Meet The B List For The All American Home Run Derby Contest

6) Carlos Delgado, 1B New York Mets (6-3/264 Pounds): Delgado should be considered an injury risk every year because he’s getting up there in age (37), but that shouldn’t scare you away from adding one of the most dependable Home Run threats in the game to you HR Derby team in 2009! Delgado went on a tear the second half of last season and hit 27 Home Runs in 84 games which allowed him to finish with 38 Home Runs in ‘08. Delgado is one of the all time best Home Run hitters that ever played the game & should have no problem hitting anywhere from 30 to 35 Home Runs if he can stay healthy all year long.

2009 Home Run Projection: 30 Home Runs

7) Ryan Braun, LF Milwaukee Brewers (6-1/210 Pounds): Braun is one of the games youngest and brightest stars! Braun is a natural born killer that has averaged 35.5 Home Runs in his first two years in the big leagues! The 2007 NL Rookie of the year is one of the top power threats in baseball and continues to evolve into a serious major league talent every year he takes the field! Braun is always going to his 35 + Home Runs because he plays in Miller Park and is well protected in a lineup that causes him to see a lot of pitches!

2009 Home Run Projection: 40 Home Runs

8) Miguel Cabrera, 1B Detroit Tigers (6-4/240 Pounds): Miggy’s 37 Home Runs, .567 slugging percentage & .292 batting average puts him in an elite class of major league talent. Cabrera’s Home Run totals continue to escalate every season and he’s considered one of the most premiere right hand hitters in the game today! He was the 2008 AL Home Run Derby champion and should have no problem defending his title if he continues to average over 157 games played like he did in his last 5 seasons!

2009 Home Run Projection: 40 Home Runs

9) Ryan Ludwick, RF St. Louis Cardinals (6-3/218 Pounds): “Lud” just obliterated good ‘Ol Mr. Rawlings last season by putting out 37 of them in 2008! Ludwick came out of nowhere during his ’08 tour with the Cards and should have no problem testing the 40 Home Run milestone in 2009! You can argue that he’s a risk because he strikes out a lot and lot & usually carries a low average, but I think Ryan should continue to flourish in a Cardinals lineup that protects him very well!

2009 Home Run Projection: 40 Home Runs

10) Manny Ramirez, RF Los Angeles Dodgers (6-1, 220 Pounds): Love him or hate him you can’t deny his brilliance with the baseball bat! The 37 year old 12 time all star displayed why he’s the greatest right handed hitter to ever play the game last season by batting a whopping .396 batting average & 17 Home Runs in 53 regular season games with the Dodgers last season! What’s even more impressive is that Manny had a sick .520 batting average with 4 homers in 8 playoff games during the 2008 playoffs. Manny’s bat has shown no signs of slowing down and should have no problem poking out 30 + Home Runs in 2009! Will age be an issue this season? Will his narcissistic view of himself prove to be a nuisance in the Dodgers club house? Will Manny’s recent $45 million deal make him lazy or hungrier in 2009? Only Manny knows the answers to these questions and he’ll never show you his cards, so you’ll just have to wait and see how he performs ’09 because that’s just “Manny Being Manny!”

2009 Home Run Projection: 33 Home Runs

11) Adrian Gonzalez, 1B San Diego Padres (6-2/220 Pounds): Any guy who can consistently destroy 35 baseballs a year in Pet Co park deserves to be looked at as one of the most dominating power hitters in the game today! A. Gonz has out of this world power, plays every day & his three year slugging percentage of .500 + are credentials that puts him amongst an elite class of MLB sluggers! He’s only 27 years old and continues to show why he’s the second best first baseman in baseball next to Albert Pujols!

2009 Home Run Projection: 38 Home Runs

12) Carlos Quentin, LF Chicago White Sox (6-1/230 Pounds): Do you think the D-Backs are kicking themselves in the butt for letting this “Beast” get away? Carlos Quentin had his coming out party in 2008 with his new team on the south side by hammering 36 Home Runs and finishing 4^th in the league with a .394 on base percentage! Quentin is protected by murderer’s row in Chicago and plays in a stadium that’s porches rival most high school ball parks! Quentin is only going to get better & I’m betting that he’s crowned the AL’s Home Run King in 2009!

2009 Home Run Projection: 43 Home Runs

13) Jermaine Dye, RF Chicago White Sox (6-5/245 Pounds): Dye is MLB’s version of Rodney Dangerfield because he continues to get no respect. Dye was a victim of trade rumors this whole off season and should be on a mission to prove his worth to both the White Sox organization and other teams in the league this season! Dye has excellent vision and balance at the plate and his 35.2 3 year Home Run average validates that! Oh, did I mention that he takes his cuts 81 games a year in a child’s sand box?

2009 Home Run Projection: 34 Home Runs

14) Jim Thome, DH Chicago White Sox (6-3/250 Pounds): “Thome The Barbarian” is a guaranteed 1^st ballot hall of famer and continues to showcase immortal power numbers every year he takes the field. Thome hit 34 Home Runs last season, but his batting average continues to drop faster than the Dow Jones as he continues to get older. At age 39, Thome continues to show brute strength and should have no problems eclipsing 30 Home Runs in 2009 if he stays healthy!

2009 Home Run Projection: 32 Home Runs

15) Pat Burrell, LF/DH Tampa Bay Rays (6-4/235 Pounds): Burrell will be in for a role change with his new team, but that should improve his hitting numbers across the board. Burrell has all the skills and talents to hit continue to hit 30 + Home Runs in 2009! He’ll be well protected in a lineup that includes superstar Evan Longoria and Baseball Mauler Carlos Pena!

2009 Home Run Projection: 32 Home Runs

16) Jack Cust, LF Oakland Athletics (6-1/240 Pounds): Cust had his breakout season at the late with the A’s in 2007 when he hit 26 Home Runs. Last season he surpassed that number by hitting 33 Home Runs to put him amongst the games best power hitters. Cust is a safe bet to his 30 + Home Runs this season with the addition of new teammate Jason Giambi, but always at risk of under achieving due to his high strike out ratio & low batting average that he backpacks ever year!

2009 Home Run Projection: 30 Home Runs

17) Hanley Ramirez, SS Florida Marlins (6-3/200 Pounds): H. Ram is the new proto type for short stops in Major League Baseball these days! He’s big, strong, fast & durable! H. Ram added 25 pounds of muscle in the off season and that kind of bulk should bolster his power numbers in ‘09! Hanley will not be batting lead off this year and will join the ranks of the leagues most feared hitters by batting third this season! Ramirez has averaged 30 Home Runs over his past two years in the league and has all the tools to place an MVP trophy right next to his Rookie Of The Year Trophy he earned in ’09!

2009 Home Run Projection: 35 Home Runs

18) Grady Sizemore, CF Cleveland Indians (6-2/200 Pounds): Sizemore last year put together an impressive 2008 campaign by joining the 30/30 club. Sizemore has the ability to join a very selective fraternity known as the 40/40 club in 2009 with his rare power & speed combination that he possesses. Sizemore has averaged more than 158 games played over the past 4 years and has evolved into one of the leagues fastest rising young stars!

2009 Home Run Projection: 36 Home Runs

19) Chase Utley, 2B Philadelphia Phillies (6-1/200 Pounds): Utley is the biggest stud power hitting second baseman since Ryne Sandburg! His plate precision is rivaled only by some in the league and his bat speed is off the charts! Throw in that he’s protected by one of the league’s most feared power hitters (Ryan Howard) in the game & that he plays in a ballpark that yielded 2.33 Home Runs per game in 2009; You have a man that’s capable of clearing the fences 40 + times a year! The only down side to Utley is that he’s coming off hip surgery this off season & will constantly be at risk of re-aggravating that injury this season!

2009 Home Run Projection: 38 Home Runs

20) David Wright, 3B New York Mets (6-0/220 Pounds): Ladies & Gentleman…meet the Best 3^rd baseman in baseball! David Wright is not only a lady killer, but he also has built a strong reputation for killing the baseball too. Wright’s Home Run totals have steadily improved over the past three years and you can bank on it that D. Wright will do that again when this season is complete! Wright is one of the most powerful & consistent hitters in MLB and is in line to add an MVP trophy beside his two Gold Gloves that he won in 2007 & 2008! Expect BIG things from David Wright in 2009!

2009 Home Run Projection: 40 Home Runs

21) Mark Teixeira, 1B New York Yankees (6-3/220 Pounds): Most people thought Big Tex’s power numbers would take a major hit when he was traded to Atlanta midway through the 2008 season, but he proved to all of us that he could hit the big fly in any stadium by pounding out 33 home runs last season. The Yankees porches in both corners of their new stadium are shorter than most high school ballparks (318 In Left Field & 314 In Right Field) and that type of distance will make it much easier for Big Tex to clear the fences in '09. Expect Teixeira to hit anywhere from 35 to 40 home runs in his first season with the Yankees!

2009 Home Run Projection: 41 Home Runs

22) Jason Giambi, 1B/DH Oakland Athletics (6-3/240 Pounds): Giambi has finally made his way back home to where he started his career. Giambi has never made it a secret that he’s a west coast guy & should fit it very nicely with a rebuilt athletics team. Giambi hit 32 Home Runs with the bombers last season and his migration to warmer weather and being surrounded by a strong supporting cast (Jack Cust & Matt Holliday) may lead to him joining the 30 Home Run Club once again. Giambi is getting up there in age, but he’s still always a threat to take a pitch deep every with his patented upper cut every time he swings the bat!

2009 Home Run Projection: 30 Home Runs

23) Josh Hamilton, CF Texas Rangers (6-4/235 Pounds): There’s a reason why people around the league call Josh Hamilton “The Natural!” Last year’s feel good story almost assured himself that a Hollywood script will be written about his life story when his career is over. Not only did he put on one of the most memorable displays of power in last season’s Home Run Derby contest, but he ended the 2008 season with some monster numbers across the board. Hamilton is responsible for launching 32 Home Runs into orbit last season with a .304 batting average & 130 RBI’s! Hamilton has joined the ranks of the league’s greatest power hitters and will show us this season that the best come to those who wait!

2009 Home Run Projection: 48 Home Runs

24) Aubrey Huff, 1B Baltimore Orioles (6-4/235 Pounds): For years Major League Baseball coaches & execs have been waiting for lightning to strike this bottle. Huff has been in the league for over 8 years now and it’s taken him a long time to produce Home Run totals like he did back in 2003 when he hit 34 dingers. Huff hit 32 Home Runs in 2008 and is a professional hitter when he’s on his game! You never know what kind of production you’re going to get out of Mr. Huff, but that shouldn’t stop you from adding a guy to your Home Run Derby team that’s very capable of hitting 30 Home Runs a year!

2009 Home Run Projection: 28 Home Runs

25) Mike Jacobs, 1B Kansas City Royals (6-3/215 Pounds): Jacobs had a career year with the Fish last season by crushing 32 Home Runs. Jacobs has solid power, but his career .262 batting average is a bit of a concern & he’s now playing in a park that likes to keep the long ball from clearing it’s fences! Still Jacob has enough power to hit 25 to 30 Home Runs and I’m expecting he’ll do just that with his new ball club this season!

2009 Home Run Projection: 27 Home Runs

26) Dan Uggla, 2B Florida Marlins (5-11/200 Pounds): Here’s a player that’s flown underneath the radar as far as power numbers go. Uggla may be small in stature, but his bat has packed a serious punch over his past three years in the league. Uggla’s 30 Home Runs a year average not only puts him amongst the elite power hitting 2^nd baseman in baseball, but will make you sleep well at night adding if you decide to add him to your Home Run Derby team. Scouts call him a free swinger & he looked awful the second half of the 2008 season, but I’ll take a guy on my Home Run Derby team any day of the week that has the ability to smash 30 to 35 Home Runs a year! Imagine what his numbers will be if he can improve his batting average?

2009 Home Run Projection: 33 Home Runs

27) Carlos Pena, 1B Tampa Bay Rays (6-2/225 Pounds): Carlos Pena made his mark on the league in 2007 when he pounded out 46 Home Runs. Pena’s power numbers took a .180 degree spin on him in 2008 when he ended the season with only 31 dongs. Critics will say that his 2007 season was a fluke and that his shaky batting average will be his Achilles heel throughout his career, but I believe that Pena has enough raw power to consistently hit 30 to 40 Home Runs every year! Pena’s been in the league 8 years now and that type of experience will eventually guide him to stronger numbers across the board.

2009 Home Run Projection: 37 Home Runs

28) Lance Berkman, 1B Houston Astros (6-1/220 Pounds): The “Big Puma” has been the driving force behind Houston’s offense and the Astros will only go as far as Berkman takes them! Berkman jumped out of the gates faster than Usain Bolt last season, but his power numbers rapidly tapered off as the season progressed! Still, Berkman ended his 2008 season with 29 Home Runs and a .312 batting average. Berkman has great bat speed and knows how to make pitchers pay from throwing meat at him. Expect his usual 30 Home Runs and maybe more if he sees a little more meat this year!

2009 Home Run Projection: 33 Home Runs

29) Jorge Cantu, 3B/1B Florida Marlins (6-3/200 Pounds): Cantu busted out on the MLB scene in 2005 when he hit 28 Home Runs with the Rays. Following that season Cantu looked like a sure one hit wonder until he got back on track in 2008 by hitting 29 yard bombs! Cantu has the ability to hit 30 Home Runs, but I’m going to temper my expectations this season because he’s got a young stud named Dallas McPherson that can take his job anytime.

2009 Home Run Projection: 22 Home Runs

30) Alfonso Soriano, LF Chicago Cubs (6-1/180 Pounds Soaking Wet): Hey…Two Thumbs up for “The Fons” for hitting 29 Home Runs in 109 games last season! Hey…Two Thumbs down for “The Fons” because his age and his ability to stay healthy crucifies his power numbers every year! We all know that Soriano has enough pop in his bat to bash 40 Home Runs a year, but it’s tough to take a chance on a guy that hasn’t played more than 150 games since the 2006 season! Soriano is the epitome of a high risk/high reward player, so you’re going to have to have a little gambler in you to take a chance on him in this year’s All American Home run Derby contest!

2009 Home Run Projection: 35 Home Runs

31) Kevin Youkilis, 1B Boston Red Sox (6-1/220 Pounds): “Youkon” is one of the smartest baseball players in the game today and is a throwback to the old school type of player that cares more about winning than his stats. Youkilis had a breakout season for the Bo Sox last year by hitting .312 with 29 Home Runs. Youkilis has only been in the big leagues for 5 years now and it looks like he’s ready to join the elite class at his position in the game.

2009 Home Run Projection: 30 Home Runs

32) Carlos Lee, LF Houston Astros (6-2/245 Pounds): El Caballo (The Horse) is one of the league’s mot powerful & reliable Home Run hitters the game has seen over the last 10 years. Lee sat out the last two months of last season, but not before he pounded out 28 Home Runs, a .314 batting average and 100 RBI’s. If Lee would have played the whole season, he would have easily hit 40 Home Runs in 2008. At 32 years old, Lee is still a Stallion at the plate and is always a safe bet to hit a minimum of 30 Home Runs every year he puts on the uniform.

2009 Home Run Projection: 37 Home Runs

33) Mark Reynolds, 3B Arizona Cardinals (6-2/220 Pounds): There’s no doubt that Reynolds possesses some major power and the 28 Home Runs he hit with the D-Backs last season proves that! The problem is with Reynolds is that he strikes out at the plate more than a band nerd does with high school cheerleaders. Reynolds whiffed 204 times at the plate last season and that has to be a huge concern for Home Run Derby owners that are considering adding him to their team. Reynolds needs to improve his plate discipline or he’s going to be at risk losing AB’s to Chad Tracy in 2009!

2009 Home Run Projection: 25 Home Runs

34) Carlos Beltran, CF New York Mets (6-1/220 Pounds): What happened to Carlos Beltran? He went from hitting 41 Home Runs in 2006 to 33 in ’07 to 27 in 2008. Beltran steady power outage over the past three years, no longer puts him amongst the games elite Home Runs hitters. He’s still one of the best players in the game, but he’s become a player that is always going to be at the top of every batting statistical category in the game, except Home Runs.

2009 Home Run Projection: 29 Home Runs

35) Troy Glaus, 3B St. Louis Cardinals (6-5/245 Pounds): Glaus made the decision to have arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder this off season to clean it out and repair a slight muscle tear. Glaus’s body is starting to break down and is always at risk of joining the DL for a certain period of time during the season. Still with that in mind, this veteran slugger clobbered 27 Home Runs last season in 151 games. Glaus is a streaky player that can hit Home Runs in bunches, but his Home Run stroke has been known to pull a David Blaine & vanish for long stretches too.

2009 Home Run Projection: 25 Home Runs

36) Vladimir Guerrero, RF Los Angeles Angels (6-3/245 Pounds): Guerrero received the nickname “Vlad The Impaler” because he punishes the baseball like the former ruthless prince of Wallachia’s (Romania) treated his enemies back in 1447. Vlad will be better protected at the plate this year with Abreu & Torii Hunter batting on both sides of him in 2009. His home run totals have steadily declined over the past 5 years, but you can count on him to hit 30+ dingers in 2009 if he manages to avoid taking a vacation on the DL at some point in the season.

2009 Home Run Projection: 30 Home Runs

37) Evan Longoria, 3B Tampa Bay Rays (6-2/210 Pounds): This guy left the Mysteria Lane of the minors last season & came up to the big leagues to capture the Al Rookie Of the Year in 2008. Longoria’s rookie campaign proved that he’s a killer at the plate and now belongs in discussions about being one of the top three 3^rd baseman’s in baseball with David Wright & Alex Rodriguez. Longoria hit 27 Home Runs in only 122 games with the Rays last season & I’m expecting him to flirt with 40+ Home Runs if he plays 155+ games in’09. He’s heavily protected by rising star B.J. Upton, Carlos Pena & the new addition of Pat Burrell will force pitchers to pitch to Longoria more this season.

2009 Home Run Projection: 38 Home Runs

38) Aramis Ramirez, 3B Chicago Cubs (6-1/215 Pounds): When you get past David Wright, Alex Rodriguez & Evan Longoria, Aramis Ramirez deserves strong consideration for being the 4^th best 3B in baseball. A. Ram has averaged 30 Homes Runs over hi past 3 seasons & will be better protected this year with newly acquired Milton Bradley batting in front of him. The only knock on Ramirez is that he visits the DL at least once a year & that limits his plate appearances every season.

2009 Home Run Projection: 32 Home Runs

39) Matt Holiday, LF Oakland A’s (6-4/225 Pounds): Matt was definitely on Holiday last season & couldn’t seem to get the same stroke going that he had with the Rockies in 2006 thru 2008. Holiday only hit 25 Home Runs in one of the most hitter friendly ballparks in baseball last season and was shipped to Oakland this year, so the Rockies could get rid Holiday’s huge contract. Holiday is now playing away from Coors field, so expect the 2007 Batting Champion’s numbers to stay consistent with what he did for the Rockies in 2008. He is protected well in a lineup that includes Eric Chavez, Jack Cust & Jason Giambi, so I’m anticipating that Holiday will hit a minimum of 30 Home Runs in 2009 with these Ogres protecting him.

2009 Home Run Projection: 31 Home Runs

40) David Ortiz, DH Boston Red Sox (6-4/235 Pounds): I don’t care what any so-called fantasy baseball expert says…I’m telling you right now that the pop will be back in Big Papi’s bat in 2009. The 37 year old aging slugger only hit 23 home runs last season, but that was largely due to Ortiz’s inability to avoid the injury bug in 2008. Papi looks like he’s back in shape and has been tearing the cover off the ball during spring training thus far. He’s protected by last year’s MVP (Dustin Pedroia), Kevin Youkilis & Jason Bay this year. Papi is now considered an injury risk because of his age, but he should have no problem pounding out 30 + chartered flights in 2009 if he can stay healthy!

2009 Home Run Projection (My Bounce Back Bomber Of The Year): 39 Home Runs

41) Jason Bay, LF Boston Red Sox (6-2/210 Pounds): Jay Bay is in a contract year, so look out for some big time numbers from one of the best outfielders in baseball. Bay had a horrible 2007 campaign power numbers wise by only hitting 21 Home Runs. He managed to hit 22 Home Runs with the Pirates before he was shipped off to Boston where he hit 9 more with the Bo Sox to close out his 2008 season with 31 jacks! Getting traded to Boston was the best thing that could have happened to Jay Bay because he’ll have better players surrounding him in the middle of the lineup and he’ll always be in contention for a World Series ring with this team!

2009 Home Run Projection: 36 Home Runs

42) Paul Konerko, 1B Chicago White Sox (6-2/215 Pounds): Pauly had an atrocious first half of the year in 2008 before bouncing back the second half of the season with 13 Home Runs & a .909 OPS. Konerko has been pounding the ball all over the place in spring training and should have no problem going back to hitting 30 + Home Runs in 2009 if he can stay on the field the whole season. One thing to consider before taking Konerko is that he’ll most likely get moved to a playoff contender before the trade deadline and a new change of address could hurt his Home Run totals because he won’t be playing at the Cell any longer.

2009 Home Run Projection: 33 Home Runs

Was The A. Rod Steroid Monster Created By Major League Baseball?

Written by Consigliere Of www.letsgodeep.com

Has the media ever heard the saying "In order to move forward, you have to put the past behind you?" Every time I turn on the radio it's a new talk show personality, baseball expert or one of Alex Rodriguez's past teammates chiming in on A Rod's recent confession of using steroids. In case you've been living on an island or lost your ability to read or listen over the past week. Sports Illustrated broke the story over the weekend & reported that Alex Rodriguez was part of the "Anonymous 104 " that tested positive for steroid abuse while playing for the Rangers from 2001 thru 2003. Alex justified using the banned growth hormone by saying "Back then was a different era" & went on to say that "It was very loose. I was young. I was stupid. I was naive, and I wanted to prove to everyone that, you know, I was worth, you know -- and being one of the greatest players of all time." I have to admit, I agree with Alex's statements to a degree, but also believe he's putting way too much blame on himself because he was part of a generation that was created by everyone involved with Major League Baseball at the time! Rodriguez was just a victim of Major League Baseball's all out efforts to resurrect a game that was slowly fading away & in serious jeopardy of becoming "America's Pastime"! Front office executives, team owners, coach's, farm hands and scouts are really the ones to blame because they all turned a blind eye to what was going on in MLB club houses for over a decade! Major League Baseball is responsible for creating the "Steroid Era Monsters" & used them as their pawns to resurrect a game from the dark abyss it was rapidly sinking in. They saw that players were getting stronger, bigger, faster and moodier, but never stepped in because this new breed of MLB product that was taking over stadiums across the country were doing some very special things that most fans never seen before! George Foster was the last guy to hit 50+ (52 to be exact) home runs in over 12 years until 1990 came around when Big Cecil Fielder pounded out 51 while playing for the Detroit Tigers. I found that hitting 50 Home Runs was almost impossible and only came around as frequent as Haley’s Comet before the mid 90’s. It wasn’t till 1995 when Albert Belle hit 50 home runs for the Tribe that chartered flights of Rawling baseball's started leaving the ballpark at a staggering rate of 2.5 + times per game compared to 1.5 times before the steroid era begun in the mid 90’s! If that wasn't a red flag that something was up, I don't know what would have been! 40 Home Runs seemed so passé and 50 was the new number that made baseball’s new breed of bombers seem almost immortal. Big Mac won the Home Run Title in 1996 for hitting 52 Home Runs when he was with Oakland & a man that we’ve all come to know as Jr. cleared the fences 56 times in 1997 with the Mariners. Then the "Summer of Long Balls" came when Sammy & "Big Mac" electrified crowds with their frequency of colossal tape measure shots that sparked a Beatles like atmosphere at every ballpark they played in & launched the infamous saying "Chicks Dig The Long Ball". Anyone who was fortunate enough to watch what both these players accomplished during the ‘98 baseball season will never forget how special it was to witness. Big Mac was setting new distance records everyday and Sammy’s home run hop became mocked by every little leaguer & weekend softball warrior around the country. Big Mac ended up hitting 70 Home Runs that summer and Sammy Sosa came in close second by hitting 66. After the "Summer Of Long Balls" was over in 1998 & interest in the game was rejuvenitated thanks to Slam'n Sammy & Mark McGwire's record setting year; Selig & crew all had to look at one another & used Carol Anne's famous Quote from Poltergeist…"We're Baaaaack!" An addict is someone who is addicted to an activity, habit or substance. There three two addicts created after that summer. Players found they had to get bigger, faster & stronger in order to gain an edge vs. their opponents. MLB’s front office found a super product that was going to save their game and they would do everything necessary to protect it’s origin at all costs & fans were hooked on the long ball pill and came to expect a myriad of home runs every time they went to the ball park or turned on ESPN to see who went yard that day. Home Run statistics ballooned overnight and players that normally hit 15 to 20 home runs annually were hitting 30 to 40 home runs. Players that were hitting 20 to 30 home runs a year were all of a sudden putting the ball in orbit 40 to 50 + times in a season. You heard rumors that the ball was wound tighter to make it fly out of the park like a golf ball, that Barry Bonds new bat made from rock maple wood was making the ball go farther anything else on the market & players were corking their bats to make their bats more solid (Sammy Sosa confirmed that rumor). Then you heard rumors that these statistics were skewed because of players using performance enhancing drugs. You could see a difference product on the field starting in the mid 90’s all the way to 2005. Players of all shapes, sizes & positions were all becoming Jose Canseco Clones. Hitters were gaining bulk to improve their power and bat speed. Pitchers started using human growth enhancements to help their bodies heal quicker, strengthen their arms and make their fast ball even nastier. Barry Bonds 73 Home Runs in 2001 didn’t receive half the praise or media attention as Big Mac’s did in the summer of ’98 because everyone knew by that time it was all because of the special sauce he was injecting into his body to reach this once cherished milestone. Prior to December 16th, 2007 there were little answers or confirmations as to why these power statistics became so inflated. It wasn’t until that very day when The Mitchell Report, the result of George Mitchell's investigation into performance enhancing drug use by major league players, was made public. The usual suspects like Barry Bonds, Ken Caminiti, Juan Gonzalez, Rafael Palmero, David Justice, Jose Canseco, Jason Giambi, Garry Sheffield, Barry Bonds and Matt Williams were all linked to the initial probe. The laundry list of names on the Mitchell report is too long to mention, but the conjecture that day was that steroid in major league baseball became a widespread pandemic that everyone was hooked on. There’s no way that it could have gone unnoticed for that long & Major League Baseball’s don’t ask & don’t tell policy to the topic is the main reason why it reached the levels that it did. I’m reluctant to castrate A.Rod like everyone else has in recent weeks (actually his entire career) because he was just a product of his own environment. He simply took advantage of a substance that was readily made available to him & did what was necessary to appease both himself and his fans at the time. Widespread cheating has been synonymous with sports since its inception and it will continue to go on as long as chemists can cook up a product that will go undetected. It’s up to Major League Baseball & the players union to put in place a full proof testing apparatus that will prevent such widespread abuse from ever happening again. If they don't, players will always be tempted to take advantage of HGH substances that will provide them that edge vs. their peers. Wouldn’t you? www.letsgodeep.com | www.marchdeep.com | www.passitdeep.com | www.funtasyfootball.com

MLB Weekly Review 8.25.08

Is this “next year” for the Cubs?

If you’re a fan of the Chicago Cubs or just a fan of baseball, you’ve certainly heard the phrase, “there’s always next year.” With the Cubs currently owning the best record in baseball, this really could be their year.

Not only do the 80 wins by the Cubs top all of baseball, their 49-19 home record makes the friendly confines of Wrigley Field someplace that opponents don’t want to be in October. They are also one of only six teams that do not have a losing record on the road.

The Cubs could very well be facing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the World Series.

The Angels still hold a commanding 17 game lead in the division despite losing 7 of 9 games recently. They’re starting to look vulnerable losing 2 against Tampa Bay, 2 against Minnesota, 2 against Cleveland and even dropping a game to the lowly Mariners. They will still make the playoffs with ease and their magic number is only 16.

With the Angels, Cubs and Rays looking to hold onto their division leads, 3 other races are a little bit closer.

The Dodgers trail the Diamondbacks by 3 games and the division will be decided very shortly. LA heads to the desert for a 3 games set this weekend, followed by a 3 game series with San Diego and then they play host to Arizona for 3 more games.

The Phillies will also decide a lot in the next couple of weeks. They currently trail the Mets by 0.5 games and host them for 2 games this week. Philadelphia then heads out on a tough road trip, which includes 4 games at Chicago, 3 at Washington and 3 more at New York.

The only race closer than New York and Philadelphia is Minnesota and Chicago, who are tied for the American League Central lead. The Twins are in the middle of a brutal 14 game road trip that started off with a split vs. the Angels. The race will likely come down to the last week of the season when Minnesota hosts Chicago for a 3 game series.

Denard Span has been a spark plug at the plate for the Twins, but no one has been as hot as Grady Sizemore and Matt Holliday.

Sizemore is batting .333 over the past week with 6 runs scored, 1 triple, 2 homeruns, 10 RBI and 4 stolen bases.

Holliday is hitting .417 during the same span with 7 runs, 3 doubles, 1 HR, 6 RBI and 3 stolen bases.

On the other side of the field, Rich Harden and Ricky Nolasco have been lights out.

Harden pitched the Cubs past the Reds and Nationals this week. He picked up 2 wins, going 7 innings in each outing. He scattered 4 hits while allowing only 1 run. He didn’t walk a single batter and struck out 21.

Nolasco was equally impressive with 2 wins on the road vs. the Giants and Diamondbacks. He went 7.1 innings vs. Arizona and logged a complete game against San Francisco. He gave up 5 hits and 2 runs. He recorded 21 strikeouts and 2 walks.

www.letsgodeep.com

D-Day Rumor Mill

Written by Consigliere
It’s that time of year again when we hear “buyer” and “seller” in every other baseball story. July 31st marks the non-waiver trading deadline and teams begin to analyze each plate appearance, each pitch thrown and each contract on the books. Some teams are in the hunt and must decide if they are willing to dump prospects for a rental player that could help them reach the postseason. Other teams are hoping that they can find a trading partner willing to take a huge contract off their hands while giving up some young prospects.The rumors come and go so fast that it’s often tough to keep up with who might be going where, but here are some of the current talks between the movers and shakers.One of the biggest names circulating is Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday. Two possible destinations for him are Oakland and St. Louis. Holliday is signed through 2009 so the price will be steep. Oakland may not be able to afford the price and unless the Cards were to send pitching the other way, their OF is plenty stocked right now.Xavier Nady is more likely to be on the move and two teams that have been showing interest are Tampa Bay and Atlanta. Tampa Bay seems to have better options in house, but Atlanta could be a good fit. Jeff Francoeur hasn’t been hitting well and they could use some offensive help. If Atlanta starts to slip out of the picture, not only would the deal be off, but they could also begin shopping slugger Mark Teixeira. Teixeira will be a free agent after this year and the Braves probably can’t afford him, but if they hang onto him for the rest of the season, they could get draft picks as compensation if he leaves.Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. seem to be prime candidates to relocate, but it appears Griffey to Tampa Bay wasn’t true and there just doesn’t seem to be a market for the high-priced Dunn. American League teams don’t want a DH that bats .240 and National League teams are scared off by his defense.There are several players that may or may not become available depending upon how the next couple of weeks shake out.Ivan Rodriguez seemed to be playing his last games in Motown, but the Tigers are suddenly in the hunt and Brandon Inge going down, leaves Detroit needing Pudge in the lineup.The Rangers could be looking to move Frank Catalanotto or Hank Blalock if they hit a losing streak this month.The Angels may be interested in Brian Giles. The Padres might be mathematically eliminated already and Giles could contribute in Anaheim, but the Angels usually aren’t deadline dealers.Brian Roberts could also be moved if the Orioles find themselves on the outside of the playoff race. Roberts would be their biggest piece of trade bait, but closer George Sherrill has also been rumored to be heading to the Red Sox as a setup man for Jonathan Papelbon. The Red Sox rumors don’t stop there though.Boston may also be looking at Joe Borowski, Chad Bradford, Rich Harden, Roy Oswalt, Brian Fuentes and C.C. Sabathia. Fuentes and Sabathia are in the middle of most trade rumors right now.Fuentes could find himself out of the closer role and out of Colorado with the list of new teams growing daily. Along with the Red Sox, the Yankees, Rays, Cubs and Cards are also reportedly interested.C.C. Sabathia would be the biggest deal to go down, if the Indians end up moving him. They apparently would like to resign the reigning Cy Young winner, but as they fall double digits back in the division race, things could change. The Phillies, Rays, Cubs and Brewers have been mentioned the most as possible trading partners.Other arms that are rumored to be available are Joe Blanton, Huston Street, A.J. Burnett, Erik Bedard, Bronson Arroyo and Greg Maddux.

Back to the Future!

It’s time to head down to the clock tower, fire up the flux capacitor and drive the DeLorean all the way back to March 10th, 2008.I know what you’re thinking. That wasn’t that long ago, but in baseball terms it was about a month before the season started. That’s when yours truly, The Consigliere, sat down and calculated the homerun projections for our pool players.It’s almost 4 months later and about midway through the season, so it’s time to look back and point out my spot on mathematics or take the blame for the minor miscalculations.For the purposes of this article, we’re going to ignore anyone who missed several games and concentrate on the guys who have been able to stay on the field.Right down the middleAlbert PujolsPrediction: If his elbow will allow him, Pujols will return to the 40 HR club.2008 Total: 17 HR. Despite his minor calf setback, he should finish right around 40 HR.Ryan HowardPrediction: Expect Howard to flirt with 50 this year.2008 Total: 20 HR. Howard started off in a huge slump and has found his groove as of late. He’ll clear 40 and aim for 50.Adam DunnPrediction: No reason to believe that Dunn can’t top 40 this year.2008 Total: 20 HR. He’s right on pace.Jim ThomePrediction: Thome should hit about 30.2008 Total: 16 HR. Bullseye.Magglio OrdonezPrediction: Maggs should contribute with a HR total in the mid 20s.2008 Total: 12 HR. Hopefully the injury doesn’t wreck my projection.Lance BerkmanPrediction: He should easily clear 30, with an outside shot at 40.2008 Total: 22 HR. Good call here.Ryan BraunPrediction: Braun should get 40 this year.2008 Total: 20 HR. Another one for The Consigliere.Manny RamirezPrediction: Should see 30 HR again.2008 Total: 16 HR. On pace to hit 30+.Carlos LeePrediction: If you want 30 HR, Lee is your guy.2008 Total: 18 HR. Headed for at least 30.David WrightPrediction: Hit 30 HR last year. Look for him to top that this year.2008 Total: 16 HR. Just where he needs to be right now.Adrian GonzalezPrediction: 40 HR potential.2008 Total: 21 HR. He’s found his potential.Derrek LeePrediction: Has a good shot at 30 this year.2008 Total: 15 HR. The Cubs slugger has returned.Jermaine DyePrediction: He’s a safe bet to top 30 this year.2008 Total: 18 HR. 30 looks to be a lock.Chipper JonesPrediction: Injuries are the only thing stopping Jones from hitting 30 each year.2008 Total: 16 HR. He’s looking for 30, but will the quad let it happen?Nick MarkakisPrediction: Expect more than last year’s 23 HR.2008 Total: 12 HR. Right on target at the midway point.Rick AnkielPrediction: Expect 25+ HR.2008 Total: 16 HR. The power is there and he’s improving this year.Brandon PhillipsPrediction: Expect around 25 this year.2008 Total: 14 HR. He may end up right on 25.J.J. HardyPrediction: Hardy will be lucky to hit 20 HR.2008 Total: 8 HR. Should finish short of 20.Corey HartPrediction: Hart could reach 30 HR.2008 Total: 14 HR. He’s a little off the pace, but coming on after a rough start.Aaron RowandPrediction: Hope for 20 HR.2008 Total: 8 HR. Another guy that will not make 20.Gary Matthews Jr.Prediction: He’ll hit 15.2008 Total: 7 HR. I might get this one dead on.Alex GordonPrediction: Expect 20.2008 Total: 11 HR. Right on pace.Joey VottoPrediction: Look for 20-25 HR.2008 Total: 12 HR. The rookie is aiming for dead center on this projection.High and insideJustin MorneauPrediction: 30-35 HR.2008 Total: 12 HR. Need a big 2nd half if I’m going to get this one.Carlos BeltranPrediction: 33 HR.2008 Total: 12 HR. I need the postseason Astros Beltran to show up.Miguel CabreraPrediction: Expect 35-40 HR.2008 Total: 11 HR. What the hell is his problem?Chase UtleyPrediction: He’ll hit close to 30…by the All-Star Break.2008 Total: 23 HR. Ok, so I made the last part up.Ken Griffey Jr.Prediction: Still a threat for 30.2008 Total: 9 HR. The threat is fading.B.J. UptonPrediction: He hits 20 HR.2008 Total: 6 HR. Rays need him if they want to remain contenders, so I still got a shot.Dan UgglaPrediction: Could dip from last year’s 31 HR.2008 Total: 23 HR. He still “could”, but not likely.Hanley RamirezPrediction: Look for a season of 20-25 HR.2008 Total: 20 HR. I love Han Ram, but who knew?Victor MartinezPrediction: Expect about 20.2008 Total: 0 HR. Ugh!Jason GiambiPrediction: I don’t like his chances for 20 HR.2008 Total: 17 HR. Come on 2nd half slump.Justin UptonPrediction: Expect about 12 this year.2008 Total: 9 HR. It seems to be a K or a HR, but he should still beat my mark.Evan LongoriaPrediction: 15-20 HR.2008 Total: 15 HR. All Hail Evan Almighty!Delmon YoungPrediction: Look for an upside of 20 HR.2008 Total: 2 HR. He’s got the skills, but something isn’t clicking

The Consigliere's Monthly Report

Consigliere’s Monthly Report (June)

Each month, I’ll break down which of our pool players get the credit for their team leading the division and which players get the blame for their team being in the basement.

AL East

First Place: Tamp Bay Rays

Carlos Pena spent a lot of time sitting out and only has 1 HR, 5 RBI and 2 Runs to show for the whole month. That means that our pool player that gets the credit for keeping the Rays at the top is B.J. Upton. He has 6 HR, 41 RBI, 52 Runs and 23 SB.

Last Place: Toronto Blue Jays

Vernon Wells came back early in June and hasn’t gotten back to his usual form yet, but Alex Rios hasn’t been there to pick up the slack either. Rios had just 1 HR and 7 RBI in June.

AL Central

First Place: Chicago White Sox

Last week in this very spot, I called out Nick Swisher, Paul Konerko, Jim Thome and Joe Crede for their lack of production. They responded in June. Konerko went on the DL, but the other 3 combined for 19 HR and 55 RBI, while raising their averages.

Last Place: Cleveland Indians

Grady Sizemore and Ryan Garko combined for 10 HR and 35 RBI in June, but Travis Hafner missed the entire month.

AL West

First Place: Los Angeles Angels

Vladimir Guerrero put up 6 HR and 16 RBI last month, while Torii Hunter and Gary Matthews Jr only combined for 3 HR and 16 RBI.

Last Place: Seattle Mariners

Riche Sexson in June: 22 games, 6 runs, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 21 K. You have a guy that is 6-8, 240lbs and he has 1 extra base hit all month! He failed to record an RBI in 20 of 22 games! I’m getting an idea of why the Mariners are the worst team in baseball.

NL East

First Place: Philadelphia Phillies

Chase Utley and Pat Burrell have taken turns carrying the team. Ryan Howard handled that task in June. He hit 5 HR and knocked in 26 runs.

Last Place: Washington Nationals

Ryan Zimmerman hasn’t played since the last time I wrote this column. The Nationals are going nowhere fast.

NL Central

First Place: Chicago Cubs

Soriano is hurt, then he’s not, now he is… Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee have remained solid, but Kosuke Fukudome has picked up the slack for Soriano. He had 3 HR, 13 RBI and 19 Runs for the month of June.

Last Place: Pittsburgh Pirates

Adam LaRoche and Jason Bay haven’t set the world on fire, but they’ve been solid. The Pirates simply have no pitching.

NL West

First Place: Arizona Diamondbacks

Justin Upton in June: 23 games, 7 runs, 8 hits, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 25 K, while he fell from a .275 to a .236 average. Chris Young has been slightly better. They deserve no credit for the Arizona’s success and hardly deserve a spot on the club right now.

Last Place: Colorado Rockies

The big 3 have returned from the DL and Hawpe and Holliday have been playing very well. Look for the Rockies to climb out of the cellar.

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Bombs Bursting in Air!

Bombs Bursting in Air


Most people should be able to tell you that Francis Scott Key is responsible for the National Anthem that we hear before each baseball game, but not many know the journey of the song.

Francis Scott Key was actually a poet who wrote a poem called “Defence of Fort McHenry” after witnessing Royal Navy ships attack Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. After being circulated, renamed and set to the tune of a British drinking song called “To Anacreon in Heaven”, Francis Scott Key’s poem became “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Although the debut of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in baseball typically gets linked to its rendition during the 7th inning stretch of the 1918 World Series, some historians will tell you that it was played as far back as 1897.

No matter what year the tradition began, it will certainly be heard at every ballpark this 4th of July, as a full slate of games entertains us while we celebrate our freedom.

Let’s take a look at some of the day’s key matchups…


Mets @ Phillies
Besides the possibility of fireworks in the hitter friendly park, it’s Johan Santana vs. Cole Hamels in a heavyweight pitching battle.

Athletics @ White Sox
Nick Swisher welcomes his ex-teammates to The Cell. You can also tune in to see if Jack Cust has 4 strikeouts or if he hits one into the parking lot. He reminds me a lot of Joaquin Phoenix’s character in Signs. “Felt wrong not to swing.”

Nationals @ Reds
Ok, so the matchup doesn’t look very exciting, but I had to include the Washington Nationals playing in The Great American Ballpark on the 4th of July!

Cubs @ Cardinals
Another installment of this classic rivalry. The Cubs will send Carlos Zambrano to the mound, while the Cardinals trot out undefeated Mitchell Boggs.

Red Sox @ Yankees
Enough said.



The pool players that are most likely to send bombs bursting into the air are…

Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder vs. Tom Gorzelanny and his 6.18 ERA

Nick Swisher at home vs. ex-teammate Joe Blanton and his 4.97 ERA

Alex Rodriguez because it’s a big game and that’s when the stars come out

Hanley Ramirez at Coors Field vs. Greg Reynolds and his 5.75 ERA

Chase Utley and Ryan Howard because they are too powerful for Citizens Bank Park

Written By: The Baseball Consigliere
Website: www.letsgodeep.com

Week 13 Review of The All American Home Run Derby

Written by Consigliere
We’re 2 weeks away from our next prize giveaway and the standings couldn’t be tighter.AllorNothin and #1Philsfan are currently tied with 233 homeruns apiece. The breathing room is very minimal for our co-leaders as Dilldocks is just one HR off the pace. Mr. Papa Georgio sits in 4th place with 224 homeruns and whoppers is holding down the 5th slot with 219 HR.Let’s take a look at our pool player breakdown…2 players with 23 homeruns2 players with 21 homeruns2 players with 20 homeruns3 players with 19 homeruns3 players with 18 homeruns2 players with 17 homeruns5 players with 16 homeruns8 players with 15 homeruns4 players with 14 homeruns6 players with 13 homeruns7 players with 12 homeruns3 players with 11 homeruns7 players with 10 homeruns7 players with 9 homeruns7 players with 8 homeruns5 players with 7 homeruns5 players with 6 homeruns3 players with 5 homeruns4 players with 4 homeruns1 player with 3 homeruns2 players with 2 homeruns3 players with 1 homerun2 players have failed to go deepDan Uggla and Chase Utley lead the MLB with 23 homeruns each. Adrian Gonzalez and Lance Berkman are just 2 off the pace, while Ryan Howard and Ryan Braun are just 3 off the lead.Adam Dunn, Josh Hamilton and Pat Burrell all have 19 HR. Jermaine Dye, Grady Sizemore and Carlos Lee have 18 homeruns apiece, while Hanley Ramirez and Jason Giambi each have 17.There are 17 players with 14-16 HR. Chipper Jones is struggling to get onto the field, but has 16 homeruns. Evan Longoria and David Wright are both coming off big weeks and have 15 homeruns each.Twenty-three players make up the 10-13 HR group. Vladimir Guerrero hasn’t been able to find a groove, but has still managed 13 homeruns. Rookie Joey Votto continues to turn in a fine season with 12 HR, but Miguel Cabrera remains in a power slump with just 11 homeruns.The 6-9 HR class has 24 members. Raul Ibanez is still stuck on 9 HR after a blazing start and Khalil Greene can’t seem to match last year’s power and has just 8 HR. Kosuke Fukudome is starting to come around though and now has 6 homeruns.The disappointment really begins with the 1-5 HR group, which is 13 players strong. Gary Sheffield has returned from the DL and looks to improve on his 5 HR, while Chris Duncan has been back for awhile, but can’t seems to add to his 4 homeruns. Hank Blalock is the only player with 3 and hopes to hit #4 sometime after the All-Star Break. Eric Chavez and Andruw Jones both have 2 and both guys are hurt. I’d like to recognize Delmon Young and his 1 homerun again just because it took him so long to hit it.Victor Martinez and Josh Fields remain the only players without a single homerun.

MLB Weekly Review

Written by Consigliere
The theme over the past week is that the American League is superior to the National League.The hottest team as of late has been none other than the Minnesota Twins, who just had their 10 game winning streak snapped by the Milwaukee Brewers. The Twins now sit at 9-1 over the last 10 games, while fellow division mates Kansas City and Detroit are 8-2 during that span. The Tigers are now 16-4 over their last 20 games and have reached .500 for the first time all season.In total, there are 10 AL teams with winning records over the last 10 games, while only the Dodgers and Brewers boast winning records in the National League.A few players deserve to be in the spotlight for their play over the past week.Mark Teixeira and Evan Longoria have been red hot at the plate and a major factor in their teams’ success.Teixeira is batting .450 with 8 runs, 6 homeruns and 11 RBI. He has also hit 2 doubles, been walked 4 times and sports a 1.992 OPS.Evan Almighty trails Teixeira slightly with a .448 batting average and 4 homeruns, but has one more RBI for a total of 12. Longoria also has 8 runs, 5 extra base hits, 1 walk and a 1.486 OPS.The 2 most notable pitching performances over the last week were turned in by a couple of the usual suspects.C.C. Sabathia led the Indians to a win by going 8 innings while allowing only 4 hits and 2 walks. He didn’t allow a run while striking out 11 batters.Tim Lincecum was equally as impressive going 7 innings and giving up 5 hits and 3 walks. He shutout Oakland and struck out 11.All of this was overshadowed last night when the Dodgers defeated the Angels 1-0.The reason that this wasn’t just another 1 run game was because the Dodgers didn’t record a single hit. Matt Kemp reached base on an error and while stealing 2nd base, he was able to advance to 3rd on yet another error. He would score the games only run on a sacrifice fly. That run was enough for the Dodgers and Takashi Saito pitched out of a minor jam in the 9th inning to preserve the win.Jered Weaver and Jose Arredondo combined to pitch 8 inning of hitless ball, but no-hitters aren’t officially recognized unless they go 9 innings.This game marked only the 5th time in MLB history that a team has lost while not allowing a hit.

White Sox Musings!

We all know that the Chicago White Sox were swept by their cross town rivals this past weekend! What most of you don't know (unless you're from Chicago) is that the "cry babies" on the south side couldn't go back to the Cell without having some crass parting words for the Chicago Cubs organization and their fans!
Listed below are some parting comments made by Ozzie Guillen & crew before they offically crawled their way back to "The Cell" with their Bibs, Rattlers & Diapers on!
Ozzie Guillen: "The rats at Wrigley Field have gotten bigger, they must be lifting weights".
A.J. Pierzynski: "Cubs Fans are all idiots".
John Danks: "Their Clubhouse smells like someone urinated in it"!
Too bad the rest of the organization didn't have a s much class as their GM Kenny Williams! Oh well, I guess they'll NEVER get used to being eternally known as "The Other" team that plays in Chicago.

Go Cubs!
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MLB Injury Report: 6/22/2008

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Injury Report 6-22-08
Chipper Jones
Jones will sit out his 3rd straight game due to his quad. He should return soon.
Eric Byrnes
Byrnes should be back with Arizona very soon and he’s had plenty of time on the DL to recover.
Hideki Matsui
Matsui had his knee drained recently, but isn’t expected to land on the DL.
Hank Blalock
Blalock has been on his rehab assignment for 3 days and should rejoin the big club early in the week.
Albert Pujols
Pujols seems to be recovering nicely and a return date is scheduled for Thursday.
Alfonso Soriano
Soriano should be back in the Cubs lineup by the end of this week to get ready for a big series against the White Sox. Get ready for some high scoring games and the Cubs are going to need Soriano's big back to stay in these games!

Diamond Dames

Diamond Dames
It’s easy to point your web browser to www.letsgodeep.com and find out who is hitting homeruns on the field. It’s a little bit tougher to find out who the biggest slugger is off the field. Sometimes you’ll catch a glimpse of a new relationship on SportsCenter. Occasionally Yahoo will feature a new fling. The Consigliere is here to really break down, who is “The Man” when it comes to off day activities.
Russell Martin might still be making rookie mistakes, but he’s also been doing some of the same things as his older teammates. Once linked to Brad Penny, among others, Alyssa Milano can now be found cheering on the young Dodgers catcher. The good news for Martin is that she’s already had the tour of the clubhouse.
And don’t feel bad for Brad Penny. Eliza Dushku is keeping him busy enough that he doesn’t have time to worry about his catcher and his leftovers.
Everyone knows that Alex Rodriguez is married, but since his wife looks like a disgruntled department store mannequin, let’s giving him some credit for his pre-marriage conquests. He may not have been the first one to hit a homerun in the ballpark, but I’m sure that ARod felt pretty comfortable at the plate with Jessica Canseco. The Yankee slugger has also been linked to Sofia Vergara. Her nickname is “Human Viagra”, so I think he did okay for himself.
We also have a few pool players that have managed to marry some pretty good-looking women.
David Ortiz can be seen here with his wife Tiffany. Fellow teammate Manny Ramirez landed a hot wife named Juliana. Red Sox rival Jason Giambi also has a pretty lady in his corner named Kristian.
Of course, we couldn’t forget about the man that’s always in the news. All-Time HR leader Barry Bonds has apparently met a new woman at the gym. It’s rare that they are seen together in public but we did manage to track down one picture of her.
All of the above-mentioned players have one very important thing in common.
They all wish that they were Derek Jeter.
When it comes to off the field milestones, Derek Jeter is a legend that will likely never be matched. His dating profile reads like a who’s who of the hottest women in America.
When Jeter was still a rookie is baseball, he was already a pro on the dating scene as he began a relationship with Mariah Carey. After he made his mark on the music world, he moved on to Miss Universe Lara Dutta. Pretty soon, it was time to try out the actress scene and he began dating Jordana Brewster, who co-starred in D.E.B.S with Meagan Good. Being careful not to stay in one relationship too long, Jeter moved on to Supermodel Adriana Lima. After things ended with Lima, he hooked up with small screen star Vanessa Minnillo. Why would he not stay with Minnillo for the rest of his life? Because he hit the jackpot and started dating Jessica Alba! While the Consigliere cannot condone this break-up, things did end with Alba and Jeter wasted little time before getting together with FHM star Vida Guerra. While Guerra may be hot, she can’t live up to the standards of Jeter’s next stop, Jessica Biel a.k.a. The Hottest Woman Alive!
Jeter is no longer with Biel either. Idiot. His latest relationship is Friday Night Lights cheerleader, Minka Kelly.
Now the next time you see the Yankees losing to the Red Sox and Jeter is sitting in the dugout grinning ear to ear, you’ll know why.
Alyssa Milano
http://s05.imagehost.org/0674/AD651-Alyssa_Milano.jpg
Eliza Dushku
http://www.humoronline.com/celebrity-pictures/eliza-dushku-6.jpg
Jessica Canseco
http://www.theminge.com/jessica/Jessica%20Canseco%20nude09.jpg
Sofia Vergara
http://www.hqclips.com/sofia_vergara/sofia_vergara_005.jpg
Tiffany Ortiz
http://i.a.cnn.net/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/2005/07/12/allstar.party/ortiz.jpg
Kristian Giambi
http://www.mlb.com/images/2005/02/10/vglQK8vC.jpg
Juliana Ramirez
http://www.wagrankings.com/images/wives/red_sox/manny_ramirez_juliana_ramirez_wife.jpg
“Her” (Bonds woman)
http://images.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/_photos/2006-02-28-inside-bonds.jpg
Mariah Carey
http://papers.same.ru/img_papers/music/Mariah%20Carey_800_1024.jpg
Lara Dutta
http://utopianvision.co.uk/images/lib/1071/medium/lara-dutta.jpg
Jordana Brewster
http://www.celebrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/jordana-brewster-engaged-12-8-2006.bmp
Meagan Good
http://s01.imagehost.org/0388/Meagan-Good_nw39.jpg
Adriana Lima
http://www.girlsector.com/gallery/Adriana_Lima/Adriana_Lima_047.jpg
Vanessa Minnillo
http://www.citybrat.com/FantasyGirls/VanessaMinnillo.jpg
Jessica Alba
http://mimi6cu.free.fr/street%20dancer%20honey/jessica-alba-wallpapers-3.jpg
Vida Guerra
http://www.abstracthiphop.com/hip-hop-honeys/vida_guerra_on_floor.jpg
Jessica Biel
http://www.toplesscelebs.net/Jessica_Biel/Jessica-Biel-topless-0.jpg
Minka Kelly
http://espn.go.com/photo/2006/1218/pg2_w_kelly_195.jpg

Sunday Surprise...A tribute to fathers day!

Written by Consigliere
No, this Sunday isn’t the Super Bowl, but for many people the day means just as much.Father’s Day is a special time of the year when you can let your dad know exactly how much he’s meant to you over the years. When you think back to some of the memorable times that you’ve spent with your dad, there’s a pretty good chance that baseball played a part. Whether it was your first trip to an MLB ballpark, a ride to Little League practice or just playing catch in the front yard, baseball has always been present in the father-son relationship.As Sunday draws closer and you start to recall some of those times, it’s interesting to note that there have been some pretty memorable on field moments in the history of Father’s Day.The date in history has provided us with a little bit of everything. In 1925, Philadelphia scored 13 runs in the 9th inning to erase a 14-2 Cleveland lead, en route to a 17-15 win. In 1938, Reds pitcher Johnny Vander Meer pitched his 2nd consecutive no-hitter. In 1982, Jeff Reardon recorded his 342 career save and passed Rollie Fingers on the All-Time list. In 1996, Juan Castor, Delino Deshields and Eric Karros turned a triple play. In 1999, Brewers pitcher, Jim Abbot recorded his first career hit and Orioles first baseman Will Clark recorded his 2000th career hit.Not everything was something to remember though, if you’re a Cubs fan. In 1964, the Cubs traded Lou Brock to the Cardinals for Ernie Broglio. Of course, Brock went on to amass 3000 hits and over 900 stolen bases while Broglio went on to record just 7 more career wins. If you’re planning on getting together with your dad this Sunday, here are a few games that have a chance to be memorable…Dodgers at Tigers: Super prospect Clayton Kershaw is the scheduled starter for LA.San Diego at Cleveland: Reigning Cy Young winner CC Sabathia takes the mound against 4-time Cy Young winner Greg Maddux.Boston at Cincinnati: This could be the matchup of the day as 2007 World Series Champions take on a surging group of youngsters. Rookie Homer Bailey will square off with veteran Josh Beckett, but if pitching isn’t your thing, the game also features 8 HR Derby pool players. Mike Lowell and Manny Ramirez will have to make up for the injured David Ortiz, while the Reds will field Ken Griffey Jr, Adam Dunn, Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto and Jay Bruce.From all of us here at the All-American Homerun Derby, we want to wish a Happy Father’s Day to all of the dads out there. We hope that Sunday is a special day for you.

Griffey finally does it!

Written by Consigliere
With the emergence of Joey Votto and the Cinderella run of Jay Bruce, it was easy to forget the real story for the Cincinnati Reds coming into the 2008 MLB Season.When will Ken Griffey Jr make history? How long until he joins a select few of baseball’s greatest hitters? What day will he hit #600?Griffey seemed to be stuck on #599 for far longer than he had hoped, but on Monday, the wait was over. Junior joined Sammy Sosa, Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays as only the 6th player in MLB history to hit 600 HR.With 10 more homeruns, he’ll pass Sammy Sosa for 5th place on the All Time HR list, but that’s probably about as far as “The Kid” will make it.He needs 61 more to pass Willie Mays and over 100 to catch Ruth, Aaron and Bonds.What if Griffey had been able to stay healthy for his entire career? For the young man that dominated the 90’s, it only seemed like a matter of time until he was crowned as the greatest homerun hitter of all time. In Seattle, Griffey will always be known as a Gold Glove centerfielder with the most beautiful swing that’s ever made contact with a ball.In Cincinnati, he’ll always be known as the former Gold Glove centerfielder that couldn’t seem to round the bases without reaching for his hamstring.From 2001-2006, Griffey missed 418 games. Those 418 games may be the difference between being one of 6 players to hit 600 HR and being the best homerun hitter ever.If you compare his games played to Barry Bonds, Junior comes up 547 games short. Considering that he’s hit a homerun every 4 games over the course of his career, we’re talking about 137 HR lost. That would put his current total at 737 and counting. The 137 HR total is probably actually selling him short based on the fact that the 5 seasons prior to 2001, Griffey hit an average of 49.8 HR per year. While it’s easy to see how Ken Griffey Jr could have been the best ever, just sit back and enjoy the fact that you have been able to witness a true legend of the game for nearly 2 decades.

Week 10 Review from The All American Home RUn Derby

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Week 10 Review
The battle atop the leaderboard rages on!
Mr. Papa Georgio is in a dead heat with #1Philsfan with each team having a total of 176 HR. AllorNothin sits in 3rd place, just one HR off the pace. Dilldocks remains in the hunt with 173 HR and Adragon’s Bash Bros holds down the 5th spot with 169 HR.
Let’s look at our pool player breakdown…
1 player with 21 homeruns
1 player with 18 homeruns
3 players with 17 homeruns
2 players with 16 homeruns
5 players with 15 homeruns
3 players with 14 homeruns
4 players with 13 homeruns
5 players with 12 homeruns
4 players with 11 homeruns
6 players with 10 homeruns
4 players with 9 homeruns
13 players with 8 homeruns
9 players with 7 homeruns
8 players with 6 homeruns
7 players with 5 homeruns
6 players with 4 homeruns
5 players with 3 homeruns
1 player with 2 homeruns
3 players with 1 homerun
4 players have failed to go deep
Chase Utley maintains his league-leading total yet again this week. His 21 HR are good enough for a 3 HR cushion over Dan Uggla. Josh Hamilton, Lance Berkman and Adrian Gonzalez are all 4 HR back, while Ryan Braun and Adam Dunn are 5 HR off the lead.
We have 12 players with a HR total between 13 and 15 HR. Jason Giambi(13) and Joe Crede(14) have had nice weeks, but Chipper Jones(15) and David Ortiz(13) are currently on the sidelines.
There are 15 players in the 10-12 HR pool. Jack Cust(11) added to his total this week and Hanley Ramirez(12) has been showing power since returning to the leadoff spot.
Our biggest group is the 7-9 HR class with 26 players. Alex Rodriguez(9) continues his climb towards the upper echelon, Ian Kinsler(8) is turning things around after a slow start and Corey Hart(7) hopes that he’s found his HR swing.
The 4-6 HR group is where we start to find the injured and underachieving. Vladimir Guerrero(6) isn’t where you would expect and Eric Byrnes(6) is just hoping to get back on the field. Vernon Wells(5) has returned from the DL and hit a HR in his 2nd game back.
The 1-3 HR group can be summed up with just 2 words: DELMON YOUNG(1)!!!!!
With Delmon and Eric Chavez homering this week, we have just 4 players in the Goose Egg Club. Andy LaRoche is in the process of being called up. Josh Fields is in the minors. Barry Bonds is in court. Victor Martinez owners are in trouble.

MLB INjury Report from Letsgodeep.com: 6/8/08

Injury Report 6-8-08 Matt Holliday
Holliday is wrapping up a successful rehab stint and should rejoin the big club on Tuesday.Josh Hamilton
Hamilton missed Sunday’s game due to illness. He’s day-to-day.Vernon Wells
Wells was expected to be out 6-8 weeks, but missed just one month before returning to the Blue Jays lineup.Andy LaRoche
Look for the Dodgers to bring LaRoche up as soon as Monday morning.Chipper Jones
Jones is bothered by a quad strain once again and will miss at least a few games.Rick Ankiel
Ankiel has an infection is his knee that has kept him out of the lineup for a while. He could return on Tuesday.David Ortiz
Ortiz will be out at least 2-3 weeks with a wrist injury. If it doesn’t get any better by then, he could miss the rest of the season.

No Power Signal from U.S. Cellular Field?

It’s no secret that Jermaine Dye, Nick Swisher, Paul Konerko, Joe Crede and Jim Thome aren’t getting it done.Jermaine Dye has a respectable batting average at .286, but he has just 23 RBI and nearly 3 strikeouts to every walk.Joe Crede has the most RBI of the quintet with 29, but 22 of those came during his red-hot April.Jim Thome has at least managed double-digit homeruns with 10, but his .212 average and team-high 56 strikeouts leave something to be desired.Paul Konerko is hitting .205 with just 6 HR.Nick Swisher is the most consistent of the group. He’s consistently terrible in every category, batting .201 with 4 HR and 14 RBI. Now what most people don’t realize is that the White Sox played 20 games on the road in May, but they return to their hitter friendly confines for 17 games in June. They will host Kansas City, Minnesota, Colorado, Pittsburgh and their cross-town rivals from Wrigley.They’ll not only be in one of the most hitter friendly parks in baseball, but they’ll also be facing tougher pitching in batting practice than they will in most of the games.Kansas City’s best hope was Zach Grienke and the Sox tagged him for 8 run in 6 innings in their first home tilt of the month. The next two scheduled starters for KC are Luke Hochevar and Gil Meche. Each pitcher has an ERA close to 5 or worse.Minnesota will bring a very suspect pitching staff to town. The Twins haven’t been able to recover since losing Johan Santana via trade and Francisco Liriano to injury. Livan Hernandez(4.81 ERA) and Boof Bonser(5.97 ERA) will likely get starts.The Rockies staff isn’t going to scare anyone either. Aaron Cook has been solid this year, but the rest of the guys with 2 or more starts range from a 5.37 to an 8.44 ERA.When the Pirates come to town, they’ll start the likes of Zach Duke(4.41 ERA), Paul Maholm(4.97 ERA), Ian Snell(5.94 ERA) and Tom Gorzelanny(7.22 ERA).The only real test will be from the Cubs, but if they don’t happen to face Carlos Zambrano or Ryan Dempster, they’ll see Jason Marquis(4.98 ERA) or Ted Lilly(5.54 ERA).There’s no place like home and by the end of June, the Chicago White Sox will have shown everyone exactly why that is true.

Week 9 Review in The All American Home Run Derby

Take it Deep: www.letsgodeep.com


Week 9 Review
Teams continue to jockey for position at the top of our standings.
This week’s leader is #1Philsfan with 163 HR and he’s building up a lead over Mr. Papa Georgio(158 HR). Dilldocks falls into a 3rd place tie with AllorNothin. Each team has 156 HR. Adragon’s Bash Bros and bulldogs are tied for 5th with 153 HR each.
Let’s take a look at our pool player breakdown…
1players with 20 homeruns
1 player with 17 homeruns
2 players with 16 homeruns
4 players with 15 homeruns
6 players with 13 homeruns
4 players with 12 homeruns
5 players with 11 homeruns
4 players with 10 homeruns
8 players with 9 homeruns
11 players with 8 homeruns
8 players with 7 homeruns
12 players with 6 homeruns
4 players with 5 homeruns
6 players with 4 homeruns
7 players with 3 homeruns
4 players with 2 homeruns
1 player with 1 homerun
6 players have failed to go deep
Chase Utley is hot again and jumps out to a 3 HR lead over the rest of the league with 20 HR. Lance Berkman is 3 back of Utley, while Adrian Gonzalez and Dan Uggla currently sit 4 back.
Josh Hamilton, Ryan Braun, Ryan Howard and Adam Dunn are all tied with 15 HR. Six players have 13 HR, including Albert Pujols.
We have 13 players in the 10-12 HR range. The Reds are represented with Joey Votto(10) and Brandon Phillips(11).
The 7-9 HR group is packed with 27 players. Among the notables are Alex Rodriguez(7), Evan Longoria(7), Prince Fielder(8) and Hanley Ramirez(9).
Our 4-6 HR crew is made up of 22 sluggers. Travis Hafner(4), Vernon Wells(5) and Eric Byrnes(6) are all currently on the DL and won’t be leaving this group anytime soon.
Twelve underachievers make up our 1-3 HR class. Jimmy Rollins still hasn’t found his power stroke and sits on 3 HR. On a positive note, Jay Bruce has been called up and has shown that he’s here to stay with 2 HR this week.
Our Goose Egg Club lost a member this week, when Bruce was called up from the minors. Andy LaRoche could be following him shortly, but Josh Fields will probably stay put for a while. Wouldn’t you think that Victor Martinez and Delmon Young would have hit a HR on accident by now?

MLB Injury Report 6/1/2008

Injury Report 6-1-08
Hank Blalock
Blalock’s latest injury(wrist) required surgery and he’ll be out 2-4 weeks.
David Ortiz
Ortiz is out of the lineup with a wrist strain. He’s currently day-to-day.
Matt Holliday
Holliday is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment on Thursday and return from the DL on June 10.
Eric Byrnes
Byrnes is on the DL with micro tears in both hamstrings and he’ll probably be out at least another 2 weeks.
Ryan Zimmerman
Zimmerman is out of the lineup with a shoulder problem. He’ll likely receive an MRI early in the week.
Brad Hawpe
If rehab goes well, Hawpe will return from the DL late this week.
Frank Thomas
An MRI revealed quad inflammation and the A’s have placed The Big Hurt on the DL.
Travis Hafner
Hafner’s shoulder injury has landed him on the DL.

Surprise!!!

Surprise!!!
Every year a few players start out very hot and every year those players eventually cool off. As the month of May comes to a close, we have a few guys that are still hot and showing no signs of slowing down. A couple of them are no strangers to the spotlight and a couple are just beginning to take center stage. Let’s take a look at the 5 guys that are the biggest surprises thus far.
Lance Berkman
Berkman has been around the game for a while now and has made quite a name for himself, but this year he’s looking to set career highs across the board. He’s currently batting .384 with 17 HR, 47 RBI, 57 runs and 10 SB. His batting average is downright ridiculous and he’s already set a career high in stolen bases. If he can maintain his current pace, he’ll set new marks for HR and RBI and shatter his previous run total.
Chase Utley
Some would call Utley a rising star and others could make the case that he’s already a certified superstar. He’s doing everything in his power to make the latter true. Utley is right at his career pace for average, runs and stolen bases, but his power numbers are through the roof. He’s currently batting .310 with 17 HR, 46 RBI, 42 runs and 5 stolen bases. He’s on pace for 49 HR and 133 RBI, which would destroy his previous highs of 32 HR and 105 RBI.
Dan Uggla
The Marlin middle infielder doesn’t have the experience that some of the other guys, but he’s well on his way to stardom. Uggla is carrying a career high .307 average along with 16 HR, 38 RBI and 41 runs. At this rate, Uggla will set new career highs across the board with 51 HR, 120 RBI and 130 runs.
Josh Hamilton
Hamilton burst back onto the scene last year and showed why you never give up on talent. With his troubles in the past, Hamilton is looking to make up for lost time. He’s batting .324 with 13 HR, 58 RBI and 35 runs. He’s already set a career mark for RBI and is currently on pace for a whopping 174 this season. At this rate, he’ll hit 39 HR and cross the plate 105 times.
Joey Votto
It turns out that the only thing holding Votto back was Dusty Baker. Once Votto was given his fair shot, he took it and ran. He’s currently batting .294 with 10 HR, 29 RBI and 28 runs. He only played a handful of games last year so he’s already setting career highs. At the pace that he’s on, he’ll hit 30 HR while scoring 85 times and knocking in 90 RBI. The scary thing is that I think he can top those numbers. Not bad for a rookie that started the year behind Scott Hatteberg.

Take it Deep: www.letsgodeep.com