AGRI Biz

Is that Mariano Rivera? Why on earth would he and Bill Buckner be mentioned in the same article? Having just finished Mike Vaccaro's deftly crafted history of "The First Fall Classic," I was inspired to revisit some of the most painful moments in baseball history—painful for the losers that is. Rivera's slip is less remembered than Buckner's or Bartman's, but the greatest closer of all time nonetheless deserves his place among the ...

After seven and two-thirds innings of no-hit ball Saturday afternoon in Tampa Bay, C.C. Sabathia was within striking distance of his first career no-hitter.   Just four outs to go.   His team enduring an 8-0 thumping from the visiting New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays catcher Kelly Shoppach arrived in the batter’s box with one desire—to break up the no-hitter.   Traded from the Boston Red Sox to the Cleveland Indians in 2006 as part ...

Red Sox “Ace” Josh Beckett signed a four-year, $68-million contract extension early this week to remain with Boston through the 2014 season. The signing effectively locked in the bulk of the Red Sox’ rotation for years to come and calmed the nerves of many the Fenway Faithful. Fantasy owners—and Red Sox fans for that matter—beware. Momentarily setting aside Beckett’s not-quite-so-lively heater in Sunday night’s opener against the rival New York Yankees—it’s only ...

Aerosmith’s soaring, grinding, hard-rock ballads are quintessential to the American pop-culture landscape. What would Dazed and Confused be without Sweet Emotion ? Matthew McConaughey’s brooding, post-puberty nostalgia and frail cockiness would be far more pathetic without that song’s momentous rises, without Steven Tyler’s coarse, pumping vocals. As much as Get A Grip in particular resonates with my high-school experiences, my first relationship, I could have done without Tyler’s unrehearsed, off-key, rambling rendition ...

Remaining pre-Opening Day drafts are dwindling, and you’ll have to hurry if you’re going to gather an untainted fantasy roster. If you want a good one, you’ll need to skip the live-draft lobbies and register for one 24 hours in advance.   I seriously recommend CBS Sports Fantasy Baseball. Once you try it, you’re hooked. Yes, a partnership exists between CBS Sports and the Bleacher Report, but I’ve been a user at ...

On April 11th the Boston Red Sox will visit Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium to take on the ever-flailing Royals, and Jason Varitek will turn 38.   Whether Varitek will catch that day remains to be seen. In 2010, Varitek will mainly make spot starts while sharing the job with the more offensively capable, 31-year-old Victor Martinez.   Varitek is getting old and has been getting old for quite a while. Perhaps this finally approaching ...

As incomprehensible as it may seem, the Red Sox apparently have Kevin Youkilis on the block, according to one major league source.   This source vehemently contends that the Red Sox would “love to dump Youk” and suggests such a move could be part of a deal sending Adrian Gonzalez to Boston.   Although such a move might be necessary logistically were the Red Sox to acquire an Adrian Gonzalez, Prince Fielder, or Miguel ...

How many leagues are you joining this year?   Last year I loosely participated in no fewer than 26 fantasy leagues. I’ve played on ESPN, Sporting News, Fox, and CBS Sports.   By the All-Star break, I was following three leagues. That’s how fantasy works sometimes. When you overdraft and over-commit, you set yourself up to lose interest when life catches up with you.   Those three leagues I maintained from start to finish were my ...

With Daisuke Matsuzaka’s late start and Clay Buchholz’ fine spring performances, the 2010 Red Sox’ starting rotation is achieving some predictability: Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, John Lackey, Clay Buchholz, and Tim Wakefield. That’s five. Although not as finalized, a bullpen is forming that centers around Daniel Bard, Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima, Ramon Ramirez, and Jonathan Papelbon. Top candidates to fill perhaps two final spots are Scott Atchison and Brian Shouse, both of ...

Unlike the young-gun non-roster invitees who have been reassigned to minor league camps and may still have the whole baseball world before them, these more veteran pitchers need to shine now if they’re to make the 2010 show. With the starting rotation and bullpen largely predetermined, there aren’t many spots for these aging devotees of the diamond gods. While they await the sign to take the field and pray for injuries or ...