Phil Rizzuto, Hall of Fame Yankee, Dead at Age 89

Phil Rizzuto, the Hall of Fame shortstop during the Yankees' dynasty years and beloved by a generation of fans who delighted in hearing him exclaim "Holy cow!" as a broadcaster, died Tuesday. He was 89.

His death was confirmed by the Yankees. Rizzuto had been in declining health for several years and was living at a nursing home in West Orange, N.J.

Rizzuto, known as "The Scooter," was the oldest living Hall of Famer. He played for the Yankees throughout the 1940s and '50s, won seven World Series titles, was an AL MVP and played in five All-Star games.

Rizzuto later announced Yankees games for four decades and his No. 10 was retired by baseball's most storied team.

At 5-foot-6, Rizzuto was a flashy player who could always be counted on for a perfect bunt, a nice slide or a diving catch in a lineup better known for its cornerstone sluggers. He played 13 seasons alongside the likes of Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle in a career interrupted by Navy service in World War II.

Rizzuto was equipped with a productive bat, sure hands and quick feet that earned him his nickname. A leadoff man, he was a superb bunter, used to good advantage by the Yankee teams that won 11 pennants and nine World Series between 1941 and 1956.

This is a sad day for the Yankees and a sad day for Baseball, as The Yankees have lost one of their greatest players, Phil Rizzuto.

The NEW Big Three in Boston

The Boston Celtics have just gone from one of the worst teams in the NBA to one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Why? The Celtics are loaded up full of talent.

The Celtics already had Paul Pierce, and he really started this deal by saying that if the team did not improve, he wanted to be traded. The Celtics made a huge deal on draft night, acquiring Ray Allen, one of the best Three Point Shooters in the NBA, from the Seattle Supersonics.

However, Boston got even better still. The Celtics pulled off an amazing 7 for one deal in which the Celtics were able to acquire Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Trio of KG, Ray Allen, and "The Answer" or "The New Big Three" are definitely going to be compared to The Original "Big Three" of Robert Parrish, Kevin McHale (who pulled the trigger on the Garnett trade, ironically), and Larry Bird. Can the New Big Three do what the original Big Three did and restore glory to the Celtics by capturing an NBA Title?

Scott Podsednik: Heading to the North Side?

Scott Podsednik, the leadoff man for the White Sox, had his greatest moment in the 2005 World Series. Podsednik had zero homeruns in the regular season, but his first in the World Series (above)gave the White Sox a walk-off 7-6 victory and a 2-0 advantage heading to Houston. The White Sox would Sweep the Astros to give Chicago it's first Baseball Championship sice 1917. Podsednik helped the Chicago White Sox end a long championship drought. He may soon be in position to do the same for the Cubs, Chicago's other Baseball Team.

The Chicago Tribune, citing a major league source, reported on its Web site Friday that the Cubs claimed Podsednik on waivers. The White Sox had two business days to work out a trade with the Cubs, simply let him go to the North Side team or pull him off waivers.

The Cubs, who began the day a half-game behind Milwaukee in the NL Central, could use a leadoff hitter and left fielder, with Alfonso Soriano nursing a torn quad muscle. Podsednik would fill those needs, although he would not provide the power.

If The Cubs get Podsednik, this is a great move for them. Scotty Pods was the catalyst for the White Sox the year they won the World Series in 2005. Podsednik's role has been reduced this year. Podsednik was batting seventh in the lineup, and was being called "unreliable" by his manager. The Cubs need a leadoff hitter in the absence of Alfonso Soriano. Podsednik would fill the role well.Podsednik is dangerous on the bases. He doesn't have a whole lot of power, but he has everything else.

Will Scott Podsednik switch leagues? We will find out by the end of this weekend.

Barry Bonds: The All Time Major League King Of Swing

Barry Bonds became the new All Time major League King of Swing on Tuesday Night, breaking Hank Aaron's record of 755 hommeruns. Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s storied record in the fifth inning, connecting on a 3-2 pitch from Washington’s Mike Bacsik. Three days earlier, Bonds tied the Hammer with a shot to left-center in San Diego.

Barry thanked everyone after he broke his record. The fans, his family, the Nationals, and his late Father Bobby. After that, a video message from Hank Aaron congratulating Barry played on the AT&T Park Videoboard congratulating Barry Bonds for breaking the record.

Barry has since added to that total, hitting homerun number 757 Wendesday and sending the ball into McCovey Cove in deep right field.

Barry has broken the record. There are still many questions surrounding the record and the man who broke the record. Barry is celebrated in San Francisco but hardly anywhere else.

Fans of Barry are glad he broke the record. People who don't think Barry did it the right way are sitting and wailting for someone (possibly Alex Rodriguez) to come along and Break Barry's Record.

Reguardless of your feelings about Barry and how he did it, he made people tune in to watch him break the record and he is causing people to come to wherever he goes in droves, so that they can say that they saw Barry Bonds, the man who broke the All Time Major League Home Run Record.

Alfonso Soriano on Shelf Until At Least Labor Day

Alfonso Soriano was put on the 15 day disabled liat by the Cubs after tearing his right quadriceps while running the bases sunday night against the Mets. The Cubs expect Soriano to miss 2-4 weeks. They are expecting him to be out until at least Labor Day.

The Cubs called Eric Patterson up to The Show to fill Soriano's roster spot. Eric is the younger Brother of Outfielder Corey Patterson, who played for the Cubs from 2000-2005.

The Greatest Weekend In The History Of Baseball!

This past weekend was the greatest weekend in Baseball History. On Saturday, Alex Rodriguez finally hit his five hundreth homerun, becoming the youngest man ever to hit five hundred homeruns. Alex Rodriguez became the first man since the great Mickey Mantle hit his five hundreth homerun at Yankee Stadium.

Saturday Night, Barry Bonds hit his reord tying 755th homerun (above), tying him with Hank Aaron. I watched it on ESPN and the reaction by the fans to Barry tying the record in San Diego was just what I had expected it to be, with a mix of cheers and boos, but with more cheers than boos. Reguardless of your feelings about Barry and how he did it, he is making people tune in to watch him break the record and he is causing people to come to wherever he goes in droves, so that they can say that they saw Barry Bonds tie (and soon break) the All Time Home Run Record.

The Final Milestone of the week I also saw on ESPN. Tom Glavine, the longtime Pitcher for the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets, got his three hundreth victory at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. Many people are saying that Glavine will be the last 300 Game winner, as "The Big Unit" Randy Johnson is currently stuck at 284 victories and may be stuck there, depending on how his back feels and if it can handle the load of pitching 16 more victories.

This was the Greatest Weekend in Baseball History and the Greatest Weekend in the History of Sports. Where else would you have seen three historic milestones in the same weekend?

Cubs Win! Cubs Lead The NL Central!

Matt Murton got the call to come back from the minors less than a week ago and already he's helped the Chicago Cubs climb into first place.

Murton raced home on Brett Myers' bases-loaded wild pitch in the ninth inning Wednesday night, sending the Cubs to a 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies and lifting them to the top of the NL Central.

The Cubs, who were 8 1/2 games behind on June 23, finally overcame the Milwaukee Brewers - at least for a day. Chicago's win, coupled with the Mets' 8-5 win at Milwaukee, puts the Cubs a percentage point ahead of the Brewers.


Murton started the ninth with a sinking liner to left that defensive replacement Jayson Werth dove for but couldn't hold. Werth had come off the DL earlier in the day and just entered the game.

Murton hustled into second for a leadoff double and made third on Myers' wild pitch as Ronny Cedeno tried to bunt.

After Cedeno walked, Myers (1-3) also walked Jacque Jones intentionally to load the bases. Jason Kendall struck out, but with a 1-1 count on pinch-hitter Cliff Floyd, Myers unleashed the wild pitch that gave the Cubs the win.


Philadelphia dropped into third place, four games behind the Mets in the NL East.