Short Break in the Action

The Passion of Baseball will be taking a short hiatus, as I am currently involved in putting together a fundraiser for Children's Cancer research. Little Angels Charities, an online organization dedicated to raising money for several charitable organizations, is conducting its 3rd annual Children's Cancer Research Fundraiser, raising money for organizations such as St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Children's Cancer Research Fund, and others. You can visit us over the course of this coming weekend at http://www.paltalk.com. Paltalk is the largest video voice chat application on the web, and it is free to register and easy to use. We would love to see you this weekend, you can find the Little Angels Charities meeting room in the Featured Rooms section on Paltalk. We have several auctions that we are conducting throughout the weekend as well, you will have the chance to bid on several Paltalk paid subscriptions, and some great items donated to us by caring people. So if you're interested in helping out children who are afflicted with cancer, please come visit us this weekend, we would love to see you!! 

The Passion of Baseball will be back next week, and we will continue to give you the great stories in and around the world of Major League Baseball....

AL West: Rangers Roaring to the Top

Texas Rangers' starting pitcher C.J. Wilson has been the surprise story of the Rangers season thus far.

(courtesy Getty Images North America)

Since 2004, the American League West division has pretty much been a one team show, with the Anaheim Angels winning the division in five of the last six seasons. At the start of this season, many pundits predicted the same result. However, the Texas Rangers had a little something to say about that. At 18-14, they are atop the AL West standings after having swept the Kansas City Royals in a four game series over the weekend, and have been able to accomplish this despite being able to field their entire projected starting lineup, and enduring off-field issues.

Honoring All The Moms In the World of Baseball

Mother's Day and baseball. A special relationship, indeed. For many years, MLB has paid tribute to the very special mothers who raised, molded and supported their sons in order for them to reach their potential, and realize their dream. Today is certainly no exception, as Major League Baseball once again honors the mothers of their own.

Age Before Beauty, and Other Tidbits

Philadelphia Phillies' starting pitcher Jamie Moyer, whose uniform number is almost befitting

of his age, throwing a pitch in the first inning of last night's game with the Atlanta Braves. (courtesy AP)

When you are in your early-mid 20's just starting out in Major League Baseball, and you throw 95-100 MPH, you blow by hitters. But when you are approaching the age where AARP will come calling shortly, you "beguile" hitters. That's exactly what Philadelphia Phillies' starting pitcher Jamie Moyer did last night. At 47 years and 170 days old, Moyer became the oldest pitcher in MLB history to throw a complete game shutout, beating the Atlanta Braves, 7-0.

The Tale of the Taser

17 year-old Steve Consalvi, future Penn State student, got his 15 minutes of fame the hard way.

(courtesy AP)

The city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has had the moniker of "City of Brotherly Love" for many a  moon now. While the nickname is actually derived from a literal Greek translation, Philadelphia's sports fans have always shared a love, and a passion, for their city's sports teams. The Phillies themselves have a long tradition in the city, being the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports. They have also lost the most games of any team in American professional sports, not winning their first World Series championship until 1980, and repeating that feat in 2008. While their play on the field in recent years has been exemplary, the behavior of their fans recently borders on moronic...

Early Season Woes Continue For Sox, Dodgers & Angels

Red Sox DH David Ortiz taking a called third strike. Can he ever break out of his funk?

(courtesy AP)

Theo Epstein was once called "Boy Wonder." In just over seven seasons as General Manager of the Boston Red Sox, he has presided over a team that has made the playoffs in six of those seven seasons, twice winning the World Series. Entering his eighth season, he had reason to hope that success would continue. Offseason acquisitions of John Lackey, Adrian Beltre, Mike Cameron and Mario Scutaro shored up the pitching and defense, part of Epstein's plan to instill "run prevention" as a component of the 2010 Red Sox squad.

The Frailty of a Starting Pitcher

As I peruse the various Major League Baseball transaction and injury reports whilst sipping my morning coffee, I am constantly amazed at the seemingly endless supply of perseverance among starting pitchers. The Kerry Woods of the world. The Erik Bedards of the world. The Justin Duchscherers of the world. Through all of their trips to the disabled list, their many rehab stints, all the operations, the exploratory surgeries, the extended spring trainings, the critiques about their fragility: They still fight to make their way back to the pitcher's mound once again... What drives them? Pretty simple, actually: money...

Wagner To Retire At End Of Season

Atlanta Braves' closer Billy Wagner, who signed a one year contract with the Braves, with a 

one year vesting option, will retire at the end of the season.

Atlanta Braves' manager Bobby Cox will have company when he retires. Closer Billy Wagner, who joined the Braves this past offseason, has indicated to Cox that he will retire at the end of this season to spend more time with his family.