Ortiz and Ramirez Said to Be on 2003 Doping List

Ortiz and Ramirez Said to Be on 2003 Doping List - NYTimes.com: "Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, the sluggers who propelled the Boston Red Sox to end an 86-year World Series championship drought and to capture another title three years later, were among the roughly 100 Major League Baseball players to test positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, according to lawyers with knowledge of the results.

Some of baseball’s most cherished storylines of the past decade have been tainted by performance-enhancing drugs, including the accomplishments of record-setting home run hitters and dominating pitchers. Now, players with Boston’s championship teams of 2004 and 2007 have also been linked to doping.

Baseball first tested for steroids in 2003, and the results from that season were supposed to remain anonymous. But for reasons that have never been made clear, the results were never destroyed and the first batch of positives has come to be known among fans and people in baseball as “the list.” The information was later seized by federal agents investigating the distribution of performance-enhancing drugs to professional athletes, and the test results remain the subject of litigation between the baseball players union and the government."

Rockies moving to new spring home | ColoradoRockies.com: News

Rockies moving to new spring home | ColoradoRockies.com: News: "The Rockies and D-backs officially reached an agreement on Thursday to share a Spring Training complex within the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community along the east border of Scottsdale, Ariz. The complex, which will open in 2011, will be the first Major League training complex built on Native American land.

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Council has signed a memorandum of understanding with the two teams, under which the community will build and operate the two-team complex -- which includes an 11,000-seat stadium -- under a 25-year agreement with options to extend. The 140-acre site is near Indian Bend Road and the 101 Freeway, and will have views of Camelback Mountain, the McDowell Mountains, Four Peaks, Red Mountain and the Superstition Mountains.

'We're excited to partner with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and the Arizona Diamondbacks,' Rockies president Keli McGregor said in a press release from the Council. 'We know that this shared home will be one of the finest year-round training facilities in all of Major League Baseball and something that our organizations, fans and the Community will be proud of for decades to come.'"

BoSox pitching prospect gets shot at shortstop

BoSox pitching prospect gets shot at shortstop - MLB - Yahoo! Sports: "Casey Kelly threw his last pitch of the season Sunday night. He is one of the best pitching prospects in baseball, and he is perfectly healthy, so if none of this makes sense, understand that little about Kelly’s young career does.

The Boston Red Sox are undertaking a grand experiment in their handling of Kelly, one that could change how teams guide young players who show exceptional talent as a pitcher and everyday player. Kelly is a shortstop, too, a potentially dynamic one, and given his druthers, he’d play there full-time."

Most Marketable MLB Draft Names

Most Marketable MLB Draft Names - Sports Biz with Darren Rovell - CNBC.com: "The first few rounds of the Major League Baseball Draft took place last night. We here at 'SportsBiz' admittedly know nothing about most of these guys. But we do know whose names seem to be the most marketable.

Out of the 111 players whose names we heard last night, here are the top 10 guys whose monikers we think have the best ring."

“Profitwood”: Dodgers Likely Made Money From Manny Loss

“Profitwood”: Dodgers Likely Made Money From Manny Loss - Sports Biz with Darren Rovell - CNBC.com: "When Manny Ramirez was suspended for 50 games on May 7, many had speculated that the Los Angeles Dodgers had plenty to lose. Attendance would surely decrease and food and beverage sales would follow.

But as Ramirez gets ready to return - it can come as soon as July 3 – there’s a pleasant financial vibe coming from Chavez Ravine. The Dodgers have more than likely made money since Ramirez departed."

Phillies score 10 runs in first inning en route to 22-1 win

Cincinnati Reds vs. Philadelphia Phillies - Recap - July 06, 2009 - ESPN: "Chase Utley, Shane Victorino and Greg Dobbs went deep, Cole Hamels ripped a two-run double and Jimmy Rollins crossed the plate twice -- just in the first inning alone.

By the time Jayson Werth circled the bases after hitting a grand slam off an infielder, the Philadelphia Phillies were on their way to handing the Cincinnati Reds the worst loss in team history."

Tribune Co. reportedly reaches agreement with Ricketts family on sale of Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field

Tribune Co. reportedly reaches agreement with Ricketts family on sale of Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field - ESPN Chicago: "The Tribune Co. has reached a written agreement to sell the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field and other assets to the family of TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts for about $900 million, a person close to the negotiations said Monday.

The agreement was reached over the weekend and a document outlining the deal -- called a term sheet -- was sent to Major League Baseball for review, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced.

The term sheet is not a final agreement, according to the person, who added that it contains details on how the Ricketts family will finance the deal. The deal also would give the Ricketts family a 25 percent interest in a regional cable television sports network.

Tribune Co. would not confirm an agreement had been reached.

'We continue an active dialogue with the Ricketts family with an eye toward reaching a definitive agreement,' spokesman Gary Weitman said in an e-mail. 'We don't intend to comment on the specifics of any potential transaction.'"

Sky Sox’s Hynick pitches perfect game

Sky Sox’s Hynick pitches perfect game | INDenverTimes: "Not that he minded all the autographs on this special night, but Brandon Hynick really wanted some time to call his parents.

To think, the day before he joked about enjoying his anonymity while walking through the Security Service Field concourse out of uniform and completely unnoticed.

Perfection sure does change things.

Hynick turned away every Portland hitter he faced in the first perfect game – even the first individual no-hitter – in Sky Sox team history by beating the Beavers 2-0. For good measure, he did it in front of the biggest crowd of the year as 7,651 were on hand to take advantage of the $2 Tuesday special."

Rockies pitching staff lacks good coaching

Rockies pitching staff lacks good coaching | INDenverTimes: "The Colorado pitching staff is chalk full of talent. They have Ubaldo Jimenez who throws 99 MPH heat with movement, to go along with breaking pitches that buckle opposing hitters knees. They have Aaron Cook, an All-Star a year ago who throws a sinker that ranks in the top 10 in all of baseball. They also have Jason Marquis, the newest All-Star Rockie who leads the National League in wins on good pitching, but mostly pure competitive drive. Jorge De La Rosa throws in the mid-90’s from the left side and has a change up that falls off the table."

Hawpe, Marquis humbled by All-Star nods | ColoradoRockies.com: News

Hawpe, Marquis humbled by All-Star nods | ColoradoRockies.com: News: "Rockies right fielder Brad Hawpe and right-handed pitcher Jason Marquis, who performed well through the team's rough start and recent hot streak, were announced as National League All-Stars on Sunday and will be playing in the Midsummer Classic for the first time. Hawpe was chosen as a reserve, but because of injuries he is in line to start."

Home winning streak ends for Rockies | ColoradoRockies.com: News

Home winning streak ends for Rockies | ColoradoRockies.com: News: "The Rockies home cookin' was doused Saturday as they blew a four-run lead to lose to the D-backs, 11-7, in front of a sellout crowd of 49,096 at Coors Field. The club had won a season-best six straight home games.

As recently as two months ago, the club might have been deflated if it lost a four-run lead to a last-place team, but those days are far in the rearview mirror. That's because the Rockies have won 22 of their past 28 and are only two games into a 10-game homestand leading into the All-Star break.

However, the loss dropped the Rockies to two games behind the National League West rival Giants in the Wild Card chase. The Giants won, 9-0, over the Astros at AT&T Park."

Rockies drop seires to D-backs

Rockies go from being the hottest team in the National League to dropping 2 of 3 to the Arizona Diamondbacks - at home!

vpbn57uag6

Rockies prospects: Young, talented and blocked

The Official Site of The Colorado Rockies: News: Mailbag: Young, talented and blocked: "Where will Joe Koshansky, Ian Stewart and Seth Smith start the 2008 season?
-- Thomas M., Henderson, Nev.

The regulars for the Rockies are mostly young. The one grizzled veteran, first baseman Todd Helton, is signed for another four years. That's good in most respects, but it can be tough if you're young, talented and blocked.

Koshansky has the toughest situation, since he is strictly a first baseman. His best hope would be a trade, since no one hopes for an injury to Helton.

Smith has some limitations, being left-handed, and the sub outfielders -- Ryan Spilborghs and Cory Sullivan -- have strengths in that they can be used as leadoff men. Stewart is expanding his options, hoping to get a good shot at the second-base job. The problem for him is that another similar player, Jeff Baker, is in the same situation, so that's more at-bats to divide.

Stewart's power potential will get him a fair look. Even though there are utility players with more experience than Smith, he could win a job if he can convince the Rockies that he can continue the hot pinch-hitting he displayed during the playoff run and in the postseason. But it's just as possible that all three will begin 2008 at Triple-A Colorado Springs."

Barmes eyeing move to second

The Official Site of The Colorado Rockies: News: Colorado Rockies News: "Rockies infielder Clint Barmes has no guarantees entering the 2008 season, but he does carry something more important: Confidence.

Barmes was the Rockies' starting shortstop in 2005 and '06, but lost the job in late '06 because of offensive difficulties coupled with the emergence of Troy Tulowitzki. But Barmes hit .299 with 11 home runs and 44 RBIs in 99 games at Triple-A Colorado Springs last season and returned to the Majors as a backup.

Now Barmes is part of a major competition for the Rockies' second base job, but he wants to show he can be useful even if he doesn't emerge as the starter there."