Baseball

"Because of his stuff," Chicago Cubs manager says Opening Day starter Carlos Zambrano is moving to the bullpen beginning Friday.

So now the Cubs have Alfonso Soriano making $18 million to play seven innings in left, and Zambrano making $17.875 million to pitch 3-5 innings per week.

Jim Hendry: EPIC FAIL.

Manager Lou Piniella went on to say that this isn't a "panic move," but has indicated to Chicago media that it might be permanent.

According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Astros, who have very little hope of competing this year, are considering trading their ace Roy Oswalt who has a no-trade clause.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are once again partnering with Fry’s Foods as part of their Fan Loyalty program. Fans that have a Fry’s Rewards card can scan their card at each Diamondbacks game and receive five points for attending.

You can receive additional points for each dollar you spend at Fry’s Foods purchasing specific grocery items. After accumulating points you can trade them in for prizes that range from Diamondbacks merchandise to autographed memorabilia to baseball experiences.

It seems as though Carlos Beltran could have played his last baseball game, at least in the near future.

Beltran played in 81 games in 2009 because of knee bruises and the time off and rehab from surgery has not healed the bruises.

For this reason, he is not ready to resume baseball activities at this time, no timetable has been set on when its possible to return to the Mets.

Just when things were starting to look up for Jose Reyes on the field, a new scandal off the field could put the young shortstop's season in jeopardy. This morning Jose was questioned by the feds in regards to his "Professor Reyes Spanish Academy."

This is why you keep your mouth shut, Napoli.

Just last week, Angels catcher Mike Napoli was the subject of trade rumors after he publicly ridiculed Manager Mike Scioscia for his lack of playing time.

"I don't like coming in here and not seeing my name in the lineup," said Napoli. "I'm a competitor. I want to be on the field. I don't feel like a player who should be in the lineup for only two of nine games. I feel like I should be a starter."

Washington Nationals top prospect Stephen Strasburg pitched five strong innings today allowing only one hit. The righty struck out six and walked only one batter. So far on the season for AA-Harrisburg he has pitched 12.1 innings, allowed one earned run on seven hits and three walks. He has also struck out 17 batters.

Call them World Champions....yet again.

A simulated season on Out of the Park Baseball 11 (www.ootpdevelopments.com) determined that the New York Yankees will win the 2010 World Series over the Philadelphia Phillies. The title would be the 29th in franchise history, but the first one via wild card for the Bronx Bombers, who finished second to Tampa in the American League East with a 95-67 record.

Manager Joe Girardi's team swept AL Central champ Minnesota (87-75) in the division series before flooring a 105-win Rays team with a surprising four-game sweep in the ALCS.

After last night's seven-inning, 10-strikeout performance against the Padres, Jonathan Sanchez has caught the attention of the baseball nation once again.

Not only is Sanchez ready to break out (as I hinted this offseason), he is already on his way to doing so.

The artist who created the iconic characters of "Minnie" and "Paul" has passed away at the age of 80 after battling cancer.

Ray Barton was paid $15 in 1961 to create two baseball players shaking hands over a river as part of the Twins logo.

He was under the impression that the logo would simply be used on Dixie cups in Metropolitan Stadium, but it now majestically hovers over Target Field in right-center field, and has become one of the most cherished parts of Twins lore.