman returning in 2010. Injuries have held this team back. The 'pen failures and all the losses usually add up to a managerial change. (27)

28) Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates are one of the most active teams during the trading season. One has to wonder why the players the Corsairs receive in return for their established players don't seem to amount to too much. Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson should be the next to go along with relievers Matt Capps and John Grabow. (26)

29) Washington Nationals. Why doesn't President Obama attend some Nats games to stimulate interest in his new hometown team? The Nationals can hit and once they get some more pitchers to join Jordan Zimmermann, Craig Stammen, and John Lannan they might see the light at the end of the tunnel. (29)

30) San Diego Padres. Adrian Gonzalez stopped hitting home runs about one month ago about the time the bottom fell out of the club's season. Lack of any offense has killed the season. Injuries to Jake Peavy and Chris Young did not help matters either. Don't blame the manager Bud Black he is a solid baseball man. (30) source>>>

At last! MLB commissioner Bud Selig mulling pardon for hit Pete Rose

2009-07-27T16:47:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the behind-the-scenes lobbying from some of the most influential Hall of Famers, commissioner Bud Selig is said to be seriously considering lifting Pete Rose's lifetime suspension from baseball.

The tip-off that Selig may now be inclined to pardon baseball's all-time hit king was Hank Aaron's seemingly impromptu interview session with a small group of reporters in the lobby of the Otesaga Hotel on Saturday. In declaring for the first time that he would want an asterisk put on the achievements of any steroid cheats elected to the Hall of Fame, Aaron brought up Rose, who, in August of 1989, was given a lifetime ban for gambling on baseball, saying: "I would like to see Pete in. He belongs there."

It is no secret that Selig considers Aaron one of his closest friends and values his opinions over perhaps all others. It was also learned by the Daily News that in a meeting of the Hall of Fame's board of directors at the Otesaga later on Saturday, two of Rose's former teammates on the board, vice chairman Joe Morgan and Frank Robinson, also expressed their hope that Selig would see fit to reinstate Rose.

Said another Hall of Famer familiar with the situation: "I think a lot of the guys feel that it's been 20 years now for Pete, and would lean toward leniency and time served. If he had admitted it in the first place and apologized way back then, he'd probably be in the Hall by now."

According to another source, the behind-the-scenes lobbying process began five years ago, but stalled because Selig was still not satisfied that Rose was "reconfiguring" his life, as the late commissioner Bart Giamatti had instructed for him to do when he initially placed him on baseball's permanent ineligible list. In addition, the source said, Selig's conditions for any reinstatement would be stiff. Rose likely would need to make another public apology and he would be prohibited from managing.

If Selig does reinstate him, Rose then would become eligible for the Hall of Fame, but on the Veterans Committee ballot, as his 15 years on the Baseball Writers ballot expired during his time on the ineligible list. He would thus have to be elected by his peers, the 65 living members in the Hall of Fame, not all of whom agree with Aaron, Morgan and Robinson that Rose has done his time. It's hard to say if he would get the necessary 75% for election. "I know there are still guys who feel strongly against him," said one Hall of Famer, "and I don't know if that would change even if Selig clears him."

Nevertheless, it is beginning to look as if Rose will at least finally get Hall of Fame consideration, at the same time the Hall of Famers are taking an even harder stance on all the steroids cheats. "Believe me," said Reggie Jackson, to a couple of writers, "that little session Hank had with you guys was anything but impromptu. He wanted to get that out there. It was time."

source>>>

Manny Ramirez bobbles his way on to EBay

2009-07-24T13:01:00.001-04:00

Manny2.250 If nothing else, Manny Ramirez has a sense of the dramatic and an impeccable sense of timing. He picks Manny Ramirez bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium to hit one of the most memorable home runs in Dodgers history.

Pinch-hitting in the sixth inning, bases loaded, sidelined at the start of the game because his hand still hurt from being hit by a pitch the night before ... and he wastes no time at all, drilling the first pitch to him from Nick Masset to left field for a grand slam. Naturally, the line drive ended up in Mannywood.

Now a piece of that history is all over EBay. Right now, there are 198 Manny Ramirez bobbleheads on EBay, and bidding seems pretty brisk. Not all are the bobbleheads from the giveaway at Dodger Stadium.

Manny.140 The older collectibles don't seem to be drawing as much attention. But top bid as of about 1:15 p.m. PDT for the giveaway from last night is $57.00 for a single bobblehead, with most fetching somewhere in the $30 to $40 range. And if you're interested in a lot of 10, opening bid there is $529.

In May, the Dodgers had a Casey Blake bobblehead giveaway night. There are 15 listed on EBay right now. You can get one for about 20 bucks. source>>>

NCAA committee wants Ban on composite-barrel bats

2009-07-24T12:56:00.001-04:00

College baseball is getting ready to crack down on composite-barrel bats.

The NCAA Baseball Rules Committee this week proposed an indefinite ban on the bats after anecdotal evidence and research conducted during this year's Division I national tournament, which culminated with the College World Series, indicated many of the bats didn't comply with NCAA standards.

NCAA spokesman Cameron Schuh said the proposal is being sent to schools for comment and will be reviewed next week. A formal vote could be taken next month and, if approved, the ban would go into effect at the start of the 2010 season.

Aluminum bats have been used in college baseball since 1975 and remain the most popular choice.

Composite-barrel bats have been around since the late 1990s but have become more popular the past two seasons, said Jim Sherwood, director of the Baseball Research Center at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Sherwood's laboratory is in charge of the NCAA certification process, though it did not do the research at this year's tournament.

There are different types of composite bats, each with varying amounts of graphite, fiberglass and resilient plastic, Sherwood said. Bats with composite handles and composite transition areas - between the handle and barrel - would still be allowed under NCAA rules if the ban is approved, Schuh said.

The beef is with the barrel, which softens over time, creating a trampoline effect. This doesn't happen to factory-fresh bats - it's what happens later, after repeated use or after the bat is put through a process known as "rolling.''

Composite-barrel bats that are broken in or "rolled'' tend to have more pop and often violate NCAA limitations on the allowable speed at which the ball comes off the bat. The NCAA requires that this so-called "exit speed'' be no greater than that of its wooden counterpart, lest it become a safety hazard for infielders and pitchers.

"I commend this legislation and am just elated that this is going forth,'' Florida State coach Mike Martin said Thursday. "You just cannot imagine how far I saw a ball hit with an altered bat.''

He added: "If a guy took a bat and hit it a thousand times off a telephone pole, he'd likely bat better. That's not right.''

During the Division I tournament, 20 of the 25 composite-barrel bats selected for "Ball Exit Speed Ratio'' certification tests were not in compliance, the NCAA said. Because all bat designs must pass the test before mass production begins, the NCAA said, it was determined that the performance of those bats had changed, most likely because of repeated normal use or intentional alteration.

The committee said the ban should remain in place until manufacturers and the baseball community suggest ways that would allow composite-barrel bats to be used within NCAA guidelines.

There are a number of Web sites that offer to "roll'' bats for about $30 apiece. Rolling, which hastens the break-in time, flattens the barrel and stretches graphite fibers so the ball propels 10 mph to 15 mph faster and, theoretically, leads to more hits.

"While the committee does not believe tampering or altering of bats is widespread, there is evidence that it has occurred,'' said UC Santa Barbara coach Bob Brontsema, the rules committee chairman. "The larger issue here is that the performance of composite bats improves through repeated, normal use, and these bats often exceed acceptable levels. By removing these bats from competition, we believe all bats used will be at or below acceptable levels.''

Rick Redman, a spokesman for bat manufacturer Louisville Slugger, said the company's top three selling bats have aluminum barrels. He said composite-barrel bats represent a small percentage of Louisville Slugger's sales.

Officials at bat manufacturer Easton-Bell Sports did not return a phone message. source>>>

White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle THROWS PERFECT GAME

2009-07-23T16:47:00.000-04:00

White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle threw the second perfect game in club history on Thursday, blanking the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-0, at U.S. Cellular Field. It was the second no-hitter of Buehrle's career - he also threw one at home on April 18, 2007, vs. the Rangers. The only other perfect game in White Sox history was Charlie Robertson's perfect 2-0 victory over the Tigers on April 30, 1922. source>>>

MLB's Home Run Derby ratings were out of the park

2009-07-15T15:36:00.000-04:00

Monday night's Home Run Derby received a 6.0 cable rating on ESPN, which translate to 5,855,000 households and 8.25 million viewers. It was the network's No. 3 rating this year, topping only by Game 5 (6.5) and Game 4 (6.9) of the NBA's Western Conference finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver).

It was down slightly from the 6.4 rating (6.2 million) households for last year's derby at Yankee Stadium.

This year's derby also got a 2.0 rating on ESPN Deportes, its highest for MLB since it began being rated in May 2008. source>>>

AL beats NL again in MLB All-Star Game

2009-07-15T15:33:00.000-04:00

Victor Martinez turned toward the National League dugout as if to say, "Give me a break." Then he playfully gestured that he was going to try to bunt.

NL manager Charlie Manuel wasn't going to let Martinez, the Indians' lone All-Star, bat with the go-ahead run on third Tuesday night in the eighth inning. So Heath Bell intentionally walked Martinez, but Baltimore's Adam Jones came through with a sacrifice fly to score Curtis Granderson and give the American League a 4-3 victory in the 80th All-Star Game.

Granderson set up the winning run with a triple over Justin Upton's head in left field. source>>>

All-Star Game a special affair for FOX

2009-07-14T15:35:00.000-04:00

Tuesday night's All-Star Game is a hometown affair in more ways than one. The best-known hometown hero is of course Albert Pujols, but he's far from the only person with a significant St. Louis connection.

Take the FOX Network's broadcast of the game. The TV festivities get under way at 8 p.m. ET from Busch Stadium and will be carried live on FOX.

Play-by-play man Joe Buck has one of the most revered last names in St. Louis baseball. He called Cardinals games himself for many years, and his father, Jack, remains one of the most beloved figures in the history of the Cardinals franchise. Color commentator Tim McCarver spent parts of 13 seasons as a catcher with the Cardinals, winning three pennants. Buck and McCarver will be joined by reporter Ken Rosenthal and hosts Chris Rose and Eric Karros.

FOX's home is in Los Angeles, but for the two men calling the game from the booth, St. Louis feels an awful lot like home.

"For about 13 years, I was part of the St. Louis baseball scene, and I was fortunate to be on teams that were very, very successful," McCarver said. "So you would get no argument from me in saying that St. Louis was the best baseball town in America. It's certainly among the top three. My experience there was nothing but terrific, and I know that's one of the great things about this All-Star Game -- Joe living in St. Louis and me going back to St. Louis. From a personal standpoint, it's very, very special for both of us."

Buck doesn't dispute McCarver's characterization. And he takes a little pride in that. Because it's widely believed that Jack Buck helped shape the character of baseball fandom in St. Louis.

"There's something that's instilled I think in you as a young person in St. Louis, that you respect the game and you respect the opposition, and you applaud effort," Buck said. "And it's not always self-serving. It's not always, are the Cardinals winning and did my guy make a great play. You could make argument that of all the ballparks that you sit in, there's not a crowd anywhere across the country that applauds a great effort by the opposition more than what happens in St. Louis."

FOX, of course, won't just be looking back. In fact, the network will mostly be looking forward with its broadcast of Tuesday night's game.

The network will employ 21 HD cameras and 80 field and crowd microphones, as well as approximately 20 microphones for players, coaches and umpires to wear. And during the FOX broadcast, the on-air team will interact with viewers via Twitter. FOX's personalities will tweet at www.twitter.com/MLBonFOX, and Rosenthal will respond to viewer tweets as well.

One other highlight of the broadcast will be a very special one -- President Obama's ceremonial first pitch. As of late in the week, FOX representatives did not yet know whether Obama would be available for an on-air interview, but they were certainly hoping for the opportunity. source>>>

MLB season strikes out, lacks excitement

2009-07-14T15:33:00.000-04:00

Major League Baseball surpsies us every summer, but this summer has been an exception. All the teams that were predicted to do well are actually winning.

The only huge surprise is the increasing number of steroid users coming to light -- but then again are those even surprises any more?

It was shown that Alex Rodriguez had failed a drug test and that he used steroids. Though he did apologize to the fans and his teammates, the incidents started the rollercoaster of the 2009 baseball season.

Since the season began, everything has seemed to go as predicted. Albert Pujols has proven again he is the most dominant hitter in the world. Tim Lincecum is vying for another Cy Young Award. The Yankees and Red Sox are battling for the top spot in the American League East, and the Dodgers picked up right where they left off last year.

Pujols is hitting .337, which is fifth in the MLB, but he leads the majors in home runs (32) and runs batted in (87). Being ranked so high in all three categories, he is the leading candidate to take home the Triple Crown this year. The last player to hit for the Triple Crown was Carl Yastrzemski in 1967, and the last time it was done in the National League was in 1937.

Lincecum is on track for the same achievement on the pitching side. He leads the league in strikeouts with 149. He is tied for third with 10 wins, and his ERA is third at 2.33. The Triple Crown for pitching has been a little more common than the hitting Triple Crown. Jake Peavy was the last to earn this title, in 2007.

After the Yankees' fall from grace last year, they have worked hard to try to get back to the promised land, but the only question was how. They opened a new stadium with hopes that it would turn the Yankees' luck around, and it did.

The Yankees are 51-36 on the year and are two games behind the Red Sox. The reason they are so successful this year is the fact that they lead the majors in home runs with 132. Their only downfall is that the pitching has struggled from time to time. But again it looks like the AL East will come down to the Yankees and Red Sox at the end of the year.

The only big surprise of the first half was the L.A. Dodgers. Not that they were predicted to do badly, it was just thought that after their best player Manny Ramirez was suspended for steroids, they would fall apart.

Well, that didn't happen. The Dodgers are leading the majors with a record of 55-32, six games ahead of the San Francisco Giants. They are consistently playing well as a team and look to be a force in the playoffs this fall.

Hopefully, the second half of the season is a little more interesting. source>>>

Albert Pujols may be MLB's best, but don't write off A-Rod

2009-07-14T15:31:00.000-04:00

Alex Rodriguez may no longer be the best player in baseball, the label that accompanied him to New York five years ago, but you only had to see the look of disbelief on Joe Saunders' face Friday night to understand why A-Rod is still in the conversation.

Saunders, the Angels' lefthander, reacted with a stunned shake of his head after throwing a below-the-knees changeup that fooled A-Rod, yet wound up beyond the fence in right-center field because the Yankees' slugger managed a last-second flick of his wrists that sent the pitch some 400 feet into orbit.

It was a reminder that, for all of his issues, A-Rod still strikes fear into pitchers unlike almost anyone else in the game, and for good reason. Of course, it was also a reminder of why Yankee fans turn on him so quickly, because he has yet to deliver on all of that ability in the postseason.

But the point here is, even after his hip surgery, A-Rod still ranks among the top five players in baseball.
Albert Pujols has to get the nod as the best of the best these days as he goes about putting up huge numbers in a Cardinals' lineup that is not exactly a modern-day Murderers' Row.

Before we get into the top five, let's define the concept of best player.

Obviously, pitchers aren't included because they are, well, pitchers, not players. Beyond that, this isn't about integrity or character, as it applies to the steroids issue, but simply ability.

Specifically, for me the issue is game-changing ability. Which players do the most to change the course of ballgames, whether it be with one swing or four at-bats -- or occasionally with their glove?

There also has to be a certain level of accomplishment, as in the case of Josh Hamilton. He might be as talented as anyone, but he only emerged last year after all of his drug problems, and he has missed most of this season due to injury.

With all of that in mind, here's my Top 5:

1. Albert Pujols

He's been on the list for several years, but he's distanced himself at the top this season, hitting .332 with 32 home runs and 87 RBI. He's putting up these numbers even though teams are pitching him carefully, determined not to let him beat them. Pujols has a legitimate shot at becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967, in part because he rarely strikes out, only 35 Ks in 307 at-bats.

Perhaps most significantly, Pujols is clutch, hitting .379 with runners in scoring position this season. Pitchers fear him so much that in 105 plate appearances with runners in scoring position, Pujols has been walked 39 times. 2. Manny Ramirez

Hate to put him on this list after the way he quit on the Red Sox last year, but you can't ignore the obvious. He carried a so-so Dodger team to the NLCS last year with a crazy-hot bat, and despite his 50-game suspension this season, his presence seems to have given confidence to younger players who are blossoming.

This season Manny is hitting .355 with nine home runs and 29 RBI, and he's hitting .371 with runners in scoring position.

3. Joe Mauer

The Twins' catcher looks to be the best pure hitter in the game these days, and at age 26, Mauer is developing power to go with his sweet stroke. He's hitting .373 and despite missing time with a back injury, has 15 home runs in only 241 at-bats, two more longballs than his season-best 13 in 2006.

Mauer too has been clutch, hitting .400 with runners in scoring position. The fact that he's doing all of this while catching only adds to his status.

4. Rodriguez

Still hitting only .256, but upon returning from hip surgery in May, A-Rod's presence made an obvious difference in the Yankee lineup. He seems to have made significant strides in his recovery from the hip surgery lately, looking more agile at third base and swinging the bat with more confidence.

A-Rod's 17 home runs and 50 RBI have helped the Yankees beat up on a lot of mediocre pitching lately, and he's even hit in the clutch lately. Still, you can't help but notice that his .278 average with runners in scoring position pales in comparison to the others on this list.

5. Hanley Ramirez

Tough call over the likes of Chase Utley and Evan Longoria for final Top 5 spot, but the Marlins' shortstop is living up to the hype as a rising superstar. He's hitting .349 with 14 home runs and 61 RBI, and his clutch numbers are off the charts -- .456 with runners in scoring position, .448 with RISP and two outs.

So there's the list, and while A-Rod, who turns 34 in a couple of weeks, still belongs, he needs to finally have a big October one of these years or none of it will ever matter to Yankee fans. source>>>

All-Star Game and Home Run Derby Come to Online Sports Gambling

2009-07-13T14:14:00.000-04:00

The baseball world takes a breather from its relentless schedule to celebrate the best of Major League Baseball at the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, bringing plenty of gambling opportunities at online casinos. Sports betting fans will have not only the game itself, but eight top sluggers from which to choose for the long ball contest Monday night.

The game on Tuesday will see the American League as a slight favorite. The National League is at even money right now, reflecting the reluctance bettors have in crossing the AL streak of games won, eleven wins and Bud Selig's ignominious tie since the last NL victory. A lot of experts are thinking the NL may have the better unit this year, but bucking that streak causes hesitation.

In the basher's festival, Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals, clearly the dominant player in the game, sits as the favorite, at +175. Albert will be playing on his home field and in front of hometown fans, as if he needed any extra edge.

Ryan Howard, the Philadelphia Phillies' massive first baseman, is a close second choice at +200. Howard may not hit for average like Pujols, but he has the potential to match him homer for homer.

Two more National League first basemen follow, Prince Fielder at +300 and Adrian Gonzalez at +400. The four American League representatives are Joe Mauer and Carlos Pena at +600 each, with Nelson Cruz at +800 and Brandon Inge of Detroit the longshot at +900. source>>>

MLB Picks and Predictions Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Angels Odds

2009-07-08T16:25:00.001-04:00

MLB Picks and Predictions Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Angels Odds: While sportsbooks MMA betting players get pumped for UFC 100, some of the biggest divisional rivals in Major League Baseball fittingly slug it out this week. Let's explore some AL East and NL West matchups that have important divisional implications. The MLB Betting Odds list Los Angeles Angels -170 favorites to Texas Rangers +160 underdogs heading into this MLB Picks matchup.

Tuesday, July 7, 10:05 p.m. ET Dustin Nippert (NR) vs John Lackey (3-3, 4.70). Don't let John Lackey's mediocre stats fool Active Imageyou; he's starting to look like his old ace self again, allowing three or fewer runs in three of his last four outings. Texas gives him trouble historically (10-10, 5.79) but, even if he allows a pile of runs, he should get plenty of run support. The MLB Betting Odds list the total in this Texas Rangers at Los Angeles game is set at 9.5 runs.

Dustin Nippert, a converted reliever, hasn't pitched yet this season. Not only is he making his first start since being activated from the 60-day DL, he has a 6.42 lifetime ERA. You have to wonder if he should be in the majors at all right now. Best of luck to him - and to anyone brave enough to go against their handicapping software and pick Texas. MLB Predictions choice: Angels source>>>

MLB Predictions Oakland Athletics vs Boston Red Sox MLB Odds

2009-07-08T16:22:00.000-04:00

MLB Predictions Oakland Athletics vs Boston Red Sox MLB Odds: Nomar Garciaparra returns to Boston for the first time since 2004 when he was traded and the Red Sox went on to win the World Series. I expect Nomar to be greeted with open arms as he is still well liked in the area. In return I expect plenty of runs in this game as the A's will be motivated to try and win one for Nomar. The MLB Odds list Boston Red Sox -260 favorites to Oakland Athletics +250 underdogs heading into this MLB Predictions matchup.

Active Image"I think we feel like we need this roster spot for about a week," Red Sox manager Terry Francona told his team's official Web site. "Rather than go make a move, I think we all kind of enjoy promoting from within. ... Hopefully this kid will help us win a couple of games."

John Smoltz has been hittable in his few starts for the Red Sox and the bullpen has struggled in Boston. The pens ERA is over 6 in its last three outings and the over has cashed in five out of the last six games. Ortiz is starting to hit again for the sox and the A's start a lefty in Brett Anderson. The Sox hit lefties at .282 at home this year and Anderson has seen the over cash in three of his last four starts. Nomar will have a great night at the plate and don't be surprised if the A's win. It will be a high scoring affair in Boston. MLB Predictions Bet On the over 9.5 . The MLB Odds list the total in this Oakland Athletics vs Boston Red Sox game is set at 9 runs.

Glen McNeil Weekly MLB Package MLB Picks & MLB Predictions for one week. Picks minimum: handicapper must provide you with at least 7 picks during subscription term, otherwise we will give you another such subscription for free. Join Glen For his MLB Picks & MLB Predictions for entire week at a small price. Bet with Heroes and receive -105 reduced juice MLB games. source>>>

MLB Handicapping: Revisited MLB Pennant Predictions

2009-07-08T16:20:00.000-04:00

MLB teams have now reached the mid-point of their seasons. Once a team has played it's 81st game, it is time to start counting backwards. The MLB season has been 162 games since the early 60s. Prior to that, there was a 154-game slate with plenty of doubleheaders. Then greed set in. There was the addition and eventual expansion of the League Championship Series, and then the addition of the Division Series. Now we have a baseball season that is bookended by snowfall.

In my preseason article on this site my predictions for the teams that would meet for the League Championship were the New York Mets (5/2) and the San Francisco Giants (12/1) in the National League. Over in the American, my prediction included the New York Yankees (3/2) meeting up with the Los Angeles Angels (6/1). The Mets, of course, are in the toilet. The Giants, meanwhile, have been getting consistent pitching and hitting after a so-so start. The favorite Yanks have been on a recent roll. The Angels are a balanced team that has been playing solid baseball. They most likely won't win 100 games like they did last season, but they will win more than enough. They seem to have overcome the grief of losing their young pitcher in an auto crash.

Now at the halfway point, I would like to break down the challengers and make my predictions known. That brings to mind a quote from the late broadcaster, Harry Caray: "What does a mama bear on the pill have in common with the World Series? No Cubs!" In the NL Central, I feel that the Cubs, Brewers, Cardinals, Reds or Astros could win. Who will step up? My pick is St. Louis. They have a decent staff anchored by Chris Carpenter, and I feel that their big bats will be along in time. With Tony LaRussa at the helm they have an added edge. In the West, the Dodgers had that great start. Whether having Manny Ramirez back is a plus or minus is still up in the air. The Giants pitchers and batters have both heated up. I feel that the wild card will come out of this division. I'll stick with my early pick, the Giants, to win it. In the NL East, the defending MLB Champion Phillies have not been able to win at home. Once they start winning at home, they could walk-away with this division. The Florida Marlins have enough tools to stay close and contend for the wild card.

In the American League, all the divisions appear to be wide open. In the East, Boston and New York will always be neck\-to-neck. The defending AL Champion Tampa Bay Rays are still alive too. What makes them a threat is that they have no fear of the Red Sox and Yankees. However, I like both the Red Sox and Yankees to make the playoffs. Over in the Central , the Tigers and Twins will duke it out. Both have excellent managers, but neither team can win on the road. I'll select Detroit. The White Sox won't be a factor unless they go get themselves another front-line hurler. Out West, the Angels, as previously stated, will win it. Texas and Seattle have their fans excited, but will falter down the stretch.

I will take another peak once we hit September, but right now I like the Angels to beat Philadelphia for the World Series crown. source>>>