MLB FanHouse

Manny Comes Back And Says He Sorry ... Sort Of

Jeff Fletcher — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:45:00 EST

SAN DIEGO -- Manny Ramirez took a page out of Jason Giambi's book.

When Giambi came back to the Yankees after it was reported that he testified before a federal grand jury that he had used steroids, Giambi apologized, but he was careful not to say what he did wrong.

When Ramirez addressed reporters en masse for the first time since he was suspended for 50 games for a violation of baseball's drug policy, Ramirez gave vague apologies, but not much else.

"I want to say I'm sorry to the fans, to my teammates," Ramirez said Friday in a packed press conference before the Dodgers played the Padres at Petco Park. "They were always there for me. I want to thank them for their support. I'm here. I'm excited."

Manny Comes Back And Says He Sorry ... Sort Of originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kelly Johnson Placed On Disabled List

Knox Bardeen — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:27:00 EST

by Knox Bardeen

Filed under: Braves, MLB Injuries, MLB Transactions

The Atlanta Braves have announced that struggling second baseman, Kelly Johnson has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his right wrist.

This is the second piece of bad news Johnson has received this week. After Tuesday night's game, Bobby Cox announced that Martin Prado would take over as the starting second baseman for the Braves. Johnson, who is hitting .214 this season in 234 at-bats, has been mired in an awful 9-for-74 slump. Johnson's overall poor hitting, especially his .174 average against right-handed pitchers, combined with Prado's recent success forced Cox to rule out a platoon situation and give the job outright to Prado.

Kelly Johnson Placed On Disabled List originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MLB Loaned Tom Hicks Millions

Tom Fornelli — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:23:00 EST

by Tom Fornelli

Filed under: Rangers, AL West, MLB Biz, MLB Rumors

The Texas Rangers were a popular darkhorse pick to win the AL West this season, and for a time they were leading the division. Unfortunately over the last few weeks they've seen their lead on the Angels disappear and are a game back going into Friday night's action. In fact, if you were so inclined, you could say that the Rangers division lead has gone in the red.

Which seems somewhat apropos at the moment because it's not just their division lead that the Rangers couldn't maintain. Apparently owner Tom Hicks couldn't meet last month's payroll and had to borrow $15 million from Major League Baseball to pay his team.

MLB Loaned Tom Hicks Millions originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vernon Wells Looking Up From Hole

Ed Price — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST

by Ed Price

Filed under: Blue Jays

NEW YORK - During the top of the fifth inning Friday, a gate in the outfield fence at $1.3 billion Yankee Stadium popped open.

When no member of the grounds crew appeared, Toronto center fielder Vernon Wells went over and latched the wall himself.

"I should have closed it," he joked, "and just stayed behind the gate."

Yes, it's been the kind of year that makes Wells want to hide.

And while the Blue Jays are just five games out of an AL playoff berth after Friday's 4-2 loss, they are also left to wonder: Where would we be with Wells playing up to his contract?

Vernon Wells Looking Up From Hole originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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L.A. Times Writer Would Like You To Boo Manny Ramirez

Tom Fornelli — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:18:00 EST

by Tom Fornelli

Filed under: Dodgers, NL West, MLB PEDs

Tonight is the night that many a Dodgers fan has been waiting for. After serving his fifty-game suspension, the home run-hitting, fertility drug-taking wonder that is Manny Ramirez will be back in the lineup as the Dodgers take on the Padres in San Diego. Now if your wondering what to make of all this I invite you to give our latest Basecast a listen as Prez and Fletch have already broken it down for you.

One question I have for tonight's game is how Manny will be treated by Padres fans. These are the same people who greeted Barry Bonds with giant syringes after all. Of course, while we know that Manny is bound to hear some boos while on the road, what kind of reaction will he get in Mannywood? Well, if Kevin Patra at the Los Angeles Times gets his way, Dodger fans will boo Ramirez.

L.A. Times Writer Would Like You To Boo Manny Ramirez originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lou Gehrig in 140 Characters? Impossible to Imagine

David Whitley — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST

by David Whitley

Filed under: Yankees, MLB Fans

Lou Gehrig did not Twitter.

Never mind that such social networking wasn't around 70 years ago. Typing minutiae and thinking it's important simply wasn't Gehrig's style.

He was unassuming, lived with his parents until he was 30 and didn't crave his own reality TV show. Let's hope players are paying attention Saturday when baseball does something unusual.

Lou Gehrig in 140 Characters? Impossible to Imagine originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Futilitywatch 09: Trade Winds Blowing

Pat Lackey — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST

by Pat Lackey

Filed under: Pirates, NL Central

Futilitywatch '09 is a our semi-regular update on the Pittsburgh Pirates and their march toward their record 17th consecutive losing season.

How many teams in baseball history have traded 2/3rds of their starting outfields in consecutive years? The Pirates started 2008 with an offense-oriented outfield of Jason Bay, Nate McLouth, and Xavier Nady, from left to right. With Bay and Nady slated to become free agents in the two coming offseasons and having good years at the plate, the Pirates dealt them and shifted towards a defensive outfield of Nyjer Morgan, McLouth, and Brandon Moss. Now, Morgan and McLouth are gone and GM Neal Huntington may not be done dealing. Where does that leave the Pirates?

Futilitywatch 09: Trade Winds Blowing originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BaseCast: Manny Mania and Much More

Andrew Johnson — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST

by Andrew Johnson

Filed under: Dodgers, Tigers

It's a baseball podcast. The math is easy, right? BaseCast. Let's rock.

He's baaaaaaack. Manny Ramirez rejoins the Dodgers Friday night in San Diego after a 50-game suspension for a violation of Major League Baseball's drug prevention program.

FanHouse's own Jeff Fletcher will be at Petco Park to see and report on Manny's return, so in preparation he joined Andrew Johnson (Prez) on the second edition of BaseCast to talk about what the media horde will be like, how, if at all, the slugger will address the media, what impact he'll have on the Dodgers on the field and how the road fans will react to him post-suspension.

And just for good measure, there's also Fletch's exclusive interview with Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson. Listen in after the jump.

BaseCast: Manny Mania and Much More originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Can This Be the Cubs' Turnaround?

Matt Snyder — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST

by Matt Snyder

Filed under: Cubs, NL Central

Earlier this week, I joined up with Andrew Johnson and Will Brinson on the inaugural BaseCast to discuss the Cubs' unbelievably disappointing start to the 2009 season. To conclude the segment, I was asked if the Cubs can get things straightened out and win the division. I said that was an easy answer because of the word choice. Of course they can. Had the question been "will they?" I would have said no.

Just two days later, there are plenty of reasons on the horizon to believe they can head into the All-Star break not only in thick of things in the NL Central, but atop it. Wouldn't that be a weird sight -- seeing the Cubs in first place after such a disastrous first half.

Can This Be the Cubs' Turnaround? originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starting Five: Brave-ly Going Where They Had Not Gone Before

Ed Price — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:00:00 EST

by Ed Price

Filed under: Braves, Giants, Mariners, Phillies, Royals, Tigers, Twins, Yankees, AL Central, NL East, MLB Injuries, Starting Five

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That the Braves have their longest winning streak of the year.

OK, it's only four games. But before Thursday night, Atlanta was the only team that had not won four straight at some point this season.

And where has it gotten the Braves? Not out of fourth place in the NL East - yet within two games of the first-place Phillies, their victims the past three games.

More Coverage: Scoreboard | Standings | Statistics

Starting Five: Brave-ly Going Where They Had Not Gone Before originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crown Finally Fits for Seattle's King Felix

Ed Price — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:20:00 EST

by Ed Price

Filed under: Mariners

NEW YORK - Don Wakamatsu spent seven years as a coach in the AL West before becoming manager of the Mariners.

So he had a pretty good idea about Felix Hernandez.

"I know in the past when I've coached against him, he'd coast it seemed like," Wakamatsu told FanHouse. "Or he'd rest. He'd pitch to certain hitters, or he'd pitch out of jams. But he hadn't been able to understand how to just keep the pressure on an opposing team. I think those are the things that you talk about that make a guy a champion."

Now it seems Hernandez has figured it out.

Crown Finally Fits for Seattle's King Felix originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Swarming Bees Delay Astros vs. Padres

Matt Snyder — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:02:00 EST

by Matt Snyder

Filed under: Astros, Padres, NL Central, NL West

We've heard of a rain delay in baseball. It happens occasionally -- in fact, it's happened frequently this season. Something you don't quite see so often is the non-traditional, but still quite crowd-pleasing, bee delay.

Thursday afternoon, the Astros entered the ninth inning leading the Padres 6-1. According to the Associated Press, Padres left fielder Kyle Blanks began moving toward the infield during Miguel Tejada's at-bat. After an umpire went out to see what the problem was, all players were pulled off of the field. Stadium security cleared out several sections of fans as well.

Swarming Bees Delay Astros vs. Padres originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Meet the 2009 Andruw Jones All-Stars

Matt Snyder — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:30:00 EST

by Matt Snyder

Filed under: AL Central, AL East, AL West, NL Central, NL East, NL West, MLB All-Star Game

From the Windup is Matt Snyder's extended look at some aspect of America's pastime each Thursday.

This coming weekend, Major League Baseball will reveal its 2009 All-Star teams. So what better opportunity than this to run through a list of this season's "Anti-All-Stars." Anti-All-Stars is far too bland a name, though, so we decided to name the team in honor of Andruw Jones. After all, he was the poster child for guys not earning the lucrative contracts bestowed on them last season. We'll sort through each position and find the player who is least helping his team in comparison to expectations -- whether monetary or from management.

Meet the 2009 Andruw Jones All-Stars originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cuban Pitcher Aroldis Chapman Defects

Pat Lackey — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:33:00 EST

by Pat Lackey

Filed under: Prospects

July 2 is already an exciting day for prospect wonks, as it's the first day that teenage Latin American free agents are allowed to sign with major league teams. While waiting on official announcements for superprospects like Wagner Mateo and Miguel Angel Sano, some unexpected news broke today.

ESPN's Jorge Arangure relays a report from a Cuban website that 21-year-old Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman walked out of the Cuban national team's hotel room in Rotterdam, the Netherlands today and plans to defect to America to pitch in the major leagues in the near future. What happens next is all speculation at this point, but Arangure says Chapman is the best Cuban prospect since Jose Contreras and could command more than $30 million on the open market.

Cuban Pitcher Aroldis Chapman Defects originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scott Boras' Car Attacked Outside California Restaurant

Josh Alper — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:05:00 EST

by Josh Alper

Filed under: MLB Biz, MLB Police Blotter

The Newport Beach Police Department landed themselves a doozy of a case on Monday night. Scott Boras, much-maligned baseball agent, had dinner at Bandera Restaurant and returned to a disturbing scene in the parking lot after his meal. His Land Rover bore signs of a brutal assault, with damage to the windshield and driver's side window.

Someone used an unknown hard, long object (that's what she said) during the assault, but police are short on other leads. If they hope to crack the case, they'll probably need to start working in shifts as there's no shortage of people with an ax to grind -- or window to break -- when it comes to Boras.

Scott Boras' Car Attacked Outside California Restaurant originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dazzling Phenom Porcello Has Arrived

Jeff Fletcher — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST

by Jeff Fletcher

Filed under: Tigers

Jim Leyland was a major league manager before Rick Porcello was even born.

In the 23 years since Leyland got his first managerial job, he's learned a lot. Not the least of which is that there are some things you just can't know.

Like whether a 20-year-old kid is really ready to pitch in the majors.

"I can't say I knew [Porcello] was ready, to be honest with you," the Tigers manager said. "I'd be lying if I said I knew he was ready, but I'd be telling you the truth if I said he was one of the best five we had.

"I still don't know if he's ready, but he's one of the best five, and you're supposed to take the best five up here. It's the big leagues."

Dazzling Phenom Porcello Has Arrived originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starting Five: Jerry Manuel Throws Mets On the Bus

Jeff Fletcher — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:00:00 EST

by Jeff Fletcher

Filed under: Cubs, Diamondbacks, Marlins, Mets, Nationals, Yankees, Starting Five

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That the Mets not only snapped their five-game losing streak, but they did their part to save the world on Wednesday. After manager Jerry Manuel's team meeting in the wake of Tuesday's loss, the Mets all came to the ballpark on Wednesday on buses, instead of players arriving individually in cabs. Although the team-building experience may have actually done more to save on fuel than to actually bond, the result was a 1-0 victory.

Manuel wasn't going to take credit for his speech firing up the team, especially since pitcher Mike Pelfrey missed it. Pelfrey had left the ballpark early Tuesday night to get some rest.

"I told him, 'If he'd been at the meeting, he would have thrown a no-hitter,' " Manuel joked.

More Coverage: Scoreboard | Standings | Statistics

Starting Five: Jerry Manuel Throws Mets On the Bus originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MLB Power Rankings: Week 13

Will Brinson — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST

by Will Brinson

Filed under: MLB Power Rankings

MLB Power Rankings: Where MLB FanHouse's editors, writers and bloggers team up to break down the who's who and the what's what in the baseball world.

It's a funny thing, sometimes, to see how Power Rankings shape up over the course of the season. Just like when we started the year, there are a number of teams from one particular division sitting atop the rankings. Of course, there are plenty of surprises -- WHERE DID THE FREAKING GIANTS AND ROCKIES COME FROM?? -- and some other interesting stuff, like the fact that the Mets and Cubs just haven't been that good, which we discussed on the inaugural BaseCast recently.

MLB Power Rankings: Week 13 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ian Snell Says Depression, Thoughts of Suicide Led to Self-Demotion to Minors

Pat Lackey — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:32:00 EST

by Pat Lackey

Filed under: Pirates, NL Central

There have been very few stranger soap operas in baseball this year than the Ian Snell saga in Pittsburgh. Expected to be one of the Pirates' top starters after signing a contract extension before the 2008 season, Snell has struggled on the mound in the past two seasons, posting 5.00-plus ERAs and struggling with his control. It all came to a head about a week ago when Snell asked the Pirates to be demoted, then gave a strange impromptu press conference where he lashed out at reporters and bloggers and talked about his need to get away from the negative atmosphere of Pittsburgh.

On Sunday, Snell struck out 17 hitters in seven innings in his first start back in Triple-A. Wednesday, he talked to Indianapolis TV station WTHR and revealed that he's been battling depression and actually contemplated suicide about a month ago. He says he wanted the trip to Indianapolis to help clear his head because it's somewhere he's always liked pitching, having thrown a no-hitter with the Indians back in 2005.

Ian Snell Says Depression, Thoughts of Suicide Led to Self-Demotion to Minors originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All-Star Game Rosters Add Extra Pitcher

Ed Price — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:13:00 EST

by Ed Price

Filed under: MLB All-Star Game

In light of last year's All-Star Game, when pitchers who weren't supposed to pitch ended up working because the game went to 15 innings, Major League Baseball on Wednesday expanded the rosters for this year's game, adding a 13th pitcher for each team.

Running out of pitchers was also an issue in 2002, which led to tying in World Series home-field advantage to the All-Star Game.

So now, each team will have 33 players. After the eight starters in each league are chosen by fan balloting, players' votes will choose eight more position players plus five starting pitchers and three relievers. The two managers, in conjunction with MLB, will then pick eight more players - making sure every team, even Oakland, is represented.

All-Star Game Rosters Add Extra Pitcher originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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