It was the most memorable game in Angel Pagan’s career. Too bad it was a loss.
In the fourth inning, Pagan hit a deep fly ball to center that Nats CF Nyjer Morgan thought was going out. He climbed the wall, but it hit to the side of him and bounced away. Pagan was hustling all the way and he hustled his way to an inside-the-park homerun.
Inside-the-park homerun: CHECK.
Then, in the bottom of the fifth, an absolutely bizarre play lead to a triple play! A soft fly ball was awkwardly caught …

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Edinson Volquez has tested positive for PED’s.  Volquez will be banned for 50 games and lose around 1/3 of his total salary this season, which is a little under $500,000. 
He claims he got a prescription from a doctor in the Dominican Republic for a legit health issue.  Volquez is currently on the DL and not expected back until midseason.  He is allowed to serve his 50 game suspension while he is on the DL.  This is absolutely ridiculous.  Being banned for 50 games should mean that …

A tragic day today for the Colorado Rockies organization and Major League Baseball.  Rockies President Keli McGregor was found dead in his hotel room in Utah earlier today.  An autopsy is being performed but as of now police say there doesn’t seem to be any foul play.  McGregor was just 48 years old and was the team’s president since 2001 and was with the Rockies for the last 15 years.  Mr. McGregor has left behind his wife and four childen.  It’s a shame to see something like this happen and …

Jimmy Rollins to the DL
Jimmy Rollins is expected to miss 2-4 weeks with a strained right calf.  Rollins hurt it during warmups a few games ago and was pleased with the medical results because he thought it was worse than it really is.  He’s off to a great start batting .391 so far.  I doubt this will slow down the Phillies.  They have so much offense that losing Rollins for a few weeks shouldn’t be that big of a deal.  Juan Castro will get most of the time at shortstop …

Josh Beckett is going to remain a Red Sox through the 2014 season with a 4-year/$68 million deal which averages $17 million a year.  Since joining the Red Sox in 2006 Beckett has won 16-12-20-17 games for the club and helped them win the World Series in 2007.
This contract extension will put Beckett at 34 years old when all is said and done and likely on the decline by year two or three.  I don’t agree with the deal money-wise but the Red Sox basically paid him to keep him …

Jack Cust has spent his last 3 years with the A’s organization and a day before his 4th opening day he gets cut from the 25 man roster - and he’s furious.  Cust is annoyed because he’s basically been the only power threat for the A’s franchise over the last 3 seasons but in the back of his head his real frustraction probably stems from the fact that if the A’s release him no one will pick him up because he isn’t that good.
Sure, Cust sort of fits the mold of …

I know you’re all sad to hear it, but this is the final Spring Training Report of 2010. Wait a second…that means the season is LITERALLY right around the corner! One day away until Opening Night!!! Anywho, here is a quick report to wrap up spring training.
Outdoor Baseball is Officially Back in Minneapolis

The long anticipated opening of Target Field has arrived! The Twins returned to outdoor baseball for the first time in decades, and fortunately they avoid their first rainout in decades as well. Rain fell until about two hours …

This edition of the Spring Training Report focuses on some quick transactions and some other off-field decisions. T-minus six days until the regular season starts. LET’S GOOO!!
‘Giant’ Extensions in San Fran

The Giants look like they’re in business, and they know how important pitching is to this team. During the offseason, two-time Cy Younger Tim Lincecum got an extension to avoid arbitration, and now three more hurlers got locked up. Here are the three extensions announced on Monday:
Matt Cain, Starter – 3 years/$27.5 million
Brian Wilson, Closer – 2 years/$15 million
Jeremy Affeldt, …

If you’ve been following the box scores of spring training games, you’ll notice that the regulars are playing much more and the players you’ve never heard of aren’t getting any at bats. I’ll tell you why that is right now – we’re only 9 days away until the start of the 2010 season!

Score One for the Parker Brothers
I’ll be the first to admit that Milton Bradley doesn’t deserve any of the attention he gets, mostly because he never learns his lesson. But this time, he may have outdone himself. Basically, …

As quick as my face lit up with a smile when I heard Joe Mauer signed with the Twins I was frowning because Joe Nathan, arguably the best closer in baseball (I think he is #2 behind Rivera) is out for the year and is going to need Tommy John surgery.  It’s been said that Nathan will have the surgery within the next two weeks and should be good for the beginning of the 2011 season.  This is obviously a HUGE hit to the Twins.  Their closer Nathan set a …