Fan News

The Atlanta Braves just made their smartest move since Frank Wren was hired as General Manager. They signed their star third baseman, Chipper Jones, through 2012 for $42 million.

The 36 (nearly 37) year old third baseman has been the heart and soul of the Atlanta Braves organization for over 10 years, and it seems that it will stay that way until he decides to call it quits.

There is only one thing on the minds of Yankee's fans these days, and that is bringing home a 27th world championship. With the additions of CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett, the pitching staff is better then ever. Mark Teixeira brings many tools to the Yankees lineup.

This piece is definitely not meant to show any disrespect for J.D. Drew and what he has accomplished for the Red Sox. 

When he is in the lineup, he is a very good hitter. The obvious problem is, he's not in the lineup nearly as often as he should be and, therefore, should not be holding down the five-spot in the Red Sox' lineup.

The Red Sox lack power in the middle of the order as it is, so it seems unusual that they would stuff Jason Bay, arguably their best, most reliable power hitter, in the six-spot. 

Geoff Jenkins was released by the Philadelphia Phillies today.

Jenkins hit a crucial double in the sixth inning of Game Five of the World Series to put the Phillies in position to take a lead, yet it wasn't enough to keep him for the 2009 season.

Jenkins was a fan-favorite and an all-around good guy, yet his lackluster .246 batting average, nine home runs, and 29 RBI in 115 games didn't impress the Phillies brass enough to keep him around.

Jenkins was due $8 million this upcoming season, and the Phillies felt his play didn't match the pay.

While I know Bleacher Report is not really for full length books, I thought I'd review a baseball book I just read, entitled Theology: How a Boy Wonder Led the Red Sox to the Promised Land.

Red Sox fans, this is your kind of book. Not only does it go into detail on Theo Epstein's early life right up to the present, but it does this in a way that everyone can understand.

Bob Sheppard has been the voice of the New York Yankees since 1951, and has been referred to as "The Voice of God" for equally as long.

His smooth voice has announced virtually every single Yankee immortal, and his eyes have witnessed most of the stadium's greatest moments.

Sheppard will be forced to miss another timeless moment in Yankee history, as an illness will prevent him from doing on Opening Day what he has done for more than 50 years.

Seven days. You have seven days.

Don't worry, there's no unmarked videotape. There's not a girl in a well waiting to crawl out of your television. 

In fact, in seven days, you should be glued to your television/radio/computer. In seven days, you will be watching Giants baseball. It will be early in the game against the Milwaukee Brewers, and Tim Lincecum will be striking out Ryan Braun to end the inning.

I can't wait until the spring training games are over. I'm ready for the season. The Yankees know who they want at certain positions and it's time to play.

A+: Joba Chamberlain

He gave up two earned runs in 5.1 innings, but his velocity was great and he struck out 6 batters. Great joba by him. Get it? Great joba?

A+: Phil Coke

He pitched one perfect inning and struck out two batters. Coke is it.

A+: Melky Cabrera

In my opinion, Lou Gehrig was one of baseball's greatest players. Let's not worry today about his wonderful stats, but what he told a huge crowd of Yankees fans, while staring death in the face:

This speech is featured on American Rhetoric as one of America's top 100 speeches. 

Delivered 4 July 1939, New York