Another weeek, another round of steroid rumors. Also, former commissioner Fay Vincent checks in with his views on the game, Ron Gardenhire knows a thing or two about Pythagorean records, and an unlikely suspect resorts to bunting.
Gary Sheffield sounds off about leadership, Yogi Berra doesn’t know what salsa is, Ken Griffey Jr. and the Reds bring joy in a time of sorrow, and Joe Morgan mourns the loss of a simpler game. Oh, and some guy named Palmeiro got busted for something.
With the non-waiver trade deadline a big dud for soundbites, we turn to Rickey Henderson, Buddy Groom, Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey and others to fill the silence.
The ballparks in Philadelphia and Washington finally get to the players, bad umpiring finally gets to Ron Gardenhire and Lou Piniella, and the lack of loyalty ticks off several players and managers.
For someone with an ERA of 8.71, Danny Graves makes an awful lot of noise. Also sounding off are Gary Sheffield on the World Cup, Fay Vincent on today’s game, and Johnny Damon on the magnitude of…Johnny Damon.
If it’s All-Star week, why is everyone so unhappy? Johnny Damon, Ozzie Guillen, Frank Robinson, the Yankees and David Newhan all show a little displeasure in this negativity-filled edition of The Week in Quotes.
The Yankees are in the news with some roster shakeup, some trade rumors, some bad luck and a quote about…elephants? We also hear from the Twins’ Matt LeCroy, and get the word about some veteran players moving on.
Derrek Lee’s got a shot at the Triple Crown–he’s also got a lot of factors working against him.
Major league relievers play crossword puzzles, a Korean pitcher has his iced cabbage banned, Willie Randolph doesn’t know the difference between a rate stat and a counting stat, and Ed Wade stops acquiring relief pitchers long enough to do something nice for Doug Glanville.
It’s almost an all-cheating edition of The Week in Quotes, as the Angels and Nationals spar about pine tar, Mark Buerhle and Ryan Dempster get into it over spitballs, and patron saint of TWiQ Ozzie Guillen encourages his players to cheat.
Steve Stone looks back on his days in Chicago, Barry Bonds is at the center of yet another controversy, hitting coaches band together, and that sound you hear is Lou Piniella’s desk cleaning itself out…
Some current and former major leaguers sound off on Tommy John surgery, Chicago’s mayor has some advice for the White Sox, and Chuck LaMar doesn’t understand the draft.
Cubs fans: meet your new leadoff hitter, Neifi Perez. Also: the Reds last week cut two players and two chairs, and some announcers sound off about why it’s OK to root for the home team.
Some sluggers debate the meaning of the strikeout, some managers sound off on interleague play, Billy Beane defends himself, and Rickey Henderson surfaces in California with a take on left field in the Bronx.
Tony Pena resigns in Kansas City, Yogi Berra celebrates a birthday, and walks are good, except when they’re bad.
While he might be seeking forgiveness in the Independent League, John Rocker is still John Rocker. Also, Jeff Kent doesn’t like baseball, Danny Graves wants some love, and Geraldo Rivera is just like Randy Johnson.