Ending the first month of Major League Baseball’s 2008 season, there are some interesting results coming to light concerning which teams are leading their divisions. Of the six divisions there are eight teams currently in first or sharing first place. Of these eight teams, five are among the youngest ten teams in the major leagues. In addition, the other three first place teams are members of the top ten payroll teams. The Los Angeles Angels and the two Chicago clubs, the White Sox and Cubs, have parlayed their high payrolls into first place after one month's play. The team with the largest payroll is sitting in fourth place. The New York Yankees pay their players over $70,000,000 more than the next closest payroll (The Detroit Tigers). My gosh, the difference between the first and second highest payrolls this season is greater than five teams that currently reside in first place in their divisions!
Here is a look at where the various teams stack up:
The number of teams by their position in the six division’s standings:
Total
1st Place Teams - 8
2nd Place Teams - 4
3rd Place Teams - 7
4th Place Teams - 5
5th Place Teams - 5
6th Place Team - 1
By Age
Ave. Position in 1st in 2nd in 3rd in 4th in 5th in 6th
Youngest 10 Teams 2.50 5 1 1 1 1 1
Mid Age 10 Teams 3.10 2 1 3 3 1 0
Oldest 10 Teams 3.20 1 2 3 1 3 0
By Age & Payroll
Ave. Payroll in 1st place in 2nd place in 3rd place
Youngest 10 Teams $56,074,185 $49,404,637 $78,970,067 $62,182,767
Mid Age 10 Teams $102,889,792 $120,184,500 $118,536,038 $72,051,389
Oldest 10 Teams $110,775,283 $118,595,833 $119,458,914 $116,567,967
By Age & Payroll
Ave. Payroll in 4th place in 5th place in 6th place
Youngest 10 Teams $56,074,185 $68,239,551 $54,961,000 $49,365,283
Mid Age 10 Teams $102,889,792 $126,720,366 $73,677,617 $0
Oldest 10 Teams $110,775,283 $88,930,415 $103,868,283 $0
Look at the average payroll of the five young teams currently in first place!
Now its clearly early in the season, and as we all know baseball changes with the weather as spring runs into summer and then fall, but if some of these young, low payroll teams continue playing ball like they have been so far, it will represent quite an indictment against the philosophy of trying to buy your way to the pennant using the older, more experienced ball players as opposed to the teams that rely on the younger, lower paid players that are hungry to show what they can do…
These guys better get their act together...
Is this an indictment on management or simply the exuberance of youth?
While on a mission for a friend I ran across something on the YouTube site that I couldn't believe! It simply crushed my notions about one of Major League Baseball's most beloved icons, Mr. Met...
Watch at your own risk and please turn away if Mr. Met is one of your favorites...
If you follow Major League Baseball then you've probably at one time or another dreamt of being able to don the uniform of your favorite big league ball club and step out onto a baseball diamond with all of the heroes of your youth, if only for a day. Its a very rare person that actually gets to live out that dream.
Here is Billy Crystal, who for one day in his 60 years as a rabid fan, got to suit up with his New York Yankees and take an official spring training at bat in a game between the Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Here is his at bat in which he actually hits a screaming... foul ball! Hit that ball Billy!
After the game a sports media crew filmed Billy talking with the Pirates pitcher he stood in against. Billy asked him if he was afraid he would get a hit when he stepped into the batters box. The young pitcher didn't hesitate as he stated, "No, I was afraid I wouldn't get you out!"
By the way, have a safe and Happy St. Paddy's Day and don't drink too many green beers!
In this morning’s edition, the New York Times is reporting that the Federal government is further investigating a known source of illegal performance enhancing drugs (PED) for making them available to still more professional athletes. A group that so far remains unknown to the general public.
Brett Boone?
In this instance, the Northern District of California United States Attorney’s office prosecutors have been trying to determine if a California doctor has been illegally writing prescriptions that were then used by major league baseball players.
This investigation came about as a result of another in New York State that was looking into an internet ring of pharmacies and anti-aging clinics that implicated a Dr. Ramon Scruggs for the illegal prescription activity. Dr. Scruggs was mentioned in the Mitchell Report as having written steroid prescriptions for both Troy Glaus and Scott Schoeneweis. Now it has been learned that this most current investigation has uncovered the names of yet more major league players who were using Dr. Scruggs’ services.
Dr. Scruggs, while not indicted to date for any wrong doing in this latest investigation, was barred last year by the California medical board for prescribing medications over the Internet. He was fined a whooping $4,800 and placed on 35 months probation that commenced last March. Scruggs is said to have written between 6,000 and 7,000 prescriptions of dangerous drugs or controlled substances over the Internet without a good faith examination of the recipients.
The Times article quotes Dr. Scruggs from an interview published in July, 2000:
“I know that I’m helping people far more than I’m hurting them,” Scruggs was quoted as saying. “If you want to know the truth, I don’t like taking 22- or 23-year-olds and putting them on steroids; it makes me nervous,” he said. “Yet I’d rather have them come to me and manage their steroid use, than have them do it on their own.” Scruggs also complained that there were few “steroid-friendly pharmacies,” and said that he himself was taking human growth hormone.
Jose Canseco
The same assistant United States attorneys, Matthew Parrella and Jeffrey Nedrow, that investigated Balco in 2000 and then became involved with the investigation of Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski and who are now involved with the possible perjury investigation into Roger Clemens, are said to be adding their expertise to the latest Dr. Scruggs investigation as well.
It’s hard for me to believe that people such as Ramon Scruggs, based upon the comments attributed to him in the 2000 interview, have the capacity to earn a doctorate in today’s medical profession.
I continue to wonder how many other “Doctors” will be implicated as these investigations move on.
Dr. Ramon Scruggs has conveniently made himself unavailable for comments concerning the latest revelations about his practices, but I’m sure he’ll readily accept your hard earned money if you’d like to subscribe to his services. Here you will find Dr. Scruggs latest incarnation:
the Columbia Broadcasting System known as the New York Yankees...
This new owner forced life into a team that had floundered rudderless for a period of years. He demanded, no that's not right, he absolutely required perfection, and if he didn't get what he wanted, heads would roll. George Steinbrenner consolidated his ownership of the team and then was responsible for implementing the era of free agency in professional baseball by signing several high profile players away from other teams. Charlie Finley's Oakland Athletics were hit time and again as Steinbrenner made his first major acquisition by luring All Star pitcher Jim "Catfish" Hunter and then a power hitting outfielder named Reggie Jackson away from the A's to join the Yankees. These occurences coupled with the managerial talents of former Yankee second baseman Billy Martin led the team to winning two world champsionships in Steinbrenner's first five years as the Yankee owner. Then, much to his chagrin, the team went through thirteen consecutive seasons without qualifying for the playoffs. It was unbearable for George as he continually tinkered with the team's management and tested his coach's and player's sanity in the process. Finally the years of misery came to an end in 1993 when the Yankees were once again participating in the playoffs. Joe Torre came onto the scene in the early 1990s and led George's teams to four World Series championships from 1996 through 2000. It was through these successful years that the term "Evil Empire" was laid on the organization by a Boston Red Sox part owner, John Henry. With Steinbrenner's meddling ownership and free wheeling money spending ways, the name has stuck ever since...
Today, George Steinbrenner, also known as the Emperor and as King George, is approaching 80 years of age. Many said that his allowing Joe Torre to stay on for six seasons without winning another World Series championship was testiment to the fact that George was quietly getting soft in his old age. As the 2008 baseball season gets underway, George Steinbrenner has publicly relinquished control of the Yankees to a consortium led by his two sons, Hank (in charge of baseball operations), and Hal (in charge of business operations). Both sons willingly acknowledge that although they have taken on expanded roles within the organization now valued by Forbes to be in excess of 1.2 billion dollars, George continues to be "The Boss"
.
Hank Steinbrenner began his time as Baseball Operations Manager by quietly overseeing a delicate situation releaving the team of former Field Manager Joe Torre, hiring Joe Girardi over Yankee icon Don Mattingly, and by keeping Andy Pettite in the fold even as his elicit performance enhancing drug (PHD) use came to light. The Pettite resolution was very important as pitching continues to be the Yankee's prime concern. Pundits in New York's oppressive print media were so pleasantly surprised with the ease displayed by Hank Steinbrenner's handling of these potential hot buttons that several glowing articles were written in praise of Hank. Since then, almost as if to prove that he is still a chip off the old block, Hank has publicly opened his mouth and placed his foot firmly in it...
Late last month, at a time when Andy Pettite and former Yankee Roger Clemens were headline news throughout the country concerning PHDs, Hank, in what I'm sure was an effort to deflect attention away from baseball in general and the Yankees in particular, commented: "I don't like baseball being singled out," the Yankees' senior vice president said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press Monday night. "Everybody that knows sports knows football is tailor-made for performance-enhancing drugs. I don't know how they managed to skate by. It irritates me. Don't tell me it's not more prevalent. The number in football is at least twice as many. Look at the speed and size of those players." And then the following was said about the Yankee's primary competitor, the Boston Red Sox: 'Red Sox Nation?' Hank says. 'What a bunch of [expletive] that is. That was a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN, which is filled with Red Sox fans. Go anywhere in America and you won’t see Red Sox hats and jackets, you’ll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We’re going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order." And as if that wasn't enough, Hank was then quoted as saying a couple of days later: "I don't think they would want to be hollering too loud at Andy (about his PED use) up in Fenway. They had plenty of players doing this stuff, too. It's just that those players weren't mentioned in the Mitchell Report."
In addition, "Boss Steinbrenner, Jr." has assumed his father's old role as the Yankee's great second guesser when it comes to the deals the Yankees have made as well as the deals they haven't. Reports are that Hank has displayed buyer's remorse after opening the team's purse to new multi-year, multi-million dollar deals with Alex Rodriguez and Mariano Rivera. While on the other hand, he has lamented allowing Johan Santana to sign with their in-town rival Mets. Hank has let it be known that if Santana turns out to be as productive as another player the Yankees let get away, the Red Sox "Big Papi" David Ortiz, it will not be his fault. The fault has already been assigned to Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman.
Yes, it appears the Yankees are in good hands with Hank. The Steinbrenner tradition lives on and the New York media is having a difficult time hiding their gleeful anticipation...
The first significant trade of the MLB Winter Meetings just came off the sportswire.
The Florida Marlins have traded their two biggest stars to the Detroit Tigers for six young players, two of whom had been advertised as untouchable.
The Tigers Get:
Dontrelle Willis Left-handed starter. 68-54 in 160 career starts and a career ERA of 3.80 with 748 K's in 1012 innings pitched.
Miguel Cabrera Third basemen Right-handed power hitter. Miguel's career batting numbers : .313 BA, 138 ZHRs, and 523 RBIs in a five years. Cabrera is also a very versatile in the field starting at several positions for the Marlins.
The Marlins Get:
Outfielder Cameron Maybin Consistently ranked as the Tigers' top minor league prospect
Left-hander Andrew Miller 6'6" and is one of the top up and coming youngsters in the nation.
Catcher Mike Rabelo 2007 marked his first Major League experience.
plus three minor league prospects...
I hoped to see Dontrelle go a different direction, he signed a one year contract last January with the Marlins so part of the deal for the Tigers will be to get a long-term contract on him. Willis was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and I hoped he would find a home with the Giants...
I think this transaction vastly improves a very strong Tigers team. I've felt for a long time that Dontrelle would blossom in a winners environment. Adding Cabrera to the heart of the Tigers lineup makes a formidable offense even stronger. Cabrera is big time and I believe he too will prosper playing with the likes of Ivan Rodriquez and Magglio Ordonez.
The Tigers have made a move toward returning to the playoffs and hopefully Jim Leyland can lead them back to the Series...
It’s Hot Stove time now and I thought it a good time to take a look at some baseball history, past, present and future. Let’s take a walk around some of the icons of professional baseball, the stadiums where the game is played. In recent years we have seen a renaissance in the construction of new ballparks as the owners have made a concerted effort to put fans next to the players on the field as they were in the old days. It is my opinion that this, as much as anything, has led to the highest attendance figures ever registered in the Grand Old Game.
First, a look at some of the oldest stadiums, long gone now. Pay attention to the field configurations, each field had it’s own peculiarities.
Tiger Stadium, home of the Detroit Tigers from 1912 to 1999.
Personally, I can remember the 1968 World Series team playing here with the likes of Al Kaline, Willie Horton, Norm Cash, Gates Brown, Mickey Lolich and Denny McLain playing here. Then there was the 1984 World Series team managed by Sparky Anderson with players like Alan Trammel, Lance Parrish, Lou Whitaker, Kirk Gibson, and Jack Morris.
Crosley Field, home of the Reds from 1912 to 1970.
I can remember Fred Hutchinson managing the 1961 Reds to the World Series with players like Vada Pinson, Frank Robinson, Wally Post, Leo Cardenas, Jim O’Toole, and Joey Jay.
Comiskey Park, home to the Chicago White Sox from 1910 to 1991.
Remember the 1959 White Sox? Some real characters on that team with Nellie Fox, Ted Kluszewski, Luis Aparicio, Early Wynn and Billy Pierce.
Ebbets Field, home of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1913 to 1957.
I can vaguely remember the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, more from stories than actual experience, but I had the baseball cards for Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Johnny Podres, Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson, and Don Newcombe.
Forbes Field, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1909 to 1970.
Any baseball fan born from the early 1950's back will remember the 1961 Pirates team that defeated the Yankees on Bill Mazeroski's dramatic home run in game seven. Yogi Berra was in left field and watched the ball off Maz's bat over the Forbes Field left field wall... That team included Roberto Clemente, #### Groat, Smokey Burgess and Vern Law.
Shibe Park/Connie Mack Park, home of the Philadelphia Athletics for a period of time and the Philadelphia Phillies, both from 1909 through 1970.
The first ballpark built out of concrete and steel considered the forerunner of such stadiums as Yankee Stadium, Braves Field, Comiskey Park, Ebbetts Field, Fenway Park, Forbes Field, and Wrigley Field all followed soon after, and concrete and steel versions of the Polo Grounds, Crosley Field and Tiger Stadium followed their wooden predecessors.
Metropolitan Stadium, home of the Minnesota Twins from 1961 to 1981.
The 1965 Twins made it to the World Series only to be defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers. That team had several stars including Tony Oliva, Harmon Killebrew, Jimmie Hall, Mudcat Grant and Jim Kaat.
In the 1960's and into the 1970's many of the old ball parks came down, making way for what I call the ugly years in stadium building. Several stadiums went up around the country that were basically interchangeable. Here are a couple, I'm sure you'll recognize the look... Can you put the correct name on them?
A
B
C
D
What do you think? Look at the end of the post for the answers.
All of them had the same curved outfield fences and about the same distances into the outfield.
The first domed sports stadium constructed, the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, was built in 1965. Acclaimed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World", it had a glass paned roof installed with the thought that the filtered sunlight would have enough intensity to grow a natural grass playing surface. Much to their chagrin, that didn’t happen and WALLA! Astroturf was born out of necessity (another game changing advance in technology).
Filtered light inside the Houston Astrodome, home of the Astros from 1965 to 1999.
Astroturf meant that a different style of sports facility could be built. In 1976, there came the Kingdome in Seattle. Why this monstrosity was ever conceived, let alone built, is beyond my comprehension, but it was.
A multi-function stadium, the Kingdome seemed to take all the worst things you could think of in stadium craftsmanship and combine them into a spectacular mess. Several years after opening, repairs to the disintegrating concrete ceiling were found to cost more than the original construction costs of the old stadium.
Finally, the Kingdome was mercifully leveled.
The Existing Traditional Stadiums
Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs from 1916 to the present...
Never been here... Someday I hope to cheer on the Cubs on their home turf!
Fenway Park, home of the World Champion Boston Red Sox from 1912 to the present...
Another icon of the sport. Once again, someday I'll be there.
I had to pay homage to those wonderful old ballparks. I realize they lack in creature comforts, but oh, the history. They are shrines just as much as the Hall of Fame.
Retractable Roof Stadiums
The 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics should have marked the first retractable roof sports stadium being put into operation. The poorly designed roof ran into excessive construction delays and then costs skyrocketed. After several years of never really working properly the retractable roof became a hazard while the Montreal Expos made Olympic Stadium their home. Today, Montreal’s Olympic Stadium has a permanent roof and no Major League Baseball team.
Toronto’s Skydome was completed in 1989 marking the first practical use of a retractable roof stadium in Major League Baseball.
Toronto’s Skydome now known as the Rogers Centre, home of the Blue Jays.
Still has the cookie cutter dimensions in Toronto...
Since the end of the 1980's
Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore broke ground for the renaissance in Major League Baseball stadiums when it opened in 1992. The stadium is a throw back.
Notice the park's dimensions?
Next came Jacobs Field in Cleveland. It opened in 1994.
Next Up?
How about combining the retractable roof with renaissance construction?
Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington.
Seattle, where spring and fall conditions can be blustery, also has the possibility of drizzles throughout the baseball season. The 1995 Mariners saved baseball in Seattle, and Safeco Field has made it reasonable to attend games in the Pacific Northwest.
Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros
What's New?
Probably the greatest innovation in baseball stadiums has been the use of the retractable roof. Today there are even more innovations coming in stadium construction. Already here are things like retractable lawns that can be moved outdoors to properly grow and maintain a natural surface (University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals NFL team has this) and fully connected facilities where internet access is available in every seat on a local area network.
Here are a few of the new stadiums either being constructed or scheduled to begin shortly:
Yankee fans can say goodbye to the House that Ruth Built...
Here is an artist's rendition of the new Yankee Stadium
The Yankees expect to take up residence in 2009. "This new stadium will present new comforts, new features and be state-of-the-art in every way," Yankees president Randy Levine said. "It will be the most spectacular fan-friendly stadium ever built."
So what about the Mets? Say goodbye to Shea Stadium. Citi Park is also on course to open in 2009.
The Oakland A's are attempting to get approval for Cisco Field in neighboring Fremont and hoping to have it constructed by 2011.
The Minnesota Twins are expecting a 2010 completion for their new park...
The Washington Nationals new proposed home:
Now the Tampa Bay Rays (no longer the Devil Rays) have unveiled plans for a hoped for bayside ball park in St. Petersburg... Designed to include retractable sun shields.
Other cities, such as Portland Oregon are currently putting together feasibility studies for baseball facilities with hopes of attracting either an existing team or a new franchise to their city...
It would appear that even with all it's problems, baseball is doing well.
Oh yeah... A. Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia. B. Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio. C. Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. D. Veteran's Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
I'm a sports fanatic living on the west coast of Florida. I'm a rare bird that moved here from the left coast a couple of years ago. I advocate an even playing field in all of life's endeavors.
best slot
Mattingly, and by keeping Andy Pettite in the fold even as his elicit performance enhancing drug (PHD) use came to light. The Pettite resolution was very important as pitching continues to be the Yankee's prime concern. Pundits in New York's oppressive print media were so pleasantly surprised with the ease displayed by Hank Steinbrenner's handling of these potential hot buttons that several glowing articles were written in praise of Hank. Since then, almost as if to prove that he is still a chip off the old block, Hank has publicly opened his mouth and placed his foot firmly in it...
from baseball in general and the Yankees in particular, commented: "I don't like baseball being singled out," the Yankees' senior vice president said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press Monday night. "Everybody that knows sports knows football is tailor-made for performance-enhancing drugs. I don't know how they managed to skate by. It irritates me. Don't tell me it's not more prevalent. The number in football is at least twice as many. Look at the speed and size of those players." And then the following was said about the Yankee's primary competitor, the Boston Red Sox: 'Red 
Sox Nation?' Hank says. 'What a bunch of [expletive] that is. That was a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN, which is filled with Red Sox fans. Go anywhere in America and you won’t see Red Sox hats and jackets, you’ll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We’re going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order." And as if that wasn't enough, Hank was then quoted as saying a couple of days later: "I don't think they would want to be hollering too loud at Andy (about his PED use) up in Fenway. They had plenty of players doing this stuff, too. It's just that those players weren't mentioned in the Mitchell Report." 
Left-handed starter. 68-54 in 160 career starts and a career ERA of 3.80 with 748 K's in 1012 innings pitched.
Third basemen Right-handed power hitter. Miguel's career batting numbers : .313 BA, 138 ZHRs, and 523 RBIs in a five years. Cabrera is also a very versatile in the field starting at several positions for the Marlins. 
Consistently ranked as the Tigers' top minor league prospect
6'6" and is one of the top up and coming youngsters in the nation.
2007 marked his first Major League experience.
