Major Leagues

     Bonds, who has been crucified in the media for steroid use, is currently being investigated by a federal grand jury for possible perjury when he appeared before the BALCO grand jury in 2003, denying that he ever used steroids.

     “I don’t know whether he used steroids or not,” stated former Giants manager Roger Craig, “but even if he did, to hit those homers is incredible. He gets one pitch a night and he hits a homer. This guy has some skills and athletic ability you only see once in a lifetime. You’re watching something you may never see again in sports.”

     It may not be a completely celebratory atmosphere Tuesday night if Dodgers fans vent their hostility towards Bonds.

     “It would be very disheartening and disappointing,” Giants center fielder Dave Roberts said. “It’s something that’s going to be showed over and over again. With Hank (Aaron), you saw guys run on the field, and everyone’s going crazy. That’s the way it should be.

     It’s the greatest record of all time. For it to be charred with that kind of acceptance would be disappointing at any ballpark. I would hope it wouldn’t be like that.”

     For New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez, Tuesday night’s game against the Chicago White Sox could garner a major career victory. With 499 runs under his belt, Rodriguez, 32, could easily become the youngest player ever to hit 500.

     Bonds, who needs two home runs for his career highlight, showed angst for Rodriguez during Sunday’s game against Baltimore. Read the rest of this entry »

     This year’s schedule and related emotional investments has been even more intense than ever before as dozens of milestones and the most hallowed record in all of sports were reached this year by numerous different players. Baseball has resurged from its years of disinterest in the 1990s and the awful strike of 1996 to become more popular than ever before, and the players associated with the game have subsequently undergone more scrutiny than ever before.

     The Competition

     What can best be remembered about the 2007 Major League Baseball season though? It’s hard to say until the season is over and passed, but the changes are greater than ever. First, the competition. For the first time in years, the level of competition in Major League Baseball has reached an all time high.

     The Boston Red Sox have ended an 11 year streak of Eastern Division titles by the New York Yankees, winning their first such title in more than a decade. Many consider the Red Sox to be the strongest team in the major leagues and with one of the best pitching lineups in baseball and some of the best rookies in professional sports this year, they stand the best chance of going all the way.

     But it is not just the Red Sox this year that have surprised this year. The Chicago Cubs are poised to win the division for the first time in years and the Milwaukee Brewers are almost back from the brink of last place with a winning season and the Seattle Mariners – despite a late season collapse – managed to end in second place behind the outrageously good Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

     The Records Read the rest of this entry »

     John Lackey

     The Angels won the 2002 World Series partially because of the arm of Lackey in the decisive Game 7. He went in the 5th round of my league’s draft in 2003. I sighed. The manager that picked him said “Did you not see the World Series?” Everybody forgot that Lackey lost the first game of the series, and only pitched 5 innings in game 7 to get the win. Hardly stellar numbers. He’s been a mediocre pitcher ever since.

     Josh Beckett

     Josh actually did pretty well this season after his 2003 World Series performance. However, he wasn’t good enough to earn a pick in the 3rd or 4th rounds we saw him go in. He didn’t even get to double-digits in wins and only pitched in 156.2 innings.

     Mark Prior

     Prior was dominant in the post-season for the Cubs in 2003. People would talk and say how Prior would never get injured because of his fluid delivery style. Well, the workload from 2003 took its toll on Prior in 2004 and he ended up missing a good part of the season. Thus making owners that picked him in the first round this year wish they had picked Johan Santana instead.

     Kerry Wood Read the rest of this entry »

     Upon retiring from baseball, Derek Jeter has similar aspirations to Michael Jordan, and would like to enter into an ownership role of a professional sports team.

    Jeter is sponsored by the Jordan brand, and was in Tampa where the Yankees’ spring training facilities are, unveiling his newest edition in his shoe line, the ninth installation.

     Jordan made headlines last week when his ownership of the Charlotte bobcats was unanimously passed by the other owners in the league and NBA Commissioner David Stern.

     “Oh yeah,” Jeter said. “The only interest I have in ownership is to be able to call the shots. I’ve said that time and time again.”

     Jeter and Jordan have known each other since the basketball player tried a stint in professional baseball upon his first retirement from the NBA.

     “I’m happy for him. I know it’s something he’s wanted to do for quite some time. Not too many former players get an opportunity to be an owner. It’s something I’d like to do as well,” Jeter remarked.

     But Jeter has no intentions of retiring anytime soon.

     “I’m going to play as long as I’m enjoying myself. I don’t really put limitations on too many things. I think when you start putting limitations out there, you’re in trouble,” the 10-time All-Star said. “I’m having a blast right now playing, and I’m going to play for a long time. That’s the plan.” Read the rest of this entry »

     The DraftBuddy.com Herzog fantasy baseball league draft is in the books, as of the middle of this past week, and we are now eagerly awaiting the start of baseball season to get this league going. Here is some commentary on the league and the results of the draft, to help you prep for your own upcoming fantasy baseball draft.

     Mike MacGregor, owner/operator of DraftBuddy.com , started the Herzog league and is the commissioner. He opened it up to all of his Cheatsheet Compiler & Draft Buddy customers, and 14 stepped up to the challenge to take on Mike, with me being his draft day conscience to prevent him from drafting Toronto Blue Jays rounds ahead of their average draft position, if at all.

     The league is a 15-team 5X5 roto, mixed (AL + NL) format. Given the difficulties of coordinating 15 middle-aged guys each with a wife, kids and a job (sometimes all three) to find time for a live draft, we arranged for a slow draft using a timer running Monday to Friday, morning to night. The timer turned off on the weekend and overnight. Read the rest of this entry »