Tuesday, May 17th, 2011 baseball lost one of its greatest players to ever live, Harmon Killebrew. The great Harmon Killebrew was known as one of the great sluggers and an ultimate gentleman. He hit 573 home runs during his 22-year career, and when he fell to 11th he really didn’t mind the fact that he no longer was the greatest right-handed hitting home run hitter in history. When he retired he was ranked fifth on the all-time list and held that spot for 26 years.

He will be sadly missed by all baseball fans alike. Fans who he practiced signing his autograph for just so every letter would be perfect and legible.

“He took pride in his signature,” John Boggs said. “There was beauty and perfection in it. You could read every letter.”

Twins right fielder Michael Cuddyer said, “I didn’t know him as a baseball player, but I’ve known him as a human being, and he’s as genuine as anyone I’ve ever met. He’s probably the top three people I’ve ever met in my life. Definitely three most influential, next to my parents. … He’s going to be in a better place …and be held in just as high of regard in next life as he is right now.”

Read more about Harmon Killebrew here: StarTribune, MLB.com, and USA Today

MLB.com sums up this past weekend’s the 5th annual Civil Rights game that was played in Atlanta, GA. Having the game in Atlanta couldn’t have been more appropriate – being the origins of the Civil Rights movement. The Braves have a two-year agreement so the Civil Rights game will return to Atlanta for the 2012 games. Braves president, John Schuerholz, thinks since they got the games, he’s not so sure their going to want to take them anywhere else.

The Braves’ won 3-2 over the Phillies on Sunday afternoon, the rest weekend that included a round-table discussion for key social issues, a Youth Summit giving local kids a chance meet ex-Major Leaguers, a Saturday game for the Negro Leagues, a Beacon Awards Banquet and a Delta Civil Rights Game to end it on.

Celebrities and ex-MLB players alike came together, including Hank Aaron. And even though Schuerholz and Aaron would like to see the Civil Rights Game become a permanent fixture in Atlanta, being as important as it is, it’s noted that there are many civil rights stories all across the country, and the Civil Rights Games would like explore all of those. Hank Aaron is glad he gets to have one more season to honor those who paved the way at his adopted hometown.

“If Jackie Robinson had failed, not only on the field but even off the field, you wouldn’t have gotten a chance to see great players like Willie Mays, Ernie Banks or maybe myself or somebody else. I think it would’ve set baseball back at least 10 years or 15 years,” Aaron said in the TBS broadcast booth on Sunday. “This was a tremendous moment, especially what Jackie Robinson had to go through, not only on the field, but he had to carry himself so marvelous off the field.”

Read the full story at MLB.com

Everyone is currently raving about college baseball’s new metal bats. The game time is actually quicker and run totals are lower. However, were you aware that the biggest fans of the new metal bats are the scouts of Major League Baseball.

There has been talk from talent scouts that the game is now reflecting “true” baseball for the first time in a long time, making their jobs a little easier when the MLB’s draft gets closer in June. The new metal bats make it no longer a struggle to figure out which player is the true power hitter.

However, there are still people who like the new metal bats but say they aren’t perfect. Jim Fleming, the Florida Marlins’ vice president for player development and scouting, said the new bats were a huge improvement, but also thought college baseball should just switch to using wood bats.

“We use wood — so anything other than wood isn’t a completely accurate representation,” Fleming said. “That being said, the new college bats are much better. It’s much more accurate. It’s more of a true, clean game.”

It’s not just power hitters who are now easier to evaluate, but you could say the new bats have changed the way scouts look at college baseball all together. From pitching to contact, and smaller players stealing more bases, executing hit-and-runs and bunts, are all skills scouts are looking to see from players who can’t produce big power numbers at the professional level.

What are your thoughts? Should college baseball just switch to all wood bats? Have you tried the new metal baseball bats? Which is the best college bat? Do you think they are improving the game of college baseball?

As the first day of Spring approaches, so too does Opening Day and the beginning of the 2011 Major League Baseball season.  Currently teams are shaking off the rust of the offseason and finalizing their lineups during spring training play as they set their sights on a successful 2011 campaign.  Starting March 31st baseball fans across the nation will suddenly develop that annual “cough” causing many of them to play hooky from school and work so that they can take in the atmosphere and excitement of the unofficial national holiday known as Opening Day.

The first pitch of the 2011 season will be thrown at 1:05 PM (ET) as the Atlanta Braves travel to the nation’s capital to take on the hometown Washington Nationals.  Meanwhile the Detroit Tigers will head to the Bronx and New Yankee Stadium to take on the New York Yankees.  Afternoon affairs begin with the Milwaukee Brewers visiting the defending NL Central champion Cincinnati Reds at 2:10 pm (ET), the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim squaring off against the Kansas City Royals at 4:10 PM (ET), and the San Diego Padres facing the St. Louis Cardinals with a 4:15 PM (ET) first pitch.  The day will be capped off by an 8:00 PM (ET) prime time rivalry match up between the defending champion San Francisco Giants looking to knock off the Los Angeles Dodgers on the road.  All remaining teams kick off their season the following day, Friday April 1st.

Last year the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers shocked the baseball world by meeting in the World Series with the Giants claiming the title.  As the 2011 season approaches, hopes ride high for all 30 MLB teams and their fans as the quest to play for the championship in October begins.

The 2010 MLB playoffs are finally here with many great matchups. The 2010 Major League Baseball season was one of the most exciting we’ve seen in a while with pitching dominating for the first time in many years. For the playoffs, Baseball Rampage has done some research to find which baseball bats and manufacturers some of this year’s teams biggest stars are using. Let the games begin:

Cincinnati Reds vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Reds: Jay Bruce appears to be using Old Hickory Bats. Possible 2010 NL MVP Joey Votto currently uses Louisville Slugger baseball bats.
Phillies: Former MVP Shortstop Jimmy Rollins currently uses Max Bats. Slugger Ryan Howard uses bats made by Marucci Sports.

San Francisco Giants vs. Atlanta Braves

Giants: Buster Posey was difficult to find but we think he’s using Louisville Slugger bats. Aubrey Huff currently uses Carolina Clubs.
Braves: Jason Heyward used to use Rawlings but appears to have switched to Marucci Sports. Catcher Brian McCann is using Marucci Sports baseball bats.

New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers

Yankees: Future Hall of Fame shortstop Derek Jeter uses Louisville Slugger. Alex Rodriguez, ARod, also uses Louisville Slugger.
Rangers: Josh Hamilton appears to be healthy and ready to go in the playoffs with his Rawlings made bats. Vladimir Guerrero uses X Bat made by Tuff Bats.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Minnesota Twins

Rays: Carl Crawford and superstar Evan Longoria both use Louisville Slugger bats.
Twins: Joe Mauer uses Marucci Sports ball bats. Justin Morneau appears to be missing the playoffs but uses BWP Bats.

We’re geared up for an exciting 2010 MLB playoff so be sure to watch every round. If you see a mistake above, or know which bats, gloves, or other gear this year’s playoff pros are using, please post them in the comments section.

If you watched the All-Star game earlier this week, and especially the home run derby, you probably noticed several ball players wearing necklaces or bracelets. Most of these are the popular Phiten USA MLB titanium baseball necklaces that help alleviate pain and fatigue in muscles while shortening recovery time.

Phiten has numerous items available including their popular MLB baseball necklaces, baseball bracelets, wristbands, and more. The MLB styles include both American and National league teams. Our best selling teams to date are the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Chicago Cubs but every team is represented so pick up your favorite team gear today.

Priced from $23 to $35, the Phiten necklaces make a great gift or a cheap addition to your baseball apparel.

So that pretty much does it. I think everyone was hoping that Alex Rodriguez was clean. We all hoped that he would break Barry Bonds’ homerun record, and that we could put the steroid talk to rest. That is not going to happen. A-Rod will be giving a press conference at noon today.

It seems that being a great player was just not good enough for these guys. They are ultra-competitive, Type-A people, who are always looking for an edge. They definitely made a bad decision by getting into drugs, but Major League Baseball is the real bad guy. MLB should have had a policy in place for testing and education. Because they did not, players get to use excuses, and allegations cannot be proven.

Baseball reaped the benefits of the homerun titans like McGuire, Bonds, and Sosa, and now baseball is going to feel the effects of the steroid allegations. I think it is sad that now every fan thinks about all players of the past decade with such suspicion. Had testing been in place, these players would not have used performance enhancing drugs, and their legacies would be intact. As it stands, some of the greatest players of our lifetimes are going to go down in the record books as cheaters.

Learn a lesson from those that have gone before you. Practice hard, lift weights, eat right, and you won’t need steroids.

Jim Rice and Rickey Henderson were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame as the 2009 class. For Jim Rice it was his last chance, his 15th year of hoping, that become the magical one.  “Rice received 412 votes, good for 76.4 percent. Certainly not an overwhelming number, especially compared to fellow inductee Rickey Henderson’s 511 votes (94.8 percent), but good enough to get in,” wrote Mike Sullivan.

Rice was known for his power and keen batting eye, and hit his 382 homers not with brute strength and performance enhancing drugs, but with a quick bat. He smacked 1451 RBIs to add to his case, but along the way became known for his bad relationship with Boston sportswriters. These are some of the very writers that kept him from being inducted for 14 years.

Henderson was an energizing player. He is regarded as probably the most productive lead-off hitter of all time, and his rare combination of raw speed and power helped him amass 3055 hits, 297 home-runs, and 1406 stolen bases.He also has 2 championship rings on his hand, from stints with the Oakland Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays. His 20 career spanned many events in baseball, and he helped change the game.

Bert Blyleven was shut out of the Hall again, and was not shy when asked how he felt about this. He vented to a reporter on ESPN saying something along the lines of, it stinks, and of course I’m upset. He feels that his numbers speak for him, and that it should not be a character contest. I say stop your crying. If I was a writer who voted for the Hall and you went on television whining about not being elected, I would never, NEVER, vote for you. Be a man. If you get in great. If not, the I guess you didn’t do enough.

The Hall of Fame should never be expected by anyone, and if you get in it should be an honor. I think Rice and Henderson are deserving. If I were Blyleven I would stay off TV. I guarantee that others share my opinion and his moaning could be the final straw that keeps him out of the Hall.

Due to the tough economy and billions of dollars in financial bailouts, I find it only fitting to talk about where the 2009 Free Agency Class is headed and the ridiculous amount of money some of them will be making. This year’s class includes a 36 year old man that wants a contract until he is 43, making him the richest pitcher in MLB history, and the richest closer in history. Add plenty of super-agent Scott Boras into the mix, and we a have a recipe for a fun offseason (a.ka. disaster). I have created a list of what I believe to be the top ten free agents this offseason, and where I think they will end up.

1. C.C. Sabathia: Recently Sabathia was offered a contract in the ballpark of 6 years, $140 million from the New York Yankees. Due to my love of the Cleveland Indians, I am naively believing that he won’t sell his soul for a huge paycheck. I look for him to stay in the National League because he loves to hit. Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

2. Manny Ramirez: No matter what you think of him, Manny can flat out hit. He is probably the best right handed hitter of my young lifetime. Although his agent won’t, we have to take into account that he is getting old. At 36 years old he can probably hit with anyone in the league, but at the end of the contract his agent is proposing (six years) he won’t be the same player. That is unless he joins the same gym as Barry Bonds, but I don’t see that happening. I look for him to get a four year deal with a club option for a fifth. Team: Los Angeles Angels

3. Mark Teixeira: At 28 years old, Mark Teixeira is still in his prime. He is someone that I could see receiving a six or seven year deal and over $100 million. I think Mark Teixeira should be the prize as far as hitters go. I am going to take all rational thought out of the equation and pick his team solely based on greed. Team: Cleveland Indians (please open up your wallets for once)

4. Francisco Rodriguez: KRod could not have had his record breaking season at a better time. Someone is going to open up their checkbook to the most dominating closer in the game. I think he could be looking at 5 years and $70 million. I don’t think it is out of the question that he stays with the Angels but… Team: New York Mets

5. A.J. Burnett: After hopefully losing the C.C. Sabathia sweepsteaks, I believe the Yankees will have to chase their tails to find another solid starting pitcher. I believe they will look Burnett’s way. However, i think they will once again get beat out by their American League East rivals. Team: Boston Red Sox

6. Derek Lowe: Derek Lowe is still a very solid pitcher. I think this is where the Yankees could make a splash. I think they will lose out on Sabathia, but need a solid starter for their rotation. They may be losing Pettitte, so I think a veteran like Lowe makes sense. Back to the AL East you go D-Lowe. Team: New York Yankees

7. Ben Sheets: Sheets is a tricky one to figure out. He is a great pitcher that is still fairly young, but hasn’t been completely healthy in a while. I could i see some of the bigger names (i.e. Yankees, Red Sox, Angels) take a stab at him, but I see him staying in the National League. Team: St Louis Cardinals

8. Orlando Hudson: I could see several teams vying for the services of Orlando Hudson. He will be the top middle infield free agent in baseball. Realistically (unlike with Teixeira), I could see the Indians in play here. They need to move Jhonny Peralta from shortstop anyway (presumably to third base), and Asdrubal Cabrera’s natural position is shortstop. That opens up a spot at second base. I believe it is a perfect fit. There is always the issue of cheapness with the Indians. Team: Cleveland Indians

9. Milton Bradley: There aren’t too many teams that would be willing to put up with Milton Bradley’s issues, which could drop his price into the mid market level. Milton’s talent has never been questioned, just his attitude. If his knee is not fully recovered, he could be limited to the AL as a DH. Team: Toronto Blue Jays

10. Ryan Dempster: Ryan Dempster was very solid for the Cubs last season. The Cubs have had such promising starters the past 10 years, but due to injury they haven’t worked out. I don’t see the Cubs letting him go. Team: Chicago Cubs

While the national sports media has been pulling for a Red Sox vs. Dodgers World Series, the rest of us have been rooting for the long shot Tampa Bay Rays. I personally believe that the Rays could save baseball. Not the type of saving that we thought we had with McGwire vs. Sosa in a steroid infused chase to Roger Maris’ home record. The type of saving I am talking about is an underdog story. The same type of story that gives March Madness it’s luster. The Tampa Bay Rays are Major League Baseball’s George Mason or Kent State. They give the everyday person a sense of accomplishment when they see a team with the second lowest payroll dominate the mighty Yankees and Red Sox. Major League Baseball has fallen behind the NFL, NCAA Football, and NCAA Basketball as America’s game. They lack something that those three leagues have: Parody. Baseball doesn’t have regular underdogs like Gonzaga in basketball or Boise State in football. They don’t have the parody that never lets you count anyone out in the NFL. They have the Red Sox and Yankees….Until this year. So I think Major League Baseball should forget about their market sizes and realize that baseball needs an underdog. We need parody. We need the Rays.

-T DeGirolamo