http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/baseball/ en-us Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:03:23 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415941/posts In an athlete’s environment, money can be its own pollutant; you can become desensitized to the significance of what it can buy. Typically, if a person spends hundreds of dollars on arrangements to pass time with someone, that someone would be important in his life. But when you have extensive financial resources, it’s easy to send similar signals to people who are meaningful only for a moment. Even worse, you might only concern yourself with what it means to you. As the money flows in, so do the toys — cars, clothes, bling — and once in the stratosphere, a... New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415941/posts#comment Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:03:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415414/posts Terre Haute, Ind. – The Terre Haute Rex baseball team was introduced today as the newest members of The Prospect League. The team is owned by Sycamore Foundation Holdings, a non-profit subsidiary of the Indiana State University Foundation; and the announcement rejuvenates a passion for the sport in a community that has played host to famous professionals, supported unique franchises and witnessed baseball history. “Terre Haute has an amazing historical connection to the sport of baseball,” said Indiana State University Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Curt Wilkinson. “We are thrilled to be the catalyst for something that will provide quality... The Journal of Business http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415414/posts#comment Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:38:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2412901/posts Cole Green, Taylor Jungmann, Chance Ruffin and Cameron Rupp were among the top players selected by Collegiate Baseball newspaper for the 2010 Louisville Slugger Preseason All-America team. AUSTIN, Texas – The University of Texas had four players named to the 2010 Louisville Slugger Preseason All-America team presented by Collegiate Baseball, the publication announced on Monday. Taylor Jungmann and Chance Ruffin were tabbed to the First Team as starting pitchers, while Cameron Rupp was named a second-team catcher and Cole Green was named a third-team relief pitcher. TheCypressTimes.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2412901/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:44:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2411695/posts Now that the dust has begun to settle on a slim free-agent market with slim pickin's, it appears Johnny Damon and Jason Bay are going to wind up with teams they never would've dreamed of playing for, while Matt Holliday will have to settle for considerably less than the $18 million-$20 million per year his rep Scott (Avenging Agent) Boras asserted to be his worth. We start with Damon, a terrific guy for whom there will be no sad songs sung here over his self-imposed exile from the team he loved, the Yankees. It wasn't as if the Yankees deceived... www.nydailynews.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2411695/posts#comment Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:07:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2409644/posts Club Signs 17-year-old Dominican TheCypressTimes.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2409644/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:36:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2407604/posts New York Yankees have quite a catch in Curtis Granderson, who's a leader on and off field Curtis Granderson laughs at the memory now, but when he saw that the letter had come from the baseball commissioner's office, his first thought was, "Did I do something wrong?" What Granderson found when he opened the envelope, however, "was amazing," he says, and the letter sits in one of his parents' scrapbooks to this day. The Yankees' newest star had gotten a letter from commissioner Bud Selig earlier this year praising Granderson's work as a baseball ambassador during offseason clinics in places... NY Daily News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2407604/posts#comment Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:08:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2403044/posts The Astros offered arbitration to Valverde, who is classified as a Type A free agent, on December 1st. "It would have been nice for the certainty aspect if Jose had accepted," Wade said. "That being said, we still have the ability to see if we can get something done. We’re not closing the door on that opportunity." TheCypressTimes.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2403044/posts#comment Tue, 8 Dec 2009 18:56:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2398749/posts NEW YORK – Get ready for more postseason baseball games — and fewer off days. Players would like to see the first round of playoffs expand to best-of-seven when their next labor contract starts in 2012, Michael Weiner said Wednesday in his first news conference since replacing Donald Fehr as the union head. "There is a lot of sentiment for a seven-game division series," Weiner said. "I think a properly constructed postseason schedule could accommodate three seven-game series but still have it extend over a shorter period of time than what happened this year." The first round has been best-of-five... AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2398749/posts#comment Wed, 2 Dec 2009 21:35:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2398451/posts On MLB network, 12 pm today: The 1989 All Star Game (July 11, 1989) President Reagan joins Vin Scully in the broadcast booth. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2398451/posts#comment Wed, 2 Dec 2009 15:38:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2398316/posts Commenting on how receivers of baseball welfare simply pocket the money Henry said: "Change is needed and that is reflected by the fact that over a billion dollars have been paid to seven chronically uncompetitive teams, five of whom have had baseball’s highest operating profits," Henry responded in an e-mail. "Who, except these teams, can think this is a good idea?" Boston.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2398316/posts#comment Wed, 2 Dec 2009 11:53:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2390101/posts SAN FRANCISCO -- For Tim Lincecum, less was indeed more in 2009. The San Francisco Giants right-hander won fewer games but added to his pitching legend. Lincecum repeated as the National League Cy Young Award winner, besting St. Louis right-handers Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright despite getting fewer first-place selections than Wainwright in the vote conducted by the Baseball Writers' Association of America and announced on Thursday. mlb.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2390101/posts#comment Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:41:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2389240/posts The answer to the question of whose curveball breaks harder — that of the Yankees' A.J. Burnett or the Phillies' Cole Hamels — may be neither. Zhong-Lin Lu, professor of cognitive neuroscience at USC, along with colleagues from USC and American University, developed a simple visual demo that suggests a curveball's break is, at least in part, a trick of the eye. Their demo won the Best Visual Illusion of the Year prize at the Vision Sciences meeting earlier this year. Try it here:The break of the curveball 2009 First prize A related press release is here. The curveball's effect... livescience http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2389240/posts#comment Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:30:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2379062/posts Media firm Magna research today published its estimates of the audiences for the World Series from 1991. They broke the data down by audience per game in each series (of which, of course, there are a possible 7). There was no Series in 1994 due to a strike. These numbers are estimates, and I have no idea of their potential error; that is, their appropriate plus/minus. Also, the ratings do not show other ways besides traditional TV that people use to follow the Series. I listen to the radio, for example, and sometimes surf to Major League Baseball’s website to... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2379062/posts#comment Thu, 5 Nov 2009 13:20:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2378713/posts Pedro vs Andy http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2378713/posts#comment Wed, 4 Nov 2009 23:18:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2378079/posts Former President George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch for a baseball game in Japan Tuesday during his first visit since he left office. Bush joined former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to watch the game between the Yomiuri Giants and Nippon Ham Fighters. Bush changed into a baseball jacket before taking the mound in the Tokyo Dome to throw the pitch before Game 3 of the Japan Series. He chatted briefly with several players before joining Koizumi in a private box. Also in the box were Japanese home run king Sadaharu Oh and U.S. Ambassador to Japan... Chosun Ilbo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2378079/posts#comment Wed, 4 Nov 2009 06:46:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2377379/posts <p>TOKYO — Former President George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 3 of the Japan Series between the Yomiuri Giants and Nippon Ham Fighters.</p> <p>Bush, wearing a Yomiuri warmup jacket, took the mound Tuesday at Tokyo Dome and threw a pitch to Giants catcher Shinnosuke Abe that bounced once in the dirt before being caught.</p> www.bostonherald.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2377379/posts#comment Tue, 3 Nov 2009 14:47:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2376932/posts A Philadelphia newspaper has apologized to readers for mistakenly running an ad congratulating the Philadelphia Phillies on winning back-to-back World Series titles. The Yankees held a commanding 3-1 lead in the championship as of Monday, the day the ad was printed in the Philadelphia Inquirer. New York Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2376932/posts#comment Mon, 2 Nov 2009 23:14:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2373370/posts The White House could not have imagined it was a step behind generous Daily News readers when it invited a wounded Marine to join the First Lady at tonight's opening game of the World Series. Lance Cpl. Michael Stilson had already gotten a pair of tickets as part of an outpouring by News readers offering to help wounded vets see the Yankees try for another world championship. Of course, the 22-year-old recovering at Bethesda Naval Medical Center was still more than honored by the offer from the White House. He did not want just to say thanks, but no thanks.... Ny Daily News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2373370/posts#comment Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:03:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2373092/posts Michelle Obama and Jill Biden will attend Game One of the World Series in NYC Wednesday -- and both will take the field for opening ceremonies. Major League Baseball announced just now that as part of a program dedicated to welcoming back veterans, the first and second lady will accompany two dignitaries: Navy World War II vet and Yankee legend Yogi Berra, and Tony Odierno, who lost an arm in Iraq. Odierno is the son of Gen. Raymond Odierno, commanding general of the multi-national force in Iraq. The younger Odierno received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for his... Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2373092/posts#comment Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:35:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2372350/posts A self-described “desperate blonde” was arrested after she attempted to trade sex for World Series tickets, police said. Susan Finkelstein, a 43-year-old Philadelphia woman, took out an ad on the website Craigslist declaring her wish for seats at the "Fall Classic." “Desperate Blonde Needs WS Tix,” the title of the ad read, according to police. Police who viewed the ad apparently believed Finkelstein went into foul territory when she described what she’d be willing to do for the tickets. “Diehard Phillies fan – gorgeous tall buxom blonde – in desperate need of two World Series tickets,” the ad went on.... NJ Star-Ledger http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2372350/posts#comment Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:08:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2373042/posts NEW YORK — A position-by-position look at the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees going into the World Series, starting Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium: ___ First Base Phillies: Ryan Howard. The NL championship series MVP was downright fearsome in the first two playoff rounds, batting .355 with two homers, 14 RBIs, four doubles, a triple and seven walks. All that after hitting 45 home runs and tying for the major league lead with 141 RBIs during the regular season. One of baseball's premier sluggers, the 2006 NL MVP lost 40 pounds last offseason and became a much better all-around... AP via Google News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2373042/posts#comment Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:25:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2372373/posts Some fans will do anything to go to the World Series. Bensalem police said they arrested a Philadelphia woman Tuesday after she offered to perform various sex acts to an undercover officer in exchange for tickets. According to police, Susan Finkelstein, 43, posted an ad on Craigslist that read: "DESPERATE BLONDE NEEDS WS TIX (Philadelphia) "Diehard Phillies fan—gorgeous tall buxom blonde— in desperate need of two World Series Tickets. Price negotiable--- I'm the creative type! Maybe we can help each other!" An undercover officer responded to the ad, police said, and arrested Finkelstein after she made her offer. Finkelstein, of... Philadelphia Inquirer http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2372373/posts#comment Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:28:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2372202/posts The Houston Astros will hold a press conference this afternoon to announce the hiring of Brad Mills as the new field Manager for the team. Brad Mills, who spent the last six years working under former college roommate and teammate Terry Francona as the bench coach for the Boston Red Sox, has been named as the new manager of the Astros. The Cypress Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2372202/posts#comment Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:07:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2372114/posts BRISTOL, Conn. (AP)—An ESPN spokesman says the production assistant whose affair with Steve Phillips led to the baseball analyst’s firing is no longer with the sports network. Spokesman Mike Soltys said Monday that Brooke Hundley doesn’t work at ESPN anymore. He declined to say whether she quit or was fired. Hundley did not immediately return a phone message Monday. Connecticut-based ESPN fired Phillips on Sunday night, less than a week after he admitted to an affair with the 22-year-old assistant. A representative for Phillips has also said he was entering a treatment facility. ESPN says Phillips’ ability to be an... Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2372114/posts#comment Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:29:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2371348/posts "I can't push this enough," Mark McGwire said addressing his Cardinals' players. "Steroids help you hit." McGwire, former Home Run King, will return to the St. Louis Cardinals as their new hitting coach, and he has a simple slogan: "Get Big...Illegally" McGwire proceeded to pull a Mike Singletary during his meeting and pull down his pants revealing his testicles had disappeared. "Would you rather have big balls or hit the balls big?" McGwire asked. The Cardinals players seemed to take to the slogan and clearly so did management. "I'm on board," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "Cheating is the... BleacherReport.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2371348/posts#comment Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:29:11 GMT