Pete Rose just spent his 70th birthday still blacklisted from baseball. As yet another milestone for one of baseball’s most storied, infamous player-coaches comes to pass, the debate about Rose’s past and future with Major League Baseball will once again fill the sports talk airways and interwebs. From gambling and steroids to sex and violence, throughout the last 20 years since Rose’s problems surfaced we have witnessed many athletes fall victim to their own self-made scandals, and yet just as many are able to walk away scot-free.
Had he played his …

After testing positive for an illegal substance during spring training for the Tampa Bay Rays, Manny Ramirez has decided to promptly retire from MLB baseball after 19 seasons in the majors’.
Whether you agree are a hardcore baseball fan who disagrees with all types of cheating – including performance enhancing drugs – or someone who is willing to look the other way in favor of “entertainment”, Ramirez actions today should still come off as offensive and cowardly.
Rays Caught Off Guard
It’s safe to say that Manny was aware of the failed test …

With all the acquisitions and trades surrounding the Philadelphia Phillies pitching staff, you’ve gotta start wondering what the hell is going on.

Last year it was Cliff Lee joining the Phillies in a mid-season trade, only to send him off packing before the start of the 2010 season. Lee will make around $9 million this year.
Earlier this year it was the trade for ace Roy Halladay, who has yet to disappoint in Philadelphia. He even had a perfect game this year and is worth every penny of his contract.

And now, as …

One of my blogging buddies did a pretty good analysis on the effects of a “perfect game”  in Major League Baseball translating to long-term success and/or if it is an indication of the quality of pitcher.
Granted, anyone who makes it to the big leagues is a quality pitcher – I use that loosely of course.
But what he found out when looking at the last 10 Perfect Game pitchers was that they were nearly on par w/ major league averages when it comes to WHIP, ERA, etc.
“That logic tells you that …

Major League Baseball‘s October classic kicks off today in fine fashion, matching up the league’s best for a memorable playoff season.
Yesterday’s 1-game playoff between the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers was an instant (ESPN) Classic.  12-innings, something like 24 hits and 20 stranded base runners in total.  Both teams were hungry, but the Twins executed in the clutch and pulled out the win to advance to meet the Yankees – baseball’s best (regular season) team.
American League Series
New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins
The Yankees enter the postseason with the major’s best …

Some recent NFL signings have made me look back at how many times a sports franchise has made a dumb move by signing a player to a high-priced, long-term contract.  Whether the player was getting up there in age, hadn’t proved themself (really), or was just being paid on their historical performance, the teams that signed the players were affected in the long-term financially and took losses on the player.  Sure, the right signing can carry a franchise (e.g. Shaq, Manny Ramirez, Drew Brees), but the wrong signing can set …

Baseball News from L.A. Times
They are the only Angels on the roster now, but Chone Figgins is in the running for a spot in an Internet vote.  Center fielder Torii Hunter and closer Brian Fuentes were the only Angels named to the American League All-Star team today, but third baseman Chone Figgins is one of five candidates for the final roster spot, which will be determined by an Internet vote of fans.  Continue reading on L.A. Times

Some statistics are deceiving, including the 3-3 record the Dodgers‘ Randy Wolf has attained to start the 2009 season.  Wolf is playing very well for LA, but just can’t get the run support needed to entertain achieving actual wins.  Despite the lack of wins he has accrued, Wolf is a solid fantasy baseball starter as a #3-4 option – possibly even a #2.  The wins do hold him back slightly, but his strikeouts and innings pitched are an asset to most fantasy rosters.
In 17 starts, the veteran left-hander has 11 …

Baseball News from L.A. Times
Andre Ethier hit three home runs and knocked in six against the Mariners. Clayton Kershaw is sharp.  Bad things don’t come in threes for the Dodgers. Good things certainly do.   Continue reading on L.A. Times

Andre Ethier is a stud.  With Manny Ramirez back in the lineup soon, Ethier’s numbers should get even better as opposing pitchers pitch around Manny.  Andre will get more good looks and opportunities to help the Dodgers in the NL West.  The team has already done better than most expected without …

Baseball News from L.A. Times
The Dodgers slugger’s scheduled stint this week with the triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes has set off a chain reaction of Manny love in the New Mexico city.  The man in the old Dodgers cap stood with his hands in his pockets.    Continue reading on L.A. Times

Baseball News from L.A. Times
They improve to 25-16 in Manny Ramirez‘s absence, having beaten the Phillies, Rangers and Angels recently in road series.
Kobe Bryant took his front-row seat behind the Dodgers dugout before the first pitch, and to his credit he stayed until the ninth inning. The sellout crowd at Angel Stadium serenaded him with “M-V-P” chants, and his team beat the home team.   Continue reading on L.A. Times

Baseball News from L.A. Times
The left fielder has a more positive outlook these days, and not just because he’s played so well during Manny Ramirez‘s suspension. He says he’s found inner peace.  Several fans e-mailed recently suggesting something probably needs to be written — given Juan Pierre‘s tremendous play of late — after he was referred to here in the past as a Little Leaguer.  Continue reading on L.A. Times

Baseball News from L.A. Times
Dodgers owner says if fans vote him into the lineup, ‘It’d be a great honor.’
Dodgers owner Frank McCourt said he would like to see Manny Ramirez play in the All-Star game if fans vote him into the National League’s starting lineup. Continue reading on L.A. Times

Baseball News from L.A. Times
The first baseman drives in the game’s first run and has a three-run double in the seventh inning. Juan Pierre gets three more hits and Orlando Hudson extends hitting streak to 17. Continue reading on L.A. Times
The Los Angeles Dodgers are hardly missing a beat w/out slugger Manny Ramirez and still hold the major’s best record.  While many, including myself, thought they would struggle w/out Ramirez in the lineup, they have actually thrived.  Starting pitching is the primary reason, w/ both Billingsley and Wolf dominating so …

Major League Baseball has gone soft on its interpretation of the rules of the game.  Baseball, for all intents and purposes, has not changed its rules in over 30 years.  This comes as a stark contrast to other sports such as basketball and football that are constantly evolving their rules which inevitably allows the calls made by the ref’s and officials to impact the outcome of the game a little bit more.

In baseball, there are really only a limited amount of calls that can be made by the umpiring crew.  …