ONE MORE TRADE FOR YANKS IN A PRETTY UNDERWHELMING TRADE DEADLINE

We all knew the Yankees weren't going to do anything significant at the trade deadline this year. If you thought otherwise, you would have been mistaken. Remember, they have their guy... Juan Soto. They really can't spend much and can't give away much because 9 times out of 10, somehow the Yankees end up paying out contracts when Cashman negotiates his trades.  In other words, somehow, we get hosed and yesterday was no different.  Yea, we got Mark Leiter Jr, but that's it.  Oh yeah, the Yankees and Padres made a move too... a move to bolster the Yankees depleted bullpen.

Pinstripe Alley writes:

"Righty pitcher Enyel De Los Santos is joining the Yankees from the Padres. Initially reported by Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, the full move has minor-league righty Thomas Balboni Jr. (wonderful name) also joining the organization. Speedster Brandon Lockridge is on his way to the Padres in the return...

De Los Santos has pitched in parts of six MLB seasons, most notably with Cleveland and San Diego since 2022. That year helped him emerge from anonymity to record a 3.04 ERA, 2.62 FIP, and a 1.069 WHIP for the AL Central-winning Guardians. De Los Santos fanned 61 batters in 53.1 innings, and combined for 3.1 shutout frames in the playoffs against the Rays and Yankees."

Is it a good move? Sure.  Am I holding my breath? Sure, I always do, because the Yankees are so streaky and so are their players.  Look, we all love Jazz Chisholm right now, but Jazz is playing like Ken Griffey Jr right now, not Jazz... let him settle in. Sure I'll take the wins, but I'm not getting crazy yet.  But I will tell you this about Jazz, the dude's so damn likable, how do you not wanna root for him. It's great.

So yea, the Yankees didn't do much, probably because their front office's arrogance on how good our team is on paper is really taking the forefront of the entire trade deadline for them. Whatever.  

We always want more, we never get it. Fire Cashman. I'm over it.

THE WORST TRADE IN YANKEE HISTORY

In the storied history of the New York Yankees, a franchise synonymous with greatness and championships, there exists a blemish so egregious, it makes even the most ardent fans wince in collective disbelief. Enter the trade of Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps. Yes, you read that right. The Yankees traded away a future star for... well, Ken Phelps. Buckle up, because this tale of woe and incompetence is as snark-inducing as it gets.

Before donning the pinstripes, Ken Phelps was, let's say, an "acquired taste." With a swing that could charitably be described as "awkward" and a batting stance reminiscent of a man trying to avoid stepping on a tack, Phelps was not exactly setting the world on fire. Sure, he had some power, but his career up until joining the Yankees was a testament to mediocrity.

Ken Phelps' pre-MLB days are often glossed over, but they're worth noting. Phelps was always rumored to be a standout softball player, known for his prodigious power and keen eye at the plate. His powerful swing and ability to crush pitches into the stands were well documented in local leagues and drew significant attention.

However, being a great softball player and succeeding in Major League Baseball are two entirely different challenges. The transition from softball to professional baseball, especially at the highest level, is a monumental leap. While Phelps managed to parlay his softball success into a professional baseball career, his journey to MLB prominence was anything but straightforward.

Phelps spent his best years in relative obscurity with the Seattle Mariners, where his stats were modest at best. He hit for power sporadically, clubbing 51 homers in his three full seasons with the Mariners, but his batting average hovered around the .240 mark. He struck out with alarming frequency and wasn't exactly a Gold Glove candidate at first base. To be fair, Phelps did have a decent on-base percentage, but let’s face it: you don't trade a promising young outfielder for a "decent on-base percentage."

And then there's Jay Buhner. Oh, Jay Buhner. The man who would go on to haunt the Yankees for over a decade. After the trade in July 1988, Buhner took his talents to the Pacific Northwest, where he blossomed into one of the most feared sluggers of the 1990s. He became a cornerstone of the Mariners' lineup, teaming up with Ken Griffey Jr. to form a dynamic duo that terrorized American League pitchers.

Let's talk numbers, shall we? From 1989 to 1997, Buhner averaged 27 home runs and 82 RBIs per season, peaking in 1996 with 44 homers and 138 RBIs. He earned three consecutive Gold Gloves (1993-1995) and was an All-Star in 1996. In short, Buhner became everything the Yankees needed and more, but alas, he was smashing dingers and robbing homers for Seattle instead.

The fallout from this trade was as epic as you’d expect. George Steinbrenner, the mercurial owner of the Yankees, was livid. The trade would go on to make Steinbrenner's blood boil like a teapot left on high heat. As the seasons passed and Buhner's legend grew, Steinbrenner's regret became palpable.

In a legendary moment immortalized by the TV show Seinfeld, the trade was mocked when Frank Costanza berated George Steinbrenner for trading away Jay Buhner, saying, "How could you have traded Buhner for Ken Phelps?! He had 30 home runs, over 100 RBIs last year! He's got a rocket for an arm... you don't know what the hell you're doing!"

Steinbrenner, for all his bluster, likely shared Frank Costanza’s sentiment. The trade epitomized the shortsightedness and mismanagement that occasionally plagued the Yankees during Steinbrenner’s tenure. It was a stark reminder that not every move the franchise made was golden, and that even the mighty Yankees were not immune to catastrophic blunders.

The Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps trade remains a cautionary tale in the annals of baseball history. It's a prime example of why patience and long-term vision are crucial in building a successful team. Buhner's departure left a void in the Yankees' lineup that was felt for years, while Phelps' tenure in New York was a forgettable blip on the radar.

So, next time you hear about a trade that sounds too ridiculous to be true, just remember: the Yankees once traded Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps. And somewhere, George Steinbrenner is still shaking his head.

--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor

I HAVE PTSD WITH THESE GAMES AGAINST THE MARINERS

Source: The Seattle Times

Watching these last two games against the Mariners takes me back to the mid to late 1990s when Seattle used to beat up on the Yankees. That's when Tino Martinez played for the other side and used to pounce on us. Then there was Edgar Martinez,  Ken Griffey Jr. and who could forget "King" Felix Hernandez in the 2000s. Yeah, that team and this series against Seattle puts me right back there. For no reason, because we are better than this team. But the Clay Holmes debacle and the quiet offense on Tuesday night leaves no other choice. I have PTSD with these games against Seattle and it is quite frankly annoying.

I suppose The Seattle Times had it right when they reported, "Facing a team that had won seven straight games coming into the series and was seemingly on its way to eight straight, the Mariners were down to their final two outs in the top of the ninth inning against Yankees closer Clay Holmes. But an offense that looked listless to lifeless over the first eight innings found a way to score four runs off a pitcher that hadn’t allowed an earned run all season." 

That's Seattle and they have bested the Yankees so many times over the years. Is this an important series? Yes, they all are important. Because you can't get these games back. You can reflect. You can lament. But you can't get them back. And all of these games hold value. Especially when this year could be your year. And with the Mariners holding a 15-10 record on top of the AL West, you want to win these games.

"Yeah that one's on me," Holmes said. "I feel like I made some good pitches and definitely some balls found some holes, but I was ahead on a couple guys there, 0-2, 1-2, and put them on base which could've been big outs. It was one of those outings where I felt like my stuff was there, maybe trying to go for a little too much chase with a couple guys there. Some balls found some holes and it didn't go our way there," reported SNY after the Monday loss against the Mariners.

According to Fansided, the Mariners are "heating up" this May. Before heading to the Bronx, Seattle took a close one in Baltimore and picked off some games against the Royals. Then kept the Yankees bats quiet, particularly on Tuesday night after playing spoilers on Monday. 

People always asked me what I have against Seattle. Why won't I route for them when they aren't playing against the Yankees. I tell them what I tell you; Seattle hurt the Yankees in the 90s. That team was lethal. So yeah, I have PTSD when it comes to Seattle. And the last two nights have been a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

STANTON THE SLUGGER BESTS MICKEY MANTLE!

No, you didn't misread the headline. I'm over talking about Aaron Judge, so while some continue to focus on him I am turning the page and focusing on Giancarlo Stanton instead.

And it is definitely deserved! Stanton has an amazing accomplishment he should be proud of, he just beat Mickey Mantle and that's mind blowing. Stanton is now the ONLY player in MLB history to hit a home run in six straight games against the Red Sox. I like making history against our biggest rival and now he's at the top of that list now with Mantle, Jim Thome and Ken Griffey Jr at five consecutive home runs against Boston. It's nice to be at the top.

But that's not all. Stanton is also the first player in Yankees history to hit home runs in each of the first two games of the regular season two different times. We just watched him do during Opening Weekend, but he also did it in the first two games of the 2020 pandemic shortened season. There's only one other baseball great who has done this named Lou Gehrig.

That's some great company to have. It's just nice to see Stanton clicking on all cylinders. The Yankees need to embrace a healthy Stanton and continue to give him reps in the outfield. It helps keep the mind sharp and let's face it Aaron Hicks and Aaron Judge have an injury history. I think we have seen the Stanton has more in the tank than we think assuming he can stay healthy.

I like the dominance we are seeing over the Red Sox and I hope it expands. A healthy Red Sox dominance is nice, but an AL East and league wide dominance is even better....and so is a championship. It goes without saying, but I am trying to manifest destiny here.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL HALL OF FAME BALLOT IN YEARS FEATURING ALEX RODRIGUEZ!

I've been going crazy not having a the usual winter routine. There's no Hot Stove. The signings and trades are on pause thanks to the lockout and I've been going crazy. Then I realized, well I could just focus on this years Hall of Fame class and that's when it hit me like a ton of bricks.....

The most controversial and scandalous Hall of Fame ballot of my life is here. Remember when Derek Jeter received 396 out of 397 votes in his first year on the ballot? You also can't forget about guys like Mariano Rivera, Cal Ripken Jr, Ken Griffey Jr and Greg Maddux. Those were no-brainers. Those were the easy votes. Those days are gone.

Now welcome to the world of the steroid ballot era. There are 30 players on this years ballot, and nearly a third of them are tied to steroid use. Let that one sink in. You know the names forever tied to steroids: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Manny Ramirez and.....Alex Rodriguez just to name a few. Yeah, now we get to talk about A-Rod again.

It's the age old debate that will never go away. How do you weigh in on this logically? Do you vote for any of them at all? If so, how do you separate and justify the ones that you do pass through to the hall? 

A lot of baseball writers that I interact with will say that their vote is determined by baseball's timeline. It is the fine line in the sand that can't be crossed. In 2003 MLB conducted a drug survey after MLB players agreed to it in an effort to determine if a need for a firm drug policy was needed. If more than 5% of the tests came back positive then mandatory drug testing and penalties for infractions would begin in 2004. Spoiler alert....more than 5% came back positive which brought us down the road to the system MLB currently uses.

So if a player was punished or suspended after MLB implemented its drug policy after the 2004 season, that is the deciding factor for a lot of writers. That could be bad news for repeat offenders like Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez who is eligible for the first time this year.

I think Alex sabotaged himself on this one. Is it possible that he EVENTUALLY years down the road gets elected into the hall? Sure. Someone was dumb enough to vote against Jeter so I can see someone voting for Alex but that would be a real tragedy for the game.

But that's just my take on it.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

IT'S BEEN A HUMBLING POST SEASON

Source: NJ.com 

Ever want something so much, that you'd do whatever it takes to get it? The Yankees have always been that team for me. They wanted it in the 90s, and they pushed through tough teams like the Seattle Mariners who had tough guys like Ken Griffey, Jr. and Edgar Martinez. They plowed through Red Sox teams, Oakland teams and Cleveland teams, and ended up on top. They had Houston where they wanted them and well, you know what happened from there. Those teams did not have it easy but they did have one thing- grit. It has been over ten years since we won a World Series. And that drought has humbled me as a fan who always thought of the Yankees as heroes. Seeing the Yankees fight so hard over the last few games of the post season has been humbling for me. I want a championship this year and this team may have enough fight in them to get there.

Source: ESPN

One of the biggest fighters on this team is Yankee first baseman Luke Voit, who exudes enthusiasm and grit with every at bat. 

"I love being a Yankee. I hope I am a Yankee for a long time. I want to win. That's what we all want. That's the most important thing. Obviously, the numbers have been good for me and I always want to have as best year as possible. But that is not the goal. The goal is to win a World Series and now's our chance to take advantage and end 2020 on a good note," reported ESPN.

Source: Corey Sipkin, NY Post

Another fighter is Mr. Reliable, DJ LeMahieu. Since coming to the Yankees last year as a utility player at best, DJ has been literally invaluable, in the field and at the plate. But it has been his humility and heads-down approach to getting things done that has been an exemplar for grit on this Yankee team. 

"The way this whole team approaches our work, I’ve just been very comfortable here from Day 1,” LeMahieu said last week. “We know what we want to accomplish and we know what we need to do to get there. It’s just been an excellent fit," reported the New York Post. 

Walking around town this morning in Central NJ, I stopped by a local eatery and talked shop with Liz, one of the chefs for the small business named Wild Flour. We both share a passion for the Yankees and she was grinning from ear to ear behind her dark blue mask when I picked up my breakfast after a workout. "It is humbling to be a Yankee fan today. We always took it for granted that we would win, but now, it is not a guarantee which makes these games even more exciting." My sentiment exactly. WFAN's Boomer and Gio affirmed this when they recalled that the Yankees have had to play tough teams before and this is no different. 

The Rays are just another team for the Yankees to get passed. They need to stay the course, dig deep and know they can beat this team, just like the other Yankee teams before this one who defeated worthy opponents to earn the right to contend for the championship. Let's hope this is the journey and destiny for this team, one run, one game at time. 2020 is certainly a year to be humble. It is only fitting we do it this year. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

THE YANKEES EPIC FINISH

Source: Omar Rawlings/Getty Images North America

Those dark games after the All Star Game and in the dog days of summer in August seem like a distance memory as the 2018 Yankees head into the last game of the season with 100 wins and the Major League Baseball record of 266 home runs in a season.  And they did this on Saturday afternoon in Fenway Park, making these achievements even sweeter.

"In the fourth inning Saturday (NYY 8, BOS 5), rookie infielder Gleyber Torres swatted a two-run home run against Eduardo Rodriguez, giving the Yankees a whopping 265 home runs on the season. That is the most home runs in a single season in MLB history. Giancarlo Stanton added the team's 266th homer a little later for good measure," reported CBS Sports.

Source: Hall of Fame

The Torres home run broke the record held by the Seattle Mariners, led by guys like Ken Griffey, Jr. and even our very own Alex Rodriguez contributed 23 home runs to the 264 home run record set back in 1997.  The nice thing about this record is that the contributions came from a number of unlikely candidates, showing how valuable each player's endowment means to a team.

Source: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images North America

"I'm happy for them. They work really hard at their craft, and it's a result of a lot of people having success," manager Aaron Boone said as reported by USA Today.

Source: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images North America

One of the saddest days of the year for me, personally, and perhaps you share this emotion, is the last day of the regular baseball season.  This year, however, I feel very proud and happy for this Yankee team who have had their troubles and challenges along with their celebrations and successes, and have managed to come out more than just okay.  We have a viable candidate for Rookie of the Year honors in Miguel Andujar who at the start of spring, was not even a blink in the organization's eye for the starting third baseman job let alone a Rookie of the Year candidate.  Aaron Judge picked up where he left off as the 2017 AL Rookie of the Year, proving it was not a one and done career for the young Yankee leader.  And the Yankees make it to the post season again, continuing their streak of the winningest team in baseball.  Lots to celebrate everyone- one more feat left for the 2018, win game 101...and do it with a sweep in Fenway!

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

MY CHRISTMAS LIST

As a Dad and Husband, Christmas brings a mix of emotions for me. It is a very stressful time in some ways with having to assure the shopping is complete (well, that is mostly the Mrs., I can't take too much credit there), all the decorations are up, family time is planned and Santa Claus is on his way.

On the other hand, there is a lot of joy and excitement knowing we get to see our families, even though both my wife and I have huge families and the logistics of it can be a royal pain in the butt. Then there is knowing that our young kids are stoked about the holiday and that we did a good job making sure their Christmas wishes come true. Their happiness tops my Christmas List. Second is I really need new underwear, C'mon Santa!

For me the most fulfilling part is watching the excitement of others, especially the kids, when they open their gifts and get to experience what we did when we were kids. Sure it is great to get a cool gift or something you need, but the best part is being the giver of the joy.

Last year we got the kids their first ever baseball bats. They were six and four. They were so excited and loved going to the batting cages in January and February. We made it a weekly event where we would all go and the kids had a blast and made some great improvements. This year my son asked me if I thought Santa was going to bring him a bat again. That made me smile. I can see he is developing a like for the game. Maybe not a love yet like I have but he likes the game which makes me happy.

As a kid all I ever really wanted was sports related stuff. Mostly baseball and hockey, Yankees and Hartford Whalers (until the darn team moved), plus Packers stuff. There was nothing like opening up that new ball glove or bat, hockey stick or skates. Or even Ken Griffey Jr. '95 for Super Nintendo. Funny story, I found my Super Nintendo last year at my Mom's house with that game still installed and it still works!

Christmas is a fun time of year. I love the fact that we got some snow as it adds to the spirit of Christmas as far as I am concerned. Come December 26 though I will not complain if I don't see another snowflake until December 2017.

Another great thing about Christmas and New Years is we are making the turn for the spring and that means baseball season; More time in the batting cages, Spring Training, little league tryouts, longer days and before we know it, the season is just weeks away. Spring is my third and last Christmas Wish. I know it is far off, but it's still closer than it was yesterday!

I hope everyone has a wonderful, happy and healthy Christmas. If there are stressors in your life, like we all have, let them go for a couple of days, be grateful for what you do have and be optimistic about the future. 

--Dan Lucia,  

BYB 'Series' Writer
Follow me on Twitter: @DManLucia

THE 3 SIDES OF THE LaROCHE SAGA

There are three sides to every story: your side, their side and the truth.  If you are like me, you have been listening to both sides of the Adam LaRoche retirement story and are having difficulty deciphering the truth from all of the mouths talking. Let's see if I can give you the sides and let you determine what you feel is the truth.  I will give you my two cents too, for what it is worth.

What We Know as Truth: We know that Adam LaRoche has decided to retire from the game of baseball prior to the official start of the 2016 season.  His decision seems to have a connection to the statement made by the White Sox organization that LaRoche scale back the time his 14-year-old son, Drake, spends with his dad and the team this year.  Traditionally, LaRoche brought Drake to most of the Sox practices, games and Drake even kept a locker in the clubhouse and practice field.  White Sox officials and others in and around baseball say that his time with the team during his work hours was just too much.  Even Today Show hosts stated as they reported the LaRoche story that when they bring their kids to work, they worry if their presence is too much of an interference for the staff.  And we are only talking about a day or two, not every day.

The Players' Side of the Story:  "In his statement, LaRoche said that before he signed his two-year, $25 million contract with the Chicago White Sox last year, "my first question to the club concerned my [son Drake's] ability to be a part of the team. After some due diligence on the club's part, we reached an agreement" and there were no problems with his son's presence in the clubhouse in 2015," reported ESPN on Friday.  Then according to LaRoche and his teammates, White Sox executive vice president Kenny Williams changed his tune.  First LaRoche was told to scale back the time Drake spends with the team and later he was directed to not bring his son to the ballpark at all. According to White Sox pitcher and former teammate to LaRoche Chris Sale, Williams changed his story multiple times, making it difficult to understand the reasoning behind the decision and ticking the team and other MLB players off along the way.

According to ESPN, "Sale said Williams has contradicted himself, first saying that players complained about LaRoche's son being in the clubhouse, then saying it was coaches who spoke against it, and then saying the decision came down from ownership."We got bald-faced lied to by someone that we trust," Sale said."

Club owner Jerry Reinsdorf may have a grievance on his hands come early next week.  Word on the street is that White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton told reporters that he spoke to the Major League Baseball Player's Union about filing a grievance on behalf of his former teammate LaRoche.

Reisndorf stated that players have asked to speak with him but it is too early to comment officially on the situation.  Bryce Harper, Robin Ventura and even the Chicago Bears all support LaRoche's "Family First" stance. Sox closer and former Yankee, David Robertson "thought of Drake as "part of the team" and said "the entire clubhouse is with Adam on this one."   

"I had to make a decision," LaRoche said. "Do I choose my teammates and my career? Or do I choose my family? The decision was easy, but in no way was it a reflection of how I feel about my teammates, manager (Robin Ventura), general manager (Rick Hahn) or the club's owner Jerry Reinsdorf."

White Sox Management Side of the Story:  As reported by ESPN on Thursday, "When news of the reason became public Wednesday, Williams addressed the issue with reporters and said that kids are still permitted in the White Sox clubhouse, but they shouldn't be there every day, saying no job would allow that."Sometimes you have to make decisions in this world that are unpopular," he said.  Now even LaRoche admitted that it has been a privilege to have his son with him as he played for both the White Sox and Washington Nationals over the last five years.  "We all think his kid is a great young man. I just felt it should not be every day, that's all. You tell me, where in this country can you bring your child to work every day?" stated Williams.

My Take: My opinion represents dozens of others shared with me over the last several days.  I guess it stems from this statement made by LaRoche himself.  "It's like having your son and your best friend alongside you all day long, at work, which never gets to happen," LaRoche said. "I don't know many jobs where you can bring your kid and not have to put him in daycare somewhere. It's been awesome."  My daughter is 14 and my son is 18.  They both came with me to work from time to time as I worked on multiple university campuses over the years.  They came sometimes.  As Kenny Williams said to LaRoche, "I don't think he should be here 100 percent of the time. And he has been here 100 percent, every day, in the clubhouse. I said that I don't even think he should be here 50 percent of the time. Figure it out, somewhere in between."  I agree.  Doesn't he need to be in school? Shouldn't he be socializing with kids his own age? My thought process is yes and yes.  I have had to pay babysitters and juggle schedules to figure out who was taking what kid to what practice or event and when.  Why should LaRoche get special treatment?  The Washington Post reported that Nationals phenom Bryce Harper "admired the father-son relationship between LaRoche and Drake. Sure, most jobs don’t allow employees to bring their children to the workplace daily. But most jobs don’t have their employees traveling and away from home as frequently as professional baseball players."  I beg to differ.

As parents, we have to make shifts and changes to our own schedules and the reality is we don't get to spend every waking moment with our kids.  It's not really healthy to do so either.  That's not to say we don't make sacrifices or make waves when we need to when it comes to our kids.  We most certainly do. We travel for work, some multiple days a month like ball players.  It is just a balance.  It's called work-life balance and at the end of the day, that's the real truth.

The reality is this story isn't going anywhere.  It is staying in the headlines because it is an issue that simply has not come up in the headlines before.  Guys like Ken Griffey Jr., Prince Fielder and Cal Ripken Jr. all spent many a day at the ballpark with their ball player fathers.  "Different teams have had different rules. Some clubs allowed kids in the clubhouse after Sunday games, provided they won."

And that's the bottom line.  There are rules.  And that is the truth too.  With the controversy just heating up, we will keep close ties on the LaRoche matter, a grievance if filed and any other official word from the team.  You can decide from here what you think is the right side to the LaRoche Saga.

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Senior Staff Writer
BYB Hot Stove Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof

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THE VILLAINS WHO SAVED BASEBALL

The Hall of Fame vote continues to make me lose it.  This year’s class UNBELIEVABLY deserves their trip to Cooperstown.

The sweetest swing I’ve ever seen in Ken Griffey Jr., and the best hitting catcher ever to play the game in Mike Piazza.  Make no mistake these two men were no brainers.

What really gets me fired up is to see that Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa get 7 and 12 percent respectively.  Do these guys deserve to be in the Hall?  I’m not sure they do.

Even without PEDs I’m not certain they are worthy, especially Sosa.  But what they symbolize is the class of players who will NEVER be inducted and may actually have the numbers worthy of the honor.

I am IN NO WAY a Bud Selig fan.  In fact, I deplore the man for what he did to the game.  He is more at fault for the ills in baseball than anyone in recent memory…and that includes Pete Rose, Barry Bonds and the like.

Bud FLAT OUT used McGwire and Sosa to bring the money back to baseball after the 1994 greed driven stoppage in play.  He and his regime, which includes Baseball Writers make no mistake, KNEW that the sluggers weren’t playing clean.  They KNEW and did NOTHING!  They touted their monster dingers and road the wave of prime time popularity to the bank.  Mark, Sammy, Barry, Alex and so on are now left holding the smoking guns while Bud left claiming he CLEANED UP THE GAME.  Sorry gang, Bud is a criminal in my eyes.  He is corrupt and the hypocrite of all-time hypocrites.  That is a FACT.

The Hall of Fame is great for some.  Piazza and Junior are wonderful additions.  I wish I could just focus on 2 amazing players getting their just due…but I can’t.

I’m not saying that the juiced up players whom KNOWING took PEDs are somehow the victims…but REAL crooks are vilifying them if you ask me.  These players were USED to SAVE baseball from becoming like the NHL in the early 2000s…ya know when the games were on the Outdoor Network.

 And then, like mutts that roll over on friends to avoid jail time, Bud and his regime played dumb about the drug use.  The Black Sox of 1919 have more credibility in my opinion.

The Hall of Fame should have a special wing built on it called the BUD SELIG PED SECTION.

I want to congratulate Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza.  Two class acts and All-Time Greats during a time when Villains Were Saving Baseball on and off the field.

** Here one for Bud Selig, aka Public Enemy #1 **





 

--Mike O'Hara Senior "Features" Writer
Twitter: @mikeyoh21















 
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