Manny Banned for 50 Games; "Not Steroids"

According to multiple news sources, Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez has tested positive for a banned substance, and will begin serving the fifty game suspension.

Ramirez, arguably the highest-profile player to fail the test, released the following statement;

Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was OK to give me. Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under the policy that mistake is now my responsibility. I have been advised not to say anything more for now. I do want to say one other thing; I've taken and passed about 15 drug tests over the past five seasons. I want to apologize to Mr. McCourt, Mrs. McCourt, Mr. Torre, my teammates, the Dodger organization, and to the Dodger fans. LA is a special place to me and I know everybody is disappointed. So am I. I'm sorry about this whole situation.

Canseco to Step into Ring Again

Baseball's overgrown sweetheart will take to the boxing ring again, this time facing former child actor Danny Bonaduce.

Joes Canseco is set to step into the ring, January 17, 2009, against the "Partridge Family" star.

Bonaduce is fresh off of a decisive victory over dinosaur comedian and Howard Stern Show regular; the Reverend Bob Levy.

According to an article posted on philly.com, Bonaduce says that knocking out Cansaco will be easy; "The bigger they are, the harder they fall," boasts Bonaduce. "Think of what Mike Tyson used to do to bigger guys. That's what I'm going to do to Canseco."

In Canseco's last fight, he was knocked out by former Philadelphia Eagles return man Vai Sikahema As posted on ESPN.com:

Sikahema, who is also a sportscaster, has some experience in the ring. He has had more than 80 fights as an amateur boxer, according to the Press. Canseco said he had a background in martial arts.

Sikahema knocked Canseco down twice -- once with a left hook, and the second after a flurry of punches -- as the bout was called before the end of the first round.

Canseco was recently picked up by a Boarder Patrol Unit near San Diego, and was found carrying human chorionic gonadotropin, a drug that is used to restore testosterone production in former steroid users. It's illegal in the United States, unless given by perscription.

Call us naive, but why would Canseco be using a drug that helps promote testosterone production in former steroid users? Did Canseco actually use steroids? This could open up a whole can of worms! Could you image what would happen if Canseco was using steroids while playing in the Majors? Gosh, that would be a nightmare...What if Canseco was using, and he wasn't the only one?!?! Someone should look into this.....

Bonds Puts Juice into Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

by Chris Lima
108 Red Stitches

Well, Macy's couldn't have picked a better Honorary Chair for this year's Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, selecting the Big Juicer to add a little juice to the tree's lights.

The ceremony will take place November 28th, and we all here at 108 Red Stitches would pay big money if one of the lighting workers "accidentally" spelled out (in lights) the phrase "Bonds Cheated".

In other Bonds news, he's happy to be away from the game of baseball.

We all are Barry, we all are.

Commissioner 2010

Photographers wait impatiently , tv cameras rolling. There is a podium on a stage, microphones clutter the top of the podium. A glass of water rests next to a pile of neatly shuffled papers.

A young man approaches the podium and the light bulbs begin to flash with unstoppable ferocity.

The man at the podium has just been named baseball's next Commissioner.

He's only 25.

Ladies and gentleman of the press, thank you for coming out today. Over the next ten minutes, I will outline my goals and ideas that will change the course of baseball. Some of you will not like what I have to say, some of you will be confused at first. I'm not deterred by the prospect of being disliked by you or your colleagues, because I know deep down, I have the answers and the common sense that will change the game for the better.

As my first act as commissioner of Major League Baseball, I am removing the lifetime ban placed on Shoeless Joe Jackson and Pete Rose. Both will be eligible for their names to be placed on this year's Hall of Fame ballot. However, Mr. Jackson estate and Mr. Rose will not be allowed to profit off of their entry into the Hall, if they are so elected. Appearance fees and sales generated off Jackson/Rose Hall of Fame Materials will be donated to a charity of choice.

Second, as of tomorrow, I am removing any outstanding copyright claims held by MLB Advanced Media. It is time that our game embraces the world of viral video and Web 2.0. In efforts to reach younger audiences and audiences around the globe, we will allow for our videos to be distributed throughout the internet as long as the user does not stand to profit from the materials.

My next act, which is currently in progress, is to draft a letter to Congress, asking them to cease their decade long efforts to look into the steroid scandal that has plagued our game since the early 90's. In exchange for the diffusion of said committees, I am willing to break the American League and National League into two separate companies. This will remove the threat of Congress constantly waiving the anti-trust edict in baseball's face, and allow for the game to continue to grow.

This act will allow for the removal of inter-league play, which will then allow for the shortening of the season. 162 games is excessive, and was put in place to make the owner's richer. This move will be placed to safe guard the players, and extend their careers. As a recent study conducted by my office has concluded, by removing nineteen games from the schedule, season long injury rates will decrease by 40%.

While some may see the shortening of the season as a direct jab at the owners, we have decided to eliminate the luxury tax to compensate the owners for their potential loss in revenue. This will force teams to develop their farm systems, and force owners to put money back into their teams.

We are also developing ways to measure "Owner Reliability", or ways to track whether the owner is more interested in turning a profit, as opposed to turning out a winning team. This formula will flag owners and send "probation warnings" to owners who violate the "Owner Reliability Clause". Continued practices that violate this clause will conclude with the suspension of the owner, and a pre-selected group from the Commissioner's Office will run the team until the owner can either "repent" or be replaced.

Finally, in an effort to keep the game completely void of performance enhancing drugs, we will use the latest advances in blood testing to detect HGH, steroids, or any other banned PEDs. Players will have clauses inserted into their contracts stating that "the violation or failed drug test will result in a one year suspension from the game and a second failed test will result in a lifetime ban from the sport".

Thank you for your time. I regret to inform you that I will not be taking any questions, because as you may have noticed, I've got a lot of work to do.

Giants Catcher Test Positive For Stupidity

Giants minor league catcher Eliezer Alfonso was suspended for 50 games due to failing a Major League Baseball drug test.

How F*#^kin dumb do you have to be to fail a PED's (performance enhancing drug) test, this late in the game? Its understandable if this was the first wave of testing, and the guy thought he might be able to scoot by....

But now? After all that's gone on around the steroid controversy? Clemens, in front of Congress? Canseco's incredibly shrinking balls? Did this guy not turn on the TV during the offseason?

Does his personal life coach's name rhyme with Barle Dove? (Karl Rove, for all the folks who have a hard time rhyming).

Here's an excerpt from the AP release concerning Alfonzo's suspension:

SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Giants minor-league catcher Eliezer Alfonzo was suspended 50 games Wednesday for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, the first player penalized this year under Major League Baseball's drug program.

Alfonzo is on San Francisco's 40-man roster so he falls under the major-league program even though he has played all season at Triple-A Fresno.

"I made a mistake, and I want to apologize to my family, my teammates, the fans and the Giants organization," Alfonzo said in a statement released by the team. "I know what I did was wrong, and now I will pay the penalty. As a father, I now have to look my children in the eye and explain to them that I have made a big mistake, one, unfortunately, that they are also going to have to deal with, as well as me."

The 29-year-old Venezuelan was optioned to Fresno just before Opening Day and is batting .306 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 16 games. The suspension will start Thursday, and Alfonzo will be eligible to return to play June 27, assuming there are no postponements.

He played 113 games with the Giants in the 2006 and 2007 seasons, batting .263 with 13 homers and 45 RBIs.

The Giants said in a statement they were also disappointed to learn about the positive test and that they support baseball's testing program. Alfonzo is the first Giants player to be suspended under the major-league drug program that first started suspensions in 2004.

Roger Singing the Blues?

In the latest whirlwind in the search for Danny Lin's real father....wait...check that....the Clemens/McNamee steroid/hgh/tattle-tale/he-said-he-said courtroom drama, lawyers for the ex-Clemen trainer said " 'all is fair game,' lawyers [...] say they intend to capitalize on allegations of an extra-marital affair involving Clemens and a country music singer in defending a defamation suit Clemens filed against McNamee." (quote from ESPN.com News Services).

That country music singer is none other than the famous, great, talented, Mindy McCready.

Who?

Get ready to take an Advil after you glance over this information, as listed in an article found on ESPN.com:

The New York Daily News, citing "several" unnamed sources, reported on its Web site Sunday night that Clemens and country singer Mindy McCready had a decade-long affair. Clemens' lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said Clemens and McCready had a friendship and nothing more.

"If true, it's just another example of Roger's pervasive prevarications which will be at the core of any defamation case," said McNamee's attorney, Richard Emery, in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

"He flatly denies having had any kind of an inappropriate relationship with her," Hardin said, according to the Daily News. "He's considered her a close family friend ... He has never had a sexual relationship with her."

"The issue in Roger's suit against McNamee is Roger's reputation and how it has been damaged," Emery said, according to the Daily News. "If it's proved that he's a philanderer, his reputation is already damaged. When you sue for defamation, you put your whole reputation in the community at issue. Anything is fair game, including his claim of sanctimonious purity. We would cross-examine him and other witnesses who might impact on his alleged behavior. We would probably subpoena her and witnesses who knew [of the relationship]. He's a 'family man' -- he implies that. It's about what his damages are. All is fair game."

McCready's lawyer, Lee Ofman, said he did not have any comment on the Daily News story, according to the Associated Press.

Since Clemens is filing a defamation suit against his former trainer, many believe that this might be the first of many skeletons that'll fall out of Clemens' back closet. McNamee's lawyers have a point; if you're going to sue our client for allegedly ruining your reputation, we should take a quick peak to see exactly what your reputation entails.

In other thoughts, who exactly is this Mindy McCready? Thanks to some hard hitting reporting over at Fox News, we quickly learned that McCready has had some legal issues of her own in the past. Here's an excerpt from a Fox News Article, dated July 26, 2007:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Mindy McCready was in jail Thursday, accused of violating probation on a 2004 drug charge after a scuffle with her mother and authorities in Florida.

The 31-year-old country singer was taken into custody Wednesday at Nashville International Airport and booked into the Williamson County jail just south of Nashville.

She was arrested last week in Fort Myers, Fla., her hometown, on misdemeanor charges that she scratched her mother on the face during a scuffle and resisted sheriff's deputies.

Good Luck Roger!

Should Bonds Be Punished By Major League Baseball?

I'll be the first to admit that I do not like Barry Bonds.

I never liked him when he was a Pirate, I never liked him when he played for the Giants, and I sure as hell didn't like him whenever he floated the idea of becoming a Yankee.

As far as punishing Bonds, Major League Baseball has no right in punishing the "new home run king". Legally at least.

You see, Bonds is a crafty man, or so he thought. By opting out of the players union, Bonds became a one man marketing dream.

If you want Bonds in a video game (approved by Major League Baseball and the Players Union) you have to negotiate with him directly. If you want him to appear on your baseball card, contact Bonds' agent, not the Players Union. If you want to film a public service announcement with Bonds and one hundred other ball players, you'll get the ball players, but you'll have to pay for Bonds.

But, by opting out of the Players Union, Major League Baseball will never have to worry about punishing Bonds.

He punished himself.

Companies like 2kSports and EA Games refuse to deal with Bonds, and pay unrealistic sums of money to use his likeness in their baseball franchises. Instead, gamers have to deal with a forty year old white guy who bats and throws right handed, and who answers to the name of John Dowd. All his stats are set to zero, and there is no record of the all-time home run leader throughout any aspect of the games. If you play with the San Fransisco Giants, you're basically left with a forty year old rookie, making eighteen million dollars.

Bonds punished himself by making it almost impossible to remember him. Baseball card companies, already strapped for cash (dying industry) have a hard time justifying negotiations with Bonds and company.

By opting out of the Players Union, Bonds punished himself. He doesn't have the backing of one of the most powerful unions in the United States when he appears before court. Any deal Major League Baseball strikes with the government, leaves Bonds out in the cold. His arrogance and foolishness could lead to his eventual imprisonment.

So, you ask again, should Major League Baseball punish Barry Bonds?

No. I think he's done enough.

Casualty of the Mitchell Report?

ESPN.com is reporting that the Baltimore Orioles have released outfielder Jay Gibbons, noting this move has nothing to do with his impending suspension due to his involvement with receiving a shipment of HGH (Human Growth Hormone).

Yep, and the Easter Bunny and Santa Clause both exist, Barry Bonds is the rightful Home Run King, and JFK was killed by only one shooter.

According to ESPN.com:

Gibbons batted .189 with no homers and four RBIs in 16 games this spring training after playing in only 84 games last season. Baltimore owes him $11.9 million for the next two seasons as part of a $21.1 million, four-year contract he agreed to in January 2006.

You don't think that the Orioles could have gotten something for him, even if it was a low level prospect or two? The Mets are badly in need of a healthy outfielder, and the Orioles could have taken advantage of that situation.

Time and time again this spring, we've seen the same old line of "Don't worry about his spring training numbers, they don't translate into regular season success/underperformance". Why would the Orioles be so quick to pull the trigger on Gibbons?

The AP broke the initial story, with team president Andy MacPhail leading the propaganda machine:

The team didn't see him getting much time as a reserve outfielder and left-handed designated hitter, and keeping the more versatile Scott Moore as a utility player made far more sense.

"The decision was essentially down to two players, and we made a baseball decision," said club president Andy MacPhail, who delivered the news to Gibbons.

"We laid it out pretty clearly," MacPhail said. "For you to be a productive player you need to play, and that opportunity just doesn't exist here absent some horrific injury. His words were, 'I agree completely.'"

Spencer Fordin, from MLB.com, writes:

Excising Gibbons from the roster means a little more of a clear substitution pattern for Trembley. Huff and Kevin Millar will rotate at first base and designated hitter, and Moore will pick up playing time from them and from third baseman Melvin Mora. Gibbons will likely end up elsewhere within the next few weeks, but his former teammates will keep him in mind.

"When you hear something like that, its always emotional," said Millar. "It's like one of your family members, [but] you understand where it's coming from. You understand when you look around at the roster and there's a lot of left-handed hitters. ... It was going to be tough for Jay to get at-bats, and obviously, it's been a dogfight for the last couple years for him."

Is That Big Brother Tapping on My Shoulder?

Barry Bonds is being targeted again by Federal Prosecutors, according to ESPN.com Newshere; ESPN details the Government's decision to file a new superseding indictment against Bonds:

Last month, a federal judge ruled the U.S. government did not properly structure its charges that the seven-time National League Most Valuable Player lied to a federal grand jury about past steroid use.

"Pursuant to the Court's written order of March 4, 2008, we write to inform the Court and counsel that the government intends to seek a superseding indictment in this case," U.S. Attorney Joseph Russoniello wrote in a legal filing.

In a superseding indictment, the government can add more counts to its indictment against Bonds, but he won't necessarly face additional charges that weren't listed in the original indictment.

ESPN Reports: McNamme Faints, Hits Bus

ESPN.com is reporting that Brian McNamme, Roger Clemens' famed ex-trainer, fainted while driving and crashed his car head on into a city bus:

McNamee told police he blacked out because of an ongoing medical problem, the New York Daily
McNamee's Lexus, another car and the bus were involved in the crash around 12:30 p.m. Thursday on Central Avenue in Queens' Far Rockaway neighborhood, according to the newspapers.
No one was seriously hurt, according to the newspapers.
No one was charged with any offense in the wreck, the Post said. No information was immediately available from police early Friday. News and New York Post reported Friday.

Time to Talk Turkey

Congressional hearings on an issue that has plagued America for almost two decades. Congressional hearings shedding light on faulty systems in place. Congressional hearings where finger pointing and the blame game have done nothing other than prove what a corrupt system can do to an institution. Millions of American tax payers' money being spent, yet there is still no solution, no plan, no end in sight.

For those of you thinking this is an article about the shortcomings of Iraq, health care reform, the burden placed on social security, or the head "scratchingly" absurd approval of multiple oil companies being allowed to merge, please stop reading right now.

We're talking about Congress taking its time to determine whether or not Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, or Miguel Tejada have taken steroids, or, "gasp" weren't telling the truth.

Shame on the Government for making a "Dog and Pony" show out of baseball's current steroid problem. Shame on the Committee who drag baseball legends before television cameras, berate them in front of their countrymen, and then when ESPN and CNN leave, ask them to sign a baseball for their son. Evidence of said behavior,

Near the end of the more than four-hour hearing, Rep. Elijah Cummings, a Maryland Democrat, told Clemens: "You are one of my heroes. But it's hard to believe you."

We understand there is a problem with PEDs and Steroids in baseball. Congress will waive the anti-monopoly act in front of Selig's face to get him and his players to talk.

We ask, is this the same anti-monopoly act that failed to make an appearance when Exxon and Mobile merge? Where is the Congressional Outcry for hearings and cameras?

Where are the Congressional Debates on the Iraq War? Why does Congress insist on spending so much time on America's Pastime, while America's Boys (and Girls) are fighting a confusing and almost un-winnable war?

Let's be honest, guys like Buster Olney and Peter Gammons have every right to attack and prod and poke and point. It is their job.

Guys like Indiana Congressman Rep. Dan Burton have NO BUSINESS weighing in on this subject. This is a political tactic designed to garner votes from his constituents and brand himself as an anti-drug agent. During the Clemens hearings Burton has this to say to Clemens:

"You lie when it's just convenient for you. I don't know what to believe. I know one thing I don't believe, and that's you."

Hard hitting, poignant, controversial. Completely useless. A complete waste of time and a waste of taxpayer money.

While we understand that the Steroid Controversy has effected fans, ballplayers, owners, sponsors, and television networks, the Steroid Era should not be handled in this fashion. No amount of Congressional Hearings or finger pointing will correct what has happened in the past. It's time to let go and focus on more pressing issues, namely the Iraq War.

Baseball is a game. War is not. It is shameful that our government has spent more time handing out subpoenas than it has spent handing out armor for our troops. Shameful that Roger Clemens is getting more press time than the wounded soldiers who return home, depressed and out of touch with society.

Focus on the real issues. Baseball is just a game.

Valentine's Day on the Diamond

Since the majority of pitchers and catchers have been or will be reporting to their spring training camps, we figured that, lost in all the hub-bub of moving and packing, baseball players might have forgotten to send their sweetie a Valentine's Day poem.

No need to fret, we've got it covered.

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Sorry honey, I took HGH
and steroids, too.

Baseballs are white,
and our turf is quite green,
Johan is gone,
and all hope, so it seems.

Stitches are red,
Roger Clemens is sad,
His best friend says K-man lied,
and that makes him mad.

We got a new name,
and some cool new digs,
but five bucks says,
you can't name a single player on our team
who plays in the Bigs.

Tulips are yellow,
and Violets are purple,
here's to hoping that my first plate appearance
makes me look not like Steve Urkel.

Lilacs are purple,
and their stems are shinny green,
how many times do I have to tell you?
I swear that I'm clean!

5 Things Baseball Must Do to Save Baseball

Record TV contracts, revenue sharing at an all time high, millions of dollars beings spent on homegrown talent, players who'd normally have to wait for free agency to cash in. These are all signs that baseball is alive and healthy.
But after a cold winter of steroid allegations and findings laid out in the Mitchell Report, baseball might find itself wading in the waters of Oblivion this season; teetering on the edge of a slippery slope. Here's a list of five things Baseball must do to keep its head above water;

Baseball needs a "Feel Good Story". The last thing it needs is an league wide assault on another home run record. Having five guys challenge a record that already bears an asterisk, could do nothing in the way of extinguishing the public's perception that steroids or performance enhancing drugs are still governing the game of baseball. However, if a fan favorite like a Jimmy Rollins or a Troy Tulowitzki manages to threaten Joe D's hit streak record, the fans might have something to cheer about.

Baseball needs to "Love the Fans". Nothing says I'm sorry like 1000 red roses from ProFlowers.com. Or nothing says I'm sorry like a handful of $5 games and Saturday day/night double headers. Nothing says I love you like making the playoff games, even if its just one or two of them, at a kid friendly viewing hour. Remember, you can always give a gift to the one you love "just because".

Baseball needs to produce a "Little Guy" everyone can love. It's time for those hard nosed players to have their moment in the sun. Guys like David Eckstein, Aaron Rowand, Nick Swisher all need to be put up on a mantle as examples of hard work and dedication prevailing over needle pushing and pill popping. These guys will run through walls, and for what? Just to save an extra base or shave a point or two off their pitcher's era? It's time to celebrate these guys.

Baseball loves the Phoenix. Every once and a while, a team will rise from the ashes and take hold of a league. The Rockies did that last season, but few teams are poised to do the same this year. There's always hope that the Royals might pull something off, and the Athletics have a chance to write a feel good story. Imagine trading off your entire team of All-Stars, playing with a bunch of no-namers, and making it to the World Series. Sounds like something out of a Charlie Sheen movie.

Baseball need to be un-juiced. Nothing would deter the most ardent nay-sayer like a 100% steroid free season. We're talking Majors, Minors, Independent League, heck even your local Sunday Morning Beer League team, not a sniff of steroids, not a drop of HGH, not an ounce of PEDs. The Union needs to embrace this idea along with the owners and management. If someone fails a test, at this point, they should be banned from the game.

Baseball's Bad Boys Are at it Again

Just when you thought the circus might be over, baseball's two biggest numbnuts throw another clown into the ring.

According to the Associated Press and ESPN.com Barry Bonds and Jose Canseco are neck and neck in the race to become "Baseball's Biggest Loser". Bonds asks a Federal Judge to dismiss the perjury charges levied against him, while Canseco asks a Tiger for, well, basically he asks him for a bribe.

Canseco, according to a report filed by the FBI, asked Tigers outfielder Magglio Ordonez to invest in a movie project funded by Canseco. In exchange, Canseco said he would keep Ordonez's name out of his upcoming book, a sequel to his 2005 hit "Juiced".

Mags had this to say according to ESPN.com:

"I didn't want to press charges against him," Ordonez was quoted as saying. "I don't want any problems. He is probably desperate for money. I don't understand why he is trying to put people down."

Ordonez was not one of the players named in the Mitchell Report.

Continuing the ongoing drama between Bonds and the United States government, Bonds asked a federal judge to dismiss perjury charges against him Wednesday, arguing the indictment is "scattershot" and noted for its "striking inartfulness." (ESPN)

Bonds and his lawyers complained that the line of questioning was ambiguous, confusing, and too much for Bonds' over sized noggin to handle.

One Tejada Lied While Another One Died

Tough day in the Tejada household. First, Houston Astro's shortstop learns that Congress has asked the Justice Department to investigate whether or not Tejada may have lied during a 2005 interview regarding Rafael Palmeiro's steroid case.

Next, he learns that his older brother Manuel Tejada died in a car crash.

According to Enrique Rojas, of ESPN Deportes;

"Freddy Manuel Tejada, 37, died Tuesday afternoon when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a sport utility vehicle in Bani, a city in the southern part of the Dominican Republic."

It was a rough day for the former American League MVP. If the Justice Department finds evidence that proves he lied, Tejada could be in a world of hurt. In an intial interview during the first Congressional Steroid Hearings, this encounter (according to a letter to the US General Attorney obtained by ESPN.com News Services) between Tejada and the panel took place:

"Has there been discussion among other players about steroids?" a committee staffer asked, according to the letter.

"No, I never heard," Tejada replied.

"You never knew of any other player using steroids?" Tejada was asked.

"No," he replied.

"Have you ever taken a steroid before?" he was asked at another point.

"No," he said.

Tejada also answered "No" when asked whether he had ever taken any illegal performance-enhancing drugs, andro or any other steroid precursor.

However, according to the Mitchell Report, ex-Athletic teammate Adam Piatt recalled conversations with Tejada regarding Performance Enhancing Drugs.
The report also contains two checks from Tejada to Piatt (for $3,100 and $3,200) as evidence that such encounter/transaction occured in the past.

Baseball Wrap Up: 1/13/08

Baseball's winter hasn't be anything more than a couple of flurries here and there, but if ESPN Sources are correct, we might be getting some major winter weather activity in the next day or so.

According to ESPN's Jerry Crasnik, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to (in principle) a trade that would swap franchise third basemen Scott Rolen and Troy Glaus.

Continuing their roster overhaul, the Oakland Athletics have agreed to ship aging center fielder Mark Kotsay to the Braves in exchange for twenty four year old pitcher Joey Devine. This is the third major trade for the Athletic organization, who are clearly writing off next season after trading Dan Haren and Nick Swisher earlier this winter.

The Brewers have a deal in place that will bring in veteran center fielder Mike Cameron. Cameron, however, will miss the first twenty five games of the upcoming season for violating baseball's drug testing guidelines.

And finally, the Tampa Bay Rays have asked permission to play a series against the Blue Jays at Disney. Early reports indicate that Mickey will not pitch, as he also has violated baseball's drug testing program.




For Christ sakes, he's a mouse! Look at the size of him. And you guys complain that Barry Bonds is huge.

Goose Calls Heard in Hall of Fame

The staff here at 108 Red Stitches would like to congratulate Goose Gossage on his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
We would also like to bitch slap everyone who still isn't in the "Don Mattingly for HoF Camp".
Goose finally gained entry into the Hall of Fame (his ninth attempt) and became only the fifth reliever to gain access to Cooperstown's hallowed halls. Goose received 86 per cent of the vote (one only needs 75 per cent to get elected).
Some speculate that Gossage's jump in votes may have been directly linked to the Performance Enhancing Cloud of Suspicion cast on the likes of Mark McGwire, David Justice, and (hehe) Chuck Knoblauch.
Jim Rice and Andre Dawson again fell short (72%/65%) but remain HoF eligible.
Goose's Career Stats:
Seasons: 22
Win/Loss Record: 124-107
Saves: 310
Strikeouts: 1502
ERA: 3.01

Gossage pitched for nine different franchises: White Sox, Yankees, Padres, Cubs, Giants, Rangers, Athletics, and the Mariners. He'll most likely go into the Hall wearing a Yankee cap.
ESPN's Rob Neyer writes that Goose deserves a shot at the hall.
MLB.com writer Thomas Harding covers Goose's reaction to a phone call from Jack O'Connell