Is Jim Thome bound for Cooperstown?

Posted by Adrien Griffin Categories: Athletes, MLB,

In past baseball eras, certain statistics virtually guaranteed a player admittance to the Hall of Fame. 300 wins for a pitcher is a benchmark, but many have started to question whether the time of the 300-win pitcher is over. Similarly, but getting less attention is the 500-home-run plateau for hitters. Only 25 players in history have reached that mark, and every one of those eligible have a place in the Hall of Fame. Three of those 25 are currently active.

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AL East has all new feel

Posted by Adrien Griffin Categories: Athletes, MLB,

The lesser teams of the American League East were busy on Friday night with the Tampa Bay Rays rumored to have signed and reunited former Red Sox teammates Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon, each signed to one-year deals; Ramirez’s worth $2 million and Damon for $5.25 million. Up in Toronto, the Blue Jays ended an era as they traded 12-year veteran center fielder Vernon Wells to the Angels in exchange for Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera.

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Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon to reunite with Tampa Bay Rays

Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Athletes, MLB, News,

Former Boston Red Sox teammates, Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon, could be reunited with the Tampa Bay Rays for the 2011 MLB season. They've been signed as free agents and are pending passing physicals before the deals are official. Since their run as part of the Red Sox World Series runs, both have moved on from Beantown, experiencing certain degrees of success, but can they help lead a young team in the Rays to any sort of success? The Rays lost key contributors during the offseason, such as Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, and Rafael Soriano. Hopefully, a reunion between Manny and Johnny works some sort of magic.

Read More | ESPN

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Manny’s mane may go

Posted by Adrien Griffin Categories: Athletes, MLB, Rumors,

Manny Ramirez made top headlines again on Wednesday afternoon. But as much as they were for making his debut in a Chicago White Sox uniform, they were also about the idea that he may chop off his dreads. Manny’s hair has always been a topic of conversation, but seemingly never as much as in the last two days. Baseball’s #99 is now faced with a decision to conform with everybody else or continue the Manny Being Manny personage.

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Scott Podsednik traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers

Posted by Adrien Griffin Categories: Athletes, MLB, Trades,

Scott Podsednik is moving west… again. The 34-year-old outfielder was traded by the Kansas City Royals to the Los Angeles Dodgers. This will be Podsednik’s sixth major league team that he has played for, including two stints with the White Sox. The Dodgers picked up the veteran while giving back two prospects – catcher Lucas May and right-hander Elisaul Pimentel – to the Royals. Podsednik made his Dodgers debut on Thursday night, going 0-for-3 with a walk, strikeout, stolen base and error.

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Manny sticking around for years to come

Posted by Adrien Griffin Categories: Athletes, Editorial, MLB,

Manny Ramirez has come out and said that this will be his last year in a Dodger uniform. He’ll play as much as he’s asked to play, but once his contract expires, he’ll either look for a DH role with an American League team or even consider retirement. After teams failed to show significant interest prior to 2009, Manny signed a deal with Los Angeles that could have seen him test free agency again for this year, but he opted to stay in California, which was probably in his best interests.

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Canada’s team may not be for Canada’s Bay

Posted by Adrien Griffin Categories: Athletes, Editorial, MLB, Trades,

Jason Bay has a history of success. Being a 22nd round draft pick by the Montreal Expos, not many expected much of him. He was traded from the Expos to the San Diego Padres to the Pittsburgh Pirates between 2002-2003, making his MLB debut along the way. However, 2004 was the year he made the greatest impact. He hit .282 in 120 games, and lead all rookies 26 home runs, 82 RBI, .550 slugging, 54 extra base hits and 226 total bases. His accomplishments earned him the 2004 NL Rookie of the Year Award; the first time for any Canadian. In 2008, he was traded to the Red Sox to replace Manny Ramirez, and he has fit in perfectly.

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The 2009 MLB Playoffs Exposed

Posted by Adrien Griffin Categories: Editorial, MLB, Playoffs,

With the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers extra-inning division game nail-biter in the books, we now know the eight playoff teams. With that, here’s a Gear Live exclusive detailing exactly what is going to happen in each respective league in the 2009 MLB playoffs. Some may shock you, but it’s all true, so pay attention.

In the National League, the St. Louis Cardinals and their best three-man rotation in baseball, led of course by Chris Carpenter and his near-unanimous “Comeback Player of the Year” award; will make short work of the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup. The St. Louis starters will each flirt with perfection, but L.A. will manage to score three measly runs in the three game series; one per game. Each run will be come via a solo blast by Manny Ramirez, still trying to show the baseball world that he can ruin anything special that baseball has to offer. The other series will be much the same, with the Philadelphia Phillies starting Cliff Lee in three games against the Colorado Rockies, just to see if he can finally prove that he actually is better than Roy Halladay. He’ll win two, but it will take a group effort for Philadelphia to clinch the divisional series.

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Jason Bay Headed To Red Sox, Manny Ramirez Shipped To Dodgers

Posted by Milo Taibi Categories: Athletes, Editorial, MLB, Trades,

In a blockbuster trade, Manny Ramirez has been dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Jason Bay has been traded to the Boston Red Sox and the Pittsburgh Pirates received four top prospects. Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti explained his reasoning.

“We figured we had to do it,” Colletti said. “There was obviously a point in time that you have to make a major decision. We did and we were glad we did it. Hopefully it pays dividends. We’re confident we’ve got one of the best hitters in baseball coming in here—one of the best hitters of his generation from the right side.

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King Felix Shuts Out Red Sox

Posted by Milo Taibi Categories: Athletes, MLB, News,

On Tuesday night Felix Hernandez stole the show from the attractions of Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke “Dice K” Matsuzaka. Although the media hype was surrounding Ichiro facing Matsuzaka, Hernandez was quietly shutting down the Boston Red Sox offense. He went all nine innings, and gave up just one hit while striking out six.  Matsuzaka wasn’t nearly as impressive, throwing seven innings, giving up eight hits and three earned runs while striking out four and giving up one walk.

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