Major League Baseball (MLB)

Slugger Manny Ramirez Suspended 50 Games for Drug Violation
The steroid era of baseball had settled into a sort of hum-drum cynicism until yesterday, when Manny Ramirez was suspended for 50 games for violating baseball’s performance-enhancing drug policy.

Ex-Baseball Star Roberto Alomar Diagnosed with AIDS, Being Sued
Roberto Alomar was diagnosed with AIDS in 2006, and is now being sued for $15 million by an ex-girlfriend for "emotional distress."

The State of Major League Baseball
Baseball's popularity is larger than ever and the result is a sport that is resurgent and has showered its fans with exciting event after event. What does the future hold if not more growth?

MLB Predicts Historic Night of Milestones
Tuesday night’s MLB games could break a trio of legendary milestones for Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Tom Glavine.

Pujols’ Bat Saves The Game—Again
Major League Baseball’s Albert Pujols leads the league in home runs but sometimes holds out until late in the game—really late in the game—to save the day.

Baseball: License to Deal
A Season on the Run with a Maverick Baseball Agent. During Major League Baseball's evolution from national pastime to $3.6 billion business, agents have played a pivotal role in driving and (some might say) ruining the sport.

Autumn Glory: Baseball’s First World Series
A postseason series of games to establish supremacy in the major leagues was not inevitable in the baseball world. But in 1903 the owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates (in the well-established National League) challenged the Boston Americans (in the upstart American League) to a play-off, which he was sure his team would win.

Watch MLB Baseball Free
Every sports fan knows how expensive a satellite TV package can be for the NFL, NBA and especially the MLB throughout the season. Trying to afford paying an arm and a leg for ultimate access to your favorite sports can be frustrating because you want to be able to watch all your favorite team's big games both home and away.

Watch Every Major League Baseball Game On Your PC
This season in the MLB is turning out to be one of the most exciting in recent memory with some of the biggest trades in MLB history with big time players like Mark Teixeira, Ken Griffey Jr. and Manny Ramirez moving to title contenders going down before the trade deadline. There has been no better time than now to keep your eye on your favorite team because seemingly anything can happen.

Our National Pastime: Taking Dreams Away from Small Children
Major League Baseball has revoked Little Leaguers' right to use professional ball clubs' names. This article seeks to explain why, in terms that kids can understand.

A Radical Idea for Major League Baseball
It's time that Major League Baseball owners do something that really shakes things up while appealing to the purists and modernists alike.

MLB: Big Leagues in Bigger Trouble
The excitement of a new baseball season has been overshadowed by the issue of steroids, says Duncan Mackay.

September may bring baseball's best
While the Major League Baseball postseason is still three weeks away, there is still plenty of baseball to be played. With an exciting race for the AL East division and the NL wildcard, Here's why baseball's best may come from the month of September.

Still open for business
Major League Baseball continues to create fan interest in light of several key races down the stretch, in spite of extensive Olympics coverage.

Supply and demand at the trading deadline
You might not know this, but Adam Smith, the father of modern capitalism, has become a baseball fan in the afterlife. And he's ready to share his economic theories, as they apply to the Major League Baseball trading deadline.

The future is well on its way
What baseball fan hasn't dreamed of being a big-league player someday? Former Major Leaguer Lenny Randle and a team of former pros are working to make the dream a reality for young hopefuls everywhere. I spent a day at the Lenny Randle Baseball Academy and I can say the future is in good hands.

Baseball's shortstops continue to come up big
Today's shortstops in Major League Baseball continue to be key in all batting lineups.

Operating on all cylinders
Celebrating the utility players on Major League Baseball teams in the 2004 season.

The AL in brief
As Major League Baseball begins the month-long interleague season, it's a good time to take stock of the first third of the season. Here are some comments on a variety of things going on in the American League at this juncture.

Baseball's steroid fallout
Even if we never find out who did what in Major League Baseball's steroid scandal, there will be repercussions. Here's a look at possible effects on fans and players alike.

General: Sterno's Talkin Smack! -- Episode #106
Sterno's Talkin' Smack. No holding back here. It's all trash, all the time. Welcome back to a brand new edition of the program. Today, we discuss the first month of Major League Baseball, the bathroom habits of Roger Clemens and I will go around the world of sports and deliver some observations like only I know how. Without further adieu, your favorite mix of ass and class.

Fans push Spider-Man off-base
When Major League Baseball tried to put Spider-Man on the bases, they unleashed an unexpected storm of anger from fans. With so much commercialization in sports, why did this act cross the line?

American Sports: 'the Golden Goose of Baseball is Not About to Die of Steroid Abuse'
March 9: Rumours of drug abuse in Major League Baseball have not stopped record pre-season ticket sales with some declaring the issue an irrelevence.

Cheaters have always prospered
The THG controversy is shedding new light on who is taking steroids in Major League Baseball and other high profile sports. Why is there such a big deal being made out of what has been going on in baseball for a very long time. Cheating. This baseball fan says let's get on with what really matters -- playing baseball.

A-Rod, Yankees, Red Sox, and more.
As spring training approaches, recent "hot stove" activities have helped to keep major league baseball interesting during the off-season.

Video Games: Baseball video game falls shorts on realism
A satirical view on the most recent baseball video game on the market that reflects on common happenings in Major League Baseball.

"Hot" hot stove helps Major League Baseball
Baseball's renaissance is only aided by all of the off-seasons deals and near deals.

Where will the big free agents land?
There are a lot of big name free agents in Major League Baseball this offseason. Here are a few predictions on where some of them might land this winter.

General: Sterno's Talkin' Smack -- Episode #67
Sterno's Talkin' Smack. No holding back here. It's all trash, all the time. I am so pumped up about this edition of the program. We will delve into the Kobe-Shaq debates. We'll talk a bit about Eddie Griffin's troubles, and some comments from the world of Major League Baseball.

Umps out of control
Today's Major League Baseball umpires are high on venom and low on professionalism.

End of season baseball musings
The 2003 Major League Baseball season is coming to a close. Who will win the always-controversial awards? Who will still be playing in October? Find out one fan's winners in his end of season musings.

Get rid of the Montreal Expos
Montreal has proven it doesn't deserve Major League Baseball. The franchise has been on its deathbed for too long and the league should pull the plug and move the team.

General: Around the Horn
Ah, September. Major League Baseball pennant races, a new NFL season and basketball and hockey just around the corner. A look at a little on this and a little on that.

Three cheers for the wild card
Although it is controversial, Major League Baseball's wild card playoff system certainly has kept World Series dreams alive for many teams this season.

Down the stretch they come!
With the Major League Baseball season past the three-quarters point, here's a look at the playoff races. Even though some "experts" claimed many of the races are over, there are still a lot of races yet to be decided, with only three essentially wrapped-up.

General: Sterno's Talkin' Smack -- Episode #41
Sterno's Talkin' smack. No holding back here. It's all trash, all the time. In today's extravaganza, we talk about the big NBA trade, Baylor University and it's criminal intent, and Major league Baseball. Come on and click already!

General: The Ol' One-Two Punch
eSports columnist Conor McCreery starts out looking at Major League Baseball and ends up discussing the upcoming NFL season. In between? Well, it's not ALWAYS sports that's on his mind...

General: Sterno's Talkin' Smack -- Episode #37
Sterno's Talkin' Smack... All trash, all the time... Today's topics include former Baylor Basketball coach Dave Bliss, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Wildcard races in Major League Baseball.

General: Sterno's Talkin' Smack -- Episode #28
Sterno's Talkin' Smack... All trash, all the time... Today's topics include the firings out in Cincinnati, the official decision on Rick Neuheisel and the ever approaching trade deadline in Major League Baseball.

Preparing for the stretch run
With August looming on the horizon, Major League Baseball teams are positioning themselves for a playoff run. Each has its own idea of what they need to win a championship. But who is right?

General: Sterno's Talkin' Smack -- Episode #21
Sterno's Talkin' Smack... All trash, all the time... Today's edition is dedicated to the American League and the second half of the Major League Baseball season.

General: Sterno's Talkin' Smack -- Episode #14
Sterno's Talkin' Smack... All trash, all the time... Today's smack is dedicated to Major League Baseball's All-Star Classic.

Around The Horn
Bits and bytes from around Major League Baseball this past week.

Around The Horn
Bits and bytes from around Major League Baseball this past week.

Baseball needs a televised draft
You won't find this year's Major League draft by flipping through TV channels. In a time where we televise a never-ending stream of reality-based shows, networks may be overlooking baseball. Here's a look at why televising the MLB draft is a must for baseball.

Around the Horn
Bits and bytes, and notes and quotes from around Major League Baseball this past week.

Pistons save Detroit Sports Fans
With the Red Wings going down in four straight and the Tigers stinking up Major League Baseball, the Pistons have given Detroit fans something to cheer about.

Why baseball is still on top
Apparently, Major League Baseball has as many lives as 50 Cent, and a similar rap sheet. And for a league that has done nearly everything wrong in the past decade, it has surprisingly strong staying power.

Surprising Royals claiming believers
Everyone says that April Major League Baseball standings are meaningless. However, upon further expection, look for the Kansas City Royals to be playing in October. While a bad start does not count you out (unless you're Detroit), a great start is the best recipe for postseason accolades.

War delays showpiece ball games
War: Major league baseball has cancelled the season-opening series in Japan between Seattle and Oakland because of the threat of war in Iraq.

Mulling It Over -- Baseball edition
As Major League Baseball heads back to work this week, the Athletic Supporter has a few points to ponder.

Finally! Baseball is back
What's mid-February without the return of Major League Baseball? Nothing, according to the Athletic Supporter, who's ready and willing to offer his predictions for the upcoming season.

World Baseball Championships would rival World Series
The Major League Baseball owners proposal for a World Championship of Baseball is too good to be ignored. Here's why.

Piniella accepts the challenge
Lou Piniella surprised a lot of baseball fans this week. He actually followed through in taking a job that would bring him closer to his family, despite the fact that the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are the worst team in Major League Baseball. They won't be for very much longer, though, with Piniella at the helm.

Divisional series previews
The Major League Baseball postseason is underway with eight deserving teams battling for the rights to the illustrious World Series trophy. Here is a preview of the Divisional Series matchups complete with picks and commentary.

Challenging the Yankees in the A.L.
The Yankees have Major League Baseball's highest payroll. The Yankees also have the American League's deepest pitching staff. However, the Yankees aren't a shoo-in to be the American League champions.

Hail the mighty Twins
Contract "this," Major League Baseball. In a season where Murphy's Law is so applicable, the Minnesota Twins and its miniscule payroll have showed us a thing or two on how to play quality baseball. The Twins have given casual fans, fanatics, and purists something to smile about at a time when baseball needs it most.

Condition critical
Major League Baseball needs to stop playing Russian Roulette with thier ever shrinking fan-base. Here is a suggestion Bud Selig may want to heed.

Managers taking the blame
The role of a manager in Major League Baseball is always evolving. Now, more than ever, the manager is taking the fall for ineffective decisions by his general manager or simply facing bad luck, which was the case with the recent firings of Chicago's Don Baylor and Cleveland's Charlie Manuel.

MLB: The Dodgers are Surprising People
Nobody thought the Dodgers could be competitive this year, but they are. Sarah discusses why.

All-Star injustice
A look at the injustices that are going on with the current All-Star balloting system used by Major League Baseball.

The breakout season
It's one thing when a known player has a great season, but it's something completely different when a player you've been vaguely aware of for years suddenly transforms himself into a star. These are the four different types of breakout seasons in Major League Baseball.

Predictions -- What the National League has in store for 2002
Plenty of offseason activity and budding young superstars promise a lot of excitement for the 2002 Major League Baseball season. Here's what to look for in the National League.

A turning point for Major League Baseball?
If "sport" is defined as a fair contest with an uncertain outcome, what can be said of pro baseball, where some teams spend more money buying top players than their opponents?

Before moving forward, let's take a look back
The 2002 Major League Baseball season is nearly ready to go. But before it starts, a look back on the 2001-02 offseason reveals some bizarre activity and another pair of spending sprees in the Big Apple.

MLB: Overrated and potential one-year wonders of 2002
Just because a player had a great 2001 season, doesn't mean it's a guarantee he'll be that good in 2002. Here's a look at who's being overrated for 2002.

Player ratings revisited
Ryan Wilkins takes his last shot at showing who's who in Major League Baseball -- giving the final say on the real list of the most underrated in the game today.

Capital punishment?
It appears that Major League Baseball will not be able to go through with contraction for the 2002 season. So does this mean that Washington, D.C. will once again not get baseball after all?

Share the wealth
With no true salary cap in major league baseball, its competitive imbalance has gotten much worse than it has been in the past. Is there a way to save "America's Game?"

Time to say goodbye
As much as it pains the millions and millions of Montreal Expo fans (yeah, right) and one of three other franchises, it is time to say goodbye to Major League Baseball.

After the bliss, the distress
Following one of the greatest World Series in history, Major League Baseball faces some challenges up ahead. Some of them may decide the fate of the sport.

The option of contraction?
Major League Baseball is seriously considering contracting two franchises. Is this good for the game? We present the pros and cons.

TV audiences reject America's pastime
Even at the pinnacle of its season with the World Series now underway, Major League Baseball is facing the harsh reality that it is no longer America's pastime. Throughout the 2001 playoffs, regular-season football games continue to attract larger television audiences than what baseball has to offer during the postseason.

"Standing" at the Saddledome
You know that MasterCard commercial where the two guys go to all the Major League Baseball parks they can by car? This author's motto is 30 teams, one dream -- visit as many NHL rinks as you can. Last weekend, October 19-21 was no exception.

Harold Baines talks about his career Past, Present, & Future
Harold Baines has been playing major league baseball for 22 years. I had a chance to talk to him about his career.

Shame and sanctuary share space
With the entity known as Major League Baseball, few things are ever right. With the game of baseball, few things are ever wrong. The beginning of another October of baseball shows us why.

General: What will you say? (and other sports-related items)
If Danny Almonte ever plays baseball in the Major Leagues, how will you remember him?

MLB: How 'bout those Mariners?
What's left for the Mariners? Not much. Only playoff tinkering and the all-time wins record, that's what. Do they have a realistic shot at the record?

Rickey says, "It's all about Rickey!"
Rickey Henderson is one of the best players in the history of Major League Baseball. Unfortunately, his selfish attitude has pushed fans away, leaving his career unappreciated and hollow.

Big Mac's legacy is nearing devaluation; Hello, Ichiro, does anybody remember Darin?
Just like any other year, Major League Baseball has a lot to offer for the wandering mind.

Rick Ankiel -- Making a possible comeback
Rick Ankiel, after such a promising start in the major leagues, is trying to make a comeback in minor league baseball with the Johnson City Cardinals?

The return of the gun-slingin' west!
The National League West is proving once again to be the most highly contested division in Major League Baseball.

MLB Trade Wrap-Up
The Major League Baseball trade deadline passed last week, amid a flurry of admittedly unexciting transactions. Brickyard Briggs analyzes all of the trades made at or near the deadline.

MLB: Who are the game's best hitters with runners on base?
For most baseball teams, clutch hitting can mean the difference between playoff contention and waiting until next year. Here's a look at some of the game's best players at helping their clubs score with runners on base.

Dog day deep thinking
It's August. It's lazy. It's the time for whittling sticks and sippin' lemonades on the front porch. It's time for droppin' some observations here and there on the Major League Baseball scene.

No thanks for the memories
Has Major League Baseball gone to far with forced sentimentality in the All-Star Game? This year's proceedings hit an all-time low.

The races at the break
As the races in Major League Baseball start to heat up, let me offer you my second-half outlook.

Ball Four Revisited
Jim Bouton, former major league pitcher and author of Ball Four, perhaps the greatest baseball book ever written, answers questions about his playing career and book on Mike's weekly Internet radio show at FanCast.com on Monday, July 9. Here's an excerpt from Mike's conversation with the "Bulldog."

Halfway home -- A look at the season at the midway point.
Looking at major league baseball at the halfway point.

The Best are not always called
When it comes to judging major league talent, scouts rely mainly on physical ability, missing sometimes key factors such as motivation, love of the game, and sheer tenacity -- elements that elevated borderline prospects into some of baseball's best talent.

MLB: Bret Boone- Seattle's Real MVP
After Alex Rodriguez left, Seattle needed a new bat in the middle of the lineup to take his place. No one thought it would be journey man Bret Boone

Diamond surprises
An eye-opening look at a few surprise teams around Major League Baseball.

A dead end franchise
Will the firing of John Boles on Monday turn the Florida Marlins around? According to one Major League Baseball official we spoke with, the bigger question is should Florida have ever been granted a team.

Cuban defender threatening to sue
Major League Baseball may be headed for the courtroom, as Cuban defector Rolando Viera will be challenging the league's position on Cuban players.

MLB: Lessons in baseball
Ben Davis did nothing wrong and I don't believe the major league baseball manager application requires player experience to get hired, Mr. Dan Miceli.

MLB: Twins theme song: We aren't family
The Minnesota Twins have developed a plan to prevent the type of unruly behavior some fans displayed during the recent Yankees visit from happening again. However, the details of that plan are simply offensive.

MLB: Rickey still so fine
Though his intentions are self-righteous and his attitude unbearable, Rickey Henderson is showing an art of the game that has been lost since the birth of the juiced ball. The greatest leadoff man of all-time may have personal goals on his mind, but he is also showing the game has not passed him by.

MLB: Twins v/s Yankees, the future playoff matchup
The stats don’t lie, the Yanks numbers are better, but they lost 4 of 6 against the Twins. Why?

MLB: Perez is likely done in baseball
Carlos Perez has worn out his MLB welcome... and his career in the big leagues could be over.

MLB: When it doubt, blame the New York Mets
It's inevitable... something goes wrong and it's the Mets' fault.

MLB: Injuries piling Up on Tuesday
Though the Major League Baseball season is just a month old, the injury count is not what you would expect. Major League Baseball must have noticed this, for on Tuesday the injury bug more than made up for its apparent absence.

MLB: So far so good
Even with a lame duck manager, questionable clubhouse chemistry, and the notable absence of Nomar Garciaparra - it has been mostly sunny skies over Fenway Park this 2001 season.

MLB: The travails of Trot Nixon
Young phenoms of the world, take note: if some baseball team makes you their #1 draft pick, either become great or bomb out fast. Don't put yourself through what Nixon has endured to have an OK career...

MLB: Gooden says don't feel sorry for Straw
Darryl Strawberry's plight has his own friends saying don't feel sorry for the Straw.

MLB: Will Ankiel ever be right again?
Rick Ankiel's problems continue to mount. Will he ever be the same again?

MLB: Despite early success, Cubs still learning
The Chicago Cubs are a team in transition... and they're winning as they grow.

MLB: 61* is a masterpiece for Crystal
61* rates a home run for Billy Crystal... and baseball.

MLB: As they giveth, so shall they taketh away
The Baseball Gods have existed since Abner first laid out the baselines. They shone their light on the Minnesota Twins early on this year, but the Twins learned Friday how quickly you can fall out of their favor. And what happens when you do.

MLB: Hicks, Oates, and a bad stench on the ranch
I smell clueless, arrogant and cowardly baseball people at work in the Texas Ranger organization, and they stink.

MLB: Old habits die hard
Mets still punching bags for NL weaklings.

MLB: How Good Is Ichiro Suzuki?
He's a cultural icon, the point man in baseball's globalization effort, and a darned fine player, but is the Seattle Mariners' right fielder an All-Star?

MLB: Moe Hill: Midwest League superstar (Part two)
Moe Hill's story continues. Hill never got a shot at the big leagues. Did racism play a part? Maybe, but we'll never know for sure...

MLB: What A Strange April It's Been...
SportsFanatics.net's own George Heidkamp takes a look back at one of the strangest Aprils in Major League Baseball history.

MLB: Taking Stock Of The Divisions
We’re one month into the baseball season and we can start sizing up how this season is going to go. A bad April does not necessarily mean a team is dead, but it definitely changes the whole outlook of the season. Let’s drop in on each division and see how this season looks so far.

MLB: It's Prime Time, Again.
Ken Griffey has been placed on the DL and now playing centerfield for the Reds none other than Deion Sanders.

MLB: A Recap of the First Month of Baseball
Believe it or not, but the first month of the 2001 baseball season is already over. It¡¦s been filled with some great moments and some not so great moments. Let's do a quick review of the major stories of the month of April.

MLB: The Red Sox Fellowship Revolt
"The Fellowship of the Miserable," a phrase coined by Rick Pitino to describe Boston Sports Fans that we've grown to adopt as our own. Perhaps only a group that refers to themselves as "The Fellowship of the Miserable" could seriously be calling for the head of a first place manager.

MLB: So what if it is about the money?!?!
Baseball players are often criticized for showing no loyalty and bolting for the biggest free agent payout they can get. Sure, money plays a role, but is that really a problem?

MLB: Calvin Pickering - The New Minor League Superstar?
The one-time Orioles' phenom appears to be the lastest in a series of minor league sluggers who just isn't going to get more than a cup of coffee in the Show. What could possibly have gone wrong?

MLB: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the Dodger's April
Is it still early or have we seen what the Dodgers have to offer this year? There have been plenty of good things to talk about with this squad so far, but they still need work if they expect to contend in probably the most competitive division in Major League Baseball.

MLB: Remember the Tigers: A Mariner motto
Subtitle: With the Seattle Mariners off to a 19-4 start, the 1984 Detroit Tigers are coming closer into view for Lou Piniella's ballclub. The Mariners probably won't match Sparky Anderson's World Series champs, but they can sure try.

MLB: Brenly's Bad; Durazo's Good!
Stuck behind Grace; Durazo is proving that Conventional wisdom (and Bob Brenly's future) is for the birds

MLB: Barry Bonds & the ethos of a hero
Regardless of their achievements, some people in this world simply aren’t destined to be heroes. Given the relative lack of coverage his run at 500 homers received, Bonds may well be one of those guys and that's a shame... or maybe it isn't.

MLB: And the Hits Just Keep On Coming...
Many fans and baseball experts scoffed at the idea of signing Manny Ramirez to a $160 million dollar contract. People questioned his durability and defense, doubting he would survive in Boston. However, based on his torrid performance thru the first 20 games this season, people are doubting no more.

MLB: Swinging for the top in 2001
Everyone knows the names of the greatest hitters in Major League Baseball today. So do some other guys in baseball. They just want to join the list of baseball superstars.

MLB: The 1998 trade of Chuck Knoblauch finally paying dividends.
The Twins are flying high in the early part of the 2001 campaign. Whether they continue on their pace or not, they still have two budding stars in SS Cristian Guzman and SP Eric Milton.

MLB: Cardinal starters struggle to find consistency
Last year, the Cardinals used just 6 starters in 162 games. The pitching was, for the large part, consistently decent. But that was last year, and the Cardinals pitching staff looks a whole lot different this year.

MLB: Hal McRae - the less than ideal candidate?
The new Tampa Bay Devil Rays manager may bring needed experience, intensity and emotion to the job, but there's a significant fly in the ointment...

MLB: Art of the game - Lineups
Many fans overlook the one place on a baseball field where inches make a difference every game, every inning and every batter.

MLB: A-Wad, I mean A-Rod returns to Safeco.
Alex Rodriguez's first trip back to Seattle didn't provide the reception he had hoped for. But should he really have expected it?

MLB: Cards need creativity to fill void
With Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire on the DL, the Cardinals are left scrambling for wins. Can they stay close to the top of the division?

MLB: Fluke season already? Looks like it in Minnesota
Prior to the 2001 season, no one knew who was going to win the American League Central. Cleveland? Chicago? Definitely not Minnesota. But the Twins have taken the AL Central by storm and look as if they're ready to stake their claim for the division title.

MLB: The yawn heard round the world
Next Tuesday, the Chicago White Sox and the Oakland A's will kick off a three-game set at Comiskey Park. A month ago most baseball experts would have been circling the date, jumping up and down, screaming that we could be seeing an early preview of this year's playoffs.

MLB: Cardinals trying to get McGwire up to speed
With Mark McGwire heading on the DL, Cardinal fans are already worried about the season. What, exactly, is wrong with McGwire and can he come back?

MLB: The weakest link
The Oakland Athletics, at 2-10, struggle out of the gate. What's going on?

MLB: OPS - What does it mean?
OPS is a relatively new statistic in the vocabulary of baseball. However, for those who understand its meaning, it can offer new insight into just how valuable a player is.

MLB: Comedy, Tragedy & Vinny Castilla
The Devil Ray third baseman's "play me or trade me" demand seems like something that Moe would have dreamed up for Curly to do while Larry stood by watching. The sad part is that like Moe Larry and Curly, Castilla doesn't know that the joke's on him...

MLB: Card's Ankiel stabilized but far from cured
For now it appears that St. Louis pitcher Rick Ankiel is stabilized and standing tall on the mound again. But his tender, bruised ego is far from cured.

MLB: Are these Twins for real?
Eric Milton and Brad Radke have looked good in leading the Twins to the AL Central's best record through Saturday. But, will their success last, or is it only temporary?

MLB: The 2001 Twins look vaguely familiar.....
For Twins fans, it's beginning to feel like 1987 all over again, without the unpleasantness of big hair or "Jake and the Fatman".

MLB: Welcome back to Detroit, Juan
Juan Gonzalez is back and being booed by the Tiger fans. The fans should also send Illitch a message to fire Randy Smith by not going to games.

MLB: How good a manager is Larry Rothschild?
Answer: probably as good as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays have needed up to this point. As for the future, well...

MLB: The continued rise of salaries & ticket prices
Reflecting the ongoing surge in professional sports revenues, the average Major League Baseball salary rose again this year to $2.3 million. So which pro sport spends the most on its athletes? Read on to see why it's all a matter of perspective.

MLB: Mark 'Big Mac'...Grudzielanek?
Mark Grudzielanek is turning a few heads so far this season, including his own.

MLB: Opening week observations
Baseball’s first week has come and gone. Some things remain the same, while others have taken everyone by surprise.

MLB: In Requiem - Wilver Dornel Stargell
The Pirate Hall of Famer was more than a capital home run hitter or a guy who pinned stars on people's hats. Stargell was one of those rare men who rose out of tumultous times to embody athletic and personal excellence... and then found a way to exceed even that.

MLB: A fun look at baseball's first week
So, a week has gone by in the 2001 baseball season. Lots of events have occurred, so Jared Spinelli feels it's time to take a look at some of it.

MLB: HOF -- Where past makes perfect
It seems somehow odd that long after a very good player has hung up his cleats, his stature and worth has risen to Hall of Fame greatness and we should have recognized it all along.

MLB: Switch getting rusty?
Five reasons why the Yankees won’t repeat.

MLB: Eric Glaser Interview
Red Sox prospect Eric Glaser took the road less traveled from top pick-turned-bust back to prospect. Hear what he has to say about it all, including his 2000 minor-league no-hitter.

MLB: Three and two count
Major League Baseball's having a make-or-break year. With collective bargaining on the horizon, it's now or never for the boys of summer.

MLB: Harry, Ronnie, Swami and The Boss
In the first game of 19 that they will plae this season, the Mets and Braves picked up right where they left off, with two of the game's best lefties on the mound in two-time Cy Young award winner, Tom Glavine, and a guy who reminds many of Danny Jackson - Al Leiter.

MLB: Moose is the man in his pinstripe debut
Mike Mussina was dominating in his Yankee dubut Thursday.From the moment Mussina took the mound it was clear that the money spentthe Yanks gave him was money well spent.

MLB: Five things to look for in 2001
A list of five things in major league baseball that may be considered surprising but really are not.

MLB: D-Backs 2001 season outlook
Analysis of the Arizona Diamondbacks 2001 team, and its chances for the NL West Crown

MLB: Opening Day on the Internet
Is the deal between Major League Baseball and Real Networks just another monopoly? Or is it really a good thing for the common fan?

MLB: Strawberry has nobody to blame but himself
Darryl Strawberry had talent beyond mere mortals.... but he just couldn't kick the drug habit that ended his career.

MLB: Lights. Camera. Action.
MLB Preview 2001: National League West

MLB: Lessons learned on Opening Day
The first day of a baseball season is much more than just the first day the games officially begin.

MLB: Predictions: The wild National League figures to be exciting
With perhaps its greatest parity in decades, the National League figures to be very exciting. Without futher adieu, the predictions for the National League.

MLB: The scoop on the American League in 2001
With Opening Day upon us and the season in full swing, here's your guide to what will happen in the American League over the next six months.

MLB: The most compelling stories of 2001
What stories will dominate Major League baseball in 2001? The debate begins...

MLB: Forget Darryl Strawberry the ballplayer, save Straw the man
Darryl Strawberry was one of the best baseball players in the game...now he's fighting to regain control of his life

MLB: Opening Day Recap: Tracking the Free Agent Class of 2000
Opening day came and went and here's an inside look at the most recent big dog free agents and how they fared in their opening debuts.

MLB: Is Peter Ueberroth's Number Still On Speed Dial?
Opening Day in Puerto Rico. One-game series. A league that believes it grows best by shrinking. All this and marketing disasters that rival New Coke. This is who you want controlling the fate of America's Past-Time?

MLB: Greg who?
The Atlanta Braves survive their season opener over the Cincinnati Reds today, even without their number one arm.

MLB: Sheffield left twisting by Dodgers
The season has begun but is Gary Sheffield really satisfied... or just biding his time?

MLB: Will the Yankees Represent the AL in 2K1?
Sure the Yankees were powerful and they added more power, but they will be dethroned as the American League Champions in 2001. That, plus a look at each team's breakout player and fantasy do's and don'ts

MLB: Jimy Williams - Managing for the Moment
It seems as though the sun is setting on Jimy Williams' time as skipper of the Boston Red Sox, but he isn't going to go quietly; in prepartion of opening day, he's igniting fires that would make pyromaniacs shudder in fear.

MLB: It's the game, stupid!!!
Baseball and sports in general are no different now than they have been throughout history. People should quit whining about how great it was and enjoy how great it is.

MLB: Jesse Orosco & The Persistence of Self-Deception
The ancient left-hander felt betrayed by the Dodgers when the team released him last Friday. Orosco's logic defies rationality - except in the mind of a once-great pitcher nearing the end of the line.

MLB: Road trip to Cocoa Beach
The Big Walnut Eagles Baseball and Softball team traveled to Cocoa Beach to play at the Cocoa Expo, here is a summary of how they did.

MLB: Spring Pilgrimage to Cooperstown
Late winter or early spring is the perfect time of the year to make a trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Read more to find out what makes this such a special trip.

MLB: Not a Gooden-d
Now that Dwight Gooden has retired we are not going to remember a brilliant career. We’ll instead be left wondering “What could have been?” What started as a career with such amazing potential will be remembered as one with unfulfilled promise and one marred by substance abuse.

MLB: Opening Day - National League preview
We will take a look at all of the National League teams, and see who has got what it takes to send themselves into the post-season.

MLB: The shortest baseball preview ever
Are you tired of the same old magazine baseball previews? e-sports.com reporter Ryan McCarthy offers up a different view on baseball in his predictions for 2001.

MLB: Next up -- The Middle East trouble
The Minnesota Legislature is convinced it can bring the equivalent of World Peace to baseball and it's fans. Of course, there is a small price to pay first...

MLB: What the Helton? Colorado star signs for $151 Million
Get Real!! There is a problem in America when our entertainers make more money then people such as teachers, who do things to better the world and its future. Read On........

MLB: Psychic Insight into the 2001 Season
Read the predictions for this year's MLB season from the only source that matters: the Weekly World News.

MLB: Strength and honor
Major League Baseball Preview 2001, focusing on the National League Central Division.

MLB: Johnny Damon ready to run with the A's
With an incredibly talented, young pitching staff and possibly the most explosive offense in all of baseball, all the Oakland A's needed in 2000 was a proven leadoff man. Guess what? Johnny Damon and his rising stock joined the mix this offseason and the A's are ready to reap the benefits.

MLB: Webcast fee a savvy move
When MLB Advanced Media announced they would charge a nominal fee for live audio Webcasts this season it meant the league finally understood the power of the Net.

MLB: Carl Everett just can't win
Carl Everett-baseball's resident bad boy-has added another item to his list of non-conformist behavior.

MLB: Under the Microscope
Boston Red Sox fans and media can be more wild than a pack of hungry boars when it comes to the play and expectation of their athletes. Manny Ramirez seems to be learning this the hard way...

MLB: Who's better, who's best - Part II: The American League
Joey delves into the American League to point out the best and ignore the rest.

MLB: What the Hell?!? -- Helton signs for $151 Million
Get Real!! There is a problem in America when our entertainers make more money then people such as teachers, who do things to better the world and its future. Read On........

MLB: For the love of the game
A time when dollar amounts were merely an afterthought, and desire to win was the main objective? I would like to ask everyone to join me in this effort, to bring innocence back into professional sports. Why you ask? Read on and find out!

MLB: White Sox feel Wells just beginning controversy
Baseball hasn't even begun for the White Sox and their new ace is talking retirement.

MLB: Sosa glad contract squabbles are over
Slugger Sammy Sosa could have faced a protracted contract battle -- but the Cubs and Sosa were able to find common ground.

MLB: National League West preview
Can the San Francisco Giants repeat as champions in what may be the toughest division in baseball, or will another franchise wrest the NL West title away from them?

MLB: Henderson back for another season
Rickey Henderson is hoping that he has something left to give the Padres. Obviously, personal records also play a huge part in this decision.

MLB: The future in pinstripes
The 2001 baseball season begins next week. Here's a look ahead to the 2002 New York Yankees.

MLB: Drew Henson takes the money and runs
Drew Henson got the money he wanted and signed to play baseball for the New York Yankees. Did he do the right thing? I don't think so.

MLB: Jays still feel Selig made bad decision
Toronto Blue Jays' brass are still smarting over Bud Selig's decision in the Mike Sirotka/David Wells trade dispute.

MLB: Bay area question marks
A look at the Oakland Athletics’ 2001 rotation. Are they really that good?

MLB: Red Sox, Nomar, no mas?
This has been one of the most anticipated Red Sox seasons in recent history. However, since Spring Training has begun nothing has gone right for this fragile squad. Will the Sox still be in the hunt when the dust settles?

MLB: Predicting the sleepers of 2001
Who will be the suprise impact players at their positions this year?

MLB: National League Central preview
The St. Louis Cardinals claimed the National League Central division crown in 2000, but can they hold off the five challengers to their title? Check out this NL Central preview and find out.

MLB: It's baseball season and...I miss Mickey
Sometimes the past stays bigger than the present, especially when the ago is filled with memories of a bright comet such as Mickey Mantle -- whose glowed path was a joy to follow and remains a bittersweet memory to those lucky enough to have tracked it up close.

MLB: Can a lack of pitching overshadow a lack of Manny?
The loss of Manny Ramirez would be huge hit for almost any team in the Major Leagues. Almost any team. The Cleveland Indians' pitching staff might take all the pressure off losing Manny by losing ballgames. But is the Tribe's staff that bad?

MLB: Hal Morris' high wire act comes to an end
The ex-Cincinnati Red first baseman lived on the professional edge for 13 seasons. In the end, it was the tiniest erosion of a non-core skill that did him in.

MLB: It's about respect
They're the three-time defending World Champs... and all they want is a little respect.

MLB: National League East preview
What promise does the 2001 season hold for those teams trying to knock the Atlanta Braves from their perennial perch atop the National League East? Check out this preview to find out the fortunes of all the NL East squads.

MLB: Baseball, Remade for TV
Some teams would be better off letting Hollywood tell their story.

MLB: The Belle has rung
Will Albert Fame ever get into the Hall of Fame? Does he deserve to get in the Hall of Fame?

MLB: Is contraction a reasonable action?
Bud Selig is willing to consider the contraction of the Major Leagues. This idea raises numerous potential questions and problems that Selig probably has never thought of.

MLB: Sleeping in the men's room
What do sleeping in the men's room, eating dirty food, and dressing for winter weather in the spring all have in common?

MLB: Belle will be missed by Hargrove
While many in the sports world won't bemoan the Orioles' loss of Albert Belle, manager Mike Hargrove is among those who'll miss the surly slugger.

MLB: Knoblauch's throwing issues solved?
Reports are coming out that the New York Yankees will move Chuck Knoblauch to the outfield to end all of his throwing problems. Is this the end of Knoblauch’s problems? Hopefully. The Yankees’ don’t need more distractions, like they did last year, when they finished with a very mortal-like record.

MLB: Dropping the ball at Shea
Steve Phillips had every chance to upgrade the New York Mets in the offseason, but choked. Now this year is in disarray before it even begins.

MLB: Fantasy baseball feast
It's that time of the year again: time for fantasy baseball, where live drafts and auto-pick drafts excite the masses, and rookie sensations become a gamble for the average Joe.

MLB: Team Midas looks strong again
A Preview of Major League Baseball's American League West.

MLB: Tribal power gives way to Sox strength
A Preview of the Major League Baseball's American League Central Division

MLB: Welcome back, Rick Ankiel
In last year’s playoffs, Rick Ankiel was involved in one of the most embarrassing and awful performances in post season history. He threw five wild pitches in one inning, and many thought his career was over. Tuesday afternoon, he fought back.

MLB: Baseball fans love its allure... starting early helps
Getting hooked on the game with granny listening to Harry Caray doing Cardinals broadcast, discovering baseball cards, and becoming a fan for life.

MLB: Respect (Just a Little Bit)
If it's not about the money, there are better ways to handle the signs of respect.

MLB: Too much talk
It's time to just back up and watch the game. Major League Baseball games, that is.

MLB: Baseball fever? Sounds like a disease
It was formerly known as the National Pastime. But now, as the world spins around the universe in this Year of Our Lord 2001, I prefer to give it a different name. I call it The Crying Game.

MLB: Random thoughts about Albert Belle
Albert Belle stands on the brink of retirement because of a degenerative hip disorder. Looking back, what mark has the mecurial outfielder left on the game?

MLB: A lifetime Giant? Not so fast.
Barry Bonds is looking for an extension from the Giants, something he surely deserves. Then why is GM Brian Sabean not acting?

MLB: Reflections on Spring Training's opening day
Spring training games are a great way to forget about all the troubles in baseball and enjoy the little things of the game and the great outdoors.

MLB: Grissom happy to be in LA
Marquis Grissom is in a good place at the right time for his career.

MLB: A view from the bleachers
The last decade of the twentieth century was quite a tough one for baseball fans. We had to endure a very difficult strike, which led many people to shy away from Major League Baseball, for one.

MLB: Thomas still wants his from White Sox
Frank Thomas may be back in camp but he still wants his from the White Sox.

MLB: Are the Cards good enough to hold off the Reds?
In what could be the most improved and competitive division in the National League, the St. Louis Cardinals have their work cut out for them if they hope to hold off the Cincinnati Reds.

MLB: Will Bill Stoneman pass the Troy Glaus test?
The Angel GM's decisions have been enigmatic to this point in time. Stoneman's negotiations with the star third baseman, however, should give us all an idea of what type of emperor - with or without clothes - he is.

MLB: esportfans.com's 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks Preview
The fifth of our 30 team-by-team previews.

MLB: esportfans.com's 2001 Los Angeles Dodgers Preview
The fourth in our series our 30 team-by-team previews.

MLB: esportfans.com's 2001 Colorado Rockies Preview
The third in our series of 30 team-by-team previews for 2001.

MLB: A's aren't moving
Forget the rumors, the Oakland A's are staying put in their home and they're here to stay.

MLB: Junior Needs A Nap
Ken Griffey Jr. used to be a fan favorite with his flair and ability. Now, he has more beef than a herd of cows and is tarnishing his once god-like reputation. Can he reconstruct his image and once again be the ambassador of baseball or has his moment in the sun, set?

MLB: Looking at the AL Central's farm systems
In the second par tof our series, we take a look at the Al Central. Do the Indians have any talent left in their farm system to trade, or are the White Sox' young arms going to come in and take over the division?

MLB: Hitters beware! Pitchers finally get a break
New rules for the strike zone finally bring the game of baseball back into perspective. But, will pitchers benefit too much from the high strike?

MLB: The National League East: We've seen this before
While the Natinal League East is seemingly getting stronger every year, this year once again looks as though it will be the New York Mets' and Atlanta Braves' division to lose.

MLB: Griffey may get FBI protection again
Ken Griffey Jr. has reached rock star status, and the FBI may come into play to protect him.

MLB: Who's better, who's best? The NL's best players in 2001
Joey lists his top three players at each position in the National League and issues a challenge in the form of a fantasy league for the first 11 respondants.

MLB: Invasion of the kids
A look at the minor league prospects who could earn spots on the Yankees' opening day roster.

MLB: The curse of Mike Piazza
The last three years have been a blur of turmoil for the Dodgers. And the truth behind its origin is finally uncovered.

MLB: Sheffield A Winner Not A Risk
Gary Sheffield is not a "risk" as his critics are saying. He is a proven winner and an asset to any team as evidenced by the succes of the teams he's played for.

MLB: San Diego Padres preview
The second of esportfans.com's 30 team-by-team previews for the 2001 seasons.

MLB: Saving Jerry Colangelo
Ten Arizona Diamondback players - basically everybody on the team making real money - agreed to defer large portions of their salaries to help ol' Jerry out. That was good for him and good for the players' images, but as for the fans... well, two out of three ain't bad.

MLB: The Mike Sirotka/David Wells saga continues
Didn't this trade go down a couple weeks ago? So why is it still in the news? That's because it's going to have to go the Comissioner's office to figure all of this mess out.

MLB: esportfans.com 2001 San Francisco Giants preview
The first of esportfans.com 30 team-by-team preview for the upcoming 2001 baseball season.

MLB: Boston split on big deal for Nomar
The Boston faithful are split on whether to support a whopping deal for shortstop Nomar Garciaparra.

MLB: The three amigos of Brooklyn
Only in an Election 2000-type scenario could the Dodgers ever be ordered back to Brooklyn. But Dodger and Fox TV owner Rupert Murdoch’s dirty little conflict of interest involving Alex Rodriguez has created an unhappy Gary Sheffield, a man who might just be savvier than old Rup himself.

MLB: Spring Training heats up
It's spring training time in baseball land. So what's the scoop on the pre-season predictions?

MLB: Sheffield begins Dodgers spring of discontent
Spring training has barely begun and Gary Sheffield is already causing trouble of the LA Dodgers.

MLB: Sheffield and Sosa deal nixed
Gary Sheffield's battle to leave the Dodgers isn't coming to fruition... yet.

MLB: Jays cry foul
The Mike Sirotka/David Wells deal still smells... so Gordon Ash isn't sitting still breathing in the odors.

MLB: New ballparks....a boon or bust?
How will the Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers perform in their new ballparks?? Take a look at the other teams who have changed home venues in the last ten years....

MLB: Looking at the farm systems of the AL East
A quick look at each teams farm system, starting with the Al East.

MLB: A real wild card
As Spring Training begins, the majority of baseball’s teams head to the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues knowing they don’t have a chance to reach the post-season. Here is a simple solution that would give every team a shot at the playoffs.

MLB: R-E-S-P-E-C-T & the great Gary Sheffield
The Dodger outfielder has demanded either a trade or a new contract. Despite what the papers say, the issue is about respect rather than money - and that's they one thing Sheffield is virtually certain not to get.

MLB: How will the Yankees replace Jeff Nelson?
A look at Joe Torre's options for filling the void created by the right-handed reliever's departure.

MLB: 2001 AA -- Life after Arod,
$25 million, a new team, a labor strike on the horizon and a new era for Major League Baseball as we know it.

MLB: On the retirement of Rick Aguilera
Some butt their heads against walls that cannot be overcome, while others accept their weaknesses and find ways to compete with the strengths they have. Following the latter course allowed Aguilera to become one of the better closers of his time.

MLB: Enlarged strike zone irrelevant
Baseball's decision to enlarge the strike zone follows follows the recent rise of sluggers and the demise of the pitcher. This week's MLB article analyzes the irrelevancy behind that decision.

MLB: Baseball's future lies with you
Baseball has been a sport that is passed down like a family treasure. Why does its mean so much to us?

MLB: Deion Sanders Has Another Shot at the Record Books
Deion may be the first major two-sport disappointment.

MLB: Built for September, not October
Braves annual collapse is an embarrassment to NL.

MLB: Bud Selig's 'all-star' idea
Bud Selig wants the All-Star Game to determine home-field advantage for the World Series. What in the world is he thinking?

MLB: The rites of spring
The innocent time in baseball, before any games are played, takes Joey Ware back to a time when life was innocent also.

MLB: The best baseball game ever pitched
Was this the best game ever pitched in Major League history? Read the facts, then make up your own mind.

MLB: Don't order the tickertape just yet
Why the Mets' prospects in 2001 may not be so rosy.

MLB: Should baseball's Hall of Fame have magic numbers?
3,000 hits or 300 wins have always meant guaranteed induction into baseball’s Hall of Fame, but should this be the case?

MLB: The Sirotka/Wells deal - Gord Ash's lesson in risk taking
The Tornoto Blue Jay GM believes "some compensation is in order" in light of Sirotka's previously unrevealed shoulder tear. However, as the old saying goes, "you plays the game, you takes your chances."

MLB: Blue Jays lose Sirotka, seek compensation
The Toronto Blue Jays aren't happy 29-year-old ace Mike Sirotka arrived in the David Wells deal as damaged goods. Now, they're asking the White Sox to fix the problem.

MLB: Jeter inks with Yanks for 10 more
Derek Jeter passed up the chance to test the free agency waters at the end of next season to ink a long-term deal with the Yankees and ensure he retires a Bronx Bomber.

MLB: The Best Bargain In Baseball
While the Rangers and Yankees are paying through the teeth for the services of Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, the Red Sox currently have Nomar Garciaparra's services at a thrift store price.

MLB: 2001 -The year of the incredible shrinking strike zone?
After years of unfettered interpretation, the rule book strike zone is supposedly back. Could Sandy Alderson's brain child become Alderson's Folly?

MLB: If Kirby, then Donnie?
Were Hall of Fame voters correct to enshrine Kirby Puckett without bestowing the same honor on Don Mattingly?

MLB: Derek Bell: Starting Right Fielder?
An analysis of Lloyd McClendon’s decision to start Derek Bell in right field over John Vander Wal.

MLB: 2001 at a glance
Why the Mets will repeat in the National League.

MLB: Mitch Williams - The Wild Thing As Pitching Coach?
The man who pitched as if his hair was on fire will be entrusted with the Atlantic City Surf staff this season. Yeah, it's funny - but Williams could easily be the right man for this job on the fringe of professional baseball society.

MLB: Eric Karros, Overlooked?
This article analyzes the recent Baseball Weekly cover story on overlooked players, which featured Maglio Ordonez, Mike Sweeney, Geoff Jenkins, and Eric Karros. It argues against Karros's inclusion in this group.

MLB: Cooperstown Snubs Bert Blyleven - And Vice Versa
The one-time Twins' ace is upset that his numbers haven't merited serious attention from the Hall of Fame voters. Thus, he wants his name removed from the ballot - and that works for me.

MLB: 465 Pounds of Pitching Ace
David Wells and Bartolo Colon are both the aces on their respective teams. That is not the only thing they have in common. They are both pretty big guys, okay, they're obese. And they will be going head to head in this year's most intriguing Opening Day matchup, writes SC's Rick Reighard.

MLB: Neon Deion Is Baaaaaack!
For some obscure reason, Reds GM Jim Bowden has signed Deion Sanders to a non-guaranteed minor league contract. Does baseball's most reluctant warrior have anything left to offer at 33?

MLB: Puckett's Passion
This piece tells an inspiring tale about the career of one of my heroes, Kirby Puckett.

MLB: The Bosox Sign David Cone - Too Much Of A Good Thing?
GM Dan Duquette's deal with the one-time Cy Young Award winner is a reasonable one in the abstract. Whether or not the Red Sox actually need Cone is another matter altogether.

MLB: Cone Not Assured of Job With Red Sox
David Cone has joined the Red Sox in an attempt to prove last year wasn't the bitter end. The Red Sox rotation was clouded already and Cone will have to return to form in a hurry if he wants to start in Boston.

MLB: Cone-fused
David Cone has always had the reputation of being a hired gun.His recent signing with Yankee's rival the Red Sox proved that he shows loyalty to none but himself.

MLB: Gallaraga Movie In Works!
"RUDY" Actor To Portray "The Big Cat"

MLB: 2001 Hot Stove Review (National League)
Now a look at the teams in the National League fared in the off season buying and trading.

MLB: The Losers.....
This years offseaon gave us a list of teams who lost out on some golden opporunities. What's surprising is several of these teams will probably still contend in 2001....

MLB: Major League Sticker Shock
Player X gets a lot of money; Team Y raises ticket prices to pay for him. A tale all too true, right? Well, it is a tale, and it isn't true.

MLB: Reviewing The Damon - Grieve- Hernandez Deal
Some teams are building for the future, some are going for it now... and some are just deluding themselves. A quick review of the A's-Devil Rays-Royals trade leaves little doubt as to which team is which.

MLB: The Only A-Rod Article To Mention Lap Dancing. Guaranteed.
When Scott Boras walked into that Owner's Meeting, he was only following in the footsteps of a G-String Diva. How wrong a visual is that?

MLB: From Radical To Reaganite: Stocking The Cardinals' Bench
The Redbirds bolstered their bench last Friday by signing four veteran free agents. Whether they are any better than the Cards' existing - and cheaper - alternatives is an open question.

MLB: 2001 Hot Stove Review (American League)
I took over a month off for final exams and Christmas, but I’m back with a look at how the free agent buys and winter trades went down in Major League Baseball.

MLB: Detroit Tigers Give Their Fans A Break. Sort Of
I have written a general analysis of the ticket prices being lowered or staying the same at Comerica Park. I have said how this is not enough, they should lower all prices.

MLB: Juan Gone & The 57 Dwarves
Remember when the 2000-01 Hot Stove League season featured speculation about names like A-Rod, Ramirez, Mussina, and Hampton? Well, the bad news is that they all ran for cover and signed early... but the good news is that there are still a few guys out there who can help the right team.

MLB: The Winners....
So far its been an interesting offseason for MLB. Huge surprises, along with huge contracts have been the rage. Who's benefited from this explosion???

MLB: America's Game is Back!
The carols have been sung, the star has been ceremoniously hoisted to the top of the tree, Santa and those illustrious reindeer have made their voyage. And that can only mean one thing ...

MLB: Mo Vaughn vs. Manny Ramirez, Part Three
In the final comparison, I step away from the ballfield and the stats and look at a major X-factor the Sox need to fuel them back to postseason play...

MLB: Sympathizing With Eric Gregg?
A Christmas Eve article documented the plight of one of the 22 umpires purged as a result of Richie Phillips' resignation gambit. Whether Gregg deserves compassion or is simply getting what he asked for is another matter altogether...

MLB: Keeping Up With the Rodriguez's
Another look at baseball economics as we close the book on 2000

MLB: Memorial, Memories And Life
The Curtain draws to a close on Baltimore's Memorial Stadium.

MLB: Pat Rapp - The Halos Sign The Ultimate 'Road Warrior'
Angel GM Bill Stoneman recently spent $2 million to plug a gap in his starting rotation with the quintessional "inning eating" pitcher. Why he'd bother to do so is one of life's little mysteries...

MLB: Last minute gift ideas for MLB teams and general managers
With the holidays only a day away, I have provided a list of last minute gift ideas for that Major League Team or special General Manager on your list.

MLB: The Randy Smith Question
A look at the latest trade by Randy Smith. What Smith is doing for the Tigers and why he still is employed?

MLB: For the Love of the Game
A short article about a man's passion for baseball.

MLB: Mo Vaughn vs. Manny Ramirez pt.2
Part two of this series focuses on the numbers game. Doing my best Sherlock impersonation, I seek out the offensive comparision between the two superstars...

MLB: Fans Must Stand Up And Be Heard
What we can do as fans of major league baseball to try and keep the salaries and ticket prices down.

MLB: Mo Vaughn vs. Manny Ramirez pt.1
Peter Gammons and a few other national media members have implied that Manny is a one-tool player. A friend asked, "if the Sox were paying so much for a supposed one-tool player, isn’t he bringing the same offensive production (former Sox slugger) Mo brought to the lineup?" I sought to investigate.

MLB: Can Hick’s open wallet push Rangers to the top?
Tom Hicks and his Texas Rangers have gone wild on the free agant market in this offseason. But can Tom Hicks’ wallet push the Rangers over the top in the American League?

MLB: I'd like to have 84 million Happy Meals please...
Hey-if A-rod wanted to, he could have just that.

MLB: Baseball work stoppage in 2002?
The only thing baseball can gain from a lockout, is the further alienation of it's fans.Will baseball survive another lockout?

MLB: High Stakes Gamble - The Hermanson/Tatis Deal
Cardinal GM Walt Jocketty's deal for the Expo righthander is the hallmark of a good executive... assuming that he didn't out-maneuver himself in the process.

MLB: The Foundation Is Shaking
Rising Salaries and the imminent Labor dispute ahead spell significant problems for Major League Baseball.

MLB: Comparing Two Heartbreakers
Art Modell and ARod -- birds of a feather.

MLB: Work Stoppage Will Kill Baseball
With the threat of yet another work stoppage looming, here's an impassioned plea to the powers that be to solve the problem and save the game.

MLB: Baseball’s Giving Season
After UsFANS President Frank Stadulis and MLB Commish Bud Selig both told a U.S. Senate subcommittee that baseball's economics have to change, A-Rod's reported 10-year, $252 million contract can only spell doom to the current climate.

MLB: A-Rod Reaction
As I perused the sports pages over the past few days and read my favorite columnists, I became very disturbed as to what my eyes were seeing. These people were criticizing Alex Rodriguez and the Texas Rangers Baseball Club for signing a $252 million deal with the Texas Rangers.

MLB: A-rod? Ridiculous or Brillance
The Texas Rangers signed Alex Rodriguez to a record setting deal. Now all that is left to see is if it was a waste of money or a genius move.

MLB: Balancing the Scales
What is going to lead their respective team to the 2001 AL East championship? Mike Mussina's arm or Manny Ramirez's bat?

MLB: Please Stop The Joke That Is Baseball
$252 Million. $160 Million. What's next? Tossing in the Brooklyn Bridge? Who can stop the madness that has taken over Major League Baseball?

MLB: Rangers Can Hit, But Can They Pitch?
Now that Texas has dished out the dollars for the best all-around player in the game, will it really make a difference in the standings?

MLB: Hibernating Mets Could be in Trouble in 2001
The New York Mets exciting offseason turned into an unmitigated disaster just a little over one month after their loss in the World Series against the Yankees....

MLB: One Buck Per Person
Do the math on ARod's new contract and you'll find an interesting fact -- you may just owe him $1.

MLB: Grace Leaves Hole In Cub Infield, Hearts Of Fans
Mark Grace's departure from the Chicago Cubs to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks reminds fans that even his loyalties have bounds and that sometimes the thought of winning is not a selfish one for a player to have.

MLB: Rockies High In Colorado
With the signings of Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle the Colorado Rockies are prepared to make a run at the NL West Division and possibly a World Series.

MLB: Filling The Wrong Hole With Andres Galarraga
Texas GM Doug Melvin's signing of the Big Cat added a premium DH... at a premium price. Too bad that he doesn't address the Rangers' most pressing needs.

MLB: Phillies Finally Listen To The Fans
Bowas' hiring was one of the best things to happen to Phillies fans in a while.

MLB: Free Agent Vice Versa
Oh no, is it Kirk Cameron Month on Encore? No, this is the story of Andy Ashby and Rick Reed, two pitchers who nearly signed with the same team and nearly signed the same contract. In the end, the Dodgers got Ashby and the Mets kept Reed? Who made the right choice?

MLB: Figure Out That ERA
ERA. It stands for more than Equal Rights Amendment. Actually, it means Earned Run Average, and for baseball fans and players, alike, it's a key statistic. Here's how to figure out what it means.

MLB: The Moose Is Loose In N.Y
With Mike Mussina in pinstripes, the Yankees have virtually secured another World Series title.

MLB: Salaries And The Yankees: When Will They End?
Salaries and the New York Yankees are both getting out of control in baseball. A closer look at why this is killing the game.

MLB: Lou Whitaker - 'Just Another Guy' Bids For Immortality
The one-time Tiger second baseman is in his first year of Hall of Fame eligibility - and perhaps his last. While Whitaker may be "just another guy" to current day journalists, a look at his career suggests that he was anything but.

MLB: Welcome to Loserville, U.S.A.
Welcome to Boston. Population: Way too many sports zeroes....

MLB: Thinking of Mussina, Tiger, Sampras And More
Mike Mussina, Tiger Woods and Pete Sampras are just a few of the things on the mind of e-sports.com columnist Matthew Traub

MLB: Ballpark Tours: A Different View Of MLB
Can't wait for Spring Training to start? Don't know what to do with the in-laws? Take a tour of a MLB stadium.

MLB: An Open Letter to Commissioner Selig
A citizen of Red Sox Nation implores MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to save the game.

MLB: Bye Bye Birdie
Mike Mussina's signing with the Yankees means bad news for the rest of the league.

MLB: Could Ramirez Be On The Losing End?
Did Manny Ramirez's greed cost himself big free agent money by turning down the Cleveland Indians' contract offer?

MLB: Mets Better Off Without A-Rod
General manager Steve Phillips has made a great deal for the New York Mets by not signing Alex Rodriguez. Phillips believed A-Rod would hurt team unity. The Mets would be better served by acquiring pitching.

MLB: 2001 Free Agent Preview Part II
After a short Thanksgiving hiatus, I’m back for part two of my free agent preview for the 2001 MLB season.

MLB: Factoring in the Ballpark Factor
Does the game define the ballpark, or does the ballpark define the game? Discover the chicken, the egg, and the Park Factor.

MLB: Free Agent Madness
Who wants $20 million a year???? Step right up and read all about it!!!

MLB: Magic Eightballs and Hot Stoves
Anything goes in free-agent baseball hunting season. What better to predict the future of these players than my trusty magic eightball?

MLB: Wondering About The MVP
Is it just me, or are you also wondering how baseball's MVP pick seems dumber and dumber each year? Jason Giambi (pictured) is a good player, but not the MVP.

MLB: An Open Letter To Brian Jordan
The Braves right fielder is upset at the prospect of being traded - and is letting everybody within earshot know it. Perhaps he might want to remember that baseball is a business and he himself a supposedly mature businessman.

MLB: Do The Mets Fear the Yankees?
In a traditional Subway Series, it's a battle for power. But what happens when one team has the psychological advantage over the other?

MLB: The Emperor Has No Clothes. Ewwww.
Bud Selig begged Congress not to look behind the curtain, but for a change, we got to see the Mighty Oz for what he really is. A little man in a big mess.

MLB: Stairs-way to the Windy City
In a hectic week, the Cubs acquired Matt Stairs and Bill Mueller for a couple of dimpled chads--a minor leaguer salvaged off waivers and Todd Worrell's brother.

MLB: Bill Mueller & The Value Of The Average Player
The one-time San Francisco third baseman isn't a great player, but he does have some skills that can help a team win. It's too bad that Giants' GM Brian Sabean didn't recognize them.

MLB: Arizona Fall League: the Future of MLB
Phoenix is a great place to be in November. Especially, if you are a baseball fan

MLB: The American League MVP Follies
OK, perhaps the right guy did win. That doesn't mean that there weren't a lot of interesting high and lowlights in the 2000 MVP vote.

MLB: Still No Deal For A-Rod
Agent Scott Boras has taken a great deal of heat for Alex Rodriguez's recent contract demands. It's time to throw a little heat in A-Rod's direction.

MLB: Art of the Swing
So you think your baseball swing doesn't need any work, huh? Unless your name is Tony Gwynn, think again. Here are some tips to getting better wood on the ball.

MLB: Milwaukee County Stadium: The End Of An Era
In an era of cookie cutter ballparks, Milwaukee's County Stadium is a throwback to baseball's glory days.

MLB: Sense And Sensibility
Baseball owners showing some economic sense? What's happening? The answer lies with the extreme demands of players and their agents.

MLB: Donald Fehr + Scott Boras = Salvation??
Baseball's bad boys turned savoirs.

MLB: 2001 Free Agent Preview
Manny makes a proposal, Will the Thrill is gone, and A-Rod leads a B+ free agency class.

MLB: Grantland Rice: A Treasure Worth Unearthing
It's baseball's offseason, whatever shall we do? How about reading a biography of the Greatest Sportswriter Who Ever Lived?

MLB: Gambling On Ichiro Suzuki
The Seattle Mariners have offered $13 million plus for the right to negotiate with the Orix Blue Wave superstar and folk hero. It's a risky move, but what big bucks signing isn't?

MLB: Seamheads: America's Frightening Subculture
You know that guy you went to college with who seemed to like baseball just a little too much? Well there are more of them out there! Hardcore baseball fans around the country are often known as seamheads and with the offseason upon us, they can sometimes be a little dangerous.

MLB: It Wouldn't Be SoCal Without Tony Gwynn
So Cal natives are up in arms and madder than hell. They just don’t think you can have a So Cal without Tony Gwynn.

MLB: It just wouldn’t be So Cal without Tony Gwynn
So Cal natives are up in arms and madder than hell. They just don’t think you can have a So Cal without Tony Gwynn.

MLB: Will Clark: Icon of American Baseball Culture
Bonds and Maddux have laid claim to the last decade statistically, but the man who best embodies all the baseball is has called it a career.

MLB: Will Clark - The Thrill Is Gone
In a surprise move, the Cardinal first baseman/instant hero announced his retirement last week. For a player who somehow never quite attained the expectations of many, it was probably an infinitely logical - and satisfying - decision.

MLB: Drugs and Cancer Ruin Strawberry
Once, Darryl Strawberry was on top of the world. That was before drugs, crimes, and cancer tore him down.

MLB: Free Agency Race Set To Begin
Which teams have the purchase power to sign this year's crop of talented free agents? Many multimillion dollar contracts are expected to be signed very soon. So find out which players are at the top of everyones wish list this year.

MLB: Sammy Sosa & The Art Of The Deal... Er, Deadline
The incredible disappearing deadline in the Chicago Cubs' negotiations with their star outfielder makes you wonder what kind of poker player team president/GM Andy MacPhail is.

MLB: Going Once, Going Twice, Sold to the Man in Pinstripes!
Despite the fact that the Yankees won their fourth World Series in five years Thursday night, don't expect George Steinbrennor to sit idle through this year’s offseason. And George has a lot of options with this year’s exceptional free agent class.

MLB: A Requiem For Cal Ripken
The Oriole great is in negotiations to return for a 21st (and maybe even 22nd) season. Despite his back problems and diminished skills, the O's may still need Ripken every bit as much as he needs them.

MLB: Subway Series 2000: A Game By Game Analysis
This article is a game by game analysis of the 2000 World Series between the New York Yankees and the New York Mets. Each game of the Subway Series is analyzed and discussed for the reader's enjoyment.

MLB: Back To Fox's Regularly Scheduled Programming
With Thursday evening's conclusion to the Subway Series, Fox can now resume its regularly scheduled prime time programming and begin the search for agent Mulder. The greater "X-File," however, might be the startling decline in ratings for the World Series.

MLB: Past And Present, Yankees Always Come Out Champs
The New York Yankees of the present show a link to the great championship teams of the past, says e-sports columnist Matthew Traub.

MLB: Champions Of The World
The New York Yankees do it once more... An overview of World Series Game 5.

MLB: Yankees Back On Track
A summary of Subway Series' Game 4 at Shea Stadium.

MLB: Best of Baseball 2000
Who were the best players in baseball this past season. Rick Wilson gives you the truth...

MLB: The Mets Still Alive In World Series 2000
A summary of Game 3 of World Series 2000.

MLB: Promoting Lloyd McClendon... And Some Inexpensive Hope
Elevating the long-time Pirates' batting coach to the top spot was an odd but perfectly sensible decision when you get to thinking about it. Unfortunately, it may not be the kind of sense Pirate fans would like it to make.

MLB: Why is Roger Clemens the Bad Guy?
New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens has been made out to be the bad guy too many times by the media and the fans and it's unfair says e-sports columnist Ryan McCarthy.

MLB: Do You Know The Way To San Jose?
You got a great, young ball club. You're on the verge of returning your team to the glory days of the 70's and 80's. Future looks bright? Maybe ... depending on whether Oakland can engineer a move to San Jose.

MLB: Vintage Clemens
Roger Clemens is guilty of reckless behavior. His conduct unjustified, his comments questionable, his status as an active player for the remainder of the World Series debatable, and his outstanding pitching performance tarnished.

MLB: The Bat That Ate New York
The bizzare bat throwing incident in Game Two has consumed New Yorkers and turned the Subway Series into the Circus Series.

MLB: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the (Small) Market...
...The Toronto Blue Jays, suddenly rich again, signed Carlos Delgado to the largest per season contract in baseball history. Well, the largest for about two months, at least. But is Delgado worth it?

MLB: Clemens makes batters do the “Duck and Dance”
Roger Clemens has tweaked the intimidation factor to a new high with the creation of his new dance step, the Clemens’ “Duck and Dance”.

MLB: Yankees Extend Lead To 2-0
The Yankees and the Mets went head to head for Game 2 of the Subway Series. Heres the run down...

MLB: Will Series' Extra Innings Bust A NY Gut?
The first game of the 2000 World Series was a 12-inning gut buster. How many more of these marathons can these New Yorkers Pizza hounds take?

MLB: Yankees Cap Off The Subway Series Opener
An exciting opener to World Series 2000.

MLB: New York, New York - Stand By For a Wild One!
"Baseball is, and always will be, the greatest game in the world." So said Babe Ruth. He might have had the upcoming World Series in mind. Fasten your seat belts for The Subway Series.

MLB: National Pastime, Past My Bedtime
The World Series will be played out in front of the people of New York City and a lot of sleeping fans, e-sports columnist Matthew Traub says.

MLB: Subway Series About To Arrive. NYC Waits To Hop Aboard
The first Subway Series in forty-four years has New York in a tizzy. The rest of the country should keep an eye on this one as well.

MLB: In Defence of the Subway Series
I know, I know, New Yorkers can be insufferable and obnoxious ( I say that with love.) But for those of you who are spitting on the World Series just because you're tired of New York-isms like Regis and the phrase "fuhgeddaboudit," hear me out....

MLB: King...OR... the Ring?
Imagine if horror novelist Stephen King or wrestling ring mogul Vince McMahon decided they wanted to purchase the Red Sox? Imagine what that business session with present Sox owners would be like?

MLB: Baseball Ending After Hours
The baseball playoffs are pretty fun stuff. But the games are starting too late and ending even later. The game is in danger of fazing out the next generation of fans.

MLB: Subway Series Preview
Phil Boudreaux previews the all New York World Series and warns us not to forget the Buddy Biancalana factor.

MLB: Playoff Meanderings
A Sampling of Thoughts, Analysis and Insight Surrounding the MLB Playoffs

MLB: A Catch-22, Baseball Style
Would you rather hear about baseball's economic woes or baseball's weakening grip on America? With a Subway Series approaching, expect the former. Of course, it doesn't have to be that way...

MLB: The Problem With The Wild Card System Is...
that the Wild Card teams are winning. Though it's great for the fans of the New York Mets and Seattle Mariners, baseball's expanded post-season invitation list is seriously threatening the game's ethos.

MLB: Rocket Launching in October
An analysis of Roger Clemens' successes and failure in the postseason.

MLB: The Braves: An Aging, Struggling Team That Needs Changes
The Atlanta Braves are used to making it to the NLCS. Losing in the division series for the first time ever has created many questions for one of the "Teams of the '90s." What will they need to do to stay effective and in conention to be "Team of the '00s?"

MLB: It's Time For Kansas City To Walk The Walk
New Kansas City Royals owner David Glass has spent plenty of time talking the talk. Now it's time for the Royals organization to walk the walk.

MLB: Luis Polonia - The 'Obligatory' Left Handed Hitter
The New York Yankees kept the best left-handed hitter they had available to their post-season roster. Unfortunately, that may not be the same as adding the best hitter versus right-handed pitching.

MLB: The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same
Teams in pitcher's ball parks have an advantage over teams in hitter's ball parks. It's a sign of the changes in the pro game.

MLB: Mr. Oct-oh-ber: An Unfortunate Ode to Barry Bonds
Love him or hate him, Barry Bonds was the most dominant player of Nineties and is approaching the status of an all-time great. But his postseason failures, rightly or wrongly, will be his legacy.

MLB: Don't Write Off Proud Warriors
Just when you think the Yankees are done, they're not. Here's why.

MLB: Destiny Calls
Yankees pound A's to meet the Mariners in the ALCS. What could be more appropriate?

MLB: Benny Agbayani's Trek From Playoff Hero To Regular
The playoff spotlight came to rest on the New York Mets' resident cuddly guy/good luck charm last Saturday. Whether Agbayani can parlay his 15 minutes of fame into a full-time job remains open to speculation.

MLB: A Brave(less) New World?
The Atlanta Braves have done in two games what it previously took them five years to do - suffer a pair of losses in National League Division Series action.

MLB: Announcing The Post-Season To Death
The Fall Classic is once again being burdened with the banalities of too many Big Cheese announcers who have little feel for what's happening on the diamond. As long as there's a Rick Ankiel, Edgar Martinez, and Livan Hernandez around though, the quest for baseball's inner truth is still worth it.

MLB: October: A Great Preacher that Doesn't Use Foulke Tales
Do you ever get turned off when people link sports with life's greatest questions, deepest metaphors, and most cherished values?

MLB: The End May Be Near For The Yanks
The New York Yankees have struggled their way into the playoffs. Could it be a sign of the future?

MLB: The Rotten Apple?
With the postseason underway and both New York teams involved, the Big Apple remains unexcited. Have New York baseball fans become spoiled by success?

MLB: Swan Song
Casey looked to have much more power and speed added to his lineup. Yet why is there still no joy in Mudville...I mean Boston?

MLB: Can the Yankees handle the streaking A’s?
The Yankees ended the season like they couldn’t beat the Bad News Bears. The A’s ended on an up note killing everybody in sight. Can the old, grizzled Yanks fend off these young whippersnapper?

MLB: Thinking Through The Costs Of The Henry Rodriguez Deal
Sunday's decision to pass on the one-time Cub outfielder's 2001 option brings to a close one of those deals that must have seemed OK to Marlins' GM Dave Dombrowski at the time - but could have used a closer look.

MLB: Revenge of the Small Market Baseball Teams
In an age of escalating baseball salaries, the Oakland A's have made the postseason with a low-budget payroll. Just because Oakland has bucked the system one year doesn't mean baseball has cured its economic disparity.

MLB: NY Toughness Over Bay Area Freshness (Regrettably)
The upcoming baseball playoffs have a nice symmetry to them: in two series, teams from geographical corners of the country (Atlanta and Seattle) visit teams in the heartland (St. Louis and Chicago), while in the other two series, New York squads take on Bay Area ballclubs.

MLB: At Year's End: A Look at the Losers in Baseball
Everybody's watching the playoff race right now, right? But what about the other teams that people are overlooking? What about the worst teams in each division? Let's give them some press and see why their season's went down the tube.

MLB: Why One Bad Team Struggles
A recent quote in the Detroit Free Press promts a look at why the Tigers failed to finish above .500 once again.

MLB: Subway Series: Echo of the Past ... Dream for Today
A brief look at the history of the Subway Series, and the excitement being generated by baseball in New York.

MLB: The Three Horse Race For AL Rookie Of The Year Honors
Oakland's Terrence Long, Kansas City's Mark Quinn and Seattle's Kazuhiro Sasaki are the leading candidates for the coveted award. Though each is having a good to excellent season, it may be unwritten laws and individual career projections that determine the ultimate winner.

MLB: Oakland's Future May Be Now
Marty McFly and Doc Brown have nothing on the Oakland Athletics. Well, okay, perhaps the modified DeLorean. For those Bay Area sports fans who think time travel isn't possible, though, the A's are poised to reach the American League playoffs well ahead of schedule.

MLB: Poor Sportsmanship Continues To Infiltrate Our Fun And Games
A Mets fan tosses a bottle in the direction of John Rocker. Terrell Owens tries to incite the Texas Stadium crowd. There is a lack of respect and sportsmanship taking place in pro sports.

MLB: September 26, 2000: A Day That Could Have Lived in Infamy
Omar Daal proved incapable when it mattered the most. Faced with the chance at infamy, he settled for a really bad season. And we'll have to wait even longer for reappearance of the cherished Twenty Game Loser.

MLB: Alex Rodriguez & The $200 Million Question
Is the Mariners' shortstop really worth $20 million per year for the next ten seasons? Well, maybe it depends on how well your team can utilize his talents... or maybe it doesn't.

MLB: Baseball Economics For The Rest Of Us
We've been told that the game's finances (and thus its problems) are too arcane for mere fans to conprehend. Of course, the owners and players could be kidding us about that - for their own reasons.

MLB: The Age of the Lost Septembers
Why baseball is crippled by the wildcard.

MLB: Bubba Trammell & The Fatal Flaw
It's too bad that the one-time Devil Ray DH-posing-as-an-outfielder can't play any D, because if he could he'd be one of the better players around. Of course, it's possible that his glovework isn't really that bad...

MLB: Canseco and Baines don't make the List
Jose Canseco and Harold Baines have taken different paths, but their careers should end in the same way: not in the Hall of Fame.

MLB: NL Cy Young Award Highly Contested
Many pitchers can make at least some claim to the Cy Young in the National League. The question is, which pitcher actually deserves it?

MLB: Todd Hundley In Rumorland
The Dodgers are supposedly going to let the one-time All Star catcher walk - according to what passes for news nowadays.

MLB: The Dream of Mussina: What Will It Take? (Part 1)
Rumors fly that Mike Mussina will sign with the Red Sox in the offseason. So what's the real story?

MLB: I'd Rather See Another Taxi Cab Confession
After four years, isn't time to stop competing to see who the worst acting shortstop is?

MLB: The Battle For The Northern League Championship
The Duluth-Superior Dukes will take on the Adirondack Lumberjacks for the Northern League Championship. The Dukes will be going for their 10th overall title and second since the league started back up in 1993, while Adirondack is going for their first title since joining the Northern League

MLB: Praying for RedSox’s Bryce Florie
Boston’s releivers had a line drive hitted directly to his face on the game against the Yankees last friday. Pablo Morano writes his point of view of the incident as someone who had just the same hit this last April

MLB: Marlins Ready to Make a Run at the Top
Don't look now, but the Marlins are gearing up at a run at the top soon in the NL East. With the young talent on this promising team, the Marlins will hope that the fans will at least forgive the 1997 fire sale.

MLB: Curses! Why Red Sox Nation is So Bitter.
Babe Ruth was the best player in baseball history and was traded for stiffs to the Yankee organization. Since then, the Sox have won 0 championships and have watched the Yanks become the best franchise in the game...

MLB: No More Compassion For Strawberry
Darryl Strawberry has had chance after chance after chance. Today's news of yet another arrest has one fan finally giving up on Darryl.

MLB: Managing To Expectations: The John Boles Story
The Marlins skipper and his staff were just rewarded with contract extensions for bringing the team to the brink of respectability. How good he is in the future may well depend on your expectations...

MLB: Damian Jackson & The Padre Shortstop War
Sometimes, the most compelling baseball stories have little to do with marquee names. Jackson's evolution from blocked prospect to starting shortstop has not been an easy one - and the battle may not yet have been won.

MLB: Get your Voodoo Dolls Ready
In light of the Diamondbacks recent performances it's apparent that voodoo or another supernatural influence is the only way they'll reach the post season this year.

MLB: Bagwell-for-Andersen, Part 2?
Everyone knows that the Red Sox traded Jeff Bagwell to Houston for Larry Andersen on August 31, 1990. It has gone down in history as one of the worst trades ever made. Wanna hear about another?

MLB: Blue Jays Welcomed to Mr. Rogers Neighborhood
A warm, fuzzy optimistic piece on the purchase of the Toronto Blue Jays by self-made millionaire, Ted Rogers. The story is told from the Canadian perspective.

MLB: Paying The Price For Robb Nen
The San Francisco Giants just made the big righthander baseball's best paid fireman. Given the Giants' future, Nen may just be worth whatever GM Brian Sabean had to pay...