According to reports, Bud Selig is giving serious consideration to lifting the lifetime ban of the major league career hits leader: Pete Rose.

I don't condone Pete's actions because he broke the rules and then lied about it. There are signs in every clubhouse that make it perfectly clear that gambling on sports is illegal. However, Pete Rose was a great baseball player. He would not be elected into the Hall of Fame as a manager. He would be elected as a player only. The 17 time all-star with the most career hits definitely deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

If the Hall of Fame encompassed everything that a person did throughout their life, then Pete does not deserve the recognition, but the fact that it is an honor that is supposed to be based upon one's achievements' on the baseball field; there is no doubt that Rose belongs in.

While I would love to see Rose reinstated, the only problem is that reinstatement does not guarantee a ticket to the coveted Hall of Fame. If Selig were to forgive Rose, it does not mean that the writers would. Rose would still need to get the votes necessary to be elected. While it is obvious that he deserves to be in, it is yet to be seen if he will be...

With a dominating 11 strikeout performance, Sanchez just threw a no-hitter against the Padres. He had a perfect game adfter 7 1/3 but an error by Juan Uribe ended that. However, he still threw the no-hitter. This was an amazing game to watch and I can't remember the last time I was so excited watching a baseball game. Watching Sanchez pitch the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings was one of the most exciting moments. I was truly on the edge of my seat and anticipating every pitch. This was a very special night for Sanchez as it was the first time that his father saw him pitch. Wow, what a treat for his dad. Congratulations to Sanchez on an amazing pitching performance.

Manny Ramirez served his 50 game suspension. He did everything that he was supposed to do. On Friday July 3rd, he returned to baseball and everything was supposed to be normal. However; he was called out on strikes twice in last night’s game on pitches that were nowhere near the strike zone. He argued after the first strikeout and was visibly disgusted after the second one where he threw his helmet and bat towards the dugout then flipped his elbow guard in the direction of home plate umpire John Hirschbeck.

Ramirez was ejected and although he played it off like it was no big deal because he was leaving after the 5th inning anyways, it is a big deal because it appeared as if Hirschbeck had a vendetta against Ramirez. Hirschbeck is a seasoned umpire and has a lot of experience, he is a good umpire and making two calls like this against one player makes it appear like he had a personal agenda.

I’m not ready to call out Major League Baseball and suspect them of a conspiracy until the Dodgers play a couple more games. I’ll assume that this was just Hirschbeck’s way of saying that he is still angry at Mann for cheating, but if Ramirez keeps getting this kind of treatment in the next few games, we will have to wonder what is going on in the front office of the MLB.

If this continues, I believe that Bud Selig feels like Ramirez did not get the negative treatment upon returning that A-Rod and other players have gotten so Selig feels that Ramirez should get some harsh treatment from the men behind the plate.

When I think about the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the Home-Run Derby, and all the events that take place over the three day break in the middle of the baseball season; I can't help but think of Ken Griffey Junior. When thinking about Griffey Junior, I picture the kid who had his hat on backwards as he was hitting bomb after bomb in the Home Run Derby. Griffey was one of the most talented players ever and was the face of Major League Baseball in the 1990's. He always had fun while he played. He had power at the plate and was graceful in centerfield. Griffey was everyone's favorite player and had enough talent to become the greatest player that ever played. He seemed destined to be the all-time home run leader until the injuries hit...

He had three straight years where he played 83 games or less. The player that I once saw so much talent and potential in, I now view as the player who had a career that was significantly hampered by injuries. Griffey could not seem to stay on the field and while he is still one of the all-time great players, injuries are the reason that he is in the discussion amongst other greats rather than being the standard to which other players are compared to...

So I think I am starting to get a handle on the new layout of the blogs here on fox sports (I still prefer the old format though). But, I was wondering why everyone is so excited for the return of Manny? Why is the public so forgiving? People are excited and treating Ramirez like a hero. He is coming back from a suspension in which he cheated! Manny Ramirez is a cheater who has never apologized publically and yet we are all ready to forgive him, or so it appears. I do not understand it at all. Sure there were some boos in the stands, but the fan fare and everything in the media has been exciting and welcoming towards Ramirez. The Dodgers are even going to reopen "Mannywood" which is the section in the left-field bleachers devoted to Ramirez. He is coming back from a 50 game suspension for cheating, has never apologized, and yet is being treated like a hero. Everyone loves Manny because he has a sense of humor and is goofy, but it is time for people to realize that he cheated and we can't be so quick to forgive him.

Sorry that this post wasn't as thought out and organized as I usually try to be, but I was running short on time and have been trying to figure out this new layout.