Bleacher Report - Articles by Nick Fera

Jim Rice Needs To Shut His Mouth

Nick Fera — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:26:28 -0400

Anyone tired of this dude yet? Haven't we heard enough from the man who got into the Hall of Fame on his last try? Talk about a charity case.

But what really gives me the red ass is Jim Rice, in all of his arrogance, can sit there and tell a bunch of little-league kids, "You see a Manny Ramirez, you see an A-Rod, you see Jeter. Guys that I played against and with, these guys you’re talking about cannot compare."

That's right Jim. You "cannot compare" because the guys you played with and against aren't nearly as good as the players today (steroids or not). You know what I would say to him? "You see a Jim Rice, you see a Gary Carter. Guys that shouldn't be in the Hall of Fame but they are. These guys don't deserve to be in a class of elite players."

Then Rice went on to say, "We didn’t have the baggy uniforms. We didn’t have the dreadlocks. It was a clean game, and now they’re setting a bad example for the young guys."

And, of course, dreadlocks has a lot to do with a player's ability. Vlad Guerrero and Manny Ramirez stink because of their hairstyle. Manny stinks even more because of his baggy uniform as well as Adam Dunn, Prince Fielder, Jonathan Broxton and David Ortiz.

These guys wear baggy clothes because a) it's more comfortable and they can, and b) these guys weigh a lot and maybe they can't fit into a tight uniform. What the hell does a uniform have to do with anything? Is he insinuating that it's easier for a player to perform in baggy clothes?

When Rice got the call from Cooperstown, I remember watching him on teleivision explain how the players in "his day" didn't have all the luxuries that players have today. Well, guess what dude? Guys like Cobb, Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle, and DiMaggio had it tougher than you did.

Many of the old-school players had separate jobs in the offseason because they didn't make enough money playing professional ball. And the medical attention those guys received was far inferior to what Rice and his peers received.

In case you're wondering who Jim Rice shared the stage with during his induction, I'll give you two stats that might give you a hint. 1,406 career stolen bases and 130 stolen bases in a single season. Both of which are all-time records, I might add.

Rickey Henderson, the "Man of Steal," had to be inducted into the Hall of Fame with Jim Rice? How do you think Rickey feels about that? I know I'm asking a lot of questions, but dammit I want answers.

How could anyone agree that Jim Rice is a great player? Was he a good player? Absolutely and he was one of the best sluggers in baseball for a while, but should his name be next to Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Tony Gwynn, Carl Yazstremski, or Ted Williams?

That's another thing. How many Boston fans include Jim Rice in the Mt. Rushmore of great Red Sox players? Forget steroids and all the controversy for a second. Here are the greatest Red Sox of all-time: Ted Williams, Carl Yazstremski, Roger Clemens, Manny Ramirez, and Pedro Martinez. Alright, I'll throw in David Ortiz because he's had a lot of great years in Boston and he was clutch for them in the postseason runs.

A career .298 batting average, 382 home runs, 1,451 RBI, 373 doubles, 2,452 hits and an .854 OPS. Those numbers are good, but let me run through some players who shouldn't be in the Hall of Fame who had more impressive careers than Rice: Jeff Kent, Jason Giambi, Larry Walker, Juan Gonzalez and Jeff Bagwell.

I've heard a lot of people argue that Rice would've had more home runs if he didn't play at Fenway. Well, being a right-handed hitter, maybe his doubles and batting average would've dipped if he didn't have the Green Monster.

Baseball Owes The Players An Apology for the "Steroid Era"

Nick Fera — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:03:14 -0400

As a lifelong baseball fan and supporter of the game (I make it to at least 10 games a year), I feel the only people that owe me an apology are the owners for providing crappy, overpriced food at the stadiums and charging $15 for parking (thank you Mr. McCourt).

Oh, and by the way, I bought tickets to 15 Dodger games this season in which seven of them are Manny-less. I purchased these tickets, of course, long before Manny was suspended for slaughtering a child...oops, I mean testing positive for drugs. So maybe Bud Selig owes my family and I an apology for taking away the Dodgers' most prolific player and costing me $560.

Major League Baseball depriving myself and other ticket holders of watching Manny Ramirez isn't the thesis of this article, but I would like to acknowledge the numerous players who have been deeply affected by MLB's blame game.

First, I would like to address the effects anabolic steroids and HGH has on major league performance...NONE! The only reason these players took these drugs was because they believed in artificial enhancement. In other words, they believed drugs helped them to become better ball players.

All the great players of the so-called "steroid era" (Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, McGwire, Palmeiro, A-Rod, Manny) are naturally gifted athletes whose superior skills led to each of their marvelous careers. They didn't need drugs...nobody needs drugs! The only effects that banned substances can have on a player is improved stamina, mental nirvana, bad health, death, and a scolding from Mr. Baseball himself, the great Bob Costas.

The one element of a swing that produces a large amount of home runs is bat speed. Ask guys like Bonds, Sheffield, and Canseco. The greater the torque, the farther the ball travels. But there comes a point where good mechanics become essential in hitting a baseball. All the great power hitters utilize hip and leg movement as key components in launching the ball over the fence.

The lingering question is, does strength play a role in hitting home runs? The answer is yes. However, if you analyze Vladimir Guerrero's swing, he hits the ball in a fashion that relies heavily on upper-body strength. Unlike a refined hitter, Vlad reaches for balls and as a result, his home run numbers have never been consistently impressive.

Barry Bonds, on the other hand, has just as much power as Vlad Guerrero yet his 762 home runs is a milestone Vlad will never touch. Why? Because Bonds is the superior hitter and it doesn't matter if you weigh 190 lbs or 290 lbs, as long as you can put all your weight on the ball, it will travel a long way.

We already know that steroids and HGH can make a player stronger, but can these drugs increase durability? Well, ask the pitchers who took these "supplements".

Steroids and HGH (particularly HGH with pitchers) are the ultimate "pick me ups" for a grueling 162 game schedule. Feelings of invincibility and extreme confidence are common side effects of steroid and HGH usage. Guys can play through all the little aches and pains when they're juicing. People call this "cheating"; I call it "technology."

Think about it. When the Chinese workers built the Great Wall do you really think those guys took Aleve for back pain or rubbed Bengay on sore muscles after a 20 hour day? Of course they didn't, but if you fast forward some thousands of years, people can go to Rite Aid and pick up Orajel for a sore tooth or Advil for a migraine, etc.

That's right folks, it's called medicine. Medicine as a result of scientific advancements. Too bad for those ancient Chinese workers, huh? Well, too bad for players in older generations who didn't have access to steroids and HGH. Sorry guys. You missed out.

So don't apologize to me for the "steroid era", Mr. Selig. But you need to rectify all the damage caused to those players whose legacies and careers have been tarnished due to your paranoia which ultimately led to countless hours of skewed media reporting.

This reporting, of course, resulted in sinister public opinion. Let me make your useless job easy for you, Bud, by going through all these disgraced players and recommending their steps to a positive spotlight:

1. Barry Bonds: MLB pays him three times the lost income he would have made if not for his banishment from the game. According to this clause found in Article XX (E) of the Basic Agreement, that would be approximately $2,370,000 based on the 2008 league minimum of $390,000 and the 2009 minimum of $400,000.

Bonds' agent said last season he would be willing to play for the minimum wage, so that's why I decided to use 390K and 400K as the base figures. Also, MLB allows Bonds to play for the team(s) of his choice for the second half of this year and the entire 2010 season if he desires. Bonds will be allowed to negotiate a separate contract with his chosen team(s) excluding the $2.4 million he'll earn already from the Basic Agreement violation.

2. Alex Rodriguez: MLB formally apologizes to Rodriguez for their careless handling of his 2003 positive drug test (they had ample time to destroy the results before the Feds issued the subpoena). MLB also urges Congress to force Selena Roberts to reveal her sources under oath.

3. Sammy Sosa: Once again, MLB formally apologizes to Sosa for their 2003 survey testing snafu and MLB urges Congress to force Michael S. Schmidt of the New York Times to reveal his sources under oath.

4. Manny Ramirez: MLB rules Ramirez's 2009 positive test as a first-time offense. Therefore, no punishment will be given. Also, MLB proves to the public that hCG is anything but a "performance-enhancer." It's a women's fertility drug for Christ's sake!

5. Rafael Palmeiro: MLB formally apologizes to Palmeiro for influencing Congress in their decision to have him testify under oath about his use of banned substances. MLB also acknowledges their violation of the Basic Agreement and pays Palmeiro $4,620,000 based on the league minima from 2006-2009.

MLB allows Palmeiro to play for the team(s) of his choice for the second half of this year and the entire 2010 season if he desires. Palmeiro will be allowed to negotiate a separate contract with his chosen team(s) excluding the $4.6 million he'll earn already from the Basic Agreement violation.

6. Mark McGwire: MLB urges the Hall of Fame to automatically induct McGwire. If this proposition is rejected, MLB discontinues their donations of authentic game artifacts to Cooperstown. However, players and ex-players can continue to donate their game memorabilia if they choose.

Dustin Pedroia's Napoleon Complex Intensifies

Nick Fera — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:22:18 -0400

After the third game of the Twins/Sox series (5/27/09), Dustin Pedroia was seen, along with his mother shopping, in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. He was first spotted trying on an orange, blue, and yellow jumpsuit in Gymboree. He was then found in Toys-R-Us standing at a height chart, which was flanked by the famous giraffe, Raffy, Dustin standing 5 feet, 3.5 inches tall. This is a far cry from the 5'9" that is listed on most sources, including redsox.com.

Dustin was further followed in the same mall to a play-place, which seemingly held 500-600 young children, with Dustin falling under the 5-5 height maximum. He tumbled and crawled, climbed and ran, pushed and shoved, and nobody seemed to mind that he had a full beard and was half bald. A few minutes later, a small gang of five- and six-year-old boys felt that he had taken cuts when climbing up to the top of the slide, so they yanked him off the ladder and a brawl ensued. Little Dustin came running to his mommy, crying profusely. She cursed at him and told him that she had warned him about playing too aggressively, then bent him over her knee, slightly lowered his new Gymboree sweats, and began to spank him. While beating him, she demanded that he say "Who's your Papi?" The tough guy that he is, he refused to comply.

A-Rod Goes Hollywood?

Nick Fera — Sat, 30 May 2009 00:48:48 -0400

In the Inner Actors' Workshop, located on Barham Ave. in Hollywood, frequent discussions surround athletes crossing over as thespians. From professional sports, common names include Brett Favre, Ron Artest, Todd Bertuzzi, and Alex Rodriguez. The consensus is that A-Rod may have the greatest chance of all.

He has shown great poise under the most adverse circumstances. His choice of wardrobe is impeccable. His articulation is mood-appropriate. His non-verbal behavior is exquisite. This is not just speculation, but based on his real life performances along with multiple high-profile and emotionally charged situations.

For example, his choice of the powder blue button-down sweater in the recent Peter Gammons interview that made Darren Stevens look like Larry Tate's bitch.

His great use of props in his steroid press conference; i.e., when he drew near tears and paused for what seemed to be an eternity, then to silently drop his head to his left beneath the table and stare at a picture of slaughtered children to spike his depression.

Then to raise his head, reach for the water bottle on his right and wet his palate prior to posting the longest apology of all-time, albeit with the use of six words maximum.

The time when he convinced the press and his fans that he had simply said "Hah!" while rounding third base. Then having been accused of causing the third baseman Howie Clark to drop the infield flyball, when in reality, recalling that Clark's deceased father lost a leg in the Korean War, yelled "Peg-leg!" at Howie thus distracting him.

The time that while walking with his wife Cynthia in Central Park, he took off his polo shirt thus exhibiting his bare upper-body. But what was not revealed in the tabloids is that the shirt came off quickly when he saw a boyish figure at a distance on a 1920s bicycle, believing the cyclist was Pee-Wee Herman.

In summation, those in the "know" believe that A-Rod is a cross between Fernando Lamas and Harrison Ford.

Who Are The Real Home Run Kings?

Nick Fera — Fri, 08 May 2009 03:33:19 -0400

What is the exact definition of this fictitious "savior" of the home run records everybody keeps talking about? I guess it means the media and Bud Selig's wet dream of a power hitter who achieved home run records without the use of banned drugs. I couldn't find anyone who fits that description, so let's go with Ezra Sutton as the legitimate home run king.

On May 8, 1871 (exactly 138 years before A-Rod's return from hip surgery) Mr. Sutton of the Cleveland Forest Citys hit the first major league home run against the Chicago White Stockings. Sutton went on to play 18 seasons with a respectable career .294 batting average and 25 homers.

Why pick this guy as the all-time home run king? Let me answer my question with a question. Is it possible that Sutton snorted cocaine to get amped up for games or smoked pot to ease anxiety?

For all you Grateful Dead fans out there, the inhalation of marijuana can be found as far back as the 3rd millenium BC. Charred cannabis seeds have been found in a brazier at an ancient burial site in Romania. Sadly, the United States outlawed marijuana in 1937. So if Sutton was rolling doobies during his baseball career, then it would have been okay!

What about cocaine? Well, let's just say ancient Peruvian mummies have been found with the remains of coca leaves in their tombs. The United States officially banned cocaine in 1914. So...if Sutton was emulating Tony Montana during his playing days, then it would have been okay!

Let's not forget Babe Ruth. This is a guy who began drinking alcohol and chewing tobacco by the age of seven. Seven! There you have it folks, the so-called greatest player of all-time broke into the majors feeling the calming side effects of alcohol and nicotine. What are we supposed to tell our kids?

Well, we could tell them Babe was a regular consumer of Coca-Cola. You know, the drink that contained cocaine until 1929.

What a bummer! The Babe hit his 60 homers in 1927! Alright then. I guess we'll have to make Buck Freeman the single-season home run champion.

As a member of the 1899 Washington Senators, Buck Freeman slammed 25 home runs. In 1919 as a Boston Red Sock, Babe Ruth broke Freeman's record by hitting 29 homers. Ruth broke his own record 13 times as a Yankee (most notably his 60 home run season, a record that stood until Roger Maris smashed 61 dingers in 1961).

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the real all-time home run king:

Ezra Sutton (25)

...and the real single-season home run king:

Buck Freeman (25)

But hey, what's in a number? Except for the fact that Barry Bonds wore No. 25.

Breaking Down The A-Rod Steroid Situation

Nick Fera — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 05:03:38 -0500

I sat in my recliner eating oatmeal and drinking a latte while watching Alex Rodriguez's press conference this morning, and I couldn't help but ask myself, "Why is he doing this? Why does he have to apologize to anybody?".

Lo and behold, I answered my own question, "Because, the Yankees organization failed to handle A-Rod's situation with extra care."

Shortly after Alex's interview with Peter Gammons, the Yankees made the following statement:

"We strongly believe there is no place in baseball for performance-enhancing drugs of any type, and we support the efforts of the commissioner to continually improve the testing process."

"We urged Alex to be completely open, honest and forthcoming in addressing his use of performance-enhancing drugs. We take him at his word that he was. Although we are disappointed in the mistake he spoke to today, we realize that Alex—like all of us—is a human being not immune to fault."

"We speak often about the members of this organization being part of a family, and that is never more true than in times of adversity. Alex took a big step by admitting his mistake, and while there is no condoning the use of performance-enhancing drugs, we respect his decision to take accountability for his actions. We support Alex, and we will do everything we can to help him deal with this challenge and prepare for the upcoming season."

Of course, the Yankees had to address their position on the use of banned drugs in baseball. It's like a verbal tick that everyone seems to have nowadays.

However, at the time, I commended the Yankees for coming forward and supporting their best player. I felt their kind words for Alex seemed genuine and a slap in the face to everyone who doubted his worth as the game's highest-paid player,

Yes, I'm talking to you, Joe Torre.

I was surprised that none of the Steinbrenners weighed in on A-Rod. You would think we would have a quote from Hank by now. At least something like, "A-Rod, on steroids? Hah! What a bunch of bullshit."

No, instead GM Brian Cashman has been happy to dish out the oral diarrhea. Here are some Cashman-isms before his mouth had a chance to take Kaopectate:

"I like more when he carries it that he was stupid. Rather than young and naive, it was stupid. It was a bad decision that may cost him on so many levels."

This is where I start to have BIG PROBLEMS with this cat. Is he insinuating the termination of A-Rod's mega-million dollar contract? No, no, no...that's just the diarrhea talking.

He is, however, hinting that A-Rod is stupid. That's pretty ironic coming from a guy who concocted Carl Pavano's multi-year deal and traded for Nick Swisher's .219 batting average when, already, there was a logjam of outfielders on the Yankees.

For a general manager as incompetent as Cashman, he sure knows how to work his crystal ball. Apparently, he has made A-Rod's future in baseball as absolute as his own hairline.

So now, Alex's decision might not only cost him his status with the Yankees, but his future in baseball has a question mark next to it as well.

When Brian says "so many levels," I guess he means Hall of Fame or life after baseball. Who knows? Maybe he means public perception. Only God knows what goes on in Brian's thick, bald skull.

"We're not in a position to go backwards on this. The position we're in is to try to move forward and make sure that we can help him get through this. We've got nine years of Alex remaining. … We've invested in him as an asset. And because of that, this is an asset that is going through a crisis. So we'll do everything we can to protect that asset and support that asset and try to salvage that asset."

That is what Brian had to say when asked if he regrets signing Alex to his 10-year, $275 million contract. Whoa! Wait a minute..."we've invested in him"??? What does Brian mean by "we've"?

Have A-Rod's checks been coming from Brian's personal piggy bank? Has Brian been hitting up Washington Mutual to give him a loan on A-Rod's $32 million salary this season? I don't think so!

So, who's paying Alex's enormous salary?

Oddly enough it's the Steinbrenners. I am appalled that Brian has the audacity to feel cheated by the fact that A-Rod used steroids. If anybody should feel cheated, it should be George Steinbrenner, but only on the basis that steroids can actually enhance the skills of a baseball player.

Clearly, any banned substance cannot elevate any single player to the abilities of Alex Rodriguez. Primobolin and testosterone did not have any effect on his statistics.

So, where do the Yankees go from here? I suppose they can look at themselves in the mirror and acknowledge the team's history as a haven for steroid-users or players linked to steroids.

Jason Giambi, Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, Chuck Knoblauch, Jose Canseco, Gary Sheffield, Ivan Rodriguez and David Justice have all donned the Yankee pinstripes at some point in their careers. In fact, there were more Yankees in the Mitchell Report than any other team. The Yankees came in first place with 23 names, while the Orioles came in second with 18.

As previously stated, I thought the Yankees were sincere in their support for A-Rod. But now, I can see they're content with Cashman as their spokesman. That is utterly pitiful and a crying shame.

When Alex needed his team the most, they weren't there. As long as the Yankees are profiting from him and filling up their new stadium, they could care less what happens to Alex.

That's how their relationship is. The Yankees are treating him like property rather than a human being. We should start calling him "Asset-Rod".

At least his teammates have all expressed their support for him. Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada, and Derek Jeter were all present for A-Rod's press conference.

It's painfully obvious how difficult it has been for Alex to address the media about his past steroid use. The inconsistencies in his responses between his interview with Peter Gammons and the press conference have sacrificed his trust with the public and ultimately led to extreme embarrassment.

But certainly those two things do not warrant the beating that the media has given him.

Alex Rodriguez is the best player in baseball and one of the all-time greats. He shouldn't have to apologize for anything because he has shown nothing but respect to the media, the fans, and baseball.

He has played the game right and he has played it well. If steroids can win you three MVP's and 11 consecutive seasons with at least 35 home runs and 100 RBI, then give me some, so that I can get off my ass as a frustrated jazz guitarist and go make millions of dollars as a professional baseball player.

The Yankees made a grave miscalculation in their assessment of A-Rod's steroid situation. They didn't acknowledge the magnitude of this story, and they failed to handle it in a caring and responsible manner. The New York Yankees care about Alex Rodriguez the baseball player/asset, not Alex Rodriguez the person.

If I had my druthers, this is how the Yankees' press release would've looked:

"As an organization that believes in fairness and civil rights, we are deeply disturbed by the circumstance in which Alex's positive drug test from 2003 was revealed. Let us assure everybody that we do not condone the use of banned or illegal substances in baseball. We feel that Major League Baseball has handled its substance-abuse issues in a commendable and appropriate manner. However, as part of the agreement between the Commissioner and the Players' Union in performing the survey tests of 2003, the test results were expected to be kept confidential and were to be destroyed immediately."

"The Yankees will work with Major League Baseball and the Players' Union to investigate the anonymous sources Sports Illustrated used in their story on Alex, and cooperation with the federal government in our investigation will not be ruled out."

"In the meantime, Alex will refrain from addressing the media. While we understand the magnitude of this issue and Alex's eagerness to share his story, any interviews and/or press conferences will be held after our investigation has concluded."

"The Yankees will support Alex and help to put him in a comfortable position where he can help us achieve our shared goal of winning a World Series."

The New York Yankees Deserve Manny Ramirez

Nick Fera — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:37:54 -0500

Anyone who expresses a lack of interest in the 2009 Yankees is a liar. Anyone who can't be bothered with the signings of CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, and A.J. Burnett should run for office. I welcome everyone to congratulate the New York Yankees, your 2009 AL Wild Card winner.

The three blockbuster deals the Yankees made this off-season have sent shockwaves throughout Major League Baseball. Just ask Brewers owner Mark Attanasio who made the following statement after Sabathia signed with New York: "At the rate the Yankees are going, I’m not sure anyone can compete with them. Frankly, the sport might need a salary cap.”

Then he went on to say: "They are on a completely different economic playing field. I paid $220 million for my team; now they get three players for $420 million.”

Mark continued his Jim Rome-esque rambling with: "At some point it gets to be absurd when a team has a $200 million payroll." He later admitted in the same interview that the Brewers wouldn't raise their $81 million payroll because of the recession.

Is he serious? I'm not an economic expert, but I don't believe this country has been in a recession since 1969, which happens to be the founding year of the Seattle Pilots (later renamed the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970).

Something's weird here; either I'm right about American economic history or the Brewers have always had a notoriously lousy payroll.

Mark arrogantly compared his franchise to the richest team in American professional sports. Of course he's baffled the Yankees spent over $400 million on free-agents...they're the Yankees!

They've always defied the supposed unwritten laws of frugality amongst major league owners, and they're doing it in the wake of their new stadium and an economy that stinks.

But the Yankees realize with that new stadium and the revenue generated from the YES network, they can prove to guys like Mark Attanasio that fiscal smarts can beat a rotten economy any day.

I guess Mark is mostly pissed off at the fact the Yankees spent $200 million more on three players than he spent for his entire team four years ago. Of course, when Bud Selig and his family owned the Brewers it was a 34-year period of flatulence, but Mark should have given the Seligs the $220 million plus a $200 million bonus in order to set a $420 million standard in the game and truly compete with the Yankees.

That would really be rubbing it in George Steinbrenner's face.

Let's not forget Mark turning his back on Sabathia's health down the playoff stretch. In his 17 starts with the Brewers, CC threw 1,880 pitches, an average of 110 pitches per game and 130.7 innings. In September, he pitched on three days rest for four consecutive starts (Sep. 16, 20, 24, 28) totaling 28.2 innings, 433 pitches (108 pitches per game) and 26 strikeouts. In those four games his record was 2-2.

By the time Sabathia made it to the postseason he was completely burned out and the organization knew it. Mark let interim manager Dale Sveum take advantage of Sabathia's arm to the point of extreme physical fatigue. When CC pitched with Cleveland in the 2007 playoffs his poor performance was due to mental stress, but this time his arm had been abused.

At least the media had the good sense to acknowledge Sabathia's physical state. But, more importantly, his 2008 postseason didn't affect his value in the free-agent market.

MEMO to Mark Attanasio and Dale Sveum: When you rely on one player to carry your team (especially a pitcher), chances are your team isn't ready to compete. By the way, in CC's only postseason game with Milwaukee he gave up six hits and five earned runs in 3.2 innings. Needless to say, he lost the game.

In a nutshell, Mark lacks baseball intelligence and he supports Communism. I use the word "Communism" because he's in favor of a salary cap for major league teams. In other words, Mark would like Bud Selig to tell him and the other 29 owners how much to spend on their own investments.

You would think for a man of Mark's wealth strict monetary regulations wouldn't sit well.

We have to remember that Mark (like many other owners) made his money in a field outside the baseball field. Mark made his fortune in investment banking and somehow he thinks he knows how to run a baseball team. Most owners do enough to benefit their wallets without putting a winning product on the field.

Ironically, the opposite approach applies to making mad money. George Steinbrenner never hesitates to spend what it takes to keep a winning team every season. He understands the old cliche "you have to spend money to make money" quite well and he has a burning desire to compete.

As a result, Steinbrenner's net worth is around $1.3 billion and his team is worth double. And that's not including the YES network and the new Yankee Stadium.

Steinbrenner is definitely a minority in his business, but it's painfully obvious the other owners don't care about winning.

But enough of Mark Attanasio and his infantile behavior. Let's dive into something with a bit more substance. I'm talking about Manny Ramirez, the best hitter in the game, on the New York Yankees.

It appears that a great deal of "Yankee Nation" (at least the ones who frequently blog or chat on message boards) aren't warming up to the idea of Manny in pinstripes. Whatever reasons they have, none of them pertain to rational thought. Here's a quote I came across on the World Wide Web...

"The Yankees already have a logjam of outfielders. We don't need Manny."

Correction, sir, you do need Manny Ramirez. However, I'm intrigued that the Yankees' outfield situation has excluded Manny from fitting in with the Bronx Bombers. Yes, they acquired Nick Swisher from the White Sox.

Yes, they just agreed to a one-year deal with Xavier Nady. RHETORICAL QUESTION ALERT: Shouldn't a hitter of Manny's caliber, regardless of field position, break conventional thought when it comes to building a team?

Nick Swisher seemed to be an option for 1B had the Yanks failed to sign Mark Teixeira. Now that Teixeira is penciled in to be the starting first baseman for the next eight years, Yankees GM Brian Cashman has been scrambling to trade Swisher.

Presumably, Swisher would like to have a starting job like he has had with the White Sox and A's. If the Yanks can't deal Swisher by opening day, he'll be in for a rude awakening.

The Yankees have hinted their desire to have Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera compete for centerfield. Here's a quick rundown of these guys:

Gardner made his major league debut last season and hit .228/.283/.299 in 141 plate appearances. He stole 13 bases in 14 attempts and showed gold-glove-type defense in center and left fields.

Cabrera has been part of the Yankees' starting outfield since 2006 (his rookie season) but didn't get the starting centerfield spot until the following season. Melky's bat was consistent for those two years hitting a combined .277 with 123 RBI. In mid-August of last season, he was demoted to AAA after hitting .249/.301/.341 in 453 plate appearances.

At one point manager Joe Girardi made him a fourth outfielder and made Johnny Damon the everyday centerfielder. Prior to the 2008 season, however, Cabrera was involved with trade talks along with young pitching prospects Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes in exchange for pitcher extraordinaire Johan Santana.

I consider that potential trade a lost opportunity. Right around last year's trade deadline Melky, once again, was involved in trade talks with the Mariners for pitcher Jarrod Washburn.

It seems that the Yankees have been trying to get rid of this guy for quite some time. The Yankees' lead television broadcaster Michael Kay said after the Burnett and Sabathia press conferences that Joe Girardi "really likes Brett Gardner."

Say what you want about Yankee managers being puppets for the front office, but to me this is code for "Brett Gardner will be the starting centerfielder in 2009."

What happened to Johnny Damon? Didn't the Yankees sign him to a four-year, $52 million contract because they needed a centerfielder when Bernie Williams was on his way out? Here's my third question: Why can't the Yankees start Damon in centerfield now?!

Unless I've recently acquired Alzheimer's disease, I remember the 2004 world champion Red Sox using Mr. Damon as their centerfielder in a ballpark where playing centerfield is as difficult as having a staring contest with an epileptic.

I understand that Damon's arm is weak, but would something like that prohibit the Yanks from winning a 27th championship? Oh, I almost forgot. Derek Jeter can play centerfield. Don't you love that?

This is another one of those mindless propositions that sports radio jockeys (I don't even call them "hosts" or "personalities" anymore) have pulled out of their asses. The situation would be, of course, that Jeter is too slow to play shortstop and therefore would be relegated to the position that requires the greatest speed and range.

To be honest, I like certain things that Gardner and Cabrera do. Gardner is a tremendous outfielder with ridiculous speed and Cabrera is a much better hitter. But it seems that Brian Cashman and the Steinbrenners are content with crap in centerfield.

I can't believe they're going into a "rebuilding" mode for an extremely important position in the midst of the Rays coming off a pennant winning year and the Red Sox (who were a game away from the World Series) coming back healthy with the additions of Takashi Saito, Brad Penny, and John Smoltz.

The Yankees need to put Johnny back in his primary position in order to make room for Manny Ramirez. Failing to do so would be a great mistake.

Even Mike Cameron (who the Yankees were recently interested in trading for) would be a huge upgrade from Gardner or Cabrera. Here's a guy who has a tremendous glove and hits home runs. Assuming the Yankees are absolutely positive in not bringing back Bobby Abreu, Cameron would be a good fit on that team.

That is also assuming a gentleman by the name of Manny Ramirez isn't a free-agent.

Manny would solidify the middle of the lineup. Hell, he even solidified the middle of the Dodgers' lineup with Andre Ethier and Jeff Kent hitting around him. Manny would create a buzz on that team and with the new stadium, please. What about the YES Network? We're talking about a unprecedented boost in Yankee television ratings here.

Manny would have to hit behind A-Rod thus moving Teixeira to the fifth spot. I know this sounds sacrilegious, but Teixeira could not bat third or cleanup on that team. Here's how the lineup would look:

Damon CF

Jeter SS

Rodriguez 3B

Ramirez LF

Teixeira 1B

Matsui DH

Nady RF

Cano 2B

Now you got yourselves a World Series team. Don't forget the projected starting rotation:

Sabathia

Burnett

Wang

Pettitte

Chamberlain

The bullpen and their closer, Mr. Mariano Rivera, are looking very strong going into this season. Strikeout machine Damaso Marte is locked up in pinstripes for the next three years, middle reliever Brian Bruney is healthy, and Edwar Ramirez (who has one of the nastiest circle changeups in baseball) is on the roster.

Phil Coke, who made his major league debut last year, proved to be an effective lefty who can eat innings. They can even throw a healthy Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy in the middle of that bullpen.

The Yankees have a surplus of pitching, but as the old saying goes "you can never have too much pitching." That's why they should go after a guy like Ben Sheets who (according to his doctors) is healthy and ready to be signed. Given his injury history I'd sign him to a one-or-two-year deal with a ton of incentives. When he's healthy, he has some of the nastiest stuff in the majors.

There you have it. The Yankees finally have the pitching this year. The Steinbrenners and Cashman did a fine job in revamping that starting rotation and building the defense into a winner. But they still need to pick up the missing piece from their offensive puzzle. Sign Manny!

I don't know what they're waiting for. Manny would be the perfect fit for them. We're talking about the greatest hitter in postseason history, one of the premiere clutch hitters of all-time, and the best hitter in the game today.

Think about what opposing pitchers and managers will think about in the playoffs having to face A-Rod, Manny and Teixeira consecutively.

Think about the better pitches A-Rod will see with Manny protecting him in the lineup. Remember how good David Ortiz was when Manny hit behind him all those years in Boston? Yeah, now we're talking about Alex Rodriguez.

The Yankees better not be playing the economy card in their decision to pass on Manny. How soon did they forget about the opening of their new stadium? That stadium will generate sickening amounts of green.

But then again, the Yankees always seem to be in the thick of the free agent market no matter the circumstances. Especially when it has to do with a superstar player and Scott Boras.

I think I've made my point quite clear. Don't get me wrong. The Yankees have a very good team as it stands. But they need to go the extra mile and sign the guy who will put them over the top. Besides, can't we all agree that Manny wanted to end up a Yankee all along?

He even said back in 2003 in an interview with ESPN that he wanted to be a Yankee. A couple months ago, he said he expected the Yankees to make him a three-year offer.

I'm tired of hearing about Manny's problems with Boston. What I want to know is if the Yankees honestly believe Manny wouldn't play hard and well for them. He even played well for the Dodgers and that was a team that was destined to take a dump after they demolished an inefficient Cubs team.

Manny Ramirez carried the Dodgers to the NLCS. I ask everyone to ask themselves, "How much of an impact would Manny have on the Yankees?" The Yankees cannot win the World Series without him.

Barry Bonds Was Cheated by MLB

Nick Fera — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:44:39 -0400

I don't have a crystal ball. I don't use tarot cards. I don't have psychic abilities of any kind. But dammit, I'm tired of being right.

I strongly urge everyone to access my profile and dig up my older articles on Barry Bonds. If you care to read, you'll notice that I'm absolutely 100 percent correct on everything that is Barry Bonds and was Barry Bonds.

The fact of the matter is I don't have a college degree. Actually, I never went to college. That's right folks; all I have is a high school diploma! So I don't know how to treat an illness, build a bridge, or discover new species. All I know how to do is think.

Thinking is what led me to my conclusion on the Barry Bonds saga. Like in the title, it's beyond obvious at this point that Major League Baseball and the owners cheated the home-run king out of playing in the 2008 season.

Michael Weiner, a general counsel for the players' union, told the AP today that there is evidence the owners acted in concert to keep Bonds out of baseball. Weiner said the collusion against Barry was a violation of Article XX (E) of the "Basic Agreement" which states "Players shall not act in concert with other players and clubs shall not act in concert with other clubs."

Ironically, fan attendance went down 1.1 percent from 2007, which I suppose had nothing to do with the absence of the most highly-watched baseball player ever, right? Aside from that, I'd like to debunk every moronic statement I've come across via my article comments on Bleacher Report, the comment sections on mlbtraderumors.com, and the numerous forums I've encountered on the Worldwide Web.

"There is no collusion against Barry Bonds. It's just common sense that no one will hire him."

In America, businesses have the right to hire and fire whomever they want and when they want. But what businesses can't do is discriminate. Yes, there are federal laws against job discrimination. However, we're not talking about MLB owners passing on Barry's services due to individual choice, but rather a unified decision that led to the demise of the greatest player of all-time.

Now, in all fairness, there were some teams who were justified in their decision to leave Bonds alone. The Dodgers, for example, had way too many outfielders and, given the fact they're a National League team without the luxury of having the DH, bringing in Bonds would cause a roster mess.

No, instead they got Manny Ramirez. Funny how things worked out. Another example would be the Nationals, because they're the worst team in baseball and signing Bonds wouldn't have made a difference. In my very first article on Bleacher Report, I wrote, "...any team that falls short in the playoffs or getting there would not have if they had signed Barry Bonds."

Don't tell me the Mets couldn't have used Barry's bat and on-base percentage when they were gagging. How about the other New York team? Lots of home runs over there, right? The Yankees reportedly had a team discussion about Bonds, which led to nothing. Hank Steinbrenner allegedly supported the idea of bringing in Bonds. Maybe he should've taken over as GM for next season instead of Brian Cashman.

How about them red birds? Tony La Russa begged the organization to hire Bonds to bat behind Albert Pujols. Turned out Ryan Ludwick had a great season, but adding Bonds to the mix couldn't have hurt.

Here's one, the Astros. When Carlos Lee got hurt, what did Astros management do? Nothing. Believe it or not, manager Cecil Cooper threatened to quit if the team signed Barry. That's a guy I would never hire to be my manager. The 'Stros were in the wild card race until the very end but came up 3.5 games short behind Milwaukee.

The Rays? Okay, they're probably going to the World Series, and they did it without Bonds. But how many times did we hear about the low attendance at Tropicana Field? The Rays played the Yankees and Red Sox multiple times and the fans didn't show. Not to mention when the Rays were fighting for the A.L. East in September and fans still didn't show. Having a superstar like Barry Bonds would have changed that even when the Royals came into town.

What about the under-achieving Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Orange County of Arte Moreno of the area represented by mayor Curt Pringle and congresswoman Loretta Sanchez? Arte Moreno actually said on Costas Now that he "won't sign Barry Bonds." That's too bad, because they could've used the extra offense. The "best" team in baseball is now recognized as the team who couldn't get it done against the old, broken down Red Sox.

"Barry would cost too much, plus he has baggage."

If you thought Barry would "cost too much," you were sorely mistaken. Midway through the season, Bonds offered to play for a prorated share of the $390,000 league minimum and donate his salary to buy tickets for underprivileged children. That's a far cry from the $19.3 million he made in 2007 with the Giants. The funny thing is, Barry was a free agent, so he wouldn't have cost any players.

Bonds hit .276/.480(major league leading)/.565 with 28 homers, 66 RBI, 75 runs, and 132 walks (also major league leading) in only 340 at-bats last year. He was also the starting left-fielder for the N.L. All-Star team. Those numbers and accomplishments are a strong indication that the man can still play.

As far as the "baggage" goes, that's just a lame excuse to not hire him. What "baggage" are we talking about? Steroids? The attitude? The recliner? None of those things should've been relevant to his ability to perform.

First of all, the steroid allegations began in 2001 when he broke Mark McGwire's record. Why should this year be any different? Barry played six full seasons with the steroid cloud over his head in which he won four MVPs and two batting titles, led his team to the World Series, and hit 268 home runs. Peter Magowan didn't seem to mind all the money he was making off him.

Second of all, Barry's personality has been blown way out of proportion. Other than the Jeff Kent incident, when was the last time you heard about Barry causing a fight in the clubhouse or pulling antics on the field? You never heard anything because it never happened. Barry has a strong personality and at times he can be arrogant, but find me a professional athlete who doesn't have an overblown ego.

So what if he refuses to talk to the media? The media asks him stupid questions in which they receive angry responses and that's what the public sees on ESPN. Barry's no angel, but the press have made him public enemy No. 1. And, of course, the American people believe it. In regards to the famous recliner, I don't know about you, but I love my recliner!

"Barry's too old."

Whatever.

"It's too late to sign Bonds anyway."

New York Mets. Houston Astros.

"Bonds is facing a federal trial."

Now we have something to talk about. It was declared by Judge Susan Ilston on June 6 that Barry Bonds v. U.S. Government wouldn't begin until Mar. 2, 2009. I suppose an owner could make the argument that signing Barry before a set trial date would be a risk.

I suppose there could also be a clause in the contract stating the deal would become void should Barry face the trial during the season. Wow, what a concept! Even if a team signed Bonds on June 6, that would've been roughly four-and-a-half months, plus the postseason of the home-run emperor. There was absolutely no excuse to dismiss Bonds once it became known the trial wouldn't conflict with the remainder of the season.

There you have it. Major League Baseball and the owners colluded against Barry Bonds. To think that such an act of injustice can occur in this country is appalling and disgusting. I'm still convinced Commissioner Bud Selig was behind it. What's to stop Selig from making an agreement with the owners? The owners love Selig. That's why they unanimously re-elected him to be commissioner through 2012.

Selig makes the owners money and that's all they care about. I remember listening to Steve Phillips on ESPN when he said that he spoke with a lot of GMs, in which most of them wanted to pursue Bonds, but their respective owners shot it down.

Bud Selig and Major League Baseball wanted to wash away the poster-child of the "steroid era." They got what they wanted. Bonds was erased from the game. It's amazing what lengths the two of them went in order to illegally and immorally keep Barry from doing his job.

In conclusion, I'm going to have to make a few predictions.

If Barry wins his trial either before or during the regular season, he will try to get back into baseball. According to his agent, Jeff Borris, Barry would still play if given the opportunity.

The result will be the same as it was this year. Barry will have a hard time finding work, and if that happens, the grievance with the union will be filed. It states in Article XX (E) of the "Basic Agreement" that if two or more teams are found to have colluded against a player(s), "any injured Player (or Players) shall be entitled to recover in monetary damages three times the lost baseball income, he (or they) would have had but for the violation."

In the 1980s, major-league owners lost three collusion grievances filed by the union that cost them $280 million. In Bonds' case, according to the agreement, he would stand to make $57.9 million based on his 2007 salary or $1.2 million based on the league minimum. Maybe he'll get both and make $59.1 million. Either way, Barry would essentially be suing Major League Baseball.

So, to everyone out there who hates Barry Bonds, just remember that prejudice is a dangerous habit. People have already formed their opinions on Bonds based on media spin. Bonds has been labeled a cheater and a criminal in this country because people can't think for themselves.

This country was founded on the basic principles of freedom and the pursuit of happiness. Remember that little thing called the Constitution? I guess our founding fathers left out the part where any baseball player who allegedly takes steroids should be banished from their work.

The people who believe a guy like Bonds should go to prison are the same people who think there's nothing more to life than a complicated custom-order from Starbucks, the mall, and American Idol.

And the scary thing is they all vote.

Manny Ramirez Is Too Good to Pass Up

Nick Fera — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:36:58 -0400

I'm getting to the point where I expect Manny Ramirez to get a hit every at-bat. In fact, I'm actually disappointed when he doesn't. However, more importantly, I'm wondering whether the Dodgers will give him the five-year contract he and his agent are looking for. I'm also skeptical about the 2008 Dodgers and their role in the NLCS.

Will Manny stay in L.A.? Given the fan reception and his alleged happiness in Southern California, it only seems logical that Frank McCourt will approve of the infamous five-year, $100 million deal.

Can L.A. afford him? Well, let me ask you this. Can birds fly?

The Dodgers, year-in and year-out, have one of the highest fan attendances in baseball. Three million fans a year is not uncommon in the friendly confines of the Ravine.

Manny says he likes it in L.A. I say he couldn't care less about L.A. or Boston or Cleveland. Frankly, all Manny wants is a monster contract and a competitive team. The Dodgers as of late haven't been competitive.

My prediction: The Dodgers and Manny Ramirez will reach a mutual agreement not to do business with each other.

Why would Manny want such a big contract after he was in the middle of an eight-year, $160 million deal in Boston? Oh, and with club options for '09 and '10 (each worth $20 million).

Manny was already one of the highest paid players in the game. It seems odd that a player of Manny's caliber would want to leave Boston. The Red Sox won the World Series a year ago, they have a good manager in Terry Francona, Fenway has a short left field, and Boston's a cool city.

"Manny being Manny" was never for fun. It was his way of letting the Red Sox know his dissatisfaction with the organization.

We can only speculate, however, as to why Manny acted the way he did for so many years. It's hard to understand why he would've pulled his antics in the beginning, but, as far as this year goes, I will bet that the Red Sox told him they weren't going to pick up the options on his contract. That's $40 million Manny would stand to lose. If I was told I wasn't going to get $40 million I'd be pissed too.

So on July 31, 2008, after a trade to the Dodgers, the "Manny Ramirez Era" came to a close after two World Series, four playoff appearances, and great memories.

It's unfortunate that a lot of people criticize Manny's tenure in Boston, because when I watched him play I saw a great player who cared about his team. If he didn't care about his team, then we might as well erase everything he did in the postseason.

Now that the Manny rumors will begin to swirl very soon (since the Phillies will most likely be in the World Series), I feel that it is my duty as an American to question authority and challenge conventional stupidity.

It appears that the owners are skeptical of signing Manny, not because of the cost and his history, but because of his age.

So he's an old man? OK then, let's check him into a retirement home and get him social security. The only problem is Manny won't qualify for social security for another 29 years.

That's right, folks; he's 36. But his skills aren't "36." He moves around extremely well in left field and around the bases, and his hitting is only getting drastically better.

Remember when Barry Bonds turned 36? He stunk after that. How bad was he? Seventy-three homers, two batting titles, and four MVP's. He did all of that on Melba toast and Diet Shasta while using a motorized scooter. That's why his stolen base numbers went down.

The other excuse from these baseball virgins is the economy. The current economy is in the toilet, and it doesn't make sense for most people to spend a great deal of money. The Steinbrenners and their multiple billions of dollars are lying low right now.

I find it strikingly fruity that these owners would use the economy as an excuse to pass up the best hitter in the game. Signing Manny would automatically boost revenues, and, less importantly to these guys, any team with Manny will get better.

I hate to use this argument because it's so cliché, but Manny makes everyone on his team better. Why do you think the Dodgers are fighting for the pennant this year? Jeff Kent? Manny's impact on the Dodgers goes beyond the numbers. That's why he should be the NL MVP.

Manny should have no problem finding his money, because someone will pay. How do I know that? Because he's Manny Ramirez. I also know that Scott Boras is a master salesman and negotiator. All of his clients (including Andruw Jones) are paid well by their employers.

Get ready, Mets fans, because along with your new stadium comes the prize in the box.

What's the prize? Manny Ramirez.

New York Yankees On The Right Track...But They Need Barry Bonds and a Starter

Nick Fera — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 13:31:55 -0400

As we approach the trade deadline and all the chaotic, last-minute deals, people have to give GM Brian Cashman credit for pulling off a desperately needed trade.

The Yankees sent pitchers Ross Ohlendorf, Jeff Karstens, and Dan McCutchen and outfielder Jose Tabata to the Pirates for Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte.

While the ex-Yankee prospects have shown some value (especially Karstens, who's 6-4 record accompanies a 3.80 ERA with 55 K's in only 12 starts in AAA), this trade signifies a "win-now" attitude in the Bronx with the anticipated addition of a lefty reliever and a needed bat.

With the Yankees front office facing the reality that Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui may require season-ending surgeries, they need all the help they can get.

Just to fill you in on what a remarkable season Nady is having over in Pittsburgh, he's hitting a robust .330 average with 13 homers and 57 RBI. In Marte's case, he's posting a 3.47 ERA with 47 K's in 46.2 innings.

How exactly does Nady help the Yanks? Well, he's a righty and he hits for power. The Yankees already added some righty pop to their lineup with the signing of free agent first baseman Richie Sexson.

With the Sexson and Nady moves, the Yanks now have a more balanced lineup to scare the hell out of opposing pitchers. Besides, can you name anyone else on the Yankees projected to hit over 20 homers besides Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi at this point?

What about Marte? The Yanks have been searching for some bullpen help for quite some time, and the addition of Marte solidifies their middle relief to complement Mariano Rivera.

Now the Yankees have a solid middle relief platoon with Marte, Kyle Farnsworth, and Edwar Ramirez.

The surging Yanks could also use a starter. As I'm writing, the Yanks and Mariners are in negotiations for a potential deal that would include the acquisition of Jarrod Washburn (4-9; 4.75 ERA; 65 K's) for possibly Melky Cabrera, Brett Gardner, and/or Kei Igawa.

As far as their offense goes, I think the Yankees could still use Barry Bonds.

As we all know, the Yankees' top brass met in Tampa, Fla., to discuss potential trades before the deadline and the possibility of signing free agent Barry Bonds.

According to various reports, Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner seemed open to the idea of pursuing Bonds while the other officials (including Cashman) didn't seem too enthusiastic about it.

In fact, a source told ESPN's Buster Olney that the Bonds pursuit is "highly unlikely." I think it would be "highly unlikely" the Yanks could win the pennant (let alone the World Series) without Bonds.

Whether Bonds is popular with the fans or not is a meaningless issue. Should perceived public sentiment supersede the idea of picking up of most feared hitter in the game?

Think about Bonds in a Yankee uniform. He could DH, play some left field, and solidify the middle of the order and REALLY scare the hell out of opposing pitchers.

Bonds posted a major-league leading 132 walks last season with the Giants, but he hasn't garnered serious interest from any teams this year. The D'Backs flirted with the idea of signing Bonds after Eric Byrnes hit the DL (instead they signed Tony Clark, go figure that out) but Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, has said his biggest client hasn't received a single offer, not even for the league minimum.

In fact, Bonds said he would play for the minimum wage and donate his salary to buy tickets for underprivileged children. Look at what the Yankees have here: a chance to sign a run producer and the greatest hitter since Ted Williams for dirt cheap! Plus, he'd be doing good work for the community.

The Yanks should take a step back and realize what a golden opportunity they have. You might be saying "Dude, what are you smoking?" right now, but let me explain how Barry (even with Nady and Sexson in the lineup) could squeeze into the mix.

Let's take a look at the new guys, Sexson and Nady. We know that Sexson and his killer .216 average shouldn't be tolerated on a team that has championship hopes.

However, Sexson eats up lefty pitching (.328 average) so he would have to either pinch hit against a lefty or platoon with Giambi. Giambi's valuable, so if I were Joe Girardi, I wouldn't platoon Sexson that often.

Nady, on the other hand, is a definite threat, so he would have to start in left field thus pushing Damon to center field. The only problem is their current center fielder, Melky Cabrera, would have to sit, but don't be surprised if he's dealt to Grunge-town. Even if he stays in New York, he's not a threat in that lineup.

Bonds would have to be the starting DH, but Girardi could also throw him in left field on occasion. I've heard that Bonds has lost about 20 pounds since last season, which would definitely increase his mobility in the field and on the bases.

Now you might be saying "Dude, Bonds hasn't played all year or faced live pitching, so he would probably stink." That might be true, but I seriously doubt it.

Remember when Barry missed most of the 2005 season due to knee surgeries? Remember what he did when he came back for the final 14 games? That's right, he hit .286 with five homers. Not too shabby for a dude who didn't "play all year" or "face live pitching."

If Barry got signed today and rolled in on Aug. 1, he would have approximately 54 games in the regular season to do some damage. Barry wouldn't need that much time to prepare for the remainder of this season, because he's so good.

Now you might be screaming at your computer: "Nick, you're delusional! What about the distractions and baggage Bonds brings with him? The cancer he brings into the clubhouse?".

(BTW, I always found the whole "cancer" thing regarding Bonds to be quite hilarious. I've known people who died from cancer, and I don't think they caught it from Barry Bonds. But I could be wrong).

Well I admit, I am a dreamer...but I'm also a realist. The New York Yankees thrive on distractions and drama. That's George Steinbrenner's M.O. No disrespect to any of these guys, but look at A-Rod's divorce and his alleged extra-marital affairs or Andy Pettitte's HGH use or Giambi's BALCO connections or, dare I say, the golden thong?

All kidding aside, Bonds would be a perfect fit in the Yankee clubhouse. Ask "El Capitan" (Derek Jeter) or Bobby Abreu or A-Rod or Johnny Damon. They all endorsed signing Bonds.

Oh yeah, I forgot that Bonds is also under federal indictment. For those of you (including the Yankees) who think that could be a potential distraction, I want to whisper something to all of you.

Come closer, closer, just a little bit closer...HIS TRIAL WON'T START UNTIL NEXT MARCH! Sure, it could be a personal distraction for Barry, but the team, too?

The Yankees can't afford to sit back right now. They're in a very tight division race and they need to beef up their team.

The Rays scare me because they have five legitimate starting pitchers, not to mention a potent offense. The Red Sox won the World Series last year and they have just about the same team. The Sox have the threats of Manny and Papi plus a strong starting rotation and a powerhouse closer.

The Bronx Bombers need to act now!

Projected Yankees lineup

Damon-CF

Jeter-SS

Rodriguez-3B

Bonds-DH

Nady-LF

Giambi-1B (or Sexson)

Abreu-RF

Cano-2B

Molina-C

Josh Hamilton: Focus on His Talent, Not His Struggles

Nick Fera — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:29:46 -0400

If you watched this guy in the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium, you should know how talented he is. If you've been following him this season, you should realize how great he is. If you followed his rookie season last year with the Reds (.292/19 HR/47 RBI/298 AB), you should have also realized how much potential he has.

Josh Hamilton is hitting .310 with 21 homers and a stunning 95 RBI. He's a monster to say the least. Hamilton is on pace to hit over 160 RBI and he's bringing positive national attention to a team that hasn't been in the spotlight since the "A-Rod era."

Josh Hamilton: definite AL MVP candidate, a superstar on the best offense in baseball, and he's only making $397,000. Look for this guy to get an impressive A-Rod-like contract if he keeps raking.

However, something has been troubling me since Hamilton became a hero overnight. As we all know, he has dealt with drug and alcohol problems, impeding his progress as a major league ballplayer.

From 2002 through most of 2006 as a minor leaguer, Hamilton did not appear in a single baseball game until the end of the 2006 season when he played 15 games for the Hudson Valley Renegades (Class A-short season affiliate of the Rays).

During his period of absence, Hamilton had a spiritual awakening and turned his addiction over to a higher power. Since the start of this season, Hamilton has been labeled as a "great player" but also a "great story."

What does that mean exactly? That he was smart enough and cared enough to give up drugs? He loved the game more than his nasty habits?

I say he's just a heck of a player. What he does behind closed doors is none of my business and, frankly, nobody else's. The fact that he had enough discipline to quit his addictions is truly honorable, but that shouldn't be the centerpiece of the Josh Hamilton hysteria.

He's having an amazing season and he's on his way to the top of the league at the young age of 27.

Alex Rodriguez: Good Decision To Pass On Home Run Derby

Nick Fera — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:58:50 -0400

I'm not even going to write an introduction to this article, I'll just come right out and say it. Do people really give a damn whether A-Rod participates in the Home Run Derby?!

Of course, why didn't I realize this before? It's the last All-Star game at Yankee Stadium and it's going to be in front of his home fans...BFD!!! What obligation does he have to the fans after they almost booed him out of New York a couple years ago?

Much to my surprise, the media has been sympathetic to A-Rod's reasoning for pulling out of the derby. For some players, swinging for the fences multiple times in a short amount of time can actually damage their mental state, thus resulting in physical stress and poor mechanics.

The way it works is the mind wants to hit the home run, but as time goes on and fatigue becomes a factor the body can't produce. Meanwhile, all mechanics go out the door and you're left with a sloppy swing, a mental dilemma, and total lack of composure and discipline.

What I found intriguing was A-Rod's stats after he participated in the Home Run Derby in 2002, in which he hit .294 with 30 homers and 69 RBI for the rest of the season.

For the rest of July, he went 15-55 and hit five homers. That's remarkable for a lot of guys, but for A-Rod that's only a .273 average. We've seen slumping numbers before following the Home Run Derby.

The most notable one being Bobby Abreu in the 2005 season. He had 18 home runs by the All-Star break yet he finished the year with only 24. Don't forget that he was hitting .307 going into the derby, and he hit .260 afterward.

Remember David Wright in 2006? He had 20 homers going into the derby yet he finished the year with 26.

All the hitters who can perform in an event like the Home Run Derby and cease to feel the effects in the aftermath are the ideal participants. Guys like Jason Giambi or Ryan Howard come to mind because they swing for the fences every single time.

Given the current offensive situation with the Yankees and their quest for their 27th World Series, A-Rod needs to be focused and produce runs. Stick with what you've been doing Alex, the Yankees are going to need you in the second half.

Barry Bonds: Agent Calling League's Bluff A Wise Move

Nick Fera — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:57:05 -0400

Well, here we are. Roughly three weeks away from the All-Star break and not a word on Barry Bonds (at least baseball-wise). His trial is set for March 2 of next year, he's in shape, he wants to play, but no one wants him.

According to Barry's agent, Jeff Borris, when asked about Bonds playing in an independent league: "He has nothing to prove there. He doesn't need to go to an independent team and hit two home runs a night hoping to get attention to prove that he still has the skills that would warrant him playing at the major league level. His performance in 2007 demonstrates that he's capable of playing at the major league level for the 2008 season."

Instead of discussing the insanity of the idea of Bonds playing in the "beer-league", I'd like to do a little arithmetic for you.

In case you didn't know, Bonds led the majors in two very valuable offensive categories last season, walks and on-base percentage. In fact, his on-base percentage was .480, which means he got on base in 48% of his plate appearances. Any decent general manager would be salivating over that number.

Anyway, let's assume Barry Bonds played on the Yankees last season. Leading the majors in batting average and runs scored, the Yankees were the most dominating offensive force in baseball last season. Now for some math.

Alex Rodriguez (AL MVP and major league leader in home runs and RBI last year) drove in 156 runs, in which 98 of those were achieved with runners in scoring position. Translation: 63% of A-Rod's RBI (the majority) were earned with RISP.

A-Rod also hit 36 of his 54 home runs with men on base. Translation: 67% of his homers (the majority) were hit with men on base. Here's where it gets interesting.

Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, and Bobby Abreu batted in front of A-Rod, in which the cumulative OBP for the three of them was .370. This is assuming, of course, that in every game the first four batters were Damon, Jeter, Abreu, and Rodriguez (in that order).

Johnny Damon had the lowest OBP of the three, so let's get rid of him and plug Barry Bonds into that batting order. So now we have Jeter, Abreu, Bonds, and Rodriguez. Now the cumulative OBP of the three rises to .404. This is assuming that the imaginary lineup of those three was in use for all 162 games.

Translation: if Bonds were a Yankee last year, 40% of the time the bases were loaded for A-Rod.

Of course, all that math isn't a guarantee for a World Series, but it sure as hell guarantees that any productive offensive team would benefit tremendously by having Bonds in the lineup.

Aside from the stats and the idea of Barry playing in an independent league, Jeff Borris also said Barry would play for free, donating whatever money he makes to buy tickets for children...and still nobody wants him.

Amazingly, Bonds has been offered to all 30 major league teams for a prorated share of the $390,000 league minimum...and still nobody wants him. Is this really happening?

If this isn't proof of collusion then I don't know what is. To all major league owners and general mangers: forget your infantile delusions of alienating fans by signing Bonds or Bonds attracting a giant media circus that would impede your team's success—we're talking about the greatest player of all-time and still one of the elite hitters in the game playing for only $390,000!

As a bonus, he's going to do good work for the community by purchasing tickets for kids. Come on Major League Baseball, prove that you have nothing against Barry and take him up on his offer.

Kenny Lofton: Where is He?

Nick Fera — Thu, 29 May 2008 08:46:18 -0400

There is no reason why Kenny Lofton should still be a free agent. At the age of 40, he managed to hit .296, rack up 145 hits, and pick up 23 steals in 136 games. Last we heard, Kenny received a minor-league offer from the Reds, which he turned down as an insult (rightfully so). Do you mean to tell me that not a single team couldn't use his services? He's a versatile outfielder and he's healthy. Buying Lofton is hardly a risk.

Personally, I think the Cubs are the best fit for Kenny. The Cubs are contending this year, and Lofton is a proven and experienced postseason player. However, picking up Jim Edmonds (who was released by the Padres earlier this year) was a mistake, and the Cubs' management should have thought a little harder about their center-field spot.

All they would have to do is either trade Edmonds (which would be hard to do), make him a backup, or release him. Lofton should without question be the starting center fielder on the Cubs. His speed, defense, and hitting would be a tremendous upgrade to (in my opinion) the best team in the National League.

Although I'm a vocal supporter of the other free agent out there, I can understand why teams have been hesitant to sign Barry Bonds. What if his trial begins earlier than expected? His next court date is scheduled for June 6, and that may be the answer to Barry playing this season. On the other hand, what the hell is Kenny involved in? Sign him already!

Steinbrenner in New York: Hank Mad at Yanks

Nick Fera — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:28:20 -0400

With a 20-21 record and 3.5 games behind the division leading Rays, it's clear Hank Steinbrenner isn't happy.

Why should he be? They have the highest payroll in baseball, and so far the 2008 Yankees have been a disaster. Here is why the Yankees are bad:

Their pitching is awful. The young guys like Phil Hughes (whom Hank was hesitant to trade for Johan Santana) and Ian Kennedy haven't lived up to their expectations, and Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina have been merely okay.

On the bright side, Darrell Rasner has been throwing quite well and Mussina has shown a definite improvement. And, of course, Chien-Ming Wang has been unstoppable. Statistically, the Yanks pitching ranks ninth in the AL in ERA and sixth in runs allowed. What they should have done: picked up Johan Santana.

They can't score runs. They rank eighth in the league in runs, which is unlikely for a team that also ranks fourth in the league in home runs. Oh wait a minute, I got it! A team .328 OBP wouldn't allow for many runs scored, would it? What they should do: try to get more guys on base.

A-Rod is hurt. Although he's scheduled to return next week, the team has been missing him. A-Rod hit four homers and drove in 11 runs before he went on the DL. Since he's been injured, the Yankees are 5-8.

Jason Giambi hasn't been producing. Sure, he's got seven homers and 20 RBI, but he's batting .188. Apparently, his $23.4 million isn't paying off. What they should do: trade Giambi for some pitching, sign Barry Bonds as a DH, move Johnny Damon to first base, and shift Hideki Matsui to left field.

Let's see if Hank Steinbrenner can get his team out of the hole he has dug himself in.

Barry Bonds in Mo-Town!

Nick Fera — Tue, 13 May 2008 20:42:26 -0400

Let me start by saying that the Tigers are not finished. Despite their dismal 16-23 record (last place in the AL Central), I believe their talent will get them through this funk.

However, their pitching is unreliable (especially their bullpen), and being second in the league in runs allowed is not something to smile about. Their starting rotation, however, has proven aces like Justin Verlander and Kenny Rogers, and it's logical to assume they'll get back to their old ways.

Offensively, in the AL, Detroit ranks in the top five in batting average and runs scored...not too shabby. Although statistically, the Tigers lineup is effective, it's hard to believe their offense hasn't carried them to the top. While guys like Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen have been swinging the bat well, Detroit's power-hitters, Gary Sheffield and Miguel Cabrera, have a combined .238 average with only eight homers.

So where and how does Bonds fit in?

Well, the Tigers recently released left fielder Jacque Jones. Due to the transaction, manager Jim Leyland shifted Sheffield from DH to left field and Marcus Thames from bench to DH. Thames is not nearly as effective as Bonds, plus he's a righty. Detroit needs to add another left-handed bat to complement Curtis Granderson and switch-hitting Carlos Guillen.

If the Tigers make the move and get Bonds, then presumably he and Sheffield will split DH and left field duties. Off the field, Leyland is still close friends with Barry, and although GM Dave Dombrowski has denied interest in Bonds...well, you get the picture. The Tigers need to sign Bonds.

What about the distractions and baggage?

According to Ken Rosenthal of foxsports.com, Gary Sheffield is hip to the idea of bringing in Barry. And personally, I think the Bonds-media distraction is just the kick in the ass Detroit needs. They have the second-highest payroll in the majors, and for a struggling team that sure isn't living up to the hype (nor the $139 million), the expense of Barry is hardly a major investment.

Bare Market For Barry Bonds? Believe It.

Nick Fera — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:26:54 -0400

Well, here we are. It's well over a month into the 2008 season and not a word on Barry Bonds. Something stinks here, so let's dig into the trash and find out what it is.

In the case of Bonds, we all know his story. However, it seems obvious at this point that Major League Baseball wants nothing to do with this guy. They want him to fade away, to disappear...whatever it is there is some definite collusion going on.

The liberal use of the term "collusion" has encouraged me to make a quick visit to dictionary.com. There are two definitions of the term, one of which pertains to law.

The legal definition is "a secret understanding between two or more persons to gain something illegally, to defraud another of his or her rights, or to appear as adversaries though in agreement."

Bonds undeniably has a right to play, or to at least be given a fair reason from the league as to why he's unemployed.

The alternate definition, which more closely relates to Major League Baseball and Barry Bonds, is "a secret agreement, esp. for fraudulent or treacherous purposes; conspiracy."

Anybody with two eyes can plainly see the anti-Bonds bias within the league. How can this guy not be playing? His trial won't begin until after the baseball season, he can still hit and play some left field, and he's a ticket seller. Does the league honestly believe they could just sweep this under the rug like potato chip crumbs? This is a major issue they're going to have to deal with.

According to Barry Bloom of MLB.com, Barry Bonds himself asked the MLBPA to file a grievance on his behalf due to his lingering free-agent status. Jeff Borris, his agent, says Bonds is ready to go and still wants to play. However, Borris stated that he hasn't received any offers for his client (not even for the league minimum), and he isn't sure whether Bonds will be in a uniform this season.

This makes me sick, and every baseball fan, pro- or anti-Bonds, should be offended by the utter discrimination the league has subscribed to. Bud Selig has talked about how much the fans want a "level-playing field" in relation to the steroids issue, but what about purposely keeping a working player out of the game? Is that fair?

I can't say for sure, but I will bet that during the meeting where Selig got together with all the team owners about resuming his role as commissioner, Bud made it perfectly clear his final wishes on Barry Bonds. But why are the numerous other players linked to steroids in the Mitchell Report still on a team? It makes perfect sense. Bonds is the poster-child for the steroid era which Selig presided over. Selig wants to "clean up" the game in order to get the press of his back; so what better way to accomplish those goals than by blackballing Barry Bonds from baseball?

In regards to Bonds playing this season, I wouldn't be surprised one way or the other. I think it's very possible that some team will get desperate and give him a call, because they will realize his value far outweighs any backlash from the league or Selig himself. It's also possible that Barry will be forced to retire.

I don't want to sound like a politician, but the United States is supposed to be a country of opportunity. How can anybody honestly believe that Bonds doesn't deserve to be playing and doing what he loves? I've always said, and I will always stand by my statement, that if you don't like Bonds, then you don't like yourself. It's one thing to know somebody and not like them, but to not know somebody and not like them is prejudice and un-American.

The Barry Bonds Remedy To The Ailing Bird

Nick Fera — Thu, 01 May 2008 08:22:33 -0400

Something very intriguing occurred to me last week when Frank Thomas signed with Oakland. First I thought the obvious, "Why in the hell didn't Oakland sign Bonds?", then I thought, "What sort of value would Bonds bring to Toronto?". As you all know, the Blue Jays released Frank Thomas due to his poor offensive production (although he did have 3 homers). This was clearly a stupid decision on Toronto's part not only from a financial perspective (they had to eat $9 million) but more importantly, it just doesn't seem ethical from the baseball side. Thomas is still a major presence at the plate and he can still hit. The only difference is the 40+ homer and .350 years are behind him, but Toronto cheated themselves by not giving Frank a chance to work the kinks out. Maybe all he needed was some coaching. If that's the case, wouldn't you rather take the time to help your best power-hitter on a team that clearly lacks power than blow $9 million? Mark my word, Frank Thomas will be a major part of the A's resurgence this year.

I'd like to take this time to inform everybody what Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi has been spouting off. Last night, on his call-in radio show, Ricciardi had some interesting things to say about bringing in Bonds and the future of the Jays: "I will never do anything out of fear, I'm not afraid to lose my job. I'm not afraid to do what's right. I believe in what we're doing here. If it's not good enough, it's not good enough." How do you like that? Does this sound like a guy who should be the general manager of a professional ball club? That last sentence is proof that Ricciardi has a bad attitude about his team. Here's something else: "But I'm not going to trade my integrity to bring people here that I don't think stand for what we should stand for. It's almost laughable to a point where the fans are willing to sell their soul for a guy that we don't even know if he has anything left." Okay J.P., what do you stand for? Mediocre fan attendance? Not making a playoff appearance during your 6 season tenure as GM? Maybe you just can't read. Apparently there's a colossal gap between both leagues where NL player stats are forbidden from leaking into the front offices of AL teams. Is it because the AL resents the fact that the NL hasn't adopted the DH? All kidding aside, Barry clearly has more left in the tank and his numbers last season (which he earned on the worst offensive team in the NL) prove it.

Toronto could certainly use Barry's bat in replacement of Frank Thomas and from all the web sites and forums out there, it seems that the attitude amongst most Jays fans is pro-Bonds. They want to win, they want a superstar, and they want excitement; all of which Bonds provides. I think Toronto can compete this year. They have the talent and their pitching has been exceptional, but they seem to fall short in the runs department. Most of Toronto's losses have been the result of close games. It's comical how a team that's 11-17 and only 5.5 games back can be so prejudice toward Bonds.