The best pitchers in baseball 2011 – Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw

In accordance with the requirements* of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance, being of sound mind and body I hereby cast my ballot for the Walter Johnson Award for the best pitchers in baseball, 2011. American League 1. Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers – 24 victories. Incredible velocity. Tigers win division. Any questions? 2. C.C. Sabathia, New York […]

Who were the best relievers in baseball in 2011? Jose Valverde and J.J. Putz

The Baseball Bloggers Alliance gives the Goose Gossage award each year to the best relievers in baseball, and here’s my ballot. I have nominations for the American and National leagues. American League 1. Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers – The best in baseball in 2011 based on number of saves, and I think that’s an accurate reflection […]

What to wear to the Indians-Giants game?

For a diehard fan of the Cleveland Indians and San Francisco Giants, going to a game at AT&T Park poses a problem: What to wear? I have plenty of gear from both teams: a Willie Mays jersey, a ’48 Indians cap, Chief Wahoo socks, an Indians jacket, a Tim Lincecum T-shirt, and lots more. The […]

What cap will Manny Ramirez wear on his Hall of Fame plaque?

That’s a question that’s likely to remain hypothetical. Manny Ramirez slipped away quietly into retirement Friday after it was revealed he flunked a drug screening. Unless some future commissioner grants a pardon for the stars of the Steroid Era, I doubt Manny will ever make the Baseball Hall of Fame. He has the stats to justify […]

Wowed by the new WordPress iPad blog display

I use the WordPress platform to write this blog, and the other night in my preferences I activated a new option that changes the way the blog appears on iPads. Last night I finally got a chance to see the results, and wow! The display is similar to Flipboard, an iPad app that takes Facebook, […]

The beauty of the Olympics, in photos

[picapp align=”center” wrap=”false” link=”term=bobsled&iid=8115158″ src=”0/d/2/2/Bobsleigh_Fourman_Heat_2d00.jpg?adImageId=10804546&imageId=8115158″ width=”393″ height=”594″ /] The Olympics, summer or winter, are among the most fantastic events for photos. The settings are beautiful, culturally rich cities in foreign lands, and the competitors are dressed in their national colors. The events themselves are full of motion and emotion, an unbeatable combination. I remember being […]

The Big Hurt hangs up the spikes

[picapp align=”left” wrap=”true” link=”term=%22Frank+Thomas%22&iid=4838747″ src=”d/c/5/e/Frank_Thomas_35_b9e3.jpg?adImageId=10255067&imageId=4838747″ width=”234″ height=”359″ /] Frank Thomas announced his retirement Friday after an outstanding career with the Chicago White Sox. He split his last few seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays and Oakland Athletics, but in the public eye he was and always will be a member of the White Sox. The […]

The incomparable Jerry Rice nominated to the football Hall of Fame

[picapp align=”left” wrap=”true” link=”term=Jerry+Rice&iid=2932495″ src=”b/5/3/8/Super_Bowl_XXIV_afcd.jpg?adImageId=9973428&imageId=2932495″ width=”234″ height=”355″ /] Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith head the class of seven NFL players who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame at Canton, and I write today to lavish praise on Rice. He was incomparable, the dominant receiver of his era. He played superbly in […]

Ravens peck the Patriots in the NFL playoffs

[picapp align=”right” wrap=”true” link=”term=Patriots&iid=7510690″ src=”d/0/d/8/Baltimore_Ravens_v_20b2.jpg?adImageId=8910284&imageId=7510690″ width=”234″ height=”162″ /] The Baltimore Ravens thrashed the New England Patriots today in the NFL playoffs 33-14 in a lopsided game in frigid Foxboro, Mass. I’m having a hard time getting interested in the playoffs, and runaway games don’t do much to lure me in. It’s obvious that the Patriots’ […]

Tres bien: Andre Dawson elected to the Hall of Fame

[picapp align=”center” wrap=”false” link=”term=Andre+Dawson&iid=7473497″ src=”1/2/4/6/ANDRE_DAWSON_2172.JPG?adImageId=8829023&imageId=7473497″ width=”500″ height=”330″ /] Andre Dawson was elected to the Hall of Fame today, a rich reward for the speedy outfielder. He’s pictured above with Expos teammate Vance Law. Dawson only experienced the playoffs in two of his 21 years in the big leagues, so he didn’t get as much network […]