Sportscolumn - mlb

[MLB] A Look at Baseball's So-Called "All Stars"

In Major League Baseball, fans, players, and managers have the ultimate say in who plays in Baseball's Midsummer Classic. Unfortunately, the fans are oftentimes ignorant and vote for random players based on absurd characteristics.

For example, I recently asked a female peer about her pick for AL starting Shortstop, in which she chose Derek Jeter instead of Michael Young. I inquired about this, and her response was, "Derek is so hot." I countered and said that Derek Jeter was ranked 29th out of 30 in range, he is batting .282, and Michael Young outperforms Derek Jeter. There is no match. The best shortstop in the American League this season is Michael Young. She said, "Oh, I don't care. He'll marry me when he retires and I get older." I said to her, "Well, if A-Rod hooks up with Madonna, then anything can happen. Good luck." (It might be important to add that she submitted her vote multiple times, and this is rigging the All-Star voting system because many people are doing this.)

The players often vote for the first person whose name is yelled out in their clubhouse. They would vote for their friends and refrain from voting for rivals or unknown players. Managers have very little say in this process, yet, they seem to be the only ones that care about the All-Star selection process. In total, the fans pick approximately 10-11 players, the players themselves choose approximately 15-16 players, and the manager fills out the rest of the roster.

My thoughts on the selection process are relatively simple- it is useless. They should have the people that care vote for the All-Stars (baseball writers, announcers, executives) and base voting off of statistics and value. The same writers that vote for the Hall of Fame should be the ones who have the ultimate say in Major League Baseball's All-Star Voting.

[MLB] Top Ten Closers Ever?

A baseball closer is the last line of defense. Closers are responsible for saving (or blowing) hundreds of games each year. A closer has to be tough, confident, and skilled. Closers have to have thick skin. They can be anointed the hero, and criticized greatly all in the same week. They have to have a short memory, and continue to do their job with passion and confidence. One pitch can make or break a game, so a closer has to be clutch. A closer also has to have at least one great pitch. Many closers have an electrifying fastball with high velocity and movement. Others rely on finesse and location. Here is look at perhaps 10 of the greatest closers of all time.

[MLB] A Legend Lives On

There's a place where major league players go when their careers go downhill. It's called the Independent League. Home to Rich "El Guapo" Garces and some other fine characters.

[MLB] Baseball in the Big Crab Apple

This season has been a trying one thus far for Gotham's baseball faithful. With the Mets and Yankees both floundering around the .500 mark the idea of a postseason sans New York has become a very real possibility. And the events of this past week, for the teams on both sides of town, have certainly left a sour taste in the mouths of those taking a bite out of Big Apple baseball.

[MLB] U.S. Troops Inspire Pros of the Diamond

Praise is deserved for those MLB players who have personally taken it upon themselves to raise awareness of the needs of our active-duty troops, veterans and their families and largely with their own funding and ingenuity.

[MLB] The Demise of a Baseball Generation

Another generation is succumbing to age and other factors and exiting the game they helped advance. But, is this old generation causing the game's image to backslide?

[MLB] Jose Canseco Has Gone Too Far

Jose Canseco's latest desperate attempt to sell books has gone too far. Fans and media alike must stop taking the allegations of individuals such as Canseco as absolute truth.

[MLB] 2008 MLB Preview and Predictions

Baseball is upon us. It's spring, and with the weather and the bats getting warm, America's pastime enters stage right. Even though the season starts out hundreds of miles across seas, the smell of a new baseball season is strong. After the most horrific off-season in the history of Major league Baseball, which included steroid scandal after steroid scandal, baseball is primed for a rejuvenating April. This season will surely offer no more Bonds, or at least until some desperate team tries to sell some extra hundred tickets, no more Clemens pitching in the minors in early July, and no more steroids. Baseball has somewhat taken big strides towards a future beyond the overpowering drug. After the Mitchell Report uncovered those responsible and strenuous team testings, the league for the most part has been squeezed dry of all poisonous juice. With young talent like Ryan Braun, Ryan Howard, Prince Fielder, and B.J Upton, baseball has inducted the new class of perennial superstars. We have A-Rod in a Yankees uniform for at least 10 more years, we have the best pitcher in the AL moving to best offense in the NL, and we have baseball looking greater than ever. Deals like Bedard to the Mariners and Santana to the Mets surely mixes up the power houses in each league, but it delivers a hint towards the MLB's new look.

[MLB] AL East To Be Dogfight

by Matt Wells

So, baseball is around the corner, as we all know. We've got our fantasy baseball teams lined up and we're wearing our team colors to work, school, etc. (I'm not, but I know some die-hard baseball fans who will).

Just like at the beginning of every season, we all make predictions. A-Rod will hit such-and-such amount of homers, Johan Santana will get __ wins in his new Flushing digs, Team X will finish with 80+ wins, etc. There is one thing that I know for sure, though. This year, the American League East will be a dogfight.

[MLB] MLB Goes to Harlem Seeking Welfare

It is bad enough that much of MLB's revenues come by way of the very taxpayers it seeks to disenfranchise, and namely the African-American communities in the inner cities. However, now they are after even more. Read on to find out what.