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There's really little to discuss before pitchers and catchers reports to Kissimmee next week. I had no idea what I would write about before reader James Crabtree sent an e-mail over a topic that upset him. The topic was a small mention in Alyson Footer's recent MLB blog about the "Flashback Friday" campaign this season to deck current players in the uniforms of yesteryear. Her blog said this: * Flashback Fridays: the Astros will wear retro jerseys from past decades every Friday home game this year, starting with the Colt .45s (minus the pistol, which was deemed inappropriate to include...

SAN DIEGO -- Tony Gwynn is already talking after five doctors spent 14 hours removing a malignant tumor from inside the Hall of Famer's right cheek on Tuesday. According to Gwynn's wife, Alicia, the doctors performed a complex nerve-graft procedure, removing Gwynn's facial nerve and replacing it with a nerve from Gwynn's shoulder. Alicia Gwynn said her husband came out of surgery at 1 a.m. PT Wednesday, and that doctors told her they had entirely removed the cancerous growth from his parotid gland. At 8:30 a.m., Tony Gwynn was already talking, drinking water and laughing. That was not the case...

DALLAS -- Albert Pujols has agreed to a 10-year, $250 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney on Thursday. The deal includes a full no-trade clause, which Pujols had been seeking and may have been a sticking point in his negotiations with the Miami Marlins.

Federal authorities have opened a wide-ranging investigation into the Miami Marlins' controversial ballpark deal with Miami-Dade County and the city of Miami, demanding financial information underpinning nearly $500 million in bond sales as well as records of campaign contributions from the Marlins to local and state elected leaders. In a pair of lengthy letters delivered to government attorneys Thursday, the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission gave the city and county until Jan. 6 to deliver everything from minutes of meetings between government leaders and Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, to records of Marlins finances...

... The new CBA, released Tuesday, added the words “sexual orientation” to its section on discrimination. This development was first reported by the Daily News, and later confirmed by a news release, issued jointly by MLB and the Players’ Association, that read, “Non-discrimination based on sexual orientation were added to Article XV.” Article XV, Section A of MLB’s expiring Basic Agreement, in effect from 2006-2011, states: “The provisions of this Agreement shall be applied to all Players covered by this Agreement without regard to race, color, religion or national origin.” In the new agreement, the words “sexual orientation” were added...

Seattle Mariners outfielder Greg Halman was killed in a stabbing in Rotterdam, a Dutch TV station reported Monday.

At 9:00pm Friday night, the Florida Marlins officially unveil their new logos and uniforms, transforming themselves overnight into the Miami Marlins.

Ever since his Texas Rangers collapsed over the final two games of the World Series last week, Nolan Ryan says he hasn't watched the disappointing replay of David Freese's(notes) triple sailing over Nelson Cruz's(notes) head in the ninth inning of Game 6. He doesn't plan to, either. But while Ryan concedes he may accidentally see the replay while watching something else, everyone's favorite fireballer says he's going to make dang sure that another highlight won't be played when the Chicago White Sox come to opening day at Rangers Ballpark next April. That, of course, would be the clip of Ryan...

Tony LaRussa retires. Press conference now.

October 28, 2011--The St. Louis Cardinals have won the world series in an improbable, luck-filled and quirky convergence of events. For example, the number of dribblers Lance Berkman hit that rolled like bocci balls through the infield was exceeded only by the dribbles in Tony LaRussa's depends. Okay, let's allow these Cardinal fan cretins a little superficial happiness for once. It has probably been years since some of these fat losers have even cracked a smile. But the real story of the 2011 world series is that the all time villan of MLB, Tony LaRussa,a piece of human garbage and...

Seires is tied up 3-3, this is it! Matt Harrison (LH) v C Carpenter (RH)

With FOX broadcaster Joe Buck echoing his father's well-known call by saying, "We will see you tomorrow night," after the Cardinals' epic 10-9 win over the Rangers in Game 6 of the World Series on Thursday, it conjured memories of the Twins' win in similar fashion over the Braves in Game 6 of the 1991 World Series. It was legendary broadcaster Jack Buck who famously said, "And we'll see you tomorrow night," after Twins center fielder Kirby Puckett launched a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the 11th inning at the Metrodome to send the Series to a...

KC ties it again in the bottom of the 9th!

More than a few pundits have condemned miscreants in pro football, but the truth hurts their argument: NFL players are actually incarcerated less than the average citizen. The numbers don't lie. One in every 45 National Football League players (2.2 percent) is arrested. The national arrest rate is 1 in 23 (4.2 percent), according to the FBI in 2010. What does that mean? Technically, NFL players get in 47.6 percent less trouble than your average Joe. When Mike the butcher gets a DUI, it's not news. But when Steve the cornerback gets busted for public intoxication, it becomes a story....

Devon La Russa, the daughter of St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, apologized and removed an offensive tweet she sent Sunday night regarding Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington, Yahoo! Sports reports. The tweet that created the backlash: "I saw a crack head doing 'The Wash' today. Coincidence? I think not..."

For the first time, Major League Baseball put a specific number on the amount it alleges Dodgers owner Frank McCourt took out of the team -- $189.16 million -- and described the distributions as "looting." However, amid the legal and financial fine points of the Dodgers' bankruptcy, Bryan Stow could emerge as a pivotal face in the case at a critical hearing next week. Stow won't be there, of course. But, with his representatives sitting on the official committee of creditors, attorneys for the Dodgers and the league are expected to cite Stow in their arguments in a Delaware courtroom....

Pujols joins Reggie Jackson and Babe Ruth as the only player to ever hit 3 home runs in a single World Series game.

Was Robin Ventura the right choice to be Sox manager? Do you like the White Sox's decision to name Robin Ventura as their new manager?

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rangers' ultimate goal is to return to the World Series and this time win it. The American League West champions have just removed another obstacle by taking down the Rays in the AL Division Series on their home turf. Adrian Beltre hit a record-tying three home runs as the Rangers advanced to the AL Championship Series with a 4-2 victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday afternoon. Ian Kinsler also hit a home run on the second pitch of the game from Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. They...

Major League Baseball on Friday asked a federal bankruptcy judge to order the sale of the Dodgers, arguing in court papers that Frank McCourt's plan to retain ownership of the team is "dead on arrival." MLB does not intend to approve any sale of television rights that would help McCourt maintain ownership of the Dodgers, according to the filing, and the league could enforce its ability to strip McCourt of the team once it emerged from bankruptcy protection. "Mr. McCourt cannot hide the Dodgers in bankruptcy forever," the MLB filing read.

The first perfect game in American League history was thrown by a pitcher who ended it with a taunt, defending his teammates against an insult, screaming at the final batter, "How do you like that, you hayseed?" The year was 1904, and the pitcher was Cy Young. On Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, imitating that long-ago barb with an inside fastball, a battling Clayton Kershaw proved worthy of winning the award that carries Cy Young’s name. Although Kershaw will never admit it, his pitch that plunked the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Gerardo Parra in the elbow in the sixth inning of the...

One of the more indelible images from the world of sport in the days following the 9/11 attacks came courtesy of the New York Mets. Wanting to find some way to honor the memory of the firefighters, police officers and paramedics who had died while evacuating the World Trade Center, the team took to the field for the first time after the attacks wearing baseball caps embossed with the logos of those first responders. Last night in New York, the Mets were scheduled to play on the tenth anniversary of 9/11. Several months ahead of time, as part of a...

NEW YORK -- New York Mets players considered violating a Major League Baseball edict prohibiting them from wearing hats of various New York City first responders during Sunday night's game against the Chicago Cubs, but ultimately opted to adhere to the order from the commissioner's office, player rep Josh Thole said. MLB denied the Mets' request to wear the baseball caps despite the policy. Joe Torre, MLB's executive vice president for baseball operations, told The Associated Press in a phone interview the decision was made to keep policy consistent throughout baseball. "Certainly it's not a lack of respect," Torre said....

The Red Sox by now certainly understand why people are upset about their public support for the vulgar, homosexual website "It Gets Better". Over the last three weeks the organization has been flooded with complaints -- many of them quite descriptive -- via phone, email, and US mail. We have personally talked to their representatives and explained in detail what that site entails. We also mailed a fairly descriptive letter to the Red Sox vice president of public relations. But instead of doing the right thing, the reaction by the Red Sox has been to dig in their heels. The...

Federal prosecutors say they have discussed a possible plea deal for a Lebanese immigrant accused of placing a backpack he thought contained a bomb near Wrigley Field last year. Prosecutors didn't elaborate when they told Judge Robert Gettleman at a Thursday status hearing in Chicago that they've been talking to defense lawyers about resolving the case before it gets to trial.

LOS ANGELES -- Legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully announced he'll be returning next year for his 63rd season behind the mic at Dodgers games. Scully made the announcement after he came back from a commercial break in the top of the sixth inning of Friday's game between the Rockies and Dodgers. The Hall of Fame announcer began his career in 1950 announcing Brooklyn Dodgers games. His 62 (and counting) years of service are the longest of any sports broadcaster. "I don't want to make a big deal out of it, you and I have been friends for a long time,"...

If I were the king of baseball, here is what I would do: 32 teams, geographically aligned, as follows: EASTERN/AMERICAN LEAGUENORTHEAST: Boston New York New York TorontoBaltimore Philadelphia Pittsburgh WashingtonEAST: Cincinnati Cleveland Detroit Indianapolis (or Nashville)Atlanta Charlotte (or Orlando) Florida Tampa BayWESTERN/NATIONAL LEAGUECENTRAL: Chicago Chicago Milwaukee MinnesotaHouston Kansas City St. Louis TexasWEST: Arizona Los Angeles Los Angeles San DiegoColorado Oakland San Francisco Seattle156-game regular season, as follows: 84 = 12 games against the other 7 teams in your division 48 = 6 games against the 8 teams in your league's other division 24 = 3 games against the 8 teams...

If the American League Central Division had a singular worry, it would have to be the imminent threat of its rising crime rate. This season, the division has had its fair share of brutal beatings, home-plate assaults and canon fire. Most of which have been perpetrated by Detroit Tigers potential Cy Young and MVP-winning ace Justin Verlander... Heading into his Aug. 22 matchup against Tampa Bay, Verlander was on track to garner win number 19 on the season. After allowing a leadoff home run, the Tigers star showed little remorse, as he annihilated the Rays over seven innings of baseball...

Paying tribute to the nation's heroes would seem to be a perfect fit for the nation's pastime. Not so fast, says Major League Baseball. The Washington Nationals had planned to honor the Navy SEALs who died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan by wearing special tribute hats on the field, but that plan didn't pass muster with league officials.

No sport in America is more patriotic than Major League Baseball, so it was odd that the powers that be got in the way of a tribute to our fallen military heroes. The Washington Nationals, who play their home games just down the street from the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol, wanted to wear special hats with military insignias during their game with the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night. This was the Nats' first home game since 30 soldiers riding in a helicopter were killed in Afghanistan on August 6th. But Commissioner Bud Selig's top executives stopped it from happening.

This idea was sparked by a very good HBO documentary, "Nine Innings from Ground Zero" about the positive impact baseball, particularly the New York Yankees, had in reuniting NYC after 9/11 and in helping to ease the pain. I had forgotten that the Yankees ran into one of the greatest one-two combos in major league pitching ever, Curt Schilling (at the top of his game) and Randy Johnson (declining from his Mariner days, but still capable of being unhittable. What are some of the other great pitching duos? I was alive when Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain were pitching, but...

Juan Nicasio suffered a scary injury, now deemed to be a broken neck, during Friday night's Colorado Rockies game against the Washington Nationals. The pitcher underwent surgery on Saturday morning to repair a fractured C-1 vertebrae. "Juan Nicasio is resting comfortably at a Denver hospital following surgery early this morning to stabilize a fracture to the C-1 vertebrae in his neck," the team said in a release. "Juan will remain hospitalized as he recovers from the surgery."

The arraignment for two men suspected of attacking San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium was delayed Monday. Louie Sanchez, 29, and Marvin Norwood, 30, have been in custody since Thursday in lieu of $500,000 bail. Arraignments for the day began at 8:30 a.m. About 9:45 a.m., Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Shelly Torrealba said not all attorneys were present, so the court proceeded with other arraignments on the calendar. Shortly before noon, the judge announced the arraignment would be delayed until Aug. 10. A bail hearing for Sanchez was scheduled for Aug. 1....

On this, the day of his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, let's take a look at the life of Bert Blyleven. Rik Aalbert Blijleven was born in Zeist, Netherlands on April 6, 1951. His family moved to Canada when he was just two years old, and then to Garden Grove, California when he was five. He was raised in Garden Grove, where he listened to Vin Scully on the Dodgers' radio broadcasts and pitched on a mound that his father had built in the family's backyard.

Los Angeles Dodgers’ owner Frank McCourt will be forced to accept a loan from Major League Baseball after a bankruptcy judge rejected a potential loan from a hedge fund on Friday. McCourt had been seeking to get an outside loan that would enable him to pay off creditors without involving the league, which has made its displeasure with McCourt quite clear. Instead, the judge rejected the loan McCourt wanted and pushed him in the direction of MLB. Bruce Bennett, McCourt’s lawyer, issued a statement suggesting that MLB did not have the right to intervene in matters of ownership.

LOS ANGELES - Two men and a woman arrested in connection with the beating of San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow outside Dodger Stadium on opening day were identified today, although police still refused to confirm the arrests or provide an update on the investigation. Louie Sanchez, 29, and Marvin Norwood, 30, were each being held in lieu of $500,000 bail following their arrests on suspicion of committing mayhem; while 31-year-old Dorene Sanchez -- believed to be Louie's sister and the wife or girlfriend of Norwood -- posted bail after after her arrest on suspicion of being an accessory after...

How can we improve Major League Baseball? I'm sure we all have our own ideas. Here are some of mine: Come up with a realistic method of capping a team's payroll. Eliminate inter-league play. If you want to watch the other league, use your TV. Have only two divisions in each league. The top two teams in each division would play each other. The wild card would thus be eliminated. The All-Star Game: The winner of the All-Star Game would no longer determine the home field advantage in the World Series. Thus the All-Star game would no longer "count." Since...

...Tuesday was the first time in my life that I watched the All-Star Game and wondered why they play it. This is not to say that the All-Star Game was terrible. It wasn’t terrible... The homefield advantage part of the All-Star Game actually made the game LESS enjoyable for me. A lot less...

FRee Republic 2011 All Star game thread.

Just days after Shannon Stone died from a fall while reaching for a baseball at a Texas Rangers game, a fan at last night’s Home Run Derby nearly fell out of the outfield stands while lunging for a home run ball hit by Prince Fielder. He was spared serious injury or death only because his friends grabbed him by his feet, held him and then pulled him back as he dangled over the railing above a concrete deck 20 feet below. That’s him to the right. His name is Keith Carmickle, and common sense is not his forte. His fall...

After what happened at the Home Run Derby on Monday night, we as a baseball-loving nation need to run a check on our priorities. Wherever "catching a baseball" ranks — and it's high, apparently — it ought to be made less important. Keith Carmickle — the man pictured above hanging on by his right arm, with his baseball glove dangling from his left hand — almost fell about 20 feet to a pool deck below at Chase Field after he chased a home run hit to center by Prince Fielder(notes).

A few weeks back, we gave the initial nudge to the online petition requesting that legendary announcer Vin Scully replace Joe Buck in the broadcast booth during this fall's World Series... How far has this petition gone? Far enough to reach the attention of Buck himself. Not only does the FOX Sports broadcaster like the idea, he'd be willing to step aside from his first World Series since 1996 if the 83-year-old Scully wants one last victory lap...

Remember last summer when it seemed all the world was out to get Arizona? Countless boycotts were threatened, some of them by Latino Major League Baseball players, who vowed they would not play in the 2011 All-Star Game in Phoenix and the pressure on MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to move the game was intense. Meanwhile, the mainstream media piled on Arizona as a state staggering back to its Wild West origins at a breakneck pace. Despite it all, two days from today, the Midsummer Classic will be played in 105-degree heat at Chase Field. By all accounts, the protests at...

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan says he spoke by telephone with the widow of the firefighter who died after a fall at Thursday night's game. He says Jenny Stone told him that "she's very concerned about her son and the impact that this is having on him." Shannon Stone, 39, fell over a railing in left field during Thursday night's game in Arlington, Texas, as he reached for a foul ball tossed to him by outfielder Josh Hamilton. Stone was at the game with his 6-year-old son, Cooper. Jenny Stone, through Ryan, asked that the news media...

<p>ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - A fan attending the Texas Rangers game died after he fell out of the stands behind the left-field wall.</p> <p>The man fell after reaching to get a ball that was tossed into the stands by Rangers left fielder Josh Hamilton.</p>

Hall of Fame manager Dick Williams, who won two World Series titles with Oakland and led two other franchises to pennants, has died. He was 82. Williams died from a ruptured aortic aneurysm at a hospital near his home in Henderson, Nev., the Hall of Fame said.

Derek Jeter will go to his sixth straight All-Star Game as a member of the starting lineup, and his twelfth All-Star Game lifetime. Whether he deserves to be there is, of course, a matter of opinion. If your opinion is that the All-Star Game is the place for the current season’s best and brightest, the absolute best players in baseball this season to step up, then Jeter has no business being in the starting lineup this year. Even if he is on the threshold of a career milestone—his struggles since last season to one side, there isn’t anyone in or...

Tonight at midnight is the deadline for voting for baseball All-Stars. (Pitchers and reserves named later.) Each roster gets 34 players, and every team must be represented. What are your picks? Here are mine, with starter mentioned first, then the reserves (HM = Honorable Mention). I look at this year's performance, of course, but also factor in last year and career: NATIONAL LEAGUE C: McCann, Molina 1B: Fielder, Votto, Morse 2B: Weeks, Phillips SS: Reyes, Tulowitzki, Castro 3B: Ramirez, Jones OF: Braun, Holliday OF: Kemp, Victorino, McCutcheon OF: Berkman, Upton, Pence SP: Halladay, Hamels, Lee, Jurrjens, Hanson, Lohse, Kershaw, Kennedy,...

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus has declined a request to intervene on behalf of Dodgers owner Frank McCourt in his showdown with Major League Baseball, Rep. Charles Gonzalez said Friday. Gonzalez (D-San Antonio), the chairman of the CHC, met Friday with MLB lobbyists. He said he had requested a meeting with Commissioner Bud Selig to discuss issues of concern to the Latino community but said the CHC would not stand with McCourt in his battle against Selig. We can't take sides in a business dispute," Gonzalez said. "We do want to express our appreciation for what Mr. McCourt has meant to...

The Cubs are sending a message of support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth, becoming only the second professional sports team in the country to join the anti-bullying "It Gets Better" campaign.