The Out Route: MLB Archives

With 756, It's Over

It’s over. Barry Bonds hit home run #756. It was inevitable. We all knew it would happen when he got off to such a hot start. As fans, most of us booed, bitched, and bashed the man as if...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 4:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Best Case Barry Bonds Scenario

The zero hour is approaching: Barry Bonds has tied Hank Aaron. The outrage over the tying home run was far less than I had hoped for -- after all of the public outrage over steroids and Bonds in particular,...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 12:38 PM | Permalink

We'll Miss You, Julio

Sad news out of Queens, as Julio Franco has been designated for assignment, effectively ending his stint with the Mets and possibly his career. Franco, weeks before his 49th birthday and with a goal to inexplicably play until 50,...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 10:34 AM | Permalink

Who Will Be the Mets Hitting Coach?

It was announced yesterday that Rick Down is out as Mets hitting coach. Rickey Henderson is in as a coach. However, he has not been announced as hitting coach yet. And I don't think he will. Rickey Henderson was...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 7:39 PM | Permalink

San Diego: Lock Up Your Women and Children

I like Michael Barrett. And it's not because of his less-than-sparkling .256 average and occasionally atrocious play in the field. It's because sometimes you have to put a pitcher in his place. Just like women. And Barrett's not afraid...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 9:05 AM | Permalink

Ah, More Horrible Sports Coverage by Fox

You sick of Barry Bonds? Think he's over-exposed and want to vomit every time you hear his name or see his face? Fox has the cure -- the opposite cure. Fox, and ESPN, who I'm sorely disappointed in for...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 3:15 PM | Permalink

Is the Mets Pitching Staff Better This Year Than Last?

Yes. It's really that simple, but Tom4 would never allow me to write a one-word blog. He's picky like that. The questions surrounding the Mets this year were all about the pitching staff. But people forget that the Mets...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 9:30 PM | Permalink

Hancock's Father Sues Restaurant, Tow Company

I held my tongue during the whole Josh Hancock thing. At first it was tragic and there was nothing I could say that hadn't been said already. Then the word came out that he was drunk, not wearing his...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 2:30 PM | Permalink

What Will Happen With Roger?

Roger Clemens has started to work his way to an eventual June start for the Yankees. I've had a couple of weeks to think about it and there are several possible outcomes to Roger's most recent return from retirement....

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 7:55 PM | Permalink

Yankee Fans...They're Very Creative

This video comes courtesy of the mothership, but it's an all-too-familiar sight. Nobody gets spared from the Yankee bleacher bums' brilliant -- and incredibly matured -- "YMCA" adaptation. I have to admit to enjoying the bleacher experience at Yankee...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 10:44 AM | Permalink

Cecil & Prince

I love father-son success stories in sports. Genes are a curious thing. If you're Tony Soprano, you hate the fact that your son is miserable like you. But if you're Cecil Fielder, you've got to be pretty happy with...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 11:38 AM | Permalink

Desperate Times...

I guess it worked. When I arrived to our weekly wiffleball game, it was the first thing anybody brought up to me. I got an e-mail from my boss, a Yankee fan, with the subject "a very special day."...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 11:06 AM | Permalink

The Yankees Are Still Losing

The FanHouse asks a question today -- whose fault is it that the Yankees are the new Devil Rays? The fans blame the players. Steinbrenner blames Torre. And nobody blames Brian Cashman, even though he's a giant dork. But...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 11:09 AM | Permalink

Deconstructing David

Last year, the first home run the Mets hit was off the bat of David Wright. This year, David Wright is the only starter not to hit a home run. The rest of the lineup has. Reserve Damion Easely...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 9:47 PM | Permalink

What a Bloody Mess

When you're a member of the media, if you've got a scoop, it's best to break it in a timely fashion. Not...say...3 years after the fact. The great story we were talking about the other night was that famous...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 11:33 AM | Permalink

A-Rod Will Disappoint Eventually

I know it sounds like I only bring up baseball here to knock the Yankees. I'm sure some portray me as one of those stereotypical, unimaginative blind Yankee-haters. Not true. I don't hate the Yankees. Mainly, I hate their...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 10:59 AM | Permalink

A-Rod Getting A Man-Rub

I was flipping through the channels last night and decided to stick with David Letterman for Andrew Bird (who, as you can see above, was awesome), but there was a bonus to be found. The show had a pre-taped...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 10:49 AM | Permalink

Hyperbole Is At A Premium

The baseball season is now four days old, and there's a lot of ball to be played this season. As is the case with baseball more than any other sport, teams will come on strong, teams will falter, players...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 12:26 PM | Permalink

The Hold Steady Rule

My two favorite things on the planet are sports and music. Even though it obviously doesn't apply, to me the stereotype still sticks out that music geeks, the real hip brainiac types (not the salt of the Earth music...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Don't Call it Revenge

This is my first of many Mets-related posts to come this season so get pumped. I was all ready for Opening Day. I had purchased my black Reyes jersey, the Mets boxers were ready, and I was wearing my...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 9:19 PM | Permalink

Ring In The New Year

An Opening Night victory over the Cardinals probably does little to appease the pain of last year's season-ending playoff strikeout, but baseball means that spring is upon us, and spring equals hope. With last night's 6-1 victory over the...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 9:56 AM | Permalink

Checking In On Those Japanese Sensations

With opening day rapidly approaching, maybe it'd be a good idea to see how those Japanese imports have been doing. Of course, spring training usually has nothing to do with how a pplayer will perform in the regular season....

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 11:30 AM | Permalink

David Wells Is Now Diabetic

Well, the first results of the "How Will David Wells' Unhealthy Lifestyle Come Back To Hurt Him?" pool are officially in: Wells has been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Controlling blood sugar by exercising, eating healthfully and taking medication...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 10:32 AM | Permalink

A-Rod Leaves Return to NY Up To Yanks Fans (Dumbass)

Apparently, Alex Rodriquez will leave the decision to opt out of his contract at the end of the year up to the Yanks fans. This method seems rather socialist to me, and much like socialism's real-life form Communism, this'll...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 8:52 PM | Permalink

David Said Whaa!?

I love David Wright. I do. He's the same age as I am, but I admire him as if I were seven. He's a great player, nice guy, and the future of the Mets. My life would be shattered...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 10:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Mark Cuban Might Not Buy the Cubs

We sort of missed the boat on this yesterday (sorry), but rumors of Mark Cuban buying the Cubs have gone crazy. Not so fast, says the mothership: Before everyone goes nuts about Mark Cuban possibly owning the Cubs, take...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Keeping Things Lite

Somehow this small meaningless story has gotten around. I read a blurb in the Star-Ledger this morning. Then later on, the NewsHouse linked this Newsday article. The quick gist is that the Mets new left-fielder, Moises Alou, keeps fit...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 10:48 PM | Permalink

Bernie Williams: Stubborn

As the mothership has pointed out in their new (shiny) MLB FanHouse, Bernie Williams hasn't, and probably won't, report for spring training. Bernie Williams rejected the Yankees' offer of a minor league contract and will wait to see if...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 11:36 AM | Permalink

Be Safe: Keep a Distance from Kerry Wood

Kerry Wood is to getting injured as the Kennedys are to dying. There's an SAT analogy for you. Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood hasn't pitched a full season since the Steve Bartman season in 2003. It's a shame too because...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 8:36 PM | Permalink

Will We Hear From Jeff Samardzija Ever Again?

Notre Dame's record-setting receiver Jeff Samardzija chose to sign a 5-year deal with the Chicago Cubs organization instead of opting to play pro football. While I won't question his decision to choose baseball over football -- it's his decision...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 2:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Paul Lo Duca Is Scaring People Away

Being pretty much a Mets fanboy, it's been sad not posting about them during the winter. Finally, a blog-worthy story has come along. I almost didn't want to touch it because of my blind rage, but Tom4 pointed me...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 10:15 PM | Permalink

The Unit Leaves New York, And I'm Sad

If you've ever read this blog, you'll know I'm a big time Mets fan. So why would I be sad that Randy Johnson was traded from the Yankees? Because I'm a big time Yankee Hater too. I don't hate...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 11:41 AM | Permalink

The Big Mistake

The Diamondbacks have confirmed their interest in reacquiring Randy Johnson from the Yankees. I'm at a loss for words. The Diamondbacks have built a corp of impressive young prospects and they've got money to spend. Why waste both on...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 11:07 AM | Permalink

The Handshake

Man are those Red Sox slick. How's this for scheisty: the Red Sox won the bid for Daisuke Matsuzaka. You probably know this unless you've been living under David Ortiz's jock strap. They had a month to sign him...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 10:36 AM | Permalink

Neverending Trade Talks

There are few constants in life. Death. Taxes. Trade rumors involving Allen Iverson and Manny Ramirez. Will the latter ever come true? It seems as if every year, Manny and AI are the center of their respective rumor circuits....

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 10:23 AM | Permalink

The Magic Is Gone

In the wake of our discussion of stupid baseball contracts this offseason, the Red Sox have gone and made the stupidest. They're going to wind up taking a giant step down from Manny Ramirez to J.D. Drew, and they're...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 11:10 AM | Permalink

Tom Glavine Chooses (Settles For?) Mets

After what seemed like a good month, Tom Glavine finally signed a one-year, $10.5M contract with the Mets. Glavine was debating between the Mets, who he had his first really good year with just last season, and the Atlanta...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 9:54 PM | Permalink

Albert Pujols Is Still A Bitch

I called out Albert Pujols when he said that Tom Glavine "wasn't that good," even though Glavine dominated the Cards in Game 1 of the NLCS. Now, Pujols is still whining like a brat as he complains that only...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 8:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Knee-Jerk

...as far as a lefty goes, he has a sneaky fastball. I thought he threw, for a lefty, an average to above-average fastball, an above-average changeup, and his slider was a little flat. Would you pay $26M to negotiate...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 8:15 AM | Permalink

Frivolity Ensues

Yeah, yeah, I know. I hate to talk about baseball this early in the offseason. But can someone explain to me why all of a sudden, MLB general managers are dishing out big contracts like Stephen Colbert doles out...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 1:40 PM | Permalink

Weekend Recap

With Tom's computer and my mind on the fritz, we took the weekend off at the Out Route again. Here's what we missed: The NFL had some big games and some big injuries. Donovan McNabb is out for the...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 11:50 PM | Permalink

Think Baseball Isn't in the Offseason Dregs?

Here are a sampling of the top MLB headlines on ESPN.com. This is the sort of news that isn't even important enough for the Assistant GM to notify the actual GM about, yet here it is -- taking up valuable...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Sigh Young

Congratulations, Brandon Webb, on being the shittiest Cy Young winner ever. I say this not out of spite towards Webb, or because I'm on the Trevor Hoffman bandwagon (although, he would have been my choice). But it's true: Webb...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 11:37 AM | Permalink

The Red Sox are Dumbshits

It was revealed tonight what the highest bid for Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka was. The Red Sox paid $51.5M just to talk to the guy. If they don't sign him, the money is not paid. So now they have...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 9:05 PM | Permalink

Not An Ideal Offseason for Joe Girardi

It's been a long fall from the top for Joe Girardi this offseason. He has the distinction of being the only rookie skipper to be fired despite being a contender for Manager of the Year and inexpicably bringing a...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 10:55 AM | Permalink

Go Away, Baseball!

Christmas fever is spreading. No, not the type of illness that involves frosty, jolly nights and charitable human spirit; you know, the kind you see in movies. It's the illness that causes Christmas preparations to begin earlier and earlier...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

MLB's Next Foreign Import

One of the biggest pitching prospects next season somehow isn't Barry Zito or Jason Schmidt. It's 26-year-old Japanese player Daisuke Matsuzaka, who plays for the Seibu Lions. He was also the MVP of the World Baseball Classic. I'm sure...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 9:32 PM | Permalink

Yankees, Blame the Tea

I was flipping through last weeks Sports Illustrated when I came across the ad that's shown up top. At first, I just thought it was just another ad. Then I read the caption on the bottom. Since the picture...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 5:38 PM | Permalink

The World Series Is Over?

I think everyone outside of St. Louis is breathing a big sigh of relief that this awful thing that is the World Series is over. Nothing captures the intensity of the 2006 MLB playoffs better than Game 4 of...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Gary Sheffield Thinks He's Worth Something

Of all the Yankees, I've hated Sheffield the most since he's been on the team. He's got an attitude that just pisses me off. Today, the Yankees picked up his 13 million dollar option for another year. You'd think...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 7:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

An Open Letter to Bill Murray: Please Buy the Cubs

An Open Letter To Bill Murray, wherein he's begged to purchase the Cubs out from under the "indifferent, PR-conscious media conglomerate" that currently owns the team. That's why it's time one of us takes this team back. And Bill,...

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Posted by Jake Brown at 2:50 PM | Permalink

Will the Yankees Ever Learn?

With the news in recent days that A-Rod is going to stick around New York for another year, and that the Yankees are picking up the one year, $13M option on Gary Sheffield, it's becoming more and more evident that...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 12:12 PM | Permalink

Who Should I Root For if I Decide to Care About the World Series?

I haven't taken much interest in the World Series to be honest with you. Those commercials with Tommy Lasorda can lick my balls. Few people are bigger fans of a sport than a team except with football. I could...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 8:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Kenny Rogers' Filthy Hands

I don't care what that is on Kenny Rogers' hand. Or whether he was/has been cheating. It holds no importance to me. But please, please, please. I beg everyone, I do not want to look at it anymore. Already...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 11:45 AM | Permalink

Dealing with the Pain

I'm not ready to talk about the series just yet. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe Monday. But not right now. It actually hurts too much. Seriously. I'm not trying to feed you some bullshit. This is actually painful. Feeling such intense...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Don't Ask for Kyle

If you're wondering where Kyle's been recently, he's been tied up in the NLCS. And, uh, I'm not sure if I'll ever see him again anymore. So don't ask about him. I'm afraid to call him because I'm not...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Merchandising Hits a New Low....Six Feet Low, to Be Exact

And I thought KISS had no shame. Fans of the Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, Phillies, Cubs and Dodgers now get a new medium to display how lame they are, one that will stay with them for eternity. A company is...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 10:25 AM | Permalink

Pujols is a Bitch

I hate players who can't give credit where credit is due. I liked Matt Leinart until he claimed USC was the "better team" after losing to Texas. Now, Pujols claimed Mets pitcher Tom Glavine "wasn't good" last night. Sorry,...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 8:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

What Are You Trying to Say, Lupica?

So is Torre gone or not? Now they're (by they I mean "reports") claiming that Torre will actually be back next year. So which is it? We know how one man feels. On 10/9, The Daily News ran a column...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 11:06 AM | Permalink

Celebrate Good Times Over and Over Again

While watching the end of the Divisional Series this weekend, I was surprised to see that the teams had themselves a champagne party after winning the first round. I understand the need to celebrate clinching a playoff spot. You...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 9:49 PM | Permalink

The Yankees Are Dumb

I had a feeling the makeup of the Yankees was going to change after they predictably lost to the Tigers on Saturday, but I wasn't quite prepared to emerge from the bathroom of the Grand Saloon Saturday night to...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 9:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

My Day at Shea

My day in Queens -- my first "big" assignment as a paid "sportswriter" -- was a parade of famous faces and lots of being awestruck. As a matter of fact, here's a harrowing admission: I've never been to a...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 11:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Will I Survive the Mets Postseason?

When I put on the Mets game today -- while at work -- I felt something I haven't felt the entire season: utter nervousness. The Mets dominated this year. They were only swept twice. Basically, they kicked ass. But...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 10:24 PM | Permalink

Why My Job is Better Than Yours

I got into work yesterday at 3 P.M., as usual. About 10 minutes later, my editor walked up to me. "Tom, we need to talk." Not typically the words you want to hear delivered in a serious fashion. "Yes?" "How...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 10:08 AM | Permalink

Them Playoffs

Wow, three MLB posts in a row?! Yes. As you probably know, the beast that is the MLB playoffs start today, and I figured I should at least mention it. The Tigers, despite my insistence on the contrary all season...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 11:40 AM | Permalink

Oh, Shock of All Shocks

I think you should sit down. Well...hmmm. I don't know exactly how to put this, but... Dusty Baker seems to think he's going to lose his job. And I, uh, seem to believe him. In all seriousness, Baker is an...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The Grimsley Report: Revisited

So we've finally learned the names mentioned in Jason Grimsley's redacted affidavit: Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Miguel Tejada, Brian Roberts, and Jay Gibbons. And the principles are, predictably, coming back swinging. Clemens: I just think it's incredibly dangerous to sit...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 11:34 AM | Permalink

Pedro Out for Season

SNY reported during the Mets game tonight that Pedro Martinez is out for the season because of a left calf tear. Ironically, this is not the leg that bothered Pedro all season. Most likely, he over-compensated the one injury...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 8:06 PM | Permalink

Saves the Day

We'd be remiss if we didn't mention Trevor Hoffman's record-setting 479th save on Sunday. Hoffman's the type of deceptively good closer who's real status all-time you don't recognize until you take a look at his accomplishments. A converted shortstop,...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 2:18 PM | Permalink

Go to Jail, Do Not Pass Go......

So Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams are going to jail for refusing to testify and give up their sources behind the book Game of Shadows. As an aspiring sports journalist, I've thought a lot about how I would react in...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Yeah, That's Great, But...

....you guys lost. There is something inherently wrong and against the traditional spirit of sport about celebrating after a loss. Aren't you guys used to winning divisions by now? I mean, does it even really mean anything anymore? How...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 9:53 AM | Permalink

ESPN is About to Get a Whole Lot Cooler

After having to endure a season of John Kruk and the rest of Baseball Tonight's merry gang of idiots, it'll be quite the relief to see Peter Gammons appear on our screens on Wednesday. If it's true that you...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 9:53 AM | Permalink

The Mets Would Love to Kill Your Dream

Have a personal dream you'd like to see killed? A goal that you don't want to fulfill? Do you want to fail to climb that mountain? Then call the Mets. For a small fee, they will destroy your dream....

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 10:19 PM | Permalink

So, Them Tigers Are Finally Falling Apart

I knew it! I thought they were going to prove me wrong, and it took a lot longer than I thought, but I knew the Twins would catch the Tigers. With Detroit on a 3-7 skid (including losing 3 in...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 3:24 PM | Permalink

Don't Hurt Yourself Jumping On The Anibal Sanchez Bandwagon

Add this to the Curse of Mark Bellhorn. Last night, the Marlins' Anibal Sanchez became the first pitcher in almost 3 years to record a no-hitter. And he's a rookie. Of course, he was part of the deal that...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 9:16 AM | Permalink

Another Curse For The Sawx

The media loves curses. Maybe you thought you'd heard the end of it when the Red Sox beat the Cardinals in 2004, but there's still the SI curse, the Madden curse, the curse of suck (sorry, Cubs fans). And...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 9:42 AM | Permalink

Giambi Listens to The Out Route

Yesterday, I posted a blog featuring a menagerie of sports stories. My leadoff was about Jason Giambi's hideous mustache. Well, according to The Star Ledger, during the sixth inning, Giambi went into club house and shaved it off. The...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 4:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Yankees Hate Carl Pavano

I don't know whether to write off Yankee pitcher Carl Pavano as a dumbass or to feel bad for the guy. The Star Ledger's Dan Graziano reported that his teammates don't even like him any more. Jorge Posada doesn't...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 4:06 PM | Permalink

Your Baseball Roundup

Yeah, we've kinda laid off the baseball coverage for a while, eh? Apologies, it's just that we're so excited for football season (not to mention hockey) that we've forgotten what exactly baseball is all about. Plus, things are different this...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 10:50 AM | Permalink

A New Mets Mojo

Well, I was wrong, and I love it! I shared the sentiment of most Mets fans that Tom Glavine's potential season-ending blood clot was that other shoe finally falling. Instead, Glavine can be on the mound in a matter...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 8:35 PM | Permalink

The Gift That Keeps On Gibbons

When Shea Hillenbrand ceremoniously left the Blue Jays earlier in the season via a sordid mess with the organization, it was assumed that Hillenbrand was to blame. I guess you have to be at least partly to blame when...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 8:23 PM | Permalink

Don't Mess With the Mets...Security Staff

Be honest -- you've tried to break some rules at ball games before. Everyone tries to move up to better seats or sneak in some water. Last game I was at, six of us used a rain delay to...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 9:18 PM | Permalink

Thems Fightin' Pitches

I'll be honest. I love basebrawls. And there was no better time for a good one than now. It's the middle of August and baseball is beginning to drag. Sure everyone is excited about the Red Sox hosting the...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 12:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Tough Times for the Mets?

I felt bad at first posting another blog about the Mets, but after Tom4's posts about Reggie, I decided to go ahead. Everyone was watching for the Mets to make that blockbuster move for their last starting pitcher. Instead,...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 9:14 PM | Permalink

Dissecting Scott Kazmir and the Psyche of Mets Nation

If you mention the words "Scott Kazmir" to a Mets fan, you'll get the same reaction as if you said the words "I think your condition is terminal" or "Your mother was arrested for prostitution. You'll need to bail...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 7:33 PM | Permalink

Let's Go Streaking!

We're a couple of weeks into baseball's second half, the time where teams-who-are-within-10-games-of-the-division-lead's performances actually begin to count. The playoff picture is shifting more than Pangea because prominent playoff teams are going on runs, for good and for bad....

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 6:40 PM | Permalink

Quite Frankly, That's All You Need

When someone named Jackea Chan contacted Saints Report offering free tickets to the Quite Frankly to see Deuce McAllister, I thought it was a hoax. After all, doesn't Jackea Chan seem like just the most obvious pseudonym? Apparantly, it...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 11:32 AM | Permalink

What We'd Be Watching Tonight, If There Was A National Game On

I'll probably get stuck, again, watching the Yankees or Mets tonight since there's no national game. This is no problem for Kyle, obviously, because he lives Mets baseball. I've seen him rock a Mets hat, jersey, and boxers at...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 9:23 AM | Permalink

Thinking Outside The Box Score

We're going to keep this pretty brief today, since Entourage is on in 12 minutes. Besides, many people have discussed the heartbreaking ineptitude of the Cubs in far greater detail than I ever could -- people who've suffered the...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 8:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Pretty Fly For A White Guy

We've come across a lot of white guys, specifically in college, that want to be black. Most of them are Jewish. It's one of the funniest subcultural phenomenons since the birth of hip hop. I mean, what white guy...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 1:55 PM | Permalink

The Out Route Guide to the MLB Trade Deadline

More than in any other sport, baseball teams use the trade deadline to identify themselves. Sellers are clearing cap room by bringing in unproven prospects in exchange for established veterans. Buyers are playoff and bubble teams that think they're a...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 10:50 AM | Permalink

Ryan Howard Was Drinking The "Leaded" Coffee, Apparantly

I'm just going to come out and say that I successfully predicted that Ryan Howard would win the Home Run Derby last night (I can supply phone numbers for verification, if need be). Not that it matters really at...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 10:20 AM | Permalink

Mark Prior -- The Fragile Little Paper Doll

Should it be a detriment to the reputation of a guy like Terrell Davis, who had four absolutely stellar NFL seasons before injuries derailed his career prematurely? What about Ken Griffey Jr., who could very well have been the...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 7:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

It's Pelfrey Time!

Mike Pelfrey loves America. The Mets are a bit banged up. Sure, we don't hear about it because everyone likes to talk about the Yankees with Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield out. But the Mets have problems too. Cliff...

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Posted by Kyle Decker at 7:46 PM | Permalink

Thinking Outside The Box Score, 7/04/06

We really, really wanted the opportunity to spend about 500 words reveling in the failure of the Yankees on the birthday of both America and the Boss, who like the President also runs an evil empire. But we figured...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 9:18 AM | Permalink

The Biggest Frat Party Ever

OK -- so a bunch of us had planned to kick off our July 4th weekend with a trip to the Bronx Friday night to see the Mets and Yanks determine which borough smells less (we always sided with Queens,...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 8:57 AM | Permalink

Jose Canseco -- Renaissance Man

Having impressed scouts during his rehab stint in a middle-aged man's softball league, where he was using an aluminum bat (in his hands, a deadly weapon) against guys who were just trying to unwind from their dayjobs in middle-management,...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 11:40 AM | Permalink

Thinking Outside The Box Score, 6/29/06

Truthfully, we were really hoping to find an image from the Simpsons episode after Grif comes down with elephantitis, so we could make a joke about how he's gotten a big head after hitting home runs in four consecutive...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 8:45 AM | Permalink

Thinking Outside The Box Score, 6/28/06

When Bill Simmons makes jokes about A-Rod's propensity for hitting home runs in 9-2 games while staying quiet when the score is closer, it seems vaguely true but obviously unsubstantiated. While we're not sure exactly how un-clutch the $252M...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 8:48 AM | Permalink

Best Wishes, Peter

Without a hint of sarcasm we wish the best to Peter Gammons, one of our favorite sports personalities and a truly one-of-a-kind man. Gammons is notorious for his genuine love of baseball and his encyclopedic knowledge of the game...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 9:55 AM | Permalink

Thinking Outside The Box Score, 6/27/06

Jose Reyes got more than just a kiss from Jason Varitek last night when the two met at home plate in the fifth inning. Reyes stayed on the ground for a few minutes before leaving the field in pain....

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 9:21 AM | Permalink

Thinking Outside The Box Score, 6/26/06

Ever since Jim Dowd became the first New Jersey born player to play for the Devils (helping them win the '95 Stanley Cup), I've had a thing for players who stay local when they go pro. When this player...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 10:09 AM | Permalink

Thinking Outside The Box Score, 6/25/06

This is the Byung-Hyun Kim we all remember -- highly-touted closer for the Diamondbacks, potentially destroying his team's chances in the World Series against the Yankees by self-destructing in back-to-back games. It's hard to recall a Yankee who didn't...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 11:23 AM | Permalink

Words Of Advice from John Rocker

One of the sacred rules in journalism, we learned in college, is not to open a piece of writing with a quote. But fuck it, here's what John Rocker, he the definition of politically correct, has to say about...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 4:45 PM | Permalink

Guillen to Mariotti: You Take It In the Ass

Photo courtesy of Deadspin For a while, I thought I'd been desensitized by the media: too much violence, too much sex (OK, maybe we can use more of that, but there's still a lot), too much incredible humor. I...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 2:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

...And the First Shoe Drops

The first of the infamous "Grimsley names" has been unredacted--who ever used the word "redacted" until Grimsley's affidavit was revealed?--and it's...(drumroll)...a 139 career home-run hitter! A DH/utility player! A guy who played for 8 teams in 15 years! It's David...

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Posted by Tom Mantzouranis at 9:43 AM | Permalink

The Out Route

The Sports Desk of Glorious Noise

August 8, 2007

With 756, It's Over

August 6, 2007

The Best Case Barry Bonds Scenario

July 13, 2007

We'll Miss You, Julio

July 12, 2007

Who Will Be the Mets Hitting Coach?

June 20, 2007

San Diego: Lock Up Your Women and Children

June 16, 2007

Ah, More Horrible Sports Coverage by Fox

May 24, 2007

Is the Mets Pitching Staff Better This Year Than Last?

Hancock's Father Sues Restaurant, Tow Company

May 15, 2007

What Will Happen With Roger?

May 14, 2007

Yankee Fans...They're Very Creative

May 7, 2007

Cecil & Prince

Desperate Times...

May 4, 2007

The Yankees Are Still Losing

April 26, 2007

Deconstructing David

What a Bloody Mess

April 23, 2007

A-Rod Will Disappoint Eventually

April 11, 2007

A-Rod Getting A Man-Rub

April 4, 2007

Hyperbole Is At A Premium

The Hold Steady Rule

April 2, 2007

Don't Call it Revenge

Ring In The New Year

March 22, 2007

Checking In On Those Japanese Sensations

March 19, 2007

David Wells Is Now Diabetic

March 14, 2007

A-Rod Leaves Return to NY Up To Yanks Fans (Dumbass)

March 5, 2007

David Said Whaa!?

March 1, 2007

Mark Cuban Might Not Buy the Cubs

February 21, 2007

Keeping Things Lite

Bernie Williams: Stubborn

February 15, 2007

Be Safe: Keep a Distance from Kerry Wood

January 20, 2007

Will We Hear From Jeff Samardzija Ever Again?

January 10, 2007

Paul Lo Duca Is Scaring People Away

January 6, 2007

The Unit Leaves New York, And I'm Sad

December 27, 2006

The Big Mistake

December 12, 2006

The Handshake

Neverending Trade Talks

December 6, 2006

The Magic Is Gone

December 4, 2006

Tom Glavine Chooses (Settles For?) Mets

November 29, 2006

Albert Pujols Is Still A Bitch

Knee-Jerk

November 22, 2006

Frivolity Ensues

November 19, 2006

Weekend Recap

November 16, 2006

Think Baseball Isn't in the Offseason Dregs?

November 15, 2006

Sigh Young