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I'd like to know who thinks that the United States shoiuld be described as a place where someone's unpopular opinion should cost that someone thousands of dollars.

Honestly, who believe that this is how our great country should be? No one?

I only ask this question because this is exactly what is happening to Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen.

Guillen expressed admiration for Cuban dictator Fidel Castro because of Castro's staying power amidst numerous assassination attempts, a decades-long embargo and enormous political pressure from Cuban dissidents abroad, most notably in southern Florida.

My God, hide the kids and bolt the doors- someone said something unpopular!

I could, at this point, expound on the possibility that Guillen was being slightly facetious. We might ask Guillen, for example, if Castro has been good for Cuba, or if Cubans should love Castro, or if other nations' leaders should emulate Castro's model of leadership. Surely, Ozzie Guillen would not answer in the affirmative to any of that.

Continue reading "Halstead: Leave Ozzie Guillen Alone"

It is said- and correctly so- that while a pennant may not be won in April, a pennant may be lost in April.

On this note, the Detroit Tigers have immediate cause for concern. Their early schedule- in the month of April alone- includes two more games against Boston, a three-game home series with the Tampa Bay Rays (April 10-12), a four-game home series against the American League Champion Texas Rangers (April 19-22) and, just to pour a bucket of salt water over the wounds incurred, a three-game series in the Bronx Apr. 27-29.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland is known for using his entire roster liberally. OFers Clete Thomas and Andy Dirks, and 2Bmen Danny Worth, Ramon Santiago and, eventually, Brandon Inge, might see significant playing time.

But, should they?

The Tigers made substitutions in the 2011 post-season out of necessity. They were beat up, and running out of players. Luckily, some of those substitutes stepped up in a big way, such as UT Don Kelly and Santiago.

Continue reading "The Detroit TIgers Must Approach This April Like the Playoffs"

It's really refreshing to see the Detroit Tigers win on national televison. Aside from September's telecasts last year, the Tigers usually play just poorly enough to remind ESPN and Fox National to stop carrying Tigers games.

Not so on this chilly but sunny- and sold out- Thursday afternoon.

Justin Verlander cruised along on the strength of a devastating back-door curve ball, mixing in his fastball mostly to keep hitters honest or to get a two-strike count. According to MLB Network's Mitch Williams, Verlander never topped 94 mph.

Cruise control- 8 innings pitched, zero earned runs, 2 hits, 7 strikeouts and a walk. The MVP has returned, although he earned a no-decisoin. Interestingly, it was closer Jose Valverde who notched the win, after blowing his first save opportunity of the 2012 season. Valverde was perfect in 49 save opportunities last year, and in 3 opportunities in the playoffs.

Continue reading "The Detroit TIgers Scratch Out Gutsy Win on Opening Day Versus Boston Red Sox"

Detroit Tigers fans are justifiably too excited for words about the Tigers' prospects for the 2012 season.

The Tigers added Prince Fielder to an already-strong core comprised of superstars Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera. RF Brennan Boesch is back, and will play right field every day. Up and down the lineup are dangerous, powerful hitters like the aforementioned Boesch, as well as SS Jhonny Peralta, C Alex Avila, LF Delmon Young and even 2B Ryan Raburn- hitters who should do well to complement the explosiveness of Cabrera and Fielder.

Then, there is the Tigers bullpen, featuring returnees such as closer Jose Valverde and setup man Joaquin Benoit. Joining them will be journeyman Octavio Dotel and youngster Colin Balestar, whose spring training performance suggests that he left his control problems behind when he was traded from the Washington Nationals to the Tigers.

Continue reading "This Year's Detroit TIgers Will Not Repeat 2008"

Second baseman Brandon Inge has been placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 30th. That means he'll be eligible to play on April 14th against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago. 

Non-roster invitee Drew Smyly, the young left-hander who won the fifth spot in the Detroit Tigers rotation this spring, is not yet on the roster. He'll start the season with the Triple A Toledo Mud Hens. The Tigers will carry 11 pitchers until Smyly's start comes up. RHP Al Alburquerque, you'll remember, won't be back until somewhere around the All-Star Bfreak, at the very least. 

The end result of all of this is that OFers Clete Thomas and Andy Dirks are both on the active roster for Opening Day. However, one of them will have to go to Triple A when Smyly makes his first start, or when Inge returns, whichever happens first. Likely, Smyly will join the team first. Moreover, since it now appears clear that the Tigers are committed to using Inge in the last year of his contract, 2B Danny Worth will be bumped to the minors.

Continue reading "Detroit TIgers Place Inge On 15-Day DL, Defer Final Cut For a Week"

Tomorrow, the Detroit Tigers will likely announce their 25-man roster. Assuming that they don't pull any administrative tricks with number-five starter Drew Smyly in order to artificially keep injured 2B Brandon Inge (groin) on the roster, it is likely that Inge and OF Andy Dirks will remain on the roster, while OF Clete Thomas and 2B Danny Worth are sent to Triple-A Toledo. 

Inge-haters and even non-Inge-haters will note the unfairness in that, since Inge continues to struggle at the plate, but the Tigers don't seem too motivated to find a creative way to trade Inge, and other teams don't want to pay him $5.5MM so that he can strike out for them instead of the Tigers.

However, the Tigers should be looking at a more creative, more productive option: carry thirteen pitchers.

Continue reading "With So Much Utility, the Detroit Tigers Should Carry 13 Pitchers"

Most basketball hoops let you to adjust the height of your rim from 7 as well as a half for the regulation height of 10 feet. On specific greater end basketball objectives, they may possibly be able to modify even decrease. However the method by which these systems modify can differ extensively.

Adjustment methods fall in two key categories: individuals that allow for six-inch increments and people that allow for “infinite” increments. A basketball rim that adjusts in six-inch increments can adjust at six points in involving 7 as well as a half and a 10 feet: 7.five, 8, 8.five, 9, 9.five and ten feet. With systems which might be infinitely adjustable, you happen to be in a position for making extremely tiny adjustments, like and inch or much less in case you so wish, which means you can set it at any point in between the minimum and maximum height.

Continue reading "Basketball Hoop Adjustment Methods"

The defending World Champion St. Louis Cardinals have filled their need for a lefthander in their bullpen. 

Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak announced Thursday that the club has signed free-agent left-handed pitcher J.C. Romero to a one-year contract.  Romero has spent parts of 13 seasons in Major League Baseball.

Romero, 35, had his best season in 2007 as a member of the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies.  Pitching in a combined 74 games, Romero allowed just 12 earned runs in 56 1/3 innings (1.92 ERA). 

The Cardinals have opted to not re-sign veteran Arthur Rhodes, which leaves Marc Rzepczynski as the lone-lefty in the bullpen. 

The Romero signing is one of three made by the Cardinals in the past week.  Shortstop Rafael Furcal and utility-man Skip Schumaker both received two-year contracts.  This comes after the Cardinals lost Albert Pujols in free-agency to the Anaheim Angels.

Continue reading "Cardinals Sign J.C. Romero to 1-Year Contract"

The Royals were in dire need of a utility infielder.  They did not have to look far to find one.

Yuniesky Betancourt and the Royals agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract with incentives.  If Betancourt can become a full-time player, he could be paid $2.5 million next season.

Betancourt, 29, spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons with the Royals.  In that time, he batted .253 with 20 home runs and 105 RBIs in 222 games played.  Betancourt spent that time as a shortstop and has only seen nine games at second base in his seven-year career.

Alcides Escobar is slated to be the Royals’ starting shortstop in 2012, as manager Ned Yost reportedly plans to play him 150-plus games in the position.  Johnny Giavotella and Chris Getz will be battling for the second base position in training camp.  According to Royals General Manager Dayton Moore, Betancourt has a better opportunity to overtake the starting role at second base, despite his inexperience at the position.

Continue reading "Betancourt Returns to Royals"

The Minnesota Twins are looking to improve their dismal starting rotation numbers in 2012.

Last season, the Twins starters combined to post the third-worst ERA (4.64), while also striking out just 617 batters in 961 innings-pitched.

The Twins have outsourced to fix this problem, signing veteran right-hander Jason Marquis to a one-year, $3 million contract. 

Marquis, 33, posted an 8-5 record with a 3.95 ERA as a member of the Washington Nationals last season.  He was then sent to the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 30, where he was 0-1, posting a 9.53 ERA in just three starts.  Marquis missed the last month and a half of the 2011 season with a broken right fibula after being hit by a line drive. 

Marquis was a National League All-Star in 2009 as a member of the Colorado Rockies.  His best season came in 2004 when he posted a 15-7 record and recorded a 3.71 ERA as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Continue reading "Twins Sign Jason Marquis to 1-Year Deal"