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Tag: Baseball

  • Darla Holloway: 4-Year Old Cancer Patient Wows Ballpark

    Darla Holloway may be battling leukemia at just 4 years old, but that didn’t stop her from showing everyone at Fenway Park how it’s done when it comes to belting out “God Bless America”.

    Holloway appeared at Fenway on Tuesday night courtesy of The Jimmy Fund, which raises money for cancer patients in the Boston area. After singing the National Anthem, she performed the song guaranteed not to leave a dry eye in the house.

    Darla was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2012 and is currently undergoing chemotherapy in a two-year plan of treatment. You can listen to an interview with her below.


    Image: NESN.com screenshot

  • Danny DeVito Crashes Dodgers Interview

    Danny DeVito has been making us laugh for years; he’s the tiny guy with the huge personality who’s worked in film, television, and behind the camera. He can play a cruel father with criminal tendencies (“Matilda”, “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia”) or an old-time Hollywood reporter with a penchant for bribery (“L.A. Confidential”), but he’s always got a mischievous twinkle in his eye no matter what he’s doing, and that includes dancing at a baseball game and crashing an interview with his favorite player.

    DeVito was checking out the Dodgers/Mets game on Monday night when he was spotted in the crowd, dancing in celebration after Nick Punto got a homerun in the 7th inning. Since he also happened to be wearing a Punto jersey, he got some extra attention and was welcomed over when Punto was giving an interview after the game.

    Check out the funnyman and The Shredder, hugging it out.

  • Banana Toss Apology: Giants Fan Says It Wasn’t Racial

    A Giants fan who threw a banana at an Orioles player has apologized and says it was completely misconstrued.

    Alexander Poulides says that he did throw a banana at Orioles center fielder Adam Jones but that it wasn’t racially motivated at all, but rather a commentary on his team’s performance after they got beaten 10-2.

    “I’m embarrassed and shocked by the outcome,” Poulides told the Mercury News. “In hindsight, I wish I didn’t do it and I apologize. I’m very sorry.”

    Reps for the Giants released a statement of their own before Poulides accepted responsibility for the incident, saying, “We were extremely disappointed to learn about the incident involving Adam Jones at AT&T Park yesterday. The Giants have a zero tolerance policy against this type of behavior, which results in immediate ejection from the ballpark. While we have been investigating the matter since we learned of the situation, unfortunately we have been unable to identify the person responsible. We would like to extend our sincerest apologies to Adam and the entire Orioles organization for this unfortunate incident. The inappropriate actions of this individual in no way reflect the values of our organization and our fans.”

    While the choice of food thrown at an African-American player was an unfortunate one, Jones says he’s more concerned about the safety aspect of the incident and the fact that anything was thrown onto the field.

    “I personally don’t have no hard feelings about it. It’s just an unfortunate thing that happened,” Jones said. “You never know what kind of things can be thrown at a player. Our backs are turned. You never know what can be thrown in our direction. I just look at it as a safety issue. When my back is turned, I don’t know what is going on there, so we just look at it as a liability. Whatever certain object it was, I could care less. I’ve got a bigger concern on my head than someone’s ignorance or act of whatever.”

  • Ripkin Abduction: Suspect Still Sought 1 Year Later

    The man who kidnapped Vi Ripken–mother of baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.–last summer is still being sought by police, who have released surveillance video in the hopes of finding anyone who might have information.

    The suspect took Ripken at gunpoint from her Aberdeen, Maryland home last July and held her captive for 24 hours, driving her around in her own car for hours before returning her unharmed to her home. Somehow, he was able to get her home and then take off without being spotted by the officers who were already looking for him.

    Now, the Ripken family has upped the reward for info on the abductor to $100,000 in the hopes that someone will come forward.

    “Something like this changes all of our lives. You think about things a little differently than you did before. No one prepares you for these sort of moments,” Cal Ripken Jr. said. “We would like to get closure on this case and give all of us peace of mind.”

    Indeed, Vi Ripken says the incident changed her, but that she didn’t want to give in to her fear.

    “I didn’t want to go and hide,” she said. “I felt like if I keep away from things, it’s not going to be very fun for me. I just had to face it.”

    Anyone with any information about the suspect is encouraged to call America’s Most Wanted hotline at 1-800-CRIME-TV or the FBI at 410-265-8080.

  • Student Wins $250,000 In MLB 2K13 Video Game Contest

    Every year, 2K Sports holds a contest to see who can pitch a perfect game in the latest edition of MLB2K. This year, a student from Oregon walked away with the $250,000 grand prize.

    2K announced this week that Justin Chavarria of Eugene, Oregon, beat out three other finalists at the T-Mobile All-Star FanFest in the Perfect Game Challenge. His win is even more impressive when you take into account that he was just one of over 2,500 challengers that submitted a perfect game during the contest.

    “Congratulations to Justin for exhibiting the skill and poise needed to achieve perfection in this year’s contest,” said Jason Argent, Senior Vice President of Sports Operations at 2K. “It was no easy feat, but he cemented his place in Perfect Game Challenge history, and we couldn’t be happier to award the $250,000 grand prize for his achievement in MLB 2K13.”

    In even more good news for 2K Sports, they announced that this year’s Perfect Game Challenge drew more participants than ever before. There were over 785,000 perfect game attempts with a 23 percent increase in unique perfect games thrown.

    The success of this year’s challenge most likely ensures the continuation of 2K Sports’ Perfect Game Challenge. The contest had been rocked with allegations of cheating in the past, but this year’s contest seems to have gone off without a hitch.

    Before you go, let’s look back at the admittedly humorous ads 2K Sports made for this year’s Perfect Game Challenge:

  • “Sweet Caroline”: Neil Diamond Sings Classic at MLB All-Star Game

    During Tuesday night’s Major League Baseball All-Star game, Neil Diamond sang his classic, “Sweet Caroline.” In the middle of the eighth inning, the good times seemed good for Diamond, but according to the sports blog Deadspin, the sounds of adoring fans were helped by Fox, who were broadcasting the event.

    The sports blog posts evidence of the change in volume of the crowd, including some boo’s when Diamond was introduced onto the field. The video shows many members of the audience enjoying themselves, but some only when they realize the camera is on them and friends and family at home can see them, because nobody wants to look disgruntled during their few seconds of television face-time.

    Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets, housed over 45,000 baseball fans Tuesday night. The stadium was filled with many New York fans, who aren’t too keen to participate in the camaraderie of the song because of it’s connection to their rivals, the Boston Red Sox.

    Whether the audience response was fixed or not, Diamond seemed to enjoy himself at the event.

    The song has long been familiar to baseball fans, especially those of the Boston Red Sox. Since 2002, Fenway Park has played the song in the middle of the eighth inning. After the Boston Marathon bombings the song was sung at sporting events to showcase solidarity, including a New York Yankees game. “Sweet Caroline” was preceded by a moment of silence at the Yankees game as a tribute to the victims of the tragedy.

    The MLB All-Star game averaged 11 million viewers, making it Fox’s highest-rated program since this season’s finale of American Idol. Peek viewership came when New York Yankee pitching legend Mariano Rivera took to the field. The American League beat the National League 3-0.

  • A Guy Ran Onto the Field at the All-Star Game Because He Got 1,000 Retweets

    This is Twitter user @MasoneDylan:

    (image)

    This is Twitter user @MasonDylan promising to run across the field at Tuesday night’s MLB All-Star game if he gets 1,000 retweets:

    This is him making sure everyone knows that he’s serious:

    This is him realizing that he’s probably going to get 1,000 retweets:

    This is his mother finding out about his plan:

    (image)

    This is where he snuck up to “gather the balls” to do it:

    (image)

    This is when he finally gathered the balls to do it:

    …And this is him getting spear-tackled by security:

    Finally, here’s his girlfriend in the aftermath:

    And here she is commenting on all the articles about her boyfriend’s stunt. So meta:

    The end.

    [h/t Daily Dot]

  • Yoenis Cespedes Of Oakland Wins Home Run Derby

    Yoenis Cespedes of the Oakland Athletics may not have been selected to play in this year’s All-Star Game, but he is the undisputed king of the event’s Home Run Derby.

    The Cuban left-fielder is in his second year in the majors and was the last player selected to compete in the derby. In the event’s final round he outslugged Washington Nationals wunderkind Bryce Harper by the narrowest margins, winning the round 9-8.

    Not only does the victory make him the only player to win the derby without competing in the game (although three others have tried), but he also became the first Cuban born player to win.

    The victory by Cespedes came against other noted sluggers and former champions such as Robinson Cano of the Yankees and Prince Fielder of the Detroit Tigers, who were attempting to win the event for a second and third time respectively.

    The derby has been a long-time fan favorite event, sometimes even outshining the All-Star game itself. Much like the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, it is meant to show off the world-class talent of professional athletes by having them perform acts that the average person could never dream of. Anyone can catch a fly-ball or make a lay-up, but not everyone can hit upwards of 30 home runs out of a major league park in one night or throw down a 360 tomahawk slam.

    For this one night in July, Yoenis Cespedes was a little more than human. For at least a year he is the home run king of Major League Baseball.

  • MLB Suspension Rumors: Braun, A-Rod In Deep Trouble

    Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers and Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees are facing major suspensions from the MLB over the use of performance enhancing drugs. The two players – along with 18 others – could be slapped with suspensions of 100 games, nearly two thirds of a season.

    The players are in trouble with the MLB over reports linking them to the Biogenesis Clinic in Miami. Biogenesis purported to be an anti-aging clinic. In January of this year, though, some of the records from Biogenesis (which had recently closed) found their way to the Miami New Times. These records read like a virtual Who’s Who of professional sports, including Major League Baseball. Names like Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Braun, Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colón, and others were listed among the clinic’s patients.

    The MLB, as you probably know, takes a rather stern view of the use of performance enhancing drugs, hitting players who are caught doping with lengthy suspensions. According to ESPN today, Braun met with MLB officials on June 29 to answer questions about his link to the clinic. Or, more accurately, to not answer questions. Braun reportedly declined to give the MLB information about the clinic or his involvement with it.

    Rumors suggest that A-Rod – who is currently rehabbing from hip surgery in the minors – has a meeting of his own coming up, but he denied knowing anything about it, though he did say that the players involved were under strict instructions not to talk about the case.

    This is not the first time Rodriguez or Braun have been linked to PEDs. Several years ago A-Rod’s name came up in a list of players who had tested positive during a time when the MLB was testing players anonymously (supposedly) in an attempt to gauge the scope of the problem. He admitted to using the drugs during his time with the Texas Rangers, but denied having juiced in years.

    Braun, meanwhile, narrowly avoided a suspension for PED use in 2012. In December, 2011, results of a urine test he had taken in October were leaked to the media. The test results showed elevated testosterone levels, suggesting the use of performance enhancing drugs. Braun appealed the results in January of 2012, narrowly winning his appeal.

  • Josh Hamilton Won’t Say If He Uses Chewing Tobacco

    Josh Hamilton’s struggles with substance abuse are well documented. That’s why everybody is interested in claims that the Los Angeles Angel’s player has turned to chewing tobacco.

    Hamilton was asked last week if he used chewing tobacco, but the player wouldn’t confirm or deny the rumors:

    “I just don’t have any comments on it. It’s one of those things where if I give you guys any kind of story, your story’s going to be different from his story, and his story is going to be different from his story. And then other people who aren’t in this clubhouse with you guys are going to take your story, and it’s going to be an absolute mess. No, nothing is coming from these lips.”

    If you recall, Hamilton was once suspended from the MLB for three years in 2003 after it was revealed that he had an addiction to cocaine and alcohol. Ever since, every little story concerning a possible relapse or the use of any other “drug” has made headlines as people search for any news on the player’s potential vices.

    The story is also especially interesting to baseball fans as Hamilton’s last foray with chewing tobacco may have led to his team at the time – the Texas Rangers – losing out on the division title against the Oakland Athletics. Dropping tobacco reportedly led to vision problems as he compensated for the loss of nicotine with excessive caffeine. Fans may be concerned that a similar situation may occur this year if he has picked up chewing tobacco again and then decides to drop it before an important game.

    In other news, the Los Angeles Angels will be taking on the Boston Red Sox tonight. Watch out for Hamilton to see for yourself if he’s chewing tobacco or not, because he isn’t going to say either way.

    [Image: Keith Allison/flickr]
    [h/t: The Los Angeles Times]

  • Orioles Trade Strop, Arrieta to Cubs

    Orioles Trade Strop, Arrieta to Cubs

    The Baltimore Orioles today announced a major trade deal with the Chicago Cubs. According to an MLB.com report, the Orioles have received pitcher Scott Feldman and catcher Steve Clevenger, who was optioned to the Triple-A Orioles affiliate Norfolk Tides. In return, the Cubs received pitchers Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop, along with $338,100 in international signing slot bonuses.

    “He’s a proven veteran starting pitcher, and he should help stabilize our rotation in the second half of the season,” said Dan Duquette, VP of operations at the Orioles. “We are going to be able to make another addition to our rotation hopefully in another week when [Wei-Yin] Chen rejoins the club, so I think at this stage, let’s see what Feldman and Chen do for us,”

    Feldman will make his debut as an Oriole on Wednesday night against the Chicago White Sox. The right-hander is a veteran who pitched for the Texas Rangers for seven years before joining the Cubs this year. Feldman has gone 7-6 with a 3.46 ERA so far this season with the Cubs.

    Both Strop and Arrieta have had disappointing starts to their season. Strop has gone 0-3 with a 7.25 ERA, and Arrieta currently holds a 1-2 record with a 7.23 ERA this season.

    “It’s kind of sad to leave an organization I’ve been with since I was drafted,” said Arrieta. “A lot of special moments and great relationships that I’ve formed when I was with the Orioles, and that’s what I’ll miss the most. But there’s opportunity for me in Chicago, and I’m going to try to make the most of it.

    “I wouldn’t say [it’s] a completely fresh start. But I’ve learned a lot and continue to grow as a player and a person. My numbers haven’t been what everybody expected, what I expected, but there’s so much room for me to grow, and I know that’s what Chicago wants from me. They want me to have an opportunity and be able to continue to progress and reach my potential.”

    (via MLB.com)

  • Kate Upton Burns Justin Verlander On Twitter

    Kate Upton, the Sports Illustrated swimsuit model who’s had quite a successful year, has been linked to Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander in the past, but if the two were ever together, it appears she’s not a fan of his anymore.

    The supermodel sent Frank Viola III a happy birthday tweet recently that was rather telling, and although she later deleted it, the web had already saved it for posterity. The two met through Verlander–who is Viola’s good friend–so the E-card is pretty much a perfect burn.

    Upton never admitted to a relationship with Verlander, but there was pretty decent proof that the two of them had something going; Tigers fans didn’t like the idea, and there were rumors that she was jinxing his performance on the field when she showed up at games. Verlander blamed himself, though, saying he started out strong and then lost steam during certain games.

    “That’s why I don’t try to throw 100 [mph] in the first inning,” he said. “Usually doesn’t work out too well for me.”

    No matter what his fans like, Upton has said recently that she’s single, so it looks like whatever was there is gone. Besides, the tweet speaks for itself.

    (image)

  • Lenny Dykstra to Leave Prison on Sunday

    Lenny Dykstra to Leave Prison on Sunday

    Former Major League Baseball star Lenny Dykstra is set to be released from prison on Sunday, just 15 months into his three-year prison sentence.

    The Philadelphia Inquirer, which first reported the news, quotes a Dykstra biographer as saying he is “surprised” that the ballplayer was released so soon, since he had “blatantly disobeyed the court.”

    Dykstra was sentenced to three years in prison in March 2012 for three counts of grand theft auto and one count of filing a false financial report. Dykstra had pleaded no contest to the charges and attended a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program.

    Dykstra was drafted by the New York Mets in the 13th round of the 1981 MLB Draft. He had a successful stint in the minor leagues before moving up to the Mets roster in 1985 to replace the team’s injured center fielder. He won the World Series with the team in 1986.

    In 1989 Dykstra was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. He led the team to a National League pennant win in 1993.

    After retiring in 1996, Dykstra turned to business, running car wash companies, serving as president of other private companies, and managing a stock portfolio. His business ventures began failing in the mid 2000s, and he suctioned off his 1986 World Series ring in 2009.

    Dykstra’s legal troubles began in 2011, when he was convicted of bankruptcy fraud and sentenced to house arrest. The MLB star had hidden or destroyed hundred of thousands of dollars worth of assets to be used in his 2009 bankruptcy filing.

    (via the Philadelphia Inquirer)

    (Image courtesy BaseballBacks under Creative Commons license)

  • Mike Mussina Becomes High School Basketball Coach

    Former Major League pitcher Mike Mussina has been named the head boys basketball coach at the high school from which he graduated. The Montoursville School Board voted unanimously on Tuesday to name Mussina the head coach at Montoursville Area High School.

    Mussina graduated from Montoursville Area High School in Williamsport, Pennsylvania in 1987. He played both basketball and baseball during his time at the school, scoring an impressive 1,382 points during his time on the basketball team.

    Mussina was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles immediately after high school, but elected instead to go to college. He attended Stanford University, where he graduated with a degree in economics and spent three years as one of the Standford baseball team’s top pitchers. He was drafted by the Orioles a second time after college in 1990. After only two years in the minors he made his debut with the Orioles in 1992. He played in Baltimore until 2001, when he went to the New York Yankees. He played seven seasons with the Yankees before retiring in 2008.

    During his time in the majors he was a five-time All Star and a seven-time Gold Glove winner. He also made two appearances in the World Series, in 2001 and 2003 with the New York Yankees.

    The Montoursville Warriors have had a rough few seasons. According to the Williamsport Sun Gazette, they went 5-17 last season and have not made the playoffs since 2008. Mussina will be the team’s third coach in five years.

    Mussina, who has coached youth baseball and basketball since retiring from the Yankees, will earn a stipend of $4,170 for coaching the Montoursville this season.

  • Dodgers Brawl: Pitches Hurt, But So Do Punches

    What began as a wayward pitch that hit Dodger Yasiel Puig in the nose quickly escalated into an all-out “you got me so I’m gonna get you back” war between the team and the Arizona Diamondbacks during Tuesday night’s game. That quickly escalated into a full-on war.

    Not long after the first pitch, Diamondback Ian Kennedy hit Zack Greinke, and tensions started to rise. Kennedy, Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson and coach Turner Ward, Puig, reliever Ronald Belisario and Dodgers hitting coach Mark McGwire all converged on the field to replace angry words with angrier fists in a fight that got them all ejected at the top of the seventh inning. It should have been over then, but not long after, Greinke hit Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero in the back, and the benches emptied as both teams rallied on the field.

    ”Puig gets hit in the face, Montero gets hit, it should have been really over at this point,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “If you can’t pitch inside without hitting someone in the head, you shouldn’t pitch inside.”

    Kennedy claims he didn’t hit Puig on purpose, saying, ”I thought I got him on the shoulder, but by his reaction, I figure I got him somewhere in the face. ‘I definitely did not want to hit a guy with two strikes and put somebody like him on base.”

    It’s hard to say exactly what the injuries to each guy who participated in the scuffle entailed, but Diamondbacks coach Turner Ward got driven into the railing at one point.

    “I was out of my mind just trying to protect my teammates,” Ronald Belisario said. ”If you want to hit somebody, don’t hit a pitcher. Don’t hit guys in the head. That’s crazy.”

    Several of those involved will face fines from the league.

  • Sinkhole: Ballpark Falls Prey To Growing Problem

    A sinkhole opened up right under the Texas Rangers stadium on Tuesday, creating quite a mess on the mound.

    Apparently the problem was a broken water pipe which is used to water the field; crews worked extensively to repair the damage and had to dig further down into the field. The night’s on-field batting practice with the Cleveland Indians subsequently had to be canceled.

    “I didn’t do it. We’re not there yet. We’re frustrated, but we’re not there,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said jokingly, referring to an eight-game losing streak that has plagued the team this season.

    The sinkhole–which was over 3 feet deep and about as big as a large trash can–is the latest in a growing number reported in the south recently. Florida has been hit especially hard in recent months; just last week, a giant hole opened up in an Orange County backyard right beneath a swimming pool. In March, a Tampa Bay area man was killed when a sinkhole opened under his bedroom and pulled the entire room down hundreds of feet. Jeffrey Bush’s brother, Jeremy, actually tried to save him from the gaping maw but was unsuccessful.

    “It swallowed his whole bedroom, his dresser — everything in his room is gone,” Jeremy said. “All I could see was the top of his bed. So I jumped in the hole and tried digging him out. I thought I could hear him screaming for me and hollering for me.”

    Weeks later, a second sinkhole appeared in the same area of Florida, but it opened beneath a fence and no injuries were reported. Residents were concerned for their property, however.

    One of the major issues for Florida is that much of the landscape is made up of limestone, which is extremely porous and vulnerable to hard water. Over time, water erodes the earth and caverns form.

    Luckily for the ballpark, the issue wasn’t that serious and no injuries were reported.

  • Keith Olbermann to Host MLB Show on Cable

    Turner Broadcasting today announced that veteran news anchor Keith Olbermann will be hosting postseason Major League Baseball (MLB) coverage on TBS later this year. Olbermann will host the cable TV station’s studio show along with MLB hall-of-famer Dennis Eckersley. In addition, hall-of-famer Cal Ripken, Jr. will be joining Ron Darling and Ernie Johnson as TBS’ postseason MLB commentators.

    Olbermann began his broadcasting career as a sports broadcaster, reporting for radio stations before joining CNN in 1981. In 1992 he joined ESPN as a SportsCenter anchor. While never truly giving up sports broadcasting, in 2003 Olbermann became the host of MSNBC primetime show Countdown with Keith Olbermann, where he gained fame for his outspoken criticism of George W. Bush’s presidency.

    Olbermann has celebrated his return to Turner Broadcasting (CNN is part of the Turner Broadcasting System) by changing his Twitter picture to an old photo of himself reporting for CNN. He also thanked his fans with a self-pic in front of the TimeWarner building:

    Keith Olbermann on CNN

  • Ten Cent Beer Night: Famous Riot Remembered On 39th Anniversary

    Does ten cent beer night ring a bell to you? It should if you’re a baseball fan, or over the age of 45.

    Today is the 39th anniversary of one of the worst riots in baseball history – Ten Cent Beer Night. It happened at Cleveland Stadium in a game between the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers on June 4, 1974.

    In an attempt to attract more fans, the Cleveland Indians decided to offer ten cent beers. The beers contained 12 fluid oz. of 3.2 percent alcohol with a limit of six per customer. Even with such low alcoholic content, many fans became drunk and belligerent as the night went on. In the ninth inning, a drunk fan had run out onto the field attempting to steal an outfielder Jeff Burrough’s hat. Needless to say, things got out of control quickly. The teams and the fans converged on the field in a massive brawl that saw many players and fans injured.

    After the event, you would think that the stadium would be done with ten cent beer night. But alas, the stadium went ahead with the promotion, but with some strict parameters in place. On the next ten cent beer night, staff were only allowed to serve two beers per person.

    Since then, the ten cent beer night has become somewhat of a legend among baseball fans. It even got its own ballad from “Yet Another String Band:”

    [h/t: Wikipedia] [Image: Homage]

  • Lewis Yocum Dies; MLB Orthopedist Was 65

    Sports surgeon Dr. Lewis Yocum has died at the age of 65. According to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Yocum died in hospice care Saturday after a battle with liver cancer.

    “The Angels family and Major League Baseball have lost one of baseball’s finest gentlemen and truly outstanding professionals with the passing of Dr. Lewis Yocum earlier this weekend,” said the Angels in a statement. “His talents extended the careers of countless professional athletes and provided extended quality of life for so many others he advised, treated and operated on during his distinguished career.”

    Yocum was well-known throughout Major League Baseball (MLB) for his skill at Tommy John surgery, which replaces an elbow tendon with another tendon from elsewhere in the body. The surgery is used to extend the usable life of the elbow, and is particularly common for aging pitchers.

    Yocum worked as an orthopedist for the Angels for 36 seasons, some of it under the tutelage of Dr. Frank Jobe. In addition to providing Angels players with medical care, Yocum also worked at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles and consulted with MLB players throughout North America.

    MLB commissioner Bud Selig stated that Yocum was a “giant in the field of sports medicine” and an “invaluable resource” for MLB players.

    (Image courtesy the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)

  • Bees Swarm Dugout, Lock Out Angels

    A huge swarm of bees swarmed the visitor’s dugout at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday, locking out the Los Angeles Angels for about ninety minutes after the first pitch was thrown out at their game against the Kansas City Royals.

    Eventually, a beekeeper was called on to corral the bees safely, and none of the players were injured. L.A. didn’t let the setback get to them; the team went on to win 5-2.

  • Epy Guerrero Dies: Famed MLB Scout Was 71

    Epy Guerrero, the famed MLB scout in the Dominican Republic who is credited with dozens of high-profile signings, has died. He was 71.

    Guerrero began his career with the Houston Astros, where he famously signed Cesar Cedeno out of his home country.

    “He was a good friend and great scout, great ambassador for baseball and a great evaluator of talent,” Smith said. “He and Pat Gillick were responsible for signing Cesar Cedeno, one of the finest players in the history of the franchise, and other players. Just a great person and a great baseball man. I’m really, really saddened to hear of his death,” said former Astros president Tal Smith.

    Guerrero spent a large part of his career with the Toronto Blue Jays (1978-1995), and is credited with helping to load the franchise with great players in the 80’s and 90’s. He signed influential players like Tony Fernandez, Alfredo Griffin and Carlos Delgado. He also played a big part in the drafting of George Bell.

    He served as a coach for the team in 1981.

    On Thursday night, The Toronto Blue Jays held a moment of silence before their game with the Baltimore Orioles in honor of Guerrero.

    In his illustrious career, Guerrero signed over 40 MLB players for four teams – the Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers.

    He was inducted into the Dominican Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. Guerrero died in his birth city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

    [Image via TheStar]