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Everything Good for the Dodgers Is a Result of Manny Ramirez, Clearly

Will BrinsonPosted Aug 19th 2008 12:30AM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Dodgers, MLB Fans, MLB Media Watch, Random Acts of Sport

The Manny Ramirez Era in Los Angeles has been a full on success. The Dodgers are a full on four games above five hundred and tied for first in the NL West, and perhaps more importantly, they're slinging tickets at a heavily increased rate.
The paid attendance at Dodger Stadium has increased by more than 5,000 fans per game since the Dodgers traded for Manny Ramirez.

In Ramirez's first seven games in Los Angeles, the Dodgers drew an average of 50,390 per game, up from the 44,581 they were averaging without him. Four crowds of more than 50,000 fans have watched Ramirez, including sellouts in his first two games with the Dodgers.
Five K worth of fans per game? Yeah, that's stout. And you know they're not there simply for the dreadlock-Manny-hats, as they only recently started selling them in the stadium.

Of course, Manny's impact isn't solely on the fans: Jeff Kent may or may not be raking at a far more impressive rate because of ManRam's presence (regardless of whether Kent needs Manny is actually assisted by his presence, he is in fact performing better since the trade).

Additionally, the Dodgers just went out and picked up Greg Maddux for the second time, which shows, as Lackey pointed out, that they are in fact kind of serious about this whole playoffs thing.

Maybe it's not all because of Manny. But I'm fine believing that it is.

Jeff Kent Doesn't Care What Vin Scully Thinks

Tom FornelliPosted Aug 17th 2008 2:01PM by Tom Fornelli (author feed)
Filed under: Dodgers, NL West, MLB Gossip, MLB Media Watch

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent has never been known as the most congenial guy on the planet. If I were to describe Jeff's personality in one word, well, one word that I can use here, I'd take cantankerous. The dude just gets mad at everything. He's like the old man next door always yelling at you to get off his lawn or turn the damn music down.

Jeff's fought with teammates, most memorably Barry Bonds, and has a general disdain of all things media. One member of the media that's generally been considered untouchable though is Dodgers play-by-play man and living legend Vin Scully.

Well, like a lot of people following the Dodgers, Scully has said during Dodgers games that Kent hitting third in front of the newly acquired Manny Ramirez has really helped Jeff out. Well, after Jeff talked to the T.J. Simers about what Vin and others have been saying, Scully was no longer untouchable.
"Vin Scully talks too much," Kent said.

Now that's funny, the guy who normally doesn't say much, this time saying way too much.
Continue Reading Jeff Kent Doesn't Care What Vin Scully Thinks

MLB Is Finally Ready to Change Broadcast Blackout Rules

Matt WatsonPosted Aug 14th 2008 5:25AM by Matt Watson (author feed)
Filed under: MLB Biz, MLB Media Watch

Bob DuPuyMLB's television blackout rules have long been a source of frustration for baseball fans unfortunate enough to live on the fringe of a major market.

Baseball fans living in Las Vegas, for example, are unable to watch the A's, Dodgers, Angels, Diamondbacks, Giants or Padres even if they subscribe to Extra Innings on cable. And if you live in Iowa, well, there's a good chance you'll be blacked out by the Brewers, Cubs, White Sox, Royals and Twins even if you purchase an MLB.tv subscription.

It makes absolutely no sense. There's no one in the world more greedy than a professional team owner -- these are the guys who invented the six dollar hot dog -- and yet they're turning down hoardes of loyal fans who'd like nothing more than to hand over hundreds of dollards just to watch their favorite team.

But wait! Baseball has seen the light! From MLB.com:
Baseball's current rules on territorial television blackouts were drawn up in the 1960s, long before the dawn of MLB.TV and the Extra Innings package.

Those rules have become archaic, and Bob DuPuy, MLB's president and chief operating officer, presented a plan to MLB's executive council on Wednesday that would alter them considerably for the 2009 season.
Well, this is progress, right? Perhaps, but don't get excited just yet. DuPuy was saying the same things back in May ... of 2007. Serious changes are long overdue, but you can give up getting any bonus coverage on Extra Innings or MLB.tv this year -- DuPuy said the earliest any change would be implemented was when the owners meet in November.

Hank Steinbrenner Blames Injuries for Yanks 2008, Guarantees Danger, Delusion in 2009

Will BrinsonPosted Aug 13th 2008 2:30AM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Yankees, MLB Media Watch, MLB Rumors

The above headline is a bit misleading. While Hank Steinbrenner (who has been eerily quiet recently) did actually blame injuries for the Yankees troubles this year, he did not actually guarantee danger and delusion next year. He just merely exhibited delusion across the scope of his quotations, one of which involves the Yankees being dangerous.
"I'm not writing off this season," the Yankees' co-chairman said Tuesday in Tampa, Fla. "They're trying hard to win. There's only so much you can do. They're not supermen."

[...]"I think it's very simple, we've been devastated by injuries," Steinbrenner said. "No team I've ever seen in baseball has been decimated like this. It would kill any team. Imagine the Red Sox without [Josh] Beckett and [Jon] Lester. Pitching is 70 percent of the game. Wang won 19 games two straight years. Chamberlain became the most dominating pitcher in baseball. You can't lose two guys like that."

[...]"We're going to win it next year," he said. "If we need to add a top veteran pitcher, we'll do that. We'll do whatever we need to do. Next year, we'll be extremely dangerous."
I'm sure the Yanks will be scary. C.C. Sabathia, Manny Ramirez, Ben Sheets and Mark Teixeira are all going to be on the market, and I'd be surprised if at least one didn't land in New York.

But is Joba the "most dominant pitcher in baseball"? And does Hank really have zero clue that part and parcel of Wang's 19/year wins came from the redonk offense New York is sporting? And is pitching actually 70 ... oh, nevermind.

Point being, Hank hadn't spouted off at the mouth for a little while, what with the Bombers actually making some headway in the East, and now that it looks like time is creeping on them, he's playing the role of angry, flummoxed meathead. And frankly, I enjoy it.

Odd Endorsement News: Gammons Completely Backs Cuban Buying the Cubs

Will BrinsonPosted Aug 11th 2008 8:40PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Cubs, NL Central, MLB Biz, MLB Media Watch, MLB Rumors

In our country's history of bizarre endorsements, I don't think Peter Gammons calling Mark Cuban's purchase of the Cubs a "great fit" is quite as shocking as say, Hunter S. Thompson rising from the grave to declare the need for another four years of Dubya, but it's pretty bizarre.

Gammons is as old school as it gets in baseball, but according to his most recent blog post, he wholeheartedly endorses Cuban as Cubs owner, despite the possibility that there may be forces (the obviously evil and heartless Commissioner Bud Selig) working against him.
But there is increasing speculation that Sam Zell, the chairman and chief executive officer of the Tribune Company, is not going to allow the Commissioner's Office to puppeteer the sale, and that Mark Cuban is in this thing far deeper than Selig and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf want to believe. NBA commissioner David Stern has told those associated with Cubs that Cuban is one of the NBA's best partners, and everyone appreciates that Cuban understands fans and marketing, and is one of the creative pioneers of the world of new media and would create a tremendous buzz throughout baseball that would be nothing but beneficial to the industry.
Nothing about Cuban is surprising anymore ... except perhaps that David Stern is giving him positive reviews. I kid, I kid. Kind of.

Cuban and Stern have gone head to head on plenty of stuff in his tenure as Dallas Mavericks owner, but the fact that he turned the team around and continues to be an innovative owner, desperately trading for Jason Kidd aside.
Continue Reading Odd Endorsement News: Gammons Completely Backs Cuban Buying the Cubs

Barry Bonds Thinks He Would Be Good at Teaching Young Men Lessons About Life

Will BrinsonPosted Aug 10th 2008 2:45PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Giants, MLB Media Watch


If there's one thing someone like Barry Bonds (or, say, Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro or Paul Lo Duca, to name a few) should never, ever, ever, ever be give the authority to do, it is influence young, impressionable baseball playing men.

But Barry, via LBS, thinks for some reason, should be decide to actually give up the pipe dream of getting another gig with a baseball team, that he might want to become a coach of a college baseball team. And he told the public this at the Giants 50th anniversary celebration (seen above).
I think the best position for me would probably be in a college - that's how I feel. I'd rather teach kids what they want to do and what to do to get to the major leagues. I see myself doing something like that moreso than doing something in the major leagues if that time comes for me to make that decision.
Yeah. And maybe Jeffrey Dahmer should have gotten a job with Emeril or Jesse James with BB&T. All seem like logical choices, historical hindsight be damned.

Then again, Barry Lamar is a pretty damn good hitter and if he has somehow managed to learn his lesson about bending the rules to get ahead, then he could prove a pretty good physical and moral mentor to students. But for the moment, well, maybe we should hold off on that.

Ryan Braun Is Living the Good Life

Tom FornelliPosted Aug 9th 2008 7:28PM by Tom Fornelli (author feed)
Filed under: Brewers, NL Central, MLB Gossip, MLB Media Watch

There are a lot of reasons for men to be jealous of Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun. First and foremost, there's the fact that he gets to play the game of baseball for a living while the rest of us can only watch it or play it on our XBox. Then there's the fact he gets paid money to do it, and a lot at that seeing as how he signed that eight year $45 million extension earlier this season.

Marisa Miller Snapshots

    NEW YORK - JULY 16: Television personality Robert Verdi and model Marisa Miller attend a party hosted by Vans and Marisa Miller celebrating Vans by Marisa Miller at Cabana at the Maritime Hotel on July 16, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Wintrow/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    NEW YORK - JULY 16: Television personality Robert Verdi and model Marisa Miller attend a party hosted by Vans and Marisa Miller celebrating Vans by Marisa Miller at Cabana at the Maritime Hotel on July 16, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Wintrow/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    NEW YORK - JULY 16: Television personality Robert Verdi attends a party hosted by Vans and Marisa Miller celebrating Vans by Marisa Miller at Cabana at the Maritime Hotel on July 16, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Wintrow/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    NEW YORK - JULY 16: Television personality Robert Verdi attends a party hosted by Vans and Marisa Miller celebrating Vans by Marisa Miller at Cabana at the Maritime Hotel on July 16, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Wintrow/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    NEW YORK - JULY 16: Model Anya Kop attends a party hosted by Vans and Marisa Miller celebrating Vans by Marisa Miller at Cabana at the Maritime Hotel on July 16, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Wintrow/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    NEW YORK - JULY 16: Model Anya Kop attends a party hosted by Vans and Marisa Miller celebrating Vans by Marisa Miller at Cabana at the Maritime Hotel on July 16, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Wintrow/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    NEW YORK - JULY 16: Model Marisa Miller hosts a party with Vans celebrating Vans by Marisa Miller at Cabana at the Maritime Hotel on July 16, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Wintrow/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    NEW YORK - JULY 16: Model Marisa Miller hosts a party with Vans celebrating Vans by Marisa Miller at Cabana at the Maritime Hotel on July 16, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Wintrow/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    NEW YORK - JULY 16: Model Marisa Miller hosts a party with Vans celebrating Vans by Marisa Miller at Cabana at the Maritime Hotel on July 16, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Wintrow/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    NEW YORK - JULY 16: Model Marisa Miller hosts a party with Vans celebrating Vans by Marisa Miller at Cabana at the Maritime Hotel on July 16, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Wintrow/Getty Images)

    Getty Images



As if those weren't enough, here's the final nail in the coffin. While we spend our days off from work doing running errands or watching crappy reality television, Ryan gets to spend his shooting commercials with Marisa Miller. God I hate Ryan Braun.
On a sun-dappled Friday on the baseball field behind Brookfield East High School, Braun took on what even he admitted beforehand might be a more daunting task: trading lines with supermodel and magazine cover girl Marisa Miller in a viral video for a new Remington men's hair-care product.

"Aren't you baseball all-star Ryan Braun?" Miller said to Braun as cameras rolled and a large crowd of technicians, actors, aides, associates, gofers, spectators and hangers-on stood by quietly from a safe distance.
Continue Reading Ryan Braun Is Living the Good Life

Nolan Ryan Says What We Are All Thinking Regarding Roger Clemens

Will BrinsonPosted Aug 7th 2008 7:00PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: MLB Fans, MLB Gossip, MLB Media Watch


There's no more simple way to put it than by saying that Nolan Ryan articulates very well what I think everyone believes is killing/did kill Roger Clemens' reputation. (Via SbB):
Nolan Ryan appeared today on Dan Patrick's syndicated radio show and made it clear that he in no way supports the PED-denials of fellow Texan Roger Clemens (audio): "It's just a shame that Roger has gotten caught up in this situation and he took the stance that he did and that so many things have come out ... that have cast a bad light on his career.

If you look at what happened with some of the other players (who used PEDs), they stepped up and said 'hey, I did it, I knew it was wrong,' and they asked for forgiveness and have gone on about their business. I think it's just unfortunate Roger took the position that he did and that so much has come out about it."
Exactly.

Andy Pettitte made one simple, semi-humble admission to using steroids, took his single lash of the belt, cried a little and then shut his mouth and played baseball. No one cares about his mistakes anymore.
Continue Reading Nolan Ryan Says What We Are All Thinking Regarding Roger Clemens

Ozzie Guillen Still Saying Slightly Crazy And/Or Funny Things

Eamonn BrennanPosted Aug 6th 2008 12:32PM by Eamonn Brennan (author feed)
Filed under: White Sox, AL Central, MLB Media Watch, MLB Transactions

Ozzie Guillen is still being Ozzie Guillen, despite his two-game suspension, which he received for tossing threats in the direction of the Kansas City Royals after a weekend fracas. See, Ozzie knows what he could have said to get a longer suspension, but he didn't, because he is a man of disciplined verbal restraint:
"I wish we were like 10 games up or 20 games down, then I'd get a 10-game suspension," Guillen said after the penalties were handed down in the wake of Sunday's fight with Kansas City. "But my team is going through a pretty tough time right now, and I have to be with them 100 percent. I let my club down for two days. I almost broke his hand," Guillen said. "He touched me. I can't touch you, you can't touch me either. But no, he said I bumped him right before that situation."
One: If I was Joey Cora (and, to be clear, I am not), I would be a little hurt by Ozzie's comments. Are you saying Joey Cora is too incompetent to coach a baseball team for ten games? That's cold, Ozzie.

Two: If threatening an entire baseball team earned Ozzie a mere two-game suspension, I really, really, REALLY want to hear what he would say if he had his eye on a ten-game break. I'm picturing at least three epithets and the invention of brand new, never-before-heard swear words. Do it, Ozzie! Do it!

Bud Selig Doesn't Trust the Devil's Electricity

Eamonn BrennanPosted Aug 6th 2008 10:50AM by Eamonn Brennan (author feed)
Filed under: MLB Biz, MLB Media Watch



Rarely have leagues attempted to incorporate instant replay, or any rules and logistics changes, as fast as Major League Baseball is attempting to with instant replay. Why, it was only a few months ago that replay was merely a thought in fans' minds. A few botched home run calls later, and here we are, struggling through the dawn of new technology.

And struggling we (they) are: Despite having IR cameras on hand during last night's Phillies-Marlins game, the umps still screwed up a home run call (fist pound, brah: The Sporting Blog):
The first night Major League Baseball tested instant-replay equipment at Citizens Bank Park, it had a controversial home-run ball in the seventh inning in the Phillies' 8-2 loss to the Florida Marlins. Shane Victorino's two-run homer off Renyel Pinto looked foul on instant replay. Third base umpire Dale Scott called the ball fair and the umpires conferred after the Marlins protested. But the call stood, cutting the Marlins' lead to 4-2. Scott acknowledged after the game that the ball was foul.

Unfortunately for the Marlins, MLB was testing the equipment it could use in the future only to see how it works. In other words, umpires had no opportunity to run to a TV screen to check it out.
In other words, MLB is merely testing the fact that instant replay cameras work, despite the fact that TVs and cameras have been relaying laser beams at sporting events for like 30 years. This is kind of like sticking your hand in the wall socket just to test if your electricity works. Trust us, Bud Selig. The cameras are rolling.
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