More Baseball News

FireFighters Save Rafael Furcal’s Home

Los Angeles shortstop Rafael Furcal wasn’t at Dodger Stadium for last night’s game against Arizona, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Furcal and his wife were forced to evacuate their home which was in direct threat of the raging wild fires. As of last evening the Station Fire was approaching his Flintridge neighborhood, but miraculously firefighters were able to save his home as the blaze tore through the neighborhood. A relieved Furcal and his wife were able to return to the home, after staying in a nearby hotel for a few hours. Juan Castro started at shortstop on Monday night in his place for the Dodgers. According to Cnn.com, cooler temperatures Tuesday could help firefighters slow down a fast-moving, deadly wildfire that has charred more than 105,000 acres in Southern California.  Read More →

President Obama In The booth During All-Star Game

After throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, White Sox fan President Obama hangs out in the booth with Joe Buck and Tim McCarver during the 2009 All-Star game on Tuesday. Obama expressed that he is indeed “not a Cub hater” and that he just does not “root for them”. He also praised the Phillies during their visit to the White House a few months ago. This is a great video and a “class act”.  Read More →

Prince Fielder Never Hit A Ball 500ft.

Prince Fielder was the winner of the 2009 Home Run Derby held at the Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri on Monday (July 14). Fielder delivered 23 home runs in 3 rounds, averaging 439 feet to win the big Home Run Derby Trophy. According to BumpShack.com, Fielder said, “I’ve never hit a ball 500 feet, so that’s pretty cool. I’m just happy. It was pretty cool to actually win one. You never think as a kid you’re going to win one, but I just always hoped I would win one. So to win one tonight is kind of like a dream come true, I guess.” Check out these cool photos from the 2009 home run derby and celebrity softball game.  Read More →

“Big Papi” Joins Elite Club

As the first half of the season comes to a close, we’ve seen more than our fair share of milestones. 300 wins for Randy Johnson…check. 500 home runs for Gary Sheffield…check. A slew of batters hitting the 300 (Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko, Lance Berkman, Ivan Rodriguez and Adam Dunn) and 400 (Jason Giambi) home run plateau…check, check, check, check, check and check. FINALLY…thanks to a first inning home run Thursday night against the Royals, David Ortiz can add his name to the list, The Hall of Very Good reports.  Read More →

Suspended Phillie Sues Supplement Maker

Romero may be telling the truth, but what will MLB do? It still looks too late for the Phillies reliever, but he has begun to prove he will not go down without a fight. Suspended Philadelphia Phillies reliever J.C. Romero has filed suit against a nutritional supplement manufacturer alleging an unlisted ingredient in one of its products caused him to test positive for a substance banned by Major League Baseball, according to ESPN.com. Romero, was suspended for the first 50 games of the 2009 season, after he tested positive for androstenedione, a banned substance. The supplement called 6-OXO did not specify androstenedione on the label nor in the ingredients and Romero continues to plead his case about not knowing about the substance. Not only that, clerks at the stores where he purchased the supplements told him that 6-OXO would not cause a positive test for a banned substance. Lesson learned; never believe the idiots behind the counter. Androstenedione is a natural substance that is found... [RBI Magazine Has More On This Story]

Manny Gets Day Off, ‘I’m not a young kid anymore’

No matter how much you are paid in Major League baseball, you still deserve to have a few days off right? Manny Ramirez would agree for sure, if he actually needed to “chill” on Sunday while his team battled the Rockies-that’s a different story. Joe Torre gave Manny the day off after he seemed to be a little “behind” during Saturday night’s game in which he went 0-5 with 3 strikeouts. Torre felt Manny may have been fatigued because his swings were starting too soon. Ramirez felt he could use a day off and responded with, “It’s such a long season, it doesn’t matter,” Ramirez said. “Everybody needs a day off. What do you think I am, Cal Ripken?” So where could you find Manny on during Sunday’s game? Who knows. Not sure if he was even in the dugout, but he sure got to stick another signature punchline on the sarcasm wall. Torre also decided to rest infielders Casey Blake and Rafael Furcal in hopes to get a good... [RBI Magazine Has More On This Story]

Oliver Perez Mets $36MM Disaster?

There is no doubt Oliver Perez can slump, and lose command of a baseball game, but should he already be deemed the “Mets $36MM disaster?” A few may be starting think “Yes”, including manager Jerry Manual. The New York Post published and article today that slashes Perez at the knees, similar to when a weed-whacker hits a bumble bee. Statements like “he has no pitching IQ”, “he generally has no clue where the ball is going once it leaves his hand”, and even calling Perez a “the Mets 36 million dollar disaster”. Jerry Manual has said  he is “really, really concerned”, and in a “round-about” way mentioned that if Perez can not find his “stuff” he will be useless to the club. Making a somewhat valid point right? At the moment, Perez does have an atrocious ERA of 9.31, he has walked 15 batters, and has allowed a skyrocketing amount of hits (23). Yes these numbers could make a pitcher feel like an... [RBI Magazine Has More On This Story]

The Jays Come Out Of The Gate Flying!

With a country that is now focusing at a playoff run that includes three of the six Canadian squads trying to end Canada’s 16 years playoff drought, the Blue Jays are soaring taking their first two series of the 2009 season. Unfortunately nobody seems to be noticing. The Jays fans were their normal loud and loyal selves on opening night. Unfortunately a few bad apples decided that with the bases loaded and a seven run lead in the eighth on opening night to participate on a level of stupidity that caused the MLB to threaten forfeit. That was the Ugly. Even more predictable was the dramatic drop off in attendance over the next couple of days. The Good: The kids started off scorching hot and were looking to prove that the 12 spot they dropped on the Tigers on opening night was more indicative of the potential offense that they are have. With 46 runs score in the first week and twice knocking out double digits Cito and Gene Tenace seem to have the boys in blue swinging hot sticks right... [RBI Magazine Has More On This Story]

2009 Milwaukee Brewers Preview

Key Additions:  Trevor Hoffman (RP) and Braden Looper (SP). Key Subtractions:  CC Sabathia (SP), Ben Sheets (SP), Ray Durham (2B), Derrick Turnbow (RP) and Eric Gagne (RP). A look at the lineup:  The Miller Park faithful will have something to cheer about as top to bottom, the Brewers are actually putting together a formidable lineup.  Behind power sources Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, this is a team that was 74-46 in games where they went deep…16-26 when they did not. All in all, we’re looking at a team with some pop that, when they are lucky enough to be clicking at the same time, can score some runs. Catcher:  Jason Kendall.  In his first year in Milwaukee, Kendall played in 151 games (including a major league leading 149 starts)…the most since he was an All-Star in Pittsburgh in 2000 (152) and 2001 (157).  He posted a career high in innings caught (1328.1) and was serviceable enough to throw out 43% of potential base runners. First Base:  Prince Fielder.  Fielder continued... [RBI Magazine Has More On This Story]