Come on, guys. Get with it!

Rather than try to push through a side agreement that could put the 10-team format — two wild cards in each league, not just one — into play next October, negotiators for the owners and players union have decided to put it on the table in bargaining talks that begin in earnest at some point in 2011. That means we will have to wait until 2012, even 2013 if the labor talks don’t go smoothly, to have a chance for the drama we could have had this year: Red Sox vs. Yankees in the first round, the loser sent packing before the “real” playoffs begin.

In any given year, it’s easy to see the Yankees and Red Sox winning 90-plus games and advancing alongside each other if the American League East presents a strong third team, like this year’s Rays. But what if the Reds win 95 games some year and the Cubs and Cardinals advance as wild cards?

How wild would it be for these rivals to play a best-of-three or even a one-game, sudden-death playoff to see who advanced and who went home, sheepishly?

Rather than try to determine the exact mechanics of expanded playoffs — specifically answering the big question: best-of-three or a one-game, sudden death, Game 163 scenario? — baseball owners and executives cited the recommendation of executive vice president Rob Manfred, who doesn’t want to risk a one-issue negotiation with the players on the eve of CBA talks.

Neither does the union.

“I agree with Rob Manfred’s statement that postseason structure is not a topic for 2011, and won’t be addressed until broader collective bargaining,” Michael Weiner, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, said in an e-mail.

Commissioner Bud Selig said he will discuss the various expanded-playoff scenarios with his 14-man advisory committee for on-field issues — including managers such as Tony La Russa and Jim Leyland and executives such as John Schuerholz and Terry Ryan — in December and address the issue again at a January owners meeting. But with 2011 off the table, the issue loses urgency.

Little opposition to expanding the playoffs was presented during the meetings, but many executives believe the one-game, made-for-TV scenario would compromise the fairness of the 162-game season.

“You always try to be fair,” Selig said. “Fairness is something I insist on, but I don’t want to rule anything out.”

One thing that has been all but ruled out is shortening the regular season to accommodate a longer postseason. Selig said there is no support among owners for playing a 154- or 158-game season and little for scheduling two or three doubleheaders per season for each team.

“I went to a lot of doubleheaders in the ’40s and ’50s,” Selig said. “But the games were played quicker. We’re playing in a little different era.”

At no time is that clearer than the playoffs, when teams scramble to get to the World Series. That time of year is going to get even crazier, just not as quickly as some of us would like.

Barry Bonds became depressed in the late 90s as new athletes like McGwire and Jose Conseco were becoming more popular for belting homeruns. Bonds was a great athlete, but he was aging and just like his father was headed for retirement. Bonds and everyone else knew that Conseco and the others were taking steroids. It was inevitable that Bonds would start taking steroids as he was very jealous and had an insatiable appetite for being the leader, he could not stand being in second place to anyone and he saw the great results of McGwire and Conseco.

Barry Bonds started taking numerous types of steroids through his trainer Greg Anderson. His physique, career and baseball would never be the same. Bonds was better after the steroids than anytime in his career. The steroids had elevated his career and possibly made him the best player in baseball history as he has now hit 722 career home runs. Only a few of the greatest players in Baseball history have ever hit into this range. It is similar to what Tiger Woods has done in Golf and his chasing Jack Nicklaus with his 18 career major titles. The difference is that Tiger Woods is a real champion and does not use illegal enhancers or drugs like steroids or cheat in any way. Kids can look up to him as a real hero.

Tiger Woods worked and trained very hard, he is also human as he went through a lot dealing with the loss of his father. Tiger woods through his great game and ethics has elevated professional golf and its fan base to all time highs. Barry Bonds, on the other hand, has devastated major league baseball and its rich history. Records are not meant to be broken on a daily or monthly basis. Records are just that records of greatness, by actual heroes like Joe DiMaggio, Ruth, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle and Ty Cobb. They never used steroids and were great players both on and off the field.

What every professional athlete needs to understand is that our kids see them as idols, heroes and mentors. Its not about the money, its about the game. Ninety nine percent of professional athletes never become a great like Rod Carew, Michael Jordan, or Warren Moon, but they are all imprinted in our children. Everyone remembers the negatives like McEnroe and his emotional outbursts, Rae Caruth and O.J. Simpson whom have abused the legal system and their fame to commit murder, steroids, gambling and the expulsion of baseball legend Pete Rose. The leaders of these professional sports must soon realize that these players have tainted and in some respects ruined the future of sports like major league baseball.

To see immediate evidence of this all one has to do is look at the dwindling number of visitors to the baseball hall of fame in Cooperstown, NY. It used to be almost every young boys fantasy to see the outfit worn by Babe Ruth, the Ball that was signed by Reggie Jackson and his Yankee teammates, the stories of greatness and great hurdles and obstacles that were overcome by some of the legends. Rare baseball cards by players with strict standards like Honus Wagner whom had his cards pulled as he did not want to be associated with cigarettes and tobacco. The meaning of baseballs rich history has greatly suffered and will continue until something drastic is done.

Athletes like Barry Bonds that cheat and use illegal performance enhancing drugs should be banned and immediately removed from baseball and other sports. They should receive punishment worse than Pete Rose and should be stripped of all records, titles, and history in the game. Let someone who worked hard, overcame adversity and great obstacles, and never cheated and had great ethics, standards and was a true hero be the one to determine their fate. Someone like Hank Aaron. Hank Aaron set records, great records, the hard way and they are being tarnished by the likes of Barry Bonds and others. Hank Aaron, like Herschel Walker, overcame a very poor upbringing, racism, lack of resources and through sheer determination became one of the greatest athletes ever.

It is time to stop the commercialism and get back to the basics of these sports. We have forgotten what the game really means. There is a reason why in Brooklyn they still remember the Brooklyn Dodgers. Lets not let the great game of baseball be ruined by people like Barry Bonds. They must be removed from the game, their history completely wiped out and start anew. This is the only way to retain or rescue the image of professional baseball.

Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles, by contrast, were practically flawless and featured stars at almost every position. They breezed through the 1969 season, winning 109 games (until 1998 the most games won since the advent of divisional play) and brushing aside the Minnesota Twins in three games in the ALCS to win their second pennant in four years. The Orioles were led by star sluggers Frank Robinson and Boog Powell, who each hit over 30 home runs and drove in over 100 runs; third baseman Brooks Robinson, perhaps the best-fielding hot-corner player in baseball history; and pitchers Mike Cuellar, Dave McNally and Jim Palmer, who combined for 63 victories. It was felt that in the face of such statistical comparisons, only the most reckless gambler would put any money on the Mets.

Summary

NL New York Mets won the series in 5 games over the favorite Baltimore Orioles.

New York Mets 1, Baltimore Orioles 4
New York Mets 2, Baltimore Orioles 1
Baltimore Orioles 0, New York Mets 5
Baltimore Orioles 1, New York Mets 2 (10 innings)
Baltimore Orioles 3, New York Mets 5

The league featured some of the hall of fame players that we still remember today. Those legendary players were certainly playing at a high level at that time. The National League statistical leaders featured the likes of Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays and Sandy Koufax.

Clemente lead all of Major League Baseball in batting average, putting up a .329 average for the season. Willie Mays was the homerun champion of the NL and all of Major League Baseball. He hammered 52 balls out of the park. His 52 homeruns were 20 more than the leader in the American League.

The pitching category was absolutely dominated by Sandy Koufax. Koufax led all of Major League Baseball in Wins, ERA and Strikeouts. He managed to win 26 games while striking out 382 batters on the season. His ERA was meanwhile just 2.04. He was the Triple Crown Pitching winner by leading in all of those categories.

Those legendary players in the National League did not just put up big numbers, but they were a big part of helping their team’s win games. Those three players that were previously mentioned played for the Dodgers, Giants and Pirates. Those teams finished the 1965 season as the top 3 teams in the National League. Each team would finish the season with more than 90 wins.

The American League was dominated by the likes of the Minnesota Twins. The Twins managed to win 102 games on the season. This total would be the most wins for any team in the league during the season. The Twins were led by the likes of Tony Oliva on offense and Mudcat Grant from the mound.

Tony Oliva led the American League with a .321 batting average. Meanwhile Mudcat Grant won 21 games, the highest total in the American League.

The Chicago White Sox were also an excellent team during the year. They managed to win 95 games and were second in the American League. The only other team in the league to win at least 90 games was the Baltimore Orioles squad. They managed to win 94 games on the season.

The Astros managed to find very little success in their transition year, winning just 65 games. This total was good for the 2nd worst record in the National League that season. The worst record in the National League belonged to the likes of the New York Mets. The Mets managed to win just 50 games throughout the season. This total was the lowest total of any team in all of Major League Baseball.

Thomas Robertson -
About the Author:

Thomas Robertson writes reviews on various sporting events including the different online sportsbook websites. In this piece of write up, the author highlights on some of legends of MLB and MLB Betting odds. The author also takes the readers thought on how to bet on baseball.

True to their word, on October 28, 1961, the city of New York began construction on a new facility that would accommodate future Major League Baseball games. Originally called Flushing Meadow Park, the facility was later named Shea Stadium and is now home to the New York Mets. It’s name change was inspired by William A. Shea, an attorney who was instrumental in the efforts to bring National League baseball back to New York. When construction was complete, the stadium had cost $25 million and was ready to open it’s doors on April 17, 1964. In front of a crowd of more than 48,000 spectators, the New York Mets suffered a 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Pirates.

Through the years, few cosmetic changes have occurred at Shea Stadium. New seats were installed simply because the aging ones needed replacing but, otherwise, the facility is much the same as it appeared on opening day more than four decades ago. Technological advancements made it possible for modern scoreboards and luxury suites, along with the New York Mets Magic Top Hat attraction, which is designed to honor homerun hits by one of the New York Mets players. In celebration of each homerun, spectators will see a large red apple rise from the hat.

The New York Mets and Shea Stadium have witnessed a number of great moments over the years, including the stadium’s first homerun, which was belted by Willie Stargell in 1964. That same year, Jim Bunning pitched the only perfect game to ever be thrown in Shea Stadium’s history. Additionally, fans watched in 1984 as Dwight Gooden set a Major League rookie record with 276 strikeouts. Another memorable moment, which occurred in 1996, was observed as Todd Hundley defeated Roy Campanella’s 43 year Major League record, which honored the most homeruns by a catcher in a single season.

To this day, discussions often resurface about renovating the home of the New York Mets. Although rich in history and in charm, thoughts of replacing Shea Stadium to build a new home for the New York Mets have been expressed. At this point, nothing has been decided and fans will continue to enjoy the facility that they have come to know for more than 40 years.

Collectors who wish to request an autograph from any one of the players on the New York Mets roster should send their letter and a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) to:

Player’s Name
c/o New York Mets
Shea Stadium
123-01 Roosevelt Avenue
Flushing, NY 11368

Fans requesting an autograph should limit their request to two items per letter. Popular items to have signed include photos, index or trading cards, baseballs, etc. Patience is key when requesting autographs through the mail, but the best time to reach an athlete is often during the off-season.

Though Cano has hopefully been well-known to Yankee fans over the past few seasons, his name is certainly not one that gets a lot of fanfare around the league.  This doesn’t mean that pitchers aren’t aware of his big bat, however, as Cano has quietly put together an astounding early career in the bright lights of New York.  After belting two home runs on April 29th and continuing to keep his average over .400, the rest of the league will have to take notice moving forward.

In Cano’s five previous seasons with the Yanks, he has hit .300 or greater in three of those years, making him a versatile hitter who can bat anywhere in the lineup.  His power has also come along nicely and he put up 25 bombs a year ago.  With eight home runs already, 35 round-trippers this year is certainly not out of the question.  But for Cano, power is just a bonus as he can spray the ball to any portion of the field, making him an unbelievably difficult batter to consistently get out.  If Cano can stay healthy, he’s the type of all-around hitter who could win a battle title, or maybe even several.

His hot start this season has also been crucial for the Yankees, who head into the second month of the season a few games behind the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays.  Jeter has hit for a high average but his on-base percentage is way down from recent years.  The Yanks have gotten very little out of the two-hole this season from Nick Johnson and others, and Teixeira is off to his usual horrible start.  Even A-Rod has struggled coming out of the gates.  As of April 30th, he had just two home runs and a .250 batting average.

Yet with some solid pitching and Cano in the fifth spot in the lineup, the Yankees still have one of the best records in the entire league, which is a scary thought if A-Rod and Teixeira can emerge from their early season slumber.  Cano has also been a defensive spark and has the type of talent to one day win a Gold Glove, yet he’s only the 10th highest paid player on the Yankees’ payroll.

With Cano’s development, the Yankees also can squash any murmurs that they only buy talent and never develop any of their own.  Cano came up through the Yankees’ farm system and has done nothing but produce from his rookie season on, with his game growing from year to year until it has exploded in the early portion of the 2010 season.  As the rest of the highly-paid Yankees get going, Cano should continue to be a prime piece of the puzzle that has fans buying <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://www.stubhub.com/new-york-yankees-tickets/”>New York Yankees tickets</a> and clamoring about another potential World Series title.  It’s also time for the rest of the league to take notice of another potential superstar emerging in pinstripes.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi wants to throw as many lefties as he can against a Minnesota lineup that is loaded with dangerous lefties, so he will bring Sabathia back for Game 4 on short rest if needed, while Pettitte, who would pitch on regular rest because of the off days in the schedule, would start Game 5 if necessary.

That Losing Feeling

The Twins’ eleven-game postseason skid is tied with the Cubs for the longest active streak.

“We felt with all the left-handed hitters we would try to throw four lefties at them in five games,” Girardi said.

Burnett’s place in the playoff rotation has been speculated about in the local and national media for several mlb jerseys weeks. He is on the postseason roster, however.

Girardi is expected to hold a news conference on Tuesday afternoon in Minnesota.

The move to leave out Burnett for the ALDS is not shocking, because Girardi mulled removing Burnett from the rotation during the second half of the season. General manager Brian Cashman has said the Yankees’ postseason rotation would be based on merit, not money.

Burnett is completing the second season of an $82.5 million, five-year contract, but has not come close to living up to his salary this nfl jersey season, in which he was 10-15 with a 5.26 ERA. He took the news in stride.

“It’d be different if I had a great second half,” Burnett said. “But I took baby steps, not a huge leap. Those three guys [Sabathia, Pettitte and Hughes] have been our main starters.”

In October 2009, with the Yankees down a game in the World Series, Burnett won Game 2. Overall, he was inconsistent in the 2009 playoffs.

Girardi also decided to go with Sergio Mitre and Dustin Moseley in the bullpen over Javier Vazquez and Chad Gaudin. The mlb jerseys manager kept outfielder Greg Golson as the final position player.

“We really like the way [Mitre's] sinker has been working lately and the way he has been throwing the ball,” Girardi said.

Girardi left open the possibility that Burnett could start in the series if Sabathia told the Yankees that he didn’t feel good enough physically to pitch on three days’ rest. But if all goes according to plan, Burnett will remain in the bullpen.

“I’m not going to cause drama or be the bad apple,” Burnett said.

Girardi said all his roster decisions were difficult and he appreciated how Burnett handled the news.

“I didn’t know how he would take it,” Girardi said. “But we talked about it and he seemed like he’s on board. He’s going to do whatever he can to help us.”

Meanwhile, the Twins plan on starting Brian Duensing in Game 3; and Nick Blackburn in Game 4.

I played in coed softball leagues as I got older.  When I became a parent, I coached boys baseball, girls softball, served on the local Little League board of directors, and umpired to boot.  My signature as a coach was to line my kids up on the infield foul line before a game and pledged allegiance to the flag.  After all, it is America’s game.  Curiously, there were some coaches who adamantly opposed me doing this, but I see citizenship as an inherent part of the game.

I suffered under no illusion my kids were going to be superstars and, as such, I concentrated on teaching the basics (hitting, fielding, and pitching), teamwork, and hopefully, the love of the game.  There is something magical about the game of baseball; the smell of the grass, the heat of the sun on your back, the taste of the leather string on your cowhide mitt, the crack of the bat, and the excitement of the play.  You relish the camaraderie of your teammates, the precision of a perfect bunt, the tenacity of a runner stealing a base, and the grace of an infielder flawlessly throwing out a runner or executing a double play.

Baseball is a game of nuances and you really cannot appreciate it if you have never played it.  As you approach home plate to bat, you see how the fielders are setting up to play you, either deep, in close, or to a particular field.  You take your sign from the third base coach, check the eyes of the pitcher, hear the cheering of the parents, and all along your mind is constantly calculating all of the variables involved.  Your hands grip the bat as you position yourself in the batter’s box.  Your body language tells the other team whether or not you can be intimidated.  Finally, just before the pitcher makes his wind-up, you spit.  Translation, “Bring it on!”

There is also a lot of communications in a baseball game, both vocal and silent.  The vocal is rather obvious, the silent communications is a lot more interesting.  We’re all aware of the third base coach making strange gyrations with his hands in order to call the play, but there are also a lot of subliminal signs not so apparent, such as a manager turning up his collar or crossing his legs.  The communications between pitcher and catcher is also well known.  The great Willie Mays was notorious for his ability to study and steal the signs of the opposing team.  It just takes a little concentration and attention to detail.

When I coached Little League, and my kids were batting with one or more runners on base, I would suddenly yell from the dugout, “Red-22, Red-22.”  Actually, it was nothing more than a smoke screen as it meant absolutely nothing, but it put the other team on edge as they thought some trick play was about to be executed.  My kids thought it was a riot.

As a Little League coach, you realize you are having an impact on your young players when they start asking you more questions about the game, such as the meaning of the infield fly rule, how to keep a scorecard, how a batting average is calculated or ERA, the number of ways a runner can advance to first base (eight) or the number of ways to make an out (14), etc.  It’s no small wonder baseball is a great game for trivia buffs as there are so many facets to it.  Casual spectators do not truly appreciate baseball as much as students of the game.

You know you have a love of the game when you collect baseball cards, not as a commodity, but simply to have them; that you keep a prized baseball signed by your teammates many years ago; that you cannot bring yourself to throw away an old baseball bat or glove years after you have stopped using them, or; you completely understood what Pete Rose meant when he said, “I’d walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball.”

It is a great game.

Keep the Faith!

Ash is among the most common materials chosen to make bats out of. In fact, ash baseball bats have an important position in the history of the game of baseball. The characteristics of ash (soft, light and porous) make it very suitable for baseball bats. The straight grain patterns in ash are convenient for designing beautiful baseball bats and making them very effective. Being a ring porous wood, ash makes some large cells during its early life. In time these cells become smaller and denser. At the weak woods the cells are much larger. By looking at the grain count, you determine the hardness of ash wood:

There are two types of ash: white ash and green ash. Because white ash is a high-quality wood, it makes very good baseball bats, that are accepted by most leagues and organizations. Its unique characteristics lend itself to being the most common choice for game play or practice. On the other hand, the green ash, also known as water or red ash is rarely used to make bats.

Maple baseball bats are among the most popular choices in bats, with ash being the biggest competitor among the baseball fans. Yet, it is said that the maple woods are the leaders. This is because maple wood is endowed with a tight grain that offers many of the qualities suited for smacking a baseball. The finer the grade of maple, the more expensive the bat, so always remember to ask about this aspect when buying a bat.

Other factors to consider before purchasing any maple bat, like other bats, are weight, length, and grip. More and more players take advantage of the great swing-empowering benefits of owning a good maple baseball bat. Serious amateur baseball players in the non-professional leagues or those who have major league aspirations, will often practice with a maple bat instead of an aluminum bat. There are several reasons for this. First, the sweet spot is more precise. Secondly, maple bats are solid and weigh more. After you get to practice with a maple bat, come game time, your aluminum bat swing will be much more dangerous. Another advantage is that a hard rock maple bat is less likely to split when batting. Since maple is a hardwood it is quite dense giving the bat it’s holding power.

Knowing what you know now, it will be much easier for you to make the right choice on a baseball bat.