From the Cardinals’ perspective, the problem wasn’t that Arroyo was using pine tar—the problem was that John Smoltz was trying to throw slick baseballs!  Smoltz said he’d never seen such poorly-prepared balls in all his years…

What I don’t quite understand is why using rosin to get a better grip on the ball is legal, but pine tar isn’t.  If it’s a question of the pine tar making a darker mark on the ball, it’s a moot point; as soon as a baseball gets any mark on it these days, it’s thrown out of play.

Upon entering Great American Ballpark’s parking lot, a reporter caught Dick Pole just as he was pulling out.  “If I’d had Wang or Johnson, maybe things would have been different,” he said, “but it’s been a hard last year and I’m leaving with my head held high.”

Every Sports Illustrated Yankee Covers Ever Made!!!! awesome post:

http://zellspinstripeblog.com/2009/10/03/every-sports-illustrated-yankee-cover-ever-made/

Craig, you should be very proud of your commentors.

And I’m not just giving you lip service.