Cursed baseball blown to smithereens
When it comes to superstitions the Chicago Cubs have a long and well, wierd past. The Steve Bartman incident from last years playoff series against the Florida Marlins left a sour taste in every Cubs fan. The ball in question was purchased for $113,824 at auction on behalf of Harry Caray's restaurant and a special affects team used a combo pressure, heat and explosives in a bulletproof tank to turn it into a pile of threads. The remains were to be incinerated or 'offered' into Lake Michigan. I guess we'll have to see if this procedure pays off when the Cubs take the field in a couple of months!
Barry Bonds vs Turk Wendell
Bonds has been pretty ticked off about the recent remarks from Wendell accusing the Giants slugger of using steroids. Is it that Wendell is the only one with the guts to say it or is the recent indictment of several Bay area nutrition execs and Bonds' personal trainer, just a coincidence? Wendell doesn't know if Barry Bonds and many of the other MLB players have been on the juice. Sure we all see how big they've all gotten, their brute strength and the rate at which their offensive output has increased, but only these players and maybe their nutritionists know their exact secret formula.
When you look at it from a player's perspective over the last 10-15 years, its been the pitchers who have taken it on the chin. Whether it be the 'juiced' baseballs or steroid/supplement induced bodybuilders now playing baseball, the pitchers have seen their dominance absolutely eroded. The game of baseball has slowly become a game of homeruns, where most stadium are just not big enough to keep the ball in play.
Canseco wants back in
A recent report suggests that Jose Canseco is interested in making a comeback with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now this is the same guy who about a year ago wanted nothing to do with MLB or baseball because of the numerous illegal activities (re: steroids) he accused MLB of sweeping under the rug. Now about a year later, he wants back in. I guess he can play...as long as he's done his house arrest sentence.
Nolan Ryan re-signs with the Astros
No not as a pitcher...but hall of famer Nolan Ryan returned to the Astros, signing a five-year personal services contract. He'll work with Astros manager Jimy Williams and Pam Gardner, the president of business operations. The Houston Astros should gain valuable insight from Ryan.
Meet the 24 year old, $100 million man
Albert Pujols signed a $100m contract with the St Louis Cardinals that should keep him in the 'Show Me State' for the next 7 years. Pujols has had one of the best starts to a professional baseball career and made $950,000 last season as he won the batting title and hit 43 home runs. This contract could be worth as much as $111 million if the Cards exercise the option for an eighth season and its the biggest contract in St Louis Cardinals' history.
