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Condemning Them to Be Free
Growing up can be an awkward phase of physical and social development. Many parents find that enrolling their children in a sport early in life can lead to a balanced improvement in a child’s physical coordination, emotional health and mental focus. The National Alliance of Sports estimates 20 million kids in America, between the ages of 5-12 years old, register to play a competitive sport every year; most in sports such as, football, baseball, basketball and soccer. And by age of 13, the N.A.S. also estimates that 70 percent of these children will end up quitting league sports all-together, and never return to league sports again.
Most adolescents cite a loss of fun as the main reason they end up quitting their sport. The sports they enrolled in earlier in their life having evolved into a more competitive atmosphere - the focus centering more on winning than general understanding and competence. And only kids showing the competitive edge, or a sense will and passion, will usually continue to pursue their sports well their mid-teens.
Occasionally, out of these ranks a young athlete will transcend the competition around him, in every sense of ability and physical development. Options narrow, and it seems the only option for the young athlete to continue to develop would be to advance to a more competitive level. In rarest of cases that means turning pro for the growing adolescents. These young athletes that turn pro are usually buffed with choice words; such as, gifted or prodigy. The societal pressure to live up to expectation becomes immense, and many of the prodigies never live up to the lofty expectations handed down on them. Read More >>
Worst Jersey Ever..? Do You Think You Could Do Better?
To be honest, when I think of the pioneering of sports jersey’s, I don’t think of the 500 different helmet, jersey and pants bottom combinations Nike has branded against Oregon Ducks. I do though get mixed feelings when I see the throwback uniforms the Memphis Grizzlies sported against the Clippers last Thursday (pictured on the right). 
The Grizzlies’ retro jersey’s, and the game against the Clippers, was to be a sentiment to the old American Basketball Assosiation, 1967-1976, a “lively” league famous for its prominent red, white and blue basketball, entertaining (.. although unconventional) half-time promotions and the adoption of a three-point shot; advertised as the “home run” of basketball. If you’ve ever seen the movie, Semi-Pro, then know Will Ferrell and the Flint Michigan Tropics weren’t far from what the ABA was at the time. The league was successful enough though that Four of ABA teams eventually were adopted into the NBA: the Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets. Thursday was to be allusion to a rematch of the old Los Angeles Stars and Memphis Pros/Tams/Sounds; and yes, Memphis did change their team name 3 times in 5 years. Read More >>
2012 Seattle Mariners Outlook: Get ready for the season and customize your gear at Onthefield.com
Coming out of the Fourth of July weekend, it looked like the Mariners would be one of the MLB‘s surprise teams in 2011. Boasting a .500 record less than a week before the MLB All-Star break, the overachieving M’s proceeded to embark on a 17-game losing binge that instantly turned 2011 into another lost season.
The Mariners made some moves last season to expedite the rebuilding process, such as trading Doug Fister and Erik Bedard in deals that brought back several prospects and replacing Chone Figgins at third base with Kyle Seager.
However, the biggest change came this MLB offseason, when Seattle dealt emerging star SP Michael Pineda and pitching prospect Jose Campos to the Yankees for C/DH Jesus Montero and SP Hector Noesi. The move signaled that the Mariners are getting serious about upgrading their offense, and it also acknowledged that some of their prized pitching prospects are close to major-league ready, which made Pineda expendable. For now, Montero is the sole addition to a Mariners lineup that scored the fewest runs in the majors last season. However, Dustin Ackley, Justin Smoak, Kyle Seager and Mike Carp are all pre-peak players who could take a step forward.
Not only will the Mariners count on their younger players to improve the team’s offensive output, but they will also look for a bounce-back season from Ichiro Suzuki, who is coming off the worst year of his MLB career. Two straight years of decreases in his ground ball batting average suggest that a comeback may be no minor feat for the 38-year-old Suzuki. 
Felix Hernandez, Jason Vargas and offseason signee Hisashi Iwakuma will anchor the rotation, but the final two spots will be up for grabs. Danny Hultzen, the second overall pick in the 2011 MLB amateur draft, will have a chance to start his career at the major league level, but he will have to contend with a large slate of competitors, including Noesi, Blake Beavan, Charlie Furbush, Kevin Millwood and fellow prospects James Paxton and Erasmo Ramirez. Brandon League will return to pitch the ninth inning, though the bullpen lacks depth in the set-up and middle relief roles. Read More >>
Last of a Kind
Jorge Posada might or might not be a MLB Hall of Famer but with five years before he appears on the ballot, there will be plenty of time to ponder his case. No time is necessary, however, to conclude that a unique unit to which Posada belonged deserves a spot in Cooperstown.
That would be the Core Four, a great and fitting name for what was the longest-running quartet in American sports.
Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Posada all were signed and developed by the New York Yankees. All four debuted in the MLB in 1995. All four would be teammates for the next 16 years, except for a three-year stint Pettitte served with his hometown Houston Astros.
Theirs was an unprecedented alliance that included five World Series championships, seven AL pennants, 12 division titles and even more individual accolades.
Theirs was a run that might never be matched. Think about it. First, you’d need four players exceptional enough to play 16 years in the big leagues. They would need to come up at around the same age. They would need to play for a big-money club that would be able to afford them when they reached the free-agent market. And their team would need to win consistently in order to reduce the chances of annual makeovers.
The Comebackers
One reason the Cardinals believe they will overcome the departure of Albert Pujols is the return of Adam Wainwright.
“It’s like getting back a 20-game winner,” Matt Holliday says of the right-hander who missed all last MLB season because of Tommy John surgery.
That is assuming Wainwright picks up in 2012 where he left off in 2010 when he won 20 MLB games and finished second in N.L. Cy Young voting.
Of course, the only certainty about injuries is that you know they’re going to happen. And often. You could put together a fine lineup of players coming back from injuries that cost them most, if not all, of 2011.
Assessing the comeback chances of a notable player at each position:
1B Adam LaRoche, Nationals. After signing a two-year, $16 million deal last January, his left shoulder started bothering him in spring training and never improved. He was hitting .172 when his season ended May 21, and he underwent labrum surgery in June. The Nats didn’t miss him last year because of Michael Morse’s breakout season. They could end up trading him this year if, as many expect, they land Prince Fielder.
2B Brian Roberts, Orioles. He suffered a concussion in September 2010, when he took his bat and smacked himself on the helmet after striking out. Not wise. Roberts was struggling in his comeback last year and then suffered more concussion symptoms May 16 after a headfirst slide into first. Roberts did not play again and is a long shot to be ready for spring training. He was ruled out of attending this weekend’s club fan fest because of concussion symptoms.
It’s Time, National League!!!
Major League Baseball’s MLB new collective bargaining agreement included several groundbreaking changes, including expanded playoffs, HGH testing and the relocation of the Houston Astros from the National League to the American League in 2013. One item the players and owners overlooked but immediately should address: the use of the designated hitter in both leagues at all times beginning in MLB 2013.
Consider it a celebration of the 40-year anniversary of the DH.
Lance Berkman may not like the idea, but it’s time for the NL to adopt the designated hitter. (AP Photo)
This might be the move that pushes purists from the brink over the edge. But it is time to come to grips with the fact that this isn’t 1930. The game already has had several rounds of expansion and realignment, and radical changes such as interleague play and the wild card(s) have been huge successes. They even play at night now!
Since 1973, the two leagues have operated with one glaring disparity: NL pitchers have to bat, and AL pitchers don’t. The fact that such a drastic difference existed for even one season is ridiculous; that it somehow managed to survive nearly four decades is downright miraculous.
RELATED: Fielder, Nationals talking deal
Logistically, implementing the DH full-time in both leagues by the 2013 season will be tough. But perhaps this can move to the top of commissioner Bud Selig’s agenda once he agrees to his new contract extension. The players (with the exception of the few pitchers who think it is cool to hit) would be in favor of it, and a strong enough case can be made to sway the owners.
Three reasons this proposal should become reality in 2013:
1. Continuous interleague play
Start The Year Off Right: A new years resolution for each MLB team
New Year’s resolutions always sound good and start with ambition.
Unfortunately for most, that ambition eventually fades and the dedication wanes.
Arizona will be hoping for another stellar season from Ian Kennedy. (AP Photo)
However, failure to execute in Major League Baseball MLB can lead to a loss of money, jobs and fans. Teams, players, managers and executives who want to succeed next MLB season might want to follow these suggested resolutions (teams listed in order of 2011 finish):
AL EAST
New York Yankees: Stop waiting for A.J. Burnett to live up to his $82.5 million contract. He clearly isn’t the answer to the pitching problems, so find someone else.
Tampa Bay Rays: Trade B.J. Upton as soon as he has a hot streak. The longer they wait to deal him, the less he will be worth to another team.
Boston Red Sox: Serve more grilled chicken and root beer in the clubhouse. The fried stuff and the alcohol didn’t work so well in 2011.
Toronto Blue Jays: Find another starting pitcher to complement Ricky Romero. Also, write Bud Selig a thank-you note for creating the second wild-card berth.
Baltimore Orioles: Stop taking so much pleasure in beating the Red Sox and focus on getting those suddenly not-so-inexperienced pitchers to take the next step in their development.
NL EAST
Philadelphia Phillies: Keep pitching and keep reminding people that the playoffs can sometimes be a crap shoot where a hot hand can prevail.
Onthefield.com deals don’t just happen on “Blackout Friday” or “Cyber Monday” – You can find great deals for all your favorite sports teams all year round at Onthefield.com (plus our store is open everyday of the year)!!!
www.Onthefield.com‘s Black Out Friday and Cyber Monday Deals are always on! Just browse the site or come in and scour the store for great deals. We are open everyday of the year!
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MLB Rankings
No one knows if the St. Louis Cardinals will re-sign Albert Pujols to play first base or hire Terry Francona to be their next manager.
But it doesn’t matter. The Cardinals still are an easy choice for No. 1 in the first MLB Power Rankings for 2012. They deserve that much after the way they finished 2011.
How all 30 MLB teams stack up heading into the Hot Stove season:
1. St. Louis Cardinals
With or without Pujols, they should enter 2012 as the team to beat. Remember, ace Adam Wainwright will be back.
2. Texas Rangers
The bitter taste of coming so close could carry over into 2012. But manager Ron Washington and DH/infielder Michael Young won’t let it.
3. Philadelphia Phillies
Their lineup is slipping, but any team with this rotation is bound to win a lot of games. In the regular season, anyway.
4. Detroit Tigers
All they need is a little more depth. They have everything else, including the game’s best starter in Justin Verlander and the best hitter in Miguel Cabrera (in the opinion of Zack Greinke).
5. New York Yankees
Will 2012 be the year for young starters Dellin Betances and/or Manny Banuelos? If so, this ranking will prove to be too low.
MLB Free-agent Pool Lacking High Impact Outfielders
Here Carlos Beltran is again. For the second time in his MLB career, he’s entering free agency as the best outfielder on the market. This, however, is not 2005. Beltran does not top this year’s list because he’s a rising superstar. He’s No. 1 because of a lack of impact free-agent MLB outfielders.
Beltran was 27 and coming off a 38-homer, 121-run season when he scored a seven-year, $119 million deal from the Mets in 2005. Now he’s 34 and coming off 22 homers and 78 runs. He will be fortunate to land a contract worth half as much as his last one.
Ryan Ludwick posted poor numbers after being traded to the Pirates. (AP Photo)
Still, that figures to be larger than any other outfielder. How the market shapes up.
The elite
Carlos Beltran. He finished with a .385 OBP and .910 OPS but his most impressive number was 142, as in games played. He played only 145 total in 2009-2010 because of right knee problems. Beltran did not slug the Giants to the playoffs as was hoped but he hit enough — .323/.369/.551 — for them to want him back. How much they’re willing to spend is another story.
Michael Cuddyer. He’s a solid player who hit .284 with 20 homers and 70 runs in 2011 but what separates the 32-year-old are his versatility and clubhouse leadership. The Twins say they don’t want him to leave but keeping him could take more than the four-year, $30.75 million deal he just finished.
Others: None.
The risks
Grady Sizemore. He’s 29 but is coming off three injury-filled seasons during which he has been sidelined by injuries to both knees and his left elbow and abdominal surgery. The Indians didn’t have enough faith in a healthy comeback to pick up his $8.5 million option. Given his talent, Sizemore could prove a bargain if he’s healthy. There’s also the growing likelihood that his knees will prevent him from returning to an elite level.
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