baseball

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7 Slump Busters for the Cubs
 7 Slump Busters 
 for the Cubs 
OPINION
Jul 8, 2008 12:09 PM CDT

7 Slump Busters for the Cubs

Tribune identifies players who can reverse a midseason swoon

(Newser) - Despite a National League-best 53-36 record, all is not well in Wrigleyville, Paul Sullivan writes in the Chicago Tribune. The Cubs need these seven guys to step up and insure that Sweet Lou’s “100-year thing” doesn’t become a 101-year thing:
  1. Sean Marshall: Lefty pitcher needs to keep
...

China's Ballplayers Prepare for First Olympics

There are low expectations for the team, but it has come a long way

(Newser) - China’s Olympic baseball team, under the guidance of an ex-Major League manager, has some hurdles to jump in its first Olympics. After Mao Zedong banned the Western sport in China, it never drew many fans–so the team uses second-rate facilities and generally faces overwhelming odds against other teams....

MLB's Midterm Report Cards
 MLB's Midterm Report Cards 
Jul 2, 2008 12:20 PM CDT

MLB's Midterm Report Cards

Rays at the head of the class—Rockies, Marlins at the back

(Newser) - Report card time! Here’s how the rambunctious kids of MLB are doing so far, in Yahoo Sports’ Steven Henson’s estimation. A students—Rays, Red Sox, Cubs, Angels, White Sox Particular kudos go to the Rays, the poor kid who went to the head of the class. B students—...

Olympians Adjust to Tougher Drug Tests

Athletes must keep agency up to speed on their whereabouts

(Newser) - Many US professional athletes aren't accustomed to giving blood and urine samples during their off seasons, but with the Olympics approaching, that's all been changing, writes USA Today. The US Anti-Doping Agency requires all potential competitors to comply with a "whereabouts program" and submit to random screenings for HGH...

Curt Schilling: A Very Human Superman
 Curt Schilling:
 A Very Human
 Superman 
OPINION
Jun 22, 2008 2:15 PM CDT

Curt Schilling: A Very Human Superman

Love him or hate him, departing ace was a compelling figure

(Newser) - Plenty of fans adore Curt Schilling, plenty more harbor less admiring thoughts about him, and Kevin van Valkenburg, writing in the Baltimore Sun, feels a little bit of both. As the Red Sox pitcher faces a season-ending surgery, a look back at his career shows a gifted athlete with a...

How to Fake Fanaticism
 How to Fake Fanaticism 
Jun 20, 2008 1:14 PM CDT

How to Fake Fanaticism

10 steps to jumping a bandwagon

(Newser) - With some sports teams soaring and others tanking, there's no time like the present to jump on a bandwagon, writes D.J. Gallo for ESPN.com. In 10 easy steps, you too can latch onto a winning organization:
  1. Pick a team. Hint: avoid the losers.
  2. Get some gear, but skip
...

Reds Hot for MLB's Next Big Thing

Reds fans know talent when they see it, and they're loving Jay Bruce

(Newser) - Forget Ken Griffey Jr. The Reds outfielder to keep an eye on is rookie Jay Bruce, the 21-year-old whose shirt sold out within 24 hours at the Great American Ball Park store. In his debut week, Bruce reached base in 22 of 33 tries, with 15 hits and 12 runs...

Gay Sports Leagues Net Straight Players

Recruits say gay men nicer, just as tough

(Newser) - Gay and straight men in New York are teaming up, literally: The city’s many gay-sports leagues feature scores of heterosexuals looking for competition and friendship. “I was reticent,” admitted one straight footballer. “I was used to a high level of play.” But he and others...

Take Me Out to the Ballgame, If You Can Afford It

What was so bad about uncomfortable seats?

(Newser) - Modern ballparks may have more conveniences and better food, but they've become more expensive for everybody—even if you're just looking for cheap seats and beer—writes Josh Levin in Sports Illustrated. Higher prices across the board pay for the luxury restaurants and malls in the parks, which make make...

Roger Clemens Takes Swing at Used-Car Sales

Beleaguered ex-big leaguer hawks his Bentley to pay bills

(Newser) - It’s hard to imagine, but apparently Roger Clemens is a little short this month. The former pitcher has sold his Bentley to Bret Michaels to help pay his legal fees, the New York Post reports. “Clemens is apparently selling his lavish goods,” an insider said. “Bret...

Mariners Finally Sack Bavasi. Who's Next?
Mariners Finally Sack Bavasi. Who's Next?
OPINION
Jun 17, 2008 9:14 AM CDT

Mariners Finally Sack Bavasi. Who's Next?

Struggling team could also lose CEO, manager, pseudo-ace

(Newser) - It's about time the Seattle Mariners fired Bill Bavasi, the general manager whose ill-advised trades contributed to the team's position in baseball's cellar this year, writes Ken Rosenthal for Fox Sports. But simply jettisoning the guy who got the least possible return out of a $117 million payroll won't be...

Mets Cut Randolph Loose
 Mets Cut
 Randolph Loose 
Jun 17, 2008 7:25 AM CDT

Mets Cut Randolph Loose

Mets fire manager despite recent improvement

(Newser) - The New York Mets have fired manager Willie Randolph, as well as two of his coaches, reports Newsday. The announcement came this morning after weeks of speculation about Randolph's fate, as the Mets continue to struggle just under .500 after last season's historic collapse. Bench coach Jerry Manuel will take...

Managers Get No Red Flags in Replay Plan

And experts analyzing MLB plays won't even be in stadium

(Newser) - MLB's current plan for video review may go into effect as early as August 1, but don't expect it to be like the NFL's system. Team managers will have no say in which plays get looked at, and the experts analyzing footage won't even be in the stadium, ESPN reports.

MLB Wants Instant Replay by August

But officials and umps still need to negotiate details

(Newser) - Major League Baseball asked its umpires today to implement instant replay by August 1, but details remain sketchy, USA Today reports. Both sides still need to bargain over who can demand replays—umpires or managers—what video feeds will be used, and who will make the final call. "It's...

Prison of Cuban Baseball Ensnares US Agent, Too

Case of Gus Dominguez, now in Calif. prison, sends author on island odyssey

(Newser) - Politics is keeping "at least half a billion dollars of baseball players in Cuba right now," one agent tells Michael Lewis as he investigates, for Vanity Fair, the case of an American sports agent now in jail for smuggling athletes. Gus Dominguez appears to be a victim of...

A Simple Fix for Flying Bats: Better Maple

Bats won't shatter if wood is dried correctly, bat-maker says

(Newser) - After steroids, shattering maple bats may be baseball's top-priority issue right now, one that promises to be a sticky problem, writes the New York Times. But Sam Holman, the founder of the first company to supply maple bats to the majors, thinks the answer may be a simple one: crack...

Clemens Used Viagra for On-Field Boost

Source knows at least one drug Rocket was on

(Newser) - Roger Clemens was on at least one performance enhancing drug, a clubhouse source tells the New York Daily News: Viagra. Clemens wasn’t using Vitamin V to help with the ladies, he—and several of his teammates—were using it to improve his on-field performance. Viagra has become a major...

Not Your Grandfather's Hot Dog Stand
Not Your Grandfather's Hot Dog Stand
food review
Jun 8, 2008 11:26 AM CDT

Not Your Grandfather's Hot Dog Stand

Food columnist finds best, worst stadium fare in major leagues

(Newser) - From a perfect crab salad sandwich at AT&T field in San Francisco to a dreadful crab cake at Camden Yards in Baltimore, the New York Times charts the range and quality of foods available at America's ballparks. Crab isn't the only departure from the ubiquitous hot dog: During his...

MLB's Next Crackdown May Be Maple Bats

Harder wood splits easily, sending shrapnel into stands

(Newser) - Barry Bonds may soon be the face of another Major League Baseball investigation: into the dangers of maple bats. The slugger's choice of wood has a growing following among players, but incidents of flying shards injuring fans and coaches have sparked a movement to ban the bats, USA Today reports....

Cubs Swinging for Wrigley Record

Lovable losers are on pace for record 62 home wins

(Newser) - Shhh, don't jinx it: The Chicago Cubs not only lead the National League, they're playing better at home than on the road. The lovable losers are 26-8 at Wrigley Field, a record they last held before going to (and losing) the World Series in 1918. Now they're on pace for...

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