Fastball Fans

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Ah, the Dodgers $36 million dollar investment may be going down the tubes…

The Los Angeles Dodgers placed center fielder Andruw Jones on the 15-day disabled list late Saturday night because of an injured right knee that will require surgery and sideline him at least four to six weeks.

Jones, who signed a two-year, $36.2 million contract last winter after 12 seasons with the Atlanta Braves, has struggled in Los Angeles. The five-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner is hitting .165 with two homers and seven RBIs in 43 games.

The Los Angeles Dodgers seem to be hemorrhaging money right and left with their high-priced stars and a guy who’s overweight, seemingly on the decline, and now hurt is not helping things at all.

Colorado put shortstop Clint Barmes and right fielder Brad Hawpe on the 15-day DL and recalled outfielder Seth Smith and infielder Ian Stewart from Triple-A Colorado Springs.

As well, the team put left fielder Matt Holliday on the 15-day DL after he strained his hamstring against the Mets on Saturday.

Here’s some good news for a change in baseball…

Pitcher Doug Davis, who has been recovering from thyroid cancer surgery, will start tonight against the Braves after missing 36 games.

Knock ‘em dead, Doug and glad to see you emerge victorious in a perilous journey!

Babe Ruth’s mythical “called shot” in the World Series many generations ago added to the folklore and history of this wonderful game & you can perhaps become part of legend as slugger David “Big Papi” Ortiz hopes to do the same!

You could win a dream trip to the 2008 MLB^® All-Star Week^TM, then stand at home plate and Call Big Papi’s shot before the State Farm Home Run Derby^® for a chance at a Chevy Tahoe hybrid.

Fans can enter the promotion daily through June 24 at www.sfCallYourShot.com/2008. The grand prize winner of Call Your Shot will stand beside famed baseball slugger David “Big Papi�? Ortiz during the State Farm Home Run Derby and call the home run location of a single delivery for Ortiz. The winner will also receive:

* All-expense paid trip for four to the All-Star Game and State Farm Home Run Derby
* First class hotel accommodations in New York
* Tickets to a Broadway show
* $1,000 MasterCard gift card

Additionally, 10 fans will win first place prizes consisting of a $300 MLB.com gift card and 25 second prize winners will receive $100 MLB.com gift cards.

I think this is a bad idea, but he may be the best starter on the roster, even though he’s the setup man right now…

After all the blown calls, and anger over the past couple of years thanks to a few, but crucial botched plays by MLB umpires, the league has decided to get with the program.

If so, honestly, it is about damn time.

A top baseball official will formulate a proposal for instant replay, and the technology could be tested in the Arizona Fall League this year.

Jimmie Lee Solomon, the sport’s executive vice president for baseball operations, wouldn’t put a timetable on a replay plan, which was recommended by general managers in November. The idea drew attention after several blown home run calls by umpires in recent days.

Baseball is developing tentative plans to experiment with replay during the fall league and likely would continue testing, if it’s successful, during the 2009 World Baseball Classic, ESPN.com reported yesterday.

Solomon said, however: “We’ve made no final decision as to where exactly we’re going to try it out.”

I’d be in favor of using it with home runs, or perhaps during a game (maybe institute a challenge rule that can be used once) — but at no other time during the season.

Some sad and tragic news out of Atlanta.

A 25-year-old man died after falling about 150 feet down a stairwell at Turner Field in Atlanta during Wednesday’s Braves- Mets game.

The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office yesterday identified the man as Justin Hayes of Cumming, Ga. An autopsy will be performed.

It’s sad to hear that happen, but alcohol and horse play do not mix…

The investigation is “pointing toward drinking. Alcohol was a factor,” Atlanta police spokesman Ronald Campbell said Thursday.

Hayes’ parents said Justin Hayes had “a couple of beers.”

“According to his friends, he had a couple of beers like most people at a game,” said John and Cindy Hayes in a statement released Thursday. “They were leaving and having fun, and he did what he does at home — tried to slide down the railing. Unfortunately, he just slipped over.”

Campbell said Hayes fell about 150 feet from the club level to the landing on the field level during the eighth inning. Braves spokesman Brad Hainje said Thursday the fall was about 50 to 60 feet.

“This was a tragic, horrible accident,” Hayes’ parents said. “Justin was a very strong Christian person, from a strong Christian family, who had never been in any trouble. He really cared about people and went out of his way to help anyone who needed it. We realize most parents will say that about their child, but that was honestly how he was.”

Mark Guilbeau, the senior investigator with the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office, said an autopsy will be performed.

Our prayers should go out to the family who lost their loved one…

Willie Randolph got into some hot water this week when he criticized not only the New York media, his team and the his teams’ network, SNY as he tried his best to explain his struggles as well as those of his team.

He’s since apologized.

From Newsday: New York Mets manager Willie Randolph issued an apology yesterday to team ownership, the club’s TV network and his players “for the unnecessary distraction” he created by suggesting he was portrayed in a different manner than white managers.

Randolph, the Mets’ first black manager, created a stir with comments he made that appeared Monday in The Record of New Jersey.

Randolph brought up race when he questioned the way he has been presented by SNY, the team’s TV network.

“Is it racial?” he was quoted in the story. “Huh? It smells a little bit. … I don’t know how to put my finger on it, but I think there’s something there.”

Randolph said he wasn’t asked by Mets management to issue the apology.

The New York media is brutal, and it doesn’t matter who you are — you need to win. That’s where the criticism is coming from, plain and simple — sometimes it’s better to not say much of anything than it is to say what’s on your mind.

Detroit recalled pitcher Dontrelle Willis and placed reliever Clay Rapada on the 15-day disabled list with biceps tendinitis. Manager Jim Leyland said Willis would pitch out of the bullpen initially and eventually return to the rotation.

He’s been expected to be a plus arm for Detroit; however, he’s just coming off the DL because of a hyperextended right knee since April 12, and currently he’s 0-0 with a 7.20 ERA and walked nine in five innings.