Fastball Fans

* The Braves activated infielder Omar Infante from the disabled list to start on Thursday and placed catcher Brayan Pena on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained back.

* Pedro Martinez is scheduled to throw a side session on Friday in Florida, another step in the pitcher’s rehabilitation from a strained left hamstring.

* Cardinals starter Mark Mulder has a mild rotator cuff strain of his left shoulder, causing St. Louis to stop his injury rehabilitation assignment.

* Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson will remain out of the lineup for at least two more weeks with a strained left calf that has sidelined him for all but three games.

Topics Discussed:

* The Business of Ballparks
* The Holy Trinity: Roger Clemens/Alex Rodriguez/Ozzie Guillen
* A look back at the month of April
* Who’s hot, who’s not
* Big names on the disabled list

I figured that he’s sign on with someone before the season; alas, it is anything but the case.

Now, the union is trying to look into why he’s not been offered a job.

Good luck.

From the AP: The Major League Baseball Players Association has expressed concern to the commissioner’s office over the lack of offers to Barry Bonds, asking for additional information about the offseason’s free-agent market.

The union did not go as far as to file a grievance on behalf of the outfielder, 43, who remains unsigned and hasn’t received any offers since the San Francisco Giants decided not to re-sign him last year and he became a free agent.

“We’ve raised both general concerns and some player specific concerns,” Michael Weiner, the union’s general counsel, said yesterday.

Weiner said the only player the union specifically brought up in its discussions with the commissioner’s office was Bonds, who has repeatedly said he wants to play a 23rd major league season.

“I haven’t received any offers on Barry since he became a free agent,” said Bonds’ agent, Jeff Borris.

Management has repeatedly said there has been no concerted effort against Bonds.

Unless he’s found religion in the past few months basically being blackballed from the game due his problems and reputation (yes, I said it), he’s not worth the gamble for a few wins.

I’d like to see Barry find a job, but I also think this whole issue with him is a referendum on his personality, his legal issues and more importantly — how he’s treated people in the past.

Um, Alex Rodriguez once again is being excoriated by the press — this time due to the birth of his daughter, ordinarily a watershed event in anyone’s life.

Why does it seem everything he does PR wise turns out to be so awkward even when it should not be the case?

From the Baltimore Sun: Alex Rodriguez passed out during the birth of his first daughter in 2004. “The one nurse had a cold cloth on his head. The other nurse had the blood pressure on his arm. And my mother was, like, rubbing his back. And he is passed out on a couch. And I am there, in the middle of labor,” Rodriguez’s wife, Cynthia, said on an episode of the YES Network’s YESterdays that is scheduled to be broadcast tonight. Natasha Alexander Rodriguez was born Nov. 18, 2004.

Is A-Rod a wuss? I don’t think it’s that big of a deal — a lot of men, including a lot I know have been through this.

Look, we all known he’s a built, high-profile, rich athlete; however, I don’t see why this is getting play.

I do think his wife and he should have kept something so candid between themselves.

Wow, Roger Clemens isn’t going to the Olympics, nor is welcome on the team — I wonder why.

Roger Clemens isn’t welcome on the U.S. Olympic baseball team.

U.S. general manager Bob Watson said Wednesday that he isn’t considering the 45-year-old right-hander for his roster for the Beijing Games.

“From my standpoint, we don’t need that type of distraction,” Watson said.

In addition to his duties as vice president of on-field operations for Major League Baseball, Watson is general manager of professional baseball operations for USA Baseball and works to select manager Davey Johnson’s roster.

A former GM of the Houston Astros and New York Yankees, Watson said he didn’t anticipate being overruled by higher-ups.

“I have not talked to the commissioner. I have not talked to [MLB chief operating officer] Bob DuPuy, nor have I talked to his agent, but I just think the distraction that he’s carrying right now, from my standpoint, we don’t need that,” Watson said.

Look I don’t want to piss on someone or wish them bad luck, but I am kind of glad Clemens’ lying, posturing is coming back to nip him in the butt. Sorry, we all have had out share of hero worship, and it’s about time that he doesn’t get his way.

He’s a fraud, and the Olympic team does not need a distraction like him around.

A look at the new Citi Field, the new home of the Mets starting in 2009…

According to the AP, injured shortstop Jimmy Rollins went 4-for-4 with two RBIs in an extended spring training game in Tampa, Fla. The reigning National League Most Valuable Player is on the 15-day DL for the first time in his career because of a sprained left ankle. Rollins hopes to rejoin Philadelphia on Thursday or Friday.

The big Blue Jays closer, B.J. Ryan can now pitch in back to back games — a big step for a Toronto team looking to contend in AL East.

Less than one year after he had Tommy John ligament replacement surgery on his left elbow, B.J. Ryan, a former Oriole, has been cleared to pitch in consecutive games. Ryan had season-ending surgery last May 10 and started this season on the disabled list. He was activated April 13 and has five saves - including one in last night’s victory over the White Sox - in seven scoreless appearances since returning.

Jim Leyland hinted at a shakeup in the Detroit batting order, and he sure was not fooling around.

Tenured veteran, Jacque Jones was cut yesterday by the Detroit Tigers before their series against the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. They designated him for assignment and has 10 days to trade the outfielder, put him on unconditional release waivers or send him outright to the minors.

As well…

To fill Jones’ spot, the Tigers purchased the contract of outfielder Matt Joyce from Triple-A Toledo. He was in right field against the Red Sox and batted seventh.

Detroit’s regular designated hitter, Gary Sheffield, took over for Jones in left field and was inserted into the sixth spot. Sheffield had been hitting third.

Carlos Guillen, who had been hitting sixth, replaced Sheffield in the third slot.

They been hot as of late; however, they have a lot of ground to make up…

Very sad and pathetic; it’s just a game…

If you want someone who seemingly has lied to baseball fans about who he is all these years, look no further to this guy — now, here’s his latest mea culpa…

From the AP:HOUSTON - In his first comments since the New York Daily News linked him to a series of extramarital affairs last week, Roger Clemens apologized to his family and friends.

In a statement issued Sunday to the Houston Chronicle, the former pitching star admitted making “mistakes” in his life but continued to deny any use of steroids or human growth hormone.

“I know that many people want to know what I have to say about the recent articles in the media,” Clemens said in the statement. “Even though these articles contain many false accusations and mistakes, I need to say that I have made mistakes in my personal life for which I am sorry. I have apologized to my family and apologize to my fans. Like everyone, I have flaws. I have sometimes made choices which have not been right.”

Read the rest of this entry »