Category: MLB (Page 398 of 448)

Tigers’ outfielder Gary Sheffield has officially opened his mouth again, this time calling out Yankees’ manager Joe Torre, shortstop Derek Jeter and Giants’ outfielder Barry Bonds in an interview for HBO’s “Real Sports”, which will air next Tuesday.

In the interview according to ESPN.com, Sheffield insinuates Torre treats his white players with more respect and that they “get called in (Torre’s) office and treated like a man” when the manager needs to tell them something. Sheffield also noted that Jeter used to speak highly of Torre, but “It’s one thing that they treat (Jeter) a certain way; (Jeter doesn’t) feel what other people feel.” The cherry on top was that Sheffield essentially called Bonds out for taking steroids, while also clearing himself of any wrongdoing by stating, “steroids is something you stick in your butt” and, “I only took clear substances”.

Hey Gary, you do know that Baroid states he only took clear substances too, right? So you trying to separate yourself from him by saying you only took clear “substances”, essentially puts you on his level steroid-wise. And why the hell should any of us listen to you about Joe Torre playing racial favorites when you constantly go around with a chip on your shoulder about everything?

According to the Chicago Tribune, feisty Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has submitted an application to purchase the Cubs. However, some believe that Commissioner Bud Selig would balk at the idea of having the outspoken Cuban in the uptight, conservative world of MLB owners.

Personally I think this would be great for the game of baseball and for the Cubs. Cuban is a very successful owner, will do whatever it takes to win and although he’s a loudmouth, he’s very passionate…I think I just listed three things the Chicago Cubs ownership has never had. Could you imagine a freewheeling spender like Cuban in the capless MLB? Holy crap, he’d be handing out mega multiyear deals to top free agents like it was candy on Halloween. And it’s not like potential free agents are going to shy away from a big city like Chicago, which only helps the league trying to restore marketability.

The only bad thing I can see come out of this is Cuban getting a seat right behind home plate at Wrigley. If that happens, I’d hand in my resignation if I were an umpire – “Oh come on blue, that wasn’t even close to being a strike you sack of sh*t!”

Apparently the San Francisco Giants don’t care much about winning seeing as how they’re closing in on a new multiyear deal with GM Brian Seabean. Those not familiar with Sabean’s work, allow me to highlight a couple of moves he’s made since getting SF to the World Series in 2002.

– Orchestrated the worst trade in the history of MLB, sending top closer Joe Nathan, 2006 rookie phenom Francisco Lirano, dependable starter Boof Bonser and cash to the Twins for catcher A.J. Pierzynski. No need to explain how this trade has worked out for both clubs.

– Traded young, promising reliever Jeremy Accardo to Toronto for Shea Hillenbrand and Vinnie Chulk. Hillenbrand lasted a half year while Accardo has outperformed Chulk.

– Outbid himself to sign Barry Bonds for $15.8 million this past offseason.

– Signed closer Armando Benitez to a huge 3-year, $21.5 million contract in 2004. When he wasn’t hurt, Benitez was terrible and Sabean finally had to rid of his mistake by trading him to Florida earlier this year.

– Worst of all, Sabean has absolutely refused to re-stock the farm system with young position players, instead loves to waste money on over the hill veterans like Dave Roberts, Rich Aurilia, Edgardo Alfonzo, Steve Finley and a slew of others.

The Giants haven’t made the playoffs since 2003 and it certainly hasn’t been all Sabean’s fault. Owner Peter Magowan’s infatuation with Bonds often handcuffs what Sabean can do in the offseason and to his credit, he has built a nice young pitching staff. However, with job security almost in hand, if Sabean once again refuses to rebuild the Giants – the trade deadline would be a good place to start – then this is a move that will set this team back for years to come.

Anyone who tuned into the Midsummer Classic last night saw a lot of exciting things, such as Ichiro’s inside the park home run (first ever in ASG history), Ken Griffey’s laser to throw out A-Rod at the plate, and a bases loaded situation in the bottom of the ninth.

What you wouldn’t have seen, however, is any sign of Albert Pujols because his manager, Tony La Russa, left his ass on the bench the entire game. La Russa tried to explain afterwards that in case of extra innings, he wanted to have the versatile Pujols to come off the bench, but his first basemen wasn’t having it.

“If I wasn’t expecting myself to play, I wouldn’t come up here,” he said. “Believe me, if I couldn’t play, I wouldn’t show up here. I’d rather stay home with my family. But that’s the way it is.”

I get how La Russa would want to have Pujols come off the bench if the game went extra innings, but the contest was 5-4 with two outs left in the ninth and the NL was the home team – so go for the win Tony. Not to take anything away from Aaron Rowand, but we’re talking about Albert Pujols, bottom of the ninth, bases loaded and he’s completely fresh. You take your shot in the ninth because at that point, there is no extra innings. Pujols has ever right to be pissed.

No offense to any of the fine National League All-Stars, but is there any way the American League loses tonight? Jake Peavy, Brad Penny, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels are fine pitchers, but A-Rod, Vlad, Mags and Big Papi are going to eat these guys alive.

Final: AL 9, NL 4.

Of course, if the above prediction turns out anything like my home run derby prediction, an NL team will be hosting the World Series in a few months.