I guess the Hall of Fame wants everything

A press release from the Hall of Fame states that one of the items from the Yankees 2009 postseason now on display is Jorge Posada's catcher's mask with the note that Posada drove in 5 runs in the World Series.

I am missing something because the logical flaw in that seems just a bit too obvious.

Another reason baseball is better

I mean if it was Charlie Weis down there, well ok......but otherwise this is moronic.

To spend ANY time making a stuffed football player doll complete with Bears uniform and helmet and also decorating a stretcher in Vikings colors so people in Mardi Gras beads can step on it while holding an authentic Scandinavian Viking beer horn?

Go plant a tree or something.

Disclaimer: Tailgating is fun but you cannot defend this one. You just can't.

Which one do we get?

Hey, the Lansing Lugnuts, the Class A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, have named Sal Fasano as their new manager.

This is great. Everybody likes Sal.

Well, hold on a second, I guess. I wonder if the Lugnuts have a personal grooming policy prohibiting long hair and mustaches like the New York Yankees had at one time. If so, Sal probably has some work to do.

As a fan of the Lugnuts, I wonder who we will get.

"Sal" in the first picture or Sal Fasano in the bottom card.

I am hoping for "Sal".

Happy Birthday Sixto Lezcano!

Hey, I see that today is Sixto Lezcano's 56th birthday!

Oh, I remember Sixto Lezcano. Yes, I remember.

You see, when we were kids, we played pickup baseball all summer. LIKE ALL SUMMER. Every day. Actually, that movie, "The Sandlot" is a pretty good representation of a young teenage boy's life on the south side of Warren, Michigan in the early 1970's. We played at Ridgewood Field and started in the morning, came home for lunch, went back and played until dinner and sometimes went back after dinner.

Now during these very important games, prior to stepping to the plate, we would typically announce who we were be that Mickey Stanley, Rusty Staub, Ron Leflore or the immortal Al Kaline.

Just to shake things up, sometimes when I got to the plate, the player introduction would go something like this:

"Now batting, Sixto Leczano.

Who?

Sixto Lezcano. Pitch the ball!

He is not even on the Tigers, I don't think.

Pitch the ball!"

Now the result of that at-bat could be anything from a weak pop up to the catcher or a long fly ball over the fence into the neighbor's pool. That said, I know I hit better as "Sixto Lezcano" than any other major league player; and this includes Tigers. I don't know why. The ball just looked so much bigger to "Sixto Lezcano". I cannot explain it to this day. This was probably dumb luck obviously but it sure seemed like something unexplained was going on there.

Now Sixto Lezcano in "real life" was kind of a slap hitter and averaged only 11 home runs a year throughout his 13 year major league career. That is "real life". At Ridgewood Field, thirty-some years ago, "Sixto Lezcano" was a beast. The guy could rake. Kids swimming in that pool beyond that fence were just not safe when "Sixto Lezcano" came to the plate. The Sandlot had that mean old dog and we had the pool (but truth be told the kids over there usually threw the ball back without a problem). Anyway, I don't remember much about his fielding skills but "Sixto Lezcano" probably batted like .600 during his career at Ridgewood and if those houses were closer, probably would have broke more than his share of windows. The guy could bring it. And not even a Tiger.

So to one of the heroes of the Ridgewood sandlot "league", from one "Sixto" to another, I offer a hearty "Happy Birthday" to my inspirational friend, Sixto Lezcano.

Enjoy the day, Sixto! You made mine.

Joe Mauer enters the pantheon

From the St. Paul Pioneer Press who have an annoying habit of sometimes not crediting articles to particular writers:

"After being named the American League's most valuable player on Monday afternoon, Joe Mauer could have chosen any Twin Cities restaurant to celebrate with family and friends that evening and be royally received.

He chose Mancini's Char House in St. Paul."

"When proprietors Pat and John Mancini provided their high-end hors d'oeuvres of lobster ravioli and shrimp, Joe politely asked Pat if the Char House's regular meatballs and chicken wings appetizers were available.

And when the Mancinis provided a rich Italian tiramisu for dessert, Joe politely asked if there were any of their standard white-frosted cakes (available)...."

This guy is a god.*

(watches for stray lightning bolts)

*Yes I know that the bible says, "You shall have no other gods before me." but look at this guy!

Happy Thanksgiving and also a thank you!

A friend of mine who comes from a very large Italian family, sent me an email detailing their Thanksgiving menu today. In addition to the plain old turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes that we all get, for appetizers, they are having:

scamorza
provolone
prosciutto
salamitti
ravioli

Not fair! I wanna be Italian!*

Our car is just going to have to break down in that neighborhood today.

This is probably as good a time as any for me to thank all of the readers (commenters and lurkers) who have supported this humble little site over the last 11 months. Without you......well this site would still go on but nobody would read it. THANK YOU for being part of this!

Happy Thanksgiving!

*No, hey look, being of French-Canadian heritage (mostly) is pretty cool and all but look at that list!

The Marlins cannot afford to resign Kiko Calero. We need a salary cap now!

Barry Jackson's most recent column in the Miami Herald contains the following sentence:

"Among their top free agents, the Marlins are trying to re-sign Ross Gload but haven't made an offer to Nick Johnson and don't believe they can afford Kiko Calero."

A quick check confirms that Calero made $600,000 last year.

THE DUDE* MADE $600,000 LAST YEAR AND THE MARLINS DON"T THINK THEY CAN AFFORD HIM?!

Calero did have a nice year last year with a 1.95 ERA but he is 34 years old and has never made more than $1.6 million a year and this was years ago in his "prime".

He will just have to find a another team to pay him $700,000 or maybe even an even $1 million next year.

Forget a salary cap. When do we get a salary floor?

*He is so much of an afterthought that I cannot find a major league card for him so this prospect card will have to do.

Why would someone like Jose Guillen have any type of no-trade clause in his contract?

According to Adam Rubin at the New York Daily News, Kansas City outfielder, Jose Guillen would be willing to waive his partial no-trade clause if the Royals would trade him to the Mets.

Said Guillen:

"If trading me would help the Royals, New York would be one of the clubs I would approve. I have just started a rigorous program of winter training in order to arrive in the best form possible for spring training. My mind is focused on having a great season next year and until now I believed that would be with the Royals. It would be a little unjust if they judge me for the statistics of this year, because the injuries did not allow me to play, but I have shown that when I am healthy I can produce a lot."

This is absurd.

Why would you ever give someone like Jose Guillen any kind of no-trade clause in his contract? Don't you save these for guys that are like, "good".

With an inconsistent malcontent like Guillen it should be more like, "This is your contract. If you don't like it, go somewhere else." That contract surely should not have any type of no-trade clause in it.

Who else on the Royals has a no-trade contract?

Mike Aviles?

Willie Bloomquist?

Kyle Farnsworth?

JOSE GUILLEN HAS A PARTIAL NO-TRADE CONTRACT!

I am still trying to clear my head on this. Sorry.

Remember when the Twins got criticized for taking Joe Mauer over Mark Prior with the #1 pick in 2001?

Mark Prior had all the "Tools of the Trade" and the Twins blew it by passing on him and picking some local kid.

Ummm....maybe not.

Joe Mauer is the A.L. MVP for all but one

Congratulations to Joe Mauer who was elected the A. L. Most Valuable Player for 2009 gathering 27 of 28 first place votes.

Unfortunately, Joe will be unable to tell his grandkids that he was a unanimous winner because Keizo Konishi of the Kyodo News voted for a guy who showed up drunk, scratched and scarred for a crucial series game after spending the night in the pokey for....well nobody really knows but it couldn't have been good.

(shaking head in disgust)

I would say this to Mr. Konishi.

If you are going to try and "act out" like this, don't do it half-way. Heck, don't do anything half-way. Really go for it. Like REALLY REALLY go for it.

You see, Miguel Cabrera had a pretty good year but he was not nearly as good as Joe Mauer so due to the fact that Cabrera did have a nice year, some people might think that you seriously considered your ballot and then voted for Cabrera. We know that this is not what happened and frankly you left the wrong impression with your vote.

If you really truly wanted to "act out" and wear the clown suit here, you should have voted for Kyle Farnsworth, Jason Kendall or Brad Lidge. That I can appreciate but um....not what you did. You really need to refine your technique a bit so people are not confused as to what you are really trying to do.

Work on this next year, ok?

Another reason why baseball is better

There really is no off-season with Ozzie

Before and after pictures of Bobby Jenks.

Per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, Ozzie Guillen and Bobby Jenks are at odds with regards to the closer's weight. This follows a premature ending to Jenks' season on September 22 due to a calf injury and Jenks' opinion that Guillen was being overly critical of his conditioning.

Says Jenks:

"Did I feel I was being picked on? No. But I felt I was the easy scapegoat because I had struggled in the end with some nagging injuries. This organization, just like most in the game, tell you, 'Come in, our door is open and tell us what's on your mind.' And when you do, they turn it around on you and make you feel bad. They're playing on your words. They want you to come in, be honest and then they turn it around."

Ozzie's retort (well some of it):

"Bobby is always going to have the problem that when he doesn't perform, fans think he's hurt or out of shape. Bobby has to stay in shape if he wants to play for the White Sox. That goes with any player. I don't know where this is coming from."

"The first time I told him he was overweight, I told him to his face. When you have that size, you don't perform, all of a sudden you have weight problems. He can't deny that his weight is a concern. Come on, he's a big man."

"He's not on an island. He has his manager backing him up. But his manager will always be honest. Right now, that kid is going to carry that cross the rest of his career because of his size. Even when he's in shape, he looks like he's not in shape."

I know one thing and that is there is no such thing as "behind closed doors" or "keep it in house" in Ozzie's world. He doesn't go for any of that. Not Ozzie.

If I was Jenks, as much as I probably would not want to, I think I would do the diet and exercise thing. If he doesn't, Ozzie is going to embarrass the hell out of him in the press after every blown save or dl stint next year.

Who needs that?

If I was Bobby, I think I would call my shoe representative and tell him to also bring a pair of running shoes when he makes his next delivery of cleats. Yea, it is a pain but the alternative is Ozzie.*

Oh, and lay off the Taco Bell too.

Most people don't get that big that fast without Taco Bell, you know.

*I saw a confidential poll last year of major league players who were asked what manager they would least like to play for. Guess who won in a landslide?

Mr. Popularity

From the St. Paul Pioneer Press:*

"Females of assorted ages lined up hoping to get a dance with Minnesota's most eligible bachelor, Twins catcher Joe Mauer, at pal Tony Leseman's wedding reception the other day at Macalester College. Two dozen former Gophers baseball teammates of Leseman's attended."

Yep, until Joe gets married, the days of him standing in the corner at weddings with his buddies getting hammered are probably over.

Too much money potentially available for the right person.

I bet his identical twin had nobody to dance with all night.

*No reporter puts their name to this gossip column which I can understand as I guess that can be a career killer.

Josh, did you sign off on this one?

While I know that as a member of the players union, unless you opt out like Barry Bonds and strike your own deal with the card companies, you pretty much must allow your image to be used by the card companies for their cards.

Usually, no problem.

That said, I have to believe that Topps and Upper Deck can't just do ANYTHING with a player's image and I would think that the players do not have to pose for ANY type of shot that they don't feel comfortable with or allow the card companies to do something with the image that.......well flat out makes them look ridiculous.

If all that is true, how do you explain this one?

Let's hear it for men!

Did you know that today is International Men's Day? Look it up!

International Men's Day is an annual international event celebrated on November 19th. It was inaugurated in 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago and highlights discrimination against men* and also celebrates men's achievements and contributions. International Mens' Day is celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Australia, India, United States (I could have sworn that we had mail service today), Singapore, United Kingdom, Malta, South Africa, Hungary and Canada.**

Something like this is sorely needed if you ask me. Men just don't get enough recognition. We are not perfect, I know. After all, Bud Selig and Alex Rodriguez are men but what about the other 2.5 billion of us.

As men, we should be forever vigilant in our quest for respect and equality. If we keep fighting, maybe one day, just maybe, we could have a man President of the United States. What a milestone that would be! Can you imagine? Close your eyes and dream.

In business, let's hope for a day when there are no more glass ceilings for men. I bet men would make great CEOs. Give them a chance.

In the religious sphere, maybe, just maybe, one day we could have a man priest. Don't stop there. Maybe one day a man could be the Pope! You never know.

I know that some of this stuff seems a long way off but if we as men stay vigilant and keep fighting for this very important cause through events like International Men's Day, there there is no telling what we can achieve.

Onwards and upwards, men!

*There is widespread discrimination against men? I was completely unaware.

**Wikipedia

Long-haired freaky people

So Tim Lincecum has won his second straight Cy Young Award.

Congratulations Tim! Considering your recent legal troubles, I bet you cannot celebrate the same way that you did last year but I am sure you will think of something.

Anyway, the voting results were as follows:

Tim Lincecum - 100 points (11 first place votes)
Chris Carpenter - 94 points (9 first place votes)
Adam Wainwright - 90 points (12 first place votes)

As you can see, Tim won by just a hair.

If it was by a nose or a whisker, I don't think he wins.

But if it is by a hair, he will win that every time.

Yelled through a megaphone in Montreal

Hey!

How did you get up there?

What are you standing on?

DO NOT MOVE!

We have the fire department on the way.

DO NOT MOVE!

Happy Birthday Gary! Umm...ok, forget it, then.

Hey, today is Gary Sheffield's 41st birthday!

Now this would normally merit a "Happy Birthday Gary" from the crew here but I bet he would take offense.

Oh well, I don't want to get on his bad side or anything so let's just consider Sheffield's birthday NOT acknowledged.

Not taking any chances here.

Dock Ellis' no-hitter

Over at Slanchreport.com, they are publicizing an online petition they have put together asking MLB network to air footage of the no-hitter that Dock Ellis threw on June 12, 1970 against the San Diego Padres. This is the infamous game where Dock Ellis allegedly pitched while under the influence of LSD.

I know that it is pretty universally accepted that Ellis did throw this no-hitter while tripping on acid but frankly I still have nagging doubts about the veracity of this claim.

As background, here are some quotes from Dock Ellis from Wikipedia on his condition while pitching that game, "The ball was small sometimes, the ball was large sometimes, sometimes I saw the catcher, sometimes I didn't. Sometimes I tried to stare the hitter down and throw while looking at him. I chewed my gum until it turned to powder. I started having a crazy idea in the fourth inning that Richard Nixon was the home umpire, and once I thought I was pitching a baseball to Jimi Hendrix, who to me was holding a guitar and swinging it over the plate."

Whoa!

Do you know how hard it is pitch a no-hitter sober? Dock Ellis pitched one in this condition? If we take him at his word, he thought he was pitching to Jim Hendrix with a guitar and Richard Nixon was calling balls and strikes. Was Spiro Agnew catching? Was Jim Croce on deck?

I want to believe this because it is such a great story but I am a little skeptical. How awful were the Padres that day to get no-hit by a guy having an acid trip? Have you ever seen that Woodstock movie? Do you think those people could throw a baseball....... or even bat around a beach ball? Some of them are still coming down.

Actually, there is a better Dock Ellis game that the MLB network could show.

In 1974, Dock Ellis thought that the Pirates had lost their aggressiveness that drove them to three straight division titles from 1970 to 1972 and were intimidated by the Cincinnati "Big Red Machine". Dock Ellis was determined to do something about it.

"Cincinnati will bulls..t with us and kick our ass and laugh at us. They're the only team that talk about us like a dog. We gonna get down. We gonna do the do. I'm going to hit those mother.....rs."*

On May 1, 1974, Dock Ellis attempted to hit every batter in the Reds lineup. He hit Pete Rose who led off the game, then Joe Morgan and then Dan Driessen who followed. He then threw at clean-up hitter, Tony Perez who was successful in avoiding the beanballs and Perez took a walk. Johnny Bench then came up and saw two pitches right at his head. Ellis then was removed from the game by manager, Danny Murtaugh.

And Ellis did all of this (presumably) without dropping any acid!

That is the game I want to see. You only have to watch a half-inning of it too.

The MLB network should make it happen.

*baseballreliquary.org/ellis.htm

Conor Jackson had "valley fever"?

I try and stay up on things. I really do. I think I know my share of stuff. I can hold my own.

Usually.

I just read that Conor Jackson* of the Diamondbacks missed the last 5 months of last season due to his contracting "valley fever"** which (I had to look this up because I do not live near a valley) is an illness caused by breathing fungi in desert soils in the Southwest.

I have never heard of "valley fever" before.

Valley fever. Hmmph.

You know, I have to believe that this constitutes a serious competitive disadvantage for the Diamondbacks simply by virtue of their geography. Can you say, "not fair"?

How do you avoid valley fever? You have to breathe, you know.

How did the Diamondbacks overcome valley fever to win the World Series in 2001?

Is that why Randy Johnson wanted out (twice)?

Is that why their stadium is domed? Or is just too darned hot.

Now that I think about it, the Phoenix Coyotes have never really been very good. They draw like 6000-7000 people a game. Even Wayne Gretzky couldn't make it work there.

You know why, don't you?

*The bat above kind of looks photoshopped (look at the barrel). Why would you need to do this? Players walk around with these things all the time.

**If I am the brilliant scientist that discovered this illness, I am pissed. Look, if you discover a disease, you at least want the thing to be named after you. This one looks like it was run through a committee or something and out came "valley fever". Pitiful.

Sheena is....no, no, no, the Indians bullpen coach is a punk rocker

AP reports that new Indians manager, Manny Acta has added three coaches to his staff, one of which is Scott Radinsky as bullpen coach.

Of course, baseball really is a side job for Radinsky taking a back seat to his duties as lead singer for the punk rock band, Pulley.

Now what do baseball and punk rock have in common?

(thinking)

Not much that I can see. I like them both but I might be the only one.

Tell you what though. Take a look at those Pulley dudes in the background of that concert.

If Radinsky can mold those guys into a functioning whole, just think what he can do for the Indians bullpen.

Ken Rosenthal says the Tigers need to trade Miguel Cabrera

Ok, it is no secret that the Tigers have put Curtis Granderson, Edwin Jackson, Gerald Laird and Brandon Inge on the trading block because of payroll considerations.

Further, Placido Polanco, Fernando Rodney and perhaps Brandon Lyon will not be resigned for the same reason.

Now Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports says the Tigers should move Miguel Cabrera to free up some salary.

You know the Tigers once had a pretty good team. Like as recently as well.....last year.

It was all McGwire's fault. Now pay us!

Per Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune, Matt Holliday's agent, Scott Boras says that Mark McGwire was to blame for Holliday's horrid first part of 2009. Boras says Holliday's slow start for the A's last spring was due to swing changes McGwire made with Holliday during offseason coaching sessions the two had.

"After five weeks (Holliday) went back to his old stance," Boras said. "From that point on, he was the same player he always has been."

He says all this at the same time he wants the Cardinals to sign Holliday to a long-term $22.5 million a year contract.

These are the same Cardinals that just hired Mark McGwire as their hitting coach.

You can't make this stuff up.

Chan Ho Park says he must be a starter

Per Reuters, 36-year-old free agent relief pitcher Chan Ho Park says he must be starting pitcher next year for a major league team.

"I want to be a starter, the hero of the game. I need a favorable environment to play better. I put priority on a team which has a good atmosphere, gives me a starter role and can advance to the World Series."

Chan Ho Park as a starter? That seems a little crazy but I have an open mind so let's check this out.

Let's look at his yearly ERA while he was a starter:

2002 - 5.75
2003 - 7.58
2004 - 5.46
2005 - 5.74
2006 - 4.81
2007, 2008 & 2009 - No team dared to start him regularly and some years not at all.

I am convinced. He can do it.

How much do you want to be paid? Too much is not enough.

Just let us know.

Do not invest in Angel Villalona cards! Sell now!

Yea, like those above.

Per AP, Giants top prospect, Angel Villalona has had his visa revoked by the U. S. Embassy. It seems that he allegedly killed somebody* in the Dominican Republic but was eventually let out of jail after the family of the man he allegedly killed agreed not to prosecute the case after allegedly being offered $140,000 by Villalona.**

Sell any of his cards that you may have. You can't make money there. You just can't.

*"It is his own (Villalona's) fault!" - Computer Boy

**No comment on the payoff figure but Villalona did get a $2.1 million signing bonus.

Hey Boras! How do the Cardinals pay Holliday what you want if they have to pay Pujols later?

According to ESPN.com, Scott Boras is talking with the Cardinals regarding free agent outfielder, Matt Holliday and apparently will not give a specific demand but keeps referencing Mark Teixeira's contract and comparing Holliday to Teixeira. Teixeira has an eight-year, $180 million contract. In other words, $22.5 million a year.

We're talking Matt Holliday here.

Yea, that Matt Holliday.

Hey Scott Boras! Albert Pujols is twice as good as Matt Holliday* and the Cardinals will need to deal with him soon and I don't see them paying Albert $45 million a year so you need to sit down. You know in that chair with all the splinters. Look, I know that you are pissed that you don't have a marquee name player in this year's free agent crop but that is just the way it is. Some people have off years, you know. Take your commission on the $17-18 million a year on this one and move on.

*That dropped ball in the playoffs sure doesn't help things either.

Tigers taking offers for Granderson

Ok, it is no secret now that the Tigers have put Curtis Granderson up on the trading block apparently due to payroll considerations. This is due in part to the Tigers giving very generous long-term contracts to unproductive (being kind here) veteran players.

Here are just two reactions from baseball writers around the country to Granderson's availability.

Phil Rogers from the Chicago Tribune in an article titled "Chicago Cubs must pursue Curtis Granderson": "But if the Tigers really are willing to trade the 28-year-old Granderson, a guy with old-school baseball skills and leadership traits off the charts, then the Cubs must do everything possible to get him."

Steven Goldman from the popular Pinstriped Bible blog in an entry titled "Pant, Pant, Pant: Curtis Granderson is in the wind": "One would hope Mr. Cashman is salivating about now. The chance to add a 30-home run guy in center field doesn't come along too often."

Yes, Steven, for good reason and that is because teams keep those guys.

So after so many years of having a clearly deficient (and that is being kind) minor league system, the Tigers finally begin developing and cultivating home-grown talent and then (well soon) let them go because they somehow allowed their finances to get out of control (and it's not like these contracts were signed under duress by the Tigers). Not a great business plan if you ask me.

That catch above? Well, it was incredible.

Computer Boy and I were there and got to witness it first-hand.

(Sigh)

Scott Boras knows genetics

Per Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, this is agent Scott Boras on his client, Johnny Damon:

"His durability is off the charts. Chronological age does not have anything to do with a player of his genetics. Certainly you have to look at the Yankees' history and what they've paid players of his like age who maybe did not have his genetics."*

Evolution apparently worked particularly well for Johnny Damon or so says Scott Boras.

I am going to have to get on Boras' subscription list. This stuff is so bad, it's good.

I would like to see some more.

*Well, then why can't he throw? What's with that gene?

Shane Victorino earned that gold glove

He caught that ball in Chicago while being doused with beer from that thug in the stands.

I'm down with this award.

Let's see Jeter do that.

Sammy says he's not a racist

Sammy Sosa says he is only using a "bleaching cream" to soften his skin and is not trying to change his pigmentation.

He further told ESPN Deportes, "I'm not a racist."

I don't know that anybody called him a racist. Ar least, not that I heard.

We just thought he looked a little weird and the last guy that tried this; well things didn't work out so well for him.

You know, like learn from the mistakes of others. That kind of thing.

Good year for Edwin Jackson! Get rid of him then.

FoxSports.com is reporting that the Detroit Tigers are putting pitcher, Edwin Jackson on the trade market to "alleviate (its) payroll crunch." Jackson made $2.2 million last year and is arbitration-eligible and likely would get around $5 million through the arbitration process. ($5 million for a quality starting pitcher! You've got to do something about that!)

Jackson was 13-9 last year and had a 3.62 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. Without him, the Tigers are not playing in Game 163 for a shot at the playoffs.

The Tigers apparently cannot keep such an affordable quality starting pitcher because they must keep the following 2009 underachievers who are on the back-end of long-term contracts:

Dontrelle Willis: 1-4, 7.49 ERA, 1.93 WHIP*, ($12 million due in 2010)
Nate Robertson: 2-3, 5,44 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, ($7 million due in 2010)
Jeremy Bonderman: 0-1, 8.71 ERA, 2.32 WHIP** ($12.5 million due to 2010)

Isn't that special?

And just how much are our season tickets going to increase next year?

* A 1.93 WHIP!
** The Tigers really got it going on with WHIP! Almost 2.5 runners an inning!

The guy has enough hardware, ok?

Derek Jeter wins another gold glove?!

No, really. It's in the papers.

How does something like this happen AGAIN?

This is not going to be easy but let's try and figure it out.

Is it because he catches balls hit right to him?

Is it because he is a good hitter?

Is it because he sometimes jumps when he throws?

Is it because he is a good hitter?

Is it because they haven't moved him yet to center field so he must be good?

Is it because he is a good hitter?

Is it because I once heard an ecstatic John Sterling say that Derek Jeter is the bestest shortstop ever because he is so good at catching pop-ups in shallow left field? I heard him say it! Check the tape.

Is it because he is a good hitter?

Is it because he tries real hard on balls hit to his left that get to the outfield?

Is it because he is a good hitter?

I am definitely leaning towards one of these.

Rule #1: Stay away from divorcing people

The Boston Globe has reported that 15 more Dodger employees who were thought loyal to ousted owner/wife Jamie McCourt have been fired.

The moral of that story is don't get too cushy with the owner's wife because the owner might divorce her one day and then she may claim that SHE really owns the team and you will be fired along with her.

If she comes around the office being friendly wanting to chat, just tell her that you are busy. Tell her that you are working on that "Who's your Manny?" promotion or something.

You gotta make sure she keeps walking and doesn't hang around.

Job security, you know.

Jon and (maybe) Kate plus Shane

TMZ has reported that reality television star, Jon Gosselin is flying to Hawaii this weekend to attend the wedding of Phillies outfielder, Shane Victorino.

Hmmm.

Well, what does the wedding invitation say anyway?

Are kids invited?

How about the belligerent estranged spouse?

Can they bring their camera crews?

I don't know, Shane. Do you want to be upstaged at your own wedding?

Did you run all this by your wedding planner?

Does Milton Bradley just need a "quiet" city?

Bruce Miles of the Chicago Daily Herald says that the Cubs are looking to trade Milton Bradley to Toronto with the thought that Bradley could thrive in the "quiet environs" there.

Anything is possible I guess but I think that this has already been tried before.

Arlington (attempted to attack a Kansas City Royals television commentator), San Diego (injured during an altercation with an umpire) and Cleveland (too many problems to mention) are considered "quiet" cities.* Well, before Milton got there anyway.

*I left off Los Angeles and Chicago; allegedly "unquiet" cities where Milton also did not do well.

Real baseball meets fantasy baseball

Last week at the ESPN Zone near Washingtom DC, four fantasy baseball league winners were able to meet, have dinner and discuss baseball (both the real and fantasy varieties) with Nationals manager, Jim Riggleman. Apparently the fantasy baseball winners talked with Riggleman about the World Series, free agents, the coaching staff and life in professional baseball. They also explained to Riggleman how fantasy baseball works and hopefully Riggleman was just not listening to be polite.

The event sounds kind of interesting if not maybe a little odd.

Well, anyway, above is a photo of Riggleman and a fantasy baseball guy from that night.

You will probably not need more than one guess to determine who is Riggleman and who is the fantasy baseball guy.

Just sayin.

It wasn't just confetti!

Per AP, that wasn't just confetti being thrown out of office windows in Manhattan during the Yankees "ticker-tape" parade Friday. It seems that files and documents were being tossed out the windows as well.

Auditor, Damien Salo who attended the parade said he found all sorts of personal financial documents being thrown from the skyscrapers along the parade route including pay stubs, banking data, law firm memos and some court files.

This is classic; using the parade as an excuse for some spring.......um well fall cleaning. Just empty all the trash cans out the window. Why not? It beats shredding the stuff which of course is not free.

There probably were other motives too.

"Hey! You know those sensitive documents that would be so damaging if that client ever sued us?

Well, I see an open window and a "ticker-tape" parade going on outside.

Get busy!"

Is Sammy Sosa doing a Michael Jackson thing?

David Brown of Yahoo Sports posted the above recent photo of Sammy Sosa and his wife at the Latin Grammys in Las Vegas.

What the...?

Is Sammy Sosa going white? If not, he should sue that photographer for messing with that photo.

Look at that picture and then look at that card.* I think that guy is doing something.

We are going to need to watch his nose and chin in the years to come.

If he starts dangling kids over balconies or having sleeping problems, we know where this is headed.

*I bet Sammy did not meet his wife until after the photo on that card was taken. She seems like a "you are not looking that way around me" kind of gal.

You gotta be pretty happy to lay in garbage in the middle of the street

Moral of the story

Don't stop while driving in a parade.

Smile, waive, blow kisses, throw tootsie rolls but your driver should NOT stop!*

Lay on the horn, man!

*On second look, his driver must be taking a leak or something.

Why did they trade for him?

Now that the Pirates have traded for infielder, Akinori Iwamura from the Rays, Iwamura who makes $4.85 million a year becomes the highest paid player on the Pirates.

That salary just cannot be acceptable to the Pirates.

I suspect that he will get traded shortly for prospects and maybe a bag of baseballs.

If I was Iwamura, I would not even look for an apartment. I wouldn't waste the security deposit.

Tim Lincecum, we know what you did on your.....well winter vacation

Per Scott Hewitt of the Vancouver Columbian, Tim Lincecum is facing charges for misdemeanor possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia after being stopped for speeding on Interstate 5 in Washington last week.*

Apparently on October 30th, Lincecum was driving his 2006 Mercedes-Benz 74 mph in a 60 mph zone. (Not with pot in the car, man!)The police officer smelled marijuana after Lincecum rolled down his window and asked Lincecum to hand it over at which time Tim gave him a small pouch containing 3.3 grams of pot and a pipe. He was then cited and released.

Ok, first off, this is obviously not the crime of the century and I am not at all "outraged" or even mildly bent out of shape regarding this. I grew up in the 70's so....

I also know that it is not proper to judge somebody solely by their appearance.

That said, how many people that have that type of Beatles mop are not taking something on the illegal side.

Not making any judgements but Beatles haircut = something going on.

I am a parent. My kids (with short hair) sometimes hang out at skate parks. I just know these things.

*Do reporters randomly go through police reports hoping to find something interesting or do they (I am guessing that this is more likely) have to be tipped off to this type of stuff? Just wondering.

How 'bout now?