Playoff hopefuls move into stretch

Well, we’ve reached the point in the season when the playoff hopefuls are becoming more of a reality.

Leading the American League is: The Yankees (big surprise), the Tigers (after ending last season dead last) and the Angels (Baseball Tonight was accurate on that one) and the Boston Red Sox, with an all but untouchable wild-card record.

Pete Rose suspension under consideration

Well folks, I’ve recently learned, from several sources, that Pete Rose’s life-time suspension from Major League Baseball could possibly be lifted by Commissioner Bud Selig after a mere two decades. Bravo!

After being approached by several Hall of Fame players, including: newly inducted Rickey Henderson and Hank Aaron, who decades ago was a shoe-in, along with former teammates Joe Morgan and Frank Robinson, concerning Rose’s eligibility for The Hall, Selig has agreed to consider it. Consider? Hasn’t Rose’s eligibility been a hot topic of debate since 1989, when he originally accepted the lifelong suspension from then Commissioner Bart Giamatti?

Manny’s Granny wins back many fans

Well, here we go again…..Manny Ramirez has managed, with one swing of the bat, to win his way back into the good graces of many media representatives, almost all of the Dodgers’ fans, and the majority of so-called fans of baseball as a whole.

As I’m sure most of my readers can imagine, I sat watching the latest installment of the steroid saga rolling my eyes and grumbling under my breath. In my own, and in my family’s overall philosophy, I was always raised to believe and to enforce, “One ‘ah, crud’ wipes out ten ‘atta-boys,’” So, as you may be able to understand, I am incredibly frustrated with the way this whole scenario has been playing out—or at least portrayed—in the sports media as a whole.

All-Star Roster lacks many Perennials

Well, as we approach the mid-point of the season, I find it refreshing to see a little less of the same old same old. My Detroit Tigers are still clinging fiercely to the top spot in the AL Central, while Chicago and Minnesota continue to rotate in and out of second. Detroit currently boasts the league’s best batting average, an impressive .406; they’re sending pitching sensation Justin Verlander and lead-off outfielder Curtis Granderson to represent the Tigers for the American League.

The Blue Jays have been grounded as of late, a frustrating 8 games behind the first place Red Sox, even though Roy Halladay is among the four winningest AL pitchers and will apparently be Toronto’s sole representive. The Yankees have dug in their heels, only trailing by one game after winning three consecutive contests and going 9-1 in the last ten, as Boston has only broken even. Still, the Yankees are conspicuously absent from the American League’s lineup. For the tenth season each, both Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera will represent the Bronx Bombers. Derek Jeter leads the fan voting as well, while Mark Teixeira is the only other Yankee to occupy a ranking higher than third. A-Rod trails Rays’ third baseman Evan Longoria by 2,000,000 votes. My faith is renewed in the fans, as he has fallen out of favor over the steroid scandal which preceded this season’s opening day.

Orioles Fray Red Sox

Hello baseball fans! I’m sorry for the recent communication breakdown, but I just finished the daunting mission of moving 2,300 miles from the greater Salt Lake area to what is affectionately referred to as “Delmarva”; a niche on the eastern shore bordering Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. And, I all I have to say is, “I have arrived!”

In my opinion, this is a true fan’s dream come true. I am centrally located between the dead-last, perennially cellar-dwelling NL Washington Nationals, and the bottom dragging AL Eastern Division Baltimore Orioles. (Yes, they still have a team here) And, of course there are the fair-weather Yankees fans, who as usual, don’t have the sense to come in out of the rain. There is always something to talk about, a game to watch, and many things to hope for. Last place teams seldom disappoint. Plus, when they have a remarkable finish, even for one contest, it fills me with a tremendous sense of joy and enthusiasm; reminding me of what I truly love about the Great American Pastime.

Lightweight is the new Heavyweight

Hello MMA fans, yes it is a Friday night and I am deep in the wonderful world of MMA news and rumors as I relax before a wedding. What news could I possibly have to give two blogs in a week? Well one of my favorite fighters has decided to make his return to the fight game, also I have news of the future of the WEC’s lightweight division and news about the lightweight fighter who is probably the most sought after fighter in the world.

To start off I’ll discuss some news about one of my favorite fighters in the game, Roger Huerta, and his return to the UFC. Almost a year since his last fight against Kenny Florian, whom he lost to by unanimous decision, Huerta will be making his return to fighting against undefeated contender Gray Maynard at UFC’s Ultimate Fight Night 19. Since his last fight, Huerta had been fulfilling other business ventures, such as his role in the upcoming movie ‘Tekken’, which is due out later in 2009.

Yankees Bomb Sunday against Indians

As of Monday morning, the Yankees are still clinging to the top spot in the AL East. Barely. And with the way the Red Sox bats have heated up amidst David Ortiz’s ever progressing slump, I’m thinking they won’t be there much longer. In fact, even though the Yankees have gone 6-4 in their last ten, while Boston has won only 4, and the Blue Jays finally ended a 9 game losing streak on Friday night, The Bronx Bombers are a scant half game up on the Sox and only 1.5 up on Toronto.

I would think that the last place Indians would’ve made easy pickings for a sweep for such an experienced, well-paid veteran team. But, when I look at the box score for Sunday’s game, I realize that the only player who was truly responsible for any offense was Mark Teixeira, who brought in all four of New York’s runs. Add to that the fact that the two pitchers who collaborated to pitch 8 innings have a combined ERA of 10.76, and the realization that every Yankee pitcher surrendered at least one walk to Cleveland hitters—one without managing to get anyone out—and the much revered Yankees don’t seem so much worth worshipping.

Dodger bench mans-up without Manny

Sorry, but I have to ask this again: What was so great about Manny Ramirez? The Dodgers have gained two more games on the rest of the NL West, with a 13-7 record since his suspension went into effect, and have upped both their run production and their on base percentage. It really makes me sad to know that the players who’ve stepped up for them so effectively in the past twenty games are going to be forgotten when the less than super superstar makes his much anticipated return. Maybe they’ll luck out and be traded.

The Dodgers have maintained the best record in the majors without Manny, thanks to a deep bench with veteran players, like Juan Pierre, who’s batting .404, and incidentally, had five consecutive seasons in which he showed up to play 162 out of 162 games. What’s the phrase for that again? Oh, yeah. Work ethic. No stunts, no strong-arm negotiation tactics, just doing the job he’s paid to do. While I’m on the topic, I think it’s necessary to mention that the first year he didn’t play in every game was 2008, when, that’s right, Manny Ramirez joined the Dodgers.

Soccer – Barca win, now Messi “Best Player”..

Barcelona 2, Manchester United 0. Final score.

As the Champions League ground down to the Final, between not only the two best teams, Manchester United and Barcelona.. it was also the moment to decide the “World’s Best Player”.  And now that title goes to Lionel Messi of Barcelona, and Argentina.

Messi scored the decisive goal in the premier competition in Europe. And how can you score that goal, of all goals, and not be considered the “Best Player”.  Messi is virtually a lock to receive that award. It was billed as a clash of the Titans, and Titans it was.  For Man United Ronoldo had several chances early, but could not capitalize. Samuel Eto’o did just that.

Soccer’s Champions League Finale’ – Finally

Wednesday, 2:45 pm EDT. Thats showdown time for arguably the top two club teams in the world, as they face off to see who is THE best team in the Champions League Final, in Rome. Manchester United won it last year. Barcelona is always in the mix, and indeed won it all several years ago.

This is a significant game, not only because of the match itself, but also because it will be the last Champions League game broadcast by ESPN in their current TV package. Next season it goes to a satellite channel. In this writers opinion Europe’s UEFA organization, as well as the English Premier League have failed. You could stipuilate that right now- European soccer is reaching a high interest- and thus they should have ignored temporary money for the long-range effects of being in many households in America.

Blue Jays Plummet to Third

Still in the midst of an ongoing losing streak, which was extended to seven today in Baltimore, the Toronto Blue Jays have fallen to a disappointing third place in the AL East, ending Monday’s action 1.5 games behind the almighty Red Sox.

While the Yankees won nine consecutive games, before losing two to Philadelphia on Friday and Sunday, and pummeling Texas 11-1 today, the Red Sox have gone 6-4 over their last ten with almost no help from the meat of their lineup. Currently, David Ortiz’s batting average has dropped below .200, since he went 0-12 in Boston’s weekend series at New York against the Mets.

Red Sox, White Sox coordinate offense

Well, without much doubt, the biggest sports story this morning was the end of Big Papi’s long and costly hitting drought. With a mammoth two-run blast in last night’s game against the Jays, Ortiz fans, Boston fans and management breathed a sigh of relief, which is still being felt this morning.

Sports-casters seemed always to only note that he hadn’t hit a round-tripper in 149 ABs, but, the slump was actually much worse than that. Ortiz hit a career low one week ago, when he went 0-7, stranding twelve runners in a twelve-inning loss to the Angels. After sitting out the weekend series in Seattle for a “mental breather”, arguably one of the most dominating hitters in the game over the past five years returned Tuesday to go 0-3, with one walk and three Ks.

Man Utd wins it all in England, with Barcelona in Spain, but who’s the best?

This years Champions League title will actually pit the two best (club) teams in all the world against each other. That being Barcelona in Spain against Manchester United from England. But who will be crowned the “best team” in the world?

Tigers and Blue Jays Sweep

This past weekend was a stunner for both the Detroit Tigers and the Toronto Blue Jays, as both teams swept their respective opponents: The listless Oakland A’s and the foundering Chicago White Sox.

As the AL Central division becomes less stagnant by the day, Detroit has reclaimed sole possession of the top spot for their longest stint so far this season. And the Blue Jays continue to dominate the AL East, only percentage points away from closing in on the Dodgers for the best record in the majors.

Ramirez exalted while Clemens is Crucified

I am frustrated to the point of disgust with some overly critical, and often nearly brainless, baseball fans and sports-writers alike. First of all, there’s the unwarranted sympathy for the likes of Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez, who were so blatantly lying, that even a blind man could see it. Now, the head-spinning quickness with which they turn on Roger Clemens for inadvertently misspeaking, in his unwavering insistence of his innocence in response to his steroid allegations.

Fans and writers alike have the nerve to still believe that Barry Bonds’ blatant disregard for federal law, and baseball’s bi-laws alike, should still warrant his induction to the Hall of Fame. People, this man has been Black-Listed! Allegations against him are so serious that an associate of his languished in prison for a year for refusing to testify. And Bonds, the ever-exalted hero, did nothing but relish the fact that the case against him seemed to disintegrate.