Manny, still being Manny, gets arrested

Booking photo/Courtesy: nbcmiami-broward co. sheriffs

((ht: nbcmiami))

Former all-star and World Series MVP Manny Ramirez has resurfaced. Unfortunately it isn't as a baseball player, rather it is as an arrestee.

Ramirez was arrested Monday night and charged with domestic battery after his wife allegedly told police he hit her during a domestic dispute. She called police

Ramirez, who was living in the Weston area of Broward County in South Florida, was booked at the county Sheriff's office and has since been released.

More from NBC Miami RIGHT HERE

By now, most of us know Ramirez retired from baseball after repeatedly testing positive for steroids. He started this baseball season with the Tampa Bay Rays, but retired in April rather than face another suspension due to issues the MLB's drug prevention and treatment program.

MLB passes on allowing Mets to wear tribute hats

Hat in question

((ht: nydailynews.com))

We don't get this and we suspect the rest of America won't either.

Without having to explain too much of the backstory, the New York Mets asked Major League Baseball to allow them to wear NYPD and FDNY hats for their Sunday night baseball game.

As you all know, Sunday was the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and it was, to say the least, a very emotional day for almost everyone.

MLB said no.

They said no, 10-years ago when the Mets proposed the same thing in the return to baseball against the Atlanta Braves, the Mets wore them anyway.

Nobody complained.

But due in part to MLB's extra large contract with New Era caps, which wouldn't see their product being worn that day. The league did the wrong thing. They explained it with a quote saying "We wanted it to be consistent around the league." And according to several Mets players, the tribute hats worn in Batting Practice, were collected and taken away after BP.

Read the entire story, which includes interviews with former Mets from that time period, from the New York Daily News RIGHT HERE

For what it is worth, the Mets lost the game Sunday night to the Cubs 10-6. And while they didn't get to wear the hats for the game, most of the players did wear them for batting practice.

Take a look at the tribute produced by ESPN, who can really do some great things when they so choose:

Dress up day for the Tampa Bay Rays

((ht: tbo.com))

The Rookies/Courtesy: TBO.com-Tampa Bay Rays

Mostly because this is funny. And it is we guess a baseball tradition. The Tampa Bay Rays, one of the currently hot teams in baseball swept the Boston Red Sox this weekend.

After the game, the team had to catch a flight to Baltimore. And that...is when the teams rookies, of which there are plenty, got to experience hazing...at a major league baseball level.

Check out the photo as they posed for a picture before getting on the airplane. And yes, they had to wear the outfits to check into their Baltimore area hotel too.

We aren't sure who got the worst of this, there are some really scary looking outfits here.

Phillies fans tossed from game for fan interference

The play in question/WPVI-TV

((ht: sun-sentinel.com))

This is, well, a bit odd. And it happened Sunday afternoon at the Philadelphia Phillies versus Florida Marlins game.

Here's the set-up: With Ryan Howard on 1st and Hunter Pence hitting during a tie game in the top of the 6th inning, Pence hits a ball to the right field wall. Florida's rightfielder jumps for it and two Phillies fans sitting in the corner reach over to try and grab it too.

Ball bounces off the wall and Pence rolls into 2nd with what appears to be a ground rule double. Florida manager Trader Jack McKeon didn't see it that way, asks for a review...and gets it.

The umps come out, toss the fans and call Pence out. Charlie Manuel blows a gasket, and he gets tossed out.

Read the whole adventure from Mike Berardino and the Sun-Sentinel RIGHT HERE

Hmmm. We thought the replay rule in baseball was only for home runs. And it appears the Phillies thought the same way. It's unfortunate the fans got tossed for interfering though, they were probably 2 of the 1500 or so actually in attendance at SunLife Stadium.

Okay, it's video of a video on a computer screen, but here's the play in question:

Lenny Dykstra is in even more trouble

Lenny Dykstra

((ht: huffingtonpost.com))

And just how far has the guy fallen?

Former all-star outfielder Lenny Dykstra, a frequent contributor to the "Athlete's with Legal Issues" part of our world, continues to pile on said "Issues".

This time it's a little warped.

Apparently, Dykstra is charged with Indecent Exposure after authorities learned hew was posting online ads looking for personal assistants or house keepers. He would upon meeting the women who applied, expose himself to them and told them the job required they give him a massage.

No, we aren't joking.

Read more from the Huffington Post RIGHT HERE

KTLA-TV has a good account of Dykstra's history, you can read it RIGHT HERE

It's sad to see what happened to the guy once called "Nails" though this could--potentially explain the current charge he is facing too. (Couldn't resist--sorry)

With all the other legal problems the guy is facing, jail time is probably on the way. He pleaded "Not Guilty" to multiple felony and drug charges back in June, so that trial is on the horizon as well.

Believe it or not, some producers tried to put together a "Lenny Dykstra" reality show. It didn't get very far, but here's a part of what it would look like (reducer1):

Former Cy Young winner Mike Flanagan found dead--Updated

MIke Flanagan

((ht: baltimore sun))

One of Baltimore's baseball legends was found dead on a trail near his home Wednesday afternoon. Mike Flanagan was a Cy Young winner, a TV Analyst, Orioles team executive and one of the teams most popular former players.

According to reports, the 59-year-old Flanagan was found dead on his property and Police are investigating the potential cause of death.

Interestingly, Police will not confirm it's Flanagan, though it is and has widely been reported at this time.

Read more from the Baltimore Sun RIGHT HERE

Said Orioles owner Peter Angelos in a statement: It is with deep sadness that I learned of the death of my friend Mike Flanagan earlier this evening. In over a quarter century with the organization, Flanny became an integral part of the Orioles family, for his accomplishments both on and off the field. His loss will be felt deeply and profoundly by all of us with the ballclub and by Orioles fans everywhere who admired him. On behalf of the club, I extend my condolences to his wife Alex; and daughters Kerry, Kathryn and Kendall."


Since Police have yet to officially release his name nor a cause of death, no arrangements have been made.

--UPDATED--The coroner has ruled a cause of death. Unfortunately it appears to be a "Self-inflicted" gunshot wound to the head.

ABC2/WMAR has your TV story:

Former Texas Rangers owner sued for stealing from team

Tom Hicks

((ht: star-telegram.com))

Interesting. According to a lawsuit filed Monday in the Dallas area, the former owner of the Texas Rangers, Tom Hicks, is being sued by the team's post-bankruptcy administrator.

According to a story in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the suit charges Hicks with misdirecting at least $30.5 million from the team to Hicks's real-estate business.

This all has something to do with Hicks purchasing parking lots next to his former team's stadium in Arlington and a lot next to Cowboys stadium. That purchase apparently caused the team to not pay some deferred compensation for players, which they are required to do.

It's a bit confusing, so read the original story RIGHT HERE

For his part, Hicks denies the charges and says they look forward to challenging the allegations in court. ((Note- We are guessing that's the lawyers talking. Right or wrong, they make money if this gets to a courtroom))

As many of you know, Hicks has had some money issues and those problems forced the Rangers into bankruptcy just over a year ago. The team was bought at a bankruptcy auction, which apparently took care of most of his debts.

Strange but true, stories like this never end well. And really, it is just a chance for rich people and rich lawyers to make even more money off of each other.

Bizarre Lawsuit day: Former Village People singer sues Tampa Bay Rays

Yes, the Village People

((ht: st.petersburg times))

For real? This may be even more bizarre than the story about Mike Gundy being sued.

According to the St.Petersburg Times (FL), Victor Willis, former lead singer of the Village People says he will sue the team for mis-using his image.

Yes, the Village People of "YMCA" fame.

Apparently, the group--sans Willis, who apparently quit the group in 1984, appeared after a Rays game last year. Willis's publicist says they used the original video, which featured Willis (the policeman) and that led people to believe he'd be there.

No....really.

The publicist does say really, they just want the Rays to apologize and promise not to do it again.

No, really.

You can read the bizarre story from TampaBay.com RIGHT HERE

Apparently the Rays politely declined to comment. Ha!

Willis apparently still gets royalty monies from the song, but quite honestly, the motivation for this is just plain weird. Or an attempt at getting publicity. (We go with the latter)

Using this logic, we should, I guess be afraid that we may be sued here for (a) reporting this, (b) using Willis's name and (c) for using a photo of the group and having a laugh about it.

Mr. Willis and publicist, we congratulate you on your successful PR stunt, but we regret to inform you that though profitable, you'll never be more than a novelty act...though we will admit that it appears that novelty pays...rather handsomely.

Well, we couldn't find an embeddable copy of their famous stuff, so you'll have to settle for a dub of their movie, Can't Stop the Music:

Fan catches ball with face

((ht: mlb.com))

Hate it when this happens. A poor New York Yankee fan obviously didn't read the note at all stadiums to be careful when sitting close to the field, "Ball can enter stands at a 'Rapid' pace".

Either that or he didn't think Erick Chavez of the Yankees could hit a foul ball that far. Watch the catch...and then, the replay, and then the other replay...

Thanks MLB.com:

Braves win in 19; Pirates robbed

Okay. We make no secret of our affinity for our favorite baseball team, the Atlanta Braves. We've been a fan since we attended our 1st game at Fulton County stadium at age 10. Even when they sucked.

That being said, they got a break Tuesday night. The Braves played the Pittsburgh Pirates and sparing you the details of the early part of the game, it went 19 innings. Yes, 19 innings. Not the longest Braves game ever, that would be the 1982 game that Rick Camp hit a walk-off homer in, but the longest in Turner Field history.

Anyway. Bottom of the 19th inning, the light hitting Julio Lugo is somehow on 3rd base with 1 out, Jordan Schafer is on 2nd and pitcher Scott Proctor at the plate.

Proctor hits a chopper to 3rd and for some reason, Lugo heads home, the throw beats him there by roughly a week, he brushes against the catcher Michael McKenry and touches home plate...and is ruled safe by umpire Jerry Meals.

Needless to say, bedlam ensues, the Pirates blow a gasket and the Braves celebrate the win. The ump, he later admits to MLB.com reporter Mark Bowman  he thought the catcher "Olayed" the tag, but then admits after looking at replays McKenry may have tagged Lugo on the shin. Meals said, "I just saw the glove sweep up. I didn't see the glove hit his leg."

This is camera video from TV of what happened...from Pittsburgh...



And the other TV version from Braves broadcasting- until it gets pulled...
((HT: MLB/FSNSouth/youtube))

New suspects arrested in Bryan Stow beating

Bryan Stow/Courtesy: LATimes

((ht: latimes))

Well, it doesn't appear that Giovanni Ramirez was the guy who nearly beat to death San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow at a Dodgers/Giants game at the beginning of the season.

The reason: The LAPD have arrested two new suspects.

They haven't named the suspects. There's already a growing concern that the Police Department had all but said Ramirez was the guy who put Stow in a coma. Stow had started recovering from his injuries before having seizures this week and undergoing emergency surgery.

Read the entire LA Times story RIGHT HERE

This isn't good.

Well, actually it may be good if they really arrested legitimate suspects this time. The issue lies mostly with the LAPD's credibility since they were so adamant that Ramirez was their guy. That despite no charges being filed against him and the Department holding him by revoking his probation because he was a convicted felon who had a gun on him.

According to the Times, nobody is talking and there's apparently no arrest record available to the public on this story yet. And while we understand the LAPD not wanting to create another media firestorm, the public does have a right to know. And right now, that right is being abused.

MyFoxLA has more:

Two Suspects Arrested in Bryan Stow Beating: MyFoxLA.com

Epic Fail: Justin Timberlake All-Star interview

((ht: mlb.com))

We'll post this on the hope it doesn't get pulled, because quite honestly, it's embarrassing.

Let's set the scenario. Fox is known for gratuitous self-promotion and merciless shilling for their shows and movies during live sporting events. So, lo and behold in the middle of the 4th inning who should find their way to a Fox camera out in the Pool area at Chase Field but Justin Timberlake. The same Timberlake with a movie due out any day now.

Let's just say, that while we respect Timberlake's comedic talents on shows such as Saturday Night Live, this wasn't so funny. Mostly because he was drunk. And partially because Mark Grace is absolutely inept as an interviewer. Listen for Joe Buck reminding him to ask about the movie.

Words can't add to the effect, so watch the video.

Courtesy: MLB.com until Major League Baseball gets mad and has it pulled:

Time to Reign in the Home Run Derby

Robinson Cano

This is an opinion piece. Because I have an opinion and a venue to state it. And really, I am over watching the 3 hour 30-plus minute Home Run Derby's.

Yeah, I get the Home Run Derby is a big event on all-star week for baseball. Much in the same way the Slam Dunk competition is for baseball. But it takes too frickin' long.

Sure, I fully realize it is a made for TV (4-letter word) event, but why can't it be 2-hours? Why does it have to drag on and on and on and on and on?

Yes, it is kind of cool to sit there and watch guys launch 460 foot home runs, but why do we have four rounds of it? Why are the guys subjected to that? You can tell by the final round they are tired, it's not hard to see.

Like I said, a lot of this I blame on the 4-Letter. And is there anyone outside Bristol, Connecticut who actually likes listening to Chris Berman call the derby? To look at my Twitter feed during the Derby last night there were as many, if not more complaints about him than there were good comments about the hitters.

Berman has become the prime example of the over-bloviated announcer doing a way too long event. He starts with his "Back,back,back...gone" which was cute back in the mid 1990's, it isn't very fun...or original in 2011. This years broadcast, was perhaps the worst in recent history. Berman's co-horts, John Kruk and Nomar Garciaparra were by and large indecipherable. There were multiple times during the event that you couldn't make out what they were saying. The production was sloppy, the audio over modulated at times and the Videographers were struggling to follow the baseballs. It just made the event suck worse.

Sure, we get it is a big deal to the fans in attendance, the event is always sold out. And the fans get to see some eye-popping home runs. But come on guys, why can't you cut it to 2-hours? It wouldn't be that hard. We are pretty sure the Bud and Major League Baseball can make this happen.

I mean Michael Bay can do a Transformers movie in less time than it takes to see the 1st round, the 2nd round, the semi-finals and the finals of this event. Make it 2 rounds. It's not that complicated.

And while you are at it, can you find one of the 462 anchors in Bristol who are not named Chris Berman and are semi-relevant in today's society to call the action?

It's off the TV, but here's video of Robinson Cano being pitched to by his father and winning the HR Derby:

Fan nearly falls from stands at Home Run Derby

Keith Carmickle/Courtesy: Michael Chow/Arizona Republic

((ht: azcentral.com))

Keith Carmickle is a lucky man. He was at Monday nights Home Run Derby and nearly ended up stealing the headlines from this years winner Robinson Cano.

Carmickle was stationed in Right Field, near where many of the nights home runs were hit. He'd already got three balls when Prince Fielder hit a shot right at him. He went for number four.

According to the Arizona Republic, Carmickle stepped onto a table and reached down for the ball. His momentum caused him to tumble headfirst over a railing in front of the table when his friend and his brother, standing next to him and grabbed his legs. Had they not, the next stop was the pool, some 20 feet below at Chase Field.

Read more from azcentral.com RIGHT HERE

To say that Carmickle was stupid, would be an insult to stupid people. He didn't think about what he was doing, he wanted the ball. We kind of get that.

But after what happened this weekend in Texas, it may very well be time for stadiums to take a look at their policies in regards to railings.

There probably shouldn't have been any kind of table or prop near the railing, particularly at the Home Run Derby. Period.

Fans are going to do stupid things like reaching over railings for a baseball, they just are. Wishing, hoping and posting a sign at the entrance to the stands isn't going to stop them from doing it. Ushers, maybe.

Here's our solution. How about a second railing, further away from a ledge? That way there's a second hurdle to overcome before the risk of falling over the ledge. It's not an expensive thing to do and it would increase fan safety. While you want to think they won't do anything stupid like reach over a rail like Mr. Carmickle did, you can't assume that. An extra railing a foot or two away would prevent them from hurting themselves. Just our two cents worth, maybe someone will read this and pass it on.

UPDATE-Fan who died at Rangers game identified

EMT's rush into action

This is one of the more sad stories in baseball in a very long time. We first reported last night about a fan falling some 20-feet to his death from the railing in left field at Thursday nights Texas Rangers game in while trying to get a tossed baseball for his son.

That fan has been identified.

He's 39-year old Shannon Stone, a firefighter from Brownwood, Texas. According to the Arlington, Texas fire department, Stone passed away after going into full-cardiac arrest while being transported to the hospital.

The accident happened halfway through the 2nd inning of the Rangers home game against the Oakland. Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton picked up a foul ball that had been hit his way and decided to toss it into the stands in the direction of Stone. Knowing Hamilton, he was probably trying to make sure Stone's son, standing right next to him, got a ball.

Stone fell, some 20-feet.

The Fort-Worth Star-Telegram picks up the story RIGHT HERE

The Rangers, Hamilton in particular according to several reports are absolutely distraught over what happened. As were several relief pitchers for the A's stationed in the left-field bullpen, who saw the whole thing.

This is going to be a tough incident to investigate. Yes, we reported last night that it comes almost exactly one year after a similar accident injured a fan. But this is something that will be very hard to regulate.

Sure, it illustrates that fans should not reach over the railing for anything during a game, but how to you stop that?

Ballpark officials, the Rangers and others continue investigating what and how this could happen, we'll bring you more when that happens.

Here is last nights story from WFAA-TV in Dallas:

Today's Ballpark Sign of the Day: Freeman's Seamen

Freeman's Seamen/Courtesy: Todd Oakley/Twitter

((ht: toddoakley//twitter))

Again, there's just some things that we can't make up.

Atlanta Braves fans, while not known for their devotion, sometimes come up with some pretty creative fan names for their favorite players. There was "Gary Sheffield's Chefs" "Frenchy's French guys" and a few others.

Now there's this. Rookie Freddie Freeman now has his own group--"Freeman's Seamen" (yes, they went there), though we don't know how long they'll be around. (Freeman will be there awhile, he's a rookie of the yr. candidate, playing really well.)

The reason, look at the photo and the name. Too damn funny. And a big thanks to Todd Oakley and Twitter for posting it.

Roger Clemens heads to court

Roger Clemens-circa 2000 or so

We will soon know probably a little more than we might like to about retired baseball superstar pitcher Roger Clemens.

That's because Clemens' perjury trial starts today in Washington D.C.

For the few of you unfamiliar, let's catch up with things. Clemens was accused a couple years ago of using steroids to enhance his performance. His former "Personal Trainer" Brian McNamee was the man making the accusation. The investigation was a part of a federal investigation into steroid use by professional baseball players, something roughly akin to what Barry Bonds was dealing with.

During the series of investigations, and really before McNamee came out and made his allegations, Clemens spoke to Congress about an anti-steroid lifestyle. According to the government investigators and NcNamee, he lied about it under oath.

Read a brief primer from the New York Daily News RIGHT HERE

FBI Investigators have spent 3-years trying to dig up evidence against Clemens and quite honestly, nobody is really sure what they've found.

We know McNamee says Clemens began taking steroids some 10-years ago while pitching in Toronto. And according to the variety of stories done on him, there's a pretty big trail of evidence. Clemens himself hasn't helped his case by giving often confusing or conflicting statements about whether or not he did anything wrong.

Over the next couple of weeks, we should find out if he lied about it and we are a bit conflicted over this. While yes, we probably want to know if he was "Juicing" to make himself a superstar longer, it's been a long time since it happened. It's over with. And the government is spending an awful lot of money to prove a case that will just essentially say Clemens lied.

Really, for that, Clemens will get probation, a fine or at worst, spend a few months at Club Fed. And we wonder, aside for tarnishing memories, what really will it prove?

Here's the testimony that kind of got this whole thing going back in 2008:

Now this...is a "First Pitch": Cirque du Soleil performer spins a strike

((ht: mlb.com))

We've seen some pretty weak ceremonial 1st pitches in baseball these days. From John Wall's dribbler to home plate to Dirk Nowitzki's air ball, it hasn't been pretty.

Which leads us to this. Check out this performer from Cirque du Soleil throw the opening pitch of Monday's Padres/Royals game in San Diego.

The spinning left hander actually throws a strike...and count us as "Impressed"

Video courtesy of MLB.com:

Video surfaces in Stow beating

((ht: tmz.com/ktla.com))

Video has now surfaced showing a confrontation between San Francisco Giants fan Brian Stow, who was brutally beaten after watching the L.A Dodgers home opener on March 31st and an un-identified Dodger fan during the game.

The video, which seems to have been shot on a cellphone isn't incredibly clear and the audio is in Spanish, but you can see Stow and the Dodger fan, who doesn't appear to be Giovanni Ramirez the guy ID'd by LAPD as the main suspect in the beating. Ramirez has repeatedly said he wasn't at the game.

Stow, who was beaten so badly that he's been in and out of a coma since the incident is in a San Francisco hospital in serious condition.

Here's Eric Spillman's story from our friends at KTLA-TV
 

Developing: Dodgers file for bankruptcy--UPDATED

((ht: richard sandomir))

UPDATED:10:10 am est--Per L.A Times--McCourt has told the L.A Times he's lined up $150 million of interim financing to keep the team through bankruptcy proceedings.


You can read the teams entire statement via L.A Times by clicking on the link HERE

The battle between Frank McCourt and Major League Baseball has now been elevated. McCourt, the owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has put in paperwork declaring the Dodgers bankrupt.

This is, for the most part, a legal tactic by McCourt to stave off the league from taking over and selling his team. Though that scenario is inevitable.

McCourt is trying to get Fox TV to complete the contract offered just a week or so ago and rejected by the MLB. That deal would've given McCourt enough money to slog through most, if not all of the season.

McCourt has been barely able to make payroll this season and MLB has already placed an advisor with the team to begin the transition to a new owner. But McCourt has fought it all the way saying he still wants the team. However, between his nasty, expensive divorce from now former wife Jamie and his other financial issues, McCourt just flat out doesn't have the financing to continue running a professional sports franchise.

Oh by the way, just Sunday, Steve Soboroff, an L.A civic leader, hired to help make Dodger Stadium a better place for fans and help the team in the community, quit after 2 months on the job.

More on Soboroff from KTLA.com RIGHT HERE

We suspect this will, in due time play itself out, but it make the once proud, standout, Major League Baseball franchise look awfully small. We feel for the players and staff, and the team has definitely suffered both on and off the field.

Here are the bankruptcy documents, thanks to our friends at KTLA-TV

And here's Phil Shuman's report, thanks to our friends at KTTV/MyFoxLA

Dodgers File For Bankruptcy Protection: MyFoxLA.com