Baseball. Blogging. Whenever.

Friday, January 16, 2009

More on the Anaheim lawsuit

After spending roughly $4 million in legal fees, the City of Anaheim agreed to drop its civil suit against its baseball team--the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim--seeking to have the "L.A." dropped from its name.

An Angels spokesperson told reporters that the team had spent nearly $7.5 million on its lawyers from Buchalter Nemer, Powell Goldstein (now part of Bryan Cave), and Southern California's Theodora Oringher Miller & Richman during the four-year legal battle.

Forgive me, but it’s a slow day

The year we make contact

Freezing out Clemens

Ask yourself: Did you cheer Roger Clemens when he pitched? Barry Bonds when he homered? Did you celebrate Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa in their roid-rage race to history? Did you buy tickets -- and put money in the owner's pocket -- just to see them play?

Knowing what you know now, if they helped your team win, would you cheer them again? Answer that one honestly, and you'll realize how silly it is to ostracize Clemens.

Yes, he is an arrogant jerk who would be much more sympathetic if he apologized. Many postulate that if he would just come clean, he would be forgiven.

Andy Pettitte gets a pass for his HGH use because he came out and admitted using it (sort of). Pettitte is just as big a liar and a cheat. Does anyone really believe those were the only times he used it? But a nice, "Aw, shucks. Sorry guys," and he is off the hook.

Clemens refused to go that route, and he gets dragged in front of Congress so a bunch of idiots can be on ESPN. "Look, honey, did you see me ask a stupid question to Roger Clemens? Do you think he will sign my baseball?"

I feel safer

Barely more than a week after Major League Baseball suspended Phillies reliever J.C. Romero for 50 games for using a banned substance, the laboratory that produced the nutritional supplement that the left-hander claimed was tainted and caused him to falsely test positive has been raided by the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Ergopharm’s lab, located in Champ, Ill., and owned by chemist Patrick Arnold who was part of the BALCO steroids scandal, was raided by the DEA on Thursday, according to a source with knowledge of the situation who asked not to be identified. Ergopharm produces 6-OXO, which Romero said he purchased at a General Nutrition Center in Cherry Hill, N.J. Romero also said he believed 6-OXO was not banned by MLB.

Romero tested positive twice last season, on Aug. 26 and Sept. 19.

The New England Office of the DEA led the raid and was assisted by local DEA and police. No arrests were made and a document warrant was served.

Sleepover at Trey’s

Hey, y'all, come on down to Liberty Hill, Texas. Set a spell. Chew the fat. Snag some worm-killers. Whack the ol' horsehide.

All you infielders, that is.

Yep, Royals manager Trey Hillman is having most of his infielders down to his south Texas spread early next week for a little get-together. Most of his coaches will be there, too.

Get some vittles cookin', Marie, the boys are comin' over.

"It's totally a volunteer thing," Hillman said. "I planned on the coaching staff getting together at my place anyhow in January. Even for the staff it's not mandatory, but it gives us a chance to get ahead of the game for Spring Training. It kind of dominoed into a little mini-camp."

Actually, Hillman's spread is a modest six acres. Last year, Hillman got rid of his goat herd and used the back three acres to install a Major League-size infield covered with AstroTurf and a batting cage.

"That used to be the goat pasture," Hillman said. "Now it's a baseball pasture."

Today at THT