May 7, 2009 by Blast Magazine Newsroom
Baseball superstar Manny Ramirez has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and has been suspended 50 games, starting Thursday.
Ramirez released a statement acknowledging the suspension.
“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 [...]
March 23, 2009 by Micah Warren
Three-time world champion Curt Schilling has announced that he will retire.
“This party has officially ended,” Schilling wrote in an email. “After being blessed to experience 23 years of playing professional baseball in front of the world’s best fans in so many different places, it is with zero regrets that I am making my [...]
March 8, 2009 by Mack Dreyfuss
Fifty years ago, David A. Mullaney was playing baseball in the backyard. To prevent dented siding and cracked windows that resulted from using an actual baseball, he and his friends used a tennis ball and a broom handle bat. His mother happened to be hanging laundry in the yard when he hit a pitch and [...]
February 25, 2009 by Zachary Goldstein
We have established the Padres are the front runners for the worst team in the NL West, but I could be wrong. I have been before. Ask my girlfriend.
What makes a topic for interesting conversation and debate is where the other teams in the division fall into place. With the Dodgers ability to potentially [...]
February 24, 2009 by Zachary Goldstein
As we open the door to analyzing the competitive NL West we must first look at what teams do not have.
I have never heard of a team being wildly successful with as few weapons as the San Diego Padres. Unfortunately, for the city named after “a whale’s vagina,†I will be power ranking their [...]
February 24, 2009 by Micah Warren
Months ago, Cole Hamels went on New York radio and agreed with the host’s assertion that the Mets were “choke artists.” Of course, this got Mets fans whining and crying, much like they did when Jimmy Rollins said “finally, we’re the team to beat” before the 2007 season. Well, after Cole Hamels was [...]
February 19, 2009 by Britt Braudo
Is this season locked up, or is it too early to tell?
Just in time for the start of spring training, it’s time to make quick judgments and hasty generalizations about how the 2009 baseball season will shape up. We start with an American League preview, giving you just enough baseball fodder to sound smart around [...]
February 16, 2009 by Micah Warren
I realize I am probably dating myself when I say I couldn’t believe when I heard that Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd wants to pitch again. Some of you Red Sox fans remember him and others that are too young have probably just heard the stories. Just for reference, Boyd pitched for the Red Sox in [...]
February 16, 2009 by Micah Warren
Former New England Patriots LB and special teamer Larry Izzo will be the only football player to testify against Barry Bonds in his perjury trial. Izzo will tell the courts that he received steroids shipments from Bonds’ trainer Greg Anderson and BALCO, proving that Anderson was indeed in the steroid business.
Some seem [...]
February 11, 2009 by Blast Magazine Newsroom
Upper Deck and the estate of the great New York Yankees slugger Joe DiMaggio reached an agreement to produce trading cards that include DiMaggio memorabilia and cut signature cards.
To commemorate the exclusive deal for UD, a limited Joe DiMaggio card, #0, will be packed inside 2009 Series One Baseball packs coming out this week. The [...]
February 9, 2009 by Blast Magazine Newsroom
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has admitted to taking performance enhancing drugs from 2001 to 2003.
ESPN is reporting that Rodriguez, in an exclusive interview with Peter Gammons, has admitted to allegations that surfaced in a recent Sports Illustrated report online.
“I felt an enormous amount of pressure,” Rodriguez told Gammons. “Back then it was [...]
February 7, 2009 by John M. Guilfoil
New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003, Sports Illustrated is reporting.
Rodriguez won his first American League Most Valuable Player award in 2003 while with the Texas Rangers.
SI is reporting that four sources independently told the magazine that Arod tested positive for two anabolic steroids at that time.
According to SI, Rodriguez’s [...]
February 3, 2009 by Micah Warren
Bob Costas has officially left HBO for MLB’s fledgling network that is aptly titled, MLB Network.
The move will not affect his relationship with NBC, where he has worked since 1980.
“No, we don’t have a problem,” NBC spokesman Brian Walker said.
Costas hosted the first-ever program on MLB Network, while HBO demanded cable exclusivity.
“Bob [...]
January 30, 2009 by Micah Warren
John Maine and the New York Mets avoided arbitration by agreeing on a one-year $2.6 million contract.
Maine wanted $3 million and the Mets were offering $2.2 million. So, some genius figured out that $2.6 million was in the middle, and probably got paid for providing that information. Maine can also earn an additional [...]
January 26, 2009 by Micah Warren
Brett Pedroia, older brother of Red Sox second baseman Dustin, recently turned himself in to authorities on charges of child molestation. The incident occurred four years ago, but the victim just recently told his parents.
Pedroia is facing two counts of oral copulation and lewd acts with a child under 14.
The 30-year old was booked into [...]
January 24, 2009 by Micah Warren
Phillies 2B Chase Utley thinks he will be ready for Opening Day following off-season hip surgery. Utley underwent the surgery on November 24th and was initially thought to be out 2-3 months of the season.
“In two to three weeks—that would be nice,†Utley said. “If everything goes as planned, that’s what we want to [...]
January 17, 2009 by Micah Warren
The Phillies have avoided arbitration with stud ace Cole Hamels and signed him to a three-year $20.5 million contract.
The Phils got some more signin’ to do because Ryan Howard, Ryan Madson, Shane Victorino, Joe Blanton, Jayson Werth and Chad Durbin are still eligible for arbitration.
Hamels’ deal takes care of his arbitration years and [...]
January 15, 2009 by Micah Warren
ESPN’s Peter Gammons is reporting that the Red Sox and Kevin Youkilis have agreed to a four-year, $40 million deal.
Youkilis broke out in 2008, hitting .312 with 29 home runs and 115 RBIs.
January 8, 2009 by Micah Warren
John Smoltz to leave Atlanta for…the Red Sox?
MLB sources have told Foxsports.com’s Ken Rosenthal that the Boston Red Sox are nearing a deal with long-time Atlanta Brave pitcher John Smoltz. It’s a one-year deal for a reported $5.5 million for the 41-year old pitcher.
The deal is also packed with incentives that would potentially push the [...]
January 6, 2009 by Micah Warren
Phillies left-handed setup man J.C. Romero will be suspended 50 games in 2009 for taking an over-the-counter supplement that contained a banned substance. An arbitrator ruled that he was “negligent” in not knowing what was in the supplement. However, MLB and Romero agree that he did not take any performance-enhancing drugs.
“One thing [...]
