The Rangers should sue Bud Selig for gross stupidity.

If the Rangers end up losing the World Series tonight, they can thank Selig.  It was his inane idea to tie the home field advantage in the series to the winner of the all-star game.  If they had home field advantage like they would have had under the old system, the series would likely be over and they would be celebrating a title.

But like a lot in baseball, the home field has been “Seliged.”

Definition – (1) To screw up something that without intervention would have been much better.

(2) To do things just for the sake of change despite the lack of need for any alternation.

(3) Just being stupid.

It would be bad enough if the Cards were a division winner and got home field with a worse record than the Rangers.  But this team fell backwards across the line into the playoffs as a wild card team.
In no other sport does something as stupid as an exhibition game determine home field advantage.  What would baseball have done if the 2011 game had ended in a tie like it did several years ago?  Knowing Bud, they would have had the first 4.5 innings in St. Lewis … Read more at FryingPanSports

Baseball needs to upgrade Umpires NOW!

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                       MLB Umpire Foster

MLB’s reputation has taken major hits from the steroid scandal, missing the playoffs because of a strike and leadership of the some times blind but always intellectually challenged Bud Selig. But there is a bigger problem with the game—the ineptness of some of its umpires.

Umpire Marty Foster covered 3rd base last night sort of. At least he was paid to do that. In the first inning he called Derek Jeter attempting to steal 3rd. The ball got there in time but Jeter was never tagged. Jeter complained to Foster and was reportedly told that he didn’t have to be tagged to be out. When Jeter told Yankee manager Joe Girardi what Foster had said, Girardi exploded and got thrown out of the game for arguing the call. Maybe someone should buy Foster a copy of the MLB rule book. Even if they did, I doubt he would read it.

The umpires were already under the gun for inaccurate ball and strike counts. New technology has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that umpires are not able to tell a strike from a ground hog. Baseball has always said that it can live … Read more at FryingPanSports

Baseball and politics don't mix.

Fryingpan Sports

Baseball and politics don’t mix.

By Bill Smith

If you have ever wondered if government can screw up something innately simple, just look at the people to whom it gives drivers licenses.

Congress got involved in the baseball steroids controversy several years ago. The House and the Senate held hearings and drug (pun intended) players and members of the league and the union in front of TV cameras in the worst reality show in history until “Hole in the Wall” aired last year. But even bad TV has its moments. How entertaining can it be with the “Day of the living dead” Sen. Arlen Specter as host?

Who among us doesn’t get choked up hearing Rafael Palmeiro say “I have never used steroids, period.” Of course that would have been a little more moving had he not been suspended for steroid use less than 5 months later.

Now Congress is way too busy pounding trillions of taxpayer money down a rat hole to be involved with baseball or steroids. But fear not. Another branch of government is stepping in to take Congress’ place—the Courts. Miguel Tejada faces a court date Wednesday because he lied about steroid use. No, … Read more at FryingPanSports