Baseball Fan Tries To Shake Ichiro's Hand - Gets Clobbered By Security

Yesterday, one intrepid Ichiro fan decided to enter the playing field at Safeco in Seattle to attempt to shake his hand.

However, the fan was then clobbered and taken away by security and when I mean clobbered...I mean clobbered:



(Courtesy of Mac Brothers Fantasy Football)

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Yankees Close To Acquiring Cy Young Winner Cliff Lee

Since the New York Knicks failed in their efforts to persuade LeBron James to bring his talents to the Big Apple, the defending World Series Champions have taken it upon themselves to provide some sort of consolation to the city in the aftermath of ‘The Decision’.

According to NYPost.com, the New York Yankees are closing in on a deal to obtain Seattle Mariners ace Cliff Lee for a package that would include top catching prospect Jesus Montero.

With the Minnesota Twins, the New York Mets and the Texas Rangers still in talks with Seattle, the Yankees are not assured of consummating the trade but, within the past twenty-four hours, the Bronx Bombers have emerged as the clear front-runners in the race.

This season, the 31-year-old Lee, a two-time All-Star and a 2008 Cy Young Award winner, is 8-3 with a 2.34 ERA and an eye-popping strikeout-to-walk ratio of 14.8. For his career, the Arkansas left-hander is 97-55 with a 3.86 ERA.

After spending seven seasons with the Cleveland Indians, Lee was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies last season, along with outfielder Ben Francisco, in exchange for Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald, Jason Knapp and Lou Marson and became an integral factor in Philadelphia’s run to a third consecutive National League East Title. In addition, Lee’s solid pitching performances in the 2009 postseason nearly resulted in a second consecutive World Series Championship for the Phillies.

However, after falling to the Yankees in the 2009 Fall Classic, Philadelphia decided to exchange one Cy Young Award winner for another when they traded Lee to the Mariners and acquired Roy Halladay from the Toronto Blue Jays in a three-team trade.

Now that Seattle has fallen out of playoff contention and Lee set to become a free agent at the end of the season, the Mariners are looking to deal the coveted starting pitcher before the July 31 trade deadline.

For their part, Seattle is looking for top catching prospects in return, which is the reason why Jesus Montero, an elite hitting prospect in Triple-A, has become a bargaining chip that is working in the Yankees’ favor.

The report indicates Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik wanted to make a move before the All-Star Break so, before the end of the weekend, Lee could potentially reunite with his former Indians teammate C.C. Sabathia on the New York Yankees.

Imagine that.

The Yankees already own the best record in Major League Baseball without Cliff Lee. Therefore, adding another ace to their pitching staff will turn New York into the overwhelming favorites to win the American League (AL) East, the AL Pennant and the World Series.

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a video of a memorable pitching performance by Cliff Lee.

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Even reading a book is not safe, Seattle Mariners pitcher injures himself reading a book

Seattle Mariners closer David Aardsma is mostly remembered as the guy whose name is alphabetically first in most baseball almanacs. Well, he can now be known as the guy who had one of the weirdest injuries of all time.

We get more news from MLB.com:

On the long list of bizarre off-the-field injuries that happen haphazardly to athletes during the course of a long season, David Aardsma's back stiffness may top them all.

It's not often a player gets hurt from reading a book.

But that's what happened to Seattle's right-handed closer, after a five-hour flight to Florida, during which he was scrunched up reading a book. The position tightened his lower back and kept him from playing in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Rays.

Aardsma, who laughed about the injury in the clubhouse after the game, said he felt the tightness during pregame stretches. He thought back to the flight and the way he was positioned.

"It might've been just how I was sitting with my book," Aardsma said. "I don't know. I got here, I was fine. Then I started noticing it during stretches and stuff and it just sort of got me."

Yep, he injured himself reading a book. That is absolutely classic but I will say in his defense, that sitting in an akward position on a plane could defintely cause an injury.

My question is, "What book was he reading that caused this injury?" My odds is that it was "The Old Man and the Sea"

(Courtesy of the MLB.com)

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"I feel bad for the batting machine"

Recently, Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki has hit in 26 consecutive games and looks for hit 27 in tonight's game against the Baltimore Orioles.

In this commercial from the Seattle Mariners, Ichiro Suzuki is shown taking batting practice against a pitching machine late at night.

Well, let's just say that Ichiro got the better of the machine on this attempt.

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Ken Griffey Junior Video Day

I'm having trouble posting videos from YouTube to Blogger for some reason, and so instead of the regular one awesome video with a story, I give you 3 excellent Ken Griffey Junior blasts from the past (and a creepy bonus video tribute to Alvin Davis and Harold Reynolds)!

1. The Way I Swing by Kid Sensation -Griffey is a featured guest lyricist on this track, and spits such game as "Ken Griffey is a swinger not a singer, a def rhyme bringer. A home run hitter but I'm not a dope slinger" and "If I see a fire, I pull a fire alarm, but if I see a girl I like then I pull her by the arm." It's classic really, Seattle at its 1992 best.

2. Griffey on Fresh Prince - Carleton makes a joke about not knowing Griffey, some girl hits on Griffey and gets rejected, and then Griffey takes a shot at Will Smith. Good stuff.

3. Lil' Penny endorses Griffey for President - Weird, but classic. Plus I'd vote for Griffey for president, especially if he had Fred McGriff or Morgan Freeman on his ticket.

Bonus. Harold and Alvin - Doo Wop tribute to greatness. It begins:

"Harold and Alvin, second and first
They were the best when the Ms were the worst
Reynolds on second, Davis on first
Harold and Alvin."

There's also a "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" breakdown. So weird.

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Ken Griffey Jr. back to Seattle

In the 90's, Ken Griffey Jr. was the city of Seattle. Although the Sonics and Seahawks were in town, Griffey was the main attraction for the Seattle Mariners.

There are many people who credit Griffey as one of the greatest power hitters of all-time and helped baseball grow in the city of Seattle.

Now he is on his way back, Griffey signed a one-year deal which could be worth up to 4.5 million dollars. Although, Griffey is well past his prime, his return to Seattle can only help his legacy.

Maybe it will not be the same Griffey but for the long suffering city of Seattle, it's some good news.

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Wheeling and Dealing

So the offseason has arrived in MLB and the trades/acquisitions are onnnn. K Rod to the Mets, CC to the Yanks as I said, the Nationals apparently just offered Mark Texiera 160 million...but right now I want to discuss the JJ Putz three way deal.
Mets get: Putz (RP), Jeremy Reed (OF), Sean Green (P)
Mariners get: Franklin Gutierrez (OF), Aaron Heilman (P), Endy Chavez (OF) and 4 minor leaguers
Indians get: Joe Smith (RP), Luis Valbuena (2B)

The Mets obviously did well. But I think the Mariners did too with Heilman...he's a potential starter in the making. And in the meantime Gutierrez matches well with their tons of potential but little to show for it so far talent, Wladamir Balentin. As for the Indians...I don't know. A 2B who isn't really as good as Cabrera and may only be a little better than Barfield and a decent reliever. Looks like another long season for the Indians.

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