Archive for the ‘MLB’ Category
A-Rod Dated a Fomer Manhattan Madam
Photo form Reuters Pictures
A former Manhattan madam who supplied Eliot Spitzer with hookers also counted Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez as a customer - and found him so charming she dated him herself for free, former employees of the call-girl agency tell the Daily News.
A-Rod wooed ex-madam Kristin Davis with flowers, jewelry, persistence and heated e-mails, according to the sources.
“Throughout the years, there were a number of clients that I befriended and it was not uncommon for them to want the women they can’t have whether it be the phone bookers or the madam,” Davis said.
“In regard to Alex, all I can say is our paths have definitely crossed personally and professionally.”
Full Story: New York Daily News
Canseco Promises More Juicy Details
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Jose Canseco’s attorney told The Post last night that not only does the Alex Rodriguez steroid report act as “substantial confirmation” of Canseco’s past claims - but that there are going to be future revelations regarding Rodriguez and others.
“According to Jose, there’s a lot more that’ll be forthcoming,” Greg Emerson, Canseco’s attorney, said.
That claim, Emerson said, was with regard to A-Rod and others.
Full Story: New York Post
Alex Rodriguez Tested Positive for Steroids in 2003
Photo from AP Photo
In 2003, when he won the American League home run title and the AL Most Valuable Player award as a shortstop for the Texas Rangers, Alex Rodriguez tested positive for two anabolic steroids, four sources have independently told Sports Illustrated.
Rodriguez’s name appears on a list of 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball’s ‘03 survey testing, SI’s sources say. As part of a joint agreement with the MLB Players Association, the testing was conducted to determine if it was necessary to impose mandatory random drug testing across the major leagues in 2004.
When approached by an SI reporter on Thursday at a gym in Miami, Rodriguez declined to discuss his 2003 test results. “You’ll have to talk to the union,” said Rodriguez, the New York Yankees’ third baseman since his trade to New York in February 2004. When asked if there was an explanation for his positive test, he said, “I’m not saying anything.”
Full Story: SI.com
Loading ...Andruw Jones Says No to Yankees
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New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman confirmed that the Yankees had offered Andruw Jones a minor-league contract to compete with Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner for the starting centerfield job. Jones’ agent Scott Boras turned down the offer, Cashman said.
If Jones and Boras can’t find a major-league contract _ and certainly, that seems like a longshot _ then the Yankees could get back into the mix for Andruw.
Full Story: New York Newsday
Angels’ Scioscia Planning Lineup Tweaks
Photo from AP Photo
After his team absorbed a 4-1 loss to the Red Sox in Game 1 of the American League Division Series Wednesday night, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said yesterday he would consider some “minor adjustments” to his lineup, no doubt in hopes of avoiding an 11th consecutive playoff loss to the Sox.
“We’re considering a few things and the core of our lineup will remain the same,” Scioscia said. “We have a lot of confidence in what our guys can do on the offensive side, and if you look at the last 60 or 70 games that we played, I think you saw an offense that can grind it out or hit the home run and break games open.”
Against Jon Lester, that was not the case. Despite getting nine hits (six off Lester), the Angels were unable to manufacture more than one run, which came in the third inning when Torii Hunter hit a single to left that scored Garret Anderson for a 1-0 lead. The lack of production from the bottom third of the order was stark: 0 for 9 with three strikeouts against Lester.
Among the tweaks Scioscia was considering were in the outfield.
“Well, the field is cut down a little bit with Vlad [Guerrero] DHing, and the bats we’re going to look at are either Gary Matthews or Juan Rivera and Kendry Morales,” Scioscia said. “I don’t think it’s going to come down to one player. As far as the whole lineup, we need to pressure teams every inning and it’s going to have to be as a cohesive unit, and if one player brings continuity, sure, it can have an impact.”
Full Story: Boston.com
Padres Could Trade Peavy
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Coming off a 99-defeat season, Padres General Manager Kevin Towers said yesterday he considers no player “untouchable” and will find out the trade value of every player.
Towers, speaking recently, also said pitcher Jake Peavy will not be exempted from his offseason fact-finding mission and that he would be shirking his duties if he did not find out Peavy’s value on the trade market.
“Are we going to shop Jake Peavy? No,” said Towers last Wednesday. “It’s a time of year to gather information. If it’s something that makes sense, you’ve got to talk as an organization.”
Unless Towers gets dazzled, it appears Peavy, 27, will be with the club to open the 2009 season. But Peavy’s salary will jump from $11 million to $15 million in 2010, and the pitcher himself said he has pondered whether he could become too expensive for the Padres in, say, 2011, when his salary will be $16 million.
“If they think they need to get rid of me to make the team better, they might trade me,” Peavy said. “But I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
One potential catch: As part of the $52 million extension Peavy received last season from CEO Sandy Alderson and Towers, he also obtained full no-trade powers through 2010.
Peavy’s consent, therefore, would be needed for a trade to any of the other 29 clubs.
Full Story: San Diego Union-Tribune
Giants to Make Run at CC Sabathia
Photo from Reuters Pictures
Rather than weaken the rotation, the Giants might take one bold move to strengthen it. There are indications the Giants plan to investigate the Hope Diamond of free-agent pitchers this winter, CC Sabathia, to gauge his interest in returning to his native Bay Area.
The team does not plan to wade into the rest of the market for starters. As Sabean said Monday, “We’ll look heavily in the market for relief help. Whether we decide to do that with a starting pitcher remains to be seen because I think the price is going to be exorbitant.”
Sabathia is going to command a massive contract, too, but could be the one starter worth the millions he gets. His signing also could provide Sabean the flexibility to move other pitchers for offense.
The question is whether Sabathia wants to come to San Francisco. One national columnist reported the Giants are his first choice, but Sabathia told The Chronicle in June he was wary of pitching so close to his Vallejo home.
Sabathia is not the team’s highest priority, however. More offense is, and Sabean said he expects it to come via trade rather than free agency. Besides the Angels’ Mark Teixeira and Dodgers’ Manny Ramirez, the list of impact free-agent bats is skimpy.
Full Story: SF Chronicle
Cashman Wants to Remain with Yankees
Photo from Reuters Pictures
While Brian Cashman remained mum about his future, the buzz smothering the Yankees New York Yankees universe yesterday focused on the GM telling the Steinbrenner family he wants to return.
An announcement could come as soon as tomorrow.
“Sooner than later,” Cashman said with a smile when asked about reaching a decision.
Hal Steinbrenner, who wants Cashman back, hasn’t made an offer. However, there are indications Cashman could tell Steinbrenner he wants to return and negotiate later.
With Hank Steinbrenner fading from the picture, Hal has been in touch with Cashman more than his older brother. Cashman and Hal work very well together and Hank hasn’t been involved in meetings with Hal and Cashman and his involvement has decreased.
Cashman is in the final leg of a three-year deal that paid him $5.4 million.
Friday, Cashman promised a quick decision when the season ended. Since yesterday’s game was rained out, the Yankees and Red Sox will end the regular season with a dual-gate doubleheader today.
Getting a GM in line is the first step in attempting to rebuild a team that underachieved this season and didn’t make the playoffs for the first time in 13 years.
Full Story: New York Post
