Cubs Bring Back Steve Trachsel in Trade With Orioles

Steve Trachsel helped the Cubs in the middle of a division chase in 1998 when the Cubs won the National League Wild Card. Here in 2007, Trachsel is in position to do the same thing again, only this time, the Cubs are in First Place.


Trachsel was acquired by the Cubs today for reliever Rocky Cherry and Minor League Third Baseman Scott Moore. Trachsel will give the Cubs the much needed extra arm in the stretch run of the season, Late August, Early September.

Hey Cubs fans, if the Name Steve Trachsel sounds familiar to you, consider this: Trachsel was on the mound in 1998 when "Big Mac", the now disgraced Mark McGwire hit his (at the time) record breaking 62nd homerun. The record has been broken since then, but Steve will always be known as the guy who gave up Number 62 to Mark McGwire.

Pitching used to be the Cubs weak point. Now they have plenty of it, but will it be enough to hold off the Cardinals and the Brewers for the Division? I think so.

NFL Preview: AFC East

Tom Brady already has three Super Bowl Rings, and his gunning for his fourth with his new best friend, Randy Moss.

Tom Brady has a new baby boy, and he has a new wide reciever threat as he guns for his fourth super bowl title. The Patriots made a huge addition defensively in signing former Baltimore Raven Adalius Thomas. The Patriots then traded for Randy Moss, bringing a huge Wide Reciever Threat that they did not have last season. The Patriots will finish 13-3 and win the AFC East again, no question. The Jets and the Dolphins also made big moves, but it isn't enough to stop the juggernaut of the New England Patriots. The Patriots will finish 13-3 and win the division.

How are the other teams in the AFC East doing in their quest to catch the Patriots? Well, Here'a a quick rundown.


NEW YORK JETS: The New York Jets made some more big moves in the offseason, and are not marred by controversy between a former football player/ TV Analyst ripping his Quarterback, and Vice Versa. The New York Jets lost Veteran Running Back Curtis Martin, but Replaced him with former Chicago Bears Running Back Thomas Jones. The Jets Also have Chad Pennington and Head Coach Eric Mangini, and I think the "Mangenius" will have a better year than That Other New York Team, as those guys may start looking for a new head coach after Super Bowl XLII.

PREDICTION: 9-7, 2nd Place


MIAMI DOLPHINS: The Dolphins made a couple of big moves on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. On the offensive side of the ball, the Miami Dolphins acquired QB Trent Green from Kansas City. On Draft Day, the Dolphins focused on offense, using their first pick not on Brady Quinn, but on Ted Ginn Jr, The Speedster Wide Reciever out of Ohio State. The Patriots then used their second pick on a Quarterback, selecting John Beck out of BYU. The Patriots made a huge additon on the defensive side of the ball, trading for Linebacker Joey Porter, the key member of the Pittsburgh Steelers and their Super Bowl XL Victory.

The Dolphins also released the underperforming Daunte Culpepper, who will now become a mentor to JaMarcus Russell in Oakland.

PREDICTION: 8-8, 3rd Place


BUFFALLO BILLS: The Buffalo Bills have J.P Losman and Lee Evans, but not much else. Willis McGahee is no longer with the team, and I don't care who you draft to try to replace him, you just simply cannot replace an offensive playmaker like Willis McGahee. The Bills will be lucky to win six games this year.

Prediction: 5-11, 4th Place.

My Next NFL Preview will keep us in the AFC. I will focus on the AFC North. Will the loss of Adalius Thomas and Jamal Lewis hurt the Ravens? Find out in my next Preview, coming soon.

NFL Team Previews Are Coming!

NFL Football Season is in Full Swing, and that means you want to know the chance your favorite team has to win Super Bowl XLII in Glendale,AZ. Well, NFL Team Previews are coming. I will preview each division and every team in that division.

Stay Tuned! The Road to the Super Bowl is about to Start, and so are the NFL Team Previews, right here on The Power Zone!

Manager Phil Garner and GM Tim Parpura Shown the Shaft in Houston

The Houston Astros have fired manager Phil Garner and general manager Tim Purpura less than two years after the two were responsible for guiding the team to its only World Series appearance.

The team announced the moves at a Monday afternoon press conference, naming Cecil Cooper as interim manager and Tal Smith as interim GM.

Garner took over as Astros manager on July 14, 2004 and posted a record of 277-252, but the club was floundering in fifth place in the NL Central this year with a mark of 58-73.

As interim skipper in 2004, Garner guided the team to the NLCS, a seven-game loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. After being named full-time manager on November 2, 2004 -- a day after Purpura was named GM -- Garner led the club to its first-ever National League pennant in 2005.

The Astros were swept by the Chicago White Sox in the 2005 World Series, then finished in second place in 2006 with 82-80 record as a late-season rally for a playoff spot came up just short.

Garner, who played with the Astros from 1981-87, has also managed the Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers. He has a career managerial record of 985-1,054.

Purpura was in his 14th year with the Astros. Prior to taking over the GM role in November 2004, he was the club's assistant general manager and also directed the team's player development system.

Cooper was in his first season as the Astros' bench coach after spending two years managing at Triple-A Indianapolis of the International League. He had a record of 130-156 with Indianapolis.

I ask your patience...

I curently do not know when the next blog post will be. I will be heading back to school on Monday, and I do not know if I will get a chance to blog during my School Week. Whenever I am able to get to a computer, though, I will update this blog.

Below is my review of Madden NFL 08 for the PSP.

Madden NFL 08 PSP Review

Check out the video below to see some Gameplay Footage from Madden NFL 08 for the PSP.


Football Season is here, and that subsequently means that another season of Madden NFL Football will be released across many platforms to fans who just cannot wailt until September to get their football fix. Madden NFL 08 is here, and I picked it up for the PSP to get a Portable NFL Football Fix. This is the first Portable Football Game I had purchased since i got Madden NFL 2005 for my Game Boy Advance. It was a great game in it's own right. I enjoyed how Madden 2005 seemed to get a whole new upgrade from the last Game Boy Madden I played, Madden NFL 2003. Madden NFL 08 is the greatest Portable Sports Game Since Madden NFL 2005 for the Game Boy Advance.

This Year, the big thing in Madden is "Player Weapons." Whenever you zoom out to see your team players, you will see an icon above their helmet, telling you what type of weapon they are. Peyton Manning, no suprise, is labeled as a Franchise QB. Spped Backs like Shaun Alexander and LaDanian Tomlinson are labeled accordingly. This systsem is supposed to have them play like their real selves, and for the most part, they do play a whole lot like themselves on the virtual gridiron. Expect plenty of Manning to Harrison, Brady to Moss, Tony Romo to Terrell Owens, and many other big hook ups.

Franchise Mode is great as always. A number of menus are condensed into a simplified main menu known as My Week. Team owners have access to their game schedules, preparation for the next week's opponent and their team rosters. Basic statistics and news from around the league are also simplified and presented in a tabbed menu bar that runs along the bottom of the screen, which updates with every single week's latest info. As a result, players that aren't interested in delving into more involved features of the mode can easily navigate their way through a pre-season and regular season with minimal use of sub-menus. It's an interesting concept that works well on the PSP for all of the wannabe GM's on the go.

The Mini Camp Modes and Mini Camp Competiton are a blast. If you are new to Madden on the PSP, then I suggest you go into the Mini Camp and Mini Camp Competition Modes, as they really do help teach you how to play the game.

Graphics are fantastic on the PSP. You really can make out player faces and player names. Commentary is done by Al Michaels and John Madden, and the chemistry these two have make you think you are watching a Sunday Night Football Telecast. That is, until you realize that there are no new last names is Al Michaels' Commentary. Expect to hear plenty of "Number 90" or in case of Joseph Addai, "Number 29." The On The Field Sounds though, are, as always, fantastic, and the Music of Madden is great. I especially love the NFL Films Music.

If you just cannot wait for the NFL, and you are so much on the move that the PSP has become your primary console, Madden NFL 08 is a must have.

Stupid Stephon!

Stephon Marbury recently made headlines, but it wasn't for the New York Knicks, although he did make these headlines while promoting his $10 Shoe.

On Monday, Marbury made some idiotic comments to a local TV station that dogfighting wasn't any different from deer hunting.

"I think it's tough," Marbury said. "I think, you know, we don't say anything about people who shoot deer or shoot other animals. You know, from what I hear, dogfighting is a sport. It's just behind closed doors."

Hey Stupid Stephon. Here's a News Flash for you. There is a huge difference between dogfighting and hunting. The difference lies in the intention to cause suffering. People who watch dogfighting want the action to last, presumably. They don't want a "quick snap of the neck and it's-over" fight. This necessitates extended suffering for the dog. Good hunters, on the other hand, want the animal to fall at the first shot for many reasons, one of which is to prevent suffering to the animal, but there are many others. To ease in locating and recovering the carcass, adrenaline in the bloodstream of the animal tastes the meat, etc. In some states there are strict rules about how the animal is to be brought down and people can be criminally charged for not following those rules.

According to Newspaper Reports on Friday, Marbury has backed off his defense of Michael Vick. In Friday's Statement, Marbury said: "What Michael Vick did was wrong, and he has admitted his guilt," Marbury said in a statement released by the Knicks to New York newspapers. "He should be punished. However, he should be given a second chance, as others have received for more serious crimes."

He is right, to a point, in his statement. Many people have given O.J. Simpson a second chance after he got away with murder. (Whoops! I Meant "Was Found Not Guilty Of Murder By A Jury Of His Peers.")

Marbury also said in the statement:
"There is no list for which animals should be killed and which shouldn't. I love animals and none of them should be harmed However, we don't react the same when other animals are being killed for sport or the sake of human pleasure"

Apparently, he also forgot the biggest reason may people hunt and fish, For Food! Many people deer hunt for food, and that is by far the biggest reason.

Stephon Marbury may make Millions playing Basketball and promoting his $10 Shoe, but the fact that he would come out and defend Mike Vick for dogfighting is just plain stupid. Marbury is trying to backtrack what he said, but the damage has been done.

Tigers Ship Outfielder Craig Monroe to Cubs

Craig Monroe quickly found himself back in a pennant race Thursday when the Detroit Tigers traded the slumping outfielder and cash to the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named.

Despite hitting only .222 before Detroit designated him for assignment last Friday, Monroe was productive against left-handed pitching. That's how Cubs manager Lou Piniella plans to use him.
"I think it gives us a good balance," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. "It was just one of those situations where you couldn't pass up a guy who has already been there and helped lead a club to the postseason. We've had our ups and downs against lefties. It gives Lou some options here that we didn't have before by just adding one good batter against left-handed pitching."

Monroe is hitting. 302 with five homers and 22 RBIs in 102 at-bats against lefties. The NL Central-leading Cubs are just 12-19 against lefties and are batting 20 points lower as a team than against right-handers.

Monroe is versatile, too, having played all three outfield positions.

"The teams that we're playing here all have left-handed starters in their rotation," Piniella said. "He's a valuable addition. He gives us more experience. This guy has been in postseason, hit five home runs last year in the postseason, played in the World Series. It's a good move by Jim to get us that bat."

After helping the Tigers reach the World Series last year for the first time since 1984, Monroe struggled in 2007 and lost his job to Marcus Thames. Monroe had 11 homers and 55 RBIs in 99 games before being replaced by highly-touted prospect Cameron Maybin.

The Cubs will send a player to Detroit by Oct. 15. Detroit is close in the AL Central and wild-card races.

Monroe is scheduled to join his new team Friday night at Arizona. The Cubs designated outfielder Buck Coats to make room for Monroe on the 40-man roster. They will have to make an additional move before activating him Friday.

Monroe batted .255 with 28 homers and 92 RBIs last year, then tied a franchise record by hitting five home runs in the postseason. He also tied for second among AL outfielders with 12 assists.

The Cubs are also looking to get a boost soon with the return of All-Star outfielder Alfonso Soriano, who has been out since Aug. 6 with a strained right quadriceps.

Soriano looked good running in the outfield before Wednesday's game and is expected back around Sept. 1 — about 10 days earlier than the Cubs originally expected.

Piniella didn't even rule out an earlier return, maybe for the Cubs' three-game series next week against second-place Milwaukee. Soriano is batting .297 with 18 homers and 42 RBIs this season.

Rangers Beat Down Orioles In 30-3 Slugfest

Five runs in the fourth inning.

Nine runs in the sixth.
Ten in the eighth.

Six more in the ninth.

The Texas Rangers rounded the bases at a dizzying pace and became the first team in 110 years to score 30 runs in a game, setting an American League record Wednesday in a 30-3 rout of the Baltimore Orioles.

Trailing 3-0 in the opener of a doubleheader, Texas couldn't be stopped. Finally, the last-place Rangers did something right.

Texas kept right on hitting in the second game, too, although at a decidedly tamer pace. Travis Metcalf drove in four runs and the Rangers used a three-run eighth for a 9-7 victory and a sweep.

Texas set an AL record for runs in a doubleheader, surpassing the 36 scored by Detroit in 1937.

The Rangers had 11 hits in the second game, including three by Michael Young. The nightcap, however, will forever be regarded as a postscript to the incredible opener.

It was the ninth time a major league team scored 30 runs, the first since the Chicago Colts set the major league mark in a 36-7 rout of Louisville in a National League game on June 28, 1897, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Hours after announcing manager Dave Trembley would return for the 2008 season, the Orioles absorbed the most lopsided loss in franchise history and set a team record for hits allowed in a game, with 29.

The Rangers had totaled 28 runs in their previous nine games, including two runs on seven hits in their last two.

The Rangers set a team record for runs scored in a doubleheader - before the second game even started.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ramon Vazquez, the bottom two batters in Texas' lineup, each homered twice and finished with seven RBIs. The last time two teammates had as many as seven RBIs in a game was 1962, when Elston Howard had eight and Mickey Mantle added seven for the New York Yankees against the Kansas City Athletics.

David Murphy had five of the Rangers' 29 hits, the most by a major league team since Milwaukee had 31 in a 22-2 victory over Toronto on Aug. 28, 1992, according to Elias.
Texas' 30 RBIs set a major league record. The Rangers had 57 at-bats, tying the AL mark for a nine-inning game set by Milwaukee in its 1992 rout of Toronto.

The Rangers added five points to their team batting average, raising it to .258. They finished with more runs than outs made (27).

Baltimore's ERA went from 4.39 to 4.60.

Kason Gabbard (6-1) allowed three runs and seven hits over six innings. He is 2-1 in six starts since Texas acquired him from Boston on July 31.

Even with the one-sided score, there was a save. Wes Littleton earned his second career save and first this season by pitching three scoreless innings.

Texas erased a 3-0 deficit by batting around in a five-run fourth. Saltalamacchia hit a two-run single and, after a visit from pitching coach Leo Mazzone, Daniel Cabrera (9-13) gave up a three-run homer to Vazquez.

Texas got 10 hits - matching a club record for one inning - in the sixth and went up 14-3.

Cabrera left after serving up a home run to Saltalamacchia. Brian Burres yielded two singles and a walk before Byrd hit his third career slam. Saltalamacchia, Vazquez, Frank Catalanotto and Ian Kinsler added RBI singles.

Texas got seven hits in the eighth. Metcalf hit his first career slam and Saltalamacchia added a three-run shot.

Vazquez's second homer highlighted a six-run ninth.

It is Simply Unbelievable how hot one team can get for one single game! I remember watching the game when it was 15-3, I didn't watch because the game was over. I turn the television back on a little later and the Score is 30-3! Wow! And when you consdider that Texas actually trailed 3-0 in the ballgame, it becomes even more unbelievable. My head is spinning thinking about all of the statistics about this game! Simply Unbelievable!

Garret Anderson knocks in 10 RBIS in 18-9 Rout of Yankees

Alex Rodriguez will be the American League MVP, but tonight the MVP Was Garret Anderson. Anderson got his first Curtain Call of His Carreer Last Night, and he certainly deserved it.

Anderson's grand slam in the sixth inning gave him 10 RBIs and kept 44,264 fans on their feet until one of the most reserved players on the team grinned shyly and took his bow.

The 34-year-old Anderson earlier hit a three-run shot, drove in two runs with a double, and doubled home another run in Los Angeles' 18-9 rout of the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.

Although he became only the 12th player in major league history to reach double-digit RBIs in a game, he was surprised when the fans stood and cheered until he stepped out of the dugout.

Anderson became the first player with 10 RBIs in a game since Yankees star Alex Rodriguez also had 10 against the Angels on April 26, 2005.

Rodriguez hit a pair of solo shots Tuesday, with his 42nd homer of the season coming in the ninth inning off Marc Gwyn.

Wow! What a game! When you talk about a "barnburner" of a game, this is the sort of game you talk about. Alex Rodriguez hits two homeruns, but the Yankees lose thanks to the One Man, 10 RBI Show of Garret Anderson.

Michael Vick To Plead Guilty

More than football, Now that he has pleaded gulty, Michael Vick's freedom is out of the question.

With three associates prepared to testify that he brutally executed dogs and bankrolled gambling, the NFL star agreed Monday to "accept full responsibility" for his role in a dogfighting ring and plead guilty to federal conspiracy charges.

Worries about playing time will have to wait while Vick faces prison time — from one to five years.

The maximum term is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, although federal sentencing guidelines likely would call for less. Defense attorneys would not divulge details of the plea agreement or how much time Vick can expect to serve.


Michael Vick's Football Career is over. Period. There is no team one to five years from now that would be that desperate to take a chance on Vick.

Where does this leave the Falcons? It leaves them looking at a terrible mess and an upcoming terrible season. Atlanta will finish 2-14, and will have the first pick in the NFL Draft Next Year. I see the Falcons taking Brian Brohm, the Louisville Quarterback. Why? Because Brohm's coach Last Season was Bobby Petrino, who is now the Atlanta Falcons Coach. Of Course, I could see them suprisingly take a guy like John David Booty out of USC or (even more suprisingly) Colt Brennan, Quarterback out of Hawaii.

Johan Santana Strikes Out 17 Rangers

Johan Santana won the AL Cy Young Award in 2004, and may be well on his way to winning it again.

Santana set a new Twins Record yesterday by striking out 17 Texas Rangers as Santana got the win in a 1-0 victory.

Santana's 17 strikeouts were the most in the majors since Ben Sheets fanned 18 in Milwaukee's 4-1 win over Atlanta on May 16, 2004, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He broke the Minnesota record of 15, accomplished four times - the last by Bert Blyleven on Aug. 1, 1986, against Oakland.

Santana retired the first 12 batters he faced before Sammy Sosa led off the fifth with a single to left-center. Sosa also doubled with two outs in the seventh for Texas' only other hit against the left-hander.

Joe Nathan pitched a scoreless ninth for his 27th save in 29 chances. He struck out Brad Wilkerson and Michael Young with a runner on second to finish off the two-hitter.

Micah Owings: Four Hits, Two Homeruns, 6 RBIS

Micah Owings felt right at home on the mound, and when he came to the plate.

Owings went 4-for-5, including a pair of mammoth homers, drove in six runs and scored four times while pitching three-hit ball through seven innings as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Atlanta Braves 12-6 on Saturday night.
Owings lives in nearby Gainesville, Ga., and had more than 50 friends and relatives on hand for his first career start in Atlanta. He won for the first time in two months.

Owings struck out seven and walked none to earn his first win since he beat Tampa Bay on June 20.

Jeff Francoeur homered twice, and Andruw Jones and Chipper Jones also went deep for the Braves.

Owings was 0-5 with a 5.70 ERA in his previous nine starts and one inning of relief. The rookie, who played two seasons at Georgia Tech, lifted his batting average to .273 with the four hits. He has three homers and 11 RBIs.

He hit a two-run double in Arizona's four-run second inning, a solo 415-foot homer to left in the fourth, a two-run 446-foot drive to center in a three-run sixth and a broken-bat RBI single to center in a four-run seventh. He lined out in the eighth.

Owings' 11 total bases were the most for a pitcher since Jim Tobin of the Boston Braves had 12 when he homered three times on May 13, 1942, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Owings was the first pitcher with at least six RBIs in a game since Robert Person drove in seven for Philadelphia against Montreal on June 2, 2002.

I don't think I have of a Pitcher hitting two homeruns in a game, let alone have Six RBI's in the game! Wow! Micah had a fantastic day in Atlanta in front of his friends and family. I am sure that he made them all proud.

Cubs Win! Cubs Lead The NL Central By Half A Game!

Jacque Jones has heard it all. Boos, catcalls and on Friday the cheers from a powerful ovation at Wrigley Field.

Benched earlier this season and nearly traded, Jones made a great catch and hit a two-run homer to lead a 2-1 Cubs' victory Friday that ended the St. Louis Cardinals' five-game winning streak and pushed Chicago into first in the NL Central.
The Cubs lead Milwaukee by a half-game, after the Brewers lost 8-3 to Cincinnati. St. Louis is three games back in third.

This is the first time that The Cubs have led the NL Central by a half a game since the 2004 MLB Season.

Yes! Cubs Win! Now let's hang on to the lead! Don't let Milwaukee or St. Louis take it from us!

Carlos Zambrano Gets Shown The Moolah

The deal finally is done.

Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano has agreed to a five-year, $91.5 million contact extension. The deal, which includes a $19.25 million player option for a sixth year, gives Zambrano the highest average salary ever awarded to a pitcher on a multi-year contract.

It also gives him the highest average salary in Cubs history, surpassing left fielder Alfonso Soriano, who signed an eight-year, $136 million, free-agent contract last off-season.

Zambrano, 26, was eligible for free agency at the end of the season, and almost certainly would have surpassed the seven-year, $126 million deal that the Giants awarded left-hander Barry Zito last off-season.

The original five-year deal between Zambrano and the Cubs was worth slightly more than $80 million. But the sale of the team delayed the completion of an agreement, and since then Zambrano has emerged as a Cy Young contender, raising his price.

Zambrano, 26, will be eligible for free agency again at 31, giving him the possibility of landing a second monster deal while still relatively close to his prime.

His signing removes by far the most accomplished pitcher from this winter's free-agent market. Red Sox right-hander Curt Schilling, Diamondbacks right-hander Livan Hernandez, Phillies right-hander Kyle Lohse are among the other free agents who will be available.

Zambrano is 14-9 with a 3.86 ERA this season, 78-51 with a 3.37 ERA lifetime.

The Cubs were Finally Able to make the smart move and re-sign Carlos Zambrano. Zambrano has faltered in his quest to win the National League Cy Young Awward Recently, going winless in his last three starts. Zambrano has the stuff of any of the best pitchers in the game, and he can hit as well. He tied the Cubs Season Record for Homeruns by a Pitcher last year! Good Move by the Cubs getting him signed before he would have walked away to another team willing to pay him Barry Zito-esque money (How's that money working for Zito anyway? He's a double digit loser now in the National League after coming over from the American League.)

Good to see the Cubs continue to improve the team.

Freddy Adu: Much Adu About Nothing?

David Beckham has come to America. Freddy Adu has left America.

Adu, the American phenom who was among the highest-profile stars of Major League Soccer, has made his debut outside of America. The 18-year-old attacking midfielder made his European debut Tuesday, drawing cheers when he entered as a first-half substitute for Benfica of Portugal during its 2-1 Champions League victory over FC Copenhagen.

Adu, one of the highest-profile players in Major League Soccer, got a taste of how hard it is to please Benfica's fans. The team was jeered off the field at halftime.

MLS and Benfica agreed at the end of last month to a $2 million transfer fee for Adu, the U.S. captain at the under-20 World Cup in Canada in July who long sought a move to European soccer. Adu signed with D.C. United in 2003 at 14, becoming the youngest player in MLS history.

Freddy Adu had all of the hype, becoming the youngest player in MLS Soccer History. He was expected by the media to help put MLS on the map. He didn't. He had skills. He had great skills. But his misuse in Washington with D.C. United and his subsequent trade to Real Salt Lake, and then came the announcement that Benfica had acquired him from Real Salt Lake for a $2 Million dollar transfer fee, and now MLS has found a new person that they think can help put American Soccer on the Map. David Beckham.

Adu's experiment lasted four years, but the results left leaving America. David Beckham has left his native England to play Soccer for America. He is also hoping to elevate Soccer on the American Sports Fan's Pedestal, and I hope he does just so he doesn't say "Coming to America to play Soccer was the worst decision I ever made."

David Beckham is on the big stage in America. Freddy Adu is on the big stage in Portugal. Beckham has a bigger stage, with his Hollywood Home and the fact that he lives next he lives next to buddy Tom Cruise, and the fact that the paparazzi will be clamoring for Posh Spice, Victoria Beckham.

Turn The page. Freddy Adu is not here, but David Beckham is. Will Beckham have better results with his team than Adu did with his?

David Beckham: Not Worth The MLS Overhype Machine

When it was announced that David Becham was leaving England to play Soccer in America, many American Soccer fans rejoyced, hoping that the biggest name in Soccer since Pele would be able to get American Football fans who do not really care for Soccer to tune in and watch Becham play. However, if you tune on the television and watch a Los Angeles Galaxy soccer match, you will not see David Beckham. Beckham has spent more time on the sideline nursing his hurt ankle than he has actually getting out onto the pitch and playing soccer. This has created of a bit of a backlash for Beckham and the MLS Overhype Machine. Alexi Lalas, one of the greatest American Soccer Players, said that the move of Beckham to Los Angeles "would get kids all around the world to start thinking about MLS and the Los Angeles Galaxy." Right. It is obvious that Alexi Lalas, Major League Soccer, and ESPN are all going to try to lure the casual fan into soccer, but it isn't working working because the most recognizable face in the world isn't playing! The David Beckham MLS Overhype has helped the Galaxy get a new look for their jersey, and that's about all they have been able to do!

Now I understand that Beckham is injured, and I know that there are people saying "Hold Your Horses. The Deal is for Five Years, not for One or Two Years." And I understand that. What's the simple way to remedy this situation? Get him out of his warm up suit and get him out on the field! That's how you make your money! Just get him out on the field, give him the ball just a few times, and guess what, your fans will go home happy because they saw a face they actually recognized! But that's not happening, and getting to the point where Beckham is getting booed because he is not even on the field! He is staying on the bench! The only this will do is make the David Beckham MLS Overhype Machine die a quick death.

David Beckham isn't playing, which means people aren't coming to the games, which means bad news for Major League Soccer.

Phil Rizzuto, Hall of Fame Yankee, Dead at Age 89

Phil Rizzuto, the Hall of Fame shortstop during the Yankees' dynasty years and beloved by a generation of fans who delighted in hearing him exclaim "Holy cow!" as a broadcaster, died Tuesday. He was 89.

His death was confirmed by the Yankees. Rizzuto had been in declining health for several years and was living at a nursing home in West Orange, N.J.

Rizzuto, known as "The Scooter," was the oldest living Hall of Famer. He played for the Yankees throughout the 1940s and '50s, won seven World Series titles, was an AL MVP and played in five All-Star games.

Rizzuto later announced Yankees games for four decades and his No. 10 was retired by baseball's most storied team.

At 5-foot-6, Rizzuto was a flashy player who could always be counted on for a perfect bunt, a nice slide or a diving catch in a lineup better known for its cornerstone sluggers. He played 13 seasons alongside the likes of Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle in a career interrupted by Navy service in World War II.

Rizzuto was equipped with a productive bat, sure hands and quick feet that earned him his nickname. A leadoff man, he was a superb bunter, used to good advantage by the Yankee teams that won 11 pennants and nine World Series between 1941 and 1956.

This is a sad day for the Yankees and a sad day for Baseball, as The Yankees have lost one of their greatest players, Phil Rizzuto.

The NEW Big Three in Boston

The Boston Celtics have just gone from one of the worst teams in the NBA to one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Why? The Celtics are loaded up full of talent.

The Celtics already had Paul Pierce, and he really started this deal by saying that if the team did not improve, he wanted to be traded. The Celtics made a huge deal on draft night, acquiring Ray Allen, one of the best Three Point Shooters in the NBA, from the Seattle Supersonics.

However, Boston got even better still. The Celtics pulled off an amazing 7 for one deal in which the Celtics were able to acquire Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Trio of KG, Ray Allen, and "The Answer" or "The New Big Three" are definitely going to be compared to The Original "Big Three" of Robert Parrish, Kevin McHale (who pulled the trigger on the Garnett trade, ironically), and Larry Bird. Can the New Big Three do what the original Big Three did and restore glory to the Celtics by capturing an NBA Title?

Scott Podsednik: Heading to the North Side?

Scott Podsednik, the leadoff man for the White Sox, had his greatest moment in the 2005 World Series. Podsednik had zero homeruns in the regular season, but his first in the World Series (above)gave the White Sox a walk-off 7-6 victory and a 2-0 advantage heading to Houston. The White Sox would Sweep the Astros to give Chicago it's first Baseball Championship sice 1917. Podsednik helped the Chicago White Sox end a long championship drought. He may soon be in position to do the same for the Cubs, Chicago's other Baseball Team.

The Chicago Tribune, citing a major league source, reported on its Web site Friday that the Cubs claimed Podsednik on waivers. The White Sox had two business days to work out a trade with the Cubs, simply let him go to the North Side team or pull him off waivers.

The Cubs, who began the day a half-game behind Milwaukee in the NL Central, could use a leadoff hitter and left fielder, with Alfonso Soriano nursing a torn quad muscle. Podsednik would fill those needs, although he would not provide the power.

If The Cubs get Podsednik, this is a great move for them. Scotty Pods was the catalyst for the White Sox the year they won the World Series in 2005. Podsednik's role has been reduced this year. Podsednik was batting seventh in the lineup, and was being called "unreliable" by his manager. The Cubs need a leadoff hitter in the absence of Alfonso Soriano. Podsednik would fill the role well.Podsednik is dangerous on the bases. He doesn't have a whole lot of power, but he has everything else.

Will Scott Podsednik switch leagues? We will find out by the end of this weekend.

Barry Bonds: The All Time Major League King Of Swing

Barry Bonds became the new All Time major League King of Swing on Tuesday Night, breaking Hank Aaron's record of 755 hommeruns. Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s storied record in the fifth inning, connecting on a 3-2 pitch from Washington’s Mike Bacsik. Three days earlier, Bonds tied the Hammer with a shot to left-center in San Diego.

Barry thanked everyone after he broke his record. The fans, his family, the Nationals, and his late Father Bobby. After that, a video message from Hank Aaron congratulating Barry played on the AT&T Park Videoboard congratulating Barry Bonds for breaking the record.

Barry has since added to that total, hitting homerun number 757 Wendesday and sending the ball into McCovey Cove in deep right field.

Barry has broken the record. There are still many questions surrounding the record and the man who broke the record. Barry is celebrated in San Francisco but hardly anywhere else.

Fans of Barry are glad he broke the record. People who don't think Barry did it the right way are sitting and wailting for someone (possibly Alex Rodriguez) to come along and Break Barry's Record.

Reguardless of your feelings about Barry and how he did it, he made people tune in to watch him break the record and he is causing people to come to wherever he goes in droves, so that they can say that they saw Barry Bonds, the man who broke the All Time Major League Home Run Record.

Alfonso Soriano on Shelf Until At Least Labor Day

Alfonso Soriano was put on the 15 day disabled liat by the Cubs after tearing his right quadriceps while running the bases sunday night against the Mets. The Cubs expect Soriano to miss 2-4 weeks. They are expecting him to be out until at least Labor Day.

The Cubs called Eric Patterson up to The Show to fill Soriano's roster spot. Eric is the younger Brother of Outfielder Corey Patterson, who played for the Cubs from 2000-2005.

The Greatest Weekend In The History Of Baseball!

This past weekend was the greatest weekend in Baseball History. On Saturday, Alex Rodriguez finally hit his five hundreth homerun, becoming the youngest man ever to hit five hundred homeruns. Alex Rodriguez became the first man since the great Mickey Mantle hit his five hundreth homerun at Yankee Stadium.

Saturday Night, Barry Bonds hit his reord tying 755th homerun (above), tying him with Hank Aaron. I watched it on ESPN and the reaction by the fans to Barry tying the record in San Diego was just what I had expected it to be, with a mix of cheers and boos, but with more cheers than boos. Reguardless of your feelings about Barry and how he did it, he is making people tune in to watch him break the record and he is causing people to come to wherever he goes in droves, so that they can say that they saw Barry Bonds tie (and soon break) the All Time Home Run Record.

The Final Milestone of the week I also saw on ESPN. Tom Glavine, the longtime Pitcher for the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets, got his three hundreth victory at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. Many people are saying that Glavine will be the last 300 Game winner, as "The Big Unit" Randy Johnson is currently stuck at 284 victories and may be stuck there, depending on how his back feels and if it can handle the load of pitching 16 more victories.

This was the Greatest Weekend in Baseball History and the Greatest Weekend in the History of Sports. Where else would you have seen three historic milestones in the same weekend?

Cubs Win! Cubs Lead The NL Central!

Matt Murton got the call to come back from the minors less than a week ago and already he's helped the Chicago Cubs climb into first place.

Murton raced home on Brett Myers' bases-loaded wild pitch in the ninth inning Wednesday night, sending the Cubs to a 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies and lifting them to the top of the NL Central.

The Cubs, who were 8 1/2 games behind on June 23, finally overcame the Milwaukee Brewers - at least for a day. Chicago's win, coupled with the Mets' 8-5 win at Milwaukee, puts the Cubs a percentage point ahead of the Brewers.


Murton started the ninth with a sinking liner to left that defensive replacement Jayson Werth dove for but couldn't hold. Werth had come off the DL earlier in the day and just entered the game.

Murton hustled into second for a leadoff double and made third on Myers' wild pitch as Ronny Cedeno tried to bunt.

After Cedeno walked, Myers (1-3) also walked Jacque Jones intentionally to load the bases. Jason Kendall struck out, but with a 1-1 count on pinch-hitter Cliff Floyd, Myers unleashed the wild pitch that gave the Cubs the win.


Philadelphia dropped into third place, four games behind the Mets in the NL East.