Bobby Valentine, being Bobby Valentine, spouted off about Kevin Youkilis’ game prep to the Boston Globe‘s Pete Abraham: I don’t think he’s as physically or emotionally into the game as he has been in the past for some reason. Anyone expecting him not to say things like this doesn’t understand Valentine’s M.O. He’s bombastic, confrontational […]

Marlins 5, Astros 4: Omar Infante and Hanley Ramirez hit home runs, finally putting that crazy home run sculpture into action. Somehow we all survived, though I’m not ruling out the possibility that we all got thrown into an alternate timeline or something and won’t truly realize it until all the crazy occult stuff starts […]

Forty years ago, it looked like the baseball world had it’s latest and greatest phenom on its hands. A new young pitcher was ready for his close-up almost as soon as he arrived in the majors, and based on the early results, he just might have a Hall of Fame career in front of him. […]

Giants 4, Rockies 2: Madison Bumgarner took a no-hitter into the sixth, silencing the Rockies bats that rocked Tim Lincecum’s world the night before. That, and some bad defense by Dexter Fowler, prevented Jamie Moyer from becoming the oldest pitcher to ever win a game. Can’t have errors behind the old guy or he’s toast. […]

Forty years ago today, a bit of baseball history was made. Or perhaps it would be better to say that 40 years ago today a key bit of baseball history came to an end. On April 13, 2012, Major League Baseball and the Players’ Association came to an agreement, ending the first labor strike in […]

Athletics 5, Royals 4: Jonathan Broxton walked two batters and hit two batters to blow the game in the 12th inning. That, my friends, is how you blow a save. Without doubt and with authority. None of this pussyfooting around with grounders that just get past an infielder. Decisive action brings order to a world full […]

Braves 6, Astros 4: Chipper Jones came off the disabled list, singled in his first at bat and hit a home run in his second. Dude is on death’s door and he hasn’t had functional knees since Bush’s first term yet he’s still the best hitter on this team.  Tyler Pastornicky hit his first MLB […]

Ryne Sandberg was a fine fielding, power-packed second baseman who is now an unquestioned member of the Hall of Fame. Reggie Smith was an underrated star whom some also regard as Cooperstown worthy. When you combine them on an action shot featured as part of the excellent 1983 Topps set, you have yourselves a gem […]

Fifty years ago today, the National League reclaimed its portion of New York City. On April 11, 1962, the New York Mets played their first game. As anyone who knows baseball history should be aware, that first season for the Mets was not the stuff of wonder and glory. Boy, is that ever a nice […]

Anybody seen Jack McKeon? Apparently much to the surprise of the Miami Marlins, Ozzie Guillen firmly put his foot in his mouth in a recent interview with Time magazine. A Latino manager hired to manage a team in a city that has a neighborhood call “Little Havana” can’t say: “I respect Fidel Castro. You know […]