Category: MLB (Page 36 of 448)

      Capps replaces Nathan as Twins’ closer

      April 17, 2011 /
      Minnesota Twins’ Joe Nathan pitches against the New York Yankees during their MLB American League Division Series playoff baseball game in New York October 9, 2009. REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES SPORT BASEBALL)

      The Twins have decided to replace Joe Nathan with Matt Capps at closer according to Kelsie Smith via Twitter.

      From Rotoworld.com:

      Manager Ron Gardenhire and pitching coach Rick Anderson met with Nathan after Saturday’s game — a game in which he blew his second straight save opportunity — and decided it would be a good idea to put him in less stressful situations. It’s the right move, as Nathan simply hasn’t looked like himself thus far. Capps has struggled in his own right his last two outings, but he was pitching well before that and has the tools to succeed in the ninth inning. Assuming his stuff does come around, we would expect Nathan to eventually get his job back, but it’s not a given.

      Nathan apparently said that he was hurting the team by trying to close and will attempt to regain his form. Maybe with less pressure and more time to recover from his 2010 Tommy John surgery, he will return to his old position and continue to close out games for the Twins. It wasn’t that long ago that Nathan was viewed as the best closer in the game.

      External Sports, Fantasy Baseball, MLB

      Drunken Cubs fan discusses life at Wrigley

      April 16, 2011 /

      Those who have attended a Cubs game at Wrigley Field know it’s a magical place. Despite the product on the field, the stands are usually packed, the ivory is green in the summer and most of all, it represents a piece of baseball history.

      It’s also a fantastic place to people watch, as some fans attend the games as if they would a party on a Friday. Cub games offer people the chance to get drunk with friends in or right outside the park, scream bloody murder when they think a ball hit into the outfield has a chance to leave the stadium even though it falls about 20 feet short of the warning track, and root for the “Cubbies,” even though they might not know most of the players’ names.

      This woman typifies that fan at Wrigley.

      Opening Day: The Cubs biggest fan from WBEZ on Vimeo.

      “It’s like, I have to pay for HBO and birth control, so why should public radio be free?”

      OUTSTANDING.

      Humor, MLB, Video

      5 baseball questions with singer/songwriter Ari Hest

      April 16, 2011 /

      New York City based singer/songwriter Ari Hest has a very passionate fan base, one that helped choose the songs for his 2009 release, Twelve Mondays. Hest is back with a brand new album of new material, Sunset Over Hope Street, and as always, this prolific songwriter has delivered another set of stellar songs that can maybe best be described as alternative pop.

      And speaking of passionate, Hest is a huge fan of the New York Yankees, and we had the chance to catch up with him while he’s on tour in support of Sunset Over Hope Street, to ask him some questions about the 2010 baseball season complete with predictions:

      The Scores Report: So how do you feel about the Yankees’ chances this year as a whole–and where you do expect them to end up in the standings and why?

      Ari Hest: I think the Yanks will finish first in the division, but I have doubts about them beating Texas in the playoffs. The pitching isn’t quite what it used to be.

      TSR: What do you think about the starting rotation and do you think the Yankees can get by with Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia as the 4 and 5 starters, or will that offense just bludgeon opponents anyway?

      AH: Actually I think they will win around 90 games and still take the division, so neither their pitching nor offense will be anything special — only enough to win the division.

      TSR: How many years do you think Mariano Rivera can effectively pitch?

      AH: I think somewhere around 2046 he’ll retire. He’s only 43 now.

      TSR: What are your long-range predictions for who will meet in the World Series and why?

      AH: World Series this year: Phillies beat Rangers in 7 games, since both teams are stacked. Nobody can beat that Philly pitching in a short series.

      TSR: What are your predictions for AL and NL MVP?

      AH: AL – Josh Hamilton and NL – Ryan Howard

      Bonus question, TSR: Do you think the NFL labor situation will be settled before September?

      AH: I really hope so. It’s so lame. And the fans get hurt the most.

      For more information on Ari Hest music and tour dates, please visit www.arihest.com. And maybe we’ll check back with Ari at the end of the season to see how things shook out.

      MLB

      Giants’ Brandon Belt running out of time to prove himself in the majors?

      April 16, 2011 /
      San Francisco Giants’ Brandon Belt autographs baseballs before his MLB National League baseball game in San Francisco, California, April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Beck Diefenbach (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      Brandon Belt has been a nice story thus far in San Francisco, but that “nice story” could turn into a cautionary one soon if the young man doesn’t start hitting.

      Despite many believing he would start the year at Triple-A Fresno, the 22-year-old Belt made the Giants’ roster after a great spring. San Francisco management believed that he made the club better and with outfielder Cody Ross set to start the year on the DL, it was easy to make room for Belt after designating 1B Travis Ishikawa for assignment.

      But since then, Aubrey Huff (who had to move to right field because Belt took his job at first) has been somewhat of a circus act in the outfield and Aaron Rowand (despite a bad night in Arizona on Friday) is hot after taking over for Andres Torres (15-day DL) in centerfield. Once Torres comes off the DL on April 26, the Giants will have a decision to make, which could mean sending Belt back down to Triple-A.

      Granted, that wouldn’t be the worst thing for Belt, who has started to find his stroke at the plate of late, but who still is only hitting .200 with one home run. Ironing out the kinks in the minors now may actually help him later and it’s not as if his career is over if he’s sent down in two weeks. Far from it, in fact: he is the Giants’ first baseman of the future.

      That said, no player wants to spend any amount of time in the minors and if he wants to stick around, Belt better start heating up. After showing some frustration at the plate earlier in the season, he’s starting to take better at bats and a hot-streak could be right around the corner. At 6’5” and 210 pounds, opposing pitchers have been hammering him on his hands inside. But after struggling with the pitch for about a week, Belt lined an inside pitch from Daniel Hudson into right field last night for a clean base hit. Thus, maybe he’s starting to come around.

      Currently, the Giants have a great blend of young (Belt, Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval) and veteran (Huff, Torres, Ross, Rowand, Freddy Sanchez and Miguel Tejada) talent among their position players. But it would be much easier to send Belt down to the minors then designate someone like Nate Schierholtz for assignment, or flat out release a player like Rowand or Pat Burrell. So just as Belt did in spring training, he might have to force Giants’ management to keep him on the roster by finding his stroke.

      External Sports, MLB

      Lenny Dykstra charged with bankruptcy fraud

      April 15, 2011 /

      Lenny Dykstra has had a rough go of things since he officially retired in 1998 at the age of 35. He’s been arrested for sexual harassment of a 17-year-old female, has been accused of using offensive terms when speaking about Blacks, women, and homosexuals, was also accused of sexual assault, credit card fraud, writing bad checks, was named on the 2007 Mitchell Report and yes, is now being charged with bankruptcy fraud.

      According to a report by the New York Post, the former Mets and Phillies star was charged with bankruptcy fraud for allegedly selling items from his $18-million mansion without permission. After filing for bankruptcy in July of 2009, Dykstra apparently destroyed and sold property that was part of the bankruptcy estate without the permission of the trustee.

      Apparently the items he was selling ranged from sports memorabilia to a $50,000 sink. Now, I’m no financial whiz but I would assume if you’re having issues with debt, buying a $50,000 sink probably isn’t the best idea. I mean, a quick Google search resulted in this $342.48 Moen 22356 18’ Gauge Single Basin Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink, which includes free shipping. Me thinks $50K is a little much for one sink.

      If you read through his Wikipedia page, it’s a wonder how this guy hasn’t spent serious time in jail. Seems like a real shady character to me. And when I say “shady,” I mean he likes to partake in illegal things and somehow evades punishment.

      External Sports, MLB

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