Last night, the legendary Detroit Tigers announcer told the world that he was suffering from inoperable cancer. He’s an icon. His loss will be felt.
source
I do have some interest in the possibility. That being said, to get to there from where I am today, many many things would have to align themselves for that to truly happen. I am not going to comment further on the matter since at this point it would be speculation on top of speculation.
Former Boston Red Sox star ace Curt Schilling • Discussing a potential Senate candidacy on his blog, “38 Pitches.” It’s one of those things that makes some roll their eyes, until you consider that some really great politicians – Jack Kemp (Bob Dole’s running mate in ’96!) and Jim Bunning – came from pro sports backgrounds. So, why the heck not? He may not have the political clout of Ted Kennedy (and his far-right conservatism might make him a long shot in Massachusetts), but he may be good at the job. • source
No, really. The American Defenders didn’t pay rent. The mayor of Nashua, New Hampshire has decided to call out the minor league baseball team on its inability to pay rent by locking the doors of their home field and putting a freaking tractor on home plate so that they literally can’t play. The team, which received a notice of default on Friday, owes $45,000 in rent and fees for police and fire services. To prove that the city has no heart in a bad economy, we must point out that proceeds from last night’s game would have benefited the American Heart Association. How considerate of them. source
He’s been hit a lot. … He doesn’t like it when somebody does it on purpose. I don’t blame him. … This type of mentality puts everybody in jeopardy. Giving a guy a $500 fine and two-game suspension isn’t enough. This type of stuff should be cleaned up.
Milwaukee Brewers Manager Ken Macha • Regarding his star hitter, Prince Fielder, and the tirade he was involved in on Tuesday night. Fielder, after getting beaned with a baseball by Guillermo Mota, attempted to enter the L.A. Dodgers clubhouse to attack him. It’s not the first time Mota’s been involved in this kind of brawl because of a noggin-knocking pitch. In 2003, he did something similar to Mike Piazza, who reacted similarly. • source
Two staffers were fired last summer over steroid use. One of baseball’s most iconic recent success stories, the championship runs of the Boston Red Sox, is currently under fire after two revelations which put steroids at the team’s forefront. Earlier this week, it was revealed that star sluggers David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez tested positive in 2003 while Red Sox players. Today, a Boston newspaper reported that two security staffers were fired last summer over steroid use. While they deny knowledge of other players doing it, it sure feels sketchy, doesn’t it? source
Off his teammate’s foot, into the hands of Pittsburgh Pirate Delwyn Young. The only thing worse than the fact that this amazing catch wasn’t allowed by the ump (though it clearly didn’t touch the ground)? The fact that Delwyn Young is a Pittsburgh Pirate.source
The thing is, do you put these guys in, or do you put an asterisk beside their names and say, ‘Hey, they did it, but here’s why?’ To be safe, that’s the only way I see that you can do it.
Legendary slugger Hank Aaron • Regarding what he feels should be done about record-breaking players (ahem *Barry Bonds* ahem) who use steroids. Aaron spoke at Cooperstown yesterday, where base-stealing phenom Rickey Henderson and former Red Sox superstar Jim Rice got inducted into the Hall of Fame. • source
Getting from New York to Philly on a Friday afternoon can be tough. I’m extremely excited to be back in the National League, to be back in a pennant race. This is a great team, a great organization.
St. Louis Cardinals slugger Matt Holliday • Who earlier in the day on Friday was a member of the Oakland Athletics. The Athletics were playing in NYC, while the Cards were playing in Philly, so he went the public transit route to scoot between cities. The star hitter was traded for a bunch of minor-league prospects and is seen as the final piece of a roster that will help the Cardinals make a pennant run. • source
