InGameNow

10 Highest Paid MLB Players: Largest Salaries

November 28th, 2008 | By InGameNow Posted in MLB

MLB Free Agency has been off to a mild start.

As mega free agents CC Sabbathia, Manny Ramirez and Mark Teixeira are prime to make big money - none of those three have signed their mega deals yet. In part this because teams are moving more methodically, the economy is in shambles, and there are too many moving parts (ie, the Yankees won’t chase Teixeira without having CC turn them down).

As we prep for the first major signing, you can prepare with the 10 Highest Paid MLB players / salaries.

Free agent predictions, by the way:
1. CC Sabbathia: Angels
2. Mark Teixeira: Red Sox
3. Manny Ramirez: Dodgers (big free agency loser of the three)

Highest-Paid Players (Avg. annual value)
Player, Rank Dollars Year
1. Roger Clemens $28,000,022 2007
2. Alex Rodriguez $27,500,000 2008-17
3. Alex Rodriguez $25,200,000 2001-10
4. Johan Santana $22,916,667 2008-13
5. Roger Clemens $22,000,022 2006
6. Manny Ramirez $20,000,000 2001-08
7. Miguel Cabrera $19,037,500 2008-15
8. Derek Jeter $18,900,000 2001-10
9. Carlos Zambrano $18,300,000 2008-12
10. Andruw Jones $18,100,000 2008-09

Boston Red Sox Rumors & Scores

The 8 Worst Gifts for the Sports Fan In Your Life

November 13th, 2008 | By Daniel Posted in Uncategorized

It’s almost the Holiday Season, and if you’re reading this that means you or somebody you know is a sports fan. As such, we’ve broken down for you a list of what not to get the sports fan you love this year. We’re not saying avoid these ideas completely–they could be great stocking stuffers for your worst enemy when a lump of coal is too generous.

#8 Kimbo Slice Self Defense Lessons

#7 Pickup Artist Training with Roger Clemens

#6 Luxury Package Renewable at Ball State’s BCS Bowl Game

#5 Blackjack Lessons with Charles Barkley

#4 Kurt Warner’s Children’s Series

#3 This Outfit:

#2 Manny Ramirez Dodgers Jersey

#1 Detroit Lions Tickets

Go Hard or Go Home, Red Sox on Brink of Elimination

October 16th, 2008 | By Steuart Martens Posted in InGameNow, MLB

Yesterday afternoon, the Boston Red Sox may have seen their season hopes go up in flames, literally. The CITGO sign, which overlooks Fenway Park, had a small electrical fire yesterday leaving an approximated $5000 worth of damage. A spokesperson said they didn’t know how long it would take to have the CITGO sign back up and running. Does Red Sox Nation need another sign (not literally, but figuratively) that the end could soon be near?

Tonight is going to be all about who gets on the board early. Last time out the Red Sox played homerun derby with Scott Kazmir so look for the Red Sox to be patient, waiting for that fastball up in the zone. Daisuke Matsuzaka must contain early and settle into his groove, in Game one he had a no hitter going into the 7^th, which is far better than any other starter has faired this ALCS. If Dice-K can get through the Rays Lineup cleanly the first time around, he should be able to keep the runs to a minimum.

On the other side of the ball, the 3-4-5-6 hitters of the BoSox need to hit with runners in scoring position. Clutch situations cannot be left to the likes of Jason Varitek and Coco Crisp. Look for a significant impact from Youkilis and Bay early, with the lefty Kazmir on the mound.

Lastly, the Red Sox need to leave everything on the field tonight, they have been in this situation before and they know how to fight out of it. They just need to play every pitch, every inning like it’s their last, cause it very well could be..

Brett Myers, Kim Myers, the Philadelphia Phillies & Manny Ramirez

October 11th, 2008 | By InGameNow Posted in MLB

The Phillies took a 2-0 NLCS lead yesterday as Brett Myers pitched and hit (3-for-3, drove in 3 runs and scored two) his way to the victory. But while the telecast clearly discussed Manny Ramirez (who has been the national focal point of Red-Sox-gate) - there was no mention whatsoever of Brett Myers checkered past.

Look - I am on the side of screw Manny Ramirez. He tanked the season. Forced a trade. And was a jerk while doing so.

But how can the world roast people like Manny Ramirez and Pacman Jones - but neglect to remember the Brett Myers isn’t exactly the classiest dude either:

On June 23, 2006, Myers was arrested and charged with assault after punching his wife Kim Myers on a downtown Boston street, after an argument. The Phillies received criticism from some media members and women’s organizations for not benching Myers. Myers took a short leave of absence from the team. During a pre-trial hearing on October 5, 2006, Kim Myers indicated that she did not want her husband prosecuted, and despite the prosecutor’s insistence of filing charges, the case was dismissed. The couple has been in marriage counseling since the arrest.

Pat Burrell, Cole Hamels Out-play Manny Ramirez & Dodgers

October 9th, 2008 | By InGameNow Posted in MLB

The Manny Ramirez show looked as though it was going to continue when ManRam knocked in the NLCS opening run with a deep double. But after that point, the Cole Hamels show went in effect. Cole threw seven consistent, deep innings - and Pat Burrell’s monster homerun to left field (fittingly over Manny’s head) put the Phils up 3-2… the same score by which the game would end.

Video of the big 6th inning is here:

Tim McCarver, Buster Olney Stand Against Manny Ramirez, Earn My Respect

October 8th, 2008 | By InGameNow Posted in MLB

Two prominent sports voices have stood firm against Manny Ramirez and his recent success:

Tim McCarver and Buster Olney. 

I would add Skip Bayless to this - but I would likely be ridiculed endlessley to call Skip prominent (though I love him). Tim McCarver made waves yesterday by calling Manny Ramirez “dispicable” for his quitting on the Red Sox and sudden effort in Los Angeles. He is dead on and I respect Tim for speaking so bluntly at a time when he really vulnerable considering his seat in the World Series booth. Would Joe Buck ever speak up like this? No way. 

Not even Bob Costas (who all too often pleases the stars and his friends) would do this. I can’t imagine the Monday Night Football crew being so sharp - nor would John Madden.

I also respect Buster Olney’s willingess to reach out to baseball executives and agents to understand their reaction - and it is actuall the most interesting piece of the story: execs are pissed at Manny’s willingness to quit (and subsequent proof that he has) - and do not want to reward him with money… particularly considering that he could quit once the contract is signed:

Harry (FL): Buster - How’s this for a November conversation at Chavez Ravine between Manny and Ned Colletti: “So Manny, how many years do you want to sign for? 4 years, really…OK! How much you want per year? $20 million, really…no problem! Give me just a second to write that up…” 

 Buster Olney: Harry: Personally, if I were running the Dodgers and I had $100 million available, I’d pass on Manny and spend that money on a pitcher — CC Sabathia. I am absolutely fascinated by Manny and his contract situation, because his performance and his out-and-out hustle for the Dodgers is doing more to enrage executives in the game, rather than impress them — because it confirms that he absolutely dogged it in his last days with the Red Sox. All it takes is one frothing owner to give Manny a big deal, but I suspect he’s going to get far less than the 4/100 million deal that he was telling teammates about earlier this year. If he gets $50 million, I’d be surprised; I just don’t think there will be a lot of bidders for a deal of more than two years for a guy with a history of quitting on his team, regardless of how good he’s been for the Dodgers (and he’s been unbelievable, no question).

 
And here is McCarver’s great rant:

“It’s extraordinary - the dichotomy between what he was in Boston and what he is in Los Angeles,” McCarver said. “I mean, talk about wearing out your welcome in a town, and it was a long welcome with the Red Sox. But some of the things he did were simply despicable,despicable - like not playing, refusing to play. Forgetting what knee to limp on. And now it’s washed, it’s gone.”

“A rejuvenated Manny, I think it would be fair to say,” McCarver said, sitting in the Phillies dugout yesterday. “More than old Manny. Manny’s doing things that even Manny doesn’t do, [like] scoring on a double to right field from first base.”

“It’s a wonderful story in many, many ways, and from Boston’s standpoint, it’s a horrible story, I would imagine, because he could be doing that for Boston,” McCarver said.

“There are going to be clearly times when you’re not going to pitch to Manny, with a man on second, a tie game in the eighth inning, obviously,” McCarver said. “But to go into it, from a starting pitcher’s standpoint, and tell a starting pitcher, ‘You can’t let this guy beat you.’ They’ll figure it out. I don’t think you go into the series with the idea that you can’t let Manny Ramirez beat you. I think that’s nonsense.”

“To the viewing public, it would be a bonanza if both teams continue to play like they’ve been playing,” McCarver said. “Then you really have the clash of titans, two hot teams, two good teams.”

“Every sport, there have been people who have held organizations hostage, whether it be Terrell Owens or Randy Moss or Manny Ramirez,” McCarver said.