Baseball Page 1221 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

The Marlins Finally Hit A Home Run In Miami, And So We Got To See Their "Sculpture" In Action
It took a few weeks, but the Miami Marlins finally have a home run in their new ballpark (thanks to Omar Infante in the first inning of today's game against Houston) which means we've gotten our first glimpse at that wonderful center field structure in action... and now we've seen it. Back to wor...

Jurors In Original Clemens Case Thought Retrial Would Be A Waste Of Taxpayer Money
So says U.S. District Court Judge Reggie Walton in court transcripts recently made public. While at a company picnic last September, Walton made an off-the-cuff remark to a former colleague's spouse—also an attorney. The spouse said something to the effect of "Looks like you have to retry the Roger...

Jacoby Ellsbury Placed On Disabled List After Dislocating His Shoulder Yesterday
It's been a tough April for the Red Sox. They're in last place in the East and are still dealing with the hangover of last September's epic collapse. Centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury can't be blamed for either. He was the best position player in the American League last year (321/.375/.552, 32 HR), a...

Just For Yu: Your Saturday MLB Open Thread
It's a lovely spring afternoon in April, and that means a full slate of MLB games. Yu Darvish has already thrown 27 fewer first inning pitches against the Twins than in his first start of the year. The Machine and his Angels are in the Bronx against the Yankees. Later today, the Rays play the Sox in...

Bryan Stow And His Son Participate In Ceremonial First Pitch At San Francisco Giants Home Opener
Bryan Stow continues on his path to recovery following a vicious beating at Dodger Stadium that left him in a coma resulting in severe brain damage. The San Francisco Giants had hoped he would be able to attend Opening Day, but he remains in a care facility....

This Resizing Of The Batter's Box Sponsored By <em>The Three Stooges</em>
Yesterday's White Sox home opener against the Tigers was delayed when Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera noticed the batter's boxes weren't in the right place, leading to the above display of buffoonery. Cabrera's at-bat (which came after consecutive Jake Peaky strikeouts) was pushed back nearly nine m...

Josh Thole Fell For The Old "Tell The Runner It Was A Foul Ball" Trick
The hidden-ball trick is old news, as the Philadelphia Phillies utilized social engineering to fool Josh Thole into an out during the second inning of tonight's Mets-Phils matchup in Philadelphia....

C.J. Wilson Says The Rangers Wasted His Time
Every morning, the fine folks at Sports Radio Interviews sift through the a.m. drive-time chatter to bring you the best interviews with coaches, players, and personalities across the sports landscape. Today: Wilson says Texas can spend their money any way they want, but they shouldn't string him alo...

The San Francisco Giants Are Selling Their Old, Game-Used Stuff
Starting with today's home opener, the San Francisco Giants will be selling game-used equipment to fans inside AT&T Park. Home/road jerseys, balls, batting helmets, bats, pitching rubbers, and even empty champagne bottles from the 2010 World Series celebration will be offered for sale at a special p...

This Texas Rangers Fan Can Do Amazing Things With Her Mouth
And yet this is still only the second-weirdest face ever to appear in the background behind erstwhile sideline reporter Jim Knox. (This would be the weirdest.)...

Baseball's Unwritten Rules, Uncovered After 26 Years
A few weeks ago, I found myself in Austin and happened upon one of these flea market-type warehouses. It's like a ginormous, impersonal yard sale: People come with their stuff, set it up in their little station, put a price tag on everything, and hope it eventually sells. As it turns out, one of the...

Josh Hamilton Launched His Bat Into The Stands, And A Fan Caught It On The Fly
It's the refrain of unimaginative baseball broadcasters whenever a fan makes a nice foul ball catch: "Sign that guy to a contract!" I'm not sure what the proper response is when a fan catches a bat that's been weaponized by the big swing and poor grip of Josh Hamilton, but if you were expecting t...

10 Years Of Newspapers Declaring That Mariano Rivera Is Too Old
On Friday, Mariano Rivera blew the save. It was the 73rd blown save of his career, and one of many from baseball's opening weekend. Predictably, it brought out the old standby storylines: Is this it for Mariano Rivera? Has Father Time finally caught up with the cutter?...

Peter Bourjos Has Our First Inside-The-Park Homer Of The Season
The world record for fastest run around the bases is held by Evar Swanson, who did it in 13.3 seconds back in 1929. Peter Bourjos of the Angels came within a second of that tonight, and he thought he might've flied out to the warning track. Instead, Josh Willingham took a tumble and Bourjos came ...

Vin Scully Still Has A Cold
The venerable Dodgers broadcaster already missed yesterday's home opener—the first time that's happened in 35 years. According to ESPN, he won't be broadcasting tonight's game, either. The 84-year-old Scully is home resting, and his condition is said to be unchanged from yesterday. [ESPN]...

Mark Reynolds Is The Worst Third Baseman In Baseball
Yes, even worse than Miguel Cabrera. Last night's Orioles-Yankees game only went to extra innings because Reynolds booted a grounder in the sixth inning that led to a pair of Yankee runs. In the top of the 12th, with the go-ahead runner on third and one out, Reynolds gave perfunctory chase to a f...

Why Yes, This Human-Chicken-Squid Hybrid Is A Cubs Fan
Ronnie Tomaszewski was skipping yet another of his classes at North Park University when he remembered it was Thursday already and he was a bit short on cash for what was sure to be a big weekend of partying. A few of his fraternity brothers had testified to the easy money of that old college stand...

Better Know An Umpire: Bill Welke
Welcome to Better Know An Umpire, an effort to educate ourselves on the human elements who have ultimate decision-making power over some 2,500 Major League Baseball games a year. ...

The Blue Jays' Attempt To Stop Opening Day Fights Through Alcohol Restrictions Didn't Work
We told you yesterday about the Blue Jays' attempts to limit beer consumption during their home opener in an attempt to curtail rowdy behavior, but it didn't seem to work. Not only was there a fight in the normally-sedate 100 section, but things got a bit out of hand elsewhere as well. Here's a fi...

Vin Scully Has A Cold
Which is why the Dodgers have announced he won't be calling this afternoon's home opener even though the team plans to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dodger Stadium—a park that opened 12 years after Scully starting broadcasting Dodgers games....