MLB History

Back in March of this year, Oakland A’s speedster Rajai Davis made a pretty bold prediction. He believed he could steal 75 to 80 bases in 2010.

The doctors call it a UCLR (ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction). Baseball players and fans call it Tommy John surgery—named after the pitcher who was the first to have the surgery in 1974. Fans of the Cardinals call it the surgery that saved former left-handed reliever Ken Dayley's career, and also gave him spotlight from the way he recovered from it. Dayley recovered in an astonishing seven months where most pitchers take up to 14 months recovering from the operation. 

I have witnessed Cliff Lee torment my New York Yankees at the Stadium while he was a Cleveland Indian, a Philadelphia Phillie in the 2009 World Series, and recently a Seattle Mariner.

Now Lee is a Texas Ranger, but his uniform is irrelevant because most Yankees fans have no problem identifying Lee on the mound. I still remember our first encounter, like it was yesterday.

It was May 7, 2008 and I was bringing one of my best friends to her first Yankees game at the Old Stadium. Bringing a virgin is always a treat because the Yankees usually impress newbies.

In the aftermath of Alex Rodriguez's 600th home run, many have downplayed his milestone because of his admitted usage of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs), and have compared him to another user, the current home run king, Barry Bonds. 

Full article can be seen here: http://stadiumjourney.com/stadiums/william-hammond-stadium-s204/

Hammond Stadium, the home of the Fort Myers Miracle, showed why it was miraculous.

Even driving through the entrance was entertaining, as the stadium showed its great curb-side appeal with a fountain and two lines of giant palm trees.

With this welcoming kind of feel, the mood was light as spectators were ready for a great evening of competitive baseball.

While the July 31st trade deadline gets all the hype, the wheeling and dealing is far from over, as each season there are a number of moves made through waivers after the deadline.

Just last season, big names like Jason Giambi, Jim Thome, and Alex Rios all found new homes well into August, and with the buzz surrounding Adam Dunn among others, this season could again see difference making players moved after the deadline.

The records keep on piling up for Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees. He entered the Yankees-Red Sox game on Sunday night tied with The Great Bambino, Babe Ruth, on the all-time career hits list. It came against a very familiar foe in the Boston Red Sox with Josh Beckett on the mound. 

Trevor Cahill has become the ace of the Oakland A's staff. Brett Anderson had the role at the beginning of the year, but because of injuries, Anderson has conceded the role. 

Today, Cahill improved his record to 12-4 today, his ERA is now at 2.56, WHIP .98, and has struck out 76 while walking 41. At 22 years of age, Cahill has blossomed. 

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Brandon Morrow pitched a one-hit shutout against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday afternoon. Though Morrow did not complete the no hitter, some would say that his pitching performance is better than most of the perfect games and no hitters this season.

Morrow struck out 17 Rays batters and only allowed four total base runners: two walks, one error and the one hit from Evan Longoria that broke up the bid for the no hitter with two outs in the ninth.

Not long after Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella announced his plans to retire at the end of the season, former Cub, and current Hall of Famer, Ryne Sandberg decided to throw his name in the list of potential candidates to replace Piniella next season.

But does Sandberg really know what he’s getting himself into?

The pressure of the Cubs winning a World Series has built up like a nasty rumor at the workplace, and Sandberg hopes he can be the man to clean it all up.