MLB's Stubborn Attitude Towards Rose Sends the Wrong Message

Another year, another failed attempt at reinstatement by Pete Rose. It's an on-going saga that is not likely to stop any time soon and it's beginning to get extremely old. With everything that goes on in sports today, all the criminal acts and cheating, it is unbelievable to me that Pete Rose is still banned from the game.

Sports are by no means a clean environment in today's world. It doesn't matter what level you're talking about, someone somewhere is doing something they shouldn't be doing whether it violates league rules or the law. We have professional athletes beating their wives and testing positive for illegal drugs, yet not a single one of those guys have been banned by their league for their actions. Even Ray Rice, who was shown on video knocking his fiance out cold, has been reinstated by the NFL. What's wrong with that picture?

No one will ever play as hard as Rose played

I think it shows a serious lack of priorities not only on Rob Manfred's part, but professional sports as a whole. If you want to keep Pete Rose out of the Hall of Fame for a rule he violated that is not even a federal crime, then they need to crack down on the idiots that are breaking laws as well. What message are you trying to send to the world? That beating women, doing illegal drugs, and driving drunk deserves a slap on the wrist while betting on the outcome of your team's games deserves a full-blown expulsion from the game? That's absolutely pathetic in my mind and I feel genuinely sorry that the MLB sees it that way.

If you think back to the Mitchell Report, and all the names that were brought to the forefront as cheaters and steroid users, it goes to show how unclean the game of baseball was and probably still is. Yet we saw guys like Barry Bonds, Andy Pettite, and Roger Clemens who were allowed to continue playing even after they were found guilty of PEDs. These are guys who took drugs to improve performance in an attempt to gain an edge on the competition, and obviously it worked. That is not to say that these guys were not Hall of Fame caliber before they began "juicing", but the fact that they blatantly went against league rules and the integrity of the game and were still allowed to play and appear on the Hall of Fame ballets while Rose continues to be shunned is a crime.

So when you compare all of these things to Pete Rose, how significant is his gambling? There is no evidence that he was betting against the Reds, and nobody was hurt or jailed during this whole ordeal. He did not commit a crime, he violated a rule. And in today's world where we let professional athletes get away with just about anything, it blows my mind that Pete Rose is still banned from baseball. This is a guy who played the game the way it was meant to be played. He out-hustled and out-worked every single player on the field every single day. He took pride in what he did and he took pride in his teams. That's something you don't see as often in today's world. It has become about the money and the individual as opposed to the team and the passion. Pete Rose is the perfect example of how a professional athlete should handle themselves and yet the MLB is choosing to make him the bad guy while other guys cheat and break laws while receiving no long-term punishment.

I personally believe that Pete Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame and, if you want my honest opinion, I think he will get in someday. But the day Pete Rose gets into the Hall of Fame is a day that he won't be around to witness because he'll probably be reinstated after he passes away. I would not be the least bit surprised if that happens and it will make the MLB look like more of joke than it already does. I hope the day that Rose is allowed into the Hall comes soon because, quite frankly, he deserves to be in. It's been over 25 years of punishment for one of the greatest players the game has ever seen. It's time the MLB quits trying to look tough and lets "Charlie Hustle" have his day.

NL Central Race Could End With Three Playoff Teams

The calendar is about to flip to September and the dog days of August are coming to a close. August is the month that separates the contenders (see Kansas City) from the pretenders (see Philadelphia), but in the National League Central Division there is not separation. Three contenders remain in a deadlock atop the division standings with Pittsburgh and St. Louis tied for first and Cincinnati just 2.5 back.

The final sprint to the finish will be incredible to watch and it's likely that there could be three teams make the playoffs. All three teams have the ingredients for postseason success with quality rotations and deep lineups. Here's the forecast for the Pirates, Cardinals and Reds as we head to the final month of the regular season.

Pittsburgh Pirates (76-54) -- On this blog just last month I said time will tell if this band of Pirates was legit. Time has told us yes they are. Whereas the last few years the Pirates had crumbled in the second half of the season, this year they have continued to play good ball while persevering through some injuries. Six games each against the Cards and Reds remain on the schedule. Closer Jason Grilli remains on the 15-day DL, but GM Neal Huntington said a big step would be a simulation game this week. For the Pirates, the final stretch will be a new challenge to conquer. The playoffs haven't been in Pittsburgh since Barry Bonds, but making the postseason would be the next step for this team. There are growing pains that come with learning to win and that's why winning the division might be a year away for this team, but they are a force to be reckoned with if they sew up one of those Wild Card spots.

St. Louis Cardinals (76-54) -- The Cardinals are in a completely different spot than the Pittsburgh Pirates despite their records saying the same thing. St. Louis is a veteran team with a nice mix of young talent. The core of the team has won one or two World Series and has been a part of two fantastic playoff series the last two years. St. Louis weathered the storm during the first half of the month, but they are in the midst of another difficult part on the schedule. They recently took three of four from Atlanta, but their next 12 are against the Reds and Pirates. The schedule after that is favorable and if they stay healthy then they should be the division winner. The offense has been outstanding from the start and with the way St. Louis drives in runs they will be hard to beat in the playoffs. Add in their experience and this team should be playing for the NL championship.

Cincinnati Reds (74-57) -- Cincinnati has been an underachiever as far as the postseason goes the past few years and, for a time, it looked like this year's playoffs wouldn't be happening in the Queens City. However, the Reds had a good month and are now very much in playoff contention. The offense is there for Cincinnati. They are 13th in runs scored and they seventh in on-base percentage. There are a few questions in the starting rotation and the main one is how good will Homer Bailey be? We've seen him throw two no-hitters, but he has also had his low moments. A good Homer Bailey would be huge for the Reds and if they team has the lead late in the game then you can forget about it because that means it's Aroldis Chapman time. A Wild Card spot is there for the taking and the series against the Cardinals starting tonight is the biggest of the season for this team.

All three teams have proven they are playoff teams and they do so by being good at the plate and out on the field. St. Louis has the playoff experience and the best offense, but the Pirates are a team on a mission. Cincinnati isn't far behind and has nightmares of last year's playoff collapse to the Giants. Count on all three to make the playoffs if they don't beat up on each other over the next month.

Ballpark Overview: Great American Ball Park

It's a mission of mine to travel the country and take in a ball game at every Major League Baseball park. It's a goal shared by many in this country and I recently completed a trip to Cincinnati to see the Reds take on the Giants at Great American Ballpark. It was the 17th park I have been to and on the way home I decided that every park I go to, I might as well share my thoughts on here. In the few hours I spent at the park I could not see everything, but here were some things I took away.

The ballpark is built right on the Ohio River and is the second park that has been built in the general area. Riverfront Stadium was constructed on the same ground, but Great American Ballpark has been the Reds' home since it was erected in 2003. With beautiful views of the river and the Cincinnati skyline surrounding the park, GABP is nestled nicely in the downtown area. Restaurants, bars and other attractions are just a block away and there is plenty to do besides catch a game.

However, catching a game is definitely something you won't want to miss. With any team, the atmosphere at the park is better when there's a winner on the field and that's exactly what the city of Cincinnati has right now. With stars like Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips, the crowd is energized and there is a buzz around the park. From the standpoint of pure baseball, you will see a good team on the field.

While sitting in your seat make sure to take in all that park boasts from the smokestacks in center field to the large scoreboard that sprawls out over the left field bleachers. The smokestacks give the park a nice touch as they represent the steamboats that would make their way up and down the Ohio River in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. During the game they emit fireworks when a Reds players hits a home run and blow flames when a Cincy pitcher records a strikeout. The scoreboard in left is the sixth largest in the MLB.

Around the concourses there are plenty of games and activities for kids to take part in which makes the park very family friendly. Make sure to check out the statues in Crosley Terrace when you enter the park. The four statues honor the four greatest players to call Crosley home. Once inside, make a point to see the two large mosaics that pay homage to the "The First Nine" of the 1869 Red Stockings and "The Great Eight" of the famed Big Red Machine.

Another neat feature is the Reds Hall of Fame on the park's west side. Inside, the club honors the top players in their history and there is plenty to read and learn. Inside the Hall of Fame is a large wall with baseballs from top to bottom that represent each one of Pete Rose's hits. Just outside the window is the Rose Garden that shows the general area where Rose's record-breaking hit landed years ago in Riverfront Stadium.

Also, if you're going to a ball game then you obviously have to grab a bite to eat. Of the parks I've been to I'm not sure there has been a better selection of concessions. Frisch's Big Boy and LaRosa's Pizza dot the concourses and there is also a Kroger market, a sushi market and a slushie stand with more flavors of slushie than you can imagine. 

There is plenty of history to be appreciated at Great American Ball Park and it's a great place to take in a game. I would definitely say it's one of the best parks I've been to and a place that you should make a point to travel to. A beautiful park, good food, plenty of history and a great team. It doesn't get much better than that.

What is the Best MLB Ballpark?

Fenway Park: Home of the Red Sox

Baseball season is in full swing now and, while some fans haven't devoted their full attention to the diamond yet because of the NBA and NHL Playoffs, there have been many headlines thus far in the MLB. To me, baseball is a great game. I know many others find it boring and slow and sometimes it can drag on a bit but baseball is America's first game and since the Steroid Era has ended, the game has become great again. On Sunday I had the chance to attend a Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs game at historic Wrigley Field on the northside of Chicago. The chance to take in a game at Wrigley is amazing with the ivy covered walls, fans sitting in rooftop seats and the iconic scoreboard in centerfield. It got me thinking about different ballparks of MLB teams and the question is: What is the best MLB ballpark ever?

This is a debate that will certainly have many opinions, especially between generations. I have been to 16 Major League ballparks to date so those are the ones I can speak of with first-hand knowledge. Five of the ballparks I have been to have been torn down or are no longer in use and the other eleven are currently used by their respective team. There are two different types of ballparks these days and one of them is a dying breed. There are the newer ballparks that were built after 1990 and then there are the older ones that came before then. The baseball world lost one of it's biggest charms when Old Yankee Stadium was torn down after the 2008 season but new ones are springing up every year.

Wrigley Field: Home of the Cubs

Judging from the people I have talked to, fans either love the old parks or absolutely hate them because of the inconveniences and lack of amenities. Personally I love the old ballparks of Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. I have been to Wrigley several times but every game I see there is a treat. The ivy-covered walls and scoreboard are unique to the park and to look out of the stadium and see hundreds of fans sitting on bleachers on top of buildings is something else. At Fenway I can remember getting chills as I walked on to Yawkey Way and saw the old brick of the stadium. As fans walk into the park the Green Monster rises up over the field and, despite only being 310 feet away from home plate, appears so menacing. The Red Sox fans are brilliant and the singing of Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" is not something you want to miss. Along with those two I would include Old Yankee Stadium. It's hard to describe the feeling around the Stadium. There is so much history inside the park and too many great players put on the pinstripes to name them all. While all three of these parks may have/had narrow aisles and some small, uncomfortable seating, I think it is totally worth the price of admission. Those three parks are phenomenal to be at because of the history.

Memorial Park in Old Yankee Stadium

That's not to say that I don't enjoy going to the newer ballparks. Last summer I had the opportunity to travel to Baltimore and Washington D.C. and I took in a game at Nationals Park and Camden Yards. Nationals Park is brand new and the huge video boards and interactive games around the stadium are great. Camden Yards is outstanding and I would recommend that any baseball fan makes it a point to visit it. It was built in 1992 but it has an old park feel. The B&O Railroad warehouse provides a great backdrop in right field and the city skyline is visible beyond the centerfield scoreboard. Along with the great ballpark, Baltimore is also home to the house that Babe Ruth was born in and that sits about three blocks away from Camden Yards.

Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia was also a nice park and U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago is very nice after they did some remodeling. Miller Park in Milwaukee is beautiful and the famed Sausage Race is a must-see. The newer parks definitely are nice and there are more on the way such as the Florida Marlins new park, scheduled to open next year. The features around these new parks and the views of the city skylines are the best part and each park has something unique to it.

Camden Yards: Home of the Orioles

Rarely do I visit a baseball park and walk out thinking that it was a bad place to watch a game. I think almost all parks are great with a few exceptions, such as stadiums that are used for football and baseball. Those need to go as soon as possible. I would have loved to visit older parks such as Tiger Stadium and Ebbets Field and if anybody has a comment about those two I would love to hear it. I would love to hear comments and opinions about your favorite ballpark and how many MLB parks you have been to. Below are the parks I have visited so far.

• U.S. Cellular Field (formerly known as Comiskey Park): Home of the Chicago White Sox
• Wrigley Field: Home of the Chicago Cubs
• Fenway Park: Home of the Boston Red Sox
• Old Yankee Stadium: Home of the New York Yankees [torn down in 2008]
• Busch Stadium I: Home of the St. Louis Cardinals [torn down in 2005]
• Busch Stadium II: Home of the St. Louis Cardinals
• RFK Stadium: Home of the Washington Nationals [no longer used for MLB]
• Nationals Park: Home of the Washington Nationals
• Cinergy Field (formerly known as Riverfront Stadium): Home of the Cincinnati Reds [torn down in 2002]
• Citizens Bank Park: Home of the Philadelphia Phillies
• Oriole Park at Camden Yards: Home of the Baltimore Orioles
• Turner Field: Home of the Atlanta Braves
• Progressive Field (formerly known as Jacobs Field): Home of the Cleveland Indians
• Kaufmann Stadium: Home of the Kansas City Royals
• Old County Stadium: Home of the Milwaukee Brewers [torn down in 2001]
• Miller Park: Home of the Milwaukee Brewers

Assembling the All-Time MLB Team

A few months ago I posted an article on the all-time NBA team which has gotten many views and no one has argued with my roster either so I'll assume I got it right! Now that Opening Day has come and gone for the 2011 MLB season, I thought it would be appropriate to compile the all-time MLB team. Now, much like the basketball team, players must be retired at least five years to be eligible for selection and I will choose a 25 man roster. The only exception to the retirement rule will be relievers because that is relatively new to the game of baseball. The team will consist of five starting pitchers, three relievers and 17 position players. The team listed for each player is the one they went into the Hall of Fame with. I would love to hear everyone's thoughts about who they would select and please leave a comment with your opinions. Here is my all-time team:

Catcher: Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds (1967-1983)

Bench was one of the key pieces to Cincinnati's Big Red Machine that captured a World Series title. He is one of the best hitting catchers of all time and won Rookie of the Year Award in 1968 and two MVPs in '70 and '72. Bench was also a great behind the dish, winning 10 Gold Gloves. Bench played in four World Series, batting .279 and hitting five home runs. He also led the league in runs batted in three times and home runs twice. A 14-time All-Star, Bench was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.

Batting Average: .267     Home Runs: 389     RBI: 1,376     Hits: 2,048     Steals: 68

First Baseman: Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees (1923-1939)
The "Iron Horse" played along Babe Ruth and is the first of many Yankees to make the team. Gehrig held the record for most games played in a row for a long time before Cal Ripken, Jr. broke it in the mid-90's and he should remain second on that list for a long time. Gehrig played at the same time fellow greats, Jimmie Foxx and Hank Greenberg, were playing but he was the best of the three. Gehrig batted .340 for his career and was just seven home runs shy of 500. An RBI machine, he led the league five times in that category and was tops in home runs three times. He was a two-time MVP and played in seven World Series, winning six of them. Gehrig was inducted into the Hall of Fame by a special election in 1939.

Batting Average: .340     Home Runs: 493     RBI: 1,995     Hits: 2,721     Steals: 102

Second Baseman: Joe Morgan, Cincinnati Reds (1963-1984)

Also a member of the Cincinnati Reds during their heyday, Morgan is widely considered the best second baseman of all time. A diminuitive 5 foot 7 inches didn't stop Morgan who collected two MVP awards and racked up 10 All-Star game appearances. He also won a Silver Slugger award and five Gold Gloves. Morgan played for five different teams but his best years came with the Reds. He was a thief on the base paths and also drew plenty of walks, leading the league four times. Morgan was a part of two World Series titles and appeared in two more. Although he did not perform up to par in the postseason individually, no one can discount his rings.

Batting Average: .271     Home Runs: 268     RBI: 1,133     Hits: 2,517     Steals: 689

Third Baseman: Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies (1972-1989)

The first member of the 500 home run club to make the team, Schmidt provided the pop for Philly for two decades and shined with the glove in the hot corner. Schmidt racked up many awards and accolades in his career, including three MVPs, 10 Gold Gloves and six Silver Sluggers. He led the league in home runs eight times and RBIs four times. He appeared in two World Series, winning one of them over the Kansas City Royals in 1980. In that series he was phenomenal, batting .381, hitting two home runs and collecting eight hits. He was named the World Series MVP that year. A 12-time All Star, Schmidt was inducted into Cooperstown in 1995.

Batting Average: .267     Home Runs: 548     RBI: 1,595     Hits: 2,234     Steals: 174

Shortstop: Honus Wagner, Pittsburgh Pirates (1897-1917)

An oldtime player, Wagner never hit for power but, boy, could he hit. He is the first member of the 3,000 hit club on the team with 3,420 hits in his 21 seasons. Wagner is probably the first great player in the game of baseball and he also has the most expensive baseball card in history to his name. He was a stocky 5 foot 11, 200 pounds yet he ran well, stealing 723 bases. In 1909 he led the Pirates to a World Series victory, batting .333 with six RBIs and six stolen bases in the seven game series. "The Flying Dutchman," as he was called, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1936 as part of the original class.

Batting Average: .328     Home Runs: 101     RBI: 1,733     Hits: 3,420     Steals: 723

Leftfield: Stan Musial, St. Louis Cardinals (1941-1963)

Stan "The Man" Musial dominated in St. Louis for 22 seasons and edged out Ted Williams in the closest race for a position yet. Musial was an outstanding hitter with over 3,500 hits and came up just short of 500 home runs and 2,000 RBIs and the craziest thing is that he missed 1945 because he entered the US Navy. That could have been another MVP and World Series year for him and he definitely would have reached those two other milestones. The Cardinals won three World Series in his first four seasons and Musial has countless awards to his name including 20 All Star appearances and 3 MVPs.

Batting Average: .331     Home Runs: 475     RBI: 1.951     Hits: 3.630     Steals: 78

Centerfield: Willie Mays, New York/San Francisco Giants (1951-1973)

Mays is the definition of a five-tool player and for that reason, along with his eye-popping stats, give him the slight edge over other centerfield greats such as Cobb, Dimaggio and Mantle. He patrolled centerfield for 22 seasons and 21 of those came with the Giants. He played center in New York at the same time Mickey Mantle played for the Yankees and Duke Snider played for the Dodgers. Neither of them shined as bright as the Say Hey Kid. He is a member of the 3,000 hit club and the 600 home run club. He won Rookie of the Year, two MVPs, 12 Gold Gloves and was a 20-time All Star. He also won a World Series.

Batting Average: .302     Home Runs: 660     RBI: 1,903     Hits: 3,283     Steals: 338

Rightfield: Babe Ruth, New York Yankees (1914-1945)

When it comes down to just numbers, Hank Aaron may have the Babe beat but what Aaron doesn't have is the seven World Series rings that Ruth have or the legend the Babe owns. He is the Sultan of Swat, the Great Bambino. He is Babe Ruth--the most well known player ever in the game of baseball. He ranks third all time on the home run list behind Barry Bonds* and Aaron and was a lifetime .342 hitter. He has an MVP to his name and led the league in home runs 12 times. He also led the league in RBIs six times and was named to two All-Star teams.

Batting Average: .342     Home Runs: 714     RBI: 2,213     Hits: 2,873     Steals: 123

Pitching Ace: Walter Johnson, Washington Senators (1907-1927)

The game of baseball has changed since the eras of Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson and Cy Young and for that reason there may be a few of them left off the roster. It's unlikely they could pitch as successfully against today's hitters. However, the Big Train was said to have a fastball that could compete with today's pitchers when it comes to speed. He piled up 417 wins in his career, something that is unthinkable today. He struck out over 3500 hitters and led Washington to a World Series title in 1924. He was then inducted into the original class of the Hall of Fame in 1936. 

Win-Loss: 417-279     Strikeouts: 3,509     ERA: 2.17     Innings Pitched: 5914.1

Rest of the Pitching Rotation
Nolan Ryan, Texas Rangers (1966-1993)
Win-Loss: 324-292     Strikeouts: 5,714     ERA: 3.19     Innings Pitched: 5,386

Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks (1988-2009)
Win-Loss: 303-166     Strikeouts: 4,875     ERA: 3.29     Innings Pitched: 4,135.1

Tom Seaver, New York Mets (1967-1986)
Win-Loss: 311-205     Strikeouts: 3,640     ERA: 2.86     Innings Pitched: 4,783

Bob Gibson, St. Louis Cardinals (1959-1975)
Win-Loss: 271-174     Strikeouts: 3,117     ERA: 2.91     Innings Pitched: 3,884.1

Rest of Position Players
Catcher: Yogi Berra, New York Yankees (1946-1965)
Batting Average: .285     Home Runs: 358     RBI: 1,430     Hits: 2,150     Steals: 30

First Baseman: Jimmie Foxx, Boston Red Sox (1925-1945)
Batting Average: .325     Home Runs: 534     RBI: 1.922     Hits: 2,646     Steals: 87

Second Baseman: Rogers Hornsby, St. Louis Cardinals (1915-1937)
Batting Average: .358     Home Runs: 301     RBI: 1,584     Hits: 2,930     Steals: 195

Shortstop: Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs (1953-1971)
Batting Average: .274     Home Runs: 512     RBI: 1,636     Hits: 2,583     Steals: 50

Third Baseman: Eddie Mathews, Milwaukee Braves (1952-1968)
Batting Average: .271    Home Runs: 512     RBI: 1,453     Hits: 2,315     Steals: 68

Outfield: Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox (1939-1960)
Batting Average: .344     Home Runs: 521     RBI: 1,839     Hits: 2,654     Steals: 24

Outfield: Hank Aaron, Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves (1954-1976)
Batting Average: .305     Home Runs: 755     RBI: 2,295     Hits: 3,771     Steals: 240

Outfield: Ty Cobb, Detroit Tigers (1905-1928)
Batting Average: .366     Home Runs: 117     RBI: 1,938     Hits: 4,189     Steals: 897

Outfield: Joe DiMaggio, New York Yankees (1936-1951)
Batting Average: .325     Home Runs: 361     RBI: 1,537     Hits: 2,214     Steals: 30

Relievers
Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, Dennis Eckersley

As you can see, there are some significant snubs from the team. Mickey Mantle sticks out the most in my mind. Yet, that's the way it goes when there are only 25 players on the team. I would love to hear readers' own takes on this because there are so many great players that would make great combinations. There are also plenty of players in the game now that could easily work their way onto a roster like this. Let the debating begin...