Yesterday’s performance by Sabathia was without a doubt, MVP like. He pitched a complete game 4 hitter that was gutsy and purely entertaining. Going into the 9th inning, it looked as if Sabathia picked up more steam. He was throwing bullets in the 90’s, striking out one and getting a game ending double play to win the game.

Throughout the game against the Cubs yesterday, the Brewers had no offense. The only way they were going to win this game was with Sabathia giving up nothing and the Brewers’ offense just getting enough. It seemed at one point that Sabathia was there best offensive player too. In an at bat in the 6th he drove a ball deep to right field that just hooked right of the foul poll. Manager Dale Sveum showed just how valuable Sabathia was to this team in the 8th. With the score tied, Sveum left Sabathia in to hit despite having players on the bench to hit for him. Sveum kept him in knowing he’d need him for the 9th. And sure enough, it was the right choice.

The heart and determination that Sabathia has shown this season with the Brewers just shows that he is the best MVP candidate. The simplest way to solve the MVP debate is that the Brewers would not be in the playoffs without Sabathia. And, no other team in the NL can say that about one player.

Joba Chamberlain’s life story has been well chronicled since his debut in the majors last year, a story that was intensified by the media thanks to his amazing performance. Born Joba Heath turned Joba Chamberlain, he has become one of the most popular players in baseball. But, Joba’s mother has stepped up recently and talked to the Journal Star in Nebraska (Joba’s mother talks about her son and her life). She has revealed that she was a big part of Joba’s life and the stories of Joba’s father raising Joba alone are not entirely true. But, the story is still entirely sad.

For those who don’t know the story, Joba was raised by his father alone after separating with Joba’s mother (apparently). Chamberlain’s father Harlan raised Joba in poor conditions against tall odds and helped his son become one of the most feared pitchers in baseball. Harlan, who has Polio along with other health problems, has been seen in Yankee Stadium cheering his son on with as much enthusiasm as Joba shows on the field which garnered more fan interest in Joba. It’s the story baseball fans love, overcoming adversity and becoming the best, but the story isn’t as it seems.

In the article, Joba’s mother talks about her son and her life by Colleen Kenney, Joba’s mother, Jackie Standley, says that she had much more contact with her now estranged kids as was reported. She said that Joba lived with her most of the time until he was about ten years old and when Joba was with his father he was only a mile away. Jackie said that she did take advantage of Harlan, waiting for him to come home from work so that she could dump the kids off on him and go to bars. She also, later in Joba’s life, picked up a crystal meth addiction.

A point in this story where things began to really turn around was when Joba was 10. For father’s day, Standley changed Joba’s last name(originally Heath, Standley’s maiden name) to Chamberlain, Harlan’s last name. It’s said that it is from then when Joba began staying with Harlan and Harlan began to take total control, which in hindsight was conducive to Joba’s success.

Me and my son have had a good relationship. We lived within a mile of each other for his whole life. … Once I gave him his last name, it’s like he took total power. It was like, he starts staying there more. I got to the point where I was not going to fight with him over it. Joba was getting to school, getting good grades. He was doing sports, which is what he wanted.I don’t know why Harlan is doing all this. I’ve called, tried to ask him, and he don’t want to speak to me, which is weird, because Harlan raised me.

Jackie Standley on Raising Joba Chamberlain

It seems like there isn’t much animosity in this story, just sadness. No matter what’s true, or who says what, what Joba Chamberlain has overcome is a testament to his character and he, not his mother or his father, should be getting the attention. A truly inspirational baseball tale.

Give me your keys Torii

The leader of the outlandish celebration was of course, Torii Hunter. With champagne bottles bursting throughout the Angels dugout Hunter put on goggles and pretended to be Michael Phelps. Yeah, that’s right you heard me, he pretended to be Michael Phelps. He then created a dance called “the fish” that he dedicated to Michael Phelps. He then had this to say…

People would think this gets old — but it never does, I’ve been in some celebrations in Minnesota, and this one ranks right up there with any of them.We’ve got a 17-game lead or whatever, why celebrate like this? Because we’ve worked hard for it. Everybody’s swimming, dancing, going crazy. And it’s lasting a long time. These guys are awesome. They don’t want to go home.

Torii Hunter on Celebrating the Angels AL West Title

How about not celebrating like an idiot though. Doesn’t he realize that there are kids watching this fool swim through puddles of alcohol and beer cans? Have a little respect man.

MLB: Last Call!!

I think it’s time for the MLB to step in on this matter. How about using non-alcoholic beverages and showing that you are in fact role models and you do have people looking up to you. Listen, afterwards they can party and drink all they want, I don’t care, but when you’re being seen by millions of people and more importantly, kids at least pretend like you have some responsibility.

So, MLB please make the politically correct move and do something about this. If you’re not going to make them celebrate with only non-alcoholic beverages at least make a statement addressing the situation and the league’s views on alcoholic consumption in excess.

The horse race has come down to Webb, Lincecum, and Sabathia. Webb has been looking for his 20th win for his last 3 starts and it seems dumb not to give the Cy Young to possibly the only 20 game winner in the National League. But, Webb has struggled in his last 3 starts, giving up at least 6 runs in each of them. Lincecum has shown the most talent and has been the most dominant but his numbers in the win column doesn’t show it. Sabathia has been remarkable, brilliant, unhittable and has had the most impact on his team compared to Webb and Lincecum.

I think that right there is why you have to pick Sabathia. He has turned the Brewers around and it seems like they will be a playoff team. I try to look at the Cy Young as the pitcher’s MVP. Which team would not be a contender without one of these pitchers. Lincecum and the Giants aren’t going to be a contender this season either way so I don’t think he should really be considered. Webb’s Diamondbacks play in the worst division in baseball and still struggle so he is needed.

But it seems to be that Sabathia has changed the entire dynamic of this team. They have a reliable pitcher in which they can chalk up a win on any day he pitches. If you want to use the ‘he didn’t play in the National League the whole year’ card, well at this pace he’s going to end up with like 14 wins any way so what more can you ask from the guy?

There are times, like, it’s one of those cities … I might catch some flack for saying this, but, you know, they’re front-runners. When you’re doing good, they’re on your side. When you’re doing bad, they’re completely against you.

Jimmy Rollins on Philadelphia Phillies Fans on Best Damn Sports Show Period

Well, he ended up catching a lot of flack for saying that. And, in his first game since those comments he was booed immediately, starting from the announcing of the starting lineups. Every at bat by Rollins was seranaded with boos. Now, Jimmy Rollins was the Phillie Faithful’s favorite player last year, as his MVP season led them storming into the playoffs in the last month passing the stumbling Mets. So, they’re booing him now, doesn’t that mean he’s right, that they are in fact front-runners?

The answer is yes. Of course fans are front-runners in the sense that Rollins meant. Fans love you when you play well and hate you when you don’t, deal with it. And Jimmy Rollins isn’t playing well at all this year. After his .296, 30 HR, 94 RBI season last year, he’s hitting .263 with only 8 HR’s and 42 RBI’s. When you drop off that much after a season in which Phillie fans thought they were set for the next couple of years, of course they’re going to be mad.

I don’t think that Phillies fans should have booed him like they did but they do have a point. Rollins knew he was wrong when he was saying it, and even though he stuck his neck out for his teammates (statements were more about his teammates than himself), keep it in the clubhouse. If you don’t know how fans act by now you should seriously understand quickly because fans booing you every day can destroy one’s confidence and ruin a season.

Manny’s love affair with the Boston Red Sox which rewarded both with two championship rings and ended the horrid curse of the Bambino, came to an abrupt end in the middle of this season. The love was gone. And soon enough Manny was gone. The Manny saga became as soap operish(that’s right soap operish) as Favre’s retirement. The two sides bickered back and forth, dissing eachother through the media. I did not agree with the Red Sox getting rid of Manny, because he’s such a great hitter that you can deal with his drama. But, the Red Sox could not. So now he’s a Dodger.

Does Manny want to be a Dodger? Of course not. He doesn’t want to be in the National League where the best pitchers in the world are. He doesn’t want to be in the least talented division in major league baseball in the NL West. He wants to be in the American League where the balls fly out of ballparks. He wants to be in the American League where he can get back at the Red Sox. And, maybe, just maybe, he wants to be the face of a new stadium. A new Yankee Stadium.

If you don’t believe me look at this coming from the New York Post…

According to people who have spoken to the eccentric outfielder since he was dealt to L.A. on July 31, Ramirez wants to sign a free-agent deal with the Yankees this offseason and get 19 chances a year to punish Boston.

George A. King III, New York Post

Ramirez becomes a free agent at the end of this year’s World Series. Brian Cashman may be in risk of losing his job by then because with the way the Yankees are playing right now, the Yankees won’t be the ones in this year’s World Series. Now, what’s the one desparate move that could save both he and the Yankees which will bring enormous crowds to the new Yankee Stadium? Putting one of the Yankees arch rivals in pinstripes and pitting him against his former team. You can’t make this stuff up…well I just did so I guess you can, but it would be awesome, right?

Ivan Pudge Rodriguez will be behind the plate for the New York Yankees coming down the stretch

In the deal the Yankees gave away the the uncontrollable talent of Kyle Farnsworth who drives fans and coaches of the Yankees awol whenever he pitches. The loss of Farnsworth means that the Yankees bullpen, which has been surprisingly good this season, will have a bit of a hole. But, that hole pales in comparison to the hole that Posada has left this season.

Farnsworth is Detroit's Problem Now

Posada who we won’t see until next season was having his worst year yet behind the plate and at the plate where he struggled to throw out runners and failed to drive in runners. He tried to overcome the injury by playing DH and first but season ending surgery was imminent. The Yankees’ Brian Cashman and company quickly made a deal that may solve the Yankees biggest problem. Pudge is hitting .295 and has 5 home runs to go with the gun he sports behind the plate. Posada couldn’t throw out runners if they walked to second base this season and Pudge is sure to slow down runners on the base pads. Pudge has a career average of .302 and has always shown a great deal of power for a catcher. He is an all-around athlete doing it with the bat, glove, and actually has some speed for a catcher. He has earned 13 Gold Glove awards and was named AL MVP in 1999.

Pudge brings a fire the Yankees need

The Yankees so far have made all the right moves in the past two weeks filling in the holes in their team. They acquired a powerful bat in Richie Sexson, added the versatile Xavier Nady, and now add one of the greatest catchers of all time in Ivan Rodriguez. With rumors that the first place Rays may make a deal for Jason Bay, the Yankees have already kept pace by landing Rodriguez’s bat. Overall, an intelligent couple of weeks for the Yankees, something we haven’t seen for a while.

The thing is, there aren’t any inductees that I watched growing up, so it means nothing to me. I appreciate all that Goose Gossage and his mustache has done for the sport of baseball, but it just isn’t enough for me. The thing is, you can’t respect someone who gets into the hall on default. Just because there wasn’t any body better available.

And another thing, there are 6 inductees this year…and 4 of them aren’t alive. Why weren’t these guys inducted earlier. The best part is hearing these guys speak so why do we have to wait until they’re dead to commemorate what they’ve done. The voters need to be aware of these things and be able to put these guys in before it’s too late.

The only good thing about this weak class being inducted this year, is that it’s the last for a while. Now, we get to see recent heroes get put in. Next year I’ll watch it, but for God’s sake, can it be on a channel better than ESPN Classic?

Every athlete has their own routine on game day to get themselves both mentally and physically ready to play. Some guys are very superstitious and go through the exact same routine for every game. They may wear the same clothes, or put on the right shoe first every time, whatever it takes to make an athlete feel confident and that he is prepared.

Travis Blackley is one such athlete who has his own unique game day ritual. Travis is a pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies organization and is currently pitching for their AAA affiliate the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. Travis is from Australia and was originally drafted by the Mariners and had stints in the big leagues with both the mariners and the San Francisco Giants before making his way east to the Phillies organization. He has high hopes of returning to the big leagues one day and until that happens he is doing everything he can to have success at the minor league level. Listen to the following clip of an interview that we did with Travis about what he does on game day to get himself ready to hit the mound every night.

CLICK TO HEAR THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW

BOYS WILL BE BOYS:

In this video, Chris is on his last day before his next start.  This is a day to recover and get ready to take the mound tomorrow.  His work routine…the conditioning, workouts, and bullpen…have allowed him to keep his body in shape and adjust some of the flaws he had with his delivery.

Now we get to talk with Chris’ roommate, Nick DeBarr, and find out some inside information about Chris.  Nick talks about Chris sleeping all day long and eating lots of hot pockets each day.  As with many minor league baseball players, Chris loves to play video games.  He is the man with the new Nintendo Wii.  Nick offers Chris some words of advice, telling him to keep working hard and “maybe” get some more sleep.  As all baseball players now, the journey is very long and difficult at times.  There are many highs and lows throughout the season, but ultimately the ones who succeed are the ones who keep their emotions on a straight line.  Never let your highs get to high or your lows get to low.  As Nicks says, “Stay the course.”