MLB

Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez was suspended 50 games Thursday after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Ramirez issued a statement saying that did not use steroids or a traditional performance-enhancing drug; rather, a physician prescribed medication banned under Major League Baseball’s drug policy “for a personal health issue.”

So, the Cubs retired number 31 yesterday, worn by Fergie Jenkins and Greg Maddux. As the flags were raised on the left field foul poul, I pondered the same question I’ve been pondering for the past few years: will I ever see Sammy Sosa’s jersey number (21) flying from one of Wrigley’s foul poles?

I thought that the Giants would have a better offense this season than last season, but I was very wrong. This 2009 lineup of the Giants is just plain awful.

I figured that the young players such as Fred Lewis, Pablo Sandoval, and Travis Ishikawa would boost the offensive production of this team and that the veterans, such as Edgar Renteria and Aaron Rowand, would also help out.

Rowand is only batting .233 and Renteria is not doing that much better with a.253 average.

Carlos Zambrano, the fiery Cubs ace, beat out a bunt single in the fifth inning on Sunday. Thanks to Derrek Lee's mammoth grand slam later that inning, he got a win. But because of his base running, he'll be on the disabled list for at least 15 days.

Zambrano pulled his hamstring running to first. He was removed for a pinch runner.

Issue Number One: Rich Harden pinch running? One pitcher gets hurt running so Lou Piniella uses another in his place on the base paths? And picks one that has a laundry list of injuries in his own past? Are you serious?

Carl Crawford went 4-for-4 with an RBI this Sunday, but did something even more incredible. He stole six bases. In one game.

We all know what a thief Crawford is, but geez. No one has done something this awesome on the base paths for 18 years. 

Certainly, it’s impossible to ignore the great start Mike Cameron has provided the Brewers in April and the early days of May during this season.

We shouldn’t ignore, however, the starts of three other Brewer hitters in the top third of qualified (3.1 PA/team game) NL position players by Value Wins this season.

Unsurprisingly to all Brewer fans, Ryan Braun is one of these three players.

"Flamethrowers" is our Monday topic at thesportspa.blogspot.com during the MLB season. In these articles, we attempt to showcase the hot pitchers, as well as the not so hot pitchers.

These pitchers, in no particular order, are hot/not in my eyes.

The Boston Red Sox have one of the most storied histories among all baseball franchises, although that's not necessarily a good thing. After being the dominant team of the early 1900's, even winning the inaugural World Series against Pittsburgh in 1903, the Red Sox went 86 years without another championship, leading some to believe they were cursed.

Despite the annual letdowns in October, the Red Sox still have had many, many great players patrol the outfield or turn double plays in the infield of hallowed Fenway Park.

It has been reported that Oliver Perez is headed to the New York Mets bullpen.

According to Manager Jerry Manuel, he experienced the same thing with two starters when he was manager of the Chicago White Sox—James Baldwin and Jon Garland.

I guess what Jerry means is that those two pitchers had the unique ability to hit the sweet spot of the bat very solidly with their thrown baseball, while mixing in a few free passes to the tune of one per inning. Ollie is very good at that.

For baseball players the worst possible thing, other than a season ending injury, that can happen is: rain. I actually like the rain though, there is something calming about it. Also, it is how I got my first win as a pitcher and girlfriend.

For me and my friends there are no rain delays, rainouts, snow delays, snowouts, or any other weather related problem. We play through the rain and other weather related issues. All weather issues except the following: Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Earthquakes, Duststorms, or Lightning Storms.