March, 2006 Archive
March 30, 2006
NEW YORK, NY — In a much-anticipated move, commissioner Bud Selig will announce tomorrow that he will probe the allegations of steroid use against Barry Bonds “and others,” an unidentified stoolie said on Wednesday. The unnamed “baseball official,” likely over a dinner at a fine New York restaurant, told the Associated Press that Selig would […]
March 29, 2006
A hothead whose dead crappy in-game decisions lead to worse decisions which lead, in turn, to a career as the pitcher nobody really wants, or a misunderstood everyman? You decide.
March 29, 2006
FORT MYERS, FL — Red Sox (and formerly Cardinals, Pirates, Marlins, Cubs, Rockies, Giants and Indians) RHP Julian Tavarez found himself in hot water again on Tuesday. The pitcher touched off a bench-clearing brawl in the 12-11 Red Sox win over the Devil Rays Monday when he punched Tampa OF Joey Gathright after tagging him […]
March 28, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC — With the nation apparently suffering from a lack of important issues, Congress may turn to local TV baseball coverage as its new crusade. Rep. Tom Davis said on Sunday that he would consider holding hearings if Comcast does not come to terms with the new network that will broadcast Washington Nationals games. […]
March 27, 2006
The company that supplies the minor leagues’ umpires fired back on the eve of a strike that would cause triple-A games to be run by beer-league umps.
The umps, who have been hired seasonally but also form the pool from which MLB umpires are selected, have not been able to come to an agreement on […]
March 24, 2006
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — With the ink not even dry on the first copies of the exposé Game of Shadows, Barry Bonds and his lawyers have done a little printing themselves, in the form of a lawsuit.
On Thursday Bonds’ lawyers sent a letter informing writers Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams and their publishers that an […]
March 24, 2006
When Dave Paisley originally dashed the hopes of those in Denver and KC in 2002, he didn’t realize he’d do the exact same thing all over again in 2006. Here’s a little Spring Training data to only reinforce the fact that you should have been watching the WBC instead.
March 23, 2006
JUPITER, FL — After he was a no-show for his first game as the Washington Nationals’ new left fielder, Alfonso Soriano took his position on Wednesday, ending speculation about whatever people were speculating about. The game was uneventful for Soriano, with the exception of a throw to double Cardinals SS David Eckstein off second base. […]
March 21, 2006
In the same international spirit with which he nicks a title from Men Without Hats, Michael Cox picks a few nits with the WBC and wishes for the day when he never has to see Bud Selig present another trophy.
March 19, 2006
SAN DIEGO, CA — Favorites, schmavorites: a heavily favored Dominican team and the previously undefeated Koreans both went down to defeat on Saturday. After opening up leads in the seventh inning of their respective games, Cuba and Japan will face off in a World Baseball Classic final sure to capture the imaginations of, well, Cuba […]
March 17, 2006
ANAHEIM, CA — What started with a fizzle ended with another fizzle on Thursday, as Team USA was knocked out of the World Baseball Classic, losing to Mexico 2-1. The loss highlighted the USA’s lack of offense in the WBC, with eight Mexican pitchers baffling a lineup collectively earning approximately the equivalent of their opponent’s […]
March 16, 2006
With steroids again in the news, politicians are again lining up to be heard on the low-risk issue of steroids in sports, with Rep. Cliff Stearns sending a terse note to MLB commissioner Bud Selig on Wednesday.
“Congress remains very concerned about the use of illegal, performance-enhancing drugs in sports at all levels and the […]
March 15, 2006
TAMPA, FL — Drugs may have done in Dwight Gooden’s Hall of Fame hopes, and on Tuesday they may have ended his freedom for a while, as the former pitcher was arrested for using cocaine. Gooden remains in jail without bond. “We will be requesting that he remain in jail on no bond because he […]
March 14, 2006
ANAHEIM, CA — The Appeal Heard ‘Round The World continued to reverberate on Monday, as Nippon Professional Baseball officials said they planned to officially protest the call that erased a run, costing their team a 4-3 loss to the USA on Sunday. “The play was representative of a systematic failure on the part of the […]
March 13, 2006
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — “Make sure you smile and laugh tonight because that’s what Kirby would want” Twins radio announcer John Gordon told 15,000 friends, family and fans at the Metrodome on Sunday night, as they remembered Kirby Puckett’s life and legacy. The memorial followed a private service for those closest to Puckett.
Teammates including Kent Hrbek […]
March 13, 2006
KISSIMMEE, FL — Rosters have turned over completely, expansion teams have joined MLB, John Smoltz became a starter, a closer, then a starter again, but one thing has been a constant since 1990: Bobby Cox has managed the Braves. He will likely do so at least through 2007, after signing a one-year extension on Sunday.
15 […]
March 13, 2006
SUN CITY, AZ — Padres RHP Doug Brocail is doing well after undergoing surgery on his heart, doctors said Saturday. Brocail underwent a successful angioplasty to clear blockage of his descending coronary artery, and will be out indefinitely while he recovers, Padres physician Dr. Harry Albers told reporters at Boswell Memorial Hospital.
“From a baseball standpoint, […]
March 13, 2006
Remember 2003, when you were young, Clay Aiken was burning up the charts, and Roger Clemens was on the verge of retiring as a Yankee? Relive with us those halcyon days, when corking a bat was our greatest baseball scandal and we had just celebrated winning the Iraq War. (sigh) Good times.
March 12, 2006
Read Skip Bayless’ scathing indictment of Barry Bonds — but first, read fans’ scathing indictment of Skip Bayless (especially the comments) for a quick fix of pot. kettle. black.
March 9, 2006
PHOENIX, AZ — With most of the media focusing on Barry Bonds, other news was almost lost on Tuesday, as Roger Clemens told USA Today that he planned on retiring after playing in the World Baseball Classic. Clemens, 43, is unsigned after finishing his contract with the Astros last year.
I’m going to watch my sons […]