SF Giants Bring Mike Stanton from Nationals to shore up bullpen

This should help take the pressure off Benitez and quiet fans and KNBR's Ralph Barberi in the process. Good move.

PITTSBURGH -- The San Francisco Giants boosted their bullpen for the stretch run, acquiring veteran left-handed reliever Mike Stanton on Friday from the Washington Nationals for a minor league pitcher.

Profile
2006 SEASON STATISTICS
GM W L BB K ERA
56 3 5 21 30 4.47

The Nationals will receive 19-year-old right-hander Shairon Martis, who was pitching at Class A Augusta. Martis threw a no-hitter for the Netherlands against Panama during the World Baseball Classic in March.

Stanton was 3-5 with a 4.47 ERA for the Nationals. He could be valuable in the Giants' push for the playoffs, having pitched in the postseason in 12 of his 18 major league seasons, including six playoff appearances with the Yankees (1997-2002).

Entering Friday, the Giants were third in the NL West, three games behind division-leading San Diego and a half-game behind Arizona.

The trade was announced while Stanton was in Los Angeles with the Nationals to play the Dodgers. He'll join the Giants in Pittsburgh on Saturday, but the team still has to make another move to clear space for him on the roster.

Stanton has appeared in 56 games this year, second-most in the National League. He has 1,083 career regular season appearances, third-most in the majors.

The trade was the second addition in a week to the San Francisco bullpen. Right-hander Vinnie Chulk joined the Giants on July 21 as part of the deal that also brought first baseman Shea Hillenbrand from Toronto in exchange for reliever Jeremy Accardo.

Harold Reynolds - Petition Drive To Get Job Back Picking Up Steam

There's a new website called "Freeharoldreynolds.com" which features an online petition to convince ESPN to give the fired baaseball analyst his job back.

I hope it gets tons of signatures. As of this writing it has 126.

It seems that the mainstream media was too quick to bury Reynolds without knowing the whole story. There's also a much needed social discussion about the events leading up to his dismisal; a discussion being buried in the press.

It's said that there are "different rules" for black men, and this is accepted in some corners by African American men. But the very existence of "different rules" -- where Reynolds probably should not have had lunch with, let alone hug a white intern, whereas it's OK for a white man to do this (and yes, I'm guessing she was, but knowing ESPN and the sports industry in the USA it's doubtful she was anything else) -- implies that subtle racism is alive and well.

I don't care what anyone says, until proven otherwise, I'm resting with the point of view I originally expressed. I'm extremely confident I'm correct, especiallly given sport's tendency to go and search for young white female interns -- and generally they're blond. The sports execs in these organizations go after them like sharks chasing chum in the water.

I've seen this first hand. I took a good friend of mine who's white, female, and blond and who has no problem hugging me to a Christmas party hosted by a sports network I will not name, and before we could leave she'd already scheduled a time to be interviewed for -- you guessed it -- an internship.

Yep.

Once the alcohol flowed and the food was consumed some of the white males in charge were asking all kinds of questions, and one guy who just didn't know any better started into a conversation with me about African Americans and some attittude he had I didn't recall for posterity. I was there to achieve an objective, so I didn't care. Aside from my putting in face-time, she wanted a sports internship, so I took her to the party knowing exactly what was going to happen, and I was right.

It was all too easy.

As of this writing, she's had internships with two major sport teams.

The ball's in the court of others to prove me wrong.

Our social reconstruction's far from over, let the process continue.

SF Giants - Armando Benitez Not The Only Giant at Fault For Losses - Ray Durham

KNBR's Ralph Barberi got on the radiowaves Thursday and let lose on Armando Benitez, even referring to him as a jerk. It was a shameful display on his part -- and I know and like Ralph -- he should appologize on the air. He came close to slander in my view. Plus, Ray Durham's come to defend Armando Benitez.

Durham takes the blame for Benitez's blown save
Henry Schulman, SF Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, July 27, 2006

(07-27) 14:55 PDT Washington -- Armando Benitez is taking a beating back home over his blown saves Sunday and Wednesday night. At least one Giant believes Benitez should not be blamed for the second one.

"It wasn't his fault," Ray Durham said. "I take full responsibility for it. It was his job to get a groundball, and he got it. I'm supposed to make the play and I didn't."

Durham was referring to Felipe Lopez's one-out grounder with a man aboard and the Giants leading 3-2. Durham said he was rushing to glove the ball because he thought the he could start a double play, and it bounced off his glove for what was ruled a hit. The Nationals went on to score twice and win 4-3.

From draft to majors?: Tim Lincecum, the Giants' first-round draft pick, had an electric professional debut Wednesday night. He started for rookie-league Salem-Keizer against Vancouver, pitched one inning and struck out three. He also got a flyball out after one of his strikeout victims reached on a wild pitch.

Could Lincecum get a September call-up to work in late relief? It sounds far-fetched, but manager Felipe Alou did not discount the idea when it was broached.

Shortstop Emmanuel Burris, the Giants' sandwich-round pick, has 20 steals in 25 attempts for the Volcanoes.

Radio men: XM satellite radio periodically invites athletes to its Washington studio to host an hourlong show on anything they want. It can be music, politics, sports, whatever. Mark Sweeney and Todd Greene accepted the invitation and hosted a sports talk show, of all things, that will air Saturday at 8 p.m. PDT and Sunday at 7 a.m. on channel 175.

They discussed the NL West race and issues such as injuries in youth sports, and interviewed ESPN analyst Rick Sutcliffe and two division rivals, San Diego's Dave Roberts and Colorado's Matt Holliday.

"It's kind of unique. They're friends of ours," said Sweeney, who wants to get into the media when he retires. He has been a fill-in host of a morning sports-talk program in San Diego.

Jason Giambi and Shawn Chacon Help Yankees Over Rangers 8 to 7

My friend in New York says the Yankees are in the tank, but they just blasted the Texas Rangers, so....Yes, they had a bad series against Toronto, but the Yankees are still just a game-and-a-half behind the Boston Red Sox, who lost to the Oakland A's last night.

ARLINGTON -- MLB.com , By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com -- Since being demoted from the starting rotation more than three weeks ago, Shawn Chacon has done a lot of sitting around.

The right-hander had pitched just twice since July 4, making two appearances in last weekend's series against the Blue Jays in Toronto.

When the Yankees took a two-run lead into the eighth inning on Wednesday night, it looked like it would be another night for Chacon to sit in the bullpen, watching his teammates contribute to another win.

But when things took a turn for the worse and the Yankees gave up the lead, manager Joe Torre called on Chacon to come in with the bases loaded and no outs, hoping that he would be able to limit the damage.

"You come in with the bases loaded and no outs, you're just trying to get outs," Chacon said. "Getting out of there with no runs is the best thing, but realistically, it rarely ever happens."

A strikeout of Mark DeRosa and an athletic double play by Chacon himself allowed the Yankees to escape the inning with their deficit at one run. The unlikely had happened, giving the offense one last crack at the Rangers in the ninth.

"After Chacon got the double play, I had a good feeling," said Alex Rodriguez. "We were deflated, but we got some momentum back. When they didn't score, we felt this was our game."

Jason Giambi took care of the rest, drilling a two-run homer off closer Akinori Otsuka, as the Yankees left Texas with an 8-7 win over the Rangers, completing the three-game sweep.

"[Chacon] came in and was totally lights-out," Torre said. "He kept us in a position to do what we did. He's the player of the game for me."

"After getting out of that jam, someone made a comment that we were going to win this game," Chacon (5-3) said. "It just felt like we were. They could have blown it open and they didn't, and it wasn't a game that was ever out of either team's reach."

The win vaulted the Yankees into the Wild Card lead, a half-game ahead of the White Sox and Twins. New York also closed the gap in the AL East, where Boston's lead for first place now stands at just 1 1/2 games.

"It's crazy, but we're not really concerned," said Torre of the playoff standings. "I'm sure other people think it's a great accomplishment, but you don't accomplish it until the season is over."

"It's still too early to sit around and worry about who is in the playoffs now," Derek Jeter said. "You don't set your sights on the Wild Card. That's something that you fall back on, so we still have some work to be done. We're trying to catch Boston."

The final two innings of the game featured a total of nine runs, as the Yankees took a 6-4 lead with four runs in the eighth only to watch the Rangers counter with three in the bottom of the frame.

Giambi, who entered his final at-bat with just four hits in 25 at-bats on the road trip, landed the final blow with his homer, allowing closer Mariano Rivera to close out the win for his 25th save.

"That game was a roller coaster," Torre said. "It was a great game and it was exciting, but I'm glad we came out on top. If Jason was going to save up for a hit, that was the one to get."

"Derek and I were goofing around in the on-deck circle; I told him to get on and give me an opportunity," Giambi said. "I know I didn't swing the bat well in the first couple of games here in Texas, but I got one big one. That's all that really matters."

Andy Phillips (3-for-5) snapped an 0-for-18 skid with a two-run single in the first, but Texas countered with a pair of runs in both the second and fourth innings, taking a 4-2 lead.

Starter Jaret Wright, who hasn't pitched more than six innings in a game this season, was charged with four runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk, striking out three, over 5 1/3 innings.

A-Rod cut the Rangers' lead to one with a solo homer to center, his 22nd, in the eighth against reliever Francisco Cordero. Rodriguez went 4-for-12 with two walks, a hit-by-pitch, two RBIs and five runs scored in the three-game series against his former team.

Cordero walked Bernie Williams and Phillips singled, putting the go-ahead run on base. Melky Cabrera tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but fouled off his attempt. Torre took the bunt sign off, but Cabrera missed the sign, bunting it foul for a second time.

That turned out to be good news for the Yankees, as Cabrera drilled a 2-2 pitch for a double to left-center field, scoring both runners to give the Yankees a 5-4 lead.

"We're still working on signs," joked Torre. "That at-bat was huge; it was certainly one of the real big keys for us."

Catcher Sal Fasano, acquired in a trade with the Phillies earlier in the day, bunted Cabrera to third. Cabrera scored on a Cordero wild pitch, boosting the lead to two runs.

With a two-run lead, the Yankees had Kyle Farnsworth warming up in the bullpen, but Farnsworth sat down after his back tightened up on him. T.J. Beam came in instead, giving up a walk and a double to put the tying runs in scoring position.

That brought reliever Scott Proctor into the game -- the third consecutive game in which he has pitched -- and he gave up four straight singles, giving Texas a 7-6 lead. Before the game, Torre said he would avoid using Proctor "at all costs" on Wednesday, but he had little choice in that situation.

"Proctor deserves a merit of honor here," Torre said. "He told [pitching coach Ron Guidry] he could get a couple of outs; he had one ball hit hard off him. He gave us a valiant try there."

Chacon came in and worked his magic act, making a quick grab on Brad Wilkerson's liner back to the mound. Chacon spun toward third to see if he could double Mark Teixeira off the base, then turned toward second, where Hank Blalock was returning to that base. Chacon looked at first and threw to Phillips, beating Jerry Hairston to the base to complete his unlikely double play.

"I stuck my glove out and it was there," Chacon said. "My feet did the rest."

Otsuka came in for the save opportunity, but Jeter singled, setting up Giambi's two-run blast to right field, his 29th of the season. The Yankees headed into their off-day on the highest of highs, turning a potentially disastrous road trip into a very positive one.

"We've been pretty good at putting that stuff behind us," Jeter said of the 1-3 series in Toronto. "We basically forgot about Toronto when we got here. It says a lot about our team to forget about how poorly we played, turn it around and sweep this team."

"I feel like we robbed a bank today," A-Rod said as he headed out of the clubhouse. "Twice."

Harold Reynolds Fired From ESPN Baseball Analyst Job For Hugging A White Girl

You read that correctly. Harold Reynolds was fired from ESPN for, as Fox News reported "a hug." (I don't know if it's Amber from Clearbuck.com in this picture, but I doubt it unless she started working for ESPN.)

A hug.

Now, I don't have to know any more details from here, but they will come out. First, Harold Reynolds is black and a former baseball player. I'll bet the woman he hugged was white, or at least not black. But I'll go with white and for the simple reason of racial boundaries that are maintained primarily by European American women in today's culture and at times this practice takes on absurd proportions.

Why? Well in my view, and from observation and experience with a friend who I was able to sit down with and have a long talk -- we're still great friends -- I know this is the case.

See, some -- not all -- young white women grow up with a confusing message that on the one hand says "date and marry someone white" but on the other hand says "have all people of different colors as friends." And there's where that funny boundary is -- if you have a man as a friend, it's certain to have a chance to become romantic.

That's just a fact.

So for a white woman who feels like she's got to bind herself to an old "white's only" rule, life's hard, but what makes it even harder is when they take out their racial boundary frustration on men -- black men. It becomes even harder for that white woman to maintain her "white guy only" stance in a social sea of more and more white women with black men, and black women with white men. (Which, by the way, will continue as long as the pool of good available straight and employed black men is smaller than it should be. Personally, I think everyone should be forced to date everyone without the race boundary issues -- it makes you a smarter person because of the experience you gain.)

In my case, my friend and I ended up sharing a hotel room and one bed at the Super Bowl a few years ago and it was during that episode that I learned about her and racism and really how much of it was in her. She admittted to a boat load of problems and I was taken aback. But we talked it through and worked things out.

Harold Reynolds apparently didn't have that chance.

Harold Reynolds undoubtedly knew this woman and she had lunch with him. Did she have to be attracted to him? Heck, have fun. Who cares. But a white woman who has racist thoughts and ideas does care -- take a look at this article, or take a look at these exchanges on this message board. I'll bet if the guy at ESPN were white and someone she was attracted to and named Harold Reynolds, you wouldn't be reading this today.

Am I saying that the woman would put up with a sexy hug under those conditions -- well, I'll go a step beyond that and say that she'd initiate it. Think about it. How many office romances do we hear about? How many do you know about? They come about between two people who are attracted to each other in the workplace.

So what happens in the gray area, where the two people are of different colors and the man being the agressor makes an advance that's both kind of wanted, but really not totally wanted by the woman, and for a reason she can't admit -- race.

Think of the number of personal ads where supposedly non-racist women ask for a man of a specific color, rather than just picking "any?" Think about it. What does that woman do -- let's say she's white -- when they have a hard time meeting a straight white guy? Well she'll get angry and frustrated.

Ha. That's a conversation I had with a San Francisco white female friend who took off to Seattle -- which is only about six percent black -- to meet some guy. "See, I'm part of the Angry White Girls. I'm over 30 and I can't find a (white straight) guy here (in San Francisco)." It was another revealing look at how racism clashes with social morals to produce a negative attitude.

Or more to the point, let's say the woman's a young ESPN professional, star struck -- surrounded by all the greats like Chris Berman and Trey Wingo. But they won't ask her to lunch. So she goes to lunch with Harold Reynolds because he's an analyst and he's almost up there with them -- even though he's black. If she's got that kind of closet racist attitude, it's going to be activated and it will come out.

And spill all over Harold Reynolds.

Would it happen to any white male analyst at ESPN? Not as likely by -- a Barry Bonds home run shot.

You may not agree with this, and you'll come up with the usual attempts to explain away what happened, and all of them will avoid the matter of race.

And you would be wrong.

Roger Clements Tops Greg Maddux - Cubs Dropped By Astros 4-2

From MLB.com

CHICAGO -- Although a starting pitcher typically thinks more about the opponent's lineup than the quality of the pitcher his team will face, it's likely both Greg Maddux and Roger Clemens knew they had to bring their "A" games to Wrigley Field on Wednesday night.

It's likely the sellout crowd of 40,344 hoped for and expected a pitchers' duel, and the two future Hall of Famers delivered. Clemens, buoyed by adequate run support, prevailed as the Houston Astros topped the Chicago Cubs, 4-2, to even the series at one game apiece.

Clemens was very much Rocket-like during his 85-pitch outing, throwing six shutout frames while walking one and striking out five. He scattered three hits, never allowing more than one in a single inning.

Craig Biggio's leadoff homer stood as the only scoring by either club for five innings. That changed in the sixth, when the Astros plated two runs off Maddux, whose losing streak extended to six.

Earlier, the inning had the makings of a small disaster.

Mike Lamb knocked an infield hit toward second to begin the frame, and he caught a break after he ran on Maddux's pitch-out. The ball reached shortstop Ronny Cedeno in plenty of time, but instead of moving toward Lamb on the play, Cedeno moved his glove in the opposite direction after receiving a decent throw from Michael Barrett.

Lamb was called safe, but the lucky breaks ended on the next play when Chris Burke bunted toward Maddux, who made a perfect throw to third baseman Aramis Ramirez to erase the lead runner.

Lance Berkman popped to Derrek Lee a few feet in front of the plate for the second out, but Aubrey Huff singled to center, moving Burke to third. Up came Preston Wilson, who commemorated his 32nd birthday with a double to the gap in right-center, scoring both runners and putting the Astros ahead, 3-0.

The Cubs narrowed the gap in the eighth when Todd Walker knocked a two-run homer off Trever Miller. The Astros countered with a run in the ninth on a squeeze play -- with Wilson on third, Adam Everett sent a perfect bunt toward third. Wilson scored easily.

Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The federal investigation of Barry Bonds approaches a key juncture Thursday, with the grand jury probing the baseball star for perjury and tax evasion set to expire and a possible indictment of Bonds looming.
"I don't think Barry has violated any laws. Under our system, if the government is going to point a finger at him, the government better be well prepared to," said Bonds' attorney, Michael Rains. "I will do everything in my power to make sure that Barry gets a tenacious and effective defense."

Bonds' personal trainer, Greg Anderson, also was awaiting a key ruling from a federal appeals court that could release him from prison, where he was sent earlier this month after refusing to testify against his childhood friend.

Anderson likely holds the key to whether perjury charges could stick against Bonds, who testified in 2003 that he thought substances given to him by the trainer were arthritis balm and flaxseed oil.

Authorities suspected Bonds was lying and that those items were "the clear" and "the cream" _ two performance-enhancing drugs tied to the BALCO, the lab exposed as a steroids supplier to top athletes in baseball, track and other sports.

"Obviously, they think they need Greg to prove perjury," Mark Geragos, Anderson's lawyer, said Wednesday.

Allegations of steroid use long have plagued Bonds, who passed Babe Ruth in May for second only to Hank Aaron on the career home run list. They intensified in late 2003, when he testified before the original Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative grand jury, which took testimony from about two dozen athletes.

Anderson's status is one of many legal uncertainties surrounding the Giants slugger.

Without the trainer's help, prosecutors still could indict Bonds on charges alleging he failed to pay taxes on money made through sales of autographs and other memorabilia. They also could seek to extend the grand jury's term to put more pressure on Anderson to cooperate, or convene a new panel and put Anderson back in jail. There's also the chance Bonds might be indicted on perjury charges without Anderson's testimony.

Federal prosecutors declined to comment Wednesday.

Anderson was one of five men convicted in the steroids scandal surrounding BALCO. He was sentenced to three months behind bars and three months of home confinement in October after pleading guilty to money laundering and steroid distribution.

He was found in contempt of court and jailed again July 5 for refusing to testify in the Bonds probe.

Federal prosecutors say they need Anderson, in part, to interpret calendars that seem to spell out Bonds' schedule for using performance-enhancing drugs. The calendars were seized by investigators from Anderson's house in 2003.

Geragos says Anderson must be released when the grand jury's term expires Thursday, even if prosecutors succeed in extending the panel's investigation.

But former federal prosecutors said authorities likely will try to keep him locked up.

"That's simply because he hasn't served that much time in jail," said Jonathan Howden, who left the U.S. Attorney's office earlier this year after 25 years as a prosecutor. "Under normal circumstances, the judge would find that he is still lawfully subject to the contempt order."

Separately, Geragos has launched an effort to get his client freed based on a tape-recorded conversation that Geragos says was made illegally in the spring of 2003 by government investigators. On the tape, Anderson allegedly discusses Bonds' illegal drug use with an unidentified athlete.

"Mr. Anderson allegedly makes numerous remarks regarding baseball's steroids testing, Barry Bonds' use of an undetectable performance-enhancing drug to beat drug tests, and Mr. Anderson's own alleged steroid use," Geragos said in a court filing.

Geragos is demanding that the government disclose the contents of that tape. He suspects they won't and says it's illegal for Anderson to remain in prison because he won't testify about information the government allegedly obtained without a warrant.

"They have to turn over the tape or let Greg out," Geragos said.

A decision on that argument is expected soon from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Former federal prosecutors said Anderson faces long odds with that argument because grand jury witnesses aren't entitled to see the government's evidence before they testify, except on rare occasions.

Geragos argued this is such an occasion, because he says the tape Anderson's acquaintance made is an illegal wiretap. If the appeals court agrees, then Anderson would not have to testify, according to Geragos.

That scenario could jeopardize the government's perjury investigation, he added.

Video - Trip To SF Giants Game v. Phillies - Barry Hits #721

This videos is a kind of small trip one person took to AT&T Park to see the SF Giants take on the Phillies. What they didn't know was that Barry Bonds would hit home run #721

Jose Canseco Says Baseball Leaked Positive Steroids Test Information On Rafael Palmeiro

And more. That's just the start. I'm glad he's sticking up for himself and at a time when people seem to be against him for no good reason. I'm willing to bet he comes out as in the right. He says steroids have slowed the aging process for him -- I just want to know what kind?

CHICO, Calif. ESPN -- Jose Canseco wrote the book that helped persuade baseball to toughen its steroids policy, and he insists there's much more damaging information to come.

Canseco Drops More Bombs

Canseco

Jose Canseco packed quite a wallop (of the verbal kind, at least) as he prepared to play for the San Diego Surf Dawgs of the independent Golden Baseball League. His final line Monday: 3 K's, one HBP in the Dawgs' 4-3 victory over the Chico Outlaws. But before the game, his first since 2001 ...

• Canseco accused baseball of cutting Rafael Palmeiro a deal to testify against him in March 2005, saying MLB then went ahead and leaked Palmeiro's positive test out of fear that Congress would find out anyway. "I know what I know" is all Canseco would say.

• Canseco said he will meet in the coming weeks with former Sen. George Mitchell, the former Senate majority leader appointed in March by Selig to head the sport's investigation into steroids.

• He said that Alex Rodriguez told him about six years ago that Canseco was being "blackballed" by baseball.

• He noted that years of steroids use has helped slow the aging process for him.

• Canseco is working on a movie and two more books, saying he intends to "rectify" his tarnished image.

• "I feel one person can make a difference. I feel one person can change the world. I want Major League Baseball to know I'm not going away that easy."


"I think what we're seeing is just the tip of the iceberg," Canseco said Monday, about five hours before he was set to take the field for the first time with the San Diego Surf Dawgs in the independent Golden Baseball League. "I know for a fact that's what we're seeing."

Canseco received a smattering of boos and cheers before the game when he was announced as the designated hitter against the Chico Outlaws, then again when he stepped into the batter's box leading off the second inning.

Canseco, who said it had been at least four years since he last swung a wooden bat, struck out three times and was hit by a pitch in the Surf Dawgs' 4-3 victory. The game drew 4,501 fans for the largest crowd ever to watch a game in Nettleton Stadium.

"I don't know right now how to attack a breaking ball," he said while fireworks went off behind him. "The pitchers have the upper hand. It will take a week or so. I've struck out three times in the big leagues when hitting hot as ever and come back the next day and hit a home run."

He struck out swinging on four pitches leading off the second and again in the third on five pitches, getting razzed in the process.

"Juiced!" one fan hollered, a reference to his book. "That's not a big league pitcher, Jose," another man yelled.

Earlier, Canseco called Major League Baseball "the mafia" for the way it has handled the game's steroids scandal and suggested that the sport will discipline only certain players and might even hide the truth when it comes to big-name stars and positive tests.

He plans to fight baseball to bring out the truth.

"They're mafia, point blank, they're mafia," Canseco said. "I don't think Major League Baseball is enthused about finding out the truth. There needs to be a major cleanup in Major League Baseball. I think they are treading on very thin ice, and [commissioner] Bud Selig has to be very careful what he's doing because his job is on the line."

When contacted about Canseco's comments, baseball spokesman Pat Courtney said, "We wouldn't comment on anything he said."

One day after his 42nd birthday, Canseco showed up at the ballpark tanned and toned with his short, black hair slicked back. He sported tight jeans and a black button-down shirt, with several of those buttons open, exposing his muscular chest. And he noted that years of steroids use has helped slow the aging process for him. He weighs 230 pounds -- down significantly from his playing weight of between 255 and 260.

The league said Canseco has agreed to be subjected to its drug-testing policy "that immediately expels any players found using steroids or illegal drugs." The league said nine players, out of more than 200 tested, were tossed for illegal drug use last year.

"Jose will be treated consistent with all of our players regarding drug testing," league commissioner Kevin Outchalt said.

Canseco's return comes some 16 months after he attracted Congress' attention with an autobiography, "Juiced," that accused several top players of steroid use -- including fellow Cuban Rafael Palmeiro, who was suspended on Aug. 1 last season for violating baseball's new steroids policy and claimed he didn't know how the drug got in his body.

In a 2005 interview on the CBS television show "60 Minutes," Canseco also said he injected Rafael Palmeiro with steroids. Palmeiro is now out of baseball.

"The reason why I wrote this book is to fight Major League Baseball," Canseco said. "I feel one person can make a difference. I feel one person can change the world. I want Major League Baseball to know I'm not going away that easy."

Canseco accused baseball of cutting Palmeiro a deal to testify against him, saying MLB then went ahead and leaked Palmeiro's positive test out of fear that Congress would find out anyway.

How does he have that information?

"I know what I know," he said. "The majority of the reason why I wrote the book is to show Major League Baseball that they cannot try to destroy an athlete's career. I've seen them blackball many players and I can't believe none of these players has taken a stand and said anything about it."

In March 2005, Canseco testified before the House Government Reform committee that he used performance-enhancing drugs as a player.

He also said Monday that New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez told him after Dan Marino's Pro-Am golf tournament about six years ago that Canseco was being "blackballed" by baseball.

"I challenge him in a polygraph test to say no," Canseco said.

Canseco carried a fancy, red duffel bag when he made his entrance into the modest, 4,100-seat ballpark, home of the Chico Outlaws on the campus of rural Chico State University, some 170 miles north of the San Francisco Bay area. A sellout crowd was expected for Canseco's return.

The former slugger -- he has 462 career home runs -- is back in professional baseball for the first time since finishing his 17-year major league career with the Chicago White Sox in 2001. Canseco signed with the Surf Dawgs last week for the remaining two months of the season, set to earn the league's maximum salary of $2,500 a month. He even plans to pitch, featuring a knuckleball, and threw a bullpen session before Monday's game.

It is unclear when Canseco might take the mound for the first time.

"Will it be with a one-run lead in the ninth? No," Surf Dawgs manager Terry Kennedy said.

Before the game, the Outlaws gathered in the shade and watched Canseco hit about six homers during batting practice. Even concession stand workers left their posts to take a peek.

He was initially slated to bat cleanup, but Kennedy later moved him down to sixth. Canseco pulled on a navy blue Surf Dawgs cap and held up his No. 33 uniform in a 20-minute outdoor news conference held in front of about 50 people, including a couple of fans wearing Oakland Athletics gear -- his first club.

Canseco is working on a movie and two more books, saying he intends to "rectify" his tarnished image.

"The movie is going to be devastating, no ifs and buts about it," he said.

Canseco said he will meet in the coming weeks with former Sen. George Mitchell, the former Senate majority leader appointed in March by Selig to head the sport's investigation into steroids.

Baseball has toughened its drug policy several times in recent years, but Canseco isn't satisfied.

"They now realize it started with me and ends with me," he said. "The policy sounds great, but that's not the problem. There are major problems not with the policies but the individuals who are instituting this policy."

Barry Bonds Home Run Number 719 - Video

SF Giants slugger Barry Bonds continues his march toward Hank Aaron with this home run, the 719th of his career, and hit against the Oakland A's last weekend.

Here's the video.

If A's Move To Fremont, They May Be Called "San Jose A's In Fremont" - Mark Purdy on KNBR Today.

I just heard San Jose Mercury News Columnist Mark Purdy say that Lew Wolff, A's owner, told him that if the A's are moved to Fremont they may be called "The San Jose A's of Fremont." In other words, Oakland A's would no longer exist.

"Choose or Lose The A's" Meeting - June 20th 2006

"Choose or Lose The A's" Meeting - June 20th 2006

Watch the video

While many -- probably you -- were watching the epic Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks NBA Finals game, a giant handful of Oaklanders were holding the third meeting of a group called "Choose or Lose The A's".

Hey, I didn't make up the title. That honor belongs That honor belongs to Robert Limon, who organized this effort which has picked up steam and will be marked by it's first event, a July 7th tailgate party at the Oakland Coliseum in the "B" parking lot.

The group's idea is to drum up enough fan passion to encourage elected officials to pay attention to and take real action leading to the retention of the Oakland A's in Oakland. This vlog shows one of the planning meetings of the group, of which I'm a member. But we encourage you to get involved in any way large or small -- even if it's just sending an email link to this vlog to someone you know anywhere in the World who's an A's fan. Drop me an email at zenabraham@aol.com

This video was originally shared on blip.tv by zennie2005 with a Creative Commons Attribution license.

Oakland A's Sweep LA Dodgers and NY Yankees Is Successive Weeks

Lookout. The Oakland A's are putting on a show. They've swept both the Yankees and Dodgers in successive weekends.

Chicago White Sox Ozzie Guillen: "I Don't Care About The Cubs" - Video

On ESPN Radio's "The Mike and Mike Show" the hosts ask both the New York Mets Jose Torre and the Chicago White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen about MLB Interleague Play. While Torre says he doesn't like Interleague play, Guillen goes a step further, expressing his dislike for the Cubs, or more to the point, the fact that he "doesn't care about them." Makes for a great rivalry, not to mention a fight or two.

Here's the video:

Video Of Chicago Cubs Ryan Dempster Defeating the Reds 7-3 Memorial Day - Cute Kid

This is not just a video of Ryan Dempster making the final out as the Cubs snap a 6-game losing streak by defeating the Reds 7-3, it's a clip of what life's all about: enjoying an event with a little one. Especiallly great when your team wins.

Astros Think They Can Sign Roger Clemens - And Video Of Him Warming Up

I saw this from the Houston Chronicle today. It was part of a webpage, a few paragraphs on Roger Clements. After you read it, see him warm up for his start in the World Baseball contest.

"Astros owner Drayton McLane remains "optimistic" of re-signing Roger Clemens if the future Hall of Famer gives his agents, Randy and Alan Hendricks, the go-ahead to work out a deal.
"We had conversations with Randy and Alan Hendricks last week, and they're supposed to get back to us at midweek," McLane said from his home in Temple.

The Astros, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers have shown interest in Clemens, who is in his second week of an intense three-week workout program.

"I think with Houston he has reached so much success last year and the year before, and I think there's work to be done," McLane said."

New York Yankees v. New York Mets Game May 19th Video Highlights

The Yankees and Mets played a great battle on May 19th, the highlights of which are captured on this video. One of them is a dispute of a base tag by A-Rod (Alex Rodriquez). At the time of this clip, the Yankees were ahead 2 nothing.

Barry Bonds Hits Home Run # 715 - Video Of The Event

This video, which someone (not me) set to music, shows the walk of San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds to the plate and the eventual launch of what would become his 715th home run, hit last Sunday (a lovely day in the Bay Area). Bonds now has just 40 home runs to go to catch Hank Aaron.

2006.5.27. Japanese Baseball - Video "Dragon Justice Stunt Connetion" - Whatever, It's a Great Play

Regardless of the language, this is a great fielding play. It's good to see what the rest of the World is up to. I don't know what the annoucers are saying; can someone translate?

Lastings Milledge Called Up By New York Mets; Xavier Nady On DL

Mets recall top prospect Milledge, put Nady on DL
Associated Press, ESPN


NEW YORK -- Top prospect Lastings Milledge was called up by the New York Mets on Tuesday after starting right fielder Xavier Nady was placed on the disabled list following an appendectomy earlier in the day.

The arrival of the 21-year-old Milledge from Triple-A Norfolk has been greatly anticipated by fans in New York since the highly regarded outfielder was chosen with the No. 12 pick in the first round of the 2003 draft.

Milledge, drafted out of high school in Bradenton, Fla., batted .291 (53-182) with four home runs, 19 RBIs and four stolen bases in 50 games this season with Norfolk. He also had 16 doubles and 32 runs scored.

During spring training, Milledge had a .327 average in 23 games.

Any time trade rumors have cropped up with the Mets in the past year, Milledge has been widely sought after by other teams.

But New York has been reluctant to trade another top prospect after sending away young left-hander Scott Kazmir, who was dealt two years ago to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Victor Zambrano.

Kazmir, a 22-year-old left-hander, is second in the AL with seven wins this season and fifth in the league with a 2.86 ERA. Zambrano is out for the year following surgery earlier this month to replace a torn ligament in his pitching elbow.

At last year's trade deadline when rumors swirled that the Mets were close to acquiring Boston outfielder Manny Ramirez, Devil Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said he spoke with New York and came up with a three-way deal involving Tampa Bay, Boston and New York.

LaMar said a proposal was "about as close as it got," adding that the Mets made Milledge "untouchable throughout this trade deadline."

Nady, acquired from San Diego in the offseason in the deal that sent Mike Cameron to the Padres, had surgery at early Tuesday at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

He went 0-for-2 with a run scored Monday night in New York's 8-7 victory over Arizona that ended shortly before midnight. Nady was hit by a pitch in the eighth inning and left the game.

While being examined, he complained of abdominal pain, and the appendicitis diagnosis followed. Nady was then taken to the hospital.

The Mets said Nady, who missed two games last week because of a sore lower back, should be able to resume baseball activities within 10 days. He is hitting .267 with nine homers and 22 RBI in his first season with New York.

Barry Bons Passes Babe Ruth Today - Hits Home Run Number 715 Against The Colorado Rockies - ESPN

Barry Bonds has only 40 home runs to go to tie Hank Aaron. Just 40 HR's. That's it. The question is with his knew problem, can he get there?

Bonds hits No. 715 to pass Babe Ruth
Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds stands alone at No. 715.

Barry Bonds hit homer No. 715 in the bottom of the fifth inning. To follow the rest of the action live, click here.
He hit the milestone home run with a two-run shot to center Sunday, moving past Babe Ruth into sole possession of second place on the career list behind Hank Aaron.

Bonds homered off Colorado's Byung-Hyun Kim and in front of his home fans -- where he wanted to do it all along -- and before the San Francisco Giants headed on a road trip.

The ball glanced off a fan's hands about 15 rows up and then dropped onto an elevated platform beyond the fence. The souvenir sat there for a few minutes before rolling off the roof to an unidentified man waiting for a hot dog, and he was quickly ushered away by security.

Bonds circled the bases as streamers fell from the upper deck.

Now, the list looks like this:

Aaron 755.

Bonds 715.

Ruth 714.

Bonds connected at 2:14 p.m. in the fourth inning, then immediately raised his arms and clapped his hands together before beginning his historic trot. Kim became the 421st different pitcher to surrender a home run to the 41-year-old slugger -- yet another meaningful drive Kim has given up, having allowed a pair of monstrous World Series homers in 2001.

Bonds embraced and kissed his 16-year-old son, bat boy Nikolai, as he crossed home plate, then was greeted by his teammates at the top of the dugout. He took one curtain call in which he tipped his hat and raised both arms and blew a kiss to the crowd.

Moments later, he came out again and waved.

The homer traveled about 445 feet, and the Giants quickly unfurled two banners from the light towers on either side of the main scoreboard in center field: One of Bonds on the left side and the other of Hammerin' Hank's 755.

Bonds, who had walked on five pitches in the first inning, went five games between 714 and 715. He hit 714 on May 20 at Oakland, a span of 17 at-bats and 24 plate appearances.

Bonds is still loved at home despite the steroids accusations that surrounds his home run pursuit.

This is the first time in nearly 85 years that Ruth hasn't been in the top two on the career home run list, according to David Vincent of the Society for American Baseball Research. He passed Sam Thompson to move into second on June 20, 1921, when he hit his 127th career home run.

Bonds has hit most of his other milestone home runs in San Francisco: 500, 600, 700 along with 660 and 661 to tie and pass godfather Willie Mays. In 2001, Bonds hit the final three of his 73 homers at home to break Mark McGwire's single-season record of 70.

Aaron passed Ruth in April 1974 -- and now Aaron is the only one left for Bonds to chase.

This was Bonds' last chance during the six-game homestand before the Giants left town for another week on the road.

Cubs Barrett Suspended For 10-Games; Video Of Home Plate Fight Show Hard Collision Caused It

I know Barrett should have received some punishment for his hit on A.J. Pierzynski, but if you look at the video below, it's obvious that Pierzynski was a little too violent in his collision with Barrett. Still, A.J. Pierzynski gets to play without punishment.



Scuffle costs Cubs' Barrett 10 games
Catcher appeals ruling; Pierzynski fined undisclosed amount
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs catcher Michael Barrett has appealed a 10-game suspension issued on Friday by Major League Baseball for his actions that sparked an on-field fight against the Chicago White Sox last weekend.
Bob Watson, vice president of on-field operations for Major League Baseball, announced the penalties on Friday. In the statement issued by MLB, Barrett was suspended 10 games and fined an undisclosed amount for his violent actions, which led to the incident.

"I understand there are consequences to my actions," Barrett said in a statement before Friday's game. "I would've wished the punishment would be less stringent, but I am hopeful that upon appeal, it will be lessened. Ultimately, I want to move on from this and help the Chicago Cubs win baseball games."

White Sox outfielder Brian Anderson was suspended for five games and fined an undisclosed amount for his aggressive and violent actions during the incident. White Sox third-base coach Joey Cory was suspended for two games and fined for his aggressive actions.

Barrett and White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski collided at home plate in the second inning of last Saturday's 7-0 White Sox win over the Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field. Four players were ejected.

The White Sox had one out and the bases loaded against Rich Hill in a scoreless game. Anderson flied out to left, and Pierzynski ran home on the sacrifice fly. He barreled into Barrett at the plate, and both fell over. Pierzynski then slapped the plate with his hand. Pierzynski got up and was walking toward Barrett, who grabbed the White Sox catcher and delivered a right punch to his face. Both benches emptied.

"I was next to Joey and was pulling him out of there," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "I don't know what he did, but something must have come out on the film for him to be suspended."

Pierzynski was fined an undisclosed amount for his conduct during the incident.

Barrett was in the starting lineup on Friday for the Cubs' series opener against the Atlanta Braves. No date was set for a hearing on his appeal.

"I thought it was a little harsh," Baker said of Barrett's penalty. "We knew it was going to be something. We were hoping it wouldn't be that many days. It's going to be tough to imagine being without Michael for that many days."

Barrett would not go into details as to how he will handle his argument to try and reduce the suspension.

"I didn't know what to expect," Barrett said. "I've never been in a situation like this. I tried to prepare myself for the worst-case scenario and obviously hope for the best. At this point, I'll take whatever comes and hope for the best."

Barrett also would not comment on the penalty against Pierzynski, who was not suspended.

"At this point, all I'm worried about is getting back out there and helping my team win today and get the suspension lessened," Barrett said. "I'm not really worried about what has happened to anyone else."

However, Baker said he was surprised Pierzynski didn't get a suspension.

"Kind of, yeah. Whenever there's a cause, there's an effect," Baker said. "The effect was Michael."

Baker would not suggest what he would consider an appropriate penalty.

"I'm not the judge here. I can't answer that," Baker said.

After the incident, Barrett called it a clean play by Pierzynski. The White Sox catcher said he was walking toward Barrett because he was going after his helmet.

When Barrett serves his suspension, the Cubs will have to play a man short. Baker said that they will likely call up another catcher from the Minor Leagues to have a backup for Henry Blanco, which means that someone will have to be sent down. Ten games is a long time, especially considering how the Cubs have been scuffling. Barrett was batting .291 with six homers and 21 RBIs entering Friday's game.

"This is pretty severe, I think," Baker said of the penalty.

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said he will try to get Barrett's suspension reduced.

"In fairness to Michael, you get jolted like that and you get knocked a little silly," Hendry said. "And A.J. did take a few steps toward our side of the field, and I think it's just normal that you would react that there was going to be more action or some kind of second confrontation, and I hope Michael would be given some kind of leniency for that."

This is the longest suspension for a Cubs player issued by Major League Baseball. Sammy Sosa received an eight-game suspension for using a corked bat in 2003, and that was reduced to seven games.

"Whether it was five to seven to 10, it's not a good thing," Hendry said. "Michael's one of the best hitters at his position in the game -- as proven by his Silver Slugger Award last year -- and you know offensively we've been poor the last three or four weeks. The other guys have to start doing a better job, too, and you just can't sit there playing the game, waiting for Derrek [Lee] to come back -- that'd be unfair to him.

"Obviously, it would do some damage offensively, but under tough times, people have to rise to the occasion around him and do a better job of knocking in runs and pick it up a little bit," Hendry said.

Barrett, 29, has had his run-ins before. In 2004, he and Houston pitcher Roy Oswalt exchanged words at home plate, and this year, Barrett had a verbal exchange with San Diego's Dave Roberts.

But Barrett was not proud of the punch.

"I think I'll be OK," he said. "It was good to get some games in between the incident and coming back here. We're facing a tough pitcher today and I've got my work cut out for me, and I look forward to playing today's game.

"It's been a learning experience," Barrett said. "It's something I'm looking forward to putting behind me."

Barry Bonds Ties Babe Ruth At 714 Today Against The Oakland A's - ESPN and AP

Bonds hits home run No. 714, ties Babe Ruth
ESPN and Associated Press


OAKLAND, Calif. -- The agonizing wait is over for Barry Bonds. He and the Babe are even at 714.

Bonds tied Babe Ruth for second place on the career home run list Saturday, ending a nine-game slump with a shot into the first deck of the elevated stands in right-center during San Francisco's 4-2, 10-inning victory over the Oakland Athletics.

The second-inning drive landed about eight rows up in the seats overlooking the high fence just to the left of the out-of-town scoreboard. Though the A's don't provide estimated distances on home runs, this one appeared to travel about 400 feet -- far from being one of Bonds' trademark behemoth drives.

Booed when he was introduced before the game, the Giants' star received a long standing ovation after his home run, and the game was delayed about 90 seconds.

Next up is Hank Aaron's record of 755.

Bonds, dogged by allegations of steroid use and repeated taunts on the road, was immediately greeted by his teammates after circling the bases. They surrounded him at the top of the dugout as Bonds tipped his cap and blew a kiss to his wife and two daughters sitting in the first row.

Bonds had gone 29 at-bats without a homer since hitting No. 713 with a 450-foot shot May 7 in Philadelphia. His teenage son, Nikolai, a Giants bat boy, was waiting for him at home plate and they embraced.

The Giants plan to commemorate No. 715 in their own ballpark. Major League Baseball has said it won't do anything special to celebrate Bonds moving into second place, and a commissioner's office spokesman said baseball had no comment Saturday.

The ball was caught on the fly by 19-year-old Tyler Snyder of nearby Pleasanton, who was cheered by fans around him and quickly left the Coliseum with his souvenir.

Left-hander Brad Halsey became the 420th pitcher to allow a homer to Bonds, who was San Francisco's designated hitter in an interleague series against the A's.

"It's a pretty unbelievable thing," Astros reliever Brad Lidge said in Houston, where the Giants swept a three-game series earlier in the week. "No matter what kind of controversy surrounds him and no matter what side of the fence you are on as far as what he did or didn't do with performance-enhancing drugs, you've got to admit that it's a pretty impressive number."

The seven-time NL MVP was booed when his name was announced before the game and again the moment he began walking to the batter's box. He connected on a 1-1 pitch from Halsey, making history with his sixth home run this season.

Bonds came to the plate in the third to chants of "Barry! Barry!" and struck out looking. He flied out to left leading off the sixth and was intentionally walked in the eighth and again in the 10th with none out and runners on second and third.

"I'm not anti-Barry Bonds. I'm not pro-Barry Bonds," said Astros reliever Russ Springer, suspended four games Friday for hitting Bonds with a pitch Tuesday night. "He's a good player. I enjoy watching him play. He's one of the better hitters. I'm just glad he didn't hit it here and he can hit all he wants somewhere else."

Bonds had hoped to reach his latest milestone home run at home in San Francisco, where he hit Nos. 500, 600 and 700 along with 660 and 661 to tie and pass his godfather, Willie Mays. In 2001, Bonds hit the final three of his 73 homers at home to break Mark McGwire's single-season record of 70.

Still, the slugger had to be happy to hit No. 714 back in the Bay Area in front of his family and friends. Only six days earlier, Bonds suggested he was being haunted by "two ghosts" -- a reference to Ruth and Aaron.

Ruth passed Sam Thompson to move into second place on June 20, 1921, when he hit his 127th home run. Aaron passed Ruth in April 1974 -- and now Hammerin' Hank's mark is the only one left for Bonds to chase.

Yet Bonds has said that could be a long shot considering he turns 42 on July 24, is playing on a surgically repaired right knee and with bone chips floating around in his left elbow.

In his 21st major league season, Bonds has hit nine career home runs as a designated hitter -- and realizes his future could be in the American League as a DH if he returns in 2007.

Bonds had 40 plate appearances between Nos. 713 and 714. He had been 4-for-29 (.138) with 10 walks, three intentional, six runs scored, two RBI and four strikeouts since his last homer.

"He finally hit it? It's about time," said Ken Griffey Jr., who entered the night with 539 career homers, in the Cincinnati Reds' clubhouse in Detroit. "Now I don't have to keep watching TV to see him do it."

He was destined for greatness at an early age. The son of three-time All-Star Bobby Bonds and the godson of one of the game's greatest players in Mays, Bonds spent his childhood years roaming the clubhouse at Candlestick Park, getting tips from Mays and other Giants.

In a matter of years, Bonds went from a wiry leadoff hitter when he broke into the big leagues with Pittsburgh in 1986 to the most feared slugger of his generation and possibly ever.

It was a transformation many -- including federal prosecutors in the BALCO case -- believe was fueled by the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Bonds has long denied ever knowingly taking steroids, though the new book "Game of Shadows" reveals his alleged longtime doping regimen the authors say began after the 1998 season when Bonds saw the attention McGwire and Sammy Sosa generated in their race for the single-season home run record.

Bonds' personal trainer, Greg Anderson, pleaded guilty to his role in a steroid distribution ring, and a federal grand jury is looking into whether Bonds perjured himself when he testified to the separate grand jury that indicted Anderson and three others in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative scandal.

One fan in the front row behind home plate Saturday sported a No. 25 Bonds jersey with BALCO on the back where Bonds' name should be.

Partly because of his prickly relationship with fans and the media, Bonds was never a beloved superstar even before the steroid allegations. He was not voted by fans onto baseball's All-Century team, losing out to Griffey, among others.

But the latest accusations have hurt his reputation even more, and the anticipation as he neared Ruth's mark was tempered for that reason. Just as when Aaron passed the Babe in 1974, there is resentment among those who believe Ruth is the greatest player ever, although this time it's more because of steroids than racism.

The allegations of cheating have put a cloud over Bonds' rapid rise up the home run chart. He hit his 500th homer on April 17, 2001, on the way to a record 73 that season, and reached 700 on Sept. 17, 2004, a stretch unmatched by any player at the end of his career.

Before the bottom of the 11th inning in the Yankees' 5-4, 11-inning win over the Mets at Shea Stadium, a message on the scoreboard announced Bonds' 714th homer, and the crowd booed.

"I still remember Barry Bonds as a great player, regardless of steroids or what," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "How many home runs would he have hit without whatever people are saying is going on? I don't know. I know one thing: That player-wise, he's pretty good."

Bonds has said his many milestones won't mean as much later if he doesn't win a World Series ring, the only thing missing from a decorated resume featuring the record seven NL MVP awards, 13 All-Star selections and eight Gold Gloves in left field.

The Giants fell six outs short of winning it all in 2002 when they blew their lead in Game 6 and lost in the deciding seventh game to the Angels. While Bonds was at his best that postseason, with eight homers and 27 walks, it was his struggles in his first five trips to the playoffs with Pittsburgh and San Francisco that characterized his career before he became a record-setting home run hitter.

No matter the controversy, his home fans still adore him, chanting his name when he comes to bat and waving yellow rubber chickens whenever an opposing manager makes the most unpopular choice to intentionally walk him.

It is Bonds, after all, who is the biggest reason 3 million fans a year pack the seats at the Giants' sparkling waterfront ballpark, which opened in 2000.

Ray Durham hit a go-ahead RBI single to score Omar Vizquel in the 10th, Steve Finley added a sacrifice fly in the inning and Mike Matheny homered in the seventh as the Giants ended a four-game losing streak in the Bay Bridge Series.

Jason Schmidt pitched into the ninth before missing his chance to win a fourth straight decision. Armando Benitez (3-0) blew his second save but recovered for the win, while Kiko Calero (0-1) loaded the bases in the 10th on the way to the loss.

Barry Bonds Still Stuck At 713 Versus Oakland A's - Tribune

Pitchin' like Giant busters
A's Haren, Street go after Bonds, spin shutout

By Josh Suchon, STAFF WRITER - OAKLAND TRIBUNE

Oakland Athletics fans taunt San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds after he flyed out to center field in the second inning Friday, May 19, 2006 in Oakland, Calif. (Staff Photo by D. Ross Cameron

OAKLAND — No rubber chickens were at the Coliseum.

The A's pitchers went after Barry Bonds on Friday night, even with a 3-0 count, even with the game on the line, and lived to tell about it.

In fact, Dan Haren and Huston Street will no doubt be telling their grandchildren about Friday night's game.

Haren allowed two hits in eight innings, and Street struck out Bonds for a dramatic conclusion to a 1-0 A's victory over the Giants before a sellout crowd of 35,077 (which included 1,000 with standing-room only tickets) at the Coliseum.

The A's and Giants played their 51st regular season game since the inception of interleague in 1997, and it was the first that ended 1-0.

Only fitting it was the duel between good friends and former Pepperdine teammates Haren and Noah Lowry, who always seem to face off.

After the Giants scored 34 runs the previous three games in Houston, Haren held them scoreless for eight innings, allowing just two hits andtwo walks.

Haren threw 13 of his 14 pitches away to Bonds, the only exception a 1-0 breaking ball in the seventh inning that was inside and bounced at the plate.

Street threw a 1-1 fastball directly down the middle — the stadium radar gun was turned off — that Bonds nicked for a foul ball, then a rare Street changeup had Bonds flailing helplessly to send the A's crowd into a frenzy.

Bonds flew to center in the second, walked in the fourth and lined out to left on a 3-0 pitch in the seventh. Bonds is now 0-for-6 lifetime against Haren. Bonds has never faced Brad Halsey, the A's starter today.

Since Bonds' last homer on May7, he's 4-for-28 (.143) with nine walks and a hit by pitch in nine starts.

From 2000-2005, Bonds averaged a home run ever 8.23 at-bats. This year, he's hit five in 92 at-bats, or once every 18.4 at-bats.

The only intentional walk Friday night was issued by the Giants. With a runner at third and two outs in the seventh, Felipe Alou put Eric Chavez on first to face Frank Thomas. The strategy worked as Thomas flied out weakly to right.

Haren retired 10 of the first 11 batters to begin the game, the only runner getting wiped out on an interesting double play.

On a hit-and-run, A's second baseman Mark Ellis was covering second as Mike Matheny hit a grounder directly at him. Ellis stepped on the bag, leaped to avoid the slide of Mark Sweeney, was about to throw off-balance, then realized he had lots of time, so waited and then calmly threw to first.

Sweeney was robbed of a hit in the fifth by shortstop Bobby Crosby, who deftly cradled the ball after he dove and it got away from him briefly. Crosby made another good play, deep in the hole, to retire Omar Vizquel in the sixth inning.

Pedro Feliz, who has six home runs in 83 at-bats against the A's, just missed two more, flying out to the warning track in right in the second inning, and putting Jay Payton's back to the wall in left in the seventh.

Haren, who threw 100 pitches in a complete-game victory Sunday at Yankee Stadium, was at 89 pitches entering the eighth.

A one-out double by Sweeney prompted closer Huston Street to get up, although it took a few extra moments to find his glove.

Matheny was hit by a pitch, then Todd Greene was called out on strikes for the second out. With most of the crowd on its feet, Randy Winn hit a soft liner to left, Payton made a running catch, and pumped fists were all around.

Crosby just missed a two-run homer in the second inning, hitting a double high off the left-field wall that would likely have scored anybody except Thomas.

But because it was Thomas on first, he hobbled over to third, and the two runners were stranded when Nick Swisher and Bobby Kielty popped up on the infield to end the inning.

Lowry kept pitching out of trouble. The A's loaded the bases with one out in the third on a single, double and walk, but the only run scored on Eric Chavez's infield groundout — the only run of the game, as it turned out.

Chicago Cubs May Review By ChiTownDailyNews.Org

ChiTownDailyNews.org produced this rather dismal evaluation of the Chicago Cubs in May. The Cubs have lost 13 of the last 16 games and don't seem to be coming out of a tailspin that has some calling for the head of Manager Dusty Baker.

You can get Chicago Cubs tickets with a click on this link: tickets

Here's the Cubs report:

Derek Jeter Signs With XM Sattelite Radio

XM and Jeter

It was announced today that Derek Jeter, New York Yankees star, has signed up with XM. Not to play ball, of course, but to promote XM's MLB programming. You may have spotted Jeter's name listed with other celeb's in the XM Holiday Marketing article from last week.

"To help extend the lead of a winning team like XM is a terrific opportunity, especially since I am a huge XM Satellite Radio fan [I wonder if they have to say that :)]. I am excited to share my enthusiasm for XM's unmatched Major League Baseball programming and unprecedented choice in news, talk, entertainment and, of course, commercial-free music," said Derek Jeter.

Hugh Panero, president and CEO, XM Satellite Radio had this to say, "Derek Jeter is a phenomenal athlete whose contributions both on and off the field have made him an outstanding ambassador for Major League Baseball and an ideal choice to help promote XM's unparalleled, year-round MLB coverage to fans across the country."

Jeter will be featured throughout XM's broad MLB marketing activities, including television, print and online media, as well as retail promotions.

Is Chicago Cubs Dusty Baker Unhappy With Pay? - Sun Times

Baker denies being 'annoyed' over contract

May 11, 2006

BY MIKE KILEY Staff Reporter Chicago Sun Times

SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Chronicle columnist Bruce Jenkins, who wrote last year that manager Dusty Baker would walk away from the Cubs when his four-year contract expired this year, wrote in Wednesday's editions that Baker was "mildly annoyed'' that he hadn't been offered a contract extension by the organization.

"I didn't tell him that,'' Baker said. "That's his opinion. I can't control what somebody writes.

"At this point, when you're losing, you can't be annoyed about nothing but losing. How do you expect to be offered a contract when the team just lost eight in a row? Honestly. I'm being as honest as I can be.''

Let the record show that Baker was laughing heartily when he said this. He is staying true to himself and not allowing himself to get mad or get caught up in controversial, media-generated issues.

General manager Jim Hendry received a two-year extension last month, and it's still anticipated that Baker will be offered an extension this year. That issue isn't a priority for anybody, however, with last place in the division not far away.

Cubs Prevent Barry Bonds From Tieing Babe Ruth - But Bonds Plays Today

Cubs stop Bonds, losing streak

By Bruce Miles
Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Thursday, May 11, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO — The smell of success was extra sweet for manager Dusty Baker and the Cubs after Wednesday night’s 8-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.

Yes, the Cubs held Giants slugger Barry Bonds without a home run for the second straight night, keeping him at 713 for his career and 1 behind Babe Ruth for second place all time.

More important, the Cubs snapped an eight-game losing streak, during which they had scored 9 runs.

“It’s good to get that skunk off the boat because, I tell you, it was getting ridiculous,” said Baker, whose club is 15-18. “I should be happy, but I guess I’m more relieved than happy. We needed that one badly, real bad.”

The Cubs scored more than 3 runs in a game for the first time since April 28, when they defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 6-2.

Keeping Bonds and the Giants at bay by the Bay was starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano, who recorded his first victory of the season after 2 losses and 4 no-decisions.

Zambrano walked Bonds in the first inning. He got him on a routine flyout to center in the third. In the fifth, Zambrano got Bonds looking at a nasty hard sinker, and in the eighth Bonds popped out.

“I was throwing hard today, and I was relaxed against him,” said Zambrano, whose fastball was clocked in the mid-90s (mph) for most of the night. “That was the key — being relaxed on the mound.”

Baker revamped his lineup. He moved shortstop Ronny Cedeno into the leadoff spot and dropped Juan Pierre from No. 1 to No. 2. It seemed to work. Cedeno was 1-for-5 with a run scored, and Pierre was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

“Temporarily,” Baker said. “We’ll see. We’ll take it. We’ll take anything right now.”

The big hitter was right fielder Jacque Jones, who hit a 2-run homer in the second, a single in the fifth and a 2-run double in the sixth, when the Cubs batted around and scored 5 runs.

“That was the most runs we scored, it seemed, in a month,” Baker said.

Zambrano, who threw 110 pitches over 8 innings, struggled to find his command early. He threw 20 pitches in the first inning, when the Giants tied the game at 1-1. Zambrano gave up a leadoff walk to Kevin Frandsen in the second before Mike Matheny doubled. But Zambrano worked out of trouble and cruised from there.

“I think I was too rushed in that first inning; I was trying to do too much,” Zambrano said. “I relaxed. My pitches were in command today, and my sinker was good today. In the third inning and fourth inning, I started using it.”

BOSTON RED SOX TICKETS EXCHANGE

Great Boston Red Sox Tickets, or sell your own at this place!
http://www.bostonredsoxticketsexchange.com

DC Nationals New Stadium To Have Lots Of Glass - Wash Post

Lots of Glass, Capital Views
Design of New Stadium for Washington Nationals Reflects Elements of Convention Center and Monuments In Departure From Red-Brick Retro Ballparks

By David Nakamura
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 15, 2006; Page A01

District officials unveiled a design yesterday for a modern, 41,000-seat baseball stadium featuring massive glass panels, steel and concrete that they hope will echo the style of the city's monuments and spark economic development in a long-neglected industrial strip near the Anacostia River.

The ballpark, scheduled to open in March 2008, will offer views of the river on one side and of the U.S. Capitol dome on the other. It will include luxury boxes and several thousand club seats, revenue-generating amenities coveted by the Washington Nationals.

Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) and other officials did the unveiling before a festive crowd of cheering baseball supporters at the Washington Convention Center, which is also distinguished by giant panels of glass and was built largely during Williams's tenure. Many of the same managers who oversaw that project are in charge of the ballpark near the Navy Yard and South Capitol Street in Southeast.

Architects from Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum Sport of Kansas City, Mo., and Devrouax & Purnell of the District broke sharply from the red-brick throwback design popularized by Baltimore's Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Instead, the Nationals' future home will be defined by a straight, knife-edge building along South Capitol Street, intersected by the sweeping curve of the stadium bowl.

Glass panels will make up the walls of the stadium concourse, giving the ballpark a translucent quality and opening it to the surrounding neighborhoods, architects said. Heavy use of concrete, which will be painted to look like limestone, is intended to repeat design aspects found in the convention center, federal monuments and the Verizon Center to the north.

Cantilevered ramps -- one beyond left field and one along the first-base line -- will allow fans to take in views of the Capitol dome and the river, respectively, and many of the upper deck seats will provide similar views, architects said.

"We wanted to create a design so when you walk in the stadium, no matter at what point, you felt a sense of place that was unique to Washington, D.C.," said Williams, a two-term mayor who has fostered massive economic development and expects the ballpark to be part of his legacy. "We've broken the mold of architecture in the same way as we did with the convention center."

Still, not everyone was immediately charmed by the massive complex, whose only use of bricks might be for a "donors plaza" leading into the ballpark.

"I tend to like the more traditional look," Nationals President Tony Tavares said. "If I was in charge, I would not have designed this. That doesn't mean it's bad. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We are mostly concerned with the inside and how the stadium will function."

Inside the glass walls, the stadium will have 78 luxury suites, 4,000 high-priced club seats, a distinctive circular restaurant beyond center field and 40-foot-wide corridors that will give fans space to pause as they look out at the surrounding neighborhood or continue to follow the game as they visit concession and souvenir stands.

"This has got everything for everyone: something for architecture critics to admire and stuff for the baseball purists to love," said HOK Sport's principal designer, Joseph Spear, who also developed Camden Yards. "We wanted to create a place that was unique and is not a one-liner. We want people to still be discovering new things -- new views and areas -- in the third season."

Atlanta Braves Tickets / Braves Tickets / Braves Tickets Exchange

There are great Atlanta Braves Tickets at this tickets exchange:
Atlanta Braves Tickets

Cubs; Todd Walker Likes His New Position - MLB.com

Notes: Change does Walker good
Cubs first baseman adapting to new position in field, lineup
By Jason Grey / Special to MLB.com

PHOENIX -- At a time when the Cubs are in an offensive slump, having scored just five runs in their last five games, Todd Walker is doing his best despite plenty of changes.
Walker has been asked to play a new position, first base -- in the absence of Derrek Lee -- and be more of a run producer hitting in a new spot in the lineup, third and even fourth on Thursday night.

Despite all that, Walker has continued to get it done early in the 2006 campaign. His .342 batting average ranks fifth in the National League entering Thursday, he's ripping righties at a .423 clip -- good for second in the league behind teammate Ronny Cedeno's .439 -- and his .438 mark with runners in scoring position shows he's making his hits count.

But Walker is careful not to read too much into it.

"Every time you're doing well, people want to come over and tell you how great you are," Walker said with a laugh. "But no matter how much you focus or how good you feel, you go through streaks and have good runs and bad runs. Hopefully, you just minimize the bad runs. I've already had one this year [an 0-for-11 stretch], and I survived."

Walker has gone through some torrid streaks with the bat before, but when you do it at the beginning of the season, it seems to always get a little more attention.

"No matter what you're doing, you can't let it affect the next week or even the next at-bat," Walker said, "For me, the key is that I've learned not to take anything for granted."

Despite the changes, Walker tries to put them out of his mind in the batter's box.

"I realize that if you're consistently putting the ball in play, you're going to get hits, and that's my main focus," Walker said. "Whatever happens defensively, you can't let it affect you at the plate. Just worry about it when you're out there."

Prior sighting: Mark Prior threw long toss for the second straight day as he recovers from a bout of what he believes was food poisoning that pushed his timetable back a little bit in his rehabilitation from a shoulder strain.

"I'm doing all right," Prior said. "The most important thing is I was able to get some throwing in after a few days off. We'll just take it day by day until I get my strength back up. The thing right now is just trying to get the work in. Once I get back on the mound, it shouldn't take much longer."

Prior still feels he can get back into the Cubs' rotation by the end of May.

"That was my expectation going into this past weekend," Prior said. "I was right there at the cusp of getting into some simulated games. Right now, it's backed up until the latter part of this month, but I think it's possible."

The good thing is there have been no issues with his arm.

"The shoulder's been feeling good," Prior said. "It's responded well. I haven't had any problems with it at all."

Case resolved: Prior also received a ruling in a lawsuit regarding a 2004 memorabilia signing.

The suit stemmed from a disagreement about what was expected of him during the appearance, and it alleged that he acted rudely toward fans and left without signing some additional items that he was contracted to. The judge ruled Prior must pay restitution of $30,000 for the items that weren't signed, but ruled in favor of Prior in the other portion of the case, and that he did not act inappropriately with fans.

"I'm glad it's over with and hopefully we can just move on," Prior said. "I think ultimately the decision is what was going to be expected. All along I said that I never behaved in a negative or rude way, and [the ruling] kind of cleared my character. To me, that was the most important thing."

Help on the way? Manager Dusty Baker was hopeful that some right-handed offensive help via trade might be on the way soon.

"There's some action," Baker said. "We hope so. I'm very optimistic."

Second time's the charm? Thursday night's starter, Rich Hill, became the third rookie to join the Cubs' rotation this season. He struggled in 10 appearances last season, posting an ERA above nine, but he says it will be different this time around.

"I have to challenge the hitters and not just try and nibble at the plate like I did last year," said the 26-year-old left-hander.

Scouts say Hill's curveball -- a huge 12-to-6 breaker -- is among the best in baseball, but he has had trouble commanding it at times and did indeed look tentative last year. The Cubs are hoping he can be the pitcher that led the Minors with 13.4 strikeouts per nine innings.

"It's just a matter of consistency in the strike zone with him, that's all," Baker said.

Hill thinks his command has been much improved this year.

"I've just been working on it and working on it and I think it eventually came around with repetition," Hill said. "I've been repeating the same delivery and throwing my curve consistently for strikes, and that's been the key difference for me so far this year."

Hill posted 1.44 ERA in four Triple-A starts before being called up, striking out 33 in 25 innings.

LA Angels of Anaheim Beat Detroit Tigers 7-2, Stop Losses - MLB.com

Angels bust out bats to halt skid
Rookie additions make immediate impact in win
By Paul Harris / Special to MLB.com


Vladimir Guerrero put the game away with a three-run shot in the eighth inning. (Paul Sancya/AP)

DETROIT -- The kids came to the Angels' rescue on Thursday.
Led by Mike Napoli and Tommy Murphy, who were both called up from Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday night, the Angels beat Detroit, 7-2, to snap the team's six-game losing streak.

Napoli homered in his first Major League at-bat to give the Angels a 1-0 lead in the third, and Murphy was 2-for-4, drove in a run and made a nice sliding catch in center field in the eighth inning.

"It gave us a big lift," said manager Mike Scioscia. "The kids came up and just played terrific ball."

Vladimir Guerrero and Casey Kotchman also homered and Howie Kendrick, who was only called up from Salt Lake on April 24, added a RBI single.

Napoli is the 92nd player and third in Angels' history to homer in his first big league at-bat. The two previous Angels were Don Rose in 1972 and Dave Machemer in 1978.

"I couldn't ask for anything more," said Napoli. "Down 1-2 [count], happened to hit a curve ball."

He added he was looking for a curve because Detroit starter Justin Verlander (3-3) had set up Kendrick with fastballs and then struck him out with a curve. But Verlander's curve to Napoli wasn't nearly good enough.

"I gave him his 'Welcome to the Majors' moment with a breaking ball that was nice and pretty on the tee," Verlander said.

Angels' starter Kevin Gregg (2-0) got the win. He allowed a run and three hits in seven innings. He didn't walk a batter and struck out three.

"I just wanted to come out and challenge them really," said Gregg. "And not fall behind in the count."

Verlander gave up four runs, three earned, and nine hits in six innings.

Magglio Ordonez's sacrifice fly tied it 1-1 in the fourth for the Tigers. But the Angels took a 3-1 lead in the fifth on Kotchman's first home run of the season, leading off the inning, and Murphy's first Major League hit -- which produced a run.

Murphy flew all night from Salt Lake City, and arrived at Detroit Metropolitan Airport at about 10:40 on Thursday. He came straight to Comerica Park.

Kendrick made it 4-1 with his RBI single in the sixth. Guerrero added a three-run homer in the seventh.

Curtis Granderson hit a sacrifice fly for the Tigers in the eighth.

"It's good to see the kids come up and perform like they did today," said Scioscia. "It indicates that our player development is working."


Paul Harris is a contributor to MLB.com

Colorado Rockies Tickets / Rockies Tickets Exchange

You can buy or sell your Colorado Rockies tickets with just a click here...or on the title of this post

Houston Off to 19-9 Start - Sweep St. Louis Cardinals

From MLB.com

Astros sweep away Cardinals
Pettitte outpitches Cy Young winner Carpenter
By Alyson Footer / MLB.com

HOUSTON -- Not that Andy Pettitte feels inferior to any of his teammates, but now that the Houston Astros are in their second month of the season, the left-hander was starting to wonder when it was going to be his turn to win a game.
The Astros, 19-9 after beating the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-3, on Thursday night, have had few difficulties in what is now their best start after 28 games. Pettitte, keenly aware he hadn't won since April 9, thought he might be headed down the same path this time, after laboring through two innings that forced him to throw 48 pitches.

He yielded a bases-loaded double to So Taguchi that gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead in the second, and as Brad Ausmus made his way to the mound, Pettitte was already scolding himself for a bad beginning to this start.

"Here we go," Pettitte chuckled. "We'll lose another one -- the team's got 10 losses, and I've got five of them."

That's not what Ausmus relayed to him. Pettitte said Ausmus "chewed me out a little bit," and although he didn't recall the exact dialogue, Ausmus' point was well-taken.

"I don't remember exactly what he said, but he usually doesn't come out there and gripe too much," Pettitte said. "He was griping at me a little bit tonight. It was good, it gave me a little kick in the rear end to get me going."

Ausmus was diplomatic as well.

"I wasn't happy when Taguchi got the hit," Ausmus said. "We were trying to bury that pitch in the dirt. We missed a couple spots early, so I wasn't happy about it. He did a nice job making an adjustment."

By the end of the third, Pettitte had thrown 66 pitches, and it looked like his night may be cut short. But he got through the next three frames on 37 pitches, and although he walked Scott Rolen in the sixth, the inning was soon over when Jim Edmonds grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.

"I thought he got better when he got a little fatigued," manager Phil Garner said. "He was a little more efficient. He'd get a strike, maybe a ball and get an out, instead of going five or six pitches deep into the [count]. He looked like his control was just a little bit better."

Pettitte agreed.

"I felt like I might have settled in a little bit," he said. "Sometimes, when i am a little strong, I overthrow. That's probably what was happening early, and it got me out of sync."

Once Pettitte got into a rhythm, the Astros bats perked up. Lance Berkman tied the game in the fourth with a two-run shot off reigning Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter, his 11th of the season.

Pettitte said Berkman is "swinging the bat as good as I've seen anybody swing the bat that I've played with." That's a high compliment, seeing he won four World Series championship rings and played with some of the most celebrated players of the dominating Yankees era of the late 1990s.

"I'm seeing the ball good right now," a modest Berkman said. "It's just a hot spell for me. You try to keep it going as long as you can. It's about consistency. Anybody can be a great player for a month or a week, but you've got to do it over the long haul. That's what separates guys that are considered great players."

Carpenter had never lost at Minute Maid Park until this start. His ERA was a miniscule 0.84 over four games in Houston.

Jason Kendall Gets Four Game Suspension For Charging Mound

Kendall receives four-game suspension

A's catcher will appeal decision for charging mound vs. Angels

By Mychael Urban / MLB.com

| OAKLAND -- A's catcher Jason Kendall, who charged the mound in Anaheim on Tuesday after exchanging heated words with Angels right-hander John Lackey, was slapped with a four-game suspension Friday afternoon.
Kendall, who was suspended four games in 2004 after charging current teammate Joe Kennedy, also was fined an undisclosed amount for this week's incident. Lackey escaped suspension, but he was fined as well.

Kendall, who was not immediately available for comment, has said he will appeal the decision. The A's open a three-game series against the visiting Devil Rays at McAfee Coliseum on Friday night and travel to New York, where his appeal likely would be heard, next Friday.

NY Yankees Randy Johnson Wins Despite Poor Performance - Baseball HQ

Baseball HQ sent (via email) this report on the Yankees Randy Johnson:

Johnson wins despite mediocre start... Facing the Devil Rays on May 4, Randy Johnson (LHP, NYY) gave up five earned runs but still managed to get a win. Back in April, HQ analyst Andy Andres speculated that Johnson is experiencing some age-related decline, based on the DOM/DIS splits in his pitching logs. Let’s see if the BPI’s also tell the same story.

Year IP Ctl Dom Cmd hr/9 H% S% ERA xERA
==== === === ==== === ==== === === ==== ====
2003 114 2.1 9.9 4.6 1.3 36% 72% 4.26 2.84
2004 245 1.6 10.6 6.6 0.7 28% 74% 2.61 2.39
2005 225 1.9 8.4 4.5 1.3 29% 72% 3.80 3.05
2006 43 1.9 6.1 3.2 1.0 28% 58% 5.02 3.62

This is a mixed bag of good news and bad news. On the good side, Johnson’s 5.02 ERA can be justified as the result of a pitiful 58% strand rate. His 3.62 xERA gives a better picture of his true performance to date, and a mark by which to set future expectation. On the bad side, Johnson’s dominance (K/9)is in a state of steep 3-year decline, which is in turn sinking his command (K/BB). The current levels of 6.1 Dom and 3.2 Cmd are still within the range for desirable pitchers, so Johnson should still enjoy a successful season. However, it is not right to expect a sub-3.00 ERA at this stage, based on his xERA. Even so, the misleading 5.02 ERA makes Johnson an excellent buy-low candidate.

Commissioner Selig Annouces Washington Nationals Ownership Team - MLB.com

Press Release - MLB

05/03/2006 5:00 PM ET
Selig to recommend Lerner group as Nationals' owner

Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced today that he has selected a group led by real estate developer Theodore N. Lerner as the new owner of the Washington Nationals and will forward his selection to Major League Baseball's owners for their vote.

Major League Baseball is expected to vote on Commissioner Selig's recommendation at its next owners' meeting, which will take place in New York on May 17th and 18th. The purchase price for the franchise was set at $450 million.

"We had eight very capable and qualified groups bidding for the Nationals," said Commissioner Selig, "and choosing one was extremely difficult. I thank those that were not chosen for their interest and for the great amount of time, energy and patience they devoted to the process.

"I am very excited about the Lerner family and what they will bring to the Washington Nationals, the community and Major League Baseball. From the very beginning of the process they have been committed to the goals of stable yet innovative ownership, diversity within the ownership group, and solid baseball management. Throughout the long application period, they have not varied from those goals and have scrupulously followed our procedures.

"In the end, I determined that family ownership and major investment by a central person has served baseball well in the past and will continue to serve the game well in the future. Accountability is critical in a situation where teams must compete on the field but be partners off the field and in the community. I am confident the Lerners will be accountable to their fans and to baseball.

"Family ownership has long been a model for baseball. The O'Malleys with the Dodgers, the Fetzers with the Tigers and the Galbraiths with the Pirates are several historical examples that had great success in the game. And, among the successful family-operated teams today are the Wilpons with the Mets, the Pohlads in Minnesota, and the Moores family in San Diego. I believe the Lerner family will be another excellent example and I look forward to working with them."

As part of the process, Major League Baseball has emphasized the need for strong local and diverse ownership, a requirement that was met by the Lerner Group. Ted, his son Mark, were born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area, while his sons-in-law, Edward L. Cohen and Robert K. Tanenbaum, are long-time residents. Nearly all of the Lerner Family business as well as their personal and philanthropic interests are local. For more than 50 years, they have developed, operated and managed real estate projects that Washingtonians use - from shopping centers to offices to homes.

This is not Ted Lerner's first foray into baseball. In the mid-1970s, several years after the Senators departed Washington, D.C. for Texas, he contacted then-Commissioner Bowie Kuhn about returning a team to the D.C. area. He also had tried to purchase the Baltimore Orioles.

Former Atlanta Braves President Stan Kasten is part of the Nationals' ownership as are a diverse group of local business leaders that includes:

• Paxton K. Baker, Vice President and General Manager of BET Digital Networks;

• Sports broadcaster James T. Brown;

• Faye F. Fields, founder of Integrated Resource Technologies, Inc.;

• Alphonso Maldon, Jr., Senior Vice President and Senior Relationship Management Officer for Government Banking Services in the Corporate Banking Department at the PNC Financial Services Group;

• B. Doyle Mitchell, Jr., President and CEO of Industrial Bank, NA;

• George Munoz, Principal of Munoz Investment Banking Group, LLC;

• Raul R. Romano, President and CEO of Alliance Consulting Group, LLC;

• Rodney E. Slater, Partner, Patton Boggs LLP, and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation; and

• Jarvis C. Stewart, Chairman and Managing Partner of Stewart Partners LLC.

The Lerners cannot take full control of the Nationals until their acquisition is approved by the Major League clubs and the sales process closes. Until that time, the Lerner group may consult with current club President Tony Tavares and his front office to ensure a smooth transition of ownership. The Lerners, however, are expected to be immediately involved in the detailed stadium planning process to move that forward as rapidly as possible.

"I also want to thank Tony Tavares, Jim Bowden, Frank Robinson and the entire Nationals' staff for their continuing hard work on our behalf," said Commissioner Selig. "Everyone in the industry is grateful for their efforts."

Commissioner Selig, Honor Barry Bonds - An Open Letter

Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167

Dear Commissioner Selig,

Over the years I've come to appreciate what you've done for Major League Baseball, and foremost you've managed to stewart the steady increase in the values of each of the franchises of Major League Baseball. For example, the San Francisco Giants rose from $188 million in 1998 to about $350 million in 2005. And over the last 40 years, this bankable rise in value has outpaced the S&P 500.

A remarkable achievement.

One clear fuel of this growth has been the rise in the number of home runs hit after 1994 -- the strike year. All of us knew Major League Baseball needed a shot in the arm, and it literally got one via the blasts from players like Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa. In fact, some point to their friendly record-setting home run chase as the single event that did save baseball. Moreover, it and the exploits of players like Barry Bonds have made Major League Baseball franchises desirable to own since the strike.

I write to express a great displeasure with your actions against Barry Bonds. A person is innocent until proven guilty and to date no one has demonstrated that Bonds did indeed take steroids. Moreover, there are a great many people very uninformed regarding the use of legal versus illegal performance - enhancing drugs.

Rather than be the steady hand that keeps the wolves at bay, you seem intent on exciting them. By making public annoucements that you're not going to celebrate Barry Bonds achievements to come, you give legitimacy to charges leveled against him from people who should be sued for libel and slander. In fact, you should take up this mattter, yourself.

Rather than admit that Barry Bonds has helped each franchise owner with his home run chase and the resultant growth in merchandise revenue, TV ratings, and internet traffic it has caused, you seek to bury Bonds apparently to "save baseball" and yourself.

I guarantee you will not find anything to slam-dunk get Barry Bonds out of baseball. Sorry.

Look, this is a matter of those who dislike Barry and can't see beyong their own hate.

Don't joint them. Their trip to the gutter is not one youn want to take.

Celebrate Barry.

Best

Zennie Abraham, Jr.
Chairman and CEO
Sports Business Simulations