Fan News

I was at the gym the other day (these pecs aren’t going to wail on themselves) and I happen to catch a segment of one of ESPN’s talking head panel shows on one of the standard-issue muted flat-screen TVs placed every five feet around the wall of any self-respecting personal fitness facility. The following discussion topic was written across the screen:

“Who hurt their Hall of Fame chances more, A-Rod or Manny?”

Inter-league play is about to begin and the San Francisco Giants are in need of a DH. Who else but to bring up but slugger Jesus Guzman?

Any Giant fan who knows our farm system, or has been reading the San Francisco Chronicle, knows who and what kind of player Guzman can become.

Not only is Guzman hitting over .354 with 31 RBI, six HRs, and a .954 OPS as of right now in AAA Fresno, but he has been hitting over .300 in all Minor League levels.

Sound familiar Pablo Sandoval fans?

Tonight J.C. Romero will begin his rehab assignment with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Romero currently has 14 games left on his suspension and is eligible to start pitching in the minor leagues under the suspension rules. Pitchers suspended for more than 26 games can appear in minor league games starting 16 days before the suspension is lifted.

Romero will get the start tonight and you can figure he will go for an inning or two.

If you are a Detroit Tigers' fan, you had most likely never heard of Josh Anderson before April 10th, when he started in left field on Opening Day against the Rangers.

Anderson was acquired by Detroit on March 30th, just 11 days before his first start with his new team. The Tigers gave up minor league pitcher Rudy Darrow to the Braves in return for the outfielder.

This is Josh Anderson's third team in three years, but by the way he is playing right now, it looks like he may have found his home.

Much has been made of Manny Ramirez's suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs, and rightfully so. When one of Major League Baseball's most prominent stars embroils himself in the game's biggest scandal, it figures to get a lot of run in the media.

If you listen closely to the static, somewhere in all the volume are whispers about how the revelation benefits no team more than our beloved San Francisco Giants—about how the 50-game hiatus for Manny has saved the Orange and Black season.

To a degree, the whispers are appropriate.

Someone please pinch me and tell me that I am not dreaming.

What in the world are the Milwaukee Brewers eating for breakfast these days?

Is this the same team that started the season with a 4-9 record? Is this the team that was supposed to take a major step back after losing CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets in the offseason? 

I was wrong.  I was so very wrong.  I want to apologize for my mistake.

When word started to spread that the Phillies had acquired Raul Ibanez I read all the on-line debates that started on message boards everywhere. Many fans were not happy with the signing of Ibanez, and the subsequent departure of fan-favorite Pat Burrell that the signing signaled.  Some said that the lineup was too lefty heavy now. 

NOTE: Team W-L records and player stats updated through Sunday morning, May 17.

So here are my top 30 MLB Power Rankings for week six. I give my comments on only the top 10 teams this week mainly because of my busy schedule. Enjoy and feel free to drop a comment if you agree or disagree with my rankings.

1. Texas Rangers (22-14, Last Week: No. 6)

A lot has came at Barry Zito since his glory days back in Oakland. A blockbuster $126 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, the high hopes of being the ace for a team wanting to return to greatness, and being a role model for young athletes in America.

How about what has came at him on the field. Since winning the American League Cy Young Award in 2002 with a 23-5 record, 182 strikeouts, and a 2.75 ERA, Zito has found himself in the dumps.