Baseball

There aren't too many players, who put up some of the best of numbers of their career at 35 years old.

But Johnny Damon is doing just that.

The San Diego Padres were left for dead in late July, but since the All-Star break, this team has shown that they could be a definite factor next season.

There is finally a hint of promise in San Diego and it's not because the San Diego Chargers are about to kick off their 2009 season tonight against Oakland.

Ten years ago it was a dream season for Ivan Rodriguez.

1999 will never be erased from his memory.

His team, the Texas Rangers, won the American League West Division pennant, while individually, he won the American League Most Valuable Player Award.

From River Ave Blues:

There was an incident the day before, though, one I think that many people forget.

Yup. I forgot. And in case you forgot, too, I’ll explain the situation. The day was July 5 and the Yankees were at home against the Blue Jays. In the bottom of the first, a Derek Jeter single, a Mark Teixeira walk, and a Jorge Posada single had the bases loaded with just one out.

When you’re a fan of a team who had the potential to make the playoffs but falls short, there's always the question of “what if?”

“What if they had made it? They have such a good top of the rotation and a ton of veterans...they were made for the playoffs!”

I found myself asking “what if?” about this year's White Sox team. The Sox came into the season with low expectations, yet found themselves competing for a division title anyway. Now they sit six games back with too few games remaining to feel they actually have a chance.

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Yankees manager Joe Girardi was ejected in the fifth inning yesterday but still takes credit for removing reliever Brian Bruney in the eighth even though, technically, bench coach Tony Pena was the acting manager.

Since the start of the season rumors flew that 2009 would most definitely was Carlos Delgado’ last season in the Big Apple.

Even though was considered one of the key players for a pennant run this season, management knew behind the scenes most likely the 37-year-old Delgado, whose contract expires after this season, was not going to be ask to return.

Since the Yankees swept that early-August series against the Red Sox, they have had a very comfortable lead in the AL East that has allowed manager Joe Girardi to run the team with comfort most managers wish they had.

Maybe their lead is comfortable in the east, but the race for the best record in the American League is on. Even with a five-game lead over the Angels, there's a lot at stake here because the Angels own the Yankees, 6-19 since 2005, in their home ball park.

My weekly take on the Tigers, also known simply and affectionately as “MMM.”

Week of 9/7-13: 1-5

This week: 9/14: TOR; 9/15-17: KC; 9/18-20: at Min

Goat of the Week

The bullpen sprang its first major leak of the season.

I'll be honest, when the Giants signed Brad Penny on Aug. 31, I wasn't thinking he could recreate what he did the last time he was considered a legitimate major-league pitcher when he first strapped on the orange and black.

Not only was his time in Boston a complete disaster, his 2008 in sunny SoCal wasn't exactly something you want to remember either.