AGRI Biz

John Maine, after a very slow start to his Oliver Perez-like season, has turned the corner. He has thrown a quality start in each of his last three outings. His string of successful starts began in game one of a doubleheader at Citi Field against the Dodgers on April 28 where he threw six innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits. Then on May 4 at the Reds he ...

Baseball is a 162-game season, but not 40 games in David Ortiz appeared to be a lost cause. Despite hitting near the Mendoza Line, Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona remained confident in his aging slugger, not ready to bench the player that had carried the team for so many years. His confidence has since paid off, as Ortiz’s confidence has become just as strong. He has been ...

The Seattle Mariners have entered a world they may eventually wish they hadn't. In the wake of the Ken Griffey Jr. "sleeping in the clubhouse during a game article," the Mariner players have decided to boycott the newspaper in which the article appeared. The Mariners are now refusing to talk to or grant any interviews to the Tacoma News Tribune. Why, exactly? Because apparently, they feel the reporter who wrote the piece, veteran Mariners beat ...

In the words of my esteemed colleague, Jim Anchower , "Hola amigos. How's (stuff) shaking out? I know it's been a long time since I rapped at ya, but misery's been flying at me from all directions, and it's been a (dang) full-time job to just duck out of the way of all of it." Well not really—four days. But it's been a long time since I've stood on my anti-Dusty Baker soapbox ...

Dear Mr. Deford, Last week, you wrote an article for SI.com lamenting what you described as the "stultifying sluggishness" that is presently plaguing Major League Baseball.  The article bemoaned the "dreadful strategy" of hitters allowing themselves to see as many pitches as possible in order to tire out the pitcher.  You seem to see this as one tactic among many from ...

Garrett Jones and Andrew McCutchen had an incredible day, perhaps one of the best a pair of teammates have ever had.  Both players had five hits each, while Jones had a double and a homer and drove in five runs, McCutchen also had his fifth home run and also stole two bases.  While I am still unsure of Jones’ future production I have nothing but love for McCutchen and ...

It's easy to root for a winning team, but what makes it even easier is when that winning team is made up of a bunch of likable guys. The Phillies have a roster full of character players who truly enjoy the game. They play hard and they like each other. And as proven by their appearance in the previous two World Series, this team is good. Here's a look at my ...

Baseball is a sport that transcends time. It is one of the few activities in America that a Civil War veteran, if he was miraculously raised from the dead, would understand. And the uniforms have changed a bit, but are still generally recognizable. The socks and stirrups get a little longer or shorter depending on the era, and the clothes are not as baggy now since they are made ...

Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Alex Rodriguez’s 19th career grand slam gave New York a lead they would not relinquish in an 8-4 win over Minnesota Friday night at Yankee Stadium.   Joba Chamberlain (1-1) struck out the side in the eighth inning to earn the win. Scott Baker (4-3) suffered the loss despite striking out nine in six innings. Minnesota’s struggles at Yankee Stadium continued. Including last year’s ...

MIAMI-- After a start in which Oliver Perez walked seven batters in 3 1/3 innings, blaming it on cold conditions, he had abolutely no excuse for this terrible outing. Perez, who was given a vote of confidence by Jerry Manuel and was told that he was not pitching for his spot in the rotation, gave up four home runs in 3 1/3 innings as the Mets took a 7-2 loss. It didn't ...