Derek Jeter of the NY Yankees is having a rough Spring.

Yankees fans are starting to think that Derek Jeter looks like an old man.

From The Star Ledger

Derek Jeter entered the season with a chance to silence critics after last season’s .270 nightmare. But so far, the captain hasn’t given much reason to believe that a bounce-back is around the corner. Jeter is hitting .250. He has just two extra base hits for an anemic slugging percentage of .272, a signal that he hasn’t hit the ball with authority.

Original Photos projo, freewilliamsburg

Coco Crisp of the Oakland Athletics is getting noticed more for his hair than his play.

Coco Crisp's afro is getting noticed.

From NESN

Former Red Sox outfielder Coco Crisp has made headlines early this season with a voluminous “afro” hairstyle, and he’s glad that such was the case, as it took the attention away from his sub-Mendoza Line batting average.

Now, at least, Crisp has upped his average to .234.

Original Photos Yahoo, ak.buy

The New York Yankees placed Phil Hughes on the 15-Day DL .

The New York Yankees will be without Phil Hughes while he recovers from dead arm.

From pinstripealley

Hey, Phil, I have a question. Your arm must have felt dead in Spring Training, too, right? I can’t imagine a scenario where you flew up to New York and all of a sudden you can barely touch 90 mph on the radar gun. If you knew that your arm “felt dead,” and that there was “nothing coming out,” you should have said something about it.

How many times have you heard about pitchers overcompensating because of a problem, whether it was their foot, leg, shoulder, or elbow? That overcompensation almost always leads to injury. Your arm is worth too much to this organization, especially during a year where pitching is at a premium in the Bronx. This team will need you in October, and a few starts in early April are not worth the risk of serious injury.

Hughes also commented on how frustrating this has been for him. I can only imagine, as the fans and Yankee hierarchy had high hopes for him this season. I’m sure he had high hopes for himself as well.

Original Photo thejournalnews

Manny Ramirez of the Tampa Bay Rays abruptly retired after testing positive for steroids.

Manny Ramirez of the Tampa Bay Rays tested positive for steroids and has retired.

From MSNBC

Bobby Jenks (via WEEI.com): “I look at it as this. You do it, you get caught, you’re an idiot. If you do it again you’re a dumbass. I mean, it’s sad to see. One of the greatest hitters, or one of them, to make the same mistake twice, same bad choice. And within a year and a half of each other? I don’t know, you know?”

Joe Posnanski: “But Manny — I don’t know how he did it. Some will say he did it with steroids, but that seems a copout to me … I suspect a whole lot more players than anyone will ever admit used steroids. How many of them hit baseballs like Manny Ramirez?”

David Ortiz (via CSNNE.com): “It’s crazy, man. That’s the last thing I was expecting was for him to retire, and go through all of that situation. I don’t know all of the details. I’m like you guys, and just hearing about it. I’m just waiting for all of the rest of the stuff to come out. But it’s sad, man, that a player with that much talent and an unbelievable career . . . to get him out of the game with all of the negativity.”

Original Photos nimg, typefreediabetes

After a fan was beaten on opening day, the Los Angeles Dodgers have hired former LA police chief William Bratton to revamp their security.

Going to a Dodgers game will likely feel different with William Bratton heading security.

From Reuters

The Los Angeles Dodgers, under fire over the brutal beating of a Giants fan on opening day, said on Wednesday they have hired former police chief William Bratton to review the team’s stadium security.

Bratton, who headed the Los Angeles Police Department from 2002 to 2009, is also a former police commissioner for New York and Boston.

“Bill Bratton is widely credited with spearheading modern community policing in America,” Dodgers owner Frank McCourt said in a statement.

“There is no one better to lead a top-to-bottom review of our current practices, and make recommendations to be implemented now and into the future,” he added.

Original Photos chicrunner, policewallpapers, telegraph.co.uk

Forbes is claiming that the Tampa Bay Rays are headed for contraction by 2014.

Larry King, who looks like the Crypt Keeper these days, threw out the first pitch at last night's Tampa Bay Rays game.

From Forbes

Strong push in Major League Baseball to dump the Tampa Bay Rays. From what I am hearing, I doubt there will be any baseball at Tropicana Field after 2014 even though the team’s lease runs to 2027.

The harsh reality is the Rays still have no fan support despite winning the AL East two out of the past three seasons and making it to the 2008 World Series. Stuart Sternberg’s group has done a good job of turning the team around on the diamond and developing and trading for  young players since taking control in 2004. But the Rays have averaged only 23,000 at the gate the past three seasons even though prices have been slashed and in 2010 the team had the second-lowest ticket prices in the AL ($19.75).

Original Photos Yahoo, flickr

Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees doesn’t make timely repairs on his rental properties.

Alex Rodriguez has been accused of being a slumlord in Florida.

From Fox Sports

Florida housing officials have targeted New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez after residents who live in an apartment complex he owns filed complaints against him, saying the swimming pool has been unusable for two years, the New York Post reported Friday.

Rodriguez, who owns a property company that holds title to the Normandy Park Apartment complex near Tampa, has come under fire for poor living conditions, according to TMZ.

Residents have said that rusty pipes and trash are major issues, but that the swimming pool in the complex is the biggest concern.

Those who live in the complex complained that the pool has been unusable for two years, and local code enforcement officials have now ordered that it be drained and cleaned by next week.

Original Photos empiremovies, IMDB, blogspot

The New York Yankees probably won’t be counting on Bartolo Colon this season.

Bartolo Colon of New York Yankees forgot that pinstripes can make you look fat.

From The Sporting News

What could be clear soon: Bartolo Colon is not the answer at No. 5. His numbers were not that bad in his first outing—one run, two hits, two innings against the Phillies on Saturday. What doesn’t look so hot is Colon’s physique. Never svelte, he admitted to being 25 pounds overweight when he reported. Apparently he did more than rehab when sitting out the 2010 season.

Another candidate, Freddy Garcia, is scheduled for his first start on Thursday.

What has impressed early are the Yankees’ youngsters—22-year-old Dellin Betances and 19-year-old Manny Banuelos. Betances’ fastball was timed at 97 mph on Sunday, according to mlb.com, and Banuelos, a lefty, was throwing 93 on Monday.

Original Photo Yahoo

The St. Louis Cardinals are in a tough spot after losing Adam Wainwright.

The St. Louis Cardinals look like they are going to have some holes this year.

From columbiatribune.com

A month before the season opener, the St. Louis Cardinals have reached a fork in a well-traveled road.Adam Wainwright will require ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow, with the procedure scheduled for Monday. Standard recovery from such surgery lasts 12 to 15 months.

“Not to be melodramatic, but you’re losing an ace,” Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak said during a briefing at Roger Dean Stadium. “It’s not something you can just replace overnight. Some different people are going to have to step up.”

Original Photo baseball-wallpapers.net

Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers was arrested for DUI.

The Detroit Tigers are not happy with Miguel Cabrera.

From The Detroit Free Press

He was booked into the St. Lucie County Jail at 12:20 a.m. today and released at 7:45 a.m., after posting $1,350 bond, according to information provided by Mark Weinberg from the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.

Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera was arrested in Florida on Wednesday night, on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and two counts of resisting an officer without violence.

Original Photos zimbio, webshots.com

The New York Mets are looking for a minority partner.

The New York Mets logo may be changed to reflect the fallout from the Madoff scandal.

From The NY Post

But with the possibility the Mets may be on the hook for as much as $1 billion to settle the lawsuit — which claims the Mets profited from the Madoff scam — a major league executive told The Post yesterday the Wilpon family ultimately might surrender close to 50 percent of the team. The executive said he could not envision the Wilpons selling the club outright.

Original Photo prorumors.com

The Texas Rangers are making an all out effort to stop Cliff Lee from heading to the  NY Yankees.

Some people are acting like Cliff Lee is already a member of the New York Yankees.

From The Sporting News

The Yankees reportedly have a seven-year offer worth approximately $160 million on the table for Lee. That offer is believed to be more lucrative in terms of dollars and years than the Rangers’ offer, which was made in person to Lee in his hometown of Little Rock, Ark., on Thursday.

SI.com reports one of the Rangers’ offers includes an option for a seventh year. However, there is no guaranteed seventh year from Texas.

Yankees general partner/co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner spoke to The Associated Press on Friday and expressed confidence in his team’s offer.

“For somebody of that stature, it would certainly behoove him to be a Yankee,” Steinbrenner said. “Everything is progressing. We made the offer. It’s a very good offer, and we certainly hope he takes it.”

The details of the Rangers’ offer aren’t clear, as team CEO Chuck Greenberg said only that his group included a “menu of offers.”

Original Photo Daylife

Felix Hernandez won the AL Cy Young award last week.

Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners won the 2010 Cy Young award. Sadly, when he read the news of his win, his eyes popped out of his head in disbelief and he may never pitch again.

From The Day.com

A pitcher with a 13-12 record just won the American League Cy Young Award. Pretty easily, too. Which is another example why my tombstone will read, “here likes poor Mikey D. He just didn’t understand.”

Like how some of these people who vote find their way to their bathrooms in the morning without a GPS.

True enough: Felix Hernandez was the league leader with a 2.27 earned run average and 232 strikeouts. He played for a team that scored fewer runs per game than any team since the American League went to the designated hitter. OK. So no one’s denying that Hernandez should have been a contender.

But strict adherence to numbers, as well as a casual dismissal of context, results in a giant swing and a miss here.

Original Photo Yahoo

Derek Jeter will probably remain with the New York Yankees, but Twinkietown had some fun speculating about what it would take for him to join the Minnesota Twins.

Would Derek Jeter enjoy life on the Minnesota Twins?

From twinkietown.com

February 11, 2011

In a move that shocks the baseball world, the Minnesota Twins sign Derek Jeter to a one-year contract worth $18 million plus performance incentives.

As Twins bloggers and number crunchers tear their clothes off in bewilderment, the mainstream media is a cross section between praising the organization and questioning how they can commit that kind of money to a single player when those funds could have been used earlier in the season to shore up so many other holes.  Local beat writers defend the decision, saying the unique circumstances and other trades allowed them to jump at this one-time, one-year opportunity.

Original Photos Yahoo, Foxmonster

The San Francisco Giants have won the 2010 World Series.

San Francisco looks different now that the Giants have won the 2010 World Series.

From The NY Times

Their fans have shivered through frigid June evenings and wept over October heartbreak, those soul-crushing years of 1962 and 1989 and 2002, watching as seemingly everyone else has sipped celebratory Champagne. Now it is their turn.

What the Say Hey Kid and Will the Thrill and the Bondses could not do, Edgar Renteria and Tim Lincecum could. They made San Francisco cry with joy, and the city by the Bay may as well turn to rubble now that their beloved Giants are champions of baseball.

Original Photos merlionandthebay, bleacherreport

The San Francisco Giants kicked the crap out of the Texas Rangers in Game 2 of the 2010 World Series.

Brian Wilson and the rest of the San Francisco Giants pitching staff have been punching out a lot of Texas Rangers in the 2010 World Series.

From SFGate

The Giants are dominating a Series that moves to Texas for Games 3, 4 and (if necessary) 5. Now, the players’ challenge is striking the proper balance between the swagger that they’ll carry onto the plane and the overconfidence that could destroy them.

Each of the last seven teams to start a World Series with two wins, and 13 of the last 14, later celebrated a championship. But as they say in those investment ads, past returns do not guarantee future success.

Original Photos Yahoo, Yahoo, photobucket

The Texas Rangers are milking their Claw and Antlers gimmick on the eve of Game 1 of the 2010 World Series.

Tommy Hunter of the Texas Rangers has his antlers on.

From star-telegram.com

It’s amazing,” Rangers center fielder Julio Borbon said. “It’s so big for us as far as our team chemistry just being able to enjoy being around each other and supporting each other.”

What started out as an in-house gesture among players has quickly morphed into the latest and quirkiest calling card in the league, a spot some would say has been held down by Anaheim’s jumping monkey since its appearance in the 2002 World Series.

Should a Texas player do something positive offensively he’ll acknowledge his feat with a “claw,” fingers slightly curled with his arm extended in a rising swoop. The “antlers” — hold both hands open above the ears to imitate a deer — come about after something speed-related.

“Because when a deer gets going that’s what you look like when you run all the way from first to third and then beat out a throw at the plate,” Borbon said.

Original Photos Yahoo, buckmanager

The San Francisco Giants say that the Philadelphia Phillies have not seen the last of Tim Lincecum.

Tim Lincecum might look like Marylin Manson to most people, but to San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy, he looks like a reliever for Game 6.

From MSNBC

Lincecum said the same about his availability, noting that Saturday will be his normal “bullpen day” and he could skip that with an eye toward throwing an inning or two in Game 6. Roy Halladay presumably wouldn’t be available to do the same because of his groin injury.

In four seasons Lincecum has made just one career appearance as a reliever and that came on April 2, 2008 when the Giants avoided starting him because of a likely rain delay.

Original Photos Yahoo, purepeople

Millions of Cabelvision subscribers were deprived of viewing Game 1 of the NLCS on Saturday.

Cablevision got Cablevicious with News Corp and shut out millions of viewers in the process.

From Politico

The loss of Fox channels for roughly 3 million Cablevision subscribers in the New York area this weekend isn’t just raising alarms among sports fans, who could miss baseball playoff and football games. It’s piquing interest on Capitol Hill too.

A slew of lawmakers have castigated both sides for failing to settle amicably how much Fox can charge Cablevision to carry its signal. Even as the two companies continue work on a new agreement, which could still arrive this weekend, some members of Congress are frustrated their voters are caught in the stalemate and now without access to Fox programming.

Original Photo advanceyouradvertising

Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox retired after the Braves were eliminated.

Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox has retired as manager, and is playing hard to get with the makers of the Nightmare On Elm Street Part 2 remake.

From Fanhouse

Cox promised that this season would be his last, and enjoyed a farewell tour around the big leagues, with teams honoring him at every stop.

“It doesn’t feel like the last time I’m putting it on, but it certainly is,” Cox said of his uniform, his voice cracking. “I won’t put it on again.”

“I’m proud of this team,” he continued. “They played their hearts out and I’ll miss them.”

Original Photos Yahoo, hauntedventures.com