Do you remember the former Baltimore Orioles slugger Jay Gibbons? Yeah, he was one of the guys named in the infamous Mitchell Report. And yes, he was out of a job for most of the first-half of this season - that is until the independent Long Island Ducks picked him up.
Well, lucky Mr. Gibbons has just received another chance in Major League Baseball. Since the Milwaukee Brewers think they have some sort of a shot for their first playoff appearance since 1982, they are picking up everyone and any one they can to help them out (see Ray Durham). Gibbons signed a minor league deal with the Brew Crew with hopes of being called up soon.
Now if only someone would give Jose Canseco another shot…
I started a poll at the first of this month about whether or not you would like to see aluminum bats used in the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby. Personally - instead of using the gold ball on the ninth out - I would love to see the All-Stars grab an aluminum bat and see how far they could hit one!
So, the poll results are in and 63% of you would not like to see aluminum bats used in the derby. I can understand that it could pose some safety issues, but just think how far Josh Hamilton’s blasts would have gone with an Easton or Louisville Slugger aluminum bat in his hand. I guarantee he would have hit one out of Yankee Stadium.
I’d like to thank everyone for voting in that poll and look down and to the right for our next poll question. Who is most likely to be the American League MVP? Go ahead and cast your vote. I will finish that poll up in mid-August.
And while you’re chewing on the new poll question, check out one of Hamilton’s deep blasts from this year’s Home Run Derby.
Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki had one of the best nights he’s had in a long time after going 5-for-5 at the plate in a 16-10 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers Monday night at Coors Field. Photo: Newscom
Everyone please stand up. OK. Now - put your hands together and start clapping. Why are you clapping? Because Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki has finally arrived for the 2008 season. Last night - Tulo went 5-for-5 at the plate in his first game back since slicing his right hand when he shattered a bat in frustration on July 4.
Tulowitzki tied a single-game high for hits last night for the Rockies during his perfect game at the plate. It’s about time too. The former Long Beach State standout is definitely experiencing that “sophomore slump.” The Rockies sit seven games out of first place in the ugly National League West. Believe it or not - after their horrid start - they still have a chance. If Tulo starts hitting (and stays healthy) and the Rockies don’t send Matt Holliday packing before the trade deadline - things could get really interesting for the defending NL champions.
Maybe Tulo had a sip of Kevin Youkilis’ slump buster drink. Or maybe he finally realized the season had started and he forgot to show up for the first four months. Either way - for Tulowitzki to show that he’s earned that new contract, he needs to hold his batting average above the Mendoza Line (which currently sits at .192). He also needs to help sure up the left side of the infield for Colorado with his glove.
Check out this video of Brian Giles crashing into the wall at full speed after making a catch on Saturday. Giles was OK and robbed Troy Glaus on the play.
Giles has a habit of making great catches (remember the catch in Pittsburgh?). Watch the video of this catch.
Friday is the usual day that you folks would be seeing a picture and creating a funny caption to go along with it. However, I wanted to change things up a bit. So - today I’m launching a contest to find a guest blogger for one post. If you win this contest - you will have the chance to post on Inside the Ballpark.
Now that I have your attention, you are probably all asking ‘How do I enter?’ Entering is easy. I want you to send me an email about why you should be the guest blogger on this site. I’m not asking for any minimum response, but I’d rather not have to read a 10-page essay either. Also - feel free to turn your response into a video.
To enter, send an email to tony.baldwin@b5media.com (or use the email link to the right). In the subject line, please write “GUEST BLOGGER CONTEST - ITB“. Then type away at whatever the reason is that you think I should pick you to be the guest blogger for one post. If you decide to create a video to send in, please just place the link to your video in an email with the same subject.
The deadline for all submissions will be Wednesday, July 23 at 11:30 a.m. (CENTRAL). This should give you plenty of time to send in an email or make a quick video. Let’s see those submissions! Tell me why you should be picked to be a guest blogger on Inside the Ballpark!
You heard it right. On New Years Day 2009, the Chicago Blackhawks will host the Detroit Red Wings within the frozen confines of Wrigley Field. No, there won’t be any ivy on the wall, but I’d imagine there would be plenty of snow on the field. I’m sure the bleacher bums at Wrigley will be in full force for this event. I wonder if the they will sell out the seats that sit across the street on top of the apartments? Hmm…
I guess the only other question is will Wrigley Field dwellers try to sing ‘Take me out to the ballgame’ at the end of the second period? After all, members of the Blackhawks did sing during the seventh inning stretch of a Cubs game this season. Maybe we can get Derrek Lee, Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Zambrano to at least sing O’Canada before the game!
Cherie from Dejuiced talks about her summer fun as baseball leads up to pre-season football and then college football.
Lyndsey at Girls Dig Sports tell us about her good times at the Gus Macker national 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
Sandy at Green Posse talks about the British Open which begins on July 17th. She also discusses the ultimate sports fun this summer - the Beijing Olympics on Light The Torch.
Tony at Inside the Ballpark talks about the Midsummer Classic and his experience at the All-Star break festivities back in 2005.
Michael from Jab & Grapple loves WWE’s SummerSlam and reminisces back to the first SummerSlam back in 1988.
I apologize for the delay - however, I have finally made it around to pick the winner for the Albert Pujols picture. This week’s winner is Kevin from North Dakota, who sent in an email on Saturday morning. Kevin’s caption read, “Don’t pull a Buckner… play it from the ground up!”
Congratulations Kevin for submitting the winning caption for the Pujols picture. Check back this Friday for another contest. I have something a little different in the works for the giveaway this week.
ESPN’s Mike and Mike are in the midst of a pentathlon. Recently, the two Mike’s (Greenberg and Golic) went head-to-head in a base running contest at Yankee Stadium. It was a very close race that was decided by less than a second.
Check out the video below of the event. One thing - Greeney just doesn’t look like much of an athlete to me! Also - you can tell Golic’s knees took a beating playing football. It shows in his stride. Anyway, take a peak at the video.
I don’t think there is any other professional sport that has an All-Star break like Major League Baseball. The mid-summer baseball event that takes place each July is a special treat for baseball fans around the world. I was able to attend the All-Star break festivities in Detroit in 2005. It was one of the most memorable events that I have ever attended and had so much fun.
The week started off with a trip to the All-Star Fanfest. I kid you not, this is something that I could have spent the entire week at. So many great memorabilia stands and things to do. It was a lot of fun. But the main event, for me, was the Home Run Derby. Yes, that was the year that Bobby Abreu went crazy and started blasting balls into the Pepsi Porch at Comerica Park. The Detroit Tigers were represented by Ivan Rodriguez who had a great showing, but Abreu was the home run king that night.
The Futures Game and the celebrity softball game were a lot of fun as well. It was rather hot that Sunday afternoon when those events were happening, but it wasn’t that crowded and I was able to get a look at guys like Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya.
If you ever have a chance to attend any events during the MLB All-Star break, I would definitely recommend it. Outside of spring training and everyday batting practice, this is the best time to get a look at the major league players having fun. They make fun of each other and joke around. Many also bring their kids to enjoy the festivities. The event will be one that you will never forget.
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