Fan News

At 9-6, the Pittsburgh Pirates have gotten off to their best start since 2002. After sweeping the first place Florida Marlins this week, things are looking pretty good in Pirate-ville right now.

What started as a Spring Break with the prospect of seeing multiple games at several venues on a variety of levels ended with us arriving home a day early having seen just a few innings of baseball.

That’s okay. Quality can supersede quantity especially when it comes to peanuts and cracker jacks. I’m not quite sure that makes sense, but we’ll go with it.

This has got to be one of the more bizarre stories in broadcast television history. Of course it has to involve the New York Yankees, their new stadium with a reported 1,000 obstructed view seats, and an overzealous security guard.

This is nothing new, but I have some thoughts from today's game:

Melky Cabrera hit two home runs, and has hit very well in his limited at bats. He's proven that he can't sustain this over a full season, but he makes a great bench player. He is a good pinch-runner, good fielder, and knows how to hit, even if he's not a solid everyday hitter. Plus, he's young and cheap.

The smell of beer and hot dogs immediately hit me as I walked into Busch Stadium Tuesday night. Let me tell you, it is a wonderful smell.

There is something special about being at the ballpark. It is a great feeling, even therapeutic.

I didn't have the chance to go last year. It has been my first year I haven't been to a ballgame for as long as I can remember.

On December 29, 2006, Barry Zito, a then 28-year-old southpaw from Las Vegas, signed a seven year contract worth approximately $126 million with the San Francisco Giants.

Zito had nothing but success in a more difficult league, and one of baseball's best offensive divisions, so Zito was sure to continue his success in the National League, right?

Well, if you follow baseball you know that Barry Zito has since lost his one-time Cy Young ability.

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Certainly exceeding utility status, yet short of earning a starting spot in the last three years, Brian Anderson’s position with the Chicago White Sox has been frustratingly undefined.

“Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd;
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don't care if I never get back.
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win, it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game.”

That famous song, by Jack Norworth (I bet you did not know that, and I am impressed if you did) is sung in the middle of seventh innings from early March to late October in ball parks all over the United States.

On April 22, the Baltimore Orioles have announced that pitcher Simon is out for season and will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery in his elbow.

This is a big blow at an already thin rotation meaning that rookie pitcher Brad Bergesen will permanently stay in this starting rotation.