jhr > Major League Baseball

Alez Rodriguez ESPN News Conference

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:54:13 MST

Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankee Third Base Super Star, is currently answering questions from Sports reporters. It certainly looks as if Alex Rodriguez was prepped as well as any witness would be prior to a Major Court Appearance.

No matter how much Alex Rodriguez dances around the questions and makes the most of his "Mea Culpa" there will always be lingering doubt as to the veracity of what he is saying and has said in the past.

The group of professional baseball players who have taken (used) illegal substances is substantial in size and scope and has tarnished the credibility of most baseball achievements over the past fifteen years or more.

There should not be any prosecution of Alex Rodriguez. At Least Rodriguez was smarter than Barry Bonds. Alex Rodriguez did not lie to a Grand Jury. Barry Bonds was poorly advised by his legal counsel. Had Barry Bonds admitted to using steroids it would have been a closed matter and certainly less costly to Barry Bonds.

I will never have any respect for any of this group of Baseball players. My heart will always be with the baseball greats of the past and my youth, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle and so on and so on.................

Alex Rodriguez Admits Steroid Use to Peter Gammons

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:15:54 MST

The revelation that Alex Rodriguez had used steroids while a member of the Texas Rangers should not be treated like a big surprise. The only reason Alex Rodriguez admitted to Peter Gammons that he did use a banned substance is solely because the New York Yankees were probably behind the scenes threatening punitive action against Alex Rodriguez.

There are few people in the Baseball community that are more narcissistic than Alex Rodriguez. He is no more a great ball player than any journeyman player. I regret the fact that the New York Yankees have invested so much energy and money in a person that will probably have his skills eroded in another two ot three years.

Baseball needs to take a good hard look at the overall affect the game has on the youth of America. Would you want your child or grandchild to emulate Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens etc. etc. Their character is not much to talk about.

The real quality players in the game of baseball may be some of those that remain unsigned, maybe.......

Alex Rodriguez Tested Positve for Steroids in 2003

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 12:26:27 MST

It is not a surprise, at least not to me, that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003. If anyone thinks for a moment about the history of baseball and that hallowed designation "Home Run King" then they may wonder how someone like Hank Aaron, so well respected and only about 6 foot tall and 180 pounds could hit all those home runs.

When he was in his prime, most of his career, he never hit more than 47 home runs in any given year. Even Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio never hit 50 home runs in a baseball season. They each had tremendous ability and were basically slight in stature. Ted Williams was known as the "splendid splinter". I remember when he played.

Back to Rodriguez, Bonds, McGuire et al. They all resembled Arnold Schwarzenegger in their physique. I will acknowledge Baseball in General ignored what was happening. The owners and leaders of the game were too busy counting revenue dollars to worry about the integrity of the game.

When a baseball player had a 40 home run season that was considered pretty wonderful. Even Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle only had two 50 plus home run seasons each. Ruth had four 50 home run seasons and he certainly was not accused of taking steroids with his bulging belly physique.

The issue of steroids and Major League Baseball will remain center stage for a generation or more. What should be done about these players and the Baseball Hall of Fame? They simply should not be a part of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Bob Costas Joins Major League Baseball Network

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:51:50 MST

Major League Baseball Network has announced today that Sportscaster Bob Costas has joined the new network. Costas has been rated as one of the most influential sports personalities in the country.

Bob Costas will almost automatically raise the credibility level of the new network and will probably challenge FOX Sports and ESPN, which currently air a large number of Major league Baseball Games yearly.

My favorite team of sports announcers, hands down, are Joe Morgan and Jon Miller who have worked together nearly twenty years on Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN.

In my judgment Bob Costas is overrated as a Baseball Analyst. I know he keeps a Mickey Mantle Baseball card folded in his wallet, however that does not annoint Bob Costas as the next Howard Cosell.

Manny Ramirez Still Unsigned and Maybe Will Not Play in 2009.

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 08:52:45 MST

Manny Ramirez, former Boston Red Sox left fielder and one third of a season Los Angeles Dodger Outfielder remains unsigned with but two weeks until the opening of Baseball spring training.

The pendulum may have swung in favor of baseball owners vis a vi the economy. Manny Ramirez has never been very easy to deal with. He may have some exceptional baseball skills but he also has an unlikeable disposition. The Boston Red Sox had had their fill of Manny Ramirez's antics and who can blame them. Ramirez will turn 37 years old in a few months and his best baseball days are behind him. Manny Ramirez has just turned down a one year contract offer from the Los Angeles Dogers for $25 million dollars.

Hey, I would take that deal right now. Ramirez turned it down cold..............

Maybe there will be a paradigm shift in Major league sports. Players in any pro sport should thank their lucky stars that they have the skills and abilities to perform that sport. I think most people have had quite enough of Manny Raimerz. I will not miss him in 2009.

Andy Pettitte Signs One Year Deal With New York Yankees

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:00:10 MST

It should come as no surprise to anyone that Andy Pettitte has signed a contract to paly Ball for the New York Yankees. Andy Pettitte is at the point where this may well be his final farewell season playing major league baseball. He certainly wanted to finish his career with the New York Yankees.

Andy Pettitte is one of those major leaguers that is one rung below the status of a hall of fame ball player. He has been a part of four New York Yankee World Series victories and has had the pleasure of playing with people like Derek Jeter and for a manager like Joe Torre.

The question I have is will Andy Pettitte be the opening day pitcher in the new Yankee Stadium? Probably not, the Yankees will want to showcase C.C. Sabathia. After the amount of money paid to Sabathia there is little chance he will not start opening day in the Bronx.

Anyway, I see Andy Pettitte winning around 15 games this year and if the Yankees get their collective "hitting eye" back Pettitte might win 18 or 19 games. There is a better than even chance the Yankees will reach the World Series for the 40th time in the history of Baseball. If the Yankees get to the World Series I am certain Andy Pettitte will win at least one of those games.

Joe Torre's Book The Yankee Years

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 09:28:15 MST

Current Dodger Manager Joe Torre who managed the New York Yankees for twelve years has written a book " The Yankee Years". It is apparent by what has been disclosed to this point is that Joe Torre was not pleased in the way he was treated by Yankee owners, Hal and Hank Steinbrenner.

Joe Torre ws a "professional" Baseball player and the 1971 MVP in the National League. Torre was not a "prima donna" and he did not enjoy his time managing Alex Rodriquez. What is interesting about the baseball world, political world and business world is the similarity with organizational psychology and how people respond to leadership and ego.

Joe Torre, currently Dodger Manager, most probably hopes Manny Ramirez will not come back in 2009 to play for the Dodgers. Ramirez and A-Rod are more alike than they are different. Their respective arrogance because of their baseball talents alienates fellow players to the point that teams perform better when they are not there.

The New York Yankees have not won a World Series since Alex Rodriquez has been with the team. Ditto when A-Rod was with the Seattle Mariners and also the Texas Rangers.

Joe Torre would be my first choice to manage a team that I played on or owned. His book will be on my short list to read. Maybe Joe Torre will be fortunate and not have to deal with Manny Ramirez in 2009. However, I sense the Los Angeles Dodges will "cave" and sign Ramirez.

Joe Girardi, current Yankee Manager, will need to deal with Alex Rodriquez if the Yankees have any hopes of winning the World Series in 2009. I can see Joe Girardi writing a similar tell all book in another ten years validating what Joe Torre has said about Yankee ownership and Alex Rodriquez.

Jim Rice Voted into Baseball Hall of Fame

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:55:28 MST

Jim Rice, former Boston Red Sox slugger, has finally been voted into the Major league Baseball Hall of Fame. On his 15th and final attempt the baseball writers of America realized their former error and voted Jim Rice into Cooperstown by the slimmest of margins. A 75% margin is required for induction into Cooperstown. Jim Rice achieved just over 76%. Jim Rice is now a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

For a period of about 10 years from the mid 70's to the mid 80's there were few major league ball players that were as good as Jim Rice. Some of his peers include Mike Schmidt, Johnny Bench, Catfish Hunter and Don Mattingly.

Most likely only Don Mattingly from this group of great players will never be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.