Fastball Fans

Sorry, these days anyone being caught taking steroids or PED’s in baseball is a freaking dumb-ass.

Major League Baseball suspended San Francisco Giants catcher Eliezer Alfonzo for 50 games after he tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

The suspension begins on May 1.

“The Giants were disappointed to learn that one of our players, Eliezer Alfonzo, has failed a test for a performance enhancing drug,” the club said in a statement. “Our organization fully supports Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

“As an organization, we will continue to work with our players, Major League Baseball and the Players Association to do what we can do to eliminate these performance enhancing substances from our game.

“We will continue to support and counsel Eliezer during his suspension.”

Stupid, just stupid. I guess he’s sorry only when he got caught…

Wow, $126 million doesn’t get what it used to; in fact, it doesn’t get what you want. In the worst case of larceny ever in sports — the infamous Barry Zito and his nine figure deal is heading to the Giants’ bullpen.

Oh, it’s heartache and pain in the City by the Bay…

Barry Zito was demoted to the bullpen Monday by the San Francisco Giants, who hope the former ace can correct his problems by working in relief.

Zito, who only 16 months ago signed a $126 million, seven-year contract with the Giants to lead their rotation, was informed of the move in a meeting with manager Bruce Bochy.

The left-hander has lost his first six starts this season and has a 7.53 ERA that jumped considerably after Zito was tagged for eight earned runs in a 10-1 loss Sunday to Cincinnati.

Well, San Francisco can’t just cut him and eat their money — that’s lunacy. At this point, the Giants hope the southpaw can work through his issues.

It may be a long summer in the city by the bay. Nine figures for a mop-up man?

Oh, should we be so shocked? Well, it looks like he was getting it on with country star Mindy McCready for at least ten years while married.

A lot of people (not only athletes) do this stuff behind their wives all time; it’s always the matter if they are caught or not. Lest we forget, Clemens in the public eye, so this is going to make news. Boy is he screwed…

Read the New York Daily News piece…

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Well, heralded Yankee catcher, Jorge Posada is heading to the DL.

“It’s very disappointing,” said Posada, bothered by a sore right shoulder for weeks. “It’s probably the most disappointing thing in my career.”

Posada first complained about a tired arm April 8 and didn’t catch for two weeks, hoping the rest would strengthen his shoulder. He caught the series opener Friday and the last four innings Saturday after he hit a tying, three-run triple as a pinch hitter.

Posada said he felt pain in his shoulder after a throw Saturday. He is expected to visit famed orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews.

Posada has caught at least 137 regular-season games each year since 2000

It’s a shame for the Yankees, and let’s hope it’s nothing more serious…

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It’s bad news for the Indians who are already struggling on the offensive front.

Center fielder Grady Sizemore didn’t play in the team’s loss to the Yankees after rolling his ankle while running the bases in Cleveland’s win a day earlier. Sizemore had played in a major league-high 382 consecutive games.

He’s out again today against the New York Yankees.

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Right-hander John Smoltz left the team’s 6-3 loss to the Mets with what he called “discomfort” in his throwing shoulder. Smoltz started the season on the disabled list with tightness in the back of the shoulder.

The end could be coming soon; however, I hope it’s not in the near future, as we are seeing a special legend perhaps close to taking his final bow.

>>> For more of my opinions on baseball and whatever else, check out my personal blog, the Oriole Post…

Matt Morris, the veteran right-hander added by Pittsburgh late last season to stabilize a young rotation, was released after he failed to pitch past the second inning in the Pirates’ 8-4 loss to the Phillies on Saturday night. Morris fell to 0-4 with a 9.67 ERA.

Don’t be surprised if he’s done….

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The Los Angeles Dodgers unveiled a four-year upgrade plan for Dodger Stadium on Thursday that owner Frank McCourt said amounts to a new home for the team built around the nearly 50-year-old structure. Much like the Red Sox, Cubs, and Royals, the Dodgers are not only rebuilding to keep up with technology and their peers, but to enhance the fan experience.

From the LA Times: Speaking at a morning news conference in the Dodger Stadium outfield, McCourt outlined a sweeping $500-million project that would include parking structures, a Dodgers history museum and a landscaped plaza behind center field connecting to shops and restaurants.

“It’s not just for the fans,” he said. “It’s for the entire community.”

McCourt said the improvements would allow the 46-year-old landmark — the second-oldest park in the National League after Chicago’s Wrigley Field — to flourish for another 50 years.

The privately financed makeover would cost more than the $430 million McCourt paid for the team and stadium four years ago.

He challenged civic leaders to follow his investment by extending bus and subway lines to the ballpark.

“The ultimate way to improve access to Dodger Stadium is public transit,” McCourt said.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said he would be happy to work with the Dodgers on finding ways other than driving to get people to the stadium.

“That clarion call, that challenge, I like that,” Villaraigosa said at the news conference. “Isn’t it amazing that we built a public transportation system and it never connected to Dodger Stadium? Wouldn’t it be great if we said, ‘This city is going to also rectify the errors of the past’ and do something to change that? I like that idea. Let’s get working on it.”

McCourt said the loss of about 15 acres of parking, or about 2,000 spaces, would be offset by the construction of two parking garages — a first for Chavez Ravine — and additional underground parking. The renovations would include a dedicated bus lane running directly to a transit plaza next to the stadium.

McCourt said he hoped local leaders would “tweak and adjust subway lines” to add a Dodger Stadium stop and provide “bus access in the interim.”

Sounds cool — um, let’s just hope the cost isn’t passed onto the consumers in terms of excessive ticket price increases.

The jersey of the Red Sox’s David Ortiz that was secretly buried under the new Yankee Stadium in a failed curse attempt sold for $175,100 in a charity auction. The bid from Kevin Meehan, the owner of Imperialcars.com in Mendon, Mass., was the highest of 282. It was donated to the Jimmy Fund, the Red Sox’s official charity that is affiliated with Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

From the AP: The Oakland Athletics agreed to terms yesterday with designated hitter Frank Thomas, who was released Sunday by the Toronto Blue Jays after getting frustrated with his lack of playing time.

Thomas, 39, will be the A’s regular designated hitter, and the team hopes his role will be similar to the one he had with Oakland before, serving as a catalyst in the A’s 2006 playoff run and American League West championship that year. He batted .270 with a team-leading 39 home runs and 114 RBIs in 137 games.

According to ESPN, sources say the Athletics will have a discussion about whether to sign Thomas in the next 48 hours, now that he’s been cut by the Toronto Blue Jays.

As most of us fans know already, he was released Sunday by the Blue Jays due to his unhappiness with being a part-time player, and lashing out at Toronto management.

Perhaps the demise of the Detroit Tigers might have been greatly exaggerated. One game does not make a season, but they had to lay the Smackdown on someone to get the frustrations out on their bad start.

Carlos Guillen finished 3-for-4 with five RBI, including three during an 11-run sixth inning, as the Detroit Tigers crushed the Texas Rangers, 19-6. Miguel Cabrera slugged a three-run homer for the Tigers, who have won three in a row. Only one Detroit starter, Edgar Renteria, failed to record an RBI. The Detroit Tigers recalled outfielder Curtis Granderson from his rehab assignment and activated him from the disabled list. Granderson, who had been out with a fractured right hand, made his season debut by starting in center field and batting in the leadoff spot. He had two hits, two RBI and scored three times.

A month after signing Miguel Cabrera to a $152.3 million, eight-year contract, the Tigers announced that he would be moving to first base. Carlos Guillen, an All-Star shortstop last season, will move from first base to third.

Let’s get this straight — Cabrera was never that good a third baseman (can anyone say weight issues), and he was signed by Detroit for his bat. A move that hurts no one…