Also credit Big League Stew for some of the pictures. Obviously I’m not a medical expert, but let me just inject my humble opinion here and say that Sammy Sosa probably put a lot of sketchy performance-enhancing substances into his body and I’m not in the least bit surprised to see him having health issues this quickly. This is going to be a trend, not an exception, for players that played in the ’90s and ’00s. Believe me. As for what’s going on, many people are theorizing that he has vitiligo — the same condition that caused the skin color issues with Michael Jackson. That could very well be the case.

Related posts

• Sammy Sosa’s 600 Is a Fraud
• MLB.tv Ignoring Bonds, Sosa in Ads

Jamie McCourt claims she was actively involved in the ownership and management of the team from day one, detailing her involvement in executive meetings, hiring and planning decisions, and marketing and community relations initiatives.

“I was the face of the Dodgers,” she claims.

Vin Scully, Manny Ramirez, Tommy Lasorda, Matt Kemp, Russell Martin, Jonathan Broxton, Andre Ethier. All of them take a back seat to Jamie McCourt. And in seven words, Jamie encapsulated most of what I had against the McCourts while they owned the Dodgers. The owners not only felt they were, but also aimed to be more important than everyone else in the organization, including the ones fans care about most — the players.

As if that sentiment isn’t bad enough, Bill Shaikin outlined my biggest gripe with the McCourts in a thorough article this week, and it’s something that should really tick fans off. Frank and Jamie took home between $7-$8 million a year for themselves instead of spending some of that money on payroll. Cliff Lee’s salary was $5.75 million this past season. The Dodgers have also spent the least amount of money on signing bonuses in the draft the past two years of any team in baseball. As we’ve said many times before, the McCheap’s strike again. I just hope the courts force them to sell the team rather than recognize Frank’s sole ownership of the Dodgers.

Related posts

• Sick of the Overhyped Managerial Jobs
• Ned Colletti Explains How the Manny Ramirez Trade Went Down
• McCourt Goes Parcells on Manny, Calls Him ‘The Player’?
• Jason Schmidt, Worst Signing of the Off-Season
• I Guess Jeff Kent Didn’t do Steroids
• Don’t Buy Dodgers’ P.R. Spin on Manny

Even in Philadelphia where he couldn’t play the field for three straight games, Matsui took advantage of his opportunities going 2-for-3 in pinch hit spots, with a home run in Game 3. I had the feeling entering Game 6 that if the Yankees closed out the series on Wednesday night, the MVP would go to the player who had the biggest game. Without a doubt, that was Matsui, and now he’s cemented in history for a clutch performance that rivals Reggie Jackson. You get the feeling that maybe if he didn’t require a translator his face would have been more omnipresent but either way Matsui let his bat do the talking.

By the way, it was about time the Yankees won a World Series. Those dedicated fans shouldn’t have to wait so long between titles — they deserve to win more frequently.

Related posts

• Do Not Borrow Hideki Matsui’s Glove

As Myers walked past Hamels near Hamels’ locker he said, mocking, “What are you doing here? I thought you quit.”

Hamels, the witness said, responded with an expletive.

Before the situation escalated, Myers was guided away by a team official.

Normally Myers’ big mouth and inability to restrain himself results in stupid remarks, but here he did indeed call out the right person. Hollywood Hamels went too Hollywood over the offseason and it’s cost him. After being so dominant in the postseason last year, Hamels took off the offseason to enjoy himself and capitalize on his new found fame. He admitted he came into the season unprepared and that it caused him elbow problems in spring training. The problem is that Cole got selfish, forgetting he’s still a baseball player with an obligation to be the ace of an awesome team. Everyone else came into the season prepared but he didn’t, and he let them down with his lack of preparation. Right now he’s costing them big time in the playoffs. Hamels needs to make it up to everyone with a gem in Game 7, that way it will “finally be over” for him. I think the dude’s ultimately learned his lesson.

By the way, I was on Charlie Manuel’s side for holding Cliff Lee until Game 5. Even if the Yankees won with Sabathia in Game 4, the Phils had the advantage in Games 5 and 6 with Lee and Pedro on full rest while Burnett and Pettitte are on short rest. Then it could wind up coming down to a Game 7 with CC and Hamels. Maybe the Yankees need to buy another starting pitcher in the offseason. Or maybe they’ll just win in six.

Related posts

• Who’s the ‘Retard’ Now, Brett?
• Don’t Let the Winning Get to Your Head, Cole Hamels
• Brett Myers Raising His Redneck Son the Right Way

“I’ve talked to a lot baseball people about this recently — that includes on the field and executives,” said Selig, explaining his position at length. “Believe me, they have a lot of trepidation about expanding it. [Angels manager] Mike Scioscia put it very well: The umpires get it right 99 percent of the time.

“Times change, but I’m still in favor of keeping the human element as a part of it, and I’m also very concerned about pace. I think there are other ways we can make corrections. During the offseason we’ll review everything. I’ve made my position clear, and by the way, I think it’s the position of most people in baseball. You have to be very careful when you tamper with a sport.”

Dude, we’re not saying get rid of the human element and have pitch tracker call balls and strikes, we’re just saying take the freaking five minutes to let the umpires see how badly they effed up with the Joe Mauer call or when Mike Napoli tagged out both Yankees at third base. That would go a long way towards preserving the purity of the game. Wait a sec, did I say purity? This is Selig we’re talking about. Why would I expect anything different? Still, MLB has to do something to correct this issue.

Related posts

• MLB Strikes Out Running Opening Day Opposite National Championship Game
• Fay Vincent Rips Bud Selig for Handling of Game 5 Rain Delay, Barry Bonds
• Bud Selig Made Over $18 Million in ‘07, 5th Highest Paid in Baseball
• Bud Selig Considering Reinstating Pete Rose in MLB?

Dear Jamie — This is to inform you that your employment with and positions as Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairperson of Los Angeles Dodgers LLC, as well as any and all of the positions that you hold … are hereby terminated effective immediately.

“Because your employment is held at-will, the Organization is not required to have cause to terminate your employment and may do so for any reason or no reason at all.

However, your actions, including, but not limited to, your insubordination, non-responsiveness, failure to follow procedures, and inappropriate behavior with regard to a direct subordinate, have made this decision necessary.”

How jacked up is the whole “at-will” reasoning? We can just fire you whenever we want? What’s up with that? I also love the underlying reason for the termination — insubordination. The same way they say “there aren’t enough basketballs” for two ballhogs on the same team, the organization wasn’t big enough for these two power hungry people. This is great news for anyone who’s sick of ticket and parking prices skyrocketing while the payroll gets slashed. Count me as one.

Related posts

• McCourt Goes Parcells on Manny, Calls Him ‘The Player’?
• Don’t Buy Dodgers’ P.R. Spin on Manny

Incidentally Myers wasn’t even on the Phillies’ NLCS roster. At least he was around to cheer the team on — there’s something to be said for that. I hear Myers might even be on the World Series roster which would probably be good news for either the Angels or Yankees. Anyway, insert Myers wife beating joke here.

Related posts

• Cole Hamels and Brett Myers Get Into it After Game 5
• Brett Myers Raising His Redneck Son the Right Way

Non-Angel fans may have simply seen the move as what it was: John Lackey being pissed he was taken out of a shutout by his manager and the bullpen blew it. Angel fans will tell you that that move had much deeper repercussions; John Lackey is going to be a free agent after the year and being removed from his shutout could very well be his lasting moment with the team. Do you think he’ll be eager about going back to the Angels and a manager that didn’t trust him enough to get the final out of the 7th in the ALCS? I know a lot of people will say that Lackey was losing it and that going to Oliver was the right move, but once I saw that fire in Lackey’s eyes I would have given him another batter. The guy is a bonafide competitor and when you see that look coming from him you have to let him settle his score. Or maybe that’s just me speaking from the perspective of a former pitcher who’s said to his manager “This is mine, this is mine.”

I really hope that’s not John Lackey’s last moment as an Angel — it would be an utter shame. I rather see him pitch in Game 1 and Game 5 of the World Series and re-sign with the team. They’d have a tough time repeating without an ice like him.

Related posts

• Umpire Ejects John Lackey Two Pitches into First Start of the Season
• The Squeeze Was the Perfect Call
• Great Day to Be an Angels Fan

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Either the umpires here in the playoffs are screwing the Angels or they’ve been instructed to give the Yankees as many calls as possible. The horrible calls to go the way of New York in the playoffs started in the division series with Phil Cuzzi calling Joe Mauer’s double down the left field line a foul ball when it wasn’t even a close call. That was pretty darn egregious. Then it continued in I believe Game 2 of the ALCS when the second base umpire didn’t give Erick Aybar the phantom tag at second when he was trying to turn a double-play. Yes I’ll admit that Aybar never tagged the bag but that’s never been an issue for umps — it’s always been accepted. Unfortunately that call was only small potatoes compared to the two horrendously blown calls by the umps in Game 4.

In the top of the 4th, Scott Kazmir tried to pick off Nick Swisher at second with a spin move. The throw from Kazmir to Aybar was spot on and they easily had Swisher, no doubt about it. Swisher was called safe and he later advanced to third after Jeter was walked to load up the bases. The Yankees should have gone up 4-0 on Johnny Damon’s fly out to left field but the Angels appealed that Swisher left third base early and the umpires gave them the call, ending the inning (see the images at The Replacement Refs via Deadspin). If that wasn’t a makeup call I don’t know what is. Then the very next inning the umpires were up to their same tricks and this might have been the absolute worst call of the series.

In the top of the 5th, the Yankees had Jorge Posada on third and Robinson Cano on second with one out. Nick Swisher hit a grounder to Darren Oliver who threw home, getting Posada caught in a rundown. Mike Napoli chased Posada back to third and tagged both Posada and Cano out (Cano had headed towards third). For some unknown reason, the third base umpire called Posada out and Cano safe. Yankee fans will point to the fact that no runs were scored because of this mistake so it doesn’t matter. Problem is every extra out you give a lineup like the Yankees will kill you. What’s better to start an inning, Melky, Jeter and Damon or Jeter, Damon, and Teixeira? It’s a huge difference when you’re talking playoff baseball.

The Yankees are so good and playing so well they would probably advance to the World Series regardless. Facing CC Sabathia and that murderer’s row is tough enough as is; the Angels shouldn’t also have to overcome the umpires. This is embarrassing.

Related posts

• Umpire Phil Cuzzi’s Blown Call on Joe Mauer Fly Ball Helped Give Yankees Win
• The Squeeze Was the Perfect Call
• The Dragon Has Finally Been Slain
• The Angels Own the Yankees
• The .300 Club Angels Roll Along
• Mark Teixeira Just Another A-Rod Clone?

The Angels are on one of the biggest stages possible and coming close to embarrassing themselves. They’re now down 0-2 in the ALCS to the Yankees and they’ve committed five errors, three in Game 1 and two in Game 2. The most egregious error ended Game 2 in the 13th when Maicer Izturis tried to turn a double play on a ball in the 3-4 hole and he threw it away. I really don’t have that much of a problem with Maicer trying to go to second on that play (they needed both outs desperately) but he needs to set his body up more before making that throw. And how about Chone Figgins? Anyone else notice that if he picks the missed throw up cleanly he can probably get Jerry Hairston Jr. out at the plate? Maybe it’s just me. Figgins also made a throwing error in the 6th on a ball hit by Mark Teixeira. Coupling that with Chone’s 0fer in the playoffs and you could tell it wasn’t his October (until the 11th inning).

The only excuse for the Angels is that the Yankees committed three errors including botched grounders by Jeter and Cano on easy plays, suggesting the crappy weather conditions affected everyone. Even if the conditions have been awful, all the Angels’ mistakes from Game 1 can’t be excused. How can you make that many screwups? Erick Aybar and Figgins let a popup drop between them after Juan Rivera had made a throwing error in the 1st, Torii Hunter wasn’t able to field a Jeter hit to center, and John Lackey threw away a pick off attempt. This was the exact same charade put on by the Angels in Boston last year in Game 2 where they made two errors and let a popup drop in center that allowed a rally to happen. The Angels couldn’t hit CC Sabathia in Game 1 but didn’t give themselves a chance to win with all their mistakes. In Game 2 they couldn’t hit with runners in scoring position and got some bad calls from the umps but it was their fielding errors that directly cost them the game. Arrggghh, so frustrating. Good thing is it’s a best of 7 (which only means they have two games to commit more errors!).

Related posts

• Umpires Officially Are Screwing the Angels in ALCS vs. Yankees
• The Squeeze Was the Perfect Call
• The Dragon Has Finally Been Slain
• The Angels Own the Yankees
• The .300 Club Angels Roll Along
• Mark Teixeira Just Another A-Rod Clone?