Be sure to get your tickets for August and September as the races heat up. Some key series:
New York Yankees –
vs. Tampa Bay September 20-23
vs. Boston Red Sox September 24-26
Get New York Yankees Tickets at StubHub!

Tampa Bay Rays -
vs. Boston Red Sox August 27-29
vs. New York Yankees September 13-15
Get Tampa Bay Rays Tickets at StubHub!

Atlanta Braves –
vs. New York Mets August 30 – September 2
vs St. Louis Cardinals – September 9-12
Get Atlanta Braves Tickets at StubHub!

Philadelphia Phillies –
vs. Atlanta Braves September 20-22
vs. New York Mets September 24-26
Get Philadelphia Phillies Tickets at StubHub!

Prediction: Tampa Bay tops Chicago in four games

Boston Red Sox vs Los Angeles Angels
The Angels failed to get their bats going in a Game One loss but I think the early celebrations in Boston are premature. Look for Mark Texeria & Co. to rebound and ride the back of their pitching staff to put a serious scare in the Red Sox post-season
plans. I like the Red Sox better with Manny Ramirez in the lineup – distractions and all – but the defending champions are still the team to beat. However, this team is vulnerable.

Prediction: Boston beats Los Angeles in five games

Milwaukee Brewers vs Philadelphia Phillies
I’m a big Brewers fan but my gut instincts tells me that Milwaukee will flop and Doug Melvin will follow Ned Yost on the unemployment line. Pitching on three days rest was the norm during the Ferguson Jenkins era but how much of a toll has CC Sabathia’s arm endured just to get the Brew Crew into the playoffs? Cole Hamels proved once again in Game One that he is the “real” deal when he is healthy and the Phillies should tee off against the Brewers – including CC.

Prediction: Philadelphia ousts Milwaukee in five games

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs
A loss in Game One has the Cubs faithful already visioning another offseason without a World Series crown. But the good news is that Carlos Zambrano appears to be healthy which bodes well for Sweet Lou and the Windy City. Who needs Jason Schmidt? Joe Torre has steered the underachieving Dodgers into the playoffs and MegaStar Manny has the laidback LA crowd ignoring the Lakers training camp. My heart bleeds blue for the Cubbies but my money says “LA, all the way, baby.”

Prediction: Los Angeles upsets Chicago in five games

European Correspondent Don Beatty is pinch-hitting for Marvin Moore who is on vacation

The world’s leading anti-doping experts and scholars will convene in Beverly Hills, California for the summit and will be chaired by Dr. Gary Green, Clinical Professor in the Division of Sports Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Major League Baseball’s consultant on Performance Enhancing Drugs. Entitled “Growth Hormone: Barriers to Implementation of hGH Testing in Sports,” the summit will attempt to identify the scientific, medical, legal and ethical issues that must be addressed before Human Growth Hormone testing can be considered a routine part of sports drug testing.

The educational objectives of the comprehensive program will focus on understanding the currently available methods for identifying use of hGH and understanding the viability of urine testing for hGH in the future; building a consensus on the most effective methods of implementing widespread blood testing for abuse of hGH; identifying future strategies for hGH testing; and understanding the United States Laws regarding the regulation and distribution of hGH.

Moutian Wu, PhD, who served as the Laboratory Director for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and who currently works with the National Anti-Doping Laboratory and the China Anti-Doping Agency, will be one of the principal speakers at the summit. Other summit presentations and panel discussants will feature Anthony W. Butch, PhD, Director of the UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory; Don H. Catlin, MD, Director, Anti-Doping Research; Alan Goldhammer, PhD, Vice President, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America; Richard I.G. Holt, MD, PhD, Professor in Diabetes & Endocrinology in the School of Medicine at the University of Southampton; and Lance Liotta, MD, PhD, Co-Director, Center for Applied Proteomics & Molecular Medicine at George Mason University.

Other summit presentations and panel discussants will include Robert D. Manfred, Jr., Major League Baseball Executive Vice President for Labor Relations & Human Resources; Matthew J. Mitten, Professor of Law and Director of the National Sports Law Institute at Marquette University Law School; Thomas H. Murray, PhD, President & CEO, The Hastings Center; Thomas T. Perls, MD, MPH, FACP, Director of the New England Centenarian Study; Douglas E. Rollins, MD, PhD, Executive Director, Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory; Travis T. Tygart, CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency; and Frank D. Uryasz, President of The National Center for Drug Free Sport.

Photo: Dr. Gary Green (UCLA Health System)

Source: MLB.com Press Release

The six nominees were selected by a special editorial panel from MLB.com and fans can visit a microsite, pepsiclutch.mlb.com, that has been created specifically for the Clutch Performer Award Platform to vote for the nominee they believe was the best MLB Clutch Performer throughout the season. Online fan voting for the winner will conclude at 11:59 pm EDT on October 15, 2008.

The nominees for the “Major League Baseball Clutch Performer of the Year Presented by Pepsi” are:

Lance Berkman, Houston Astros
Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians
Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins
Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
CC Sabathia, Milwaukee Brewers

The player chosen exclusively by the fans as the winner of the “Major League Baseball Clutch Performer of the Year Presented by Pepsi” will be announced on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 during a compelling one-hour primetime special, Pepsi Presents…The MLB Clutch Performer of the Year Award Show, produced by Major League Baseball Productions, at 7:00 pm ET on ESPN.

Source: MLB.com Press Release

This officially-sanctioned Major League Baseball award will recognize the most outstanding relief pitcherof the year. As part of the online balloting program, fans can also enter a DHL sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip for two to a game of the 2008 World Series.

Fans will be able to vote HERE (until October 10) from among 10 relievers to determine the 2008 “DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year Award” winner.

The 10 relievers vying for the Award are:

• Brian Fuentes, Colorado Rockies
• Bobby Jenks, Chicago White Sox
• Brad Lidge, Philadelphia Phillies
• Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees
• Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
• B.J. Ryan, Toronto Blue Jays
• Joe Nathan, Minnesota Twins
• Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox
• Joakim Soria, Kansas City Royals
• Brad Ziegler, Oakland Athletics

The winner of the “DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year Award” will be announced during the Major League Baseball postseason. Past winners of the Award include: Mariano Rivera (2005, 2006) and Jonathan Papelbon (2007).

Source: MLB.com Press Release

The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy is named for the 12-time All-Star and Hall of Famer who died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. The award perpetuates Clemente’s legacy and character by recognizing current-day players who truly understand the value of helping others.

Fans can once again participate in the selection process of the national winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy. From September 3rd through October 5th, fans are encouraged to vote HERE for the 30 Club nominees.

The 30 Club recipients of the 2008 Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy are:

Arizona Diamondbacks – Brandon Webb
Atlanta Braves – Tim Hudson
Baltimore Orioles – Melvin Mora
Boston Red Sox – Kevin Youkilis
Chicago Cubs – Ryan Dempster
Chicago White Sox – Jermaine Dye
Cincinnati Reds – Brandon Phillips
Cleveland Indians – Grady Sizemore
Colorado Rockies – Jeff Francis
Detroit Tigers – Magglio Ordoñez
Florida Marlins – Luis Gonzalez
Houston Astros – Lance Berkman
Kansas City Royals – Mark Teahen
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – Justin Speier
Los Angeles Dodgers – James Loney
Milwaukee Brewers – Jeff Suppan
Minnesota Twins – Michael Cuddyer
New York Mets – David Wright
New York Yankees – Johnny Damon
Oakland Athletics – Mark Ellis
Philadelphia Phillies – Jimmy Rollins
Pittsburgh Pirates – Jack Wilson
St. Louis Cardinals – Albert Pujols
San Diego Padres – Trevor Hoffman
San Francisco Giants – Kevin Frandsen
Seattle Mariners – Raul Ibañez
Tampa Bay Rays – Carlos Peña
Texas Rangers – Kevin Millwood
Toronto Blue Jays – Vernon Wells
Washington Nationals – Joel Hanrahan

Source: MLB.com Press Release

Carl Crawford (Tampa Bay Rays); Coco Crisp and Manny Delcarmen (Boston Red Sox); James Loney and James McDonald (Los Angeles Dodgers); CC Sabathia and Yovani Gallardo (Milwaukee Brewers) and Jimmy Rollins (Philadelphia Phillies), have all competed in RBI programs and could potentially play major roles in their Clubs’ quest to advance to and win the World Series.

RBI is designed to promote interest in the sport and encourage kids to stay in school and off the streets. RBI programs have been started in more than 200 cities worldwide, and annually have provided as many as 120,000 boys and girls the opportunity to play baseball and softball.

This year, seven current and former RBI participants were selected in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, including Atlanta RBI members Xavier Avery (2nd round Pick 50 by the Baltimore Orioles) and Joseph “Jay” Austin (2nd round Pick 56 by the Houston Astros).

Earlier this year, Major League Baseball hosted the 16th annual Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) World Series presented by KPMG at venues throughout the Los Angeles area, including the MLB Urban Youth Academy in Compton, California. The RBI World Series is the championship round of the RBI program.

Typical RBI leagues operate from May to August and are divided into five divisions for local league play: Freshman Boys (13-14 year olds), Junior Boys (15 – 16 year olds), Senior Boys (17 – 18 year olds) and Girls Softball (14 and under and 18 and under). MLB and its Clubs have designated more than $30 million worth of resources to the RBI program and all 30 Major League Baseball Clubs have supported RBI programs. KPMG is the presenting sponsor of the RBI program. The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, Outdoor Cap and Rawlings also support the program.

Former scout and Major Leaguer John Young developed the RBI concept in Los Angeles in 1989. MLB assumed administration of RBI in 1991 and manages the program in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), the official charity of MLB. Since it was established in 1989, the RBI program has provided a path for many players to enter the college and professional game. More than 180 RBI participants have been drafted by Major League Clubs in the program’s 19-year history.

Additional information about RBI presented by KPMG can be found on www.mlb.com/rbi.

Source: MLB.com Press Release

The National League’s average attendance of 34,201, spanning 1,289 gates, eclipsed the previous record of 34,064 set last year.

In addition to the aforementioned seven record-setting clubs, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals, each drew more than three million fans. Both New York franchises surpassed four million in home attendance.

The 2008 Major League Baseball regular season ended with total attendance of 78,614,880, marking the second-highest overall single-season total in baseball history. This season’s average attendance of 32,539 also ranks as the second-highest in history.

Last year’s overall attendance of 79,503,175 (averaging 32,785) remains a record-high for Major League Baseball.

2008 MLB Attendance Notes:

- Ten Clubs drew more than three million fans, 15 Clubs drew more than 2.5 million and 23 eclipsed two million.

- Seven clubs averaged more than 40,000 per game, while 11 averaged more than 35,000 per game.

- The Chicago Cubs set a new single-season attendance by reaching 3,300,200 this year at Wrigley Field.

- The New York Yankees final attendance tally at Yankee Stadium, 4,298,543 was a franchise-high and an AL record.

- The Boston Red Sox set a club record for a ninth straight season with 3,048,250 fans.

- The Philadelphia Phillies finished the regular season with a franchise-record total attendance of 3,422,583.

- The Detroit Tigers set a single-season franchise record for attendance in 2008, drawing 3,202,645 fans to Comerica Park.

- The New York Mets surpassed the four million tickets sold mark for the first time in franchise history.

- The Milwaukee Brewers set an all-time attendance record of 3,068,458.

- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim finished with a home attendance of 3,336,744.

Minor League Baseball set an attendance record for a fifth straight year, closing the 2008 season with 43,263,740, eclipsing the 2007 season total of 42,812,812. Between the two organizations, nearly 122 million fans attended baseball games in 2008.

Source: MLB.com Press Release

USA – With the deadline for signing players selected in this year’s MLB Draft drawing near, numerous top prospects have yet to ink a pro contract.

The Pittsburgh Pirates will undoubedly have to overpay their first round pick, Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez, to sign him which goes against the principles of team management. The Pirates are in a rebuilding mode and also desperately need to sign their second rounder, Fresno State right-hander Tanner Scheppers.

San Francisco drafted Florida State catcher Buster Posey in the first round and then made Wichita State third baseman Conor Gillaspie a supplemental first round pick. The Giants inked Gillaspie to a deal but have yet to come to terms with Posey with the August 15 deadline looming.

Other first round draft selections who have yet to sign includes Miami first baseman Yonder Alonso (Reds), South Carolina first baseman Justin Smoak (Rangers), Wake Forest first baseman Allan Dykstra (Padres) and Stanford left-handed pitcher Jeremy Bleich (Yankees).

The team in the Bronx has also failed to come to terms with second round pick Scott Bittle, a right-hander from Ole Miss.

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USA – The New York Yankees have fired two scouts under investigation in a probe of possible skimming from contracts with Latin American players, The Associated Press is reporting.

The Yankees terminated the contracts of Carlos Rios, their director of Latin American scouting, and Ramon Valdivia, their Dominican Republic scouting director, a baseball official said Friday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because no official announcement had been made.

The two, who had been on leave, were terminated Thursday, the official said.

Both were accused of skimming six figures from the deals, a second baseball official said, also speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcements had been made.

Major League Baseball has been investigating alleged skimming involving Latin American operations for months.

In May, the Chicago White Sox fired director of player personnel David Wilder along with two scouts in the club’s Latin American operations following the start of MLB’s probe. The team said the pair had violated club policy but did not go into details. The White Sox also said findings from baseball’s investigation had been given to federal authorities.

The Boston Red Sox later fired Pablo Lantigua, their Dominican scouting supervisor, also saying he violated team policy.

Source: AP