Archive for the ‘controversy’ Category

Hendry Compares Notes With Other MLB GMs

With the Ricketts family firmly in control, Cubs GM Jim Hendry is attending the annual GM meeting in Chicago. He has a lot on his plate and is no doubt discussing who needs what, or more accurately, who needs to dump what.
For many MLB teams, the economic climate is forcing clubs to cut payroll and [...]

November 10, 2009  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: Hot Stove, Jim Hendry, Team Ownership, biz of baseball, controversy, players  One Comment

Another thought on Milton Bradley

The struggles of Milton Bradley are well documented. However something occured to me as I listened to Talkin’ Baseball on ESPN Radio with Bruce Levine – arguably the best baseball talk show on the radio. Today Bruce’s new co-host Jonathan Hood related some comments that apparently came from Bradley’s mother. She had alluded to Milton’s young son [...]

September 26, 2009  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: controversy, observations, players  3 Comments

Selig got All Star Game idea from Santo

This morning on the Mike & Mike show on ESPN radio, MLB commissioner Bud Selig told a story I had never heard before.  They were discussing the merits of making the All Star Game “count” by awarding the winning league home field advantage in the World Series.
Mike Golic challenged the commissioner on the wisdom of [...]

July 13, 2009  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: All Star Game, biz of baseball, controversy, game day, playoffs  One Comment

The Interleague Dilemma

Interleague play brings about a decision point for where a fan’s loyalties lie. Enemies become friends, friends become enemies …cats and dogs living together in harmony. For example, with the Cubs playing the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians over the next ten days, are White Sox fans inclined to – gasp – root for the [...]

June 12, 2009  Tags: , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Wrigley Field, controversy, rivalries, schedule  No Comments

Carlos Zambrano announces his retirement

Chicago Cubs pitching ace Carlos Zambrano got his 100th career victory at Cincinnati on Friday. Everything about the game was quintessential Big Z. He was nearly unhittable, but walked 5 in 6 2/3 innings. He batted lefty against right handed Reds pitcher Micah Owings and couldn’t catch up to his fastball. So when he came to [...]

June 6, 2009  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: controversy, game recap, oddities, players  No Comments

Bradley was ejected for his reputation

Is Milton Bradley a lightning rod for controversy? In seeing replays of his pitch-batting strikeout, getting rung up on a ball clearly and indisputedly low and inside, it’s hard to accept why the league suspended him. Perhaps there was in fact some incidental contact during his seven second argument with home plate ump Larry Vanover. [...]

April 19, 2009  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: controversy, game day, players  No Comments

Lou taps Gregg for closer

I am surprised. I thought for sure Carlos Marmol the heir apparent, and newly acquired Kevin Gregg the insurance policy. Wrong. Some of the arguments pro and con that I am hearing today make sense to me, but I’m not so sure about Gregg.  I have never seen him pitch – I only know him by [...]

March 30, 2009  Tags: , ,   Posted in: controversy, lineup, players  No Comments

Shame on us – and PLAY BALL!

Here is why I don’t write about baseball & steroids very often…
Honestly, I’ve had it about up to here with all this pharmacological intrigue. The bottom line is competitive guys do whatever they have to do to get ahead. They are competitive. They want to, and must win. If there is some edge they can [...]

February 17, 2009  Tags: , , , , , ,   Posted in: controversy, game of baseball, legal issues, observations, players, the media  One Comment