Bleacher Report - Articles by Glenn Darby

MLB.TV: Free Market Gone Wrong

Glenn Darby — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:17:40 -0400

Thomas Friedman once wrote: "This historical debate is over. The answer is free-market capitalism."

There are few who argue with this statement. We have essentially prospered as a nation by removing trade barriers and promoting free trade of goods and services. Obviously, this method can create some problems, but, overall, it has worked tirelessly for the last 40 years, growing the American economy alongside the rest of the world.

One of the biggest problems that has faced free-market capitalism is monopoly development. The U.S. government has broken up plenty of them throughout the decades. In recent years, though, many operations have been allowed to consolidate and buy out the competition, leading to higher prices.

Major League Baseball has a clear monopoly when it comes to professional baseball. Federal Baseball Club v. National League clearly defined baseball as a monopoly.

While the game has changed significantly, baseball has retained its exemption from the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and from the regulation of interstate commerce. Despite Curt Flood and the multiple challenges brought to the Supreme Court, Major League Baseball stands defiantly against the free market.

And this is where the consumer begins to feel the pinch.

While baseball must compete against Hollywood, video games, and other sports for your entertainment dollars, for those who are baseball addicts, there is really only one place to go. With the encouragement of exclusive media deals, Major League Baseball has made it even more difficult for fans to access the sport that they love. This stands as a dramatic and gigantic step backwards in the face of the free market.

Completely ignoring all of the problems with MLB.TV that viewers in Iowa and Nevada face when it comes to trying to watch baseball and completely ignoring the fact that viewers must subscribe to a cable or satellite service to watch their home team, baseball has ruined the postseason with their available MLB.TV package.

Last year, TBS signed a seven-year deal for exclusive rights to cover the first round of the MLB playoffs and one of the divisions of the second round. ESPN gets to cover the other division of the second round. Fox has rights to the World Series. These exclusivity agreements deny baseball fans exactly what they want: the chance to watch the game.

By 2008, a Dodgers fan in Florida should be able to pop open his cell phone just in time to watch the first pitch against the Cubs tonight. Instead, he will have to wait until he gets home, and, hopefully, he will have subscribed to one of the outrageous cable/satellite plans in his area. Otherwise, he is stuck listening to the radio.

By 2008, a Phillies fan in Seattle should be able to log on from work and watch Philadelphia take on the Brewers during his lunch break via his computer. Instead, he will have to wait until 45 minutes after the game is over to watch on his laptop.

By giving exclusive rights to TBS, MLB limited its ability to make money off of baseball fans. Instead, MLB chose to make money off of TBS and let the fans suffer.

Instead of iPhone applications and desktop widgets and video on-demand, MLB chose to go with limited coverage. It chose to take the highest bidder instead of the collective bids of fans everywhere. Instead of free over-the-air TV, MLB opted for premium cable packages that can run up to $100 a month.

MLB.TV Postseason allows you to listen to the games from your computer. A free radio on your desk somewhat nullifies this. Then, you are given the gift of 45-minute delayed video.

If you are able to spend three hours avoiding the score and the outcome of the game, the second you log into your MLB.TV account it shows you the final score of the game. Good luck trying to watch a tape-delayed game without knowing the outcome.

There are some nonsense text message updates and other gimmicks to try and improve the package, but not one is worthwhile.

Simply put, the MLB.TV package is a waste and is no competition to cable/satellite.

As Friedman has also said, "The hidden hand of the market will never work without a hidden fist."

That hidden fist needs to come from somewhere. The fans, the team owners, or the government needs to step in and insist that access is the top priority.

It was easier to watch the 1968 playoffs than it will be to watch them 40 years later. By 2048, you will only have two options to watch the Vegas Aces take on the Portland Loggers in the NLCS: You can go to the game, or you will be able to buy a ticket to watch a guy change a remote scoreboard in each major city. Cheapest ticket: $6,000.

Fan Conduct: An Open Forum

Glenn Darby — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:55:18 -0400

Over the years, baseball parks have become more kid-friendly.

Smoking bans, alcohol-free sections, and codes of conduct shield families and more sensitive fans from the once typical bleacher-creature behavior.

This "fan friendly" attitude has brought in people that traditionalists would never call "fans."

For example, Phoenix has a young baseball team and young baseball fans. Sure, most Phoenix residents are transplanted from Chicago, New York, Wisconsin, or California, but they never bring their baseball knowledge when they pack up and head to the desert.

Fans cheer only when the scoreboard tells them. They get up at the beginning of an inning instead of at the end, and they all wear Red Sox gear to at least one game.

This is why Sports Illustrated ranked D'backs' fans 29th in the league.

At the same time, Boston's fans are notorious for their behavior. Not only are they rowdy and loud, but they are knowledgeable. They limit their beer trips to between innings, not during innings, and one man can get the entire stadium chanting with just a few choice words.

Sox fans were ranked second in the league in the same Sports Illustrated survey.

This begs the question: What is being done to create the ultimate fan experience?

On one hand, teams must coddle the new fan (known as "Pink Hats" in Boston). Teams set up policies to control fan behavior.

There is no swearing, no intoxication, no obscene gestures, and no rowdy behavior. Some teams even ban signs while some teams ban public displays of affection.

SafeCo Field has ushers that prohibit fans from walking down aisles during the game.

The Sox actually announce nine rules of the game that fans must follow including: cleaning up after yourself and not standing and waving at your buddy with whom you're on the phone. No beach balls either!

While many teams are going out of their way to restrict these behaviors, some teams encourage it.

The D'backs have a sign-making station, where you are provided the means to not only get high from the magic marker, but also obstruct the view of a dozen people.

Many teams have "Kiss Cam" segments, where fans (and sometimes players) are encouraged to display affection publicly.

It would also seem that stadium beer policies simply encourage fans to become intoxicated.

So what is right? Where is the line?

Are you a fan who wants to sit and watch the whole game with as few interruptions as possible?

Are you a fan who wants to be rowdy and stand up the whole game, cheering those you love and jeering those you hate?

Or are you a fan who is there to enjoy the atmosphere, and not just the game, getting up to walk around or grab a bite every couple innings?

What is the solution? Do teams designate sections for certain behavior groups?

Should the rowdies control the bleachers or the families?

Do fans have a "right" to enjoy the game unobstructed, or do fans have the "right" to get up and do as they please?

Bleachers, please opine, comment, and analyze!

Tony Clark Returns Home to the Arizona Diamondbacks

Glenn Darby — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:33:32 -0400

In what appears to be a sign that Connor Jackson will be the permanent left fielder for the Dbacks, they have made a trade for Tony Clark. The long-time Dback first baseman and clubhouse leader has been sorely missed this season as the rookies have struggled to break out of their slumps.

With Eric Byrnes off chasing the fountain of youth and Orlando Hudson chasing dollar signs, the leadership role had fallen on guys like Jackson and Chris Snyder, neither of whom has been effective.

With the Padres, Clark had 88 at bats, hitting .239 with just one home run. While the Dbacks probably believe Clark's bat will return at Chase Field, he was not brought on simply for his hitting prowess.

The Dbacks have been playing Connor Jackson, the team's best hitter, in left field over his usual position of first base. This has caused Bob Melvin to play Chad Tracy, a lefty, at first. Tracy struggles against right handed pitchers which has caused Melvin to sit Tracy and move Jackson back to first, placing either Alex Romero or Chris Burke in the outfield.

In order to get Jackson more consistent playing time in left, a right-handed platoon option was needed for first base. Due to his history with the team, Clark seemed like a perfect fit.

The Dbacks sent minor league pitcher, Evan Scribner, to the Padres to complete the deal.

National League All-Burnout Team

Glenn Darby — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:18:29 -0400

We've spent months poking chads as we've sat and watched our teams struggle to stay above .500. It seems so few teams have really stood out this year, especially in the NL, where the Cubs appear to be the only team that knows how to win both on the road and inside the "Friendly Confines."

As the Midsummer Classic comes upon us, I have compiled my own list of the most disappointing players at each position for each league.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, the National League All-Burnout class of 2008.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

C, Michael Barrett—San Diego Padres

After a knockdown, drag-out rumble with his former team (the Cubs), Barrett was traded away to San Diego. The prospect of catching for Greg Maddux, Jake Peavy, and Chris Young should have been enough for this career .264-hitter to step-up his game a notch. Instead, he has been benched in favor of a rookie. Riding the pine with him will be his .202 batting average.

1B, Scott Hatteberg—Cincinnati Reds

While Hatteberg's failures have been troubling for the Reds, his replacement, Joey Votto, has been a breath of fresh air. In 2007, Hatteberg hit .310 as a starter, but in 2008, he only managed nine hits. Just NINE.

2B, Freddy Sanchez—Pittsburgh Pirates

The former NL Batting Champion has been nothing but struggles for the Pirates this year. Unlike most of the other players on this list, Sanchez is the Pirates' only real option at second, which means they are stuck with his terrible .255 OBP in their lineup.

3B, Nomar Garciaparra—Los Angeles Dodgers

I know he's starting at shortstop right now, but Joe Torre was counting on having Nomar man the hot corner this year until he went down in the spring.

That gave rise to Andy LaRoche, who also went down, and then Blake DeWitt. DeWitt has been great for a rookie who was playing AA-ball last year. The disappointment comes in that Nomar has only played 14 games this year.

The Dodgers have desperately needed him in the lineup, and have been playing better since his return.

SS, Troy Tulowitzki—Colorado Rockies

The Rockies' golden boy could do no wrong in 2007, but has done NOTHING in 2008. He recently returned to the DL after a short stint back with the club due to a cut on his right hand. Tulo is hitting a measly .166 with only three home runs.

LF, Eric Byrnes—Arizona Diamondbacks

If you ask any D-backs fan what the biggest disappointment of the year has been, they would tell you that Byrnes is No. 1 on their list. Bothered by sore hamstrings all year, Byrnes was finally forced onto the DL to rest his injury (and save the D-backs from watching him hit sky-high popups to the catcher).

After a quick three games in Boston, Byrnes returned home to Chase Field with a double. He promptly re-aggravated his injury trying to steal third. Byrnes is out for the year, and the D-backs are forced to eat the first $10 million of his huge contract.

CF, Andruw Jones—Los Angeles Dodgers

There were plenty of people who knew how this show would turn out, but Ned Colletti didn't want to hear it. The Dodgers gave a hippo a uniform and told him to roam center field. That hippo has struck out twice as many times as he has gotten a hit. His stint on the DL was the best thing possible for the Dodgers.

RF, Justin Upton—Arizona Diamondbacks

I was tempted to put Kosuke Fukudome on here. Not because he has played poorly (quite the contrary, he's hitting well above average and deserves an All-Star nod), but because he was hyped like a late-night infomercial to all of the high heavens.

I fully expected him to come over and make everyone forget whom Ichiro is. That being said, I went with the only player who has more hype than Fukudome.

Upton has been heralded as the best five-tool player in the [insert league here]. The reality is that Upton only knows how to hit for power and has a great deal of trouble doing that. His skills in right field are akin to a Little Leaguer.

He has no understanding of a cut-off man, and fails to ever sacrifice himself for the greater good of the team.

SP, Barry Zito—San Francisco Giants

Sure, he was bad last year. A fair number of people (Giants included) thought that he would have moved on by 2008. After a terribly disgusting start to the season, the Giants moved him to the 'pen. That move seemed to have kick-started him a bit, and he's managed four wins since then. Of course, he's already lost 12.

RP, Chad Cordero—Washington Nationals

The guy was fifth in the NL in saves in 2007, even though he played for the Nationals. Unfortunately, he has a tear in his labrum and will miss the entire year after only appearing in six games.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Can They Trade Orlando Hudson?

Glenn Darby — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 20:29:50 -0400

It has been a long time since the D'backs had a decent winning streak. In fact, April seems like a year ago to the Arizona fans. Fans are begging for some dramatic changes to kick the D'backs back into the high gear that was running so many months ago.

Injuries have taken their toll on Arizona this year. With Eric Byrnes out for the year (it would seem), Chad Tracy out for the first few months, Juan Cruz, Micah Owings, and Max all straining from working the mound, the D'backs would appear to be suffering.

They have fallen from their astronomical lead in the NL West to a paltry half-game lead over the equally-suffering Dodgers.

There are a few who believe that things cannot continue this way. When so many baseball experts picked the Dodgers and D'backs to lead the league with great-hitting rookies and power pitching, it is hard to believe that they are the laughing stock of the NL.

Many would argue that despite the winning percentage and the poor hitting, the D'backs really only need to be "good enough" to keep their top spot and get in a Rockies-like groove at the end of the year in order to make a push for their second World Series victory.

As much as I have tried to stay positive, I cannot believe that things will magically get better. As a result, there are moves that need to be made.

There are many players on the D'backs roster who are under-performing. I would love to put most of them on a boat and point it toward the Bermuda Triangle, but it would fail to improve anything.

Chris Burke

The former top-prospect for the Astros has proved to be a terrible fit in Arizona. His .173 batting average makes him worthless as a pinch hitter, and his "Jack of all trades, master of none" approach to defense makes him a paltry defensive sub. There are a few teams that could use a player like Burke in the NL, but the D'backs are unlikely to get MLB-ready talent for him.

Alex Romero

The rookie outfielder has been called up and sent down three times already this season, but he still has a few options left. While the D'backs should hesitate to move any more outfielding prospects before giving them a chance (see: Carlos Quintin), Romero could stand to be an attractive trade-piece as an add-on to a larger deal.

Chris Snyder

Currently riding the pine with the help of an inflatable donut, this former top prospect has never come around as the star everyone thought he would be. After coming on strong at the end of 2007, and having a great spring, Snyder has a .246 average and only managed seven home runs.

On the upside, he is young and has the experience of catching two Cy Young winners (even if one refuses to pitch to him).

Orlando Hudson

The three-time Gold Glove winner will command a huge contract at the end of 2008. Baseball Prospectus estimates a $25M, four-year deal. Realistically, he will demand a bigger contract than Byrnes' three-year, $30M contract that was signed at the end of 2007.

The D'backs have no reason to put that money up (especially after the way the Byrnes deal ended). Not only do they have a capable 2B prospect in Emilio Bonifacio, but they have an MLB-ready star in Augie Ojeda.

Hudson is hitting .303 with the D'backs this year, and he has managed seven home runs. The loss of his .303 bat would be tough if not for Ojeda's .305 bat that sits on the bench. Their loss of Hudson's character and clubhouse presence would, undoubtedly, be the greatest obstacle for the D'backs to overcome.

Teams that seem to be lacking at the second base position that could be buyers are the Braves, Dodgers, Brewers, Rays, Cardinals, and White Sox.

Of those teams, the D'backs should be looking to acquire a catcher with a bat, a set-up man, or an outfielder with a bat.

The Braves have Brian McCann, but are thin behind the plate after trading Salty last year. Their outfield and pen are thin due to injuries, providing slim pickings.

The Dodgers have Andre Ethier (a Phoenix native) whom they have talked about trading. Of course, with Pierre on the DL and Jones playing at a single-A level, the Dodgers wouldn't likely trade to their rival. Though Hudson would be a signable replacement for Jeff Kent for the next five years for them.

The Rays could package Grant Balfour and Gabe Gross together, giving the D'backs an outstanding set-up man and a decent outfield bat. The Rays are close to Hudson's home of South Carolina, which may attract him. They could also win the World Series, which would attract anyone.

The Cards could improve greatly at second by sacrificing another Arizona native like Chris Duncan. Packaged with a guy like Todd Wellemeyer, the Cards could end up helping the D'backs greatly.

The White Sox are long-time trading partners with the D'backs and could send the D'backs Boone Logan and Brian Anderson, providing them with some young talent.

In all reality, the D'backs need a guy like Jason Veritek. He is practically Red Sox royalty, but many in Boston feel that it is time for the Captain to move on. His leadership skills would be greatly appreciated in the young Arizona clubhouse.

A change to the NL could help break him out of his slump, and his defense would dramatically improve the Swiss cheese that usually receives the D'backs' starters.

There isn't much that the D'backs have that the Red Sox would want, but I'm sure Josh Byrnes would be happy to send Burke, Hudson, and Chad Tracy over to Boston for a guy like 'Tek.

In the end, Hudson needs to go.

He is obviously not providing the spark that the D'backs need to win games. His defense has fallen off significantly over the years, and his attitude is crap. It may be tough for the Arizona brass to move one of the best hitters on a team that has trouble hitting .200, but drastic times call for drastic measures.

We can't re-sign him, and we have the chance to win this year. Move him before it is too late. Another draft pick only means we have to wait longer for October.

Going Into Pittsburgh, We Hold Our Collective Breaths

Glenn Darby — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 06:46:41 -0400

After a painfully ugly drubbing at the hands of the Brewers, the D'backs boarded a plane and left Cheese Country for the Steel City. They've lost 12 of their last 16. They are 11-16 on the road and 3-9 against the NL Central.

Every one of these numbers hangs over the heads of what's left of the once mighty Arizona squad. They know that they are on a downward spiral. The worst part is, no one can see the bottom.

Pittsburgh is a lot like the D'backs. In a city that was once vibrant and strong, it eventually became rundown with age. There was a mass exodus of people and little changed. Then there was the decision to fix it. Leaders came in and made new changes. Paint was put up, new faces were brought in, and things started to look up. After the new wore off, however, we find that it's the same rust below the paint job. Things really weren't getting better. And now, we are stuck.

The Steel City has spent tons of money on new stadiums, bridges, parks, and rivers. They've classed up the place and restored it to the beauty that it deserves.

The D'backs have spent tons of money fixing up our old stadium. They brought in new games, new players, new tvs, and new playpens. They classed up the place and made it shine better than it did on opening day.

The problem with both is that the people just never came. Taxpayers and fans alike are needed to produce the fruits of the labor. The city may fall back into the river and the D'backs may fire sell the whole thing before we see 2010. It's a scary thought.

As Chris Burke leads the D'backs down the rabbit hole of despair, he begins to see light. He sees yellow bridges and shiny steel buildings. He sees the sight of the very first World Series game and he realizes that this is the bottom.

The Pirates will trot out a slew of young players mixed with tier-three veterans, and do what they've been doing, compete. Not to be overshadowed by their fifth-place standing, the Pirates are only two games below .500, and would actually be in second place, three games behind the D'backs if they were in the NL West. They are playing .500 ball and currently on a two-game winning streak.

Tonight, the D'backs will send their best pitcher against one of the Pirates' worst. Though Snell strikes out a fair amount of guys, he has an ERA pushing six. If the D'backs can't win tonight, it will be the first jagged rock they hit as they near the bottom.

Saturday night features the D'backs' Dan Haren against the worst pitcher in Pittsburgh, Tom Gorzelanny. If the D'backs can't score off of this guy, they should all be optioned to AAA Tucson. Again, another game that the D'backs should win.

Phil Dumatrait has actually been decent for the Pirates. We saw Bizzaro Doug Davis last outing, which means Good Doug Davis will pitch on Sunday. The Pittsburgh lefty two-hit the mighty Reds last week, and he could very easily do the same with the free-swinging Dbacks, but Davis is due to pitch well again. Sunday is a toss-up.

In another strange Monday day game, the spectacular Randy Johnson will again try to climb the ladder toward 300 wins. Only the D'backs can stop him. Zach Duke hasn't been bad, but has a 1:1 K:BB ratio, and he should make it easy for the D'backs to succeed at swinging at first pitch strikes.

Of course, like every other time Johnson pitches, the D'backs will leave their bats in the dugout when they come to the plate.

It's painfully obvious that the D'backs should walk out of Pittsburgh with a four-game sweep. There isn't a single statistical reason that Arizona shouldn't be able to beat Pittsburgh, but since stats are reflections, not predictions, and the D'backs are in free-fall mode, there really is no telling.

If the D'backs suffer anything worse than winning three out of four in Pittsburgh, one would have to believe that Arizona has hit bottom. They will be dragged through the mud at the bottom of the hole for the rest of June. They play the Mets, Twins, Red Sox, and Marlins on the road in June, and all of those teams are above .500. If the D'backs cannot turn it around here in Pittsburgh by the end of June, they could find themselves slumming along with the Giants.

Mike Piazza: A Hall of Famer Both On the Field and Off

Glenn Darby — Fri, 23 May 2008 06:36:15 -0400

I was all of six-years old when Mike Piazza was drafted in the 62nd round of the 1988 amateur draft. No one knew who he was or what he would become, and I was not unique.

1988 would be the year that I became a Dodger fan for life. Watching Kirk Gibson put a look of anger and disgust on my father's face as Eckersley serves up a slider is one of my earliest memories, and definitely one of my fondest.

In the years after 1988, I followed Mike Scioscia religiously. I was an aspiring Italian catcher. We both didn't run too well, but we caught a good game and could hit. I didn't think I could ever like a player as much as I liked Mike Scioscia.

Around 1991, I purchased a pack of minor-league baseball cards from a card shop in San Diego, and found a Mike Piazza—Albuquerque Dukes card. In a scene strangely similar to the opening of the briefcase in Pulp Fiction, I remember my face lighting up at the sight of this new player. Young, Italian, catcher who appeared to have good pop in his bat from the stats on the back of the card. I decided then, as little boys of nine do, to make him my new favorite player.

1992 was the year when I expected great things from the Dodgers. They had a Rookie of the Year in Eric Karros, former prison bunkmates Darryl Strawberry and Eric Davis, along with Brett Butler, Orel Hershiser, Tom Candiotti, and two sets of pitching brothers; Kevin and Kip Gross and Ramon and Pedro Martinez.

I couldn't have asked more from this team, but they called up young studs Billy Ashley and Mike Piazza that September. The team was terrible, but I didn't care. Insight Cable had a KTLA feed that let me watch Piazza struggle in limited appearances throughout that final month of the year.

Then came the fall of 1992. My father had told me about a new-fangled league for top prospects that would be played in our backyard. The Arizona Fall League had begun, and we would make the trip down Bell Road in to Sun City to watch the Solar Sox do battle. The starting catcher for the Solar Sox, who turned out the be the Dodgers' affiliate, was that same young Dukes' catcher—Mike Piazza.

The informalities of Fall Ball allowed me to secure autographs of every great player in the game today. Each of which is inscribed on a ball along with the likes of Desi Reliford and the aforementioned Billy Ashley. Mike Piazza's autograph was different and I made sure that it would not go spoiled. He was kind, responsive, and genuinely appreciative to have someone want his autograph. I will never forget it.

After tearing up the Arizona Fall League, Mike Piazza was brought in to fill the shoes of the second-best catcher the Dodgers had ever seen, Mike Scioscia. His 1993 season started with a bang, and before long, Piazza had secured a Silver Slugger award, a Rookie of the Year award, and placed ninth in MVP voting, while helping the Dodgers to a .500 record.

He led the team in batting average, slugging percentage, OPS, runs scored, total bases, home runs, RBI, and just about every other offensive stat that didn't involve running. He was the new king of LA. He was a star.

That same year, my fourth-grade teacher, knowing how big of a Dodgers fan I was, called up her buddy Mickey Hatcher to get me some Dodgers' paraphernalia. What I ended up with was an uncut sheet of the entire 1993 team and a ball signed by Mickey and "some other guy who wanted to sign it", Mike Piazza. How lucky a kid was I?

This floored me, and to this day, if I ever have five minutes alone with Mickey Hatcher, I will tell him this story and thank him. That autographed ball meant more to me than the one I got myself the year before. It meant that Mike Piazza cared about his fans.

As Mike was starting out, he was often criticized for his terrible defense. No one can argue that the man had trouble throwing runners out, but at the same time, the critics all ignored his ability to call games and block the plate. Few remember the 1995 Ramon Martinez no-hitter that Piazza called. Even fewer recall the 1996 Hideo Nomo no-hitter at Coors Field that Piazza sat behind the plate for.

Piazza wrangled a pitching staff made up of Rick Reed, Glendon Rusch, and Bobby Jones, and took them to the World Series. Once Piazza got away from the wild-throwing foreign pitchers in L.A., he kept his passed-ball count in the single digits. He even had a season with 121 games behind the plate, where he allowed only eight passed balls and 15 wild pitches.

The Dodgers broke my heart in 1998. I can tell you the time of day, the month, the year, my location, and recall a significant number of people with me the minute that I found out Piazza had been traded to the Marlins.

In a fire-sale exchange that was too good for L.A. to pass up but stupid enough to make, Piazza was moved to Florida for a slew of players I still boo to this day. Thankfully, eight days later, I was able to be happy for Mike again, as he had been traded, and given a long-term deal with the New York Mets.

Watching Piazza in the orange and black proved to be difficult for the first few years. As the Mets made their stops in Arizona, I would put on my black Piazza jersey and stand and cheer for him. When the Mets knocked the Diamondbacks out of the playoffs, I got into a physical fight with a D'backs fan at Bank One Ballpark while defending Piazza.

I was infuriated when Clemens beaned Piazza, and further enraged when pieces of a broken bat were thrown in his general direction. Mr. Clemens, you deserve everything that you are getting now. Piazza was never really the same hitter after he was beaned. He still had flashes of brilliance, but failed to command the inside of the plate, which allowed him to get punched out over and over again by inside breaking balls.

During his injury-shortened 2003 season, I was able to go watch the Mets at Bank One Ballpark once again. I stood over the Mets' dugout hoping for Mike to come out, but knowing that he was injured and probably not with the team.

Before I could even think about giving up, Piazza appeared, dressed in street clothes, and quickly obliged when I asked for an autograph. Realizing I didn't have anything significant to sign, I pulled the jersey off my back and tossed it down. He signed it beautifully and I was, again, forever grateful.

In 2005, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to move to New York for a while and watch Mike Piazza on his home turf. After years of watching him be booed by D'backs fans, I longed for the days at Dodger Stadium when the crowd loved him. I took in many games at Shea that year and every time Piazza came to the plate, he received a standing ovation. Every home run, every single, even every out, the fans loved him. It was his final year as a Met, and these true baseball fans were showing their appreciation. I was glad that I could be there for it.

2006 brought some significant changes for Mike Piazza, but they were all wonderful for me. When I found out Mike was going to the Padres, I was elated. While I hated the Padres, I got to see them five to 10 times during Spring Training, and eight to 10 times during the season. It would be great for me.

2006 was also the year that Mike suited up for the Italian National Team in the World Baseball Classic. I quickly bought an Italia jersey, and toted it to every early Spring Training game I could. I'd stand at the fence and beg for Mike to sign it. He finally did during one of his last games before leaving for Florida and the WBC. He commented on the Italia jersey, and said that he didn't see too many of them. I told him that I thought they would do better than he expected.

Hopefully he expected them to do better than they did.

As 2007 rolled around, I worried it would be Mike's final year. I had enjoyed most of my life having him be a part of it. I had amassed one of the larger collections of Mike Piazza memorabilia, and had fond memories of his playing days. To see him go to the American League and become a DH was disappointing to me, but I knew it was what he had to do to remain in the game.

2007 was also the year that my wife and I were getting married, and we had one objective during that Spring Training.

Our Save-The-Date cards were made to look like baseball cards and featured me in my Mike Piazza Dodgers' jersey and my wife in her Craig Counsell Diamondbacks' jersey. We were determined to get each of them to sign them.

We secured Counsell's early in the Spring, and he was happy to sign it. Piazza proved to be more difficult because he did not warm up like those players in the field. On one of the last days of Spring, I caught him running sprints from the first baseline to center field. Fans yelled and begged, and he came over but missed me.

I moved down closer to the dugout and waited for him to work his way down. As he got closer, he finished up and headed off towards the dugout. Something about "sign my wedding announcement" must have made him stop, because he came back and laughed as he signed the card.

Piazza was the greatest hitting-catcher of all time, and, because of that, he deserves the Hall of Fame. His imperfections as a defensive catcher were great, but they were made up for by his hard work and his personality. If ever there was a baseball player that seemed to appreciate being in the game as well as his fans, it was Mike Piazza. He worked hard to get to where he is now, and I wish him nothing but the best. He has brought happiness and a love of baseball over his 16 seasons. You're a class act Mike Piazza, congratulations.

MLB: Technology is Not the Answer

Glenn Darby — Fri, 23 May 2008 04:46:46 -0400

Those in New York may have felt a little sickened when Alex Rodriguez's second home run was taken away from him this past week. They may have cried and complained. Actually, I know they did. I used to live in New York, and I know just how they are.

They are a passionate group of fans that always have the answer for what ails the Yanks (or Mets if the Yanks are a lost cause). So, the answer that has been force-fed down the throats of anyone within ear shot of the Hudson has been instant replay.

And now, the MLB offices (which happen to be located in New York) have leaked a report that says instant replay will be "experimented with" during Arizona Fall League games, and possibly the 2009 World Baseball Classic. I remember another "experiment" that MLB brought us: the DH. Thorough testing guys, thanks.

So now we arrive at the heated debate between baseball purists and baseball fans. This is a debate that will either run the course of QuesTech or follow the path of the designated hitter. There are those who believe baseball is a game played by people and officiated by people. Then there are those who believe it is a competition, and everything needs to be done to ensure that the playing field is level across the board.

Those who wish for baseball to catch up with newer (and arguably more fallible sports) seem to believe that instant replay will solve all problems. There are cries of lost runs and fan interference. There are complaints about poor umpires and outfield walls. The cause trumpets a world of global uniformity where all home runs are created equal. The ball must clear the wall (or wall marking) within the confines of the foul poles without striking an area in-play.

The ball must also not be pulled out of play by an interfering fan. If the ball bounces off of Jose Canseco and proceeds out of play, it is deemed a home run. Baseball fans see this as clear cut and wonder where the problem is. If the technology exists, why not use it to ensure that the call is correct? Baseball fans want everyone to be given their due.

Of course, baseball purists appreciate the human aspect of the game and accept the fallibility of the umpire. They do it every single time the pitcher lobs the ball across (or around) the plate. They put their faith in umpires (of whom QuesTech found to be 98 percent accurate) to determine what is and isn't within the rules. The game has existed this way for 120 years. Why change it now?

The slippery slope argument that purists make is that we will eventually let robots control the entire game. If we are going to remove the umpires from calling balls fair and foul, why not remove them from calling safe and out? We can use cameras there. If we want to let them determine if a ball hit above or below the yellow line, why not let the cameras determine balls and strikes?

When Lou Piniella comes out to argue with the camera, it can use an algorithm to determine how wildly he is flailing his arms, and use motion sensors to determine if the camera gets bumped. Too much flailing and/or bumping and the camera will signal an automatic ejection.

Home plate cameras will also have voice recognition technology built in. At the sign of any player complaining about calls or using foul language, the player will automatically be tossed. This ensures a fair game for all that will be played under the same strict standards from Seattle to St. Pete.

The appeal to tradition argument for purists would say that this is the way that it has always been done. How can we be expected to change now? What about all of the home runs that have been taken away in the past 120 years? What about the games that were lost because of a lack of instant replay? Should we go back and review every game? How can Alex Rodriguez's pursuit of Barry Bonds exists asterisk free when we know that Barry had to have lost and gained a few home runs due to the lack of instant replay?

The most logical argument that a purist could make, however, is an appeal to reason. Don't you believe that umpires get it right more than they get it wrong? Don't you also think that over the 162-game seasons played by 30 teams along with numerous Spring and Fall games, that Major League umpires have probably both taken away a rightful home run from someone that they gave an illegitimate home run to? Of Alex's 600+ home runs, there was probably one in the Kingdome where Bill Gates reached over the wall and robbed Rusty Greer of an F7 that balances out the staircase shot heard round the Bronx.

And when you really think about it, the Yankees have already found a solution to the problem—a net. They put up something that reacts distinctly different than a hard surface to prevent umpires from ever robbing A-Rod of another home run. The Wrigley faithful know what I am talking about. There is a nice net that hangs over the ivy and prevents fans from stealing balls that would be outs.

Umpires don't have to wonder if the ball hit off the top of the wall or if Steve Bartman is lurking in right-center. They know that the if the ball is in the net, it is a home run. Stadium renovations not involving cameras need to take place to remove problem areas.

In Arizona, there is a spot in left-center where the lower wall continues its arc, while the upper part of the wall jets back away from home. A ball striking the upper part is a home run, whereas the lower part would be in play. The area just to the right of the "problem area" is also in play and level with the lower wall. I have seen at least four home runs bounce off the wall in home-run territory and be ruled in-play. This is an area that needs to be fixed. Every stadium has them.

Whether it involves putting up those little-league fences off the tops of foul poles, using nets to catch balls that would normally bounce off rear (home run territory) walls, or using chalk and drywall to cover surfaces so that baseball impressions are left—there are simple improvements that can be made to the design of stadiums to prevent these mishaps.

This is the real issue behind the argument over instant replay. We all know that it will add time to the game. We all know just how long it takes NFL and NBA referees to watch video, and then they still make the wrong call (Chauncey Billups). That time isn't going to be any better in baseball. The problem lies in taking away the human error that makes baseball a beautiful game.

Where would we be if we couldn't harass the umpire about the wrong call? What would we do if we didn't think we knew better than those who spend almost a decade training, practicing, and working their way up to become Major League Umpires? Every fan loves to argue a call. Why take that away for a home run?

Arizona Diamondbacks: Eric Byrnes' Slump Is Over!

Glenn Darby — Sat, 17 May 2008 11:53:07 -0400

At the risk of jinxing the whole thing, I have to say it...

The Slump Has Ended!

Eric Byrnes, after sitting out an entire game on Thursday night, came into the lineup hitting in the seven hole. This was a great decision by Bob Melvin. Byrnes is much more of a lower-order guy to begin with, and the day off forced him to get over the mental issues.

When Byrnes finally stepped to the plate to lead off the third inning, things just felt different. He had changed his music, which pleased just about everyone in the ballpark. The Outfield's "Lose Your Love" was wearing thin on most of us quicker than Byrnes' slump.

He came out to the 2007 favorite "Jump" by Van Halen, and we all knew things were going to change. After taking a few pitches, Byrnsie fouled one straight back. The next pitch he shot it down the line; it knocked the ball girl square in the jaw. The next pitch after that, Byrnes hit a line drive to the left fielder. It was caught, but he kept his shoulders level and swung through the ball, making solid contact. And there was much rejoicing.

When Eric returned in the bottom of the fifth, expectations were high. With two outs after a botched hit-and-run by Snyder left Upton stranded, Byrnes had no pressure to come through. He took a Jeremy Bonderman fastball up and out to left field, never to return again. And there was much rejoicing.

Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh, the D-Backs were running out of time. After Bonderman had walked both Upton and Snyder, Zach Minor came on in relief. Byrnes took his pitch hard to center field, a double if Granderson isn't out there, and drove in Justin Upton to bring his team within one run. After Byrnes advanced on an attempted sacrifice, Chris Young brought him in to tie the game. There was definitely much rejoicing.

Byrnes never hit again during the game but his swing was much more solid and defined. He was not trying to do too much with every pitch, and it felt like he had taken a much more relaxed approach to the game. It was refreshing to see.

Tonight will tell if the slump is over...or just postponed.

There, Arizona, I Said It: I Hate 90 Percent of Diamondbacks Fans

Glenn Darby — Fri, 16 May 2008 09:37:29 -0400

Dear Diamondback Fans (you know who you are),

This has been a long time coming. I've tried to put up with you for 10 years in hopes that you would get better, but you haven't. There was a time that I remember how excited you were. That time wasn't even that long ago—2001 actually.

The problem is that you've exhibited issues from Day One and they have gone uncorrected for so long that now you think they are acceptable. What's worse is that the team now just feeds your addiction for idiocy. This behavior has to stop.

Back in 1998, when our franchise finally arrived, I expected great things from you. You had all of the makings of great baseball fans. It was a perfect storm created by transplants from baseball cities like Chicago and New York, Spring Training for the previous 50 years, a Latino population that loves baseball, and finally, a population that was starved for a championship.

Everything was there. But after a predictably terrible first season, you all disappeared. Apparently, asking you to sit and watch a team build into a powerhouse was too much to ask. If you couldn't have a winner right away, you were just going to retain your allegiances to your "home town" team and watch the D-backs from afar.

In 1999, when the team realized just how fickle you fans were going to be, they decided to abandon the future and bring in hired guns. They brought talent from all over the majors to appease you and, when you still didn't respond, they pushed themselves into the playoffs.

I remember 2000 very clearly. I didn't have a ton of time on my hands and was in the middle of high school. It was hard for me to get to a ton of games, but I definitely knew that I had to go see the New York Mets and my beloved Mike Piazza in the playoffs.

The day of the game I called and bought tickets, 25 rows behind home, and went to the game. No other fan base could possibly recreate this form of apathy. Even the combination of New Yorkers and Arizonans wasn't enough to fill the stadium. This is a trend we would see recreated later on.

By 2001 you appeared to have finally come around. I even remember the line snaking outside of Bank One Ballpark the day before the forced Game 5 of the NLDS against the Cardinals. The game sold out in record time. Pompoms waving and stellar pitching brought us a championship to the desert and the fans couldn't be more excited.

2002 saw much of the same. You were in love and thought that things couldn't be any better. Those of you who still harbored your Yankee love had finally been freed of the Steinbrenner grasp and moved on to Gonzo-worship. The world was right and, even though they lost in the playoffs, you enjoyed the games in record numbers.

But it wasn't long into 2003 that things started to change. Not only had the team hedged its future on age, but it had done it with millions of dollars that it didn't have. When the trades and the injuries began, the backlash was immediate.

A slew of rookies with strange names like Overbay, Hammock, Spivey, Moeller, and Cintron covered the field, and no one was impressed. People like Webb and Valverde were ignored, and you moved on to the show down the street. Even though the D-backs put on a great show with more talent than they've ever had, you gave up.

In an attempt to get you to come back, the D-backs sold off their entire future in the worst trade in franchise history and got a disloacated shoulder attached to their big star. The future of the team was gone, and the duct tape that was meant to hold it together had come undone.

Financial ruin combined with 111 losses resulted in the end of your love. You were gone.

The team struggled for years. Buoyed by the fact that their failures would give them draft picks that would end up saving the franchise, the team ousted a manager, a general manager, an owner, and all of the players from their heyday.

Matt Williams was gone. So was Mark Grace. The two headed monster of Schilling and Johnson now squared off in the AL East. Louis Gonzalez would be given standing ovations for weeks while NLCS MVP Craig Counsell and stud pitcher Miguel Batista were ignored.

Jerry Colangelo was gone and so were the Diamondbacks. By the end of 2006, you didn't know this team any more and you didn't want to.

Come 2007, the Diamondbacks had ceased to be, and that ex-lover that you dumped during that rough patch had come back sleeker, younger, sexier, and with a new name.

The D-backs were in town to change the way things were done. They relied on tons of hype and great pitching. They would win more games than any other team in the National League, and usually did it by getting blown out in losses while relying on clutch hitting and pitching to win close games.

You fans were not convinced though. A wolf in sheep's clothing you claimed, and stayed away like the plague had struck on Jefferson. Management used an old tactic that had worked in the past with you and brought in a familiar face; Randy Johnson.

Oh how you loved it. When Johnson actually did pitch, the place was packed. Doug Davis, Livan, Edgar—not so much. You'd seen this dog and pony show and knew it couldn't last. You were adamant that it WOULDN'T last. The empty seats that dotted the upper and lower decks as the Dbacks lost to the Rockies in the NLCS was evident of that. You knew they would lose and knew it wasn't worth your time to come see the Dbacks lose. You'd seen that dog and pony show before.

This year, the upgrades are complete and the renovation has left a diamond in the desert. Sparked by the hype of 2007, the move to cable TV, and the abundance of band-wagoners, you decided to have a one night stand with the team.

You showed up when the beloved-yet-rival Dodgers came to town on opening night. You were amazed and impressed by what you saw. You spent the next week regretting your torrid affair.

You went back to your beloved Suns even as the management trotted out former star after former star in a celebration of a decade in the desert. But after the Suns let you down again, for what has to feel like the hundredth time, you knew you just couldn't resist the lure of Chase Field.

Slowly but surely, you tell your friends and family about the free chalupas you get and the tshirts that are tossed. You are being showered with gifts from a forgiving ex-lover who has lost 50 pounds and had a breast augmentation. How can you resist this siren's call?

The wins pile up, even if they are only against NL West teams. It still assures another banner in the window and a hand full of hardware in the lockers. Who are you to resist the seductive sedona red?

No one blames you for not wanting to watch the Rockies any more. It begins to feel like booing the Royals after a while and you just feel bad for them. Some of you may have forgotten how the game works and you shouldn't worry.

Derrick Hall has done everything he can to make you feel comfortable. He has put in a bigger TV with more channels. He has hired prettier, blonder girls to hand you shirts and ipods. He coddles your children with one hand while aiding your alcohol and gambling addictions with the other.

Come one, come all to the greatest (and only) show in the valley. The Suns have lost, the Cards haven't started (but will lose too). The Coyotes were just bad. The Sting went on strike. The Rattlers have two wins. The Mercury play women's basketball and the Road Runners' season is all done.

It's hot outside but we have $1 water out front and air conditioning inside. There is even a pool. So come enjoy the best baseball in Arizona (after the month of March) and watch as we dominate the rest of the NL West. Just don't watch too closely. We'd hate for you to miss the wave as it comes by.

Nothing to See Here: Four Errors Threaten to Derail Webb's Run

Glenn Darby — Fri, 16 May 2008 05:21:53 -0400

Brandon Webb has been brilliant. He has gotten wonderful run support and usually is backed up by a sharp defense.

His sinker has been working better than usual, and his changeup has brought nightmares to opposing NL West hitters.

Last night's game was no exception.

The Rockies went through 10 hitters before they were able to edge out a clean hit against Webb. They didn't manage many more than that while Webb stayed sharp.

He began to fade after the 100 pitch mark and surrendered one in the seventh and two more in the eighth. 111 pitches later, Brandon Webb was well on his way to win No. 9 when the bullpen got in the way.

In typical Arizona style, Brandon Medders (who has been solid his past couple appearances) walked the first batter he faced and then surrendered two singles leaving an ugly mess (but save opportunity) for Brandon Lyon to clean up.

The Brandon train was interrupted by a one out appearance by Doug Slaten and another one out appearance by Chad Qualls.

Lyon got through it and got the save. Dbacks win. Wow! (Cue the song).

Of course, had Randy Johnson, Max Scherzer, or Edgar Gonzalez been pitching, this story would have gone differently. Each of these pitchers know all too well the nightmares that happen behind them on the field some nights.

The ghosts of Luis Terrero haunt Chase Field, attracted by the red jerseys (since Matt Williams always said real men don't wear purple). He stands around finding ways to make good players do stupid things.

Orlando Hudson (he is the Gold Glove Class of 2007) took a ground ball to the groin that he subsequently stared at as it rolled in front of him and then, later in the game, watched as a solid Jeff Salazar throw dribbled past him.

Two errors from a man who is supposedly the best at his position.

Mark "remember to add an extra K and E after my name every night" Reynolds commits errors like fish drink water (he has eight now) and it doesn't really surprise anyone when he fails to get a glove on the ball.

He allowed one to roll right under his glove in the first inning. Then, in the sixth, Reynolds knocked one down, attempted to crawl to it, and then had Stephen Drew do his best Larry, Mo, and Curly impersonation by falling over him.

No error scored but surely one to make the Baseball Blooper video during a rainout in Colorado next year.

Finally, during Chad Qualls brief stint on the mound, he used his super double secret pick-off move that not even long time teammate/first time first baseman Chris Burke knew was coming.

The ball rolled somewhere into the Justin Upton territory of the wall and the runner advanced to second.

There just seems to be days that the Dbacks spray their gloves with Crisco and decide to trade contact lenses this season.

At the same time, Orlando Hudson made an amazing running grab and throw to save a run.

Mark Reynolds should still be remembered for throwing two guys out from his knees in the Wednesday night game, even if the umpire only called one of them.

These Dbacks are an interesting bunch. They can flash the leather some nights and masquerade as the Bad News Bears on others.

They will score eight runs every game at home this year but have trouble pushing across two while on the road. There are nights when Medders, Cruz, Pena, and Qualls look unhittable, and then there are others where they resemble a a certain Rick Ankiel.

Blame whoever you like. As long as they don't align in the negative for too long, we should be able to ride high this season.

Mr. Byrnes, I Have Reality On The Phone, He'd Like To Have A Chat

Glenn Darby — Tue, 06 May 2008 09:00:56 -0400

This is hard for me. I'm a big fan of Eric's. I really am. But some things are going to need to change around here otherwise, I'm going to have to move on. I spent 16 years following Mike Piazza's Hall of Fame career and marveling at his talent and now that he is gone, I only have you to focus on Mr. Byrnes. The sad reality is, I could use a distraction.

My seats are approximately 25ft from where you stand. I come every day. Every day I see you run out on the field - you're always the first one. You sprint as hard as you can to center field as if it is your rightful position and wait for Glenn Sherlock to throw you the long ball. You take maybe 10 tosses and then, after your last one, throw your right arm up in disgust and wave him and his throws off. Every game you crouch. You sit out in the shadow of our championship banners and you look tired. I watch you pull your glove off between every swing. You hold it in your hand, let it breathe, and then, just before the pitch, you put it back on. I watch you hustle to back up Chris Young on fly balls you used to catch, i see the left centerfield gap grow wider day by day yet it stays the same size. I clap moderately when I see you back up Mark Reynolds on any play at third and stand when you throw behind a leading runner at second.

What I see, Mr. Byrnes, is your age showing. I know that you play on a team where the youngest guy was born in 1987 and the oldest guy was making his major league debut a year later. You are not even the median guy on this team though and it shows.

Where I used to get a thrill from you as you climbed the wall, I now marvel at Jeff Salazar's lizard-like abilities. Where I used to be impressed by your tumbling assists at home plate, I now struggle to comprehend just how strong Justin Upton's arm is. Where the dirtiest jersey on the field used to be #22 but is now probably #27. Where your range was more like Mays' and less like Jeter's.

Where have you gone Mr. Byrnes?

Did you run off during the off-season, get married, and forget how to be young? Does your Miss USA wife keep you out late or does she have you in bed by 9? Did your $30M pay check satisfy every need you ever had from baseball and now you just don't want it anymore? Does a radio show, tv show, internet show, and a baseball job just spread you too thin?

What is it? Please, let us know.

We cannot continue to watch you struggle. Your consistent 1-4 performance is not what we signed up for and not what we expected. We know you, at one time, hit a ball into Friday's Front Row. That was impressive but you need to be hitting more balls on the ground and less into the lights. Your at bats look more like Willy Mays Hays' than just Willy Mays. Every ball goes 200ft in the air and 2 ft in front of the plate.

Stop dropping your shoulder. Your hitting flaws are as obvious as Andruw Jones' and so is your ignorance (or stubbornness). If you're not the same fielder that you used to be, admit it, take a day off every week, and let Salazar play. He deserves the time and you deserve the rest. No one will think less of you for taking a break. You will perform better when you do play and your fans will not want to strangle you and throw their BYRNSIE license plates at your head.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Waiting for Reality

Glenn Darby — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:31:29 -0400

The Arizona Diamondbacks keep on waiting...

Just 15 games into the season, with less than 10 percent of the season completed, the Diamondbacks appear to be the team to beat in the National League.

When you can actually recall every loss and explain what went wrong during that game, you know you are in a pretty good position.

April 2: Cincinnati Reds, 5-6 loss.

Brandon "Cowardly" Lyon came in after a brilliant Danny Harren start and was rocked. His three hits and three earned runs on a home run combination was not the sign that Jose Valverde’s detractors had been looking for.

But thankfully, Lyon has settled down and is becoming more reliable.

April 3: Cincinnati Reds, 2-3 loss.

This game wrapped up the only series loss for the Diamondbacks this year.

A stud rookie pitcher named Johnny Cuerto came in and struck out 10 hard-swinging Diamondbacks. Arizona's inability to take pitches hurts them whenever they face hard-throwing pitchers, and this showed in Cincinnati.

Despite that, Justin Upton’s home run was a good sign for the kid who hit only five all of last season.

April 13: Colorado Rockies, 5-13 loss.

In a painful roll reversal for the Diamondbacks, the Rockies jumped all over "replacement" pitcher Edgar Gonzalez. The story from the dugout was that he was sick and was dizzy when they removed him in the third.

I would have been dizzy too if I had to watch that many balls going past me. The rough start was only exacerbated by poor performances from the bullpen against a powerful Rockies lineup.

April 14: San Francisco Giants, 4-5 loss.

Diamondbacks losses seem to come in pairs in 2008, but thankfully the losing streaks end there.

In what should have been a 4-0 game, the Diamondbacks' defense had been left at the airport with their luggage. Stephen Drew and Mark Reynolds made costly errors that cost Randy Johnson three runs and Chad "Biggie" Qualls two.

Reynolds’ defense is becoming a liability, so he could move to first when Tracy comes back and Jackson needs a day off.

There you go. Those are all the Diamondbacks’ losses so far on the season.

Closer problems, hitting problems, starter problems, defense problems. Each issue has only showed up once. This is hopefully a sign of continued improvement.

That being said, Jake Peavy has yet to step onto Chase Field, where those glaring hitting issues may appear.

The Diamondbacks haven't played on turf or "hard" grass yet, which could creating more fielding blunders.

Lyon will need to stand up to powerful hitters more often as the year goes on.

Finally, the Doug Davis situation still has at least five more weeks until it can get resolved, meaning that Edgar Gonzalez, Jailen Peguero, Yusmeiro Petit, or someone else is going to need to figure out how to pitch every fifth day and do it at the same caliber as Webb, Haren, Johnson, and Owings.

L.A. Dodgers: Welcome to the Frank McCourt Brand of Baseball

Glenn Darby — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:10:52 -0400

Moving 115,300 people into a stadium is a task usually left to the National Guard and not a baseball team but on Saturday March 29th, Frank McCourt attempted to do it. Did it go smoothly? Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

The Dodgers advertised "park for free at Dodger Stadium" on their website and so me, being the tightwad that I am, drove from Phoenix to Chavez Ravine, bypassing the exits for downtown and the Coliseum. I drove up Sunset, took a right at the hotel, and entered through the gates. I was there early...4:00pm for a 7:10pm game. I was directed to Lot 1 which, at the time, was quickly filling up but was the only lot occupied.

To see a pdf layout of the Dodger Stadium parking lot, click here and follow along.

We parked, got out, and walked up the hill to Lot F. Before our eyes was a line, somewhere in the vicinity of 800-1000 people (although my wife states it was 10, 523 people)long that stretched from the norther-most end of Lot F all the way to the southern-most end of Lot F and then curled around and continued half-way back up towards the north end to where the buses were loading people. We took our place at the end of the line (near the Think Blue sign) and began our wait. About 10 minutes later, the line had curled again behind us and was headed back towards the southern end. One hour later, the line had swelled to four-parking-lot lengths! Also, at that time, we had reached the front of the line. We were ushered on to a small shuttle bus (about 20 people or so) that quickly sped out of Dodger Stadium.

Down to Sunset, right on Figueroa, merge on to Flower, pass the Staples Center, and then we hit Adams...which was also where everyone who had driven to the Coliseum was getting off. We crept down Flower until we hit Exposition where we took a right, turned around, and were dropped off right by the fighting dinosaurs of USC's Natural History Museum at 6pm.

The game was, in a word, amazing.

In about 100 words it was:

The pinnacle of baseball in Los Angeles since 1988. It was a way to remind fans of everything great that this team used to be and to make us feel like the elite fans that live in Boston and New York. Dodger fans had a home that was historic and meaningful and steeped in history. A place where gold metals, Lombardi Trophies, and World Series have been won. This where Jackie and The Duke once stood. A place where the Los Angeles Dodgers won as many championships as the Brooklyn Dodgers. This place was history.

And just like that, it was over.

Before the trip home could even begin, the search for the end of the Dodger Stadium bus line was required. Exiting the same way we came in, we headed towards the dinosaurs and found ourselves outnumbered by LA denizens more eager than us to get home. They snaked the line from the corner of Exhibition and Figueroa all the way back to Menlo and MLK. The line covered literally two city blocks and was nightmarish.

So we stood. We chatted with Boston fans and Dodger fans. We joked. We prognosticated. We discussed pitching match-ups, third base prospects, "Nomah!", and the NCAA tourney. We slowly lurched our way towards the buses until we had arrived back at those dinosaurs. Those stupid dinosaurs, how they mocked me. Their existence and subsequent demise led me to one conclusion...I was not going to wait in line any longer. We walked our way to the front of the line where we saw a free-for-all of people getting on buses. First-Come-First-Served was not the way of the world here, it was survival of the fittest. We pushed our way onto the last two seats of a small bus and were on our way.

On our way to the traffic of downtown LA on a Saturday night. I'm not entirely sure how long the trip took. The group behind me in line had placed bets on reaching the stadium at different times. 9:30, 10, 10:20 they guessed. Then one man suggested 11:15 and we all laughed. I was back in my car getting rained on at Dodger Stadium. I cranked the ignition and my radio responded with a green 11:15. I was not laughing.

The bright side of the evening was that traffic out of Dodger Stadium was, by far, the lightest it has ever been.

For photos of my trip and of the game, please visit my Picasa page.

Today's 30-Second Read: Five Places to Spend Your Stimulus Check

Glenn Darby — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:54:24 -0400

1. Fly to Boston and watch the Red Sox in Fenway.

You've never experienced baseball quite like this. Should be less than $250 per person to fly there in June and the ticket to the game can run as cheap as $35 each from Stubhub.

2. Rent a car and drive to Cooperstown, NY for the Hall of Fame.

The whole town is baseball-themed and just begs for two days of your trip. You will need two more to drive there from any major city. Unlimited mileage plan necessary.

3. Get to New York to see Yankee Stadium before it is a parking lot.

I may hate this stadium but the history (even if it has been refurbished) is evident. Amtrak will get you there for about $100 from anywhere on the East Coast.

4. Visit Seattle's SafeCo Field and Pike's Market.

The last time you saw it was the 2001 All-Star Game on TV and you wished you were there for Ripken's home run. Go now and visit one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the US and the most underrated park in the MLB. Alaska flies direct from most cities.

5. Watch your team on the road anywhere new!

Even if you are scared of Cleveland, go watch your team play the Indians and see a new park. Dress in your home-town gear and harass the hapless homers who think Willy Mays Hays still plays for them.

Today's 30-Second Read: Huge MLB Assumptions

Glenn Darby — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 06:35:41 -0400

Just about every team has played one game so far. If these are any indication of how the year will go, we have a lot to expect.

•The Rays are actually going to be good and their pitching can dominate a game.

•The Diamondbacks will continue to win a staggering number of one-run games and only hit home runs.

•The Reds will break their own record for number of strikeouts for the team this season.

•Barry Zito will have an ERA around 5.00 while the Giants lose 116 games.

•Mariner pitchers are scary and will walk all over the Angels depleted staff.

•The Royals, Nationals, and Pirates could actually play close to .500 ball this year.

•Livan Hernandez will throw 200 innings again to prove that his arm contains no actual tendons.

•Johan Santana and Brandon Webb will compete for the Cy Young, but Santana will win it because of the NY-bias within the media.

•The Indians are going to have to score a lot this year with the pen they have.

•The Brewers will top the Cubs in the Central standings this year.

Diamondbacks-Rockies: Let's Play Two, or Three, or 19...

Glenn Darby — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:23:54 -0400

Phoenix, AZ—Not content with leading the league in wins last year, Josh Byrnes has
decided to up the ante when it comes to the Arizona Diamondbacks. "We
decided to really go for it this year," Byrnes said when asked about
the schedule. What Byrnes is refering to is the Diamondbacks attempt
to win the Beating A Dead Horse award for playing the same team the
most in a single season.

Not counting the Spring Training season, which saw the Dbacks and
Rockies square off five times, the Diamondbacks were initially
scheduled to take on the Rockies 18 times this season. Despite the
boredom that fans are undoubtedly going to endure, Josh Byrnes added
one extra "Exhibition" game against the Colorado franchise, scheduled
for March 28th.

Phoenix fans had quite a fill of the Rockies during the 2007 season.
The Dbacks provided the Rockies with their only loss during the
historic run towards the World Series. Every other match, the Rockies
dominated late in the year, including an NLCS sweep.

"It is not that I mind playing the same team all of the time," Chad
Tracy, Arizona's third baseman stated, "but we play them at the
beginning of the year and at the end ten times each. Give us a break
and make it in the middle of the hot Arizona summer."

Season ticket holder Sandra Anderson echoed his sentiments, "I like to travel to see my grandkids in Colorado when the Dbacks are in town but not when it is snowing up there. It's too cold!"

Jeff Moorad, the Diamondbacks' CEO and managing partner, stressed the importance of continuity in a schedule. "Fans want to know what to expect when they come out to Chase this year. We've found that fans are more likely to come if they know we will win. Since the Pirates are not in our division, we opted for the Rockies," Moorad said in a telephone interview. When reminded that the Rockies beat the Dbacks in their season series last year Moorad simply replied, "well, six won't count this year."

True to form, the Diamondbacks were handed a hearty loss to the Rockies in the exhibition game. The attendance figure was estimated at around 24,000 but "great seats were still available" at game time. The Rockies will play the Dbacks again in a week, and then another week after that, and then three weeks after that.

Great seats are still available.

Today's 30-Second Read: Proper Behavior for the Baseball Fan

Glenn Darby — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 04:16:52 -0400

As (the real) Opening Day is just around the corner, it is now PSA time.

In an effort to curb the bottle throwing, base coach attacking, and Frankie Francisco chair hurling, we have compiled some general rules of behavior that the average fan should follow.

Now, you hard core fans, continue to be obnoxious.

1.) There will be no WAVE during the game. You block our view enough by getting up every three innings for food. Just sit down, watch the game.

The Wave is never acceptable unless there is a black and white ball rolling on the field...and the stadium is round. The batter's eye cannot do the wave, so you shouldn't either.

2.) Your ticket has a seat number printed on it. Look at it BEFORE you walk down the aisle, memorize it, then proceed to find your seat by matching the aisle, row, and seat numbers.

3.) Typically, there is an aisle on either side of the row. If you are in seat five and you notice that the last seat in the row is 15, go down to the next aisle. Disrupting 10 people is not polite.

4.) The time printed on your ticket is not a suggestion. Be in your seat by first pitch. People who arrive during the fourth or fifth should expect to find their seats filled and their tardiness mocked.

5.) Try clapping and cheering without the help of the scoreboard. Just because it doesn't read "Make Some Noise" doesn't mean you can't.

6.) Standing during the game is only acceptable in rally and game winning situations. Don't yell at me for standing during the last strikeout—some of us want to win the game.

7.) Beach balls are only acceptable if you are in California or if you are playing a Californian team. Dodger fans, now is the time to visit the 99¢ store and stock up.

By following these simple rules, your baseball experience, and that of your neighbors in the stands, will be significantly improved.

Alex Rodriguez Fallout: Is There Any Stopping Steroids?

Glenn Darby — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:31:56 -0400

Alex Rodriguez is about to sit down in front of the camera and clear his name.

He is following in the footsteps of fellow future (or not) Hall of Famer, Roger Clemens.

He will sit down and call Canseco a liar just like Rafael Palmero did when he denied Canseco's allegations.

He will claim that he worked hard and is simply blessed with the natural ability to hit baseballs 500 feet.

And you know what? I will believe him. I don't believe Bonds or Clemens, but I believe in Alex.

As a Mariners fan in the '90's, he broke my heart when he left Seattle.

Every time he would stroll past us in Surprise during Spring Training without so much as a wave, I tried to hate him.

Finally, when he was traded to the Yankees, I thought I would be able to hate the guy. I don't though.

I may call him Gay-Rod. I may like to watch him sissy-fight his way to first against the Red Sox every now and again. I may have enjoyed every excruciating pop fly on his way to 500 home runs.

In the end though, I think he is the greatest player alive and one of the greatest to ever play the game. Say what you want about him, his numbers have always been amazing.

Which, of course, is an argument quickly nullified if this alleged drug use does turn out to be fact.

The question that I have grappled with over the years of the "Steroid Era" is this: What makes steroids different than any other medical advancement?

Purists will tell me that steroids are a way for the ballplayer to cheat. He can hit the ball harder or throw it faster, giving him an unfair advantage.

I'll have to check my stat-book, but I'm willing to bet that Bonds has a couple home runs off Clemens over the years and that Clemens has struck him out at least once.

The point, of course, is that it is not an unfair advantage if everyone is doing it.

Doctors will tell me that steroids are dangerous.

Acne and "'roid rage" are not the only side-effects. Tumors and jaundice are always a possibility, and there is death.

Of course, that doesn't stop doctors from prescribing them for patients for things ranging from an infection all the way up to cancer. They are hormones and, just like anything else, are bad when used too much. So why not control it?

I've heard people refer to Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa as super-human during their home run race. These men bulked up and destroyed baseballs, crushing home run records.

I've also seen Curt Schilling pitch with a tendon sutured to his bone and a guy named Tommy John step back on the field using ankle tendons in his shoulder. Something isn't natural about these guys either.

What killed a guy's career 80 years ago wasn't as debilitating 20 years later. What killed a guy's career 40 years ago wasn't as debilitating as 20 years later. Today, as old age threatens to kill a guy's career, he juices up and keeps on going.

Everyone loves a performer. Everyone loves a great story. Everyone hates a cheater.

So while the media screams and shouts and Congress bloviates their way on to your TV, baseball fans just shrug.

Fans have seen it all: Pitchers dominating in huge stadiums during the dead-ball era. Hitters with advantages such as short porches and lower mounds. Dreadful multipurpose stadiums with 90ft backstops and acres of foul territory. The bloated batting statistics at Coors' Field. The scheduling imbalance caused by inter-league play.

Baseball fans love whatever is good for the game.

We can act like we are traditionalists and hate progress, but the DH "experiment" continues, and every drug known to man has flown through at least one baseball clubhouse over the past 100 years. Amphetamines used to be the drug of choice. Before that it was coke, and I'm sure there was something else before that.

And while Selig races to ban every new GNC product in hopes of avoiding Darryl Kyle-like incidents, fans continue to expect super-human performances on the field.

The War on Baseball Drugs and the War on Drugs are very similar in the influence they have.

Nixon made every guy with a buddy in Vietnam a dealer and by the time Reagan started putting the breaks on the drug trade, the only thing he did was made those who were able to slip through richer.

In baseball, those who cheat and get away with it are rewarded. It's similar to the free market. Business gone unchecked does a good job regulating itself, but when restrictions come along, those who follow the rules lose money to those who skirt them.

If a baseball player has a doctor who says it is okay for them to use steroids, who is MLB to stop them?

Those who buy it without a prescription (or obtain prescriptions from vets and other weird doctors) should be prosecuted by the law and not MLB. Other than that, let the doctors continue to make us better athletes.

They've been doing it forever. No sense in stopping now.

From A-Rod to Webby: Nicknames in the MLB

Glenn Darby — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 06:24:04 -0400

My wife and I have a habit of writing in player's nicknames as we fill out our scorecard. We don't always assume the popular nickname either. There are times that we find it un-original or just out of character.

Arizona Diamondbacks Roster—As Written by Me

Chris "The Gloveless Wonder" Young
Justin "J-Up" Upton
Jeff "Sally" Salazar
Eric "Byrnsie" Byrnes
Chad "Princessa" Tracy
Mark "Tin Man" Reynolds
Augie "AUGIE!" Ojeda
Conor "CoJack" Jackso
Orlando "Black Hole" Hudson
Stephen "Dreeeeeeewww" Drew
Chris "Snydley Whiplash" Snyder
Miguel "Monte" Montero
Robby "Ham-hock" Hammock
Brandon "Webby" Webb
Doug "Slate" Slaten,
Yusmeiro "Yusi" Petit
Tony "Pena Colada" Pena
Jailen "J-lin" Peguero
Micah "O-wings" Owings
Dustin "Dusty Nipps" Nippert
Brandon "B.Med" Medders
Brandon "Lyon's Roar" Lyon
Randy "Big Unit" Johnson
Doug "Hourglass" Davis
Juan "Cruizin" Cruz

Of course, this year the D-backs have added Juan Gutierrez, Chad Qualls, and Chris Burke. I have yet to come up with anything for these guys.

Do the Houston fans have nicknames for these guys? How about Danny Haren? Does anyone in Oakland pride themselves on a nickname for Danny Haren?

Nicknames are an interesting part of baseball. There are some players who are notorious for their nicknames...so much so that the average fan may not be able to tell you the player's real name.

George Herman Ruth was not quite as famous as his nickname—"Babe."

George Lee Anderson was one of the greatest managers of his time, but you will get blank stares unless you call him by his nickname—"Sparky."

Lawrence Peter Berra caught some of the greatest Yankee wins in history under the name "Yogi."

These sorts of nicknames are not quite as common today, but Ivan Rodriguez surely gets mistakenly called "Pudge" by someone who thinks it is his real first name. Surely Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones and Covelli "Coco" Crisp can attest to that.

Then there are the clever nicknames. The ones that make you laugh, have marketing tie-ins, or just sound good.

Ethnic

"The Hebrew Hammer" Ryan Braun, "The Flyin Hawaiian" Shane Victorino, "The Greek God of Walks" Kevin Youkilis.

Abilities

"Speed Limit" Russell Martin because he throws out runners, "K-dro" Pedro Martinez, "K-Rod" Fransisco Rodriguez, because they strike out players.

Stupid Gay Jokes

"Man-Ram" Manny Ramirez, "Gay-Rod" Alex Rodriguez are my favorites.

There are tons—every player out there needs a nickname. It's a way for you to identify with the player, a way to connect.

Players without nicknames are just not that good. Even sub-par players who have cult followings have nicknames like "Boof Bosner."

There are certain situations that can create a nickname (see: Joel "Guitar Hero" Zumaya), and then there are performances that warrant them (see: Derek "Mr. November" Jeter).

Do your team a favor and start working on nicknames. They can be as creative as Nick "Swisher-Sweet" Swisher, or as boring as "Richie" Rich Harden.

But please, let's stop the hyphenations of first and last names (A-Rod, J-Roll, and the like will thank you later). Oh, and for god's sake, adding a "-y" or "-ie") to a person's name is not acceptable.

2008 Arizona Diamondbacks Preview

Glenn Darby — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 04:52:04 -0400

Alright, I am trying not to be a homer here, but I really do think the Diamondbacks will win the National League West in 2008.

If I ignored the problems they have had this spring, I would not be a legitimate sports writer.

On paper, they've got one amazing pitching staff. Brandon Webb should secure at least 15 wins, and more likely 20, this year. His stuff is still good, and he is healthy.

What more could you ask for in a number one?

Well, you could ask him to be left handed, which is what you find with Arizona's number two starter: Randy Johnson.

Johnson is still good—questionably. He mowed batters down last season when he was healthy, and he has had good bite on his slider this spring. He may not ever throw another no-hitter, but he will win 10 if he stays healthy.

Danny Haren is possibly a bigger question mark than Johnson. It isn't a matter of health but rather a matter of adjusting to baseball in the NL.

2004 was quite a while ago, in baseball years anyway. Hitters are younger, faster, and a lot stronger.

This isn't the pop-it-up or pop-it-out American League. Keeping the ball down will just leave you with Jimmy Rollins bunting his way onto first.

Haren's a stud, though, and he should adjust well.

Doug (hourglass) Davis may not pitch the most innings, but far and away exceeds any player in history for amount of time spent standing on the mound. This guy is career .500 and lives up to it consistently.

If Brian Price could kick him around those bad 15 times, this guy would be tolerable. He will get the D-backs eight to 10 wins.

The fifth spot in the rotation seems to be up in the air. Micah has been shelled like Basra this spring and may never pull out of it.

Edgar Gonzalez is the leading man, but he is quite effective out of the bullpen, leaving Yusmeiro Petit as our fifth guy. I am okay with that. He was solid as Johnson's replacement last year and has pitched well this spring.

A lot of losses will come from the fifth spot as they work out the kinks, but eight wins would be reasonable from any of the guys who tough it out at the bottom.

The pen should be solid without Valverde. Lyon handled the closer job two years ago and is much more consistent than Papa Grande ever was.

Pena will set up nicely and Chad Qualls should bridge the seventh inning well.

Of course, guys like Brandon Medders, Dustin Nippert, Doug Slaten, Juan Gutiérrez, and Jailen Peguero need to help get there and to fill in on the days that those guys can't go. Medders and Nippert have looked rough this spring, but everyone else has looked great.

Future All-Stars are playing at center, right, third, and first on this team, and there are All-Stars at left and second.

The void behind the plate seems like the biggest weakness the D-backs have. Chris Snyder stops breaking balls as well as Kleenex, Montero is injured, and Hammock will play once a week even though he is the best equipped to handle the full time position.

Chris Young, Eric Byrnes, and Justin Upton should put up 30-30 numbers. Connor Jackson could finally reach his potential based on his stellar spring. Mark Reynolds is a stud who could hit 40 home runs if he ever made contact with 40 balls a season.

All of that being said, Stephen Drew should be traded for a top line catcher and replaced with Augie Ojeda, Chris Burke, or Emilio Bonifacio.

Drew's range is best expressed using the distance of fingers instead of arms. His bat has the power of Nancy Drew, not JD Drew.

All around, the D-backs should score more this year with sophomore production from most spots in their lineup. Orlando Hudson is in a contract year, meaning he will hit .350 with 130 RBIs and 35 HRs like every other free agent does.

What does it all mean? 91 wins, second best record in the league (behind the Mets), and a loss to the Mets in game seven of the NLCS.

Today's 30-Second Read: 2008 MLB Predictions

Glenn Darby — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 04:45:27 -0400

AL East

1. Boston 2. New York 3. Tampa 4. Toronto 5. Baltimore

Why? Because the Red Sox are scary good and the Orioles are a nightmare.

AL Central

1. Cleveland 2. Detroit 3. Chicago 4. Minnesota 5. Kansas City

Why? Because Grady Sizemore is one of the best and D.Train will get D.railed in the heavy-hitting AL.

AL West

1. Seattle 2. Los Angeles 3. Oakland 4. Texas

Why? Too much good pitching for Seattle and too many injuries in LA.

NL East

1. New York 2. Philadelphia 3. Atlanta 4. Florida 5. Washington

Why? Last year's collapse will not happen again.

NL Central

1. Milwaukee 2. Chicago 3. Houston 4. St Louis 5. Cincinnati 6. Pittsburgh

Why? Other than Jason Kendall, the Brew Crew is stacked on the field and their pen is the best in the league.

NL West

1. Arizona 2. San Diego 3. Los Angeles 4. Colorado 5. San Francisco

Why? Sophomore production from most of the lineup should improve last year's numbers in AZ while Colorado suffers from realistic pitching.

MLB: Opening Day or 開幕日

Glenn Darby — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 04:41:19 -0400

I never thought Kanji would be part of my baseball posts.

But alas, as I drove into work this morning, XM178 was broadcasting the Boston Red Sox game against the Oakland Athletics live from the Tokyo Dome in Japanese.

I do not know too many words in Japanese. I know a few when I hear them.

I gained most of my knowledge during the World Baseball Classic a few years back. Sitting in the stands at PetCo Park in San Diego and rooting for the Japanese to triumph over Korea and Cuba was possibly the most exciting thing I have ever experienced in my baseball life.

Then, Japanese baseball was limited to Ichiro and Hideo Nomo for me. Beyond that, I considered the Japanese second class baseball citizens. I was wrong.

I was in Peoria the first spring that Ichiro came to the United States. I sat up in the club seats and watched throngs of reporters capture every step he made.

I lived in Seattle for Ichiro's first few seasons with the Mariners, and I was definitely swept up in the Japanese baseball craze.

When the winds were cold at SafeCo, I would sport my Kazuhiro Sasaki beanie and chant "Sanshin" as he mowed down the final three. Ichiro destroyed American records, and Kaz destroyed American hitters.

Kaz would leave baseball to be close to his family (and in the process destroy the Mariners bullpen for the next four years). And Ichiro would show that he was not Teddy Ballgame-incarnate.

The Yanks got a Matsui. The Mets got a Matsui. Neither was that good. Guys named Igawa, Iguchi, Ishii, Irabu, Johjima, Komiyama, and Matsuzaka all came and went with about as much success as any other foreign-born players.

But Matsuzaka leads us to where we are today.

It was five years ago that we invaded Iraq. (Has this war really been going on for five years?) And the Japan series that the Mariners were about to play, that would have been chance for Ichiro to show his countrymen what a star he had become, was canceled.

Now the next Japanese phenom has arrived, taken the world (and the Rockies) by storm, and is throwing gyro balls to another (non-Japanese) Suzuki in the Tokyo Dome.

Matsuzaka did not perform all that well. It was Okajima, another Japanese player, who got the win for the Red Sox by getting Kurt Suzuki to ground out.

The fans went crazy. The place was rocking. I wish I'd been there...

All of this leads to a fundamental question: Should Japanese baseball go farther to protect their own investment?

Do the Nippon Ham Fighters lose fans because there is a Red Sox game on? Do the children of Tokyo buy throwback Yankees hats instead of throwback Tokyo Giants hats? Does MLB's expansion into the Japanese world hurt Nippon Professional Baseball?

NPB already has rules in place to prevent American players from the overtaking the league. No team is allowed to have more than four foreign-born players on its roster.

NPB could easily bar MLB from playing in Japan, but instead the league brings out its best and brightest to play exhibitions against American teams. Subsequently, it loses its best players to America via free agency or the posting system.

Within our (or Bud Selig's) lifetime, it is possible that we will see the creation of two more divisions of MLB.

You will have the National League, the American League, the Pacific League, and the Central League. In theory, what you would see is a throwback to pre-Selig days of non- inter-league games.

National League and American League teams might play each other exactly the same way they do now, all the way up to a World Series.

At the same time, Pacific League and Central League teams would be battling it out in Japan.

Then the true "World Series" would face the winner of the U.S. bracket against the winner of the Japanese bracket.

Of course, this idea has problems. Right now there are troubles with inter-league play (a whole mess of them), but inter-league play continues.

This idea could eventually lead to more leagues being incorporated. Why shouldn't the Lacey Tigers get to play against the Detroit Tigers if they are the two best teams?

No professional sport has ever undertaken such an expansion. There are hurdles miles high. Taxes, visas, foreign relations, and currency exchange are all issues that need to be considered.

Baseball in Canada suffered for years, and one of the reasons was because the Canadian dollar was so weak compared to the American dollar. (But oh how I wish I would have saved all of that colorful money now.)

There are other problems as well. How can the less than one million people who live in Chiba and work at the shipping docks fund a team that has to compete with the 10 million Yankees fans around the world?

How do you convince the Alex Rodriguezes of the world that Nagoya is a good place to raise a family and a good team to play for when his whole family lives in the Caribbean?

The downside, of course, would be if all of the Japanese-born players come to America, leaving the Japanese fans with few identifiable players on the field.

Japan would become the Tampa Bay of the East, the Hanshin Tigers and Yamiyuri Giants would have to change their names, and the game would be changed forever in Japan.

But I think this sort of expansion is inevitable.

Just imagine a Serenity-esque world where everyone speaks Japanese and English when referring to baseball.

"A long hikyu to sayoku! Ramirez looks up...Honruida! The Dragons win, the Dragons win...the-uh-uh-uh-Dragons win!"