MLB executive says he won’t run for Mich. governor – Yahoo! News

LANSING, Mich. – A Major League Baseball executive says he won’t seek the Democratic nomination for Michigan governor.

Robert Bowman, the chief executive of baseball’s online and interactive media operations, said in a statement Monday that he could not commit to the race at this time.

Bowman works in New York but has a summer home in northern Michigan. He served as Michigan’s state treasurer and is the president of the Michigan Education Trust.

Bowman formed an exploratory committee for a gubernatorial run last week.

If you’ve been following the news lately, no doubt you’ve heard about the new MLB drug testing policy. While you may have heard about the policy you might not understand the specific implications of the policy and how it may affect your favorite players and teams.

The new policy was brought about by threat of legislation from Congress. Under the policy tougher penalties for steroid use are implemented. Under the new policy the players are to be tested during their spring training along with at least one additional test during the regular season as well as being subject to random testing throughout the regular season.

Under the previous policy, penalties were much less severe. For example, for a first offense a player would be subject to a 10-day suspension and then 30 days for a second offense. A third offense would rate a 60 day suspension. The new policy calls for a 50 game suspension for the first offense and a 100 game offense for the second offense. For a third offense the player will receive a lifetime ban. Additionally, after the first offense the player will be subjected to amphetamines testing as well as steroid testing. This is the first time the problem of amphetamine use will have been addressed by a policy with MLB. Under the old policy a player could not receive a lifetime ban until he had been hit with at least a fifth offense.

Under the previous policy testing was also conducted on a much less frequent basis. Testing was conducted at the beginning of spring training with no additional testing through the regular season other than random testing. Under this policy, it was quite possible for a player to only be tested once from the beginning of spring training throughout the regular season.

The policy stipulated that players who tested positive for steroid the year prior to the new policy taking affect would be treated as first time offenders under the new policy if they should test positive again.

It should be noted that in the event a player is banned for life after a third offense under the new policy, a player can apply for permission to return to the game two years after receiving the ban. An independent arbitrator can be assigned for the purpose of reviewing the Commissioner’s decision in this instance.

The policy also takes a stab at possession of illegal steroid use in addition to use of illegal steroids. Players convicted for the possession of illegal steroids are subject to a 60-80 game suspension for the first offense and 120 games to one year for a second offense. A lifetime ban is on the table for a third offense. Players who are convicted of steroid distribution face tougher suspensions for the first offense and are subject to a lifetime ban after the first offense.

Penalties for amphetamine use are slightly less severe than for steroid use. Mandatory follow-up testing is dictated for the first offense with a 25 game suspension for the second offense. An 80 game suspension will be given for the third positive test and at the fourth offense the penalty is left up to the Commissioner, which could include a lifetime ban.

About The Author

Joe Kenny writes for the UK soccer forum site, FootballTalk.org. Join the football forum for free today and have your say!

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Technorati Tags: mlb

Although there was a swap of positions in the middle of the division standings over the past few weeks, MLB tickets are only relevant for the rest of the 2006 season in one or possibly two cities. The Mets are just a game or two away from clinching the division, and we’ll examine their postseason prospects. The Phillies also remain somewhat alive, so we’ll examine them and the outlook for 2007 for everyone else.

New York Mets

Currently:

The Mets have basically won the division on the heels of a tremendous season by Carlos Beltran and decent pitching. Not to take anything away from them, but this is a relatively weak division as well, and the Mets have feasted on their lack of competition. This is a veteran team that knows how to close out a race, and that’s exactly what they’re doing as of this writing.

Outlook:

The Mets are getting Pedro Martinez back just in time, and he along with Tom Glavine need to be strong in the postseason. Beltran also needs to maintain his high level of play, or else the Mets will struggle. As it is, they’re as good a bet as anyone to get to the World Series.

Philadelphia Phillies

Currently:

It’s been a strange season for the Phillies, as they appeared to give up on the season only to surge into contention for the Wild Card spot. They’re still barely hanging on in the chase, but they need to turn it on now, as they’re running out of games to catch the Padres. The story of the season has been the emergence of Ryan Howard, and baseball fans everywhere want to root for a “clean” player as he puts up historic HR numbers.

Outlook:

The Phillies could possibly land in the postseason, but regardless, they need pitching and another bat in their lineup to take the next step.

Florida Marlins

Currently:

The Marlins took over third place in the division and moved over the .500 mark as of this writing with a 19-9 month. This is a team that’s slowly but surely getting better with another young nucleus that could challenge for big things in the coming season as these players mature. The Marlins have talent behind the plate and on the mound.

Outlook:

MLB tickets should be a hot item in South Florida in 2007, as the team looks to only get better as their young team puts another year of valuable experience behind them.

Atlanta Braves

Currently:

The Braves’ incredible postseason streak is ending this year, but what they’ve accomplished in recent times should not be overlooked. The 2006 season was ruined by injury and age, and the Braves have struggled to maintain any type of consistency.

Outlook:

The Braves always seem to be stocked with young talent, and they’ll need that next generation to come of age to contend in 2007, as Andruw and Chipper Jones aren’t getting any younger.

Washington Nationals

Currently:

The Nationals have been a bit of a disappointment this year after reaching the .500 mark in 2005. Their downfall was due to two things: bad pitching and no one besides Alfonso Soriano in the lineup that was a threat to produce runs.

Outlook:

The Nationals need another bat in the lineup and more pitching. If they get that done during the offseason, MLB tickets will again be a hot item in Washington, D.C.

About The Author

Written by Jay Nault, sponsored by http://www.stubhub.com/ . StubHub sells MLB tickets: http://www.stubhub.com/mlb-tickets/ , sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets and more to just about any event in the world.

Nationals Win Arbitration Case Against Sean Burnett: MLB Rumors …

The Nationals won their arbitration case against lefty reliever Sean Burnett, reports MLB.com's Bill Ladson. He'll earn $775K as opposed to $925K in his first arbitration year. By beating Burnett and Brian Bruney this week, …

Padres Sign Josh Barfield: MLB Rumors – MLBTradeRumors.com

The Padres signed second baseman Josh Barfield to a minor league deal with no Spring Training invite, reports MLB.com's Corey Brock. Barfield, 27, hit .252/.271/.331 in 319 appearances for the Indians' Triple A club in '09 and was …

More On The MLB Demos | pastapadre.com

With just 10 days left until release both MLB 10: The Show and MLB 2K10 have yet to release their demos. The PSN update arrived yesterday with The Show no.

Hope you enjoy the read as much as I did and please if you have something to say, use the comments form below to let everyone know your thoughts.

Have a great day!

Technorati Tags: mlb

When does the MLB regular season start this year?

April 4th (Easter) which is 52 days from now.

Initial Rankings for MLB 10 The Show Released – Sports – Kotaku

Earlier this week MLB 2K10 revealed its team numeric ratings. MLB 10 The Show has now divulged its rankings of all 30 Major League teams across four categories. The New York Yankees are this year's overall No. 1.

Johnny Damon Rumors: Friday: MLB Rumors – MLBTradeRumors.com

MLB Rumors – MLBTradeRumors.com. … MLB Rumors – MLB Trade Rumors · Subscribe to MLB Trade Rumors using RSS … MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com. …

Blue Jays Sign Jose Molina: MLB Rumors – MLBTradeRumors.com

The Blue Jays signed Jose Molina to a one-year deal that includes a club option for 2011, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian (Twitter link). Molina is guaranteed $400K and he makes $400K more if he is on the team's opening day roster …

Hope you enjoy the read as much as I did and please if you have something to say, use the comments form below to let everyone know your thoughts.

Have a great day!

Technorati Tags: mlb

Hey Readers! I’ve been comin across some crazy stuff the past few days from a few different blogs around the web which I just had to share with you. Check em out below…

Bloomberg Sports, MLB.com team up

On the big screen in front of you is a colorful and slightly mesmerizing chart that offers a clear comparison for Carl Crawford …   Read More…

MRI reveals no serious knee injury for Lilly

MESA, Ariz. — An MRI of Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly's right knee showed nothing but "normal wear and tear," so the only change the …   Read More…

Clubs, MLB prefer different Cubs financing

MESA, Ariz. — Cactus League teams have made it clear to the Cubs that they want the team to stay in Arizona, but the clubs and …   Read More…
That’s all the news for today guys, so until next time, thanks for stopping by.

As we near the end of the race in the AL East, MLB tickets to games in Yankee Stadium are taking on a whole new meaning, as the team is getting close to clinching the division. As for the other teams, it’s time to look towards next year, as none of them are going to qualify for the postseason in 2006.

New York Yankees

Currently:

The Yankees have all but closed out the division race with a 19-10 record over the past 30 days. The team as a whole has come together, and although Derek Jeter is getting a lot of MVP buzz, this is truly a “team.” Different players lead the team in BA, RBI, HR and runs scored, which means that their offensive formula is not only working, but it’s coming from several sources. That will be difficult to deal with in the playoffs for whichever teams face the Yankees.

Outlook:

With all their offensive punch and a pitching staff that includes Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina and Mariano Rivera, one of the best closers of all time, the Yankees have to be considered the favorites to win it all at this point.

Boston Red Sox

Currently:

One would figure that Red Sox fans would be patient with their team after finally winning a championship in 2004, but that’s far from the case. 2006 has been a bitter disappointment for Red Sox nation, and blame is being heaped upon everyone from GM Theo Epstein to everyone else associated with the roster. In truth, injuries and a lack of pitching killed this team’s chances, and their collapse over the past month has sealed their fate.

Outlook:

They are the Red Sox, and they will be back contending in 2007, as they are every season. They need pitching and defense, as they have all the firepower they need.

Toronto Blue Jays

Currently:

Although the Blue Jays are out of it for 2006, one cannot be disappointed with the season they’ve had. Unless the bottom completely falls out, they will finish with a winning record in an extremely tough division. They have a core of very good players, including Vernon Wells, Reed Johnson and star pitcher Roy Halladay, and they’ll be more seasoned and more ready to challenge in 2007.

Outlook:

The team needs to add to its pitching staff to complement Halladay. If they can lower their staff ERA, they’ll be tough to handle next season, and MLB tickets will be snapped up by Toronto’s loyal fans.

Baltimore Orioles

Currently:

It’s been another year and another disappointing season in Baltimore. Sadly, this has become the norm for this team, and it may be time to shake things up in a big way. The Orioles have once again spent big money on their players with no results of note. Miguel Tejada has had a great year, but that’s about it for this team.

Outlook:

Perhaps it’s time to blow the whole program up and start from scratch. Attempting to out-spend the Red Sox and Yankees has not worked.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Currently:

The Devil Rays ought to be used to the cellar, and at this point they’ll have to hustle to even match their win total of 67 from 2005. This team appears to have no clue how to build a winner, and the fans of Tampa are tired of watching a perennial doormat.

Outlook:

It may be asking a lot at this point, but local fans need to be patient. The Devil Rays do have a lot of young talent in their farm system, and if they mature, MLB tickets will become relevant in Tampa.

About The Author

Written by Jay Nault, sponsored by http://www.stubhub.com/ . StubHub sells MLB tickets: http://www.stubhub.com/mlb-tickets/ , sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets and more to just about any event in the world.

Technorati Tags: mlb

If you’ve been keeping up with my blog posts lately you’ll know I’ve come to adding a few news posts from around the web on this subject. I’ve got a couple more today that are new and updated, so let me know what you think of em…

MLB 10: The Show Team Rankings | pastapadre.com

SCEA has released the list of team rankings for MLB 10: The Show. Different from most games The Show doesn't display numbered ratings for teams but instead.

MLB.com At Bat the Essential Baseball App – Apple Gazette

“At Bat” features constant league and team news articles, videos, stats and highlights; the source of the innumerable amount of in-depth coverage is MLB.com itself. Simply put: this App is a must download for any baseball fan around the …

MLB 10: The Show All-Star Week Features – PlayStation.Blog

As we began to dive into the feature, we thought rather than just offering it as a stand-alone feature (which it is), why not include it into all season-based modes' MLB All-Star Week festivities. Now when you're playing in Season, …

Hope you enjoy the read as much as I did and please if you have something to say, use the comments form below to let everyone know your thoughts.

Have a great day!

Mlb – Andy Pettitte Will Stay With The Yankees

After months of negotiations the pitcher Andy Pettitte decided to stay with the New York Yankees rather than going back to the Houston Astros. Pettitte had to accept the cut of the offer he had two months ago of $10 million to a $5.5 million one year deal, which is almost half of what he was expecting; however he could probably make some extras, resembling in incentives it will be around $6.5 million, that sum will be divided in $4.5 million based on the innings and $2 million if he stays active in the team’s roaster. So, adding those bonuses it would make almost a $12 million deal.

Andy’s agent Randy Hendricks said that if everything goes fine and he plays like he has done before, he can attain more earnings and there will be no regrets. If not, it will be just one of those lessons you get from life itself and of the good or bad negotiations you can make in a professional baseball career.

“Heck, the bottom line is I’m a man, and I guess it does take a shot at your pride a little bit,” said the New York Yankees pitcher. “But when you put all that aside, I wanted to play for the New York Yankees and, you know, that was the bottom line. I wanted to be there. I wanted to play in that new stadium”

In 2007 Pettitte signed a 1 year deal with the New York Yankees that was worth $16 million, with an open option to stay for one more year with the same salary. During the first season Pettitte had an excellent record, however, last season his record was not that good due in part to a shoulder ache that bothered him in the final part of the season. Pettitte finished 14-14 with a 4.54 ERA, but for his last 11 starts he went 2-7, 6.23.

So, after the Yankees initially cut the pitcher’s salary for this season to $10 million, Pettitte’s agents thought that he could get a better deal from another team, perhaps in a multi-year deal or something of that sort, but since the decision of retirement has been wandering around on Andy’s mind at the end of the last three seasons and he is 36 years old now, he figured out that he would like to play the rest of his time with the Yankees.

The Yankees withdrew his first offer to Andy when they finally signed first base Mark Teixeira in an 8 year contract of $180 million; that deal combined with the contracts of C
1000
C Sabathia and AJ Burnett summed a total of $423.5 million that the Yankees spent.

Pettitte’s desire of ending his playing time with the Yankees is understandable due to he has spent the most of his career with them; this is the team where he started his professional career in 1995 and he stayed with them for nine consecutive seasons. In 2003 Pettitte left the Yankees to sign a 3 year contract with the Houston Astros that was worth $31.5 million. Two years later, in 2005, Pettitte helped the Astros to get into to the World Series for the first time. He stayed with the Astros until the 2006 season and after that we went back to the Yankees.

In his career, Pettite has attained four World Series championships with the Yankees and made it to the playoffs in every year except for 2006 and 2008.

Anyhow, we wish the best to Andy and we hope this year will not be the last for him, since he is a great pitcher. We expect he can achieve a lot of good things this 2009 season and show some of his experience and talent in the baseball field with the Yankees.

By: A. Nolan

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Audrey Nolan is a top senior copy writer on

Technorati Tags: mlb

Name the Overrated and Underrated team in MLB.?

Give me 5 Underrated team in MLB. and 5 Overrated team in MLB

BQ

Who is your MLB team?

What Is Mlb’s Future On The Radio?

The changes that took place in the way MLB games were broadcast on television made many think that the same will happen to radio soon enough. Today, local television stations only broadcast 23% of the MLB games. Also, 7 of the major league team games are only available on cable, an exclusivity factor that seems to work well for them. In an interview to WSJ, Edison Media Research’s President Larry Rosin declared that “it is probably inevitable that baseball radio broadcasts will go to a 100% subscription model… It will happen because there’s too much money in it not to do it.” This is an interesting perspective for the two main digital satellite radio providers, XM Satellite Radio and Sirius. This potential development sounds excellent for XM especially, as they would hold the exclusive rights to all major-league baseball games. Of course, that would be an important step forward for XM, as the MLB generates huge interest in the US, and it would mean that another building block has been added to the development of satellite radio.

MLB Radio and XM Radio

MLB also has its own subscription paid online radio channel, and if the same thing happens to radio as it did to television they would definitely enjoy the situation. Since experts in the communication field consider that satellite radio is still in its infancy, the trend of moving broadcasts of such games to a subscription paid environment would take digital radio broadcasting to the next level of development. The earnings from XM Radio and MLB Radio are split between the 30 MLB teams, but they are divided equally. This means that the MLB team’s interests would be high and the economical and financial factors could speed up the process of making MLB games exclusive to satellite radio. The statistics we have today tell an interesting story: presently around 23% of XM subscribers have signed up to receive the MLB transmission, so there is a lot of potential for growth. Terrestrial radio can already start to feel the danger of loosing MLB broadcasts to satellite radio as this revenue driven model is more attractive for the MLB teams.

Implications of such a transfer

As with anything that reaches such a controversial topic, the opinions are shared among experts and the general public. Some people are convinced that this whole moveme
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nt is nothing more than a bubble of soap. Baseball is mostly a TV favorite and although there is still a lot of interest in MLB radio broadcasts, most people will not feel the transfer to digital radio as a major change. Although radio was the initial growing medium for baseball, television is king today, and they say that the transfer from terrestrial radio to satellite radio is not something that will have a significant impact. Other opinions say that “MLB would loose more audience then it would gain from the exclusive fees”. Since the format of the terrestrial radio stations is more flexible it also allows them to broadcast more games than broadcast TV. The same people say that “the MLB would alienate a lot of local fans if they took baseball off AM radio”. For other people, there is another comparison to be made – that between the impact this would have on MLB and the impact it had on NFL, where a similar process has already started. The Sirius NFL broadcasts brought the company some new listeners, but the changes were not extreme and since NFL is more popular than MLB, some expect the same trend to be followed in MLBs case as well. Of course, there are voices that say this change would have a significant impact on the way baseball is perceived. Since watching a game on TV can take away a few hours, many prefer to listen to the game on radio while they are doing something else. This is especially true during summer months, when many prefer to spend time in the yard or on the porch, not inside the room in front of a TV set. Of course, comparisons between the various major sport types in the US can be made from many perspectives, but most will agree that baseball is a game that can be followed on radio. For now, al the signs point at a transfer of broadcasts from terrestrial radio towards satellite radio, but this may change depending on the response companies and MLB receive from the public.

By: Galen Bass

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Hey Readers! I’ve been comin across some crazy stuff the past few days from a few different blogs around the web which I just had to share with you. Check em out below…

Major League Baseball bans guns from clubhouse

Major League Baseball is making it clear to players as the arrive to camp: Keep guns out of the clubhouse. Signs are posted in locker rooms stating …   Read More…

Nationals unveil newly signed Wang

Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.   Read More…

MLB — Buster Olney — Cole Hamels is tinkering with more than a new pitch …

Roy Halladay threw off a bullpen mound in the Phillies' camp Thursday, and so did Jamie Moyer, but the schedule called for Cole Hamels to throw only …   Read More…
That’s all the news for today guys, so until next time, thanks for stopping by.

Fantasy sports are an $800 million dollar industry in the United States with some 27 million players. Fantasy sports players typically draft a team of professional athletes before the season begins, and utilize statistical programs on player performance, as well as other software tools, to create a winning team.

Fantasy Sports Lawsuit History

What motivates fantasy sports enthusiasts to play the game? Some fantasy sports websites provide a large cash prize to winning teams. For many years, the Major League Baseball and the NFL Players Association have been demanding (and in many cases receiving) licensing fees from fantasy sports websites for use of actual players’ names and stats.

Back in 2005, CDM, a fantasy Sports baseball company, sued the Major League Baseball Association (represented by Advanced Media) for the right to use players’ names and stats without paying licensing fees. The fantasy sports company won based on the fact that first amendment rights hold that the information is in the public domain and does not fall under intellectual property rights.

In 2006, a similar case was presented in Saint Louis. This time, Judge Mary Ann Medler refused to even hear the case. She ruled that fantasy baseball leagues were free to use player statistics and names because they are not the intellectual property of Major League Baseball or the Players Associations.

The Fantasy Football Lawsuit that Proactively Challenged Licensing Fees and Won

In 2008, CBSSports.com acted proactively to eliminate licensing fees. The online fantasy sports provider brought a suit against the NFL Players Association in Minnesota, for the right to use players’ identities and stats without paying licensing fees. U.S. District Judge Ann Montgomery ruled that names and stats are protected under the First Amendment. After winning the case, CBSSports.com added college football leagues to their roster and took the ruling to apply to all fantasy sports. Although there is an appeal on the case, it is apparent that a precedent has been set with the Major League Baseball Players Associations ruling.

Fantasy Football Players Blog About Lawsuit

Many fans in the blog-o-sphere are disgruntled by the greed of the MLB and NFL Player’s Associations. Alec, of ScreamingSports.com said that major league sports fans already pay enough money to watch live games. “I mean these guys don’t make enough money without once again screwing the guys who support them? Bad enough I have to eat $6 hot dogs and $8 beers at a game. Now you want a piece of my fantasy team?”

A New Fantasy Sports Website CEO Comments on Ruling

Fantasy sports providers are pleased with the ruling, which eliminates licensing fees and improves their profit margins. It also widens the field for new companies to be born. Jason McCoy, CEO of Stinkball.com says “CBSSports.com sued the NFL Players Association because they wanted to be free to run their business as they saw fit. With the success of this case it allows for new concepts in fantasy sports to emerge without fear the MLB or NFL Players Associations can charge outrageous licensing fees. The CBSSports.com case is good news because it opens fantasy sports to new, innovative ideas that are being brought to the marketplace.”

The website http://www.Stinkball.com, is a new fantasy sports site which offers a $10,000 grand prize at the end of the season for the worst performing team. There are also weekly and seasonal prizes. This concept in fantasy sports is quite different from a focus on acquiring the best players who put up the best performances. Yet the same methods of tracking players and performance still applies, only now the fantasy player must take into account interceptions, fumbles, sacks, and more in order to build the worst team.

With legal precedents set regarding players’ stats and names in the public domain, the fantasy sports industry could very well takeoff in uncharted directions, adding diversity to the games and bringing more excitement for players.

About The Author

An accomplished athlete in his high school days, Marcus Whittman is a sports writer freelancing for the fantasy football web site http://www.Stinkball.com. Whittman enjoys watching live games and putting together a variety of fantasy sports teams each season.

Technorati Tags: mlb

Watching the NFL versus the MLB
 by: Jason OConnor

Imagine placing two flat screen plasma TV’s side by side in your living room smack dab in front of your couch. You’ve got beer, snacks a-plenty and fresh batteries in your clicker.

One TV has an NFL game on and the other has a Major League Baseball game and they both start at the same time.

Besides this being many sports fans’ idea of hog heaven and even better than clicking back and forth between games with only one TV, it’s fun to watch the differences between these two pro sports. Watching the NFL on TV is a weekly ritual; baseball is on every night of the week, but watching the two combined is almost as rewarding as joining a Cowboy cheerleader snuggle-fest.

And that’s exactly what I did recently (not the snuggle-fest, but the two TV’s thing). Here’s what happened:

The football game started with a massive kick to the opposing team, and a line of 250-pound plus men with murder in their eyes started charging after the poor slob who caught the ball. After a few seconds he was crushed by his pursuers, becoming the bottom man in a very scary adult male pig-pile. MLB players tend to be a little mellower and less physical, but all pro players in any sport need to be strong. Football players take steroids, baseball players get caught.

Meanwhile, the MLB game started off a little less exciting. My heart rate and pulse began to slow down as I watched the catcher and pitcher play catch as the batter just stood there spitting and adjusting his crotch. I got quickly bored and turned back to the NFL game.

In a matter of a three minute span two men had been injured, with one having his ankle relocated to his armpit. A touchdown was scored, the ball changed hands twice, and a whole lot of tackling, smashing, crunching and finger-breaking happened.

Football is more of an immediate gratification, ADD-friendly game to watch.

I glanced back at the MLB game for a couple of minutes. Two strikeouts and four fly outs came and went and we were already in the second inning, with little action to show for it. A baseball game is more of a wise-old-man kind of sport, where patience and number-crunching are paramount. It reveres serenity.

Football reveres mayhem. Watching football gets me angry and all charged up. Watching baseball makes me sleepy. In fact, I usually like to watch the first two or three innings, fall asleep, and then wake up to catch the last few innings. Watching football players hit each other full force and light each other up is exciting, and dozing is out of the question. Watching one grown man with ball in glove chase another grown man to tag him in a pickle is kind of funny.

As 10,000 commercials played on the football TV, I had a few minutes to catch up on my MLB game. Finally, in the bottom of the third, a man hit the ball and dropped it in the right field gap for a single. All the baseball players, including the guy running up to first base, seemed quite pleasant. Why not be? They were playing in a nice park, on a nice warm and sunny day and no one had even broken a sweat yet. The batter reached first base and started chatting with the opposing team’s first baseman. They started smiling and having a great time with each other. My lip-reading skills are not what they used to be but I think I saw one say to the other, “Hi Johnny! How’s the wife doing? It’s been a while since we saw her. We’ve got to get together sometime soon.”

Growing restless, I turned back to the NFL game just in time to see one man standing over a writhing and groaning man on the turf. I think I saw his lips yelling, “Hey Bruno, while we were having breakfast together this morning, your wife told me to tackle you into next Tuesday, did I do a good job?”

In the very next play a running back was nailed in a bone-splitting tackle. Indeed, his bone did split, and then protruded right out of his bloody skin causing a wave of nausea to spread over the crowd.

Fascinated but horrified, I quickly turned to the baseball game and witnessed a wild pitch hit the batter on the finger. The batter yelped and had to sit the rest of the game out, his pinky was smarting.

To replace the bone-sticking-out-of-his-leg guy in the NFL game, a bulky player with flowing dreadlocks sticking out of his helmet started lumbering onto the field. He had a huge cast on his arm that looked like a big club. With the hand totally encased, forming a big bulbous weapon, he shook it as his opponents in defiance while possibly struggling to stick one particular finger up, and then reluctantly joined the huddle.

It was nearing the halftime and so many timeouts had been called that they seemed to have run out of commercials to play. So the cameras started scanning the crowd. It was a lot colder where this game was being held, and I could see people’s breath. I also saw a guy in shorts and no shirt who had painted his skin from head to toe in his NFL team’s colors. His head was shaved and also painted, and he was wearing a big pig’s nose on his face.

As I briefly scanned the crowd on the other TV, I saw lots of people in button down, short sleeve shirts, baseball caps and gloves on, waiting expectantly for that ever-elusive foul ball.

The first half started to wind down in the NFL game, and I actively awaited gratuitous shots of hot cheerleaders. I was rewarded with lots of silly pompom waving and cleavage. I then happily turned back to the MLB game but only saw three heavy-set women shoving sausage dogs and peanuts in their mouths.

At halftime I got a chance to go to the bathroom and grab another cold beer and more snacks. There is never a big break in baseball, and every time I go to the bathroom while watching baseball I always miss the big play, which of course happened this time too.

My MLB game continued to plod along when I got back, inducing the unique ball-strike-out hypnotic state that only baseball can cause. I was about to doze off when I was jarred out of my trance by the flashy touchdown dance I saw on my other TV. The guy who just scored was moonwalking across the uprights while flapping his arms like wings. He then proceeded to do a magnificent swan dive which turned into a double summersault with a twist and finally landed perfectly on the field.

I then quickly caught the replay of the big baseball play I had just missed. Someone hit a grand slam, rounded the bases and was greeted by a big, warm, bouncing-in-unison group hug.

After a while, both games ended and I had experienced a full range of emotions. Both games are great to watch and if you can get past the roller coaster ride of stimulation, watching football and baseball simultaneously is a blast. I decided to keep both plasma TV’s in front of the couch permanently

Finally, no football vs. baseball article could be complete without mentioning one of the masters of comedy and this subject, George Carlin. Here’s a quote from Carlin’s famous monologue that inspired this article:

“And finally, the objectives of the two games are completely different:

In football the object is for the quarterback, also known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his receivers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy’s defensive line. In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! – I hope I’ll be safe at home! “

Copyright: 2005

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About The Author

Jason OConnor owns and operates http://www.bestshowticketslasvegas.com – a place to buy cheap tickets to NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA and NCAA games. Find theater and concert tickets too.

These are my predictions for the upcoming 2010 MLB season. Now that all the big name free agent names are off the market, it is safe to say the remaining ones won't make a big impact on the teams they sign with.

AL West: intense battle

1. Texas Rangers 95-67 (good pitching staff & lineup)
2. Seattle Mariners 90-72 (have a perfect pitching staff, power bat would guarantee playoff slot)
3. Los Angeles Angels 88-74 (while their rivals bulked up, angels lost weight)
4. Oakland Athletics 71-91

AL Central:

1. Minnesota Twins 90-72
2. Chicago White Sox 85-77 (may surpass twins if peavy goes back to full potential)
3. Detroit Tigers 81-81 (lost too many key players)
4. Cleveland Indians 70-92
5. Kansas City Royals 56-106 (would've been in 3rd or 4th, lost too many key players)

AL East:

1 New York Yankees 105-57
2. WC- Boston Red Sox 93-69
3. Tampa Bay Rays 82-80
4. Baltimore Orioles 79-83 (made good improvements)
5. Toronto Blue Jays 62-100 (loss of Halladay and lack of offseason moves = last place)

NL West:

1. Colorado Rockies 95-67
2. San Francisco Giants 90-72 (see seattle mariners)
3. Los Angeles Dodgers 87-75 (see los angeles angels)
4. Arizona Diamondbacks 82-80 (working back to the top)
5. San Diego Padres 66-96

NL Central:

1. St. Louis Cardinals 97-65
2. Milwaukee Brewers 86-76
3. Chicago Cubs 84-78
4. Cincinnati Reds 80-82
5. Houston Astros 64-98
6. Pittsburgh Pirates 57-105

NL East:

1. Philadelphia Phillies 100-62
2. WC-Atlanta Braves 91-71
3. Florida Marlins 83-79
4. Washington Nationals 61-101 (made cheesy improvements)
5. New York Mets 60-102 (weren't they supposed to be active this offseason?)

NLDS: Phillies over Rockies in 5
Cardinals over Braves in 4

NLCS: Cardinals over Phillies in 7

ALDS: Yankees over Twins in 4
Red Sox over Rangers in 3

ALCS: Yankees over Red Sox in 7

World Series: Yankees over Cardinals in 7

Who do you have?

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The rites of spring are nearly here at last. It seems like only yesterday the New York Yankees were wrapping up their 27th Major League Baseball Championship, and now here we are staring down the barrel of another exciting MLB season. Will the Yankees repeat? Will the Phillies pull it together and repeat their championship of a couple of seasons ago? And what will all of this mean to you when it comes time for some good old-fashioned baseball betting? It’s always a fun time of year filled with myriad possibilities. And to get the ball curving right, let’s take a look at these five likely MLB picks for the Top Five positions of 2010.

5. Philadelphia Phillies: Despite falling four games to two in the 2009 season, the Philadelphia Phillies really showed some guts throughout the year, knocking off the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies to earn the right to play for it. And the previous year this team actually claimed a World Series. So don’t count the Phillies out. Not a lot has changed in the last few years, so it seems like they will be in the mix for the next few seasons at least.

4. Boston Red Sox: Long trying to live down the fabled curse that resulted in generation after generation of frustrated Bostonians, the Boston Red Sox finally broke the spell a few seasons ago against none other than their heated rivals, last year’s World Series Champions, the New York Yankees. The Sox have since been able to hold it together and stay competitive late into the season. Expect more of the same from them in the coming months.

3. New York Mets: The New York Mets had high hopes for the 2009 season, but those hopes were cut short long before they could actually see them to fruition. It couldn’t have helped their pride any watching their cross-town rivals claim yet another World Series Championship. Expect the Mets to turn up the heat this season.

2. Arizona Diamondbacks: The Diamondbacks are another team with loads of promise. Last season’s preseason rankings had them in the top ten. They finished last in their division with a 70-92 record. They, too, will have something to prove in 2010.

1. New York Yankees: All those World Series Championships speak for themselves, with 2009 being a painful reminder for the rest of the division. To be the best, you have to beat the best!

Baseball betting should not be left completely up to chance. Nor should you completely take our word for it. Examine the facts for yourself. Weigh the previous year’s performance against the off-season trades, up-and-comers, and behind the scenes shenanigans, and make MLB picks that you can depend on with the utmost confidence for the coming season. It could be the difference between a long ball and a strike out. Time to play ball!

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That’s all the news for today guys, so until next time, thanks for stopping by.

Technorati Tags: mlb