ball Page 1806 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

The Gyroball Rock
A little late on this, but if you were wondering whether Daisuke Matsuzaka was blessed with musical talent, rest assured, folks, the guy has mad vocal skillz. And by "mad vocal skills," we mean, he warbles songs to warm your heart and soul. He's like the Japanese Oprah....

The Mets Show Some Midnight Funk
Anyway, after Shawn Green's walk-off homer last night, the Mets celebrated like crazy people at home plate. Specifically, Jose Reyes did his little boxer's dance at home plate and, most amusingly, Jose Valentin going all caveman on the ground with his bat. "Shawn homer! Shawn homer! Bash! Bash!" Tha...

Paris Hilton Gets Out Of Jail, This Guy Goes In ... It's The Circle Of Liiiffe ...
We knew that once you begin letting fans vote on the All-Star roster, it's only a matter of time before some of them begin leaping onto the field to make pitching changes. This "numbskull," as the Chicago Sun-Times described him, was just a few feet from reaching Cubs pitcher Bob Howry in the ninth ...

Israeli Baseball League Off To Roaring Start
We're not quite sure they're gonna quite reach the level of the Japanese leagues when it comes to a Major League Baseball farm system, but we have to credit the Israeli Baseball League — which just played its first game yesterday — for rather unbridled enthusiasm....

When Rod Beck Ruled The World
There's still no official word on what caused the death of former Major League pitcher Rod Beck, found in his Phoenix home on Sunday at the age of 38. Beck, of course, was one of baseball's great relievers for a stretch in the 1990s, in addition to being one of sports' great guys. For every fan, jou...

Mel Hall Is Not A Nice Man
If you're like us, you've always wondered: Whatever happened to Mel Hall? (This is why you are fortunately not like us.) The thoroughly average '80s-early '90s outfielder plays stumbled along for the Cubs and Indians before playing on some truly wretched Yankees teams. Plucky fellow. Hope matters tu...

Everybody Loves Ken Griffey Again
Remember back when Ken Griffey Jr. was considered moody? It seems like a long time ago now — particularly now that he playfully throws jock straps to fans — but in the late Mariners days, he was grouchy all the time, feuding with the media, just generally looking like a guy who didn't like baseball ...

O-State Ballaz!
We congratulate the Oregon State Beavers on their second consecutive College World Series title, particularly because they're a bunch of crazy rapping white guys. The video above is of catcher Mitch Canham, who wants to make sure you check out O State Ballaz, the official hip-hop homepage of the 200...

The Clemens-Bonds Matchup Pretty Much No One Was Waiting For
Notes from a day in baseball:...

Cop Attacked, Bitten By Dolphin
I had never heard of Dolphins defensive tackle Fred Evans, but when a man tastes the Taser gun twice, and still manages to bite a cop ... well, that grabs your attention. From The Ledger, in Lakeland, Florida:...

Rod Beck Is Dead At 38
Former Major League closer Rod Beck has passed away at the age of 38. He died yesterday in Phoenix, and the cause of death, at this time, is still unknown. Beck closed for the Giants, Cubs, Red Sox and Padres, and amassed 286 career saves....

Dustin McGowan Is Making Canada Happy
I don't know if it's possible to jinx these things with blog posts, but I'm going to go ahead and risk it: Blue Jays pitcher Dustin McGowan has a no-hitter going through 8 innings. Just one walk allowed, too....

John Smoltz And Chipper Jones Have Beef
Continuing with the Atlanta-Braves-With-Anger-Issues theme, Chipper Jones and John Smoltz appear to be having a little bit of a tiff. Smoltz thinks Jones is milking an injury, and Jones thinks Smoltz is a big meaniehead, and neither one of them will speak directly to the other....

Bobby Cox On The Brink Of History
Bobby Cox tied the all-time Major League Baseball ejections record last night, getting tossed in a 2-1 loss against the Tigers. That makes a total of 131 for Cox, tying John McGraw, who was tossed 117 times as a manager and 14 more as a player....

Paul Lo Duca's Inspiring Idiocy
• I'm Sorry, Italians. Paul Lo Duca calls it a "good Italian temper," but I'm going to choose to think a little more highly of the Italian-American population, and call Lo Duca's display childish, dumb, and embarrassing. The idiot Mets catcher was thrown out of the game for arguing balls and strikes...

About Last Night...
• Arena Football. Columbus Destroyers 74, NY Dragons 43. And the 7-9 Destroyers clinch a playoff spot. Parity reigns in the Arena League. • MLB. Seattle 9, Cincinnati 1. Never a good sign when you give up a grand slam in the first inning, is it, Kyle Lohse... • WNBA. San Antonio Silver Stars 71, Con...

When Funerals And Minor League Baseball Collide
This is the kind of story that only seems possible revolving around a minor league baseball team in Tennessee. Observe the lede from this story in the Elizabethton Star:...

Enjoy The Comedic Stylings Of Lenny DiNardo
Tonight, the summer of Pants Parties continues: We'll be hitting ole Shea Stadium for the A's-Mets showdown. DiNardo! Glavine! Eight dollar beers! Welcome to New York....

Floating Through Space With Joe Morgan
We're not sure what the rights rules are for Major League Baseball audio and video broadcasts in outer space are, but if Bud Selig hasn't figured out a way to maximize revenue on the moon, he will. Even astronauts are listening to games now. Meet Michael Lopez-Alegria....

Humanity Prepares For The Terrible Reign Of Mr. And Mrs. Bubbles
What's coming up in the world of minor league baseball ... we proudly give you Rick Chandler's Minor Enterprise!...