MLB FanHouse

List of Players Eligible for Arbitration

Ed Price — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:03:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Biz

Following is the list of players eligible for arbitration on their 2010 salary.

Teams must "tender" a contract to such players by Dec. 12. Clubs can opt to "non-tender" a player if they do not think the player will be worth what he could earn in arbitration.

Players eligible for arbitration can file for it Jan. 5-15, and the sides then submit figures on Jan. 19. Hearings are held Feb. 1-21.

The full list after the jump. Service time (Years.Days) is in parentheses.
Tim Redding, P, Mets (5.167)
Mike MacDougal, P, Washington (5.143)
Jason Frasor, P, Toronto (5.134)
Aaron Heilman, P, Cubs (5.123)
Bobby Seay, P, Detroit (5.118)
Seth McClung, P, Milwaukee (5.111)
Eric Bruntlett, 2B, Philadelphia (5.102)
Chad Durbin, P, Philadelphia (5.102)
John Buck, C, Kansas City (5.101)
Grant Balfour, P, Tampa Bay (5.099)
Alfredo Amezaga, OF, Florida (5.097)
Jody Gerut, OF, Milwaukee (5.096)
Ramon Santiago, SS, Detroit (5.095)
Gerald Laird, C, Detroit (5.077)
Raul Chavez, C, Toronto (5.074)
Randy Choate, P, Tampa Bay (5.073)
Garrett Atkins, 3B, Colorado (5.072)
Justin Miller, P, San Francisco (5.070)
Pedro Feliciano, P, Mets (5.059)
Chad Qualls, P, Arizona (5.058)
Matt Guerrier, P, Minnesota (5.056)
Frank Francisco, P, Texas (5.053)
David Bush, P, Milwaukee (5.052)
Jesse Crain, P, Minnesota (5.039)
Maicer Izturis, 2B, Angels (5.038)
Jorge Cantu, 1B, Florida (5.036)
Kevin Correia, P, San Diego (5.027)
Joe Blanton, P, Philadelphia (5.016)
Jorge de la Rosa, P, Colorado (5.015)
Huston Street, P, Colorado (5.000)
Shawn Camp, P, Toronto (4.170)
Augie Ojeda, SS, Arizona (4.169)
Jose Bautista, OF, Toronto (4.165)
Brian Bruney, P, Yankees (4.164)
J.J. Hardy, SS, Minnesota (4.164)
Chad Gaudin, P, Yankees (4.163)
Chien-Ming Wang, P, Yankees (4.159)
Matt Diaz, OF, Atlanta (4.157)
Mark Teahen, 3B, White Sox (4.155)
Lance Cormier, P, Tampa Bay (4.154)
Ryan Church, OF, Atlanta (4.152)
Tim Byrdak, P, Houston (4.150)
George Sherrill, P, Dodgers (4.147)
Brian Tallet, P, Toronto (4.146)
Casey Kotchman, 1B, Boston (4.144)
Michael Wuertz, P, Oakland (4.139)
Sergio Mitre, P, Yankees (4.132)
Rickie Weeks, 2B, Milwaukee (4.131)
Kelly Johnson, 2B, Atlanta (4.127)
Josh Willingham, OF, Washington (4.123)
Clint Barmes, 2B, Colorado (4.122)
Jason Grilli, P, Texas (4.118)
Gabe Gross, OF, Tampa Bay (4.114)
Ryan Ludwick, OF, St. Louis (4.109)
Wandy Rodriguez, P, Houston (4.105)
Dioner Navarro, C, Tampa Bay (4.103)
Scott Hairston, OF, Oakland (4.102)
Scott Olsen, P, Washington (4.101)
Heath Bell, P, San Diego (4.099)
Chris Ray, P, Baltimore (4.098)
Jonny Gomes, OF, Cincinnati (4.097)
Zach Duke, P, Pittsburgh (4.094)
Shane Victorino, OF, Philadelphia (4.092)
Bobby Jenks, P, White Sox (4.090)
Jeff Francoeur, OF, Mets (4.088)
Doug Waechter, P, Kansas City (4.087)
Jason Bartlett, SS, Tampa Bay (4.086)
Neal Cotts, P, Cubs (4.081)
Edwin Jackson, P, Detroit (4.070)
Laynce Nix, OF, Cincinnati (4.070)
Esteban German, 2B, Texas (4.069)
Conor Jackson, OF, Arizona (4.067)
Jon Papelbon, P, Boston (4.064)
Ryan Langerhans, OF, Seattle (4.062)
Felix Hernandez, P, Seattle (4.060)
Cody Ross, OF, Florida (4.058)
Brandon McCarthy, P, Texas (4.055)
C.J. Wilson, P, Texas (4.055)
Mike Jacobs, DH, Kansas City (4.047)
Corey Hart, OF, Milwaukee (4.038)
Logan Kensing, P, Washington (4.035)
Jeremy Hermida, OF, Boston (4.033)
Ronny Cedeno, SS, Pittsburgh (4.029)
Josh Johnson, P, Florida (4.026)
Todd Coffey, P, Milwaukee (4.024)
Kelly Shoppach, C, Cleveland (4.021)
Jonathan Broxton, P, Dodgers (4.020)
Matt Capps, P, Pittsburgh (4.017)
John Bale, P, Kansas City (4.016)
Jeremy Reed, OF, Mets (4.016)
John Maine, P, Mets (4.013)
Clay Condrey, P, Philadelphia (4.012)
Kyle Davies, P, Kansas City (4.012)
Cory Sullivan, OF, Mets (4.010)
Jack Cust, DH, Oakland (4.002)
Justin Verlander, P, Detroit (4.002)
Dan Uggla, 2B, Florida (4.000)
Joel Zumaya, P, Detroit (4.000)
Jeremy Accardo, P, Toronto (3.171)
Brian Bannister, P, Kansas City (3.158)
Lenny DiNardo, P, Kansas City (3.157)
Andre Ethier, OF, Dodgers (3.153)
Mike Napoli, C, Angels (3.151)
Russell Martin, C, Dodgers (3.150)
Melky Cabrera, OF, Yankees (3.148)
Brandon League, P, Toronto (3.145)
Angel Pagan, OF, Mets (3.144)
Luke Scott, DH, Baltimore (3.144)
Ricky Nolasco, P, Florida (3.142)
D.J. Carrasco, P, White Sox (3.141)
Humberto Quintero, C, Houston (3.141)
Taylor Buchholz, P, Colorado (3.140)
Roman Colon, P, Kansas City (3.133)
Manny Delcarmen, P, Boston (3.133)
Jeremy Guthrie, P, Baltimore (3.130)
Jered Weaver, P, Angels (3.129)
Shaun Marcum, P, Toronto (3.128)
B.J. Upton, OF, Tampa Bay (3.126)
Sean Green, P, Mets (3.125)
Blaine Boyer, P, Arizona (3.122)
Ryan Theriot, SS, Cubs (3.118)
Hong-Chih Kuo, P, Dodgers (3.114)
Dustin McGowan, P, Toronto (3.113)
Ramon Ramirez, P, Boston (3.113)
Brendan Harris, SS, Minnesota (3.112)
Ronny Paulino, C, Florida (3.112)
Chad Billingsley, P, Dodgers (3.110)
Leo Nunez, P, Florida (3.108)
Cla Meredith, P, Baltimore (3.107)
Fernando Cabrera, P, Boston (3.104)
Francisco Liriano, P, Minnesota (3.104)
Boof Bonser, P, Minnesota (3.102)
Rob Tejeda, P, Kansas City (3.102)
Anibal Sanchez, P, Florida (3.099)
Pete Orr, 2B, Washington (3.096)
Angel Guzman, P, Cubs (3.095)
Wil Nieves, C, Washington (3.092)
Scott Feldman, P, Texas (3.091)
Ryan Garko, 1B, San Francisco (3.091)
Howie Kendrick, 2B, Angels (3.091)
Sean Marshall, P, Cubs (3.088)
Mark Lowe, P, Seattle (3.087)
Pat Neshek, P, Minnesota (3.087)
Erick Aybar, SS, Angels (3.086)
Sean Burnett, P, Washington (3.085)
Carlos Marmol, P, Cubs (3.084)
Renyel Pinto, P, Florida (3.083)
David Aardsma, P, Seattle (3.082)
Mike Rivera, C, Milwaukee (3.081)
Franklin Gutierrez, OF, Seattle (3.080)
Stephen Drew, SS, Arizona (3.079)
Zach Miner, P, Detroit (3.078)
Tony Pena, P, White Sox (3.076)
Brandon Medders, P, San Francisco (3.074)
Ryan Spilborghs, OF, Colorado (3.072)
Jonathan Sanchez, P, San Francisco (3.071)
Carlos Ruiz, C, Philadelphia (3.069)
Jason Repko, OF, Dodgers (3.067)
Carlos Quentin, OF, White Sox (3.065)
Jay Bergmann, P, Washington (3.064)
Casey Janssen, P, Toronto (3.063)
Peter Moylan, P, Atlanta (3.061)
Saul Rivera, P, Washington (3.056)
Brian Anderson, OF, Boston (3.053)
Carlos Villanueva, P, Milwaukee (3.053)
Jeff Keppinger, 3B, Houston (3.052)
Skip Schumaker, 2B, St. Louis (3.051)
Jeff Baker, 2B, Cubs (3.049)
Matt Kemp, OF, Dodgers (3.049)
Delmon Young, OF, Minnesota (3.034)
Miguel Montero, C, Arizona (3.031)
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B, San Diego (3.030)
Chris Iannetta, C, Colorado (3.029)
Michael Bourn, OF, Houston (3.028)
Anthony Reyes, P, Cleveland (3.027)
Mike Adams, P, San Diego (3.019)
Jose Veras, P, Cleveland (3.014)
Joe Saunders, P, Angels (3.013)
Jeff Bennett, P, Tampa Bay (3.012)
Santiago Casilla, P, Oakland (3.012)
James Loney, 1B, Dodgers (3.012)
Jeff Mathis, C, Angels (3.012)
Chris Sampson, P, Houston (3.012)
J.P. Howell, P, Tampa Bay (3.007)
Koyie Hill, C, Cubs (3.006)
Matt Murton, OF, Colorado (3.004)
Boone Logan, P, Atlanta (3.002)
John Danks, P, White Sox (3.000)
Josh Hamilton, OF, Texas (3.000)
Matthew Lindstrom, P, Florida (3.000)
Hideki Okajima, P, Boston (3.000)
Reggie Willits, OF, Angels (3.000)
Joe Devine, P, Oakland (2.171)
Brian Wilson, P, San Francisco (2.169)
Rajai Davis, OF, Oakland (2.167)
Jared Burton, P, Cincinnati (2.165)
Alex Gordon, 3B, Kansas City (2.162)
Tom Gorzelanny, P, Cubs (2.160)
Jesus Flores, C, Washington (2.158)
Rafael Perez, P, Cleveland (2.157)
Hunter Pence, OF, Houston (2.156)
Jason Hammel, P, Colorado (2.153)
Matt Garza, P, Tampa Bay (2.149)
Tim Lincecum, P, San Francisco (2.148)
Nick Masset, P, Cincinnati (2.146)
Jeff Karstens, P, Pittsburgh (2.144)
Matt Albers, P, Baltimore (2.141)
Carlos Gomez, OF, Milwaukee (2.141)
Dustin Nippert, P, Texas (2.140)
Mike Fontenot, 3B, Cubs (2.139)

List of Players Eligible for Arbitration originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

MLB's Economic Rebound Could Be Slow

Jeff Fletcher — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, Dodgers, Nationals, MLB Biz, MLB Inside Scoop

CHICAGO -- On a day this week when the stock market had one of the encouraging spikes investors have enjoyed more frequently over the past few months, Kenny Williams let out a sarcastic cheer for what it meant to baseball.

"Let's go, let's party," he said. "We've got cash again."

Then, the White Sox general manager quickly returned to reality, at least the version of reality that he and his colleagues have been describing this week at the GM Meetings.

"I don't think it works that way," he said. "We might need to see six months of recovery before we buy into that. We need an advertiser or a sponsor or two to come back to us."

Baseball teams have cried poverty before, but last winter turned out to be, financially, one of the coldest in recent years. Dozens of players waited until just a week or two before spring training, eventually settling for cut-rate deals. Although there are indications that the economy is improving, it remains to be seen what type of winter this will be in terms of spending.

"I honestly have no idea," Braves GM Frank Wren said. "Every market has its own life it takes on once we get a little deeper into the winter. I don't know that any of us know."

"We heard a lot last year about the impending doom of the economics of baseball. ... Even in an economy where many many businesses are struggling, ... our industry has been able to keep the revenues at record levels."
-- Scott Boras While owners and GMs may call for fiscal restraint, agents will, as usual, say that it's all a smokescreen intended to help the teams keep their cash out of the hands of their clients.

"We heard a lot last year about the impending doom of the economics of baseball," agent Scott Boras said. "We had another record year this year and the economy is better. ... Even in an economy where many many businesses are struggling, particularly in the last year, our industry has been able to keep the revenues at record levels."

Attendance actually dropped 6.5 percent from last year, which was the biggest decline since 1952. That said, the raw number of fans to come to games -- more than 75 million -- was still the fourth-highest in history.

Everything is relative, from the money clubs are making to the money players are making.

"When you are talking free agency with these guys, the question isn't 'Are you going to be rich?', the question is 'How rich do you want to be?'" Williams said. "No matter the real economics of the world, in a lot of ways this is Fantasy Land. None of these guys are going to starve."

Boras countered by saying that any club that considers itself to be a small- or middle-market also should have some perspective.

"I don't know what a mid-market franchise is," he said. "That's like a mid-sized aircraft carrier. They all have the potential to have an economic bomb. If you are drawing 3.3 million fans and averaging $50 a fan. ... I just don't know that mid-market team."

Free agents may be the first to feel the economic crunch, particularly since this market has few marquee players and dozens who have question marks because of their age or performance. Traditionally, the players hurt most when the money dries up are the ones in the middle. Now the middle expands all the way up to the second tier of free agents and all the way down to arbitration-eligible players.

Jeremy Hermida, J.J. Hardy and Mark Teahen have already been traded this offseason because they were arbitration-eligible players whose potential salaries were already getting out of line with their production. Others like Garrett Atkins, Chad Billingsley, Ryan Church, Jack Cust, Mike Jacobs and Russell Martin all could follow. Each was a valuable asset when he was making the relative pennies of a player with less than three years of service time, but now they have contracts that might need to be moved.

In past years it was easy to move players like that, because most any team could afford a $3-to-$5 million player, but these days, not so much.

"All of the sudden, there is a risk-reward of 'Am I going to go after the second-tier free agent?'" Giants GM Brian Sabean said. "There might be some risk dollar wise, but I'm not sure of the reward vs. a guy that's coming in my system or the guy that a year from now we're going to need to get anyway."

A raft of players may wind up creating a new pool of free agents after Dec. 12, the deadline to tender contracts to those that are eligible for arbitration.

Another recent, economically based, change in baseball's offseason is the reluctance of teams to give up draft picks for free agents. A team that signs a Type-A free agent has to surrender a high draft pick as compensation. With teams lusting after all the cheap players they can find, those draft picks are valued more than they were five years ago.

"There are guys out there I would certainly have interest in if they weren't Type-A's," Williams said.

It is certainly not a recent development to have baseball decisions impacted by money, but there is no doubt that dollars have become more of a driving force in the past couple years.

"I don't think we're out of the woods yet with sports getting slapped in the face of reality," Williams said. "That's just my own personal opinion. It's not just fun and games any more. It's got to be a business. You have to run it as it is supposed to be, as a business."

Here are five other key questions to watch as this offseason unfolds:

Where will the big free agents land?

Jason Bay, Chone Figgins, Matt Holliday and John Lackey are the only premium players on the market. The Yankees, Red Sox, Mets and Angels, four of baseball's big spenders, each are expected to be in on the bidding for at least a couple of those players, so they should end up getting nice contracts.

Look for Holliday to be the last of the bunch to sign, since he's represented by Boras. He probably won't go anywhere until he sees what Bay gets.

Which big names will be traded?

The biggest name on the trade block this winter is Roy Halladay. The Blue Jays shopped him in all-too-public fashion over the summer, but asked for so much in return that they didn't make a deal. The failure to move Halladay may have contributed to GM J.P. Ricciardi's demise in Toronto. Now Alex Anthopolous is running the Blue Jays, and he has not tipped his hand about what the Jays plan to do with Halladay, but he has made it clear he'll listen to anything.

Dan Uggla is another premium player who is almost certain to be traded. The Marlins are always looking to trim payroll and they have Rookie of the Year candidate Chris Coglan ready to move to second.

After that, the next biggest players to watch are Adrian Gonzalez and Felix Hernandez. Both are so good and so cheap that their current teams can keep them. But those current teams are not contenders, so they may also use them for rebuilding, looking for a Mark Teixeira-like four- or five-for-one deal.

Will the Dodgers ownership saga affect the baseball team?

The ugly divorce proceedings between Frank and Jamie McCourt have so far been a story more fitting for TMZ than FanHouse. However, if the McCourts end up having to sell the team in order to liquidate their assets for a split, it could have a dramatic impact on how the Dodgers do business. The model everyone in Los Angeles fears is what happened to the Padres when John Moores got divorced.

For now, though, it's too early in the process to know if the Dodgers will go the same route. GM Ned Colletti said he's conducting business as usual.

Which of the aging star players will be back and which ones will retire?

This past season saw what may have been the end of a lot of great careers, including Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Andy Pettitte, Pudge Rodriguez, John Smoltz and Omar Vizquel. Ken Griffey Jr. would have been on this list, but he re-signed with Seattle on Wednesday.

Of that group, Martinez seems to be the most likely to come back because of what he showed in the second half and the postseason with the Phillies. He also said he wishes to return.

Pettitte certainly performed well enough to warrant another contract, but after winning another ring, he may prefer to stay home.

Who will sign the biggest names on the international market?

Aroldis Chapman is a 21-year-old Cuban left-hander who throws up to 100 mph. Although he's got potential, he is considered very raw and probably won't be able to help a big-league team this year.

Ryota Igarashi is a polished veteran of the NPB, Japan's major league. A 30-year-old right-hander, he has been a setup man and closer in Japan. He'd most likely be considered a late-inning reliever in the majors.

MLB's Economic Rebound Could Be Slow originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Don't Hold Your Breath for News on Replay at GM Meetings

Jeff Fletcher — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:24:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Biz, MLB Umpires

CHICAGO -- Expansion of instant replay is expected to be one of the topics discussed when baseball general managers begin their formal meetings on Tuesday, but one of its longtime proponents is not optimistic that his group can effect any change.

"Whatever the instant replay discussion is, I'm going to raise my hand [in favor]," said White Sox GM Kenny Williams. "However, I don't know at the end of the day that vote is going to mean much."

This postseason was full of mistakes by umpires, leading to a national debate about whether the use of replay should be expanded beyond its current scope. Williams said he's been pushing for the use of replay for seven or eight years, but he's come to the conclusion that it doesn't matter what he or other general managers want.

"It's the owners and the commissioner's debate," Williams said. "It's not our debate to have. I'd rather go to Starbucks and talk about NFL Sunday."

Commissioner Bud Selig said during the World Series that he remained against any expansion of instant replay, because it would slow down games. However, he said that the issue would be addressed in the offseason.

Williams said he didn't think this postseason drastically changed the minds of the decision-makers, but he added that it would be "interesting to see."

Mets GM Omar Minaya said he's in favor of the current system but, "I'm not too much for expanding it."

Don't Hold Your Breath for News on Replay at GM Meetings originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

If the Dodgers Go on Sale, Mark Cuban's Interested in Buying Them

Josh Alper — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:50:00 EST

Filed under: Dodgers, NL West, MLB Biz

Mark Cuban is back on Bud Selig's doorstep with a sack full of money. This time he's got his eyes on the Los Angeles Dodgers.

As the divorce drama of Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his wife (and, depending on the courts, co-owner) Jamie plays out in Los Angeles, speculation has started that the team may hit the market. That's what happened with the Padres, you'll remember, when John Moores sold a stake in the team to pay off his ex-wife. If it plays out that way further up the California coastline, Cuban told the Los Angeles Times that he'd be interested in buying the team.

What's more, he says that more Dodgers fans than he can count have already reached out to him to swoop in and scoop up the franchise. The sticking point, the one beyond the fact that McCourt insists the team isn't for sale anyway, is that Moores only sold a minority stake in the Padres, while Cuban says he'd only be interested in being the controlling shareholder of the Dodgers as part of an ownership group.

"I'm not a fan of debt-driven acquisitions," Cuban wrote. "If a unique situation came up where I could contribute capital to buy out a majority shareholder and gain control, with existing shareholders or note holders staying in place, I would consider it."

Cuban famously bid on the Cubs, but his bid was rejected, in part, because of how reliant it was on the credit market. When the economy nosedived last year, so did the financing for Cuban's bid and both sides are probably better off that nothing went forward with a deal structured that way.

While the prospect of Cuban owning a MLB team remains an intriguing prospect, we appear to be a long way off from any resolution to the Dodgers situation. Mrs. McCourt is fighting to be considered a co-owner, Mr. McCourt contends he's the only owner and the absurdly public and acrimonious proceedings will surely keep it moving at a glacial pace as huge sums of money are at stake. That's bad for the Dodgers as it may keep them from making moves financially to keep pace with their rivals and could, at some point, have Selig and other owners pushing McCourt to find new capital to keep the high-profile franchise in the pink.

If the Dodgers Go on Sale, Mark Cuban's Interested in Buying Them originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Trio With Uncertain Future Makes Yankees' Present Awfully Sweet

Ed Price — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:45:00 EST

Filed under: Yankees, MLB Biz, MLB Playoffs, World Series

NEW YORK -- None of them were on the field Wednesday when Robinson Cano threw out Shane Victorino to clinch the Yankees' World Series championship.

And no one should be surprised if neither Hideki Matsui, Andy Pettitte nor Johnny Damon are on the field in Tampa, Fla., next February for Yankees' spring training.

But this championship would not have happened without them.

All three are potential free agents. And all three may wind up leaving the Yankees, for various reasons.

The Yankees could let Matsui and his balky knees go because they seem to prefer not to have a full-time DH, instead rotating that spot in the lineup to give players some rest (remember, Jorge Posada, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter are all in their 30s).

Damon's defense and durability are in decline, and the Yankees do have outfielders Melky Cabrera, Brett Gardner and Nick Swisher under control for 2010.

Pettitte, meanwhile, would probably be welcomed back next year -- if he wants to play. He wavered on retirement the past three winters, especially after 2006 and '07, and now that he has fulfilled two goals by playing in the new Yankee Stadium and earning another ring, perhaps this is the time to walk away.

General manager Brian Cashman said he spent part of the 1998 World Series, his first as GM, stressing over the upcoming winter decisions, such as whether to re-sign Bernie Williams.

Now he knows to put everything off until after the postseason is over.

"Now is not the time to deal with that," Cashman said on the field after Game 6. "We're going to celebrate. The business side of the game will kick in here at some point."

Matsui drove in six runs in the 7-3 Game 6 victory, tying the record for a World Series game and most ever in a World Series clincher. He earned Series MVP honors even though, as a DH, he got just one plate appearance each night in Games 3-5, as a pinch hitter.

"I hope [to return]," Matsui said, through interpreter Roger Kahlon, upon being presented with the World Series MVP. "I hope it works out. I love New York. I love the Yankees. I love the fans here."

Yankees assistant GM Jean Afterman, who was instrumental in recruiting and signing Matsui after his 10 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants, said Matsui grew up idolizing Babe Ruth.

"His dream was to become a Yankee," Afterman said.

"He wanted to play where Babe Ruth played. He wanted to do what Babe Ruth did."

As if he was making a last-ditch case for the Yankees to being him back, Matsui hit .615 (8-for-13) with three homers, eight RBI and a 1.385 slugging percentage -- the second-highest in World Series history.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=756439&pid=756438&uts=1257407218

http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf

World Series 2009

New York Yankees' Derek Jeter, left, and Mariano Rivera look at the championship trophy after winning the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

World Series

A visitor watches as TV sets show New York Yankees designate hitter Hideki Matsui at bat in Game 6 of the World Series baseball at Yamada Denki discount store in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to be named World Series Most Valuable Player after hitting a record six RBIs in the deciding game to lead the Yankees over the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 Wednesday in New York. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

A visitor watches a TV screen showing New York Yankees designate hitter Hideki Matsui lifting the MVP trophy he won in the World Series baseball at Yamada Denki discount store in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to be named World Series Most Valuable Player after hitting a record six RBIs in the deciding game to lead the Yankees over the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 Wednesday in New York. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera, left, and Derek Jeter celebrate after Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. The Yankees won 7-3. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

People watch a live broadcast on TV at Yamada Denki discount store in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, showing New York Yankees' MVP Hideki Matsui at bat during the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to be named World Series Most Valuable Player after hitting a record six RBIs in the deciding game to lead the Yankees over the Phillies 7-3. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York Yankees' Andy Pettitte reacts during the sixth inning of Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York Yankees' Jorge Posada leaps into the arms of a teammate after the Yankees won the Major League Baseball World Series over the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

People watch a TV at Yamada Denki discount store in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, showing New York Yankees' Hideki Matsui at bat during the Major League Baseball World Series Game 6 against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to be named World Series Most Valuable Player after hitting a record six RBIs in the deciding game to lead the Yankees over the Phillies 7-3. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

New York Yankees' Andy Pettitte tips his cap after being relieved by Joba Chamberlain during the sixth inning of Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

People watch a TV at Yamada Denki discount store in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, showing New York Yankees' Hideki Matsui hitting a two-run homer in the second inning during the Major League Baseball World Series Game 6 against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to be named World Series Most Valuable Player after hitting a record six RBIs in the deciding game to lead the Yankees over the Phillies 7-3. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

"I think you've got to think about everything that he's done," Afterman said when asked about bringing back Matsui. "I think you've got to think about everything he's achieved and who he is. And then who he is and what he means to this team. And what he means to this country and his country.

"It's quite a thing to be a hero in two countries at the same time."

Pettitte is such a hero that his postgame speech from the on-field stage was inaudible in Yankee Stadium, drowned out by the fans' chants of "An-dy Pett-ittte!"

He won two games in the Series, including Game 6 -- making him the first pitcher ever to start and win the series clincher in the Division Series, LCS and World Series the same season. His 18 career postseason wins are a record, and only Whitey Ford has pitched in more World Series than Pettitte's eight.

"I'm not sure," Pettitte said of his future. "I'm not. I need to get home, talk to my family. I'll need to talk to the Yankees and find out where they're at. And then I'll probably start trying to figure out what I'd like to do."

Pettitte wasn't great on three days' rest, walking five in 5 2/3 innings. But only one of those runners scored.

"There was really nothing special," Phillies leadoff man Jimmy Rollins said, "but he made one great pitch every at-bat it seemed like. When he needed that pitch he was able to make it, got some double plays that really shortens an inning.

"That's what Andy does. He keeps his team in the game. You walk away shaking your head -- how didn't we get to him? -- but obviously he's pretty good because he's been doing it a long time."

Closer Mariano Rivera wouldn't admit to any recruiting calls last winter but did say he "wanted to make sure that Andy came back."

Because Pettitte's past fence-sitting was based in large part on his health, and he showed with Wednesday's short-rest outing that he is OK, perhaps it won't be a tough sell this time around.

In contrast to Matsui and Pettitte, Damon showed in the finale why it might be wise not to re-sign him. He had to come out of Game 6 with a strained right calf, suffered running home on Matsui's third-inning single.

Damon did score a team-high six runs in the Series, none more important than the one in the ninth inning of Game 4 after his heady double steal. (The Hall of Fame has already taken possession of the cleats Damon wore that night.)

While Damon has said he would like to come back, he also admitted he doesn't know if he will.

Matsui, Damon and Pettitte have something else in common besides their contractual status: they are respected by their peers for their professionalism.

Damon is a goofy free spirit. Matsui shows great respect to everyone around him and seems serious but has a sense of humor that he can unveil, in English, at moments. Pettitte is a tireless worker with great pride.

But when time comes to play, they all show up.

With George Steinbrenner's health in decline, irrationality is gone from Yankees' front office. And Cashman can be cold-blooded in his decision-making; there was a blip of sentimentality after the 2007 season when Steinbrenner's sons -- in the wake of the Joe Torre parting -- signed Rodriguez, Rivera and Posada to over-market contracts, but that seems to have been wiped out.

So in the coming days, Pettitte will ponder his future as Cashman considers how badly he wants Matsui and Damon back, if at all.

The story lines won't play out quickly this winter. But even if all three are somewhere else come spring, their contributions this fall won't soon be forgotten by the Yankees and their fans.

Trio With Uncertain Future Makes Yankees' Present Awfully Sweet originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

New Cubs Owner Plans on Winning the World Series

Tom Fornelli — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cubs, MLB Biz

For the first time since they officially became the new owners of the Chicago Cubs, the Ricketts family spoke to the media on Friday morning in Chicago, and they made their top goal as owners perfectly clear. They are going to win a World Series. That's what Tom Ricketts told the throng of reporters surrounding him.

It was one of many things the new owner shared, but obviously, considering the Cubs' history of not winning the World Series, that's the line that will either solidify the Ricketts family as legends in Chicago, or hang over their heads for as long as they own the club.

In his first public appearance since his family officially took ownership of the Cubs earlier this week, Tom Ricketts said flatly, ``We're going to win the World Series,'' and said that single-minded agenda is what sets a family ownership model apart from corporate ownership that must answer to shareholders.

"The fans are our shareholders,'' said Ricketts, who when pressed for a timeline on his visions of a World said:

"I'll be honest, I think we have a team that can do it next year. I won't promise anything. I don't think there's any use in that. But the fact is there's enough talent coming back next season to go all the way to the finish line.''

Ricketts also went on to talk about the family's plans for Wrigley Field, saying he wanted to emulate what the Boston Red Sox did with Fenway Park. Renovating the old stadium without ever having to close it for any period of time. Ricketts also joked that one of the changes the family planned on making was having him and his brother coach first and third base.

As for Ricketts' response to the inevitable question about the team being cursed, he said there was no such thing and he didn't believe in curses. He also went on to say that any current Cubs player that believes the team is cursed will be moved to a "lesser-cursed team."

So I guess that means the Pirates or something.

New Cubs Owner Plans on Winning the World Series originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Selig Says Replay Will Be Reviewed

Jeff Fletcher — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:46:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Biz, MLB Umpires

NEW YORK -- Bud Selig said he has not changed his opinion on expanding the use of instant replay, but baseball's commissioner left the door open a crack, saying the issue would be addressed in the offseason.

"I think there are other ways we can make corrections," Selig said. "During the offseason we'll review everything."

It could come up at the GM Meetings, Nov. 9-11 in Chicago.

Selig, speaking after he presented Derek Jeter with the Roberto Clemente Award before Game 2 of the World Series on Thursday, has maintained that he did not want to expand the use of replay beyond home-run boundary calls because it would impact the pace of the game. The question has come up again because of a string of mistakes made by umpires this postseason.

"I understand we have had some incidents that were most unfortunate," Selig said. "They were controversial and beyond controversial. There is no sense in hiding that, nor would I."

Although Selig said he hasn't seen enough to convince him to change his opinion, he said he has thought about the subject.

"I take this more seriously than anybody will know," he said, "but there will be a time and place to think about all this."

Selig also responded to criticism that there are too many off days in the playoffs under the current format. Selig said "it's a valid point," but that there is no way to avoid it because you don't know how long the playoff series will go when the schedule is done. He also said that shortening the season is not an option.

"If the clubs want to consider going to 154 games, we can reduce that, but they don't want to do that, unanimously," he said. "Big markets, medium markets, small markets. They just don't want any part of it."

Selig was asked about the Dodgers situation, given the impending divorce of owner Frank McCourt and his wife Jamie, but he said it wasn't appropriate for him to comment.

He also said that he was happy to see Mark McGwire get back into the game as the Cardinals' hitting coach.

"When he comes back you will all have a lot of opportunities to talk to him," Selig said. "The fact that he's coming back gives him an opportunity you wouldn't have had."

Selig Says Replay Will Be Reviewed originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:46:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt, Wife Jamie Beginning Ugly Divorce

Matt Snyder — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Biz

The personal and professional lives of Frank and Jamie McCourt have certainly seen better days. The two had been married since 1979, having four children together. They were working together in running one of the most recognizable sports franchises in the world, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now, citing irreconcilable differences, the two are going through divorce proceedings -- which appear neither friendly nor ending anytime soon.

Normally, this wouldn't really be newsworthy, considering the owner and his wife splitting up is more a personal matter than a business one. This isn't normal, though. Jamie was the team's CEO -- at least until Frank fired her a week ago, after they were already separated. Jamie is also trying to claim she is part owner of the team, which would technically mean Frank couldn't have fired her.

"Frank has no right to purport to terminate me. We are co-owners of the Dodgers," she said. "Not only has Frank publicly held us out as co-owners of the franchise, he has also admitted this fact in front of our estate planning counsel."

Most recently, Frank filed papers opposing his wife's demand to be reinstated as the team's chief executive, claiming she had an affair with her bodyguard, Jeff Fuller. Allegedly, Jamie took a trip in early July to Israel on team business, but then headed to France for 2 1/2 weeks and billed the Dodgers for the trip. Frank claims that before his wife went on the trip she asked for Fuller to be her driver.

There was also a 911 call made by Jamie McCourt in early September, but there are conflicting stories as to what actually happened. Frank McCourt's lawyer, Michael Grossman, claimed that the 911 call Jamie made was phony. According to the police report that was filed, Frank came over to the house while she was swimming, which prompted her to make the call.

Here's the rest of the drama, and where things currently stand:

o. Jamie has filed for divorce and is requesting that she be reinstated as CEO of the Dodgers. She is seeking $320,967 per month in spousal support, but $487,634 if she's not reinstated at her old post. She claims she needs this much money for living expenses -- which Frank allegedly hasn't been paying since July -- and to pay her attorneys. Her point is that the divorce will be a lengthy, complicated and expensive process. Frank has unlimited funds, she says, considering the couple is worth over $1.2 billion and has an estimated cash flow of more than $10 million per year.

"I do not believe it is appropriate that I should be required to invade our savings to pay my living expenses and the costs of this divorce action while Frank receives (or has access to) millions of dollars in distributions perquisites and benefits from the various Dodger related entities and other companies."

o. Frank claims he's the sole owner of the Dodgers, Jamie claims they both own the Dodgers -- a team worth an estimated $800 million. Frank's name is listed as the owner with Major League Baseball, but rules require only one person be named as the "controlling person." Jamie's argument is that she was just as much a part of the ownership group as Frank. She has been the highest ranking female in baseball since 2005.

o. Jamie believes that her firing was part of a "calculated plan to try and humiliate and ostracize" her by her soon-to-be-ex-husband.

o. She is also seeking to have a laundry list of "privileges" reinstated, such as: private jet travel, five-star hotel accommodations, use of the owners' suite at Dodger Stadium, Blackberry charges, flowers for her office, country club dues and possession of two of the couple's nine properties.

o. The attorneys working the case are expecting to ring up a bill of over $2 million.

There are so many layers to this that it's going to be a long offseason for the team who fell one step short of the World Series.

Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt, Wife Jamie Beginning Ugly Divorce originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Sale of Cubs Finally Complete

Tom Fornelli — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:55:00 EST

Filed under: Cubs, MLB Biz, MLB Transactions

It only took 2 1/2 years, but it was announced on Tuesday that the sale of one of baseball's most storied franchises, the Chicago Cubs, was completed. Tom Ricketts' bid to buy the team was first approved earlier this year, and now the team belongs to the son of TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts.

Along with the team, Ricketts and his family also assume ownership of Wrigley Field and a 25 percent share of Comcast SportsNet in Chicago, which broadcasts Cubs games, along with old Tribune Company standby WGN. Once it's all said and done, the Tribune Company should pull in about $740 million from the deal, a record surpassing the $660 million John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino paid for the Red Sox in 2002.

As for Ricketts, this is the culmination of a lifelong dream to own the team he rooted for as a child. He even spent time living in an apartment across the street from Wrigley Field, and met his wife at a Cubs game. No doubt winning her over with the line "You know, one day I'm going to own this team and this park. Go out with me and you'll have all the free hot dogs you can dream of."

He now says his new goal is to "go to work building the championship tradition that all Cubs fans so richly deserve." Considering the team's history, fans may want to just settle for the free hot dogs.

Sale of Cubs Finally Complete originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Dodgers Owner McCourt Fires Wife

Andrew Johnson — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Dodgers, MLB Biz

Frank McCourt, the owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has dismissed wife Jamie from her post as the team's CEO ahead of what is expected to be a bitter divorce battle between the separated couple, according to a report by SI.com's Jon Heyman.

McCourt, who has been married to Jamie since 1979, purchased the Dodgers in 2004 for $430 million, but the team is believed to be worth considerably more than that.

The firing of Jamie further complicates the fate of the franchise as the couple heads for divorce court, with Frank claiming that he has full ownership of the team and his spouse contending that she owns 50 percent of it.

SI.com: Read Full Report

Dodgers Owner McCourt Fires Wife originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Jed Hoyer Likely to Be Next Padres GM

Andrew Johnson — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:25:00 EST

Filed under: Padres, MLB Biz, MLB Rumors, MLB Transactions

One of Major League Baseball's two general manager vacancies could be filled in the next few days. The Padres appear poised to hire Red Sox assistant general manager Jed Hoyer to replace long-time GM Kevin Towers, who was fired at the beginning of October, according to multiple outlets including the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Hoyer has been a bit of a hot property for awhile now, having interviewed for GM positions with the Pirates and Nationals in recent years, but this won't be his first general managing job.

He and Ben Cherington were named co-GMs of the Red Sox in the winter of 2006 during Theo Epstein's brief hiatus from his post running the club, and most famously helped orchestrate the deal that brought Josh Beckett to Boston.

While San Diego is not expected to make an announcement immediately, one could come in the next few days.

"We're still working on it," CEO Jeff Moorad told the Union-Tribune via e-mail Wednesday night. "We have a couple follow-up discussions scheduled for (Thursday), then are likely to move toward a decision."

Moorad took partial control of the Padres this year, agreeing to purchase the club in full from John Moores within five years, and though San Diego suffered through its second straight losing season and is cash-strapped because of Moores' ongoing divorce, the club showed promise by going 37-25 in its final 62 games.

That promise made it all the more surprising when Towers, highly respected in the industry and, at the time, the longest-tenured GM with one team, was forced out.

Hoyer is the second Epstein disciple to take the reins of a major league club, with current Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes -- also hired by Moorad, who was with Arizona at the time -- being the first.

The Red Sox front office is one of the most highly regarded in the game. While the team has deep coffers, it is also known for its creative and methodical approach to building an organization. Hoyer will not have limitless resources at his disposal in San Diego, so he will have to be especially ingenious to turn the Padres into a winner again.

Jed Hoyer Likely to Be Next Padres GM originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Fenway Sports Group Enters Partnership With EPL's Fulham

Andrew Johnson — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:25:00 EST

Filed under: Red Sox, MLB Biz

Fenway Sports Group, the sports marketing company owned by the Boston Red Sox, has expanded its media empire, entering into a sponsorship deal with Fulham FC, an English Premier League soccer club.

The company already has a number of similar partnerships in other sports, most famously with Roush Fenway Racing, the NASCAR racing team that features top drivers Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards. Might this be there most impressive partnership yet?

That's hard to say, but partnering with a side from the Premiership can't be a bad thing. The EPL might not register much here in the NFL-centric United States, but its the most popular and powerful professional sports league in the world, with club revenues for the 2007-08 season exceeding $3 billion.

Picking Fulham, though? That's a little strange. The London side is probably more famous for being owned by Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed than for its success on the pitch (that's the field, for those of you that are soccer-illiterate). The Cottagers, as they're known, have never finished higher than seventh in the Premier League.

The Yankees partnered with Manchester United eight years ago, a collaboration that was much more congruous given the championship pedigree both shared. Fulham is more akin to the Minnesota Twins, while the Red Sox are similar to some of the more famous English sides like Arsenal and Liverpool.

The most exciting development for any stateside soccer fan is that Fenway Sports Group is now considering the possibility of bringing a Premier League match to Fenway Park. The oldest venue in the majors has hosted a string of rock concerts in recent years and will host the NHL's Winter Classic, an annual outdoor game, on New Year's Day.

"It's absolutely an idea at this stage," [COO Sam] Kennedy said. "It might not even be a good idea.

"Our mission is to explore all sorts of what we call 'blue chip events' in Fenway Park. It started back in 2003 with the Bruce Springsteen concert. We're having outdoor hockey games with the NHL and Hockey East. The concept of an English Premier League game at Fenway is very, very exciting, and fits in line with our standard of events.

"I don't know that they would be interested in doing it. We need to do some more homework and see if it would work."

OK, so a match on Yawkey Way seems a long way off right now, but for soccer fans in America, it's something to dream about.

Fenway Sports Group Enters Partnership With EPL's Fulham originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Donald Fehr to Receive Hefty Severance

Matt Snyder — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:12:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Biz

Longtime head of the Major League Baseball Players Association, Donald Fehr, will be stepping down at the conclusion of the season. When he does, he will get a severance package worth more money than he made from 2001-2008, reports are saying.

Fehr, 61, has had an annual salary of $1 million per year since 2001. His severance package will pay him $11 million when he officially retires. Considering baseball's commissioner, Bud Selig, makes $18 million a year and how much extra money Fehr has freed up for the players over the years, the figure seems more than fair.

"I think without a doubt there was no hesitation," 9union subcommittee member Curtis) Granderson said. "We kept looking at how much Bud Selig makes and we looked at how much Don Fehr hasn't made."

Also, consider the union heads in the NBA and NFL make much more than Fehr ever did annually, and this seems like the proper sendoff -- from the perspective of the players -- for a man who has fought for compensation for the players since taking over his post in 1983.

Regardless of how much of a villain Fehr is played up to be from the perspective of many fans, he was very good at his job. This retirement gift is a token of gratitude from the players he helped.

Donald Fehr to Receive Hefty Severance originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Colletti Agrees to Stay as Dodgers GM 'A Long Time'

Ed Price — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Dodgers, MLB Biz, MLB Transactions

Ned Colletti hasn't been perfect in four seasons as the Dodgers' general manager. But he promises he has learned from his mistakes.

The team announced Tuesday that Colletti had agreed to a "long-term" extension.

"I think that some of the decisions we made that didn't work out particularly well were out of impatience on our own part," Colletti said -- referring to (not by name) -- contracts for Juan Pierre, Jason Schmidt and Andruw Jones. "I think the last year or so our deliberation and our thought process were keener, were a little bit more fine-tuned, were less impatient."

Instead, the Dodgers have blended acquisitions (Manny Ramirez, Orlando Hudson, Rafael Furcal, Casey Blake, Hiroki Kuroda) with a home-grown core.

The Dodgers have made the postseason three of the past four seasons and have the second-best record in the NL over Colletti's tenure.

"One of our core promises to our fans is championship-caliber baseball, year in and year out," owner Frank McCourt said in a prepared statement. "Ned has been instrumental in our going a long way towards fulfilling that promise. I couldn't be happier for him, both personally and professionally. The stability and continuity that extending his contract provides will further help us achieve the goal of being a consistent winner and I'm thrilled that he will continue to lead our baseball operations into the future."

McCourt and his wife are separated, raising questions about the stability of upper management. But Colletti said, "Had I
not believed that this was the right place to be, I wouldn't be here."

What went unspoken was the length of Colletti's new contract. Neither the Dodgers nor Colletti would get more specific than "long-term."

"I look forward to being here for a long time," he said. "It's a long-term deal. I'll be here for a long time and I may be here longer than a long time."

Colletti Agrees to Stay as Dodgers GM 'A Long Time' originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Texas Rangers Withholding Playoff Ticket Refunds Until November

Matt Snyder — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Rangers, AL West, MLB Biz

You know how you can purchase playoff tickets for your favorite teams even before they've qualified for the playoffs? It's a conditional thing, with the understanding that if your team fails to make the postseason you'll have your money refunded immediately. Of course, if you are a Texas Rangers fan, that understanding apparently doesn't apply.

According to Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News, the Rangers have emailed those who purchased playoff tickets that they won't be receiving a refund until "sometime in November." That's good to know, I'm sure. The Rangers were only eliminated from playoff consideration on Sept. 30. Why should the fans, who spent their own hard-earned cash, expect to get it back within six weeks? It's not like playoff tickets cost much.

In all honesty, this is yet another illustration of the desperate financial situation in which the Rangers currently find themselves. Cowlishaw discusses the fact that the league (MLB) is currently controlling the team and also that some banks will be next in line, should Tom Hicks not find a buyer almost immediately. It's dire straits for the team who once signed Alex Rodriguez to the richest contract in the history of professional sports.

The sad thing is, the Rangers' financial woes could doom a very promising young nucleus. They made huge strides in 2009, becoming a legitimate contender for the first time in years. You can build your franchise from within, as the Rangers appear to have done, but in the real world there are always going to be issues that arise here and there. Will they have the resources needed to fill any gaps that may arise on the roster?

It's especially scary for Rangers fans -- in addition to having to wait on their refunds -- that the Mariners, Angels and A's aren't getting any worse. The window of opportunity was opened in 2009 for the Texas Rangers, but the money mismanagement by ownership could be slamming it shut prematurely.

Texas Rangers Withholding Playoff Ticket Refunds Until November originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Frank McCourt, Wife Jamie Separate

Matt Snyder — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:10:00 EST

Filed under: Dodgers, NL West, MLB Biz

Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his wife, Jamie, have confirmed to the Associated Press that they have separated a few days after Frank attended the Cardinals-Dodgers game alone. This is intriguing news in terms of how it may effect the inner workings of the Dodgers' front office. Jamie McCourt is the team president and CEO of the Dodgers -- making her the highest ranking female in all of baseball.

If the separation continues and evolves into a divorce, how will all their substantial assets be divided? They've been married since 1979, so the ownership of the Dodgers -- and the job of the team president -- will likely be at stake during proceedings.

Frank McCourt has repeatedly glorified the work done by his spouse throughout the past several years, giving her credit for helping to build a "first-class organization" in Los Angeles.

Is it possible the two could co-exist through divorce hearings in running a Major League Baseball team? If not, someone is going to have to part with the ballclub. There is, however, no further information concerning this situation, just that they have separated and are keeping everything else private.

The Dodgers play the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series Thursday evening.

UPDATE: According to the LA Times, Jamie has no interest in ending her role with the Dodgers, nor does Frank. Both sides appear to be digging their heels in, too. Check out this quote:

"I firmly believe each of them is going to try to keep the team," a high-ranking baseball source said today, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the situation.

"I think it's going to be pretty ugly."

Not only that, there seems to be some dispute as to whether or not Frank is the sole owner of the Dodgers. Apparently, the couple (at the time) appeared before commissioner Bud Selig to gain approval when buying the Dodgers. Her attorneys believe the ownership is a 50/50 split between Frank and Jamie. Yet, Frank's attorneys are stating that he is listed as the "control person" and is the sole owner of the team.

Don't expect this story to go away for quite a while, as the ownership of one of major league baseball's premier franchises will probably remain unsettled for quite a while.

Frank McCourt, Wife Jamie Separate originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

MLB Anticipating Attendance Bounceback

Jonathan Berr — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:56:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Biz, MLB Fans

Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig likes what he sees in his crystal ball for next season.

According to Sports Business Journal, Selig is predicting a rebound in 2010 from this year's attendance decline of 6.65 percent to 73.42 million, a season in which 22 of 30 teams posted drop-offs in attendance.

The reason for Selig's optimism is the improvement in the economy, including the 13 percent increase this year in the Dow Jones industrial average. Some experts, though, are arguing that the improvements may be short-lived because unemployment is continuing to rise. Many have argued that the economic recovery in the U.S. will be painfully slow to help many Americans hurt by the recession.

Average major league ticket prices rose 5 percent this year, according to Team Marketing Report while the Fan Cost Index, which measures the cost for a family of four to attend a game, rose 3.2 percent to $196.89. Even so, baseball held up remarkably well, posting its fifth-largest combined crowds in its history, despite posting the lowest figures since 2004.

Many teams posted year-over-year gains in television ratings, underscoring the popularity of all televised sports as a cheap source of entertainment during tough economic times. Single-ticket sales also rose as teams undertook more aggressive promotions to upsell them to season-ticket plans, said Matt Bourne, an MLB spokesman, in an email to FanHouse.

"Sports are normal goods and generally move with the economy," said John-Charles Bradbury, an economist who teaches at the sport management program at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, in an email. "You can see ... some leveling out during past recessions (early-'80s, early-'90s, and early-'00s), though the correlation is imperfect. But, the overall long-run trend is positive, just as it is for the entire economy."

When it came to forecasting how good the good times would get, Selig was less specific. He told the trade publication that baseball was in an "excellent position to rebound next season.

"How much we'll bounce back, I don't know."

MLB Anticipating Attendance Bounceback originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Twins' New Home Is on Target

Ed Price — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Twins, MLB Biz

MINNEAPOLIS -- If Game 3 of the American League Division Series was to be played at Target Field, it would be about 40 degrees at game time. And falling.

But the grass would be fine, since 41 miles of coils containing glycol will keep the field itself at least 42 degrees so the grass never freezes.

The fans and players may have to suffer.

Target Field doesn't open until April, and the Twins -- and denizens of the upper Midwest -- are perfectly happy to be playing outside instead of at the Metrodome.

During a Sunday morning media tour of Target Field, team president Dave St. Peter said the Twins have already sold the equivalent of 17,000 season tickets for 2010. They had 11,000 season tickets this year at the Metrodome and could nearly double that for next season, which would put them in the top eight in Major League Baseball.

Target Field will seat about 39,800, plus standing room, and tickets range from $10 to $275 (just 16 seats at the latter price). And the stadium has a number of nice Minnesota touches.

The exterior is local stone, quarried 90 miles away near the Minnesota River. That cost an extra $8 million, which the Pohlad family was willing to pay for a local touch.

One of the flagpoles in right field, beyond an "Overlook" section of seats that extends eight feet past the 23-foot-high right field wall (the same height as the Metrodome "baggie," but an actual wall), will come from old Metropolitan Stadium. The flagpole has spent the intervening 28 years at the American Legion post in Richfield, Minn.

The Budweiser Roof Deck at the top of the stands in the left-field corner, a cross between Fenway Park's Green Monster seats and the rooftops at Wrigley Field, imitates a local tradition with a fire pit.

And a 46-foot-high sign beyond center field has an outline of the state with the old team logo, twins "Minnie" and "Paul" across the Mississippi River. When a Twin hits a home run at Target Field, the sign will light up and the twins will shake hands.

It took the Twins 10 years of work to get this stadium approved and built. Local government is paying $350 million, with the team adding another $180-200 millon so far.

The site is downtown, near the Timberwolves' Target Center, wedged between two bridges and railroad tracks.

"When we first saw it," said Jerry Bell, president of Twins Sports Inc., "we said it was too small. And we were right.

"It's a 14 1/2-acre building on 8 1/2 acres."

So parts of the stands are cantilevered over the Burlington Northern tracks and a city street.

A retractable roof would have cost another $125 million, Bell said, so the elements will be part of the stadium.

Yet the Twins said had they played outdoors this year, they would have had just two or three delays and no postponements. So precipitation isn't the issue, but temperature is.

The wide concourses have radiant heating overhead. And there are places for fans to gather and rewarm their bodies: an upper-deck Twins Pub and a watering hole called Hrbek's, after Minnesotan and former Twins first baseman Kent Hrbek ("There's no salads," St. Peter said).

Twins history is honored all over the park. The gates are numbered and named after former stars -- gate 29 is the "Rod Carew Gate," and most fans will enter gate 34, the "Kirby Puckett Gate."

On the club level, there's a Puckett Atrium, with the late Kirby Puckett's image engraved in wood above the bar. And a bar is named "573" after Harmon Killebrew's career homer total.

St. Peter can't stress enough how glad the Twins are to be leaving the Metrodome, where they were the No. 2 tenant after the Vikings.

About the only thing Target Field will have in common with the Metrodome is at the concession stands.

"We surveyed our fans," St. Peter said, "and the one thing they want is the 'Dome Dogs.'

"We're not bringing the baggie."

Twins' New Home Is on Target originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

MLB Attendance Down More Than 6 Percent in 2009

Josh Alper — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:15:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Biz

Major League Baseball welcomed 73,364,441 fans into stadiums this season, the fifth-highest total in the history of the game. That sounds great, until you realize that the total attendance numbers dropped 6.65 percent for the year, the steepest drop since 1952. Before you start sounding the recession alarm, however, it's important to note that there wasn't much chance of baseball avoiding a decline this season.

The Mets and Yankees each moved into new, smaller ballparks this season, moves which cost baseball more than 20,000 seats in total. As Maury Brown of The Biz of Baseball points out, even if each team had sold out every seat this season there wasn't much chance of baseball not seeing a downturn in attendance. As it was, the two New York teams accounted for 30 percent of the total decline.

That's not to say the recession didn't play a role. Both the Mets and Yankees were heavily criticized for the pricing of seats at their new stadiums, and their fans spoke with their wallets by leaving both teams well short of capacity crowds all season long. The Yankees only filled their ballpark to 87.3 percent of capacity even though they finished with the best record in baseball. That left the Dodgers with the highest attendance in the league, the first time since 2002 that anyone but the Bronx Bombers topped the rolls.

Another big drop that must be blamed, in some part, on the economy was the nearly 20 percent decline experienced by the Tigers. Although major magazines credited the Tigers' surprisingly stong season with buoying the sad state of affairs in Detroit, many fans obviously couldn't afford to find their way through the turnstiles. One wonders how much worse the league's total would have been if the Tigers hadn't actually produced a good product this season.

Bad teams in Oakland, Toronto and Washington spurred big drops in turnstile clicks in each of those towns, however. The A's have shed fans since 2004, a distressing situation for a team that can't seem to find a way to get a new stadium that might boost their attendance. As it is, they've now slipped behind the Marlins into 30th place and seem destined to stay there now that the Florida club has a stadium headed its way.

With all of those factors in play, the numbers could have been a lot worse. Commissioner Bud Selig seemed to agree with that sentiment in comments to USA Today.

"Given that we are in the worst economic recession since the Great Depression," Selig said, "it is stunning. This year is a great testament to the huge popularity of our sport."

Despite Selig's comments, that probably won't stop teams from using these attendance figures as a reason to suppress spending this offseason, which should make for an interesting case if the union alleges collusion after the free-agent season comes to a close.

MLB Attendance Down More Than 6 Percent in 2009 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Yusei Kikuchi Could Bypass NPB Draft For American Baseball

Pat Lackey — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Biz, Prospects, International Baseball

Every year, the relationship between American baseball and Japanese baseball gets a little more complicated. Reports Tuesday indicate that Yusei Kikuchi, a high school pitcher expected to be the first player picked in Nippon Professional Baseball's amateur draft late next month, is contemplating skipping the draft in favor of coming to America.

That may not seem like a big deal, but under Major League Baseball's current rules, Kikuchi would not be subject to the MLB Draft and instead be declared a free agent, free to sign with any American team he wants. In light of Junichi Tazawa making a similar jump last year, skipping the NPB draft for America now carries a three-year ban, but Kikuchi would be the second top prospect in two years to make the leap, should he choose to do so.

I contacted Patrick Newman and Ryo Shinkawa, the authors of NPB Tracker, to ask about Kikuchi's situation.

Both agreed that because of age (Kikuchi is 18, Tazawa was 22 when he signed) Kikuchi is considered a much rawer prospect than Tazawa was last year and might not command contract on par with the three-year, $3.3 million deal he received from Boston, but that he still might command a seven-figure contract.

Given time spent in the minors, that may not represent more money than he'd make if he were to stay in Japan, though it's impossible to put a dollar figure on getting into the MLB system at the age of 18 without having to be posted or waiting to be granted free agency (which comes nine years after being drafted in Japan).

The above video is taken from Kikuchi's appearance in a high school tournament in July. His fastball clocks in anywhere between 85 and 92 mph and he seems to spot it nicely with a big, slow curve that clocks in the low 70s. He even mixes in an eephus pitch for good measure.

It's hard to really judge his talent with free-swinging high school kids batting against him, but I think a lefty with the ability to hit 90-plus on the radar gun regularly (he does at least three or four times in the inning shown above) and a breaking pitch would make him a pretty good prospect if he were an American high schooler.

It's not hard to see why an American team would be interested in signing him and adding him to their system, even with his young age.

Yusei Kikuchi Could Bypass NPB Draft For American Baseball originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

MLB FanHouse

List of Players Eligible for Arbitration

MLB's Economic Rebound Could Be Slow

Don't Hold Your Breath for News on Replay at GM Meetings

If the Dodgers Go on Sale, Mark Cuban's Interested in Buying Them

Trio With Uncertain Future Makes Yankees' Present Awfully Sweet

World Series

New Cubs Owner Plans on Winning the World Series

Selig Says Replay Will Be Reviewed

Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt, Wife Jamie Beginning Ugly Divorce

Messy Divorces

Sale of Cubs Finally Complete

Dodgers Owner McCourt Fires Wife

Jed Hoyer Likely to Be Next Padres GM

Fenway Sports Group Enters Partnership With EPL's Fulham

Donald Fehr to Receive Hefty Severance

Colletti Agrees to Stay as Dodgers GM 'A Long Time'

Texas Rangers Withholding Playoff Ticket Refunds Until November

Frank McCourt, Wife Jamie Separate

MLB Anticipating Attendance Bounceback

Twins' New Home Is on Target

MLB Attendance Down More Than 6 Percent in 2009

Yusei Kikuchi Could Bypass NPB Draft For American Baseball