Baseball

In a town where winning is rare, player character is one element fans focus too much attention on.

For what it's worth, though, Mark Teahen is a model citizen and a pleasure to be around.

So was Allard Baird and he set the Royals back years by neglecting the farm system and encouraging incompetent scouting.

Both of these individuals were in over their heads due to the positions they were put into by this franchise.

Unless he's pitching against your favorite team, it's quite difficult not to be a fan of Pedro Martinez.

Martinez is more than just a future Hall of Fame pitcher. He's an entertainer that often leaves his opponents baffled one minute but cracking up with laughter the next.

If you're under 35 or have spent ANY time on the West Coast, the news that Tim Lincecum was pulled over and arrested on misdemeanor charges for marijuana possession isn't exactly surprising. Note that it was possession and NOT driving under the influence, which would be a different tune.

Anyway, it's the offseason, the Freak is relaxing, and he's a product of the Pacific Northwest.

Here's a little secret—weed is really popular on the West Coast.

The baseball season is over. The hot stove season begins.

The highlight of the offseason for most baseball fans, however, is the annual narcissism festival of the BBWAA, which is telling us, the fans, who the best players in baseball history are.

The logic of men like Jim Rice being enshrined over men like Ron Santo is another topic for another day, however. This is about 2010, and the eligibles.

Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum was cited for misdemeanor marijuana possession last weekend in southern Washington State.

Washington State Patrol reported smelling marijuana when Lincecum initially rolled down the window, and upon inquiring about the smell Lincecum produced 3.3 grams and a pipe.

I just want to tell those members of the media who are about to explode: its OK.

Life will go on.

Look, the 25-year old Lincecum went to Liberty High School in Renton, WA just a few miles away from me and was also just a grade in front of me.

We all know that picking a top ten list of players in any sport must contain some subjectivity. Sure, one could simply use statistics to support their choices, but how do you compare the relative worth of a pitcher versus a hitter, for example?

Players we remember from our childhoods often have special meaning for us, and it can be difficult to block out those emotions when rating players on your favorite team. We may have looked up to these players as heroes at the time.

Well, we are older now and smart enough to understand that you shouldn't use athletes as role models.

This observer witnessed something in New York City the last couple of days.

On Tuesday night, New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg bought himself another term by defeating New York City comptroller William Thompson in an mayoral election that the Democratic candidate had no chance of winning.

Last night, the Yankees bought themselves their 27th championship by eliminating the Phillies in six games in what was a boring World Series.

What can we learn from this? If anyone has the money, he or she can do whatever he or she wants, and odds are success comes with it.

Fresh off the heels of watching yet another Yankees championship, the Red Sox brass have already gotten to work on improving their team's lackluster offense.

The Red Sox acquired 25-year-old outfielder Jeremy Hermida from the Florida Marlins, giving up southpaws Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez in return. In 516 major league games, Hermida sports a .265 average, with 57 homers and a mediocre .769 OPS.