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  • Google Cloud Replaces AWS As MLB’s Cloud Provider

    Google Cloud Replaces AWS As MLB’s Cloud Provider

    In its efforts to gain ground against AWS and Microsoft, Google has signed a multi-year deal to become Major League Baseball’s cloud provider.

    Google Cloud continues to be a distant third-place in the U.S. cloud market, behind leader AWS and second-place Microsoft. Despite its current standing, Google Cloud’s CEO Thomas Kurian has committed to becoming at least the second-place provider within five years. In its efforts to reach its goal, the company has recently completed an internal shakeup, cutting a number of jobs to better streamline its focus.

    Now the company has secured a multi-year deal to become MLB’s Official Cloud and Cloud Data and Analytics partner, replacing AWS as MLB’s provider. The deal also includes running Statcast on Google Cloud. Statcast is an automated tool to help the MLB analyze player abilities and movement. MLB will also use Google Ad Manager and Dynamic Ad Insertion in its ads business.

    “Every season we work to apply emerging technology to engage and support our fans, clubs and broadcasters in new and exciting ways,” said Jason Gaedtke, MLB’s Chief Technology Officer. “MLB has enjoyed a strong partnership with Google based on Google Ad Manager’s live ad delivery with MLB.tv as well as YouTube’s strong fan engagement during exclusive live games. We are excited to strengthen this partnership by consolidating MLB infrastructure on Google Cloud and incorporating Google’s world-class machine learning technology to provide personalized and immersive fan experiences. We couldn’t have picked a better technology partner across ad delivery, streaming, cloud computing and machine learning.”

    “MLB, which has led the sporting world in the use of data since the early 1990s, has shown the sports industry and sporting fans globally what’s possible when you combine data with human performance,” said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud. “We’re looking forward to working with MLB to usher in a new era of innovation in sport, and together we can have a substantial impact on the game, giving the next generation of fans a different way to experience America’s favorite pastime.”

    This contract is a big win for Google as it touts its cloud abilities. According, to Google’s statement, “MLB’s migration to Google Cloud has already resulted in an exponential improvement in analytics and decision making, enabling MLB to provide teams with a unified data plane to enable accelerated decision making.”

    The company will likely be able to leverage that positive feedback to capture even more market share.

  • Jessica Mendoza Gets An Apology, MLB’s First Female Analyst Victim Of Sexist Twitter Attack

    Atlanta sports radio host, Mike Bell, apologized to Jessica Mendoza after his sexist comment on Twitter about her position as a Major League Baseball analyst.

    “What I said was hurtful and I wanna [sic] take this opportunity to say to Jessica that what I said was dumb, and there’s just no place for it, and I apologize for putting that garbage on Twitter,” Bell said.

    Last Tuesday, Mendoza made history as the first female analyst for MLB. And unlike other analysts who were bashed because of their style or opinion, Mendoza was criticized because of her gender.

    Bell said in his post, “Really? A women’s softball slugger as guest analyst on MLB Wildcard Game? Once again ESPN too frigging cute for their own good.” He then followed another post saying, “You guys are telling me there isn’t a more qualified Baseball player ESPN can use than a softball player? Gimme a break!”

    Mendoza said she saw the posts but chose to ignore the insults. Meanwhile, Bell was suspended from his daily radio show The Game on 92.9 for two weeks. “I accept his apology,” Jessica Mendoza said. “To me, it really was about the fact that he came after me because I was a woman.” “I feel very confident… I’m looking forward to the future,” she continued.

    This was not the first time Mendoza received negative feedback for being a female sports analyst.

    She was also bashed for being the first woman in the booth for an ESPN MLB broadcast during a match-up between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the St. Louis Cardinals in August.

    Despite the backlash she got from other viewers, a lot of people offered positive comments to Mendoza. ESPN stated that it would continue to support her as well.

    Jessica Mendoza, on the other hand, said that she’s looking forward to the day when women would be judged for their qualifications and not their gender.

    “Yes, I am a female, but I want it to get to the point where, let’s think about what I am saying, what I am doing, and not so much the sex that I am,” Mendoza said.

  • Oscar Taveras, Cardinals Outfielder, Killed In Crash

    Oscar Taveras, outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, was killed in a car accident over the weekend while he was visiting the Dominican Republic.

    Taveras was only 22-years-old and was considered to be one of the Major League Baseball’s top prospects. Sadly, his dreams of playing in the majors will never happen.

    According to People, Taveras was driving a “2014 Chevrolet Camaro on a highway between the beaches of Sosua and Cabarete in Puerto Plata” at the time of the crash. Col. Diego Pesqueira of the Metropolitan Transportation Agency said that the crash occurred approximately 215 miles from the capital of Santo Domingo.

    Although he wasn’t carrying any identifying documents on his person at the time of the crash, family members were able to identify his body. 18-year-old Edilia Arvelo, Taveras’ girlfriend, was in the car with him and was also killed.

    “I simply can’t believe it,” John Mozeliak, the Cardinals general manager, said in a statement. “I first met Oscar when he was 16 years old and will forever remember him as a wonderful young man who was a gifted athlete with an infectious love for life who lived every day to the fullest.”

    “Oscar was an amazing talent with a bright future who was taken from us well before his time,” Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends tonight.”

    After making his major league debut on May 21, Taveras batted .239 with a .278 on-base percentage and a .312 slugging percentage.

  • Derek Jeter: My Captain For Life

    Derek Jeter: My Captain For Life

    Today is the first day in twenty years that Derek Jeter is not a Yankee.

    A lot has been said and written over the past week about Derek Jeter. By now, everyone knows that Jeter is a winner who gave 100% of his effort every single time he stepped onto a baseball field.

    Jeter is sixth on the all-time hit list, a five-time World Series Champ, and a shoo-in first ballot Hall of Famer, who should be the first player in history to receive 100% of the vote. However, those are just stats and theories for historians and baseball analysts to ponder.

    Derek Jeter is bigger than that.

    Jeter had the uncanny ability to not only be grander than the moment, but by some incredible good fortune, to find the moment, like in the flip play. In order for that play to even occur, Shane Spencer had to miss both cut-off men, the slow-footed Jeremy Giambi had to be waved home, and Jeter had to be in a place on the diamond where as a short stop, he had no business being.

    Remember October 31, 2001? The World Series had been pushed back one week due to the tragic events of 9-11. The Yankees were playing the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 4 of the World Series. Tino Martinez tied the game up in the bottom of the ninth inning with a monstrous home run to send the game into extras.

    Then, the clock struck midnight. It was the first time that America’s Pastime was played in November.

    Jeter steps to the plate. There are already two outs in the bottom of the tenth inning. The Captain, who had struggled throughout the entire post season, steps up to battle Diamondback closer Byung-Hyun Kim. Jeter swings at the first pitch and crushes a home run to right field. The Yanks walk off.

    Mr. November is born.

    When the world waited and waited for him to make history and get hit number 3,000, he did it with a dramatic home run to left field. Michael Kay is gold on the call, “History with an exclamation point!”

    When all eyes were on him Thursday night, his last game at Yankee stadium, with the game tied in the bottom of the ninth inning, every baseball fan wanted Jeter to have the storybook ending to win the game. But to even get to that moment, Yankee closer David Robertson, who had been automatic for most of the year, first had to give up a three-run lead. After a two-run homer from Adam Jones and a solo home run from Steve Pearce, Jeter’s final home game was all tied up. All of a sudden, there would be a bottom of the ninth with the Captain hitting third.

    Jose Pirela leads the bottom of the ninth off with a single, Brett Gardner bunts pinch runner Antoan Richardson over to second, and another moment is created out of thin air for Jeter to be a hero once again. What do you think he did with that opportunity?

    Wasting no time, the Captain displayed his patented Jeterian swing on the first pitch to bring home Richardson, and walk off a winner for his final game in pinstripes. Another great Michael Kay call, “Where fantasy becomes reality.”

    David Robertson said after the game, “I created another Derek Jeter moment. As much as wish I hadn’t created it, I’m glad it happened.”

    As a Yankee fan who breathes with the success and failure of the team, today is a sad day. What I’ve known for the past twenty years is over. My captain is leaving the green grass of a childhood game and most likely already setting up the pieces for his next life. Or more likely, those pieces are magically already coming together, waiting to be conquered and won over.

    If they are lucky, each fan gets that special player, their favorite player “ever.” It is essentially a person whom can be trusted with the state of your heart in moments where you can barely stand to watch. I know I’m a big wuss, I’ve watched so many post season Yankee games on the edge of my couch with my hands over my eyes, nearly unable to bear what I cannot control.

    I’m about to turn 40, Jeter’s age. I’ve grown up with the guy, I’ve watched almost every single game that he’s played in. Sure, I’ve loved other Yankees: Tino, Jorge, Andy, Bernie, Paulie, Mo. But Jeter is the one. He’s my once-in-a-lifetime player. There will never be another, no one will even come close.

  • Pandora Jewelry Partners With MLB Host Heidi Watney

    Professional baseball host, Heidi Watney, just found an unlikely partner, Pandora Jewelry. According to a press release, the partnership will include everything from event sponsorships to social media shout outs. Watney is expected to be a firm endorser of the jewelry line.

    Top on her list of merchandise to promote may be Pandora’s new Major League Baseball collection, which happens to include charms featuring all 30 teams of the MLB. “Our consumers have responded positively to the launch of the MLB collection, and we are looking forward to continuing to reach sports enthusiasts with our partnership with Heidi,” Public Relations Director Keshia Holland said. “Heidi makes a perfect fit for the Pandora brand with her approachable personality and on-trend style.”

    This kind of partnership is not unique. Other celebrities under Pandora’s wing include actresses, musicians, athletes, and stylists such as Alyson Hannigan, Kellie Pickler, Gracie Gold, and Cristina Ehrlich. “I am a passionate sports-lover, and when Pandora released their MLB collection, it provided the perfect opportunity for us to join together,” Watney explained. “With an endless amount of charms and opportunities for customization, Pandora jewelry allows women everywhere to tell their stories and support their favorite teams in their own unique ways.”

    Some of the Pandora jewelry line was featured in the MLB’s fashion week. According to the official MLB website, the Royals Sterling Silver Charm and Leather Bracelet “was on the left wrist of one of the models at the Fields of Fashion show”.

    Pandora jewelry is very popular around Valentine’s Day. Last year, it was considered a top Valentine’s Day gift.

  • Masahiro Tanaka Will Get Another Start On Saturday

    The New York Yankees were so pleased with Japanese sensation Masahiro Tanaka’s performance last Sunday, that they are giving the right-hander another start this Saturday at Fenway Park against the Red Sox. Tanaka allowed just a single run on five hits in 5 1/3 innings in a 5-2 victory over the Blue Jays.

    The Yanks shut the rookie down in July with a partially torn ligament in his right elbow. Instead of going ahead with Tommy John surgery, which would have sidelined Tanaka for 12-16 months, doctors instead recommended rehab with a “wait and see” plan.

    Tanaka reported feeling good after his Sunday start. “From where I am right now, I should be able to have a good offseason of training on what I want to do and I should be good to go next season,” Tanaka said through his translator.

    Tanaka experienced only general soreness after throwing 70 pitches on Sunday. Manager Joe Giradi said about Tanaka, “He was all smiles today, which was good.”

    Before being sidelined with the injury, the 25-year-old pitcher was everything the Yankees could have asked for after signing a $175 million contract last winter. In his first 14 starts, Tanaka was sensational, going 11-1 with a 1.99 ERA.

    It looks like the Yankees will most likely fail to make the post season for the second year in a row. They are currently three games out of the Wild Card with only six games left to play.

    Tanaka will need to come back strong next season if the Yanks want to get back to playing October baseball. Their rotation for next spring is very much in flux. CC Sabathia will be coming off knee surgery, Ivan Nova may not pitch at all next year as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, and Hiroki Kuroda may opt to retire instead of signing another one-year deal with the team.

    The Yankees are set to face the Baltimore Orioles tonight at Yankee Stadium at 7:05 ET. The Orioles have already clinched the AL East, while the Yanks are hoping for a miracle.

  • Josh Hamilton Scratched Again For The Angels

    The Los Angeles Angels will have to face the Cleveland Indians in a makeup game this afternoon without their All-Star outfielder. Josh Hamilton’s ailing right shoulder will keep the slugger out of the starting lineup at least another day. Collin Cowgill replaced Hamilton in left field.

    This will be Hamilton’s fourth straight day on the bench. However, there are signs that the slugger is feeling better. He took batting practice on Sunday and was originally scheduled to play, however, he was scratched with shoulder stiffness an hour before the game.

    Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Hamilton, “He feels much better today and hopefully that will continue tomorrow. He’s still day to day, and we’ll see where he is tomorrow.”

    The outfielder did receive a cortisone shot to help with the injury. However, the Angles are not going to rush Hamilton back into the lineup. The Halos currently sit atop the American League West with a comfortable seven game lead with only 20 games left to play. They are also 8-2 over their last ten games and have won four in a row.

    The injury-prone slugger is currently hitting .263 with 10 home runs and 44 RBIs. He has played in only 88 games this season. Hamilton was on the disabled list from April 9 to June 3 with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb.

    The Angels will head to Arlington next to face the Texas Rangers in a three-game series. The Rangers are having an abysmal season with a 54-89 record. The team announced on Friday that long-time manager Ron Washington, who took Texas to two World Series, was resigning for personal reasons.

  • Clayton Kershaw Hopes to Continue Domination of MLB

    Each year, MLB teams play 162 regular season games. Due to this plethora of contests, most players never feel performance nerves until the end of the season when their team is trying to cement a playoff spot or is vying to win a pennant. However, one can be certain that the member of the Los Angeles Angels are quaking in their cleats awaiting tonight’s matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The reason for said nerves? None other than Clayton Kershaw.

    Kershaw, a left-handed pitcher for the Dodgers, has been dominant this season, to say the least. Kershaw was awarded NL Pitcher of the Month in June due to his outstanding stat line – 6-0 record with a 0.82 ERA, 61 strikeouts and four walks in 44 innings. If that wasn’t impressive enough, Kershaw was also named NL Pitcher of the Month for July due to an equally stellar performance – 4-0 record with a 1.07 ERA, 43 strikeouts, and four walks in 42 innings. During the month of June, Kershaw held opponents to a .165 batting average, ranking second best in the Majors.

    Here are some nice Tweets to put Kershaw’s performance into perspective:

    For the 2014 season, Kershaw has a .237 on-base percentage, compared to his opponents who boast a paltry .220 OBP.

    Perhaps most impressive of all is the fact that Kershaw missed the entire month of April this year due to a back injury. (Not even Tiger Woods has been able to overcome such luck.)

    Tonight, Kershaw goes for his 14th win of the season. If he is able to defeat the Dodgers crosstown rivals, the Angels, he will be the first MLB pitcher to reach 14 wins this season. A win tonight would also make 11 straight wins for the lefty and would hopefully stack his impressive 2014 stat-line (1.71 ERA with 150 strikeouts and 15 walks in 121 1/3 innings) even more.

    Perhaps the Angels only hope is to replace Kershaw’s baseballs with phoney, rubber ones. As Kershaw proved late last month, he is no William Tell.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Alex Rodriguez Sued by Own Lawyer Over Alleged Unpaid Legal Fees

    Alex Rodriguez is being sued by his own attorney, David Cornwell, over $380,000 in allegedly unpaid legal fees.

    In a lawsuit filed in Manhattan on Monday, Cornwell and his firm Gordan & Rees said Rodriguez never finished paying them for work performed on his failed bid to overturn a lengthy doping suspension received in connection with the Biogenesis scandal.

    Rodriguez’ troubles started back in January 2013 when the Miami New Times published an article linking him, Ryan Braun, Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colón, and others to the Biogenesis Clinic. Although Biogensis billed itself as an anti-aging clinic, it was actually providing the athletes with performance-enhancing drugs.

    When the MLB commenced a series of meetings and investigations, Rodriguez set about assembling what he called a “legal dream team.” He included Cornwell because the veteran sports attorney had been a key player in getting Ryan Braun’s 2012 doping suspension overturned.

    In August the MLB banned Rodriguez for 211 games. In January the suspension was reduced to 162 games, effectively keeping the New York Yankees third baseman off the field for the entire 2014 season.

    At the time, Rodriguez issued a statement on Facebook:

    Post by Alex Rodriguez.

    In a 12-page complaint filed by Gordon & Rees in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the firm said that Rodriguez is acting at least partially upon the recommendation of Roc Nation Sports, a sports management company owned by Shawn “Jay Z” Carter.

    “Most recently, Mr. Rodriguez admitted that his advisers at Roc Nation, most specifically, Desiree Perez, instructed him ‘not to pay the invoices, and to make Gordon & Rees sue’ him.”

    Post by Alex Rodriguez.

    Desiree Perez is one of Jay Z’s top advisors at Roc Nation. And she’s had her own share of trouble with the law. In 1994 she was arrested for intent to distribute cocaine and later served as a cooperating witness for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

    Back in May, when Rodriguez was set to cut a deal with the MLB and retire early, Perez allegedly convinced him to continue fighting the charges.

    Post by Alex Rodriguez.

    What does A-Rod have to say about all of this?

    “Alex Rodriguez has already paid substantial legal fees to this firm,” said his spokesman. “There are additional fees being sought from hours that continued to be billed and are the source of the disagreement between the parties. Alex looks forward to swiftly resolving this matter and moving on.”

    And Rodriguez has denied being influenced by Perez, saying he has no official ties to Roc Nation Sports:

    “I made my own decisions with my legal team over the last year, and I have accepted my penalties and am trying to serve my penalty.”

    Post by Alex Rodriguez.

    The Gordan & Rees lawsuit comes at a time when Rodriguez appears to be attempting to lie low and quietly ride out his suspension.

    His Facebook feed is filled with photos of him spending time with daughters Natasha and Ella and volunteering for the Boys and Girls Club in Miami.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Curt Schilling Announces His Cancer Is In Remission

    Curt Schilling battled for 20 years on baseball’s biggest stage. Since February, the right-handed pitcher has been battling for his life.

    However, it looks like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Curt Schilling has reported that his cancer is in remission.

    The three-time World Series champ went public with his diagnosis in February via an official statement:

    “We’ve been presented with another challenge, as I’ve recently been diagnosed with cancer. Shonda and I want to send a sincere thank you and our appreciation to those who have called and sent prayers, and we ask that if you are so inclined, to keep the Schilling family in your prayers.”

    Since that time, Schilling has undergone both surgery and radiation treatment. He never publicly revealed which form of cancer he was facing or his prognosis for recovery.

    The former Boston Red Sox pitcher announced the good news on his personal Twitter page yesterday.

    Schilling’s Arizona Diamondbacks beat the New York Yankees in seven games in a thrilling World Series match in 2001. He shared the World Series MVP award that year with Randy Johnson.

    He would go on to play for the Boston Red Sox. The team captured two World Series titles while Schilling was on the squad. The first one came in 2004, which was the first championship for the Sox since 1918. The second title came in 2007. The right-hander finished his illustrious 20-year career with 216 wins.

    After retirement, Schilling served as an analyst for ESPN. Since his remission announcement yesterday, the pitcher has been feeling the love on Twitter.

    Image via YouTube Screenshot

  • Pete Rose: Should Hall Of Fame Ban Be Lifted?

    In 1989 Pete Rose, baseball’s all-time hits leader, was banned from Major League Baseball for betting on games. He even admitted that he wagered on Reds games while he was managing the team. The length of the sentence…a lifetime. But yesterday Rose was able to don a baseball uniform in Bridgeport and serve as guest manager for the Bluefish of the Independent Atlantic League.

    The 73-year-old, formerly but forever known as Charlie Hustle, also served as first base coach for the first five innings of the game, which the Bluefish won 2-0 over the Lancaster Barnstormers.

    Due to Rose’s lifetime ban, he is not eligible for The Hall of Fame. He is also not allowed to be affiliated with Major League Baseball in any capacity. However, Rose could make this special guest appearance because the Bluefish play in an Independent League, therefore they are not affiliated with any MLB team.

    Rose is not looking to make coaching in the Independent League a permanent gig. He admits that he makes way more money making appearances and signing autographs. So why did he decide to put on the stirrups yesterday? The hits leader claims that he wants to be a good ambassador for the game. “If I’m ever reinstated, I won’t need a third chance,” Rose said. “Believe me.”

    Obviously Rose badly wants to get into Cooperstown. He served his 25 years, many players who are currently in The Hall of Fame have done worse. Several supporters of Rose, including the hits leader himself, realize that he made a callous error in judgement, that he let his ego get hold of his reason.

    So perhaps it’s time to let one of the greatest, if not the greatest pure hitters ever, into Cooperstown. Rose had 4,256 hits. The only other player in the history of the game to have more than 4,000 hits was Ty Cobb. Cobb is in The Hall of Fame and by many accounts he was one of the dirtiest, most violent players to ever take the field. Should the voters of The Hall of Fame judge a player by his character or his achievements on the field?

    Tell us what you think. Do you think that Rose has served his sentence and should now be allowed into The Hall of Fame?

    Image via YouTube Screenshot

  • Lenny Dykstra’s Son Selected by Braves in MLB Draft

    In 1993, former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Lenny Dykstra broke the hearts of many Braves fans when he crushed a 3-2 pitch in the top of the 10th inning for a home run to give the Phillies the 4-3 win in Game 5 of the 1993 NCLS, helping to bring a halt to the Braves 104-win season and preventing the Braves from winning their third consecutive World Series. Twenty-one years later, Dykstra hopes his son will help alleviate the pain of that memory for the Braves organization.

    Luke Dykstra, shortstop and second-baseman for the Los Angeles Westlake High School, was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the seventh round of the 2014 MLB First-Year Player draft. The 6’1′, 195 pound athlete impressed the Braves with his consistent approach at the plate and his discipline during the game, leading on scout to remark that “He plays like his daddy.”

    Tony DeMacio, the Braves’s director of scouting, agrees with the scout’s assessment: “He’s just like his dad, he plays with his hair on fire.”

    For some, that comparison may be a negative. While Lenny Dykstra was known for his determination and spirit on the field, assets which helped him win one World Series title and compete for another, he was not without his controversies off the field. In 2007, Dykstra’s name was mentioned in the MLB’s Mitchell Report – an investigation into the use of performance-enhancing drugs by major league players. Upon the release of said report, Dykstra would admit to his use of steroids in order to gain a leg-up on the competition. In 2012, Dykstra plead guilty to bankruptcy fraud, concealment of assets, and money laundering. He would serve 6 months in prison for his crimes.

    Despite his tainted life, however, Dykstra has high hopes for his son:

    I’m very excited that he’s with the Atlanta Braves. They’re a great organization. I know they don’t like me very much because I kicked their [butt] all the time. But they’re a first-class organization. They win. They are obviously doing a lot of things right there. They keep bringing players up there like the Cardinals. It’s almost like the Braves and Cardinals have some kind of factory where they clone these [players].

    When speaking about his son on a personal level, Dykstra was not afraid of praising his athletic prowess: “The kid can flat out play. I’m not telling you that because he is my kid. I’m telling you that because it’s the truth. He’s 6-foot-2, 190, can fly and he’ll hit 25 to 30 home runs in the big leagues. I think the Braves stole him at that spot. I think the other teams are going to pay for passing him up.”

    Luke Dykstra will receive an opportunity to show the Braves what he is made of rather soon as the Braves expect Dykstra to report to their Spring Training Facility in Lake Buena Vista, Florida within the next week.

    Image via YouTube

  • David Ortiz Declares War on Rays’s Pitcher Price

    In Game 2 of the American League Division Series last October, Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz embarrassed Tamp Bay Rays pitcher David Price by hitting not one, but two home runs in the Sox’s 7-4 victory. Adding insult to injury, Ortiz stayed in the batter’s box while watching his second towering drive soar down the right field line, theoretically waiting to see if the ball was fair or foul. According to Price, there was no reason to watch the ball at all.

    “He knows how I’ve pitched him for the last probably year-and-a-half, two years. So he steps in the bucket and hits a homer. And he stares at it to see if it’s fair or foul, I’m sure that’s what he would say, but as soon as he hit it and I saw it I knew it was fair. Run,” Price demanded.

    Friday night was the first opportunity Price and Ortiz had to see each other since that eventful night last October; Price was sure to make the most of it.

    With one on and two out in the bottom of the first, Price plunked Ortiz in the midsection with a 94 mph fastball. To all of those who witnessed the act, the intent of the pitch was quite apparent.

    “David’s a heckuva pitcher. He comes in with two hit batters and eight walks on the year. He’s got the lowest walk rate in the American League. And when he throws a ball and hits David Ortiz in the back, there is intent to that. They can dispute that all they want. There is intent to that pitch,” stated Red Sox manager John Farrell.

    Farrell was not the only one for strong words of accusation against Price. The normally gentle giant, Ortiz, had a few choice words for Price as well:

    First at-bat of the season against him, he drilled me. That’s means it’s a war. It’s on. Next time he hits me, he better bring the gloves on. I have no respect for him no more.

    To prove just how little respect he now has for Price, Ortiz continued in his diatribe.

    You can’t be acting like a little girl out there all the time, you give it up, that’s an experience for the next time, but you gonna be acting like a little bitch, every time you give it up, bounce back like that and put your teammates in jeopardy… oh yeah, I was going to let him know… I respect everybody in this league, and I get a certain respect from everybody. If you’re mad because I take you deep twice, I’m gonna let you know. I got almost 500 homers in this league, that’s part of the game son.

    Following the game, Price defended his actions by saying that throwing inside was just part of the game plan: “I’ve got to establish my fastball in. I had six lefties in that lineup, that’s my favorite side of the plate to go to. Got to establish it in.”

    Ortiz was not about to accept Price’s petty excuse, however: “He knows he screwed up. He did that on his own. No manager was [telling] him. No player was comfortable with the situation. He did that on his own, which is bulls—t, he can get somebody else hurt. You can’t be doing that [expletive].”

    Plunking Ortiz was not the end of Price’s night, surprisingly. While Red Sox manager Farrell was ejected for arguing that Price’s pitch warranted an ejection, Price continued to pitch and continued to hit batters.

    In the fourth inning of yesterday’s game, Price hit Red Sox first baseman and left fielder Mike Carp, resulting in another ejection for a Red Sox manager, but not Price.

    “Again, if we feel there was intent to hit the batter, he would have been ejected. We felt the pitch was certainly inside, but not intentional, so that’s why he stayed in the game,” explained game-umpire Bellino.

    Fortunately for the Red Sox and the city of Boston, they were able to pull out a victory in 10 innings, finishing the night with their second walk-off in as many days.

    Unfortunately for Price and the Rays, however, there are still two more games to play in Boston. With a history of bad-blood between the two organizations, the next two days will most likely produce more displays of violence.

    Image via Facebook

  • Vin Scully, Dodgers Announcer, Misses Two Home Games

    Vin Scully’s broadcasting career began with the Dodgers in 1950, a whopping 64 years ago. Over that time, Scully has called perhaps more famous moments in sports than any other announcer in history – three perfect games, 19 no-hitters, 25 World Series and 12 All-Star games.

    Unfortunately, Scully will be out of commission for two Dodgers games due to a chest cold.

    Scully missed the first of his two games yesterday as the Dodgers hosted the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium. And what a game he missed.

    Due to his advanced age and declining health, Scully only calls Dodgers games played in California or neighboring Arizona. Because of his restricted travel, Scully was not able to call the no-hitter Dodgers pitcher Josh Beckett threw on Sunday in Philadelphia.

    On Monday, Scully almost missed out on another gem as starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu was perfect through seven innings against the Reds before a double down the foul line in the 8th ruined his chances.

    While some Dodgers fans may have blamed the announcer for the game, Charley Steiner, for jinxing the perfect game by hearkening to Sandy Koufax with only 6 outs to go in the game, Scully would be the first to remind those folks that the announcer has an obligation to keep the fans informed.

    In the summer of 1960, Scully told the LA Times his opinion about the superstition that no one should discuss a no-hitter or perfect game while it is in progress: “It’s insulting the listeners to make them think they’re silly and superstitious enough to believe my telling them that a no-hitter is going will affect the game… You see, no one expects a listener to hang on to every word for three hours. They leave the radio from time to time and this service must be rendered.”

    Perhaps it is that attitude which has allowed Scully to be one of the top sports broadcasters in the nation for so long.

    Earlier this month, Scully was asked when he thought it would be time to call it quits. After all, 65 years is quite a long time to call more than 100 baseball games per year. Scully, being the die-hard fan he is, gave a perfectly fitting response:

    “And my own personal thermometer is goosebumps. When there is a great play, dramatic play, exciting play, if I get goosebumps, I know I still have that honest enthusiasm because you can’t create that otherwise. As long as I get that, I check and say, ‘You’re still in love with it, you still get excited, so enjoy every minute of it.’ And that’s exactly what I am doing.”

    The Dodgers play their second game without Scully at the mic at 10 pm PST tonight against the Cincinnati Reds.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLexiZHy9wI

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Evelyn Lozada is Looking Great after Losing 30 Lbs.

    Evelyn Lozada has lost 30 pounds in just seven weeks after giving birth to her son — the first for the Basketball Wives star and her fiancé, Major League Baseball player Carl Crawford.

    “I’m proud of where I’m at so far,” Lozada told ABC News. “My body feels like it’s almost back to normal.”

    Since the birth of Carl Leo, Lozada, 38, has been taking the weight loss supplement youthH2O, for which she is a spokeswoman. She credits her weight loss to the supplement, eating healthily and working out to her own videos.

    Lozada said a typical breakfast for her is oatmeal or egg whites. Lunch is “fish and veggies with a lot of sweet potato.” She also makes protein shakes, which she said includes the supplement.

    “I also work out three to four times a week,” said Lozada. “I have been sleep deprived lately and going to the gym can be hectic when you have no time in your schedule. But, on the days that I do have a moment, I do a ton of cardio, weight training — which I love — and hiking.”

    Lozada says she hopes to help others to lose weight and encourages others to follow her lead by taking the GNC/youthH2O’s 60 day Fit Challenge.

    Even though Carl Leo is only seven weeks old, she is already thinking about having another baby someday. But, not immediately. For the moment, life at home with Crawford and their baby is pretty perfect.

    “Carl is a wonderful father and awesome fiancé who has been by my side the entire time,” she said. “He is so excited about baby Carl Leo. You should see them together!”

    Lozada already has a 20-year-old daughter, Shaniece, from a previous relationship.

    Image via YouTube

  • Braves Stadium Concept Drawings Released

    Braves Stadium Concept Drawings Released

    On Wednesday, the Atlanta Braves released 6 concept drawings and renderings of the new stadium in Cobb County that is said to seat more than 41,000.

    Based on the designs that were released, the new stadium will be much more than just a baseball park. It will also serve as a showpiece for the Atlanta Braves’ own city located northwest of Atlanta.

    The new stadium consists of four seating decks, and a 90-foot roof, which is thrice the size of Turner Field’s roof. The Cobb County ballpark is scheduled to open in April 2017. In addition to the $672 million stadium, there will also be office spaces, shopping centers, a hotel, roads, greenery, and 500 residences that cost up to $400 million. The additional structures will be built around the stadium.

    The renderings also show a small park that surrounds the one-acre water feature. Additionally, there is a main plaza that will serve as gathering areas for game days. The plaza may also be used for community events and street festivals that will be held throughout the year.

    John Schuerholz, President of the Atlanta Braves, said that the renderings are just a representation of how their vision of the stadium is shaping up. He also said that the team is still months away from the finalized plans, but they are “pleased with the progress.”

    Designers of the stadium and the team are working together. The ballpark will be oriented towards the southwest, which is not a usual layout for ballparks. However, designers have already performed sun studies and concluded that there will be no problems with the layout they intend to use.

    360 degree view of stadium site

    With the release of the images of the new stadium, the Atlanta Braves also announced that they have a waiting list for non-season ticket holders who are interested in purchasing season packages at the Cobb County stadium.

    Image via Home of  the Braves, Twitter

  • New York Yankees Pitcher Ejected For Cheating

    Some pitchers will do anything to give themselves an edge over the opposition. Unfortunately, that includes questionable behaviors on the mound.

    New York Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda had been accused of using a foreign substance, pine tar, to give him an unfair advantage over hitters for the opposition.

    The Boston Red Sox were not amused when Pineda’s antics cost them during the previous meeting of the two teams.

    While the Yankees weren’t exactly apologetic about the matter, The Red Sox had already decided that they would not suffer the consequences a second time.

    During Wednesday’s game, Red Sox manager John Farrell asked an umpire to take a closer look at Pineda’s neck at the start of the second inning. Umpire Gerry Davis examined the pitcher closely and found that Pineda had coated the side of his neck with a “foreign substance”.

    It was eventually confirmed to have been his trusty pine tar concoction. No one bought the “dirt” excuse when Pineda was previously questioned about using it before.

    Having been absolutely busted during gameplay, there was nothing else for the umpire to do but to instruct Pineda to hit the bricks.

    The use of pine tar violates an important Major League Baseball rule which states that “the pitcher shall not apply a foreign substance of any kind to the ball.”

    This rule says that a pitcher found to be in violation is subject to a suspension of ten games.

    The last time Pineda put one over on the Red Sox, it was widely blamed on pine tar. He was not punished at that time for the use of the substance.

    As it turns out, it’s fairly common for pitchers to use certain substances to allow for better pitching success. It’s a rule that isn’t enforced often at all.

    The Red Sox just weren’t interested in seeing their rivals get one over on them so blatantly and then defiantly brag about it in the media.

    Image via YouTube

  • Albert Pujols Joins 500 Homerun Club

    Put it in the books. Last night, first base slugger Albert Pujols became just the 26th player in Major League Baseball history to smash 500 homeruns. The 34-year-old is the the third-youngest to join the 500 Homerun Club behind Alex Rodriguez and Jimmie Foxx who were both 32.

    The only problem with the accomplishment was that his wife was not in attendance. Pujols hit the 499th and 500th in the same night in a 7-2 victory over the Washington Nationals.

    The Anaheim Angel had to relay the good news long distance, “I went and made a phone call and I called her, and she was doing her nails. And everybody in the salon, I guess, was telling her, ‘Congratulations!’ And she was like, ‘Did you just hit your 500th?’ I was like, ‘I’m sorry,”’ Pujols added, “She would have loved to be here with my kids and my family. She drives me every day to try to be a better person, a better player.”

    So far this season, Pujols has looked more like the slugger that the Angels signed to a massive 10-year contract worth $240 million back in 2011. After a decent 2012 campaign with the Halos, the .321 lifetime hitter played in just 99 games last season and hit a career low .258 with only 17 homeruns. However, Pujols looks healthy this year and has already hit eight homeruns in just a little over three weeks of baseball.

    The nine-time All-Star and three-time National League MVP hit his 499th dinger off of Taylor Jordan in the first inning. The second homer, also off of Jordan, was hit to left-center field. The ball was caught by 29-year-old Air Force staff sergeant Thomas Sherill, who gave the memento back to Pujols.

    Even though the game was in Washington, the fans gave Pujols an ovation after the historic 500th homerun. After the game, Pujols said at a news conference, “Now we’ve got to start on the next milestone, I guess.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • You Can Now Watch Live Major League Baseball Games On Chromecast

    MLB.TV has added Chromecast support so paying customers of its Premium service can now stream live out-of-market major league baseball games using Google’s $35 device.

    Users can download the MLB.com At Bat app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

    Google opened up developer support for Chromecast in February, paving the way for a plethora of apps to support it. We’re still in the early days on this, and the inexpensive device is only going to become more and more attractive to users as more options become available.

    A couple weeks ago, Crackle, Rdio, and Vudu added support, and earlier this week, StumbleUpon launched support for its 5by video discovery app on iOS (Android was already available).

    Other supported apps include: Netflix, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, Pandora, YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Google Play Music, Songza, Red Bull TV, Vevo, Plex, PostTV, Viki, and RealPlayer Cloud.

    Google held its Q1 earnings call yesterday. It didn’t reveal how many Chromecasts have been sold, but said the device has been a “real hit”.

    Image via YouTube

  • Masahiro Tanaka Dominating MLB Hitters

    In the 2013-14 Major League Baseball offseason, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, a Japanese major league baseball team, listed pitcher Masahiro Tanaka as an available player to the MLB postings at a fee of $20 million. Shortly following the listing, MLB teams came clamoring to Tanaka, longing to sign the Japanese ace to their team. The early frontrunners were the Yankees and the Cubs, with the Bronx Bombers eventually signing Tanaka to a 7-year, $155 million deal.

    On Wednesday, Tanaka made his third major league start by squaring-off against his former suitors, the Chicago Cubs. By the end of the first game of Wednesday’s double-header, the entire Cubs line-up vehemently wished their club would have put up more money to acquire Tanaka, especially considering his stat-line Wednesday placed Tanaka in the MLB record books.

    8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 10 Ks.

    While one may dismiss Tanaka’s performance due to the ability of the competing team, these numbers are not a fluke. Over his first three games, Tanaka has struck out 28 batters while walking only two. His efficiency is devastating, and it is led by his sickeningly-good split-fingered fastball.

    In his three games thus far, Tanaka has thrown the splitter 24 percent of the time. The average speed of his splitter is 87 mph, coming in only 4.6 mph slower than his average fastball speed – this margin being the closest of any MLB who uses the splitter with any frequency.

    What makes his splitter even more devastating, however, is how far it drops while coming through the strike zone. As Tanaka’s splitter travels toward the plate, it drops vertically at a rate of 17 feet per second. In comparison, Tanaka’s fastball drops at 11.6 feet per second as it travels from the mound to the hitting box. This 5.4 feet per second differential in vertical drop places Tanaka second in the league, only behind Tim Hudson.

    Tanaka’s fellow Yankee Carlos Beltran, who is on pace for early MVP honors, describes what batters are facing as they stand in the box across from Tanaka: “It’s at your knees and a lot of guys think it’s a fastball, and all of a sudden the ball drops because it’s a splitter and it’s 87-88 [mph]. It’s not like it’s 82 or 83, where you have time to recognize it. In your mind, you’re thinking fastball, so you swing.’’

    The data supports Beltran’s assessment. Batters swing at Tanaka’s splitter 65 percent of the time, with more than half of those swings being whiffs. Even if the batters make contact, 72 percent of the balls put in play against the splitter wind-up as ground-ball outs.

    Perhaps Cubs manager Rick Renteria said it best when he tried to downplay Tanaka’s dominant performance against his struggling Cubbies: “His split-finger fastball, when it’s down, is pretty good. He can elevate his fastball a little bit. He’s pretty good.”

    Image via YouTube

  • Jackie Robinson Day Tribute Postponed

    Baseball is honoring legendary player Jackie Robinson with Jackie Robinson Day. The baseball pioneer was to be honored at Yankee Stadium before the city’s match against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, but rain forced the committee to move the game and ceremony to Wednesday.

    Robinson is Major League Baseball’s (MLB) first African-American player, successfully breaking the game’s color line when Dodgers president Branch Rickey signed him to play in 1947. Prior to Robinson’s drafting, black baseball players were relegated to the “Negro leagues,” but the Dodgers put a stop to the six decade-long racial segregation of the sport.

    Robinson’s drafting not only ushered in racial equality in baseball, but contemporary American life as well.

    In his ten-season career, his team would play in six World Series championships, with a win in 1955. He closed his career with 1,518 hits, 947 runs, 137 home runs, 273 doubles, 54 triples, 197 stolen bases, and 734 RBI.

    Derek Jeter, Yankees shortstop, believes that Jackie Robinson Day is a “wonderful thing.” The player has met with Robinson’s family through the years, and is excited to honor Robinson by wearing No. 42 on his jersey.

    MLB commissioner Bud Selig calls Robinson an “American icon” and said that his leadership and accomplishments inspire both baseball and society. He continued to say that the player’s legacy led to on-field diversity and participation of youth in sports.

    The new schedule of the Dodgers’ commemoration will now take place at the Dodgers Stadium, beginning with a baseball clinic for 120 youths from South LA’s Challengers Boys & Girls Club in the morning, and a gathering of 30 members of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation’s (LADF).

    Other states will feature celebrations, including pre-game festivities, panel discussions, and games in Minneapolis, Chicago, San Diego, Phoenix, and Florida.

    In Cincinnati, the Reds will also honor Chuck Harmon, who is the Reds’ first African American player in 1954.

    Robinson’s broke the color barrier in baseball 67 years ago — an accomplishment his wife Rachel is proud of. In a statement, she said she is happy that MLB is honoring him and ensuring that “what he stood for” is remembered.

    At the same time, a plaque will be unveiled and mounted at Monument Park to honor the late Nelson Mandela, a South African leader who also fought for equal rights. Robinson’s family and Selig will attend the ceremony.

    Image via YouTube