The Mets Need Bobby Valentine

The NY Mets continue their losing ways, opening the 2010 MLB season with a 3-6 record. Is it time to panic? Maybe not today, but very soon. If the slide continues, the NY Mets front office will need to make drastic changes - starting with the manager, Jerry Manuel.


Jerry Manuel took over the helm in the middle of the 2008 season when Willie Randolph was fired. His record as Mets manager is 128 wins and 136 losses.  His failures as manager started in September 2008, when he couldn't keep a 3.5 game divisional lead over the Philadelphia Phillies with 17 games left to play. The Mets collapsed, losing 10 of their final 17 games - and missed the playoffs.

In Jerry's first full year as Mets manager in 2009, things didn't get any better.  In fact, that baseball voodoo and bad luck followed Manuel and the Mets all season. Plagued with major injuries to all of their star players (except David Wright), they finished 4th in the NL East with a 70 - 92 record. Besides injuries, Manuel was questioned repeated about his peculiar baseball moves, his motivation methods, his platooning strategy (Daniel Murphy and Ryan Church), and his handling of injuries to his players.

Jerry Manuel and the Mets were looking forward to a fresh start in 2010. But immediately the Mets had issues with the starting rotation, scoring runs and injuries to key players. The same issues they had in 2009. Now it seems that Jerry's reign as manager is in the balance with every loss. The pressure on Jerry and the Mets to win is greater than ever - and they haven't even played 10 games!


The Mets brass can relieve that pressure by pulling-the-trigger on a managerial change. The Mets need Bobby Valentine - and they need him soon!

Is Bobby Valentine available and willing to manage again? Well, he's back in the states and working as a baseball analyst on ESPN. 

During an appearance Friday with Chris Russo on SIRIUS XM's Mad Dog Radio Channel, Valentine discussed the possibilities of him being a candidate to succeed Manuel as Mets manager.

"You know, the Mets are 3-6. It's nine games," Valentine said. "I mean, let's not get crazy here. I think Jerry, I talked to him a few times during spring training. Jerry Manuel is up for the task. I think that he has a tough road to hoe, there's no doubt about it, and he's got to keep his head above water until his center fielder comes back, and obviously has to get that pitching staff in shape. But I don't see that as being part of my future as we're speaking here. ... I'm a member of ESPN Baseball Tonight. I'm happy to be there and I'm gonna enjoy talking about that situation, not being talked about within that situation."

But Valentine also made comments that indicated he'd love to manage again - especially in NY. Valentine stated: "Well, I think I have it in my blood," he said. " I've done it for over 3,000 games and 20-something years so, you know, it's there. But I'm trying to get into this new life of mine and, you know, it's a tough situation being pulled out of it every time someone has an 0-3 stint."

If the Mets continue to lose, Wilpon and the Mets must bring in Valentine immediately. Making a managerial change will help the Mets management show the fans they want to win. It will also sell more tickets, put some fire into the players and cause a buzz in New York. Maybe the Mets and Valentine can implement an effective baseball training and conditioning program too.

Bobby has a history with the Mets as a player (1977 - 1978) and manager (1996 - 2002). He is one of only a few Mets managers who are worth talking about and the best manager available for the Mets.

Some might say that getting rid of Jerry Manuel isn't fair - that the injuries are to blame. That might be true, but the manager is ultimately responsible for his team - and so, must take one of the team.

The Mets need Bobby Valentine and Bobby Valentine loves everything about the Mets - the perfect baseball marriage. It's almost as though the baseball gods have set the stage for the inevitable -  Bobby Valentine managing the Mets again.


source: nydailynews.com, espn.com,

Minor League Yankees and Met Suspended for Steroids

Just when you thought major league baseball players had learned their lesson about taking illegal substances, four minor leaguers have tested positive for substances that violate the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The four players -- Melvin Colon (Mets), Israel Tolentino (Yankees), Josue Rodriguez (Yankees) and Steven Lebron (Indians) -- were expected to spend the year in the Dominican Summer League and will have to serve their suspensions at the start of the season.

22-year old pitcher Israel Tolentino, was suspended for testing positive for boldenone metabolite. His Yankee teammate, Josue Rodriguez was suspended after testing positive for Standozolol.

Melvin Colon, a pitcher in the Mets' farm system was suspended after testing positive for metabolites of Nandrolone. Steven Lebron, an outfielder in the Cleveland Indian organization was sanctioned after testing positive for Boldenone metabolite. Lebron was signed in January, and his contract was voided without any cost to the club.

Based on these suspensions, there is absolutely no doubt that the use of steroids in baseball is still a big problem.

Why can't these athletes lay off the juice and focus on improving their hitting and pitching skills.

The continued use of steroids in baseball continues to erode the integrity of MLB while causing many fans and sportswriters to re-evaluate the last 20 years of MLB individual records.


source: mlb.com

MLB Players Union Willing To Consider HGH Testing

Michael Weiner, head of the Major League Baseball Players Association, said that the union is willing to consider player blood testing for the banned substance human growth hormone (HGH), if a scientifically reliable test is available.

The comments came in response to news this week that a British rugby player had tested positive for HGH and accepted a two-year ban without contesting the HGH blood test results

In making the statement, the MLBPA may be betting on the fact that scientifically validating a blood test for HGH will not come soon. In fact, the scientific community associated with the HGH testing are split on the belief that HGH drug testing will be scientifically validated.

"People associated with that test believe it's scientifically valid; other scientists in the testing community dispute that," Weiner said after visiting the Angels at their spring-training facility in Tempe, Ariz.

"The fact that there has been a positive [result] that an athlete has chosen not to challenge is a factor that raises the profile" of possible HGH testing in baseball, he said. "But that doesn't make it scientifically valid."

Weiner said the rugby case "does mean that it's time for everybody -- us, the [MLB] commissioner's office -- to assess the science behind it. But the short answer is, I don't equate a single, unchallenged positive with scientific validity, and I don't think anybody would."

If a test is found by the MLBPA and MLB to be valid, it could become part of the MLB joint drug program before the two sides reach their next labor contracts.

I would expect that over the course of this year we’ll be discussing this and if improvements are called for, if changes are called for, we’ll make them; it doesn’t have to wait" for a new collective-bargaining agreement, Weiner said.

Based on the recent fallout regarding steroids in major league baseball, the Players union is making sure to say all the right things about possible HGH testing in major league baseball. But will the union change it's tune and resist HGH testing for its players if a scientifically valid blood test for HGH is found?

We'll just have to wait and see.

Are The Phillies NL Favorites in 2010?

Are the Phillies the outright favorite to win the 2010 National League Championship? In 2009, the Philadelphia Phillies made their second consecutive World Series appearance but fell short in winning back to back World championships - losing to the New York Yankees in six games. Some in the Phillies front office felt they were one good starting pitcher away from repeating as World Champions.

Well, the Phillies front office decided to make a MLB update and acquired a MLB top-5 starting pitcher. The Phillies acquired Roy Halladay from the Toronto Blue Jays for three minor leaguers during the off-season - a great move.

The Phillies are in great shape for 2010. The power in their lineup is back.  Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, Jimmie Rollins and Jayson Werth will again make up one of the most powerful hitting offenses in all of baseball.

But does the signing of Roy Halladay put them over the top?

In the off-season the Phillies traded away LHP Cliff Lee to the Seatlles Mariners. The Phillies obtained Cliff Lee for the playoff run in 2009. Lee went 4.0 with a .156 ERA. With the trade, the Phillies lose an invaluable commodity - an effective left-handed starting pitcher. They also lose his playoff experience and composure.  Halladay has never pitched in the playoffs.

But the addition of Halladay gives the Phillies a sure 20 game winner and a proven 200+ inning guy. Halladay will be the second best pitcher in the National League, behind San Francisco Giants Time Lincecum. The addition of Halladay makes the rotation better and adds a guy who can give some pointers to the younger throwers, specifically sophomore starting pither J.A. Happ.

Halladay will be followed by Cole Hammels, Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ. The final spot in the starting rotation between old man Jamie Moyer and Kyle Kendrick will be decided in spring training.

All-in-all, the Phillies will still be the favorite in 2010 to 3-pete as National League champions. The hitting and defense are proven but the question is will their starting lineup be enough to beat the likes of the reigning MLB World Champions, the New York Yankees.

We'll just have to wait until autumn. Maybe the "Halladay season" will start early in Philadelphia!

Major League Baseball Sues Upper Deck

Major League Baseball is suing Upper Deck for millions of dollars in damages plus a punitive award in the US District Court in New York,. The allegation is trademark infringement. MLB licenses and very strongly protects its various team trademarks. Baseball claims Upper Deck is using those trademarks despite the fact it does not have the rights to do it as licensed by MLB, nor has it been given permission to proceed with MLB licensed trading cards.

"Upper Deck's current conduct is reflective of a pattern of utter disrespect for the contractual and intellectual property rights of those from whom it licenses valuable trademarks," the complaint said.

So far a spokesman for Upper Deck has no comment.

Upper Deck and Major League Baseball agreed on a trading card license back in 1989. The relationship was great and Upper Deck was credited with pushing kids trading cards into a new realm of real life collectibles. The baseball card collectible industry reached over $2 billion in retail sales in the early 1990's. Problems began surfacing in the latter part of the decade and now MLB now says UD still owes it $2.4 million in back royalties. Last year MLB and the Players Union began not renewing licenses due to the vast over production which led the category down a path of near non-existence. Topps is once again the only trading card maker of licensed baseball cards.

This does not preclude UD or any other card maker from making baseball cards. They can still use players who sign individual deals, they can still use names of cities on their products and they can still use retired players who sign contracts with them. What they cannot do is to use team names, logos or other likenesses. There are also specific rules regarding the use of some players and how many current players if they are used at all. Players are handled through a separate license from MLBPA.

It is the logos and trademarks which are in question here for the most part when it comes to this lawsuit. The NFL, NBA and NHL as well as other leagues have similar restrictions. This week the NFL, which owns the rights to the New Orleans Saints' familiar slogan "Who Dat" is using its muscle to try to halt the sale of knock off tee shirts and other items at the Super Bowl which carry the "Who Dat" statement. The NBA for years has raided swap meets and flea markets confiscating and shutting down dealers who print shirts and caps with their official logos as well.

One of the aspects in question is Upper Deck recently released both the high end Ultimate Collection and Signature Stars Baseball products. MLB says UD released these 2010 products (they were released in 2010) but on the packaging UD states these are 2009 products.

"They did put a disclaimer on the box saying the product is not affiliated with Major League Baseball," said Dave Rodriguez of Sports Source, a baseball card shop in Burbank, CA. "It is confusing to the collector certainly and the product was solicited during 2009."

Several distributors have also halted distribution of UD trading cards which are under question with the law suit. Usually card makers solicit their products four to six months in advance of release. Upper Deck did have a license in 2009. Whether this will be part of UD's defense or not will remain to be seen. Upper Deck had been the leader in distributing trading cards world wide including World Cup Soccer beginning in 1993. It even printed basketball in foreign languages for Asia and Europe.

Upper Deck was one of the first companies to take the printing of cards with retired players to another level. Pacific, Topps and Fleer had previously printed cards with retired players as far back as 1960. Upper Deck with it's SP Legendary Cuts Series however actually put autographs and pieces of jerseys the players wore in the cards. For the most part teams have two jerseys they wear. The home jersey and the away jersey each normally feature either the name of the team the front or the name of the city. If a company uses the name of the team a license is required and royalties paid but if the city only is used in most cases it is a freebie.

In a previous Examiner article we correctly identified the fact five UD employees pleaded the Fifth Amendment against self incrimination in the Konami case, however CEO Richard McWilliam was not one of them which was incorrectly stated. In the story UD settled out of court with Konami after admitting it counterfeited over 600,000 YGO trading cards.



source: examiner.com

MLB and Japan Exploring Global World Series

It appears the World Baseball Classic marketing ploy wasn't successful enough for MLB. Now they're laying the groundwork for their next marketing strategy - a global World Series.

According to the AP, Bud Selig and Japanese commissioner Ryozo Kato are meeting in Milwaukee to discuss the possibility of a Global World Series that would pit the World Series champions against the champions from the Nippon Baseball league in Japan.

Is Bud Selig only looking out for MLB's interest? After all, the MLB commissioner is scheduled to retire in 2012 and he might just be looking to leave his legacy (and stroke his ego) before he goes off into the sunset.

Even if the two leagues reach an agreement, can they overcome the challenges facing them? Besides the obvious challenge of scheduling, they will have to deal with the MLB owners and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) - and you can't blame them. Based on the results of the WBC, the owners will be reluctant to risk their investment, and the Players Association will be concerned about injuries and security traveling abroad. Even today, the MLBPA seems resistant to "ambassador tours" to promote the game.

It is understandable that MLB is looking to expand it's market share, but maybe they are looking in the wrong part of Asia! Wouldn't they better be served by promoting baseball to countries with billions of people with strong economic futures? To countries that don't even play baseball?

China and India are ripe for the taking. As these economies grow, their citizens crave everything Western. And in the case of India, baseball is similar to one of their most popular sports - cricket. And if Indians embrace baseball they won't have to wait 3 days for a game to finish.

Yankees Trade Cabrera for Vazquez

Early last week the Yankees decided to pull the trigger and make a trade for a possible number four starter. The Yanks came to agreement with the Atlanta Braves on a five-player trade that sent Melky Cabrera,two minor-league pitchers and $500,000 in cash to the Braves for right-handed pitcher Javier Vazquez and lefty reliever Boone Logan.

Why did the Yanks make this move? The top two free agents available, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee had both signed; Halladay signed with the Phillies and Lee with the Mariners. The Yanks were left with a shortlist that consisted of the Reds' Aaron Harang, the Cubs' Victor Zambrano and the Atlanta Braves' Javier Vazquez.

According to sources, the Yanks tried to make a deal with the Cubs for Carlos Zambrano but the Cubs refused to pick up any of the $53 million owed to him over the next three years.

Brian Cashman then proceeded to his next option and completed the deal for the former Yankee. Javier Vazquez pitched in 2004 for the Yankees and had a great first half - even making the All Star Team. He had a disappointing second half due to shoulder problems. He is best known for giving up a grand slam to Red Sox Johnny Damon in game 7 of the 2004 Championship Series.

As it looks now, Vazquez is touted to be the number 4 starter with either Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain in the number 5 spot.

If Javier produces like the Yankee management expects, the Yankee pitching staff could be the best in baseball in 2010.