Baseball

Since its inception in 1933, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game has provided fans an annual opportunity to see most of the great stars of the game on the same field.

The Toronto Blue Jays released former closer B.J. Ryan prior to Wednesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

As a result, the two-time All Star is now a free agent and can be signed for a prorated portion of the league minimum salary. The Blue Jays are responsible for the roughly $15 million remaining on his contract. The contract—at one time the highest-ever given to a reliever—runs through next season.

The Seattle Mariners and Jack Zduriencik have done a great job acquiring talent like Jason Vargas, Russell Branyan, and several more that haven't reached the majors yet.

Now right now the Mariners have some strong parts, but they have also found a few weak points.

I know some of you won't agree with this trade. Nationals fans and Red Sox fans alike will probably not like this trade. But baseball isn't about making moves that people like—it's about winning. And I believe that this trade will make both the Nationals and Red Sox better.

So imagine—You're in your living room, watching SportsCenter when Scott Van Pelt says something like:

I grew up in a home where the vast majority of the time one of two things were being watched on television: the news or sports. By the age of 10 I easily knew more about the Giants and 49ers of San Francisco than whatever the most popular cartoon of the era was.

In this environment I learned how to be a good sports fan. I was taught to be fanatical about my team and at the same time appreciate the talents of athletes regardless of who they played for.

Ken Rosenthal first reported yesterday that the Toronto Blue Jays will listen to offers about their stud ace, Roy Halladay, speculation started to fly around the sports world as if Brett Favre was considering a comeback.

ESPN picked it up and ran with it, Comcast Sportsnet ran with it as well. Just about every source for baseball did as well like they did last season with C.C. Sabathia.

If there ever was a team that needed a new stadium it was the Philadelphia Phillies. The concrete wasteland that was known as the Vet was the biggest abomination in the history of American sports. Veterans Stadium was home to the worst turf in baseball, a court house in the basement, and more rats than all other stadiums combined. The wrecking ball finally came and the Phillies moved across the street to the baseball-only Citizens Bank Ballpark.

I know it’s July, but some teams are already going “Holliday” shopping. Or perhaps “Halladay” shopping?

That’s because we’re in that month of the season where MLB teams not only face the trade deadline, but are looking at the two of the better players on the market in Matt Holliday and Roy Halladay.

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Mike Scioscia said he had a sleepless night after the game in which the Angels had five baserunning blunders. Well, Mike, start looking for the sleeping pills.

Is it that hard to go 90 feet without screwing up? Seriously. Vladdy we know is a self destructive missile on the basepaths. He runs the bases the same way he swings: damn the torpedoes!