MLB Banns Guns Weapons In Clubhouses & Ryan Franklin Isn’t Happy

Shave Your Face

Major League Baseball took a preemptive strike against weapons in clubhouses over the weekend and banned deadly weapons in the baseball clubhouses.

Signs have been placed in spring training locker rooms stating “individuals are prohibited from possessing deadly weapons while performing any services for MLB.” The rules apply to employees of the commissioner’s office, other central baseball businesses and to teams, including players.

MLB felt it need to react in with incidents like Plaxico Burress and Gilbert Arenas become a little more common. While baseball is doing the right thing here not all are pleased like St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Franklin. Franklin an avid outdoorsman, doesn’t like the ban on firearms in the clubhouse.

“If you grew up around it, being in the outdoors and stuff, I was taught as a young kid how to respect firearms,” Franklin said. “First of all, you don’t get stupid with it. Always treat a gun like it’s loaded. That’s what I taught my son and daughters. There’s a place for them.”

Franklin needs to stop worrying about bringing in his hunting rifle or bow into the clubhouse and instead worry about not blowing leads in game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Feb 22, 2010 | MLB | Leave A Comment »

WTF: Albert Pujols

One Shot, One Kill

Pitchers across Major League Baseball are asking themselves why is the baddest man on the face of the planet allowed to add another weapon to his arsenal, he already has two.

Feb 10, 2010 | MLB, WTF | Comments Off

Black History Month: February 3rd

First African-American To Hold High Executive Position In Sports

When Former New York Giants/San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, and Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bill White was named president of the National League. He became the first African American to head a major sports league. White served as president of the National League from 1989 to 1994.

In his playing career White was a 7 time Gold Glove Award winner, 5 time All-Star, and was a vital piece to the Cardinals winning the World Series in 1964.

Feb 03, 2010 | Sports Grind Entertainment News | Comments Off

New York Mets To Honor Gooden & Strawberry In Hall Of Fame

Good Times

Before I go any further I got to admit that Darryl Strawberry was probably my favorite baseball player that never laced up a St. Louis Cardinals uniform growing up and when I read that the New York Mets where going to add Strawberry and Dwight Gooden to their Hall of Fame, I thought a post was only fitting.

The Mets haven’t inducted anyone into their Hall of Fame in eight years to join the likes of Tom Seaver, Gary Carter and Keith Hernandez. Their induction coincides with the new Hall of Fame wing being built at Citi Field. Instead of going down the path of their downfall, which is well documented, the Mets are choosing to honor those good times in Queens and without them there is no 1986 championship banner.

Its good to see them both smiling again, kinda feels like 1986 all over again.

Jan 20, 2010 | MLB | Comments Off

Jim Edmonds Wants To Return To Baseball Like Brett Favre

I Hate This Old Man

First let me say screw this guy. It’s not 2000 and what you did back then hopefully doesn’t garner any team, especially my St. Louis Cardinals in giving you a shot.

The retired outfielder launched the idea of a comeback over the weekend at an animal-rescue benefit put together by Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. Apparently the chest high fastball that he could never lay off and defiantly couldn’t catch up to in his later years has him thinking he can give it a run.

Edmonds who turns 40 in June is also out of shape and insane, might have hit the outfield wall to many times, as he told the crowd of kitten lovers that he would play for free before realizing the economic times we live in.

Just go away Jim and stay away from my team’s clubhouse, isn’t there a surf board or wave to you can catch in Cali.

Jan 19, 2010 | MLB | Comments Off

Fans Cheer Mark McGwire In Return

Mark McGwire received a standing ovation from St. Louis Cardinals fans Sunday in his first public appearance in St. Louis since admitting he used steroids.

Dressed in jeans, a sweater and running shoes, the 46-year-old McGwire walked on stage to “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses. The team’s new hitting coach was cheered by fans who secured seats as much as 3 1/2 hours earlier.

“I’ve learned a lot,” McGwire told fans. “Especially to kids out there, steroids are bad. I made a huge mistake in my life and it’s something I want you guys to learn from. Don’t ever, ever go down that road.”

Former Cardinals slugger Jack Clark, who called McGwire a “phony” in a St. Louis Post-Dispatch story last week, was booed in an appearance on the same stage not long before McGwire’s appearance.

His scheduled news conference, only minutes later, was shifted to an overcrowded hallway at the last minute, and McGwire evaded questions about the criticism he’s received from ex-players. He repeatedly emphasized that he was ready to talk about the game instead of performance-enhancing drugs.

“I hope you all can accept this,” McGwire said at the Cardinals’ Winter Warm-Up. “Let’s all move on from this. Baseball is great right now, baseball is better.”

Jan 18, 2010 | MLB | Comments Off

MLB Network Wins With Mark McGwire Admission

Who's Next

Let me get some things out in the open about Mark McGwire before I proceed, I am a St. Louis Cardinal die hard but that doesn’t mean I subscribe to loving everyone that has every put on a Cardinal jersey and he falls into that caterogy. With that said I’m not going to act like I wasn’t not engulfed into his and Chicgao Cubs Sammy Sosa’s every at bat that 1998 season. Even with my  dislike for McGwire there is no way I wanted to see a Cub break the single season home run record. Finally I’ve never looked at McGwire’s overall resume and said that is Hall of Fame material, his time in the game was All-Star worthy and he sure could blast but one glod glove, zero MVP’s to show, an average on base percetage outside of 1996 and 1998 and a career .263 batting average doesn’t make you hall worthy in my eyes.

Some might say it’s easy to say this now but if you stood by me in the years he wore a Cardinal uniform you can vouch for such feelings. Speaking on the subject of vouching for me I’ll continue to say that the use of steriods was not against MLB policy prior 2005 but aginst the laws of the street.
But lets move on to his admission, McGwire did release an admission to the Associated Press earlier in the day that got everyone talking but it was MLB Network interview with Bob Costas that stole the show. It was his first televison interview and the following are quotes from the interview about his admission of using performance enhancing drugs during his career on.

ON WHEN EXACTLY HE USED STEROIDS:

“I believe it was the winter of 1989 into 1990. I was given a couple of week’s worth, tried it, never thought anything of it. I just moved on from it. But as far as using it on a consistent basis, it was the winter of 1993 into 1994.”

ON WHETHER HE THINKS HE WOULD STILL HAVE PERFORMED AS WELL WITHOUT STEROIDS:

“I truly believe so. I believe I was given this gift. The only reason I took steroids was for my health purposes. I did not take steroids to get any gain for any strength purposes… I’ve always had bat speed. I just learned how to shorten my bat speed. I learned how to be a better hitter. There’s not a pill or an injection that is going to give me — or any athlete — the hand-eye coordination to hit a baseball. A pill or an injection will not hit a baseball.”

ON EXACTLY WHAT PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS HE TOOK:

“The names I don’t remember. But I did injectables. I preferred the orals. The steroids I did were on a very low dosage. I didn’t want to take a lot of it. I took very, very low dosages, just because I wanted my body to feel normal. The wear and tear of 162 ballgames and the status of where I was at, and the pressures that I had to perform, and what I had to go through to try and get through all these injuries, it’s a very, very regrettable thing.”

ON REGRETTING HIS STEROID USE:

“I wish it never came into my life. But we’re sitting here talking about it. I’m so sorry that I have to. I apologize to everybody at Major League Baseball, my family, the Marises, Bud Selig… Today was the hardest day of my life.”

ON CALLING ROGER MARIS’ WIDOW THIS MORNING:

“Well, I think she was shocked that I called her. I felt good…I felt that it was…that I needed to do that. They’ve been great supporters of mine. She was disappointed. She has every right to be. And I couldn’t tell her how so sorry I was.”

ON THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE 2005 CONGRESSIONAL HEARING:

“So, 2005…Flying back there…I was ready, willing, and prepared to talk about this. I wanted to talk about this. I wanted to get this off my chest… My lawyers, Mark Bierbower and Marty Steinberg — I meet them back there. We talked about the situation. Marty, a former federal prosecutor, laid out a couple of scenarios. ‘If you go out there, and talk about this without protection, there’s a very good chance of a possible prosecution, or grand jury testimonies.’ So, we talk to – we were in meetings downstairs with Congressman Waxman, and… Congressman Davis… my lawyers were downstairs trying to get immunity for me. I wanted to talk. I kept telling myself, ‘I want to get this off my chest.’ Well, we didn’t get immunity. So here I am in a situation where I have two scenarios, where a possible prosecution or possible grand jury testimonies. Well you know what happens when there’s a prosecution? You bring in your whole family, you bring in your whole friends, you bring in ex-teammates, coaches, anybody that’s surrounding you. How the heck am I gonna to bring those people in for some stupid act that I did? So you know what I did? We agreed to not talk about the past. And it was not enjoyable to do that, Bob.

ON HIS TESTIMONY BEFORE CONGRESS IN 2005:

“I’m gonna tell you right now, standing up there – or sitting up there, listening, the Hooten family or the other families behind me that lost their loved ones… And every time that I kept on saying “I’m not talking about the past,” I hear these moans. It was killing me. I was not gonna lie. I was not going to lie. I wanted to tell the truth, but because of the position I was in; to protect my family, to protect me, I decided that I would take the hits. I think anybody’s going to take the hits. I’ve been taking hits for five years…doesn’t feel very good.”

ON THE HALL OF FAME:

“I’m not here doing this for the Hall of Fame. I’m doing this for me, to get this off my chest. I played this game of baseball because I was given the ability to play. If I’m lucky enough to get in there, that’s just icing on the cake. But I played this game because I loved it.”

ON WHAT HE’D TELL CARDINALS PLAYERS ABOUT STEROIDS:

“It was the stupidest thing I ever did. There’s no reason to even go down that road. It’s an illusion. And look what I have to do. I‘m sitting here by a stupid mistake.”

ON POTENTIALLY BEING FORGIVEN BY FANS AND OTHERS:

“Well, I’m asking for a second chance. I hope they give it to me. Because you know, I have a lot to offer. I have a whole rolodex of things that I love to teach hitters, and I can’t wait to get to spring training. I can’t wait to teach, and it’s just, it’s always been a passion of mine so it just came to a head this last October when Tony sent me a text to see if I’d consider being a hitting coach.”

Following the exclusive interview, MLB Network’s Matt Vasgersian, Mitch Williams, Joe Magrane, Tom Verducci and Ken Rosenthal, Harold Reynolds and Peter Gammons discussed their reactions to the conversation.

The moment I enjoyed the most was when Costas reminded McGwire of his final at bat and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa had to pinch hit for him with Kerry Robinson, a memory I’ve never forgotten and apparently I’m not the only one.

Jan 12, 2010 | MLB | Comments Off

Vladimir Guerrero Signs With Texas Rangers

Don't Expect Him To Be Using That Glove Anymore

The Texas Rangers have signed Vladimir Guerrero to a one year contract worth $5.5 million with a mutual option for 2011. Guerrero is expected to give all his time as a designated hitter and hopes to help the Rangers improve their run production which took a dip after leading the MLB in 2008. Guerrero battled through the 2009 season to hit .295 with 15 home runs. Despite landing on the disabled list twice.

Despite never calling Arlington home Vlad always batted like he owned the place in 193 career at-bats in Rangers Ballpark, Guerrero has hit .394 with a .471 on-base percentage and 14 home runs which the Rangers are banking he will continue to do at the Rangers Ballpark.

Guerrero, 35, will not provide any luxury to the outfielders in need of a day off and his body has shown it is in the process of breaking down. No longer is he expected to play 162 but with hope of just making it the 100 game plateau so I understand for the need of the bat but wouldn’t have Jermaine Dye be a more valuable option and if bargain hunting was what the Rangers where after then maybe they could have made a real offer to former Ranger Andruw Jones.

Being a Guerrero Stan since he began his career with the Montreal Expos, it’s hard for me to say what I said about Vlad but it needed to be said.

In related Ranger news they have botched another signing by agreeing to a one year contract with former St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Khalil Greene worth 750,000 dollars. Greene struggled in 77 games for the Cardinals last season, hitting .200 with just 6 home runs and spent time on the disabled list with social anxiety disorder.

Don’t ever expect to find him competing for a spot in the everyday lineup and set the bar low if looking if using Greene as platooner.

Jan 12, 2010 | MLB | 1 Comment »

Matt Holliday Re-Signs With St. Louis For $120 Milli

Matt Holliday is still taking balls off his nuts just at a hefty cost now to the St. Louis Cardinals as they have agreed on a contract of 7 years worth $120 milli that includes a full no trade clause.

When the Cardinals traded for Holliday it seemed as if I was the only one voicing displeasure about it and today is no different. The cost to obtain and keep a guy that has been an All-Star but nothing more is ludicrous.  The Cardinals gave up prize prospect third baseman Brett Wallace to acquire and now have strapped themselves in those future negotiations for the likes of outfielder Ryan Ludwick, starting pitchers Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter and that doesn’t include finally acquiring a bat in front of Albert Pujols. That’s the key, for if no one gets on base in front of Pujols, why pitch to him? Just take the best bat in all of Major League Baseball out of the lineup.

So Holliday today you’ll hear all the cheers about your signing but not from me because you and your agent Scott Boras backed St. Louis into a corner and screwed us again, just like you did in Game 2 of the National League Divisonal Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Jan 06, 2010 | MLB | Comments Off

Jason Marquis Signs With Washington Nationals

Diamond Stud

The Washington Nationals have signed right-hander Jason Marquis wit a two-year contract for $15 million. He made the All-Star team for the first time, setting a career high in innings pitched and posted a 4.04 ERA and matched a career high with 15 wins.

For the Nationals this gives them an established veteran to throw atop their rotation while the promising youngsters look to grow, like Stephen Strasburg, John Lannan,Craig Stammen and J.D. Martin. His true value lies in being able to take pressure off the bullpen, as he’s pretty much always around 200 innings pitched.

During his 10-year career which has included stints with the Braves, Cardinals, Cubs and Rockies he has won 94 games with a 4.48 ERA. An interesting note with Marquis is that in that 10 year career he has never missed the playoffs.

Dec 22, 2009 | MLB | Comments Off

Brad Penny Signs With St. Louis Cardinals

105-84

The St. Louis Cardinals signed right-hander Brad Penny to a one-year, $7.5 million contract, with incentives that could take the total value of the deal up to $9 million. In addition, the Cardinals agreed that if Penny is a Type A free agent after the 2010 season, they will not offer him arbitration.

Penny isn’t Roy Holliday or John Lackey but does bolster a Cardinal rotation that has 2009 Cy Young candidates Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter, as well as veteran Kyle Lohse, in the  starting five.

Penny, who will turn 32 next season, saw his career rebound dramatically after nearly two seasons of struggles when he returned to the National League this summer. Penny struggled in four months with the Red Sox but after Boston released him, Penny signed with the Giants and thrived, going 4-1 with a 2.59 ERA in six starts. He likely benefited from getting out of the American League East, but he also showed a new approach, with a greater willingness to turn to offspeed offerings.

As a result, he not only pitched effectively, but differently. Penny struck out fewer batters with the Giants than usual, but he also walked fewer and induced more ground balls. That’s the sort of pattern that appeals to the Cardinals, who hold an organizational belief in the value of quick outs and letting the defense work.

As recently as 2007, Penny was one of the game’s best starting pitchers. He went 16-4 with a 3.03 ERA for Los Angeles in ‘07, allowing nine home runs all season while garnering an All-Star berth and finishing third in the Cy Young balloting. For his career, he’s 105-84 with a 4.14 ERA, 1,141 strikeouts and 526 walks in 279 games with the Marlins, Dodgers, Red Sox and Giants.

Dec 15, 2009 | MLB | Comments Off

Whitey Herzog & Doug Harvey Elected To The Hall of Fame

Class

Whitey “White Rat” Herzog and Doug Harvey were elected by a Hall of Fame Veterans Committee Monday morning. The “White Rat”, managed both the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals into World Series, received 14 votes of the required 12 votes from the 16-member Veterans Committee that met at the site of baseball’s annual Winter Meetings. Harvey received 15 votes in recognition of a 31-year umpiring career in the National League.

From a fans perspective I’m extremely happy that both men where elected. Herzog is with out a doubt my favorite manager of all time and every manager that has ever stepped into the dugout, I’ve used Herzog as a measuring stick. Harvey was and is consider the best umpire the game has ever seen. Harvey knew it was easy to throw guys out of the game but his job was to keep them in as fans paid to see the players not umpires.

Herzog could uniquely have fit on both ballots. He was Bobby Cox before Bobby Cox, as St. Louis general manager, he assembled a roster he subsequently managed into three World Series in the 1980s. Prior to that reign, Herzog had guided the Kansas City Royals to three consecutive championships of the original American League West in 1976-78. In 18 total seasons as a manager, Herzog only endured three losing records.

Harvey called 4,670 Major League games across a 31-year career in the National League, plus six All-Star Games, five World Series and seven League Championship Series.

Herzog and Harvey will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 25, 2010.

The Best

Dec 07, 2009 | MLB | Comments Off

Placido Polanco Signs With The Philadelphia Phillies

Back At Home

The Philadelphia Phillies and Placido Polanco have reached a three year deal worth 18 million dollars, and holds an option for a fourth season.

The Phillies can now move the “Flyin Hawaiian” Shane Victorino down in the lineup to more of a run producing spot by moving Polanco into the top of the order as well as providing a solid defensive glove at third base after declining to keep Pedro Feliz.

Polanco is a .303 career hitter and hit .285 with 31 doubles, 10 homers and 72 RBIs last season in a spacious ballpark in Detriot which is a far cry from the hitters Citizens Bank. He spent about 3 seasons in Philadelphia in the trade that sent Scott Rolen to St. Louis in 2002. He hit .297 with 38 homers and 160 RBIs in parts of four seasons in Philadelphia. Once Chase Utley become the regular second baseman, Polanco’s role was reduced. He was traded to Detroit in June 2005 for reliever Ugueth Urbina and infielder Ramon Martinez.

Polanco gets a $500,00 signing bonus, $5 million next season, $5.25 million in 2011 and $6.25 million in 2012. The deal includes a $5.5 million mutual option for 2013 with a $1 million buyout.

The NL champions also agreed to a $750,000, one-year contract with infielder Juan Castro, who hit .277 with one home run and nine RBIs in 57 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. The 37-year-old Castro replaces utilityman Eric Bruntlett, who became a free agent.

Castro’s contract includes a $700,000 salary next year, and the deal has a $750,000 club option for 2011 with a $50,000 buyout.

They both join a potent lineup that features five All-Stars: Utley, Victorino, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez and former MVP Jimmy Rollins.

Dec 04, 2009 | MLB | Comments Off

St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols Wins National League Most Valuable Player Award

MVP

Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals has been named the National League Most Valuable Player in an unanimous decision, receiving all 32 first-place votes, conducted by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Long since established as one of baseball’s great players, Pujols emerged as the game’s dominant figure in 2009.

It’s the second straight year that Pujols has won the award, and the third time overall. He is the 10th player in history to win three MVPs, and the fifth to win it three times in the National League. He is the 12th player to win back-to-back MVP awards. The last was Barry Bonds, who won it four straight years from 2001-04. Most remarkable may be that Pujols still hasn’t turned 30.

By some measures 2009 was Pujols’ best year at the plate. He batted .327 with a .443 on-base percentage, a .658 slugging percentage, 47 home runs and 135 RBIs. Moreover, he did it for a division champion.

Pujols led the NL in on-base, slugging, homers and runs (124). He ranked second with 45 doubles, third with a career-high 115 walks, third with 135 RBIs and sixth with 186 hits. He won his fifth Silver Slugger Award.

The on-base percentage was the second-best of his career, and the slugging was his third-best mark. Pujols won his first NL home run title, he came two RBIs short of a personal best and equaled his own high of 16 stolen bases.

There was only one person to be the face of baseball in 2009 and that was ALLAH.

Nov 24, 2009 | MLB | Comments Off

San Francisco Giants Tim Lincecum Wins National League Cy Young Award

"The Freak"

Tim Lincecum the right-handed stoner of the of the San Francisco Giants repeated as the National League Cy Young Award winner, besting St. Louis right-handers Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright in the vote conducted by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

“The Freak” became the first pitcher ever to win the Cy Young in his first two full seasons in the big leagues and the first repeat winner since Randy Johnson who won four in a row for the Arizona Diamondbacks from 1999-2002. Lincecum (15-7, 2.48 ERA, 261 strikeouts) received 11 first-place votes and 100 points. Carpenter (17-4, 2.24 ERA, 144 strikeouts) finished second with nine first-place votes and 94 points, followed by Wainwright (19-8, 2.63 ERA, 212 strikeouts), who had 12 first-place votes and 90 points.

The six-point margin between Lincecum and Carpenter equaled the third-closest NL Cy Young election since the ballot was expanded from one to three pitchers in 1970. The closest vote occurred in 1987, when the Phillies’ Steve Bedrosian beat the Cubs’ Rick Sutcliffe, 57-55.

Although “The Freak” was fourth in wins he clearly improved overall. The 25-year-old trimmed his ERA by 0.14. Opponents hit .206 off him this season, compared to .221 in 2008. After walking 84 in 227 innings a year ago, he improved to 68 walks in 225 1/3 innings this season as well as leading the NL in strikeouts for the second year in a row, the first Giant to do so since Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson (1907-08). Lincecum also ranked second in ERA and tied teammate Matt Cain for the league lead with four complete games.

“The Freak’s” season was highlighted by four complete games, two shutouts and eight double-digit strikeout performances, due in large part to that ridiculous curve-ball and near unhittable changeup and a mid-90s fastball isn’t too bad either.  July 27 also highlighted his season by striking out 15 against Pittsburgh.

Lincecum topped Wainwright and Carpenter in several other statistical categories, including opponents’ batting average, strikeouts per nine innings and strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Nov 19, 2009 | MLB | Comments Off

Colorado Rockies Jim Tracy Wins National League Manager Of The Year

David Letterman

Jim Tracy of the Colorado Rockies was rewarded for his success on Wednesday not only did he win the National League Manager of the Year Award as voted on by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America but he also was took home a new three year contract to run through 2012.

Tracy who took over the last place Rockies on May 29th was the overwhelming choice of the voters. He received 29 of a possible 32 first-place votes for 151 points. Tony La Russa of the Cardinals received two first-place votes and 55 points. The Dodgers’ Joe Torre received one first-place vote and finished third with 33 points.

When Tracy moved from bench coach to skipper, replacing Clint Hurdle 18-28, the Rockies went 74-42 under Tracy and won the National League Wild Card.

In the end, the Rockies were 92-70, and set a club record for wins in a season while making the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. The Phillies eliminated the Rockies, three games to one, in the NL Division Series.

Tracy became the second Rockies manager to win the award. Don Baylor, who rejoined the Rockies as hitting coach last off-season,earned the honor in 1995.

Nov 18, 2009 | MLB | Comments Off

Chicago Bears Fans Are Haters

Bears Fan Will Kill You

If you’ve ever watch the Pittsburgh Steelers play a road game, you can obviously see thousands of their fans in attendance and that was no different when the Steelers visited the Chicago Bears in week 2.

That week two game saw the Bears beat the Steelers 17-14 but it was more of a loss to one Steeler fan. Zack Eddinger, 46 years old, claims he was poisoned, that lead to blindness, in a Chicago bar after an altercation with a group of Bears fans that almost took his life.

According to WTAE in Pittsburgh, Heddinger said his friends were involved in some trash talk with a group of Bears fans, and eventually the Bears fans offered a drink as a “peacemaker.”

• From WTAE:

• Not long after taking the drink, Heddinger passed out and was rushed to a nearby hospital, his heart stopping four times. At first, doctors thought he had too much to drink, but realized there was more to it.

• “They thought it was antifreeze or something like that …because it was so strong,” said Heddinger.

• Heddinger’s family rushed to Chicago to be with him after doctors told them he wasn’t going to make. According to the report, doctors believe the drink may have been spiked with toxic grain alcohol.

Forget that I ain’t ever going out for the Dallas Cowboys however the St. Louis Cardinals is a different story, there better be no crying at my funeral.

Nov 18, 2009 | NFL | Comments Off

120 MLB Players Opt For 2010 Free Agency

On the third day of Major League Baseball free agency a 120 players have elected to pursue Article XX B (2) of the Basic Agreement out of the 183 eligible. Bobby Abreu, Tim Hudson, Cliff Lee, Manny Ramirez, Brandon Webb, have had their 2010 options picked up bringing a total of 58 players still eligible but have yet to file. November 19 marks the last date in which players may give notice of their election of free agency. If that punk ass Matt Holliday decides to leave my St. Louis Cardinals, I do see suitable replacements…cough Jermaine Dye.

Est. 1869

Nov 08, 2009 | MLB | Comments Off

Brad Lidge BLOWS

It's On You Lidge

I gone from wanting my dam apology back from Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge to demanding him to admit he just blows and I’m not taking about his baseball leading 12 saves this year. I really hate talking about him because I know he is the definition of fraud.

Sure Lidge had a perfect season last year but even a broken clock is right twice a day. Houston Astros fans could tell you that season was a fluke as could Cardinal fans. So while the rest of the country was getting swept up into his madness last year, wise MLB O.G. fans knew Lidge would soon come back to that place called Earth.

Nice cover at third, how many spring training have you been to where you practice that? Oh I don’t know maybe between 8-10.

What the country and Phillies fan witnessed in Game 4 of the World Series is your true Lidge, last year was just a fraud.

Nov 02, 2009 | MLB | Comments Off

Mark McGwire Returns From Exile

That's Not Harvey Milk On Your Lips, Is It?

Mark McGwire has ended his baseball exile and accepted a position with the St. Louis Cardinals as their hitting coach. He’ll replace Hal McRae, who’s held the position for five years, and he never did much with it. McRae had the Cardinals finish 3rd, 6th, 11th, 4th and 7th in the National League in runs scored during his tenure.

McGwire played 4 1/2 season with the Cardinals, and has since been surrounded by steroid rumors. After his 2005 Congressional testimony he has fallen out of the public eye instead devoting his time to the Mark McGwire Foundation for Children to help children who have been sexually and physically abused come to terms with a difficult childhood.

McGwire though hasn’t gone completely off the baseball radar has he has offered his hitting instructional services to the like of Major League players Matt Holliday, Garrett Atkins, Bobby Crosby, Chris Duncan and Skip Schumaker. All but Duncan have benefited of his eye and teaching.

This comes on the heals of Tony La Russa saying he would be back as Cardinal manager in the 2010 season. Cardinal fans know that La Russa has tried to pull McGwire back into the game as a Spring Training hitting instructor the last two years down in Jupiter,Florida but McGwire has declined the offers. Saying the media circus he would draw would be a distraction onto the guys that are there completing for a chance at a World Series title.

So what’s changed? I’m not sure but if this is the direction that the bum La Russa wants to take with his coaching staff, then this is the perfect time to do so. Baring any unexpected controversy, the Cardinals and McGwire can expect to see to waves of media storms coming their way. The initial press conference to announce the hire and the first couple weeks of Spring Training.

By the time games start actually counting in April, McGwire and the Cardinals will have rode the wave out as the media finds its next big story, that is as long as he doesn’t have a mental breakdown somewhere into the season like Rudy Tomjanovich.

By the way, just because I’m a St. Louis Cardinal fan does not mean I think he is a Hall of Famer, cause he’s not and I love steroids. But I do wanna thank Mark for 1998 and ol 2005.

Oct 26, 2009 | MLB | Comments Off

2009 ALL-SGE-MLB Team

Est. 2009

The 2009 regular season of Major League Baseball has ended and Sports Grind Entertainment is handing out it’s first ever All-SGE-MLB Team. The 2009 All-SGE-MLB Team takes in account not only what a player does with the bat but as well in the field, weak players with the glove are easily removed from consideration.

2009 ALL-SGE-MLB Team:

First Base – Albert Pujols (Allah), St. Louis Cardinals: Pujols probably will walk away with the 2009 National League MVP and his numbers of 47 home runs 135 RBIs and .327 batting average are just a peek into his overall value.

Second Base – Aaron Hill, Toronto Blue Jays: Hill is generally thought of as a great double play combination but the year of 2009 everything happened to fall into place for him with the bat, 36 home runs 108 RBIs and 195 hits for a .286 batting average.

Shortstop – Hanley Rameriz, Florida Marlins: Rameriz is quickly becoming one of of the best players in all of MLB. Rameriz didn’t hit for power in 2009 but instead for a National League high .342 and hit to all parts of the field collecting 195.

Third Base – Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals: Zimmerman might not be know outside of Washington or to drive by fan but he has Gold Glove type of fingers at third and saw his numbers jump to 33 home runs 106 RBIs and a .292 average.

Catcher – Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins: Just as Pujols should walk away with the National League MVP the same could be said of Mauer. The 2009 American League Batting League champion should also see his 2009 awards include a Gold Glove and the AL MVP.  It’s outstanding when you consider Mauer is a catcher and hitting .365 average and 28 home runs.

Outfield – Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles: If the name Ryan Zimmerman is foreign to the drive by MLB fan then Jones name is from outer space. Jones was an excellent outfielder in 2009 and should be in line to win his first Gold Glove award. Despite playing in only a 119 games due to a neck injury he still posted 19 home runs and 70 RBIs with a .277 average.

Outfield – Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers: Kemp was all over the outfield for the Dodgers and his bat help supply for many of Los Angeles come from behind victories in 2009. Kemp had 26 home runs 101 RBIs and a .297 average to go along with 34 stolen bases.

Outfield – Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners: Ichiro was once again Ichiro in 2009. As usual another dominate defensive performance to go with yet another 200 season, 225 hits and a .352 average.

Starting Left Handed Pitcher – CC Sabathia, New York Yankees: Sabathia was the best left handed starting pitcher in 2009 with a 19-8 record and 3.37 ERA and struck out 197 batters in 230 innings.

Starting Right Handed Pitcher – Chris Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals: Carpenter should win the 2009 National League Cy Young Award with his 17-4 record and 2.24 ERA in striking out 144 batters while completing three games.

Closer – Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees: Rivera continues to be the best closer of this generation, it’s not the number that are impressive it’s the times and situations that he continues to be effective. The 2009 saw Rivera save 44 games out of 46 opportunities with a 1.76 ERA in 66.1 innings pitched while striking out 72 batters.

Manager – Jim Tracy, Colorado Rockies: Tracy who took over the last place Rockies on May 29th, 18-28, the Rockies then went 74-42 and won the National League Wild Card. In the end, the Rockies were 92-70, and set a club record for wins in a season while making the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.

Oct 15, 2009 | MLB | Comments Off

THE MATT HOLLIDAY APPRECIATION SONG

It’s October 15 and I still hate you Matt Holliday. Dodger fan could’ve used a little help staying on key but hey I’m not going to rain on his parade because when you get beat you got to take the heat.

Matt HOLLIDAY

Oct 15, 2009 | MLB | Comments Off

What Is Your Major Malfunction Numb Nuts!!

I still hate you.

Oct 09, 2009 | MLB | Comments Off

I Still Hate You Today Matt Holliday

Absolutely Disgusting

Oh was it a rough night yesterday, even rough this morning. St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday literally cost the Cardinals a victory in game two of the National League Division Series in Los Angeles. If your smart enough and have watched sports for some time now, you’re well aware of the fact that it’s hard to pin point one particular play to a loss. Last night would have been no different except for the fact that the line drive hit out to Holliday in the bottom of the ninth with two outs was very catchable. VERY CATCHABLE!

San Antonio McAllister Park Little Leaguers can attest to it. Everyone on the Cardinals should have been on the plane heading back to St. Louis. Instead closer Ryan Franklin already pitching lousy, became mentally defeated after watching his defense let him down. Topping it all off was a dominating pitching performance lost from starter Adam Wainwright.

Cardinal nation will hear all the political correctness coming out of the mouths of players, management, and coaching staff, that its all about game 165 and they can’t look into the past. That will be their intention but it’s trapped in their minds and I doubt they overcome such. Not to be forgotten is they are playing the Dodgers who is no scrub team.

So here it comes full circle on the same man I was catechized for when I voiced my displeasure that Cardinals traded for him. When I considered all the factors in the Holliday trade, the contract demands that would be put on by his agent Scott Boras in the off-season, the strain his contract could have on the organization when it comes to trying to resign Albert Pujols, losing some of the Cardinals top prospects, his tendencies to have mental lapses (2007 World Series being picked off by Boston Red Sox Jonathan Papelebon ), and his defense being no better than former terrible Cardinal Chris Duncan.

Could the season be a wash due to Holliday’s blunder, could Chris Carpenters/Adam Wainwright  CY Young and Albert Pujols MVP season mean nothing? What I do know, is for one night I hated the very game I love so much and for that I hate Matt Holliday.

Absolutely Disgusting.

Oct 09, 2009 | MLB | Comments Off