MLB to Celebrate The Negro Leagues at 2008 Draft

Prior to the start of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft on Thursday, June 5th (2 p.m. EDT, live on ESPN2) at The Milk House at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Major League Baseball will hold a Special Negro Leagues Player Draft. Each Major League Club will “draft” surviving former Negro League players, who will represent every player who did not have the opportunity to play Major League Baseball. - From MLB.com

I can personally relate myself to this story by a  childhood experience. Growing up near Pottsville, Pennsylvania (Home of Yuengling Beer) I was constantly watching the Phillies and Yankees.  I was a typical kid who constantly dreamed about being in the Majors.

In the late 90’s my grandfather began buying me autographed baseballs signed by the great players and legends that are marked forever in the history of America’s greatest past time. Mickey Mantle, Joe Dimaggio, Hank Aaron, and Pete Rose ring a bell. To this day I still have every single ball that was bought for me. However, there is one ball in particular that I will always remember.  The blue stamp in the center of the ball did not read “Official League” and had me confused me at first. Then with out any delay I asked the question as any 9 year old would. What’s the difference between Official League and Negro League?

What ever was said to me that day I will not understand and to this day I still don’t. Cheers to the MLB for taking the time to celebrate a very important time in American history and the history of our greatest past time.

Sammy Sosa Is Forced To Retire

Unable to find a job in the major leagues, Sammy Sosa reportedly will retire from baseball after the World Baseball Classic in March. Sosa is expected to play for his native Dominican Republic in March before retiring. One of five players in major league history with at least 600 homers, Sosa currently is a free agent. The 39-year-old had 21 homers and 92 RBI in 114 games last season for the Texas Rangers.

Article from http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/sportsbriefs/story.html?id=741bb8d4-a5e7-481b-ab0f-3eedf4617556

One Point On ACT Keeps 2008 Recruit Out of MLB

The 2008 recruiting class has suffered its first two academic casualties, and they are Brandon Lewis and Kerry Murphy.

Brandon Lewis will be headed to Hargrave after coming up one point short on his ACT. Actually, Lewis had a higher ACT score, but it was not accepted by the NCAA Clearinghouse because apparently they judged the jump from the previous score to be too high, and apparently he had no reason for it like the jump for Alonzo Lawrence. It is certainly disappointing that the three-star defensive end from Pleasant Grove will not enroll this Fall, but he looks to be in pretty good academic shape for 2009, and he’s taking the news quite well.

Lewis was quoted as saying: I am still committed to Alabama and plan on coming back in the fall of 2009. This isn’t a bad thing because I am treating it as a redshirt year so I will get bigger and stronger. My grades were okay. I just barely missed the test score so I will be good to go for next year.”

The good news is that Lewis  is taking it well, and honestly it seems he should be able to make it for the 2009 season.  — Article from http://www.rollbamaroll.com/2008/5/27/540697/2008-recruiting-class-suff

10 Players that aren’t earning their paychecks

Five Best Records in MLB…. Who and Why?

An article written by the bleacher report.

In a division in where the Mets, Phillies, and possibly the Braves were supposed to battle it out, the Marlins are winning with a team salary of $22.65 million. 

Do you know what other teams have chosen to do with that kind of money?  Let’s start with the Yankees.  We all know that Alex Rodriguez is making more money this year than the whole Marlins squad, but did you know that Jason Giambi was too? 

Giambi is scheduled to collect $23.48 million this year.  That is crazy! 

What would a team like the LA Dodgers do with $22.65 million? I’m glad you asked. 

Nice article guys!!

Rays sign Scott Kazmir to 3-year extension

Another member of the Tampa Bay Rays has inked a long-term extension with the club.

On Wednesday, starting pitcher Scott Kazmir agreed to a three-year extension with the team through 2011 worth $28.5 million US. The extension also features a club option that could push the contract’s value to as much as $39.5 million over four seasons.

The left-hander will make $3,785,000 this season before his extension will see him earn $6 million in 2009, $8 million in 2010 and $12 million in 2011. Tampa Bay’s 2012 option is for $13.5 million with a $2.5 million buyout. Read More

MLB owners expected to agree on new drug policy

After a toughened drug agreement was passed unanimously by baseball’s executive council, Bud Selig expects an easy path to ratification when owners meet Thursday.

“We have no controversy. None. Zero,” the baseball commissioner said Wednesday as the two-day session began.

Players and owners have until May 23 to ratify the drug agreement their negotiators signed off on last month. The deal increases the frequency of tests and the authority of the program’s independent administrator.

“When you think of where we were, and where we are today, it is remarkable,” Selig said.

Selig, however, didn’t want to discuss this week’s new indictment of home-run king Barry Bonds, charged Wednesday in federal court with 14 counts of making a false declaration to a grand jury and one count of obstruction of justice. Bonds has denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs. Read More