Results tagged “MLB,” from Robert Littal Presents The Infamous BlackSportsOnline

Nearing the trade deadline (7/31), MLB teams will be shopping and selling players to help improve their clubs. Good teams will be interested in acquiring talent to help make a push for the post season and possibly a championship. Lousy teams will be interested in acquiring young players who can turn the team into a contender down the line. Average teams have the luxury of choosing whether to compete now, rebuild, or do nothing.

No one was surprised when Sammy Sosa's name was linked to steroids. Hardly anyone doubts the accuracy of the 2003 drug test that Sosa failed. Sosa was just another big name in the dozens that have been dropped sporadically over the past several years. It seems that every month, the league will expose another big name player as a certified steroid abuser. Many big name stars today are just waiting for the other shoe to drop (I'm looking at you Pujols, Pudge, Griffey Jr...)

Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and David Wright are a few of the remaining players untainted by steroids in baseball. A couple years ago, it was fun for fans to guess which players were possibly on steroids. Players with big heads, pimples, and bad attitudes all became prime suspects.

Since Alex Rodriguez has been out, all I ever hear from the New York Yankees is how much they need for Alex Rodriguez to come back. How they'll be so much better when he comes back.

The Yankees' total payroll is $201,449,189 and they can't win. What, is he carrying your steroid stash? Can't you make it work without him?

Sure, A-Rod is the Yankees best player. I get that. But if the Yankees are paying the rest of them as much as they are, shouldn't they be able to manage? This isn't basketball or football, where the best player draws double-teams or something like that. At the end of the day, you're standing up there alone, swinging a bat. It's not like A-Rod helps swing or provides moral support or anything. And weren't a lot of these guys "the best player" somewhere else before they played with Rodriguez?

I've never been an Alex Rodriquez fan. I don't like the fact that he plays for my all time favorite sports team. In my opinion, Alex Rodriquez has never felt like a Yankee. He never looked good in the "pinstripes" from the back in the way that Dave Winfield, "Mr. October, Willie Randolph and others looked. You can file that last comment under girl just want to have fun. Meaning, only a woman and real female Yankee fan would get it.

However, all jokes and fun aside, this latest baseball steroid story has brought me out from under, "my indifference rock." While I have never liked Alex Rodriquez, the lack of integrity disturbs me more. It is my understanding that when these players were screened or tested in 2003 that the results were supposed to be "confidential." Question, how did Alex Rodriquez's test result become public? Why did we run to the bias media to ask if A-Rod would become a MLB Hall of Famer? Why was the first instinct to protect the reporter of this story's source?

Why do we think that Jose Canceso has some how been vindication when he has been allowed, for profit and press mind you, to expose his fellow baseball brethren in the name of capitalism? Jose Canceso or the people who helped him don't give a damn about baseball, and that's what makes what he has done all the more sickening. He doesn't care about the preservation and integrity of America's past time. He is a self professed cheater. When do self professed cheaters get "air-time?" Jose Canseco is an angry man who wants others to join him in his misery. Question, why do we as Americans feed off of this type of individual and story? What is inherently wrong with us when we think it is okay for one to expose another knowing that none of us are perfect and knowing that the innocent will also be harmed?

In a continuing effort to crack down on misdeeds and mishaps of the financial sector and automotive industry, the government is sparing no expense in the time and money it is dedicating to sending Barry Bonds up the creek without a paddle. After all, it's the menaces of baseball such as Bonds and Roger Clemens that are the real threat to this country, not the economy, healthcare, financial institutions and fortune 500 corporations or education.

Most of you will remember Bonds scandal broke in 2001, when suspicions of performance drug enhancement use ran amuck shortly after Bonds hit a record 73 home runs in one season, shattering the record previously held by Mark McGwire. During a raid of Bonds' ex-trainer, Greg Anderson's home as part of the BALCO investigation, federal authorities "coerced" Anderson into giving an interview resulting in the name dropping of some of his most distinguished clients including Estalella, Santiago and two other former Giants' players, Armando Rios and Marvin Bernard, the same clients' who will act as witnesses for the prosecution when Bonds' faces perjury charges at his upcoming trial set on March 2nd in San Francisco.

Also joining the lynch mob are Tigers outfielder and Bonds former workout partner, Gary Sheffield in addition to retired Oakland A's outfielder Jason Giambi and his brother Jeremy Giambi who all allege that they were obtained drugs from Anderson after being introduced to him through Bonds.

It's easy to recognize and commend the good but what about the bad and just plain ugly. From brawls to scantily clad nannies and sex scandals to tearful confessions and cons, there were some oh so forgettable 2008 sports moments that made your skin crawl and scream out random things that border idiotic, like Sarah Palin

WORST 8 SPORTS MOMENTS OF 2008

8.) WNBA Shock Sparks Brawl

Not to be outdone by their male counterparts,the Detroit Shock and Los Angeles Spark ensued the first ever cat fight in WNBA during a game at the Palace on July 23rd that left WNBA fans enraged, male viewers cheering and two players suspended. Already a heated rivalry between the two squads, the ongoing tension that night from an earlier play involving LA Sparks franchise player and media darling, Candice Parker and veteran forward, Cheryl Ford, fueled the fight between Parker and Detroit Shock forward, Pienette Pierson who got tangled up tussling for the ball after a missed shot by Pierson. Of course, with teammates coming to each others aid, things got even more ugly after an "accidental" push of Lisa Leslie by Detroit assistant coach, Rick Mahorn resulted in a retaliation from Sparks forward, Delisha Milton-Jones. Detroit's Pierson and Mahorn were suspended for four and two games respectively while Kara Braxton, Tasha Humphrey, Elaine Powell and Sheri Sam (also from Detroit), along with Los Angeles' Leslie, Candace Parker and DeLisha Milton-Jones all got a one game suspension. Although this incident is prime example unsportman-like conduct and is very unladylike, I must admit this "catfight" certainly breathed life into a genre that has very selective few fans.

7.)U.S. Relay Teams Drop The Baton

The Olympics held so many shining moments for the stars and stripes but the embarrassing mishaps of the gold contending (perhaps second to the Jamaican relay team) U.S. men's relay team certainly wasn't one of them. Failing to qualify for the FINALS for the first time since 1988 after a misconnect between Darvis Patton and Tyson Gay on a final pass, left the Americans watching from the sidelines as the Jamaican relay team smoked its competition by a world record setting time of 37.10 seconds. To make matters even worse, the U.S. Women's relay team suffered the same fate and failed to qualify for the finals as for the first time since 1948!

6.)Kimbo Slice Exposed As Farce

Like Mulder from the X-Files we want to believe in the greatest American hero, that wayward underdog, that rises against all odds to realize the American dream. This is especially true in sports, so when word spread like wildfire about back alley brawler putting men down with one punch on Youtube, MMA fans had someone to believe in and the networks had a new poster child to exploit. Kimbo Slice's journey as a street fighter to ESPN cover story was truly nothing but a testament to how the wheels of the capitalist cash machine turn. After losing washed up fighter Ken Shamrock to an eye injury and CBS color commentator, Frank Shamrock (Ken's brother) to disqualification due to a broken arm, the Elite XC finally found a "suitable" replacement in Fort Myers native, Petruzelli, an average mixed martial artist all of 205 lbs and a 2-2 win-loss record since 2004 Kimbo was "sure" to beat. Only the surefire win backfired in a 14 second KO Ryu style! Haduken!
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5.)From America's Sweetheart to Jailbird

Only a short four years ago, track star Marion Jones was America's sweetheart and three time Olympic gold medalist. She was the epitome of the female athlete: charming, strong yet humble gracing the covers of Vogue and Sports Illustrated within in the course of a year. What a difference a year can make, now the biggest athlete to fall victim to Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative scandal, Jones is flat broke and faces jail time after admitting to steroid use before her 2000 Sydney Olympic run up until after the 2004 Athens Olympics. Jones vehemently denied use of any performance drugs for years after she initially fell under suspicion but finally came clean in a well put together confession of lying and cheating that later broke down into a tearful apology worthy of an Oscar.

Is Bud Selig picking a winner?

MLB Commisioner Bud Selig once again made a mockery of Baseball with his horrible decision making. This time it's at the expense of the pride and joy of the game: The World Series. Regardless of what happens from here on out in this Fall Classic between the Phillies and the Rays, he has compromised the integrity of the 2008 World Series.

Game 5 of the World Series was suspended due to inclimate weather last night. My question is simply, why was the game started in the first place? It seems like to me Fox is calling the shots entirely. Another night of baseball, another successful night of TV ratings. I don't know what forecaster Selig was listening to but every weather channel in the Philly area seemed to know it was going to rain. Why doesn't Bud Selig know this?

Ok so your playing a game you shouldn't be playing even when it was apparent that the conditions weren't fit to play ball, the game continued to go on. This can only end ugly folks. Rays pitcher Scott Kazmir couldn't get the mud from the mound off of his cleets. Anytime a Gold Glove shortstop like Jimmy Rollins can't field a routine pop-fly you'd think Selig would know it's time to stop the game. Unable to grip the ball, Cole Hamels devestating changeup became a non-factor. For god's sake this is the World Series you'd think, but Selig continued to embarass his players and do a disservice to all the fans who came to see professional baseball players play in the World Series.

Since 1993 for most of the newest generation of Philly fans the thought of the Phils in the postseason reminded you of one thing. Joe Carter. Carter was the villian that crushed the entire city's hopes in '93 for a World Series title since 1980 team. Some of us are still waiting for that Joe Carters homerun to hit the ground. That's why making the playoffs last year felt like winning the championship almost. It really did, just for a young minute.

We'll that sigh of relief you hear is the entire Philadelphia, South Jersey and Delaware Valley. The Phillies put the Dodgers out of their misery last night and are on the way to the World Series. It was obvious if you remotely followed either team that the Phillies were the better team no matter how much the media wanted and tried desperately to convince you otherwise. Of course they wanted the Manny vs. Bosox circus. Which would have definitely been the G.O.A.T. circus. However good Manny is, and he was video game-like. There was no way he was going to beat Howard, Rollins, Utley, Burrell, Victorino, Hamels and Lidge by himself. It was basically Manny vs. Many.

Something is going on in the air in Philly right now. Somewhere in between all the laughs at work, a McCain supporter telling me he's now voting for O'Bama this morning or the old white lady sitting in her car and actually didn't lock her door as I walked past her car... there's definitely a better vibe. That being said you can also feel a ire of disbelief because in Philly you always get the carpet pulled from under you at the last minute. Rhonde Barber is still running down the sideline as we speak.

15 innings. A Red Sox player winning the MVP in Yankee Stadium. Failure to score with the bases loaded on multiple occasions. These are the things that comprised the 2008 MLB All-Star Game. J.D. Drew won the MVP in the first all-star appearance of his career thanks to a 2-run homer that started the AL's scoring in the seventh inning. On the other end of the scale, Dan Uggla set a record by making 3 errors. All 3 errors were during extra innings: 2 in the 10th inning that allowed the AL to load the bases and almost end the game, and one in the 13th. Finally in the bottom of the 15th, Michael Young's pop fly out allowed Justin Mourneau to tag third and get home just in time to beat Corey Hart's desparation throw in a close call to make the final score 4-3 for the AL.

Fortunately baseball was able to spare itself the disgrace of 2002 when the teams ran out of players in the 11th inning and Bud Selig declared the game a tie. Once again, the AL will have home-field advantage in the World Series. The NL has not won an All-Star game since 1996, losing by one run the past 3 years.

The game of chess is like a swordfight, you must think first before you move- Wutang's "Da mystery of chessboxin" intro

The yearly annual big acquisition this season in MLB was the Cleveland Indians manchild, CC Sabathia. Last years Cy Young award winner was either the Chip to put a team in serious contention or over the top. The Milwalkee Brewers who haven't made the playoffs in centuries ended up landing CC in hopes ending the drought. Pairing Sabathia with Ben Sheets, the Brewers figuratively get themselves out of "check" that the Cubs have had them in the entire season right? Right?... Cubs owners say no so fast.

Just when you thought the Brewers we're going to seriously challenge the Cubs for the NL Central crown, the Cubs turned around and acquired Oaklands Rich Harden before CC could even complete his first start. No he's not CC Sabathia and he's often injury-prone, but when healthy Harden is as dominant as any pitcher in baseball. The power-righty is 5-1 this season in 13 starts with a ERA of 2.34. Flaunting arguably the best offense in MLB along with a 1-2 punch of Zambrano and Harden with Kerry Wood closing, the Cubs have not only put their entire division back in check, they have surrounded the entire national league with their Queen and bishops. Other than Rich Harden pulling another Mark Prior... I can hear CubsNation collectively gasp, the only thing I think that could possibly stop the Cubs are the Phillies and the Cardinals adding pitching themselves. That being said, next move is on GM's Pat Gillick and John Mozeliak.

The Philadelphia Phillies are the front runners in the NL East Division race and show no signs of slowing down. A big reason for that has to be the dominant play of the second basemen. Chase Utley is currently the best second basemen in the game. Probably the only time I heard George Bush say anything that made any kind of sense, was when he said if starting a team today, Utley would be his first position player he'd draft.

I mean, to say that he is the best position player the Phillies have is saying a lot. They only boast Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins, you know, the two players that won the last two MVP awards in the National League, other than that, i'd say those two are alright. As great as J-Roll and the best power-hitter in the game are, they have holes in their game. You'd be hard-pressed to find a hole in Utleys game. It used to be his defense when he first came up, but now you can turn on the tube and see him regularly making spectacular plays in the field.

We can sit here and talk about numbers or how he's leading the majors in homers as a second basemen, but stats never tell everything. The real story is, how does the man do it? I mean out of college he was a wirey kid with a quick bat but no one projected him to be an all world baseball player.

It's not that tough to really understand why instant replay needs to be instituted in Major League Baseball. Close homeruns can distinguish between a win and a loss in a baseball season. Not just that, but in such a stat-driven league, the most stat-driven league*, individual achievements mean just that much.

Even though both Carlos Delgado and Alex Rodriguez's homeruns were not game changing, it slows down their RBI and Home-Run counts. They both have a shot at the hall of fame, and for all accounts, they both did it right*. This even slows them down, and even though they have plenty of RBI, the ever elusive home run is tough to come by. Each counts as another step into immortality.

This is a selfish game at the start. Players are selfish because they want the stats, Fans are selfish because they want the actual objects, and owners are selfish because they want the butts in the seats and the jerseys on the fans. Some would argue that instant replay slows the game down and can be abused, but honestly, this will keep the games fair and help achieve all these goals.

By keeping the games honest and giving umpires a backup incase they make a mistake, these calls can make the game that much better. They don't have to be abused because they can have rules attached to make them less intrusive, like allowing them in special circumstances and limiting them. As seen in the National Football League, they don't have to take that long, and in terms of a baseball game, what are 2 minutes to ensure the right call was made. I really don't see what the problem could be for instating it as soon as possible so the close calls can turn into the right calls.

It's really that simple.

I have a T-Mobile sidekick who could have called me or text-messaged me to let me know the baseball season had started. I mean I wasn't going to wake up at 4 AM in the morning to watch the Red Sox and Oakland play in Tokyo. However, I would have liked to have had that option. I guess I should start working on my predictions for the season.

I am being sarcastic! Even though Bud Selig wants you to believe baseball is thriving, it is not!

I would rather talk about March-Madness; the NBA-Playoffs; the NFL-Draft; Tiger or NASCAR before I would even think about baseball. The only time anyone cares about baseball is when we are talking about how much of a liar Roger Clemens is or when Jose Canseco's next book is coming out. If you aren't a Red Sox or Yankee fan, your team will get -1% coverage on ESPN. I wonder why it is still called "America's Pastime?" The only thing correct about that phrase is that baseball is past its time.