Bad To The Bone! David Ortiz Ejected After "Bad Call" and Bryan Price's F Bombs the Media

Ortiz was ejected from Sunday's game after arguing a check-swing that was called a strike. While he fumed about that, Ortiz bumped umpire John Tumpane. That's a no-no and MLB popped Papi for it. (watch it: here)

Image Credit: csnne.com

Ortiz got tossed in the the middle of an at-bat in the fifth inning after disputing the second check-swing call of the game that had gone against him. Third-base umpire Jerry Meals made both calls but Tumpane, working behind the plate, gave Ortiz the boot after Papi and Meals started chirping at each other.

"The discussion was our disagreement with a couple check swings Jerry Meals called today," Red Sox manager John Farrell said after the game, via the Boston Herald. "We didn’t feel like on either one he went. On the first at-bat it doesn’t really have an outcome because he ends up walking. Those are quick rings on the check swing and it didn’t feel like he swung on either one."

From the league office:

Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz has received a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for making contact with Umpire John Tumpane during the bottom of the fifth inning of the Club’s Sunday, April 19th game against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. Joe Garagiola, Jr., Senior Vice President of Standards & On-Field Operations for Major League Baseball, made the announcement.

The ejection in what became an 8-3 Orioles win prompted a lecture from Baltimore broadcaster Jim Palmer, which quickly earned a rebuttal from Ortiz.​ Palmer didn’t travel to the game, but took his shot at Big Papi on Twitter after he jawed with home plate umpire John Tumpane. Then the three-time Cy Young winner took a jab at Ortiz's Hall of Fame chances by bringing up the 2003 failed drug test Ortiz viciously disputes.

Image Credit: twitter.com/Jim22Palmer


“That’s how he wants to get respect from us? Is that how he wants me to respect him? It’s not going to happen,” Ortiz said Monday, via FoxSports.com. “I thought that he was one of my guys … All of a sudden now he’s killing me, huh? I guess anybody who wants to get famous or make some noise comes to Papi, right?”

Palmer expectedly got some heat from the always outspoken Redsox fans on Twitter for his attack on arguably the most beloved sports figure in Boston, but he was a good sport about it and even had fun with a new hashtag.

Image Credit: twitter.com/Jim22Palmer

Reds manager Bryan Price showed the same frustration that has welled up among the team's fanbase as the team came off four straight losses and seven losses in eight games.

Image Credit: DeadSpin.com

Price attacked Cincinnati Enquirer beat reporter C. Trent Rosecrans in a lengthy and profane rant that accused the scribe of being too good at the job of accurately reporting news about the Cincinnati Reds.

The Enquirer had previously and accurately reported that the Reds’ All-Star catcher, Devin Mesoraco, wasn’t with the team forSunday’s loss in St. Louis. This enraged Price, who accused the paper of, basically, treason in a rant that totaled, by the Enquirer’s count, 77 f-bombs.

(Listen to the rant here: https://soundcloud.com/bubbaprog4/fight-gannett-censorship)

A excerpt from a transcript of the interview:

Bryan Price (BP): Can I ask you a question?

C. Trent Rosecrans (CTR): Sure

BP: I don't understand what the importance is for everybody to know if we have a player that's not here. We don't benefit from the other teams knowing we don't have a player. It does — you don't have to be a Reds fan, but it doesn't help us if our opponents know who is here and who isn't. That's what I want to know.

CTR: Well, as a fan, I'm wondering, here's a spot for Devin Mesoraco, why isn't he there?

BP: Where was the spot?

CTR: As a pinch-hitter? He's an All-Star with 25 home runs last year, I know I asked if it was a left-handed bat thing, you said no.

BP: I don't get it. It's, you know, look, I don't need you guys to be fans of the Reds, I just need to know if there's something we want to keep here, it stays here. We don't need to know that Tucker Barnhart's in the f****** airport when we haven't spoken to Kyle Skipworth. I think we owe that f******* kid the right to be called and told that he's going to be sent down as opposed to reading that Tucker Barnhart is on his way from Louisville. I just... I don't get it. I don't get why it's got to be this way. Has it always been this way where we just tell f****** everybody everything? So every f****** opponent we have has to know exactly what we have. Which f****** relievers are available, which guys are here and which guys aren't here, when they can play, and what they can do. It's nobody's f****** business. It's certainly not the opponent's business. We have to deal with this f****** b*******.

I like to talk — and I have spoken as candidly as I can with you people, if that's not good enough, I won't say a f******thing. I'll go, 'yes sir, no sir.' And I can do that. But f***, I've been as candid as I can f****** be about this team and our players, and we've got to deal with this s***, every f****** team that we f****** play has to know every f****** guy that's here and what they can and can't do? F*** me. It's a f****** disgrace. I'm f****** sick of this s***. It's f****** hard enough to f****** win here to have f****** every f****** opponent know exactly what the f*** we bring to the table every day. It's f****** horse****. I don't like it. It's what I'm saying. To make it very clear, I don't like the way that this s***'s going — at all. I don't like it. I don't think you guys need to know everything. And I certainly don't think you need to see something and tweet it out there and make it a f****** world event. How the f*** do we benefit from them knowing we don't have Devin Mesoraco? How do we benefit from that? They benefit from it. I just want to know how we benefit from these f****** people know we don't have a player here. Can you answer that? How is that good for the Reds?

CTR: I don't know…

BP: Yeah, well it's making my job f****** harder.

CTR: I'm sure it is.

BP: Well, thank you. I don't know if that's what we're supposed to do. Are we supposed to f****** open up everything here for everybody to know all the f****** time? That's all I want to know, what your expectations are, because f*** me. If I've got f****** to tell these guys, we gotta go out there and they know we don't have f****** Devin Mesoraco, what f****** benefit is that to me as a manager? And our team to win a f****** game?

CTR: He hasn't been there for a week-and-a-half.

BP: I just want an answer on how we benefit from them knowing that Devin Mesoraco isn't here.

CTR: I don't think you do and I don't know that that's my job.

BP: Your job is not to sniff out every f****** thing is about the Reds and f****** put it out there for every other f****** guy to hear. It's not your job. You want me to be candid with you? I've been candid with you. I f****** talk to you guys like men, I tell you what the f***'s going on with the team, I tell you how I'm feeling as candidly as I can and then this s***? You've got to watch this f****** s***? I've got to f****** read that on a f****** Tweet on our own people in here that we don't have a f****** player? How the f*** does that benefit the Reds? It doesn't benefit us one f****** bit. God **** we try to go out there and win f****** games and I got to come in here and then you guys f****** blow it all over the f****** place? Who we can play? Who we can't? I'll tell you what you want to know, I'm not going to f****** lie to you. I didn't tell you f****** s***.

CTR: You did not lie to me and I appreciate it.

BP: Ah, f***. I'm just, I'm f****** p****** up a rope in this f****** business. Because everyone has to know everything all the f****** time. That's not my f****** obligation, it's not their obligation. You know why f****** Billy Hamilton didn't f****** play? The other day? Because his f****** finger's hurt and he couldn't hit right-handed comfortably. Right? So that's something that I need to know and no one else needs to know. No one else needs to f****** know it, and all of a sudden it's out there. His f****** fingers are sore. It doesn't benefit us. It wasn't from you, but it doesn't benefit us one bit to f****** announce to the f****** other teams that we're playing to bring in lefties when they need to f****** get Billy out. There's no benefit. So, I'm f******, to be honest with you, I'm f****** sick of this s***. I'm sick of listening to this f****** s***, I'm sick of f****** the f****** second-guessing b*******, you guys can do whatever the f*** you want, but I'll tell you this — I'm not going to f****** tell you everything about this f****** club, because you f****** guys are going to out there and sniff it out anyway. I don't f****** like it one f****** bit. I bend over backwards to be honest and direct with you f****** guys and you stick it right up my f****** a** — and the f****** team's a**. And I'm sick of it. What do you got? If you don't got anything, get out and I'll do this f****** interview with Marty. You don't have anything? Just get out, please.

Image Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

If tempers are flaring this much already, this is going to be a really intense season (and I haven't even talked about the weekend-long Royals-Athletics brawl).


Christine O'Connor
@christineeeeO

As Carlos Beltran Continues to Struggle, is it Time to Explore Other Options?

Entering 2015, the New York Yankees were planning to rely on Carlos Beltran being the No. 3 hitter they believe they signed to a three-year, $45-million contract two offseasons ago. But his 2014 season was a complete disaster. Plagued by a bone spur in his right elbow, Beltran turned the worst full-season performance of his nearly 20-year career, hitting .233 with 15 homers and 49 RBI in 109 games.

Image Credit: USATODAY.com

The Yankees' manager Joe Girardi doesn't seem too concerned about Beltran's struggle. 

"There's nothing that I see that's necessarily (wrong)," Girardi said. "Does his bat speed look different to me? No. Just he's gotten off to a slow start and hopefully the consistent at-bats will get him going."

While Beltran entered Sunday night's game against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium among many Yankees underperforming at the plate, his numbers were particularly ugly.

In 22 at-bats, the 38-year-old right fielder was hitting .100 with no homers and two RBI. He had walked once and struck out six times.

The Yankees have only played five total games, but it's worth noting that Beltran only has two hits through 20 plate appearances. Both of those hits were doubles. At this point, Beltran is one of many bounce back candidates filling up the Yankees lineup, but there are other options that can be explored to fill right field. Chris Young and Garrett Jones can both play outfield, and in more limited playing time, both have looked better than him at the plate.

Image Credit: John Bazemore AP

What do you think the Yankees should do with Beltran? Let him ride the bench? Keep him in the lineup and hope he improves?

Christine O'Connor

@christineeeeO

Alex Rodriguez to Debut at 1B Sunday, Mark Teixeira's New Diet, and David Ortiz Fights Steroid Allegations Once Again.

On Sunday, Alex Rodriguez will play first base in a major-league ballgame -- in fact, in a ballgame at any level -- for the first time in his life.

Image Credit: Corey Sipkin/ New York Daily News

"I'm excited about it," he said. "I told Joe [Girardi] to really keep a close eye on me. He said he will."

Rodriguez has taken a few grounders at first this spring, and earlier this week Girardi said he worked on some of the finer points of the position, such as where to go on relays from the outfield and how to defense the bunt. But in truth, Rodriguez has only scratched the surface of learning the position; his brand-new first baseman's glove is still being broken in for him by a clubbie.

"I haven't even started to learn," he said. "I've done a few things. I'll tell you about it after [the game]."

Rodriguez has had a pretty good spring at the plate (.303, 2 HRs, 3 RBI), is the  third option at first base, behind Mark Teixeira and backup Garrett Jones. Mainly, his responsibilities will be to DH and play a little third base to give Chase Headley a day off now and then.

Image Credit: Associated Press

According to Mark Teixeira, he lost 13 pounds of fat and added 15 pounds of muscle this offseason in hopes to stay healthy and get back to his old production.

“Last year was really, really difficult, physically and mentally,’’ said Teixeira, who was limited to 123 games due to a lingering right wrist problem as well as a back injury. “I felt like garbage all season. When you are feeling like that and trying to perform, you get beaten down and you wonder, ‘Am I ever going to be the same?’ This offseason I asked my body to do a lot of things, and it responded. That’s the exciting thing, everything I wanted to accomplish I did, and I feel great going into the season.’’

So the latest cure-all, the latest bid to get back to the 30-home run, 100-RBI plateaus that Teixeira has been chasing since he last reached them in 2011, is diet. This winter, he hired a new trainer and embarked on a quest to reduce inflammation in his body via the food he eats.

“I think the diet was a big thing; I had a really high inflammatory diet,” Teixeira said. “When I told my trainer I had three cortisone shots in my wrist and two in my back, he said, ‘It sounds like you have a lot of inflammation in your body.’ Hopefully taking care of those type of things, the aches and pains, the little muscle pulls and the inflammation in your joints, hopefully those things go away.”

With that goal in mind, Teixeira did away with foods containing dairy, gluten or sugar—he calls it the “no-fun diet”—and replaced those perceived offenders with leaner foods like bison and salmon. It’s a variation on a health movement known as “elimination diets,” wherein entire food groups are cut out in an effort to avoid either their fattening or inflammatory effects.

“No gluten, no dairy, no sugar,’’ Teixeira said of the diet Prentiss suggested to curb the inflammation running through Teixeira’s body. “We attacked all those things I have been having and I got myself really strong. I feel really strong. I was weaker than I had ever been in my entire career last year.’’

I think I can speak for all Yankee fans when I say that it would be great to see Tex get back to his old- 30 home run-100 RBI form.

Image Credit: thebiglead.com

For whatever reason, David Ortiz decided the dog days of spring training in 2015 were the right time to take on the topic of his suspected steroid past again, seemingly throwing some caution to the wind while laying out his timeline of events, as well as some other inaccuracies that pepper his  2,396-word piece at The Players' Tribune.

He wrote, “I never knowingly took any steroids.’’ This is the old Barry Bonds defense. The word “knowingly” is an indicator of ignorance. You are a professional athlete. It’s up to you to know what you are taking. Don’t use the ignorance defense.

“In some people’s minds, I will always be considered a cheater,” Ortiz writes. “And that’s bull****. Mark my words: Nobody in MLB history has been tested for PEDs more than me. You know how many times I’ve been tested since 2004? More than 80. They say these tests are random. If it’s really random, I should start playing the damn lottery. Some people still think the testing is a joke. It’s no joke. Ten times a season these guys come into the clubhouse or my home with their briefcases. I have never failed a single one of those tests and I never will.”

Those are the bold, harsh, and defiant words from Ortiz, who probably doesn’t want it pointed out that Alex Rodriguez has never failed an MLB drug test under those parameters either. For all their profane bravado, Ortiz's words managed to do little to silence his critics. If he accomplished anything, it may have opened old wounds and invited further question of his motives.

Ortiz’s name was linked to performance-enhancing drugs in 2009, when The New York Times reported that he and former teammate Manny Ramirez were among the roughly 100 Major League Baseball players to test positive for illicit substances in 2003. Ortiz has varied his handling of the topic over the years, from vehemently pledging to get to the bottom of it six years ago, to ignoring the accusations outright, to coming out guns blazing at a time when nobody was publicly pressing the issue.

It's baffling as to why Ortiz felt the need to bring up such a controversial issue when nobody was talking about it. Is this an indicator of guilt? Or is he that desperate to clear his PED tarnished name?

Christine O'Connor

@christineeeeO

Yoan Moncada: Why the Yankees Didn't Get Him and How It Might Hurt Them

Switch-hitting Cuban sensation Yoan Moncada, just 19, will be playing his future home games at Fenway Park because the Yankees reportedly did not want to spend an extra $9 million. 

After months of speculation and rumors, the auction for Yoan Moncada's services has ended and the Red Sox have signed the Cuban prospect for about $63 million in total bonuses and penalties. People had initially blamed Brian Cashman for for not signing him, but it seems that he couldn't Hal Steinbrenner to get any higher than $32 Million. 

​

Image Credit: bostonglobe.com 

The days of the blank checkbook seem to be over the Yankees. 

The Yankees clearly have the money and financial might to acquire a player in that dollar range, so seeing the Steinbrenners place a hard cap on bidding is quite illogical. This all under the assumption that Hal did in fact place a cap, which is not obvious, so we may never know the truth. If the front office's dollar value estimation was at all higher than their rival's bid, then this strategy is not only illogical, but largely damaging to the long-term health of the club. 

The Yankees, under GM Brian Cashman and the Steinbrenner family without George, spend most of their time figuring ways to pay less luxury tax and scheming for angles to avoid paying Alex Rodriguez bonus money on a contract they stupidly agreed to extend back in 2007.

When they fell to last place in the AL East during the lost summer of Bobby Valentine, the Red Sox took a fire hose to both the manager’s office and the roster, and stormed back to win the World Series in 2013. Now, after again finishing last in the AL East in 2014 at 71-91,they’re again positioned to make significant hay in the division. They played it smart in July, dealing away most of their rotation and jump-starting the rebuilding process toward 2015. Then this offseason, the acquired Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez, which will greatly boost both their offense and defense. 

The Red Sox have acted wisely in order to revamp their team. The Yankees, however, have been less than efficient in rebuilding their team. They could learn a lesson from the Red Sox in the art of wheeling and dealing. Boston formed a team that all the teams in the AL East will struggle greatly against- especially the Yankees. 

Yoan Moncada’s talent is unquestioned, and he would have immediately bolstered a lackluster Yankees farm system that desperately needs a boost. That bonus money would not count against the Yankees’ salary number, and would get them a high-end player that they would control for years to come at a reasonable yearly salary. The Yankees might not have access to that type of player ever again.

Not only did Boston acquire a five-tool, 19-year-old infielder who has been the talk of baseball all winter, the Yankees failed to acquire young talent- which they desperately need- and let the talent fall into the hands of their rivals.

Brian Cashman made a mistake on Monday, one that he might regret in a big way in a few years. Hopefully, Moncada will not pan out the way people thought, and the Yankees will have made the right choice. 

Christine O'Connor

@christineeeeO

Are the Yankees in Pursuit of Yoan Moncada?

Article by: Christine O'Connor

Twitter: @ChristineeeeO

Image Credit: yahoo.com

Late in the Hot Stove season, James Shields suddenly has some company. In fact, given the rules surrounding international signings, young Cuban infielder Yoan Moncada might wind up costing teams more than Shields, the veteran free-agent pitcher whose unemployment continues to confound the baseball industry.

On Tuesday, an industry source confirmed, Major League Baseball officially revitalized its rules for Cuban refugees, making the 19-year-old a free agent once he signed an affidavit affirming he won’t be returning to Cuba. 

The Yankees are among the clubs that already have worked out Moncada in the United States, at their complex in Tampa last month.

According to an American League team’s talent evaluator, who opined on the condition of anonymity, Moncada is “an exceptional talent,” a switch-hitter with power from both sides and all five tools.

A second evaluator from a different AL team noted Moncada’s “great body” — Baseball America lists him as 6-feet and 210 pounds — and athleticism.

There is debate over what his best position is. He has played second base primarily but also played some shortstop and center field last season in Cuba, the publication reported.

Naturally, the Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers are among the rumored teams to have interest in signing the player whose services could command up to $80 million.

Moncada would be the latest Cuban player to make an immediate impact at the big league level--the Dodgers' Yasiel Puig, Cincinnati's Aroldis Chapman, and Yoenis Cespedes in Oakland and Boston have all had serious impacts upon arriving stateside. Moncada is allowed to sign as soon as he wants.

The Money Grab Continues: MLB Offseason

Image Credit: metsmerizedonline.com

The MLB off-season always involves money being thrown around like no other major league sport. This year has been no different, with Giancarlo Stanton being the biggest signing with his 300 million dollar contract. As the off-season goes on we continue to see other smaller, yet still rather big signings and trades. We're also at a point where baseball clubs are trying to trade players because of their other acquisitions; the Boston Red Sox trading Yoenis Cespedes for Rick Porcello, because their outfield is now crowded after the Hanley Ramirez signing.

The Red Sox have been very busy this off-season with acquiring Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval, these moves bolstered their lineup, but what about their rotation? The Red Sox traded for Porecello and Wade Miley, as well as the Justin Masterson signing, a former Red Sox. The Sox were also in the running for Jon Lester, but were beaten by their former GM and the Chicago Cubs. Lester gets a 6 year, 155 million dollar deal. After losing Russell Martin to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Cubs have acquired Lester, Jason Hammels, and replaced Martin with Miguel Montero from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Cubs aren’t the only Chicago team that have been making serious moves made this year so far, as the White Sox have added Jeff Samardjiza, David Robertson, Zach Duke, and Dan Jennings. While the Miami Marlins are not to be trusted, they have made huge moves such as adding Dee Gordon, Mat Latos, and Andre Rienzo. No one has been more eager to put together a better club than the Dodgers, as they shook up their entire infield by trading Matt Kemp to the Padres. The Dodgers acquired Jimmy Rollins, Howie Kendrick, Enrique Hernandez, Chris Hatcher, and Brandon McCarthy. Ervin Santana also found a new home with the Minnesota Twins for four years. The AL Champion Kansas City Royals acquired Kendrys Morales. The big question is, why have the New York Yankees been so quiet? 

Considering the Bombers have lost Robertson and Jeter retired, why has their only big off-season move been to add Didi Gregorious? Could the answer be that they have a Max deal in mind? Pun aside, Max Scherzer to the Yankees makes sense because the Yankees could use a top of the rotation starter with CC Sabathia getting older. Their lineup is questionable since their big off-season move, Gregorious, is more of a defensive player. Also consider that A Rod is reportedly out of shape, so they could use a pitcher that can keep the game close.

This year’s Winter Meetings could be one of the most memorable with all these deals so far. Normally there are a few deals that happen, but not this year. Ultimately, we still have a good three months until Spring Training starts, so while major dominoes have fallen, there are still moves to be made before Spring Training.

By: Kai Jones

Edited by: Dana P. (E.I.C.)

Red Sox Off-Season: Rings Again or Gas For Another Fire Sale?

Image Credit: boston.cbslocal.com

By: Kai Jones

Edited by: Dana P. (E.I.C.) 

They say if you love it, then you should let it go. If it comes back then it’s meant to be. When the Boston Red Sox traded away their top 10 prospect in 2005, we're not sure if they thought he would ever play for them again. However, the Red Sox got Hanley Ramirez back on Tuesday. Maybe Ramirez's love for the organization came back easily, considering the 4-year-$88 million dollar contract. The Sox also added champion and former World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval for a 5 year deal worth $95 million, with the fifth year being a club option. The Sox are also fishing for a solid pitcher, as they are offering their former ace Jon Lester a nice sized contract as well. 

Is this like the 2011 debacle where the Sox acquired a lot of big names and had a fire sell the next year? Are the Red Sox a wolf or a mere overhyped sheep?

We really can’t say right now because we still don’t know their rotation or lineup. The Red Sox right now have a lot of talent, and adding Sandoval adds more championship experience to a team that just won a World Series title in 2013, under their current manager John Farrell. For all the fans that may be worried about another fire sale, they must look at the facts. While Terry Francona was also a World Series winning manager, he needed a fresh start away from the organization, which is why the 2011 team did not work. Bobby Valentine was also a great manager in his own respect, but the chemistry was off with that team. John Farrell is a player’s manager and is close to his team. So while this team did not play well last season, the team definitely has plenty of talent. With these additions why wouldn’t they be a big favorite to win it all? The Red Sox have former World Series MVP David Ortiz still, 2-time and reigning Home Run Derby winner Yoenis Céspedes, and former MVP Dustin Pedroia. Adding Lester can only help their rotation, which is key to winning a World Series.

It’s way too early to make a World Series prediction, but on paper you have to agree that the Red Sox have made the biggest splash this off-season.

They weren't done yet. Yankees sign 29 year old closer, Andrew Bailey! Orioles look build by adding Cruz, and more.

Just when you thought the Yankees were done shopping, BOOM! There goes a new addition to the bullpen. 

The Yankees have signed former Red Sox and Oakland A's reliever Andrew Bailey, to a one year deal worth about 2 million, with a second season option. 

Via CBSSports.com

Bailey, age 29, pitched to a 3.77 ERA (110 ERA+) and 3.25 K/BB ratio in 28 2/3 innings for the Red Sox last season. For his career, Bailey owns an impressive ERA+ of 160 across parts of five big-league seasons, and he's struck out 227 batters in 218 innings. On the downside, Bailey has been on the DL five times in and lost more than 300 games to injury. Last July, he underwent shoulder surgery.

Still recovering from his shoulder surgery, he isn't expected to start throwing til July. With his experience and young age, I think he would be a better fit for a closer, rather then David Robertson. But right now, this is the only option. Starting him as the closer next year, wouldn't be a good for Robertson. Throwing D-Rob around from reliever to closer, would screw him up. He would end up similar to how Joba Chamberlin ended up. That being said, Bailey will likely be the 7th-8th inning guy for his career in pinstripes.

Today, the Yankees locked in Brett Gardner, for 4 years!! That deal is worth 52 million. Gardner, straight from the Yankees farm system, has decided to stay loyal to where he came from, unlike Robinson Cano. 

Perfect trade bait this off season, has turned the other direction!  Love this.

Off Yankee talk real quick, the Orioles signed former Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, to a one year deal worth 8 million. This team is really looking to build. I'm predicting a Yanks vs. Orioles ALDS, with the Yankees taking it in game 4. 

By:: Dana Pelotta (Blog Owner/Editor in Chief)