Minor League Baseball Brawl
The Boston Red Sox minor league Single-A affiliate the Greenville Drive like to fight. Last night the Drive got into a baseball brawl with the Charleston River Dogs, who happen to be the minor league affiliate of none other than the New York Yankees.
Apparently this rivalry stretches not only down from the bigs but to that of Yankees first-round pick Slade Heathcott, who weeks ago was hit by Red Sox prospect Miguel Celestino. That lead Heathcott turning around after just the second pitch of the game and brawl it out with catcher Christian Vazquez.
This isn’t the first time the Drive have made this website for brawling, if you remember back on September 10, 2010 we posted another one of their brawls, and that time against the Lakewood BlueClaws a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate.
Diddy Plans Lavish Celebration For Civil Rights Game This Weekend
Money, Power, Respect That's What You Steal In Life
Sean “Diddy” Combs is making a splash at this weekend’s MLB Civil Rights Game Weekend in Atlanta as he announced plans to celebrate the event with an exclusive Sean John gifting suite for active and retired baseball players and prominent guests on Friday and Saturday.
His party suite is expected to see attendees that include the likes of Morgan Freeman, Al Roker, Al Sharpton, Carlos Santana, Jesse Jackson, Harry Belafonte, John Lewis and Martin Sapp. The high-profile guests in attendance are set to sign memorabilia that is to be sold with proceeds donated to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation.
The Civil Rights Game was started in 2007 to honor the legacy of civil rights in America; the culmination of this year’s four-day weekend will be the Civil Rights Game on Sunday, which will be played between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves. Players from both teams will get a “Sean John Warm-Up Pack,” which includes a lightweight jacket and a pair of the line’s new socks.
“I am a huge fan of baseball and feel honored to participate in a weekend where we are acknowledging those who fight for equal rights,” Combs said. “We decided that to reward these truly amazing athletes we would provide them with Sean John apparel and fragrances. It is a privilege for us at Sean John to take part in this remarkable experience.”
Philadelphia Phillies Kevin Frandsen Suspended 50 Games For Ritalin
It's Working
Philadelphia Phillies minor league second baseman Kevin Frandsen was suspended 50 games after testing positive for Ritalin which is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder but is also a methylphenidatem. Frandsen, who is on the roster of the Triple-A team in Lehigh Valley IronPigs, tested positive for Ritalinic Acid, according to the office of the commissioner.
Last season, Frandsen hit .321 with 3 home runs.
Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player: Francisco Liriano & Justin Verlander
Francisco Liriano & Justin Verlander
Every Tuesday Sports Grind Entertainment presents you with the Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player of the Week. This week the recipient of this prestigious honor goes to Minnesota Twins Francisco Liriano and Detroit Tigers Justin Verlander for each throwing a no-hitter this past week. Liriano threw his no-hitter on Tuesday night on the road against the Chicago White Sox for the franchise seventh and his first. Verlander threw his no-hitter also on the road in Canada against the Toronto Blue Jays which also was the Tigers seventh but his second of his career. Verlander’s second no-hitter puts him along with White Sox’s Mark Buehrle and Philadelphia Phillies Roy Halladay as the only active pitchers with more than one.
Liriano entered his start with a 1-4 record and an 9.13 ERA, he went on to walk six and strikeout two to lower his ERA to 6.61. His two strikeouts in a no-hitter are the fewest though since Jerry Reuss did so with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1980. It’s also the first no-hitter by a Twins pitcher since Eric Milton threw one back on September 11, 1999.
Verlander only struck out four in his second career no-hitter Saturday, compared to 12 punchouts in his first one in 2007. Prior to either of his no-hitters, the last Tigers pitcher to throw one was Jack Morris, who did back on April 7, 1984.
Congratulations Francisco Liriano and Justin Verlander you are this weeks Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player.
WTF: Philadelphia Philles Fan
- Oscar Why Are You Such A Grouch?
Take a Philadelphia Phillies fan add alcohol and finally mix in the fact that above all its Philly then you get a human version of Oscar the Grouch at Citizens Bank Park.
Former MLB Player Lenny Dykstra Indicted In Bankruptcy Fraud Case
Hard Times
Back on April 16, we posted the report of former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Lenny Dykstra being charged with a federal bankruptcy crime. Now Dykstra has been indicted by a Los Angeles federal grand jury the bankruptcy fraud case which if convicted of all charges could face 80 years in prision. The 48-year-old filed for bankruptcy in 2009 and is accused of later stealing and selling property from an $18.5 million estate.
Federal prosecutors brought 13 counts against Dykstra, including bankruptcy fraud, obstruction of justice, concealing property from the bankruptcy estate and other charges. Dykstra is accused of moving an oven, chandeliers and other lighting fixtures out of his estate and into storage after filing for bankruptcy and lying about the true value of his bankruptcy estate so he could keep profiting from it at the expense of creditors and other stakeholders.
Philadelphia Phillies Nativity Scene Casts Cliff Lee As Baby Jesus
Sweet Jesus
This fan designed item know as “Baby Leeus” that featured Philadelphia Phillies Cliff Lee as Baby Jesus surrounded by team general manager Ruben Amaro Jr, Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt, each of whom signed the photo fetched $3,500 at Richie Ashburn/Harry Kalas Foundation Dinner.
News Of Osama Bin Laden’s Death Occurs During Mets & Phillies Game
Where were you the moment you found out about Osama Bin Laden’s death?
I was sitting on my couch taking in the ESPN Sunday Night baseball game featuring the New York Mets against the Philadelphia Phillies and this is how I found out. It ended up changing my night all together as I ditched the game, flipped over to few major news outlets, watched President Obama’s speech, jumped on Twitter to see reaction from around the country, and then hit the bars of San Antonio to live the moment with my fellow Americans.
“I’ve never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure.” – Mark Twain
Oh, by the way the Mets won 2-1 in the 14th inning.
Charlie Sheen Bails Former MLB Player Lenny Dykstra Out Of Jail
Wild Thing
Charlie Sheen has paid $22,500 to bail former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Lenny “Nails” Dykstra out of jail. Dykstra, who was charged earlier this month with bankruptcy fraud, was held on $150,000 bail for nearly a week until Sheen put forward 15 percent of the payment. Sheen, a huge baseball fan said,
“The rendition guilty trolls that kidnapped my dear friend Nails clearly forgot that he’s a fellow Vatican assassin and his best pal is a warlock.”
Dykstra has previously come to Sheen’s aid, hiring a top lawyer to negotiate the troubled actor’s return to Two and a Half Men after he was fired from the sitcom in March.
Prosecutors claim that Dykstra sold $400,000 worth of items from his $18 million mansion in southern California without permission and faces up to five years in a federal prison if convicted. As well as fraud charges the former three-time All-Star was being investigated by the LAPD for lewd conduct after a woman claimed he stripped off and requested a massage when he interviewed her for a housekeeper role.
Philadelphia Phillies Fans Boo Robot Pitcher
Yesterday, we posted the report that a robot would be throwing out the first pitch in Philadelphia before the Phillies took on the Milwaukee Brewers as part of Science Day festivities at Citizens Bank Park. The one-armed, three-wheeled robot, designed by engineers at the University of Pennsylvania, designed by Penn engineers Jordan Brindza and Jamie Gewirtz, named PhillieBot didn’t get a warm reception especially after it’s pitch bounce on its way to home plate.
Robot To Throw Out First Pitch At Philadelphia Phillies Game
Hey Laserlips Your Mama Was A Snowblower
It appears Number 5 is really alive and the Philadlephia Phillies fans will see first hand on Wednesday in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers. That’s because a one-armed, three-wheeled robot, designed by engineers at the University of Pennsylvania, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch as part of Science Day festivities at Citizens Bank Park.
The pitching robot has been in the makings for a month and a half as Penn engineers Jordan Brindza and Jamie Gewirtz assembled parts and wrote software in their spare time. PhillieBot is the robots name and with a press of a button throw is expected to throw the ball around 30 or 40 miles an hour which looks to be right around the same velocity as Phillies closer Brad Lidge.
Former MLB Player Lenny Dykstra Arrested With Bankruptcy Fraud
Hard Times
Former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Lenny Dykstra was arrested for investigation of grand theft, a day after he was charged with a federal bankruptcy crime. Dykstra, 48, was arrested Thursday night by Los Angeles police at his Encino home on suspicion of trying to buy a stolen car and remained in jail Friday. His arrest came a day after Dykstra, in an unrelated federal complaint, was charged with embezzling from a bankruptcy estate. He faces up to five years in federal prison if convicted.
Dykstra, who bought a Ventura County mansion once owned by hockey star Wayne Gretzky, filed for bankruptcy in 2009, claiming that he owed more than $31 million and had only $50,000 in assets. Federal prosecutors contend that after filing, Dykstra hid, sold or destroyed more than $400,000 worth of items from the $18.5 million mansion without permission of a bankruptcy trustee. The items allegedly ranged from sports memorabilia to a $50,000 sink. At one point, he sold “a truckload of furnishing and fixtures” for cash at a consignment store.
Philadelphia Phillies Ryan Madson’s Wife Hates Phillies Fans
She Hates You
Philadelphia Phillies bullpen pitcher Ryan Madson plays in the city with the most jackass fans in all of sports but he can’t really call them out as he makes his living there. However it’s a slightly different story for his wife Sarah Madson, who recently came out and expressed her displeasure with Phillie fans at a charity event.
“I hate the fans. It is bad enough that they bother us during the season, but they will not leave us alone in December when we go out to eat. We stayed here during the off season last year, but we will be going to California this year. There must be something particularly bad about Phillies fans because all the players leave in the off season.”
It’s bad enough that she doesn’t even hedge her distaste for the fans, but then she tries to drag the other players under the bus. Just hope her husband can stomach the showers of boos he’ll face next time he gives up four or five runs in an inning in front of the home fans
MLB Predictions
Est. 1869
What’s lies ahead in the 2011 Major League Baseball season, well no one knows for sure but Opening Day is upon us and it’s time to roll out a few predictions. I can only hope to match last year when I picked the San Francisco Giants to win it all and then right before the World Series started calling it over in five games, which had a few local industry folk laughing at the gesture cause it was against their beloved Texas Rangers.
If you happened to listen to our live show a week ago then you already heard a few of these but a few have been added before today’s first pitch. So here I go (wish Calvin Casey and Rudy J would have participated).
Enjoy opening day, enjoy the season. I know I will.
American League East winner:
Boston Red Sox
American League Central winner:
Chicago White Sox
American League West winner:
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
American League Wild-Card winner:
New York Yankees
American League Pennant winner:
Boston Red Sox
National League East winner:
Philadelphia Phillies
National League Central winner:
Cincinnati Reds
National League West winner:
San Francisco Giants
National League Wild-Card winner:
Milwaukee Brewers
National League Pennant winner:
Cincinnati Reds
American League Surprise team:
Detroit Tigers
American League Disappointing team:
Tampa Bay Rays
National League Surprise team:
Pittsburgh Pirates
National League Disappointing team:
St. Louis Cardinals
American League Rookie of the Year:
Kyle Drabek, Toronto Blue Jays
National League Rookie of the Year:
Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds
American League Manger of the Year:
John Farrell, Toronto Blue Jays
National League Manager of the Year:
Dusty Baker, Cincinnati Reds
American League MVP:
Carlos Quentin, Chicago White Sox*
National League MVP
Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers
American League Cy Young Award:
Dan Haren, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
National League Cy Young Award:
Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
*indicates changed from on-air pick
Philadelphia Phillies Jamie Moyer To Join ESPN Baseball Tonight
Phil Niekro Reincarnated
While Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer isn’t officially retired he will spend his time this season as an analyst for ESPN’s Baseball Tonight. At 48, Moyer hopes to pitch again in 2012 after having surgery in December to replace a ligament in his elbow that he suffered while pitching in the Dominican Winter Leagues. Moyer has 267 pitching wins over 24 MLB seasons.
Moyer says he has hasn’t exactly been planning on a TV career: “It’s been mentioned that I’d do well, blah, blah. And as a player, you never know when your last year will be. And I’m not convinced I’ve had my last day. Why just sit back this year and do nothing but rehab? Why not see how I like this business and this business likes me?”
I just may have to reconsider my viewership of ESPN’s Baseball Tonight with this addition.
Derek Jeter & Joe Mauer Lead MLB As Best Selling Jerseys
Maxim's Top 100
Derek Jeter, Joe Mauer and Roy Halladay top the list of most popular MLB player jerseys heading into the new 2011 season.
The New York Yankees shortstop, Minnesota Twins catcher and Philadelphia Phillies pitching ace rank 1-3 on the list released Wednesday by MLB and the MLB Players Association. The rankings are based on sales of official Majestic jerseys during the 2010 calendar year.
The Phillies boast three players in the Top 10 while the Yankees have two. Here’s the list: 1) Jeter 2) Mauer 3) Halladay 4) Chase Utley, Phillies 5) Cliff Lee, Phillies 6) Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals 7) Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers 
Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox 9) Alex Rodriguez, Yankees 10) Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants.
The Yankees sell the most licensed merchandise among MLB clubs. The Red Sox are second and the Los Angeles Dodgers rank third. Here’s the Top 10 list by clubs: 1) Yankess 2) Red Sox 3) Dodgers 4) Phillies 5) Chicago Cubs 6) Cardinals 7 Chicago White Sox Atlanta Braves 9) Twins 10) Detroit Tigers
Philadelphia Phillies Jimmy Rollins Says Team Will Win 100 Games
Speed & Swag, Got It All
Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Jimmy Rollins is doing what he knows best and that’s laying out bold predictions.
“We’ll win 100 games,” Rollins said Saturday. “I really plan on going after, what is it, Seatlle won 114 or something. We’ll go get somewhere hopefully in that range. But that requires everybody doing their job.”
After playing in just 88 regular season games, Rollins showed up to camp nearly two weeks ahead of the mandatory date who typically is one of the last players to arrive began a yoga program and also did long distance running of five miles twice a week.
“I missed a lot of time last year, so no time to take that extra time off,” Rollins said.
He is a free agent at season’s end, but the way Rollins sees it, if he has a good season, there will be no question what happens.
“If I have a good year, I’ll probably spend the rest of my career here,” Rollins said. “There’s no doubt about it. If I don’t, it’ll be a tough decision for me.
New York Yankees President Randy Levine Bashes Texas Rangers
If I Ruled The World
Earlier this week Texas Rangers owner Chuck Greenberg said that he thinks the Rangers visit to Cliff Lee’s home in Arkansas contributed to Lee signing with Philadelphia Phillies instead of the Yankees. New York Yankees President Randy Levine isn’t much of a fan of people putting his teams name in their mouth especially when it comes to the area of finance
“If he really wants to impress us then he can get the Rangers off of welfare and show how they can be revenue-sharing payors, rather than recipients for three years in row, without financing from Major League Baseball. That would really be something. I think Chuck is delusional. He’s been in the game a few minutes but it seems to be that he thinks he knows what everybody else is thinking. He should really let Cliff Lee speak for himself.”
I don’t think Major League Baseball will appreciate revenue sharing being referred to as “welfare.”
Showtime To Do Hard Knocks Style Of Show On San Francisco Giants
Stop Wasting
Showtime is preparing to do their own reality based Hard Knocks style of show but this time it will be in a whole new sport altogether. The Hard Knocks style of show would be set in Major League Baseball and follow the defending World Series champions the San Francisco Giants.
Showtime though is in early talks and details remain vague at this time but they are in talks with producer Mike Tollin to do the docuseries that focuses on the Giants. Tollin’s the early choice since his previous work on Bonds on Bonds, the 2006 docuseries for ESPN that followed the Giants outfielder through spring training and the baseball season, and other sport movies on his resume.
This would not however be a first for MLB as the league already has dipped it’s hands into the reality market with the airing on MLB Network of a look into the Philadelphia Phillies bulpen and the Chicago White Sox front office.
Former MLB Manager’s Granddaughter Killed In Arizona Shooting
SAD
The tragic shooting spree yesterday at a political rally in Tucson, Arizona touch our country but has an unfortunate sports link as Christina-Taylor Green, the 9-year-old child who was killed, is the granddaughter of ex-MLB manager Dallas Green and the daughter of current Los Angeles Dodgers Dodgers scout John Green.
The elder Green managed the Philadelphia Phillies from 1979-1981, winning a World Series title in 1980. He went on to skipper the New York Yankees for parts of the 1989 season and then took over for the New York Mets from 1993-1996.
Christina-Taylor was one of six people left dead when 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner opened fire at a political meet-and-greet outside of a grocery store. 13 others were wounded, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who is in critical condition at a local Tucson hospital.
Christina-Taylor was born on September 11, 2001 and developed a strong interest in politics at a young age. She was attending the rally with her neighbor to get a closer look at political life and to meet Congresswoman Giffords.
Thoughts and prayers to all effected.
Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player: San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
Every Tuesday Sports Grind Entertainment presents you with the Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player of the Week. This week the recipient of this prestigious honor goes to the San Francisco Giants. The Giants won the World Series after beating the Texas Rangers 3-1 in Game 5 to take the trophy to the city by the Bay for the first time. The Giants last wore the crown in 1954, four years before they moved to the west coast when they still played in New York at the Polo Grounds.
Trailing San Diego Padres by 7 1/2 games in the NL West on July 4, they hung around in the wild-card race until the stretch run, where they would end up winning the division and finishing 92-70. The Giants postseason run saw them end the career of Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox and do away with last years National League champions the Philadelphia Phillies.
San Francisco entered the World Series and watched as their pitching staff completely shut down Josh Hamilton and the rest of the Rangers, who lead the majors in batting average. The Rangers hit just .190 in the five games and was outscored 29-12.
Congratulations San Francisco Giants you are this weeks Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player.
little Tommy’s Sports Halloween Costumes
Still Need A Costume
Your a parent and your little Tommy is a huge sports fan so what do you dress him up for Halloween with so many options? Well the Wall Street Journal gives you some of 2010′s best moments to choose from. However if little Tommy chooses to dress up as the Vuvuzela that means you just got handed the responsibilities of knocking on all the doors and carrying the bag of candy, not so cute now.
San Francisco Giants Brain Wilson Says The Machine Will Make An Appearance
The San Francisco Giants finished off the Philadelphia Phillies Saturday to earn a berth to the World Series and everyone seems to want to put a microphone in Giants closer Brain Wilson face to see what he will say. Now if you where watching the post-game interview you saw Wilson tell FOX reporter Chris Rose
So to all the people that sent me a text or an email asking what the hell Wilson was talking about, I think the video from last year better describes who the Machine is than my words could.
San Francisco Singer Wont Take Off Her City Hat For God Bless America
Take Your Hat Off
In the seventh inning stretch of last nights National League Championship Series game out in San Francisco, Tammy Nelson sang “God Bless America” to the fans in attendance and the millions watching on television. Mrs Nelson, who sings for the long running San Francisco musical revue Beach Blanket Babylon, had many people talking as soon as she stood in front of the microphone with her hat of the city.
While all the talk has been centered around the flamboyancy of the hat, which I don’t have a problem with, yet no one is talking about how disrespectful it was. When Renel Brooks-Moon, the Giants public address announcer, asks for everyone in attendance to please rise and remove their hats the next thing I shouldn’t be seeing is that it doesn’t apply to Mrs Nelson who is standing front in center wearing the city on top of her head as she sings “God Bless America.” It now becomes a moment of pure stupidity and shows a lack of respect.
Don’t be blinded by the glitz and glamor of the hat but instead ask yourself why was she wearing one in the first place?
