Fan News

Collectively as a professional fraternity, sports journalists seem to think they are an extremely bright and witty bunch. Whether engaging in snarky Twitter wars with perceived imbecile readers or not allowing comments on their pristine works of art (looking in your direction, Mike Lupica), they seem to sit high atop their soapbox completely invulnerable of public criticism and immersed in their superior infallibility.

Once MLB free agency begins this winter, a number of teams will be going after Josh Hamilton. He is the crown jewel of the 2013 MLB free agent market, and Hamilton will draw an incredible amount of attention.

Hamilton has been to the MLB All-Star Game in each of the past five season, and he has not disappointed with his production in 2012. There are few players in baseball that have the offensive abilities that Hamilton possesses.

Barry Zito has given the San Francisco Giants fans nothing short of 126 million reasons to hate him.

As excited as the Giants' organization and fanbase had been to get the former Cy Young Award winner (can you believe he used to be that good?), San Francisco quickly came to despise the pitcher who all but robbed the bank of one of baseball’s most storied franchises.

Former Pittsburgh Pirates owner and CEO Kevin McClatchy has made it known publicly that he is gay. 

In a New York Times op-ed piece by Frank Bruni, McClatchy acknowledged that the decision to reveal his sexual orientation was "challenging."

McClatchy was in charge of the Pirates from 1996 to 2007, and he helped restore one of baseball's most inept franchises over the years. 

With just a couple weeks left in the 2012 regular season, a number of pending free agents are likely playing their last games with their current teams, as many players will certainly change locations during the offseason.

It has been the location of baseball’s glamour profession, the real estate of Cobb and Speaker, annexed by DiMaggio. Hallowed ground fought over for supremacy by Mays, Mantle and Snider, who all played a subway ride away from each other.

Its vastness has both swallowed the slow and incompetent whole and enabled the fleet and light-footed to appear as gazelles with mitts. John Fogerty wrote a song about it.

Ryan Howard and Chase Utley's best days are behind them. That much we know for certain.

Age and injury have turned the pair of former MVP candidates into players who are good, but no longer great.

Their absence from the lineup for nearly half of the 2012 season and subsequent subpar production is as good an excuse as any for the Phillies' disappointing 77-74 record.

Twelve days ago I wrote about what it would take for the Phillies to make the playoffs.  Since writing that article, here is how the NL Wild Card contenders have fared:

1. St Louis Cardinals: 5-6

2. Los Angeles Dodgers: 4-6

What happens when you take a staunch liberal who writes a movie review starring a staunch conservative?

You not only get a critical (and predictable) piece that not only declares the career of a Hollywood icon is now dead, but a pious lecture on what Americans really want and what they reject.

What I am about to write may not be very popular. In fact, I'm sure it won't be.

Six weeks ago, I wouldn't have believed I would be advocating this. It's a reality that has been tough to come to grips with, but it's a reality that the Braves must face so they can move forward.

There is absolutely no way Tommy Hanson can be allowed to be a part of the postseason starting rotation.