Steroids created a lot of “video game” type of results over two decades. Two records that still were elusive to jacked up hitters was Joe DiMaggio’s 56 game hitting streak and Ted Williams .406 batting average. When ESPN Baseball Tonight analyst  John Kruk said Derek Jeter can hit .400 earlier this month, everyone blew it off as crazy.  Thirty-four games [...]

As I mentioned during last night’s radio program, I am giving away a free VIP admission to the baseball documentary Knuckleball! The winner and a guest will sit in a special reserved section at the premiere and receive a signed movie poster by R.A. Dickey, Tim Wakefield, Charlie Hough, and Jim Bouton. The first person [...]

On the second night of Passover, a simple dinner discussion that evolved into an argument between the Matzo Ball Soup and the Brisket was the impetus for this list. Going through the Internet to find any definitive list, this wonderful piece by the ubiquitous Jonah Keri from 2007 was discovered  listing the Top 18 Jewish [...]

All reports indicate that MLB will expand its playoff system this year to include a second Wild Card team. MLB continues to be the only sport that doesn’t get it. What I mean by that is they don’t have the understanding or ability to create an economic system where the disparity in local revenues between [...]

Johan Santana is scheduled to make about $25 million dollars each of the next two years. There’s also an option for 2014, which adds another $25 million if he reaches awards incentives and/or innings threshold. The combination of Santana’s health and the Mets reduced payroll make this a very punishing financial commitment. I think Ben Nicholson-Smith of [...]

Here is another cool baseball-football connection this Super Bowl week. I am sure this has been talked about before, but Jeff Bradley did a nice piece in the Star-Ledger about Patriots QB Tom Brady and his near baseball career. You know about the three Super Bowl titles, but did you know that Brady was an outstanding baseball [...]

A few weeks ago, several writers were asked by Mike Silva to write a small piece on “The Most Intriguing Yankees Prospects for 2012,” not necessarily the top guys, but guys who are at a crossroads or as I thought, need to have a big impact this season for the future of the parent club. [...]

The terms “Cincinnati legend” and “lifetime Cincinnati Red” were used to describe Barry Larkin yesterday after his election into the Hall of Fame. He also became the 48th member of the Hall to spend his entire career with one team. Born in Cincinnati, Larkin won the 1990 World Series, MVP in 1995, and become the first shortstop [...]

We are a little over a week away from the Baseball Hall of Fame announcing its 2012 selection. Each year, I give the readers of NYBD an opportunity to cast their own BBWAA-style ballot. Last year Bert Blyleven and Roberto Alomar garnered the most fan support, but not the requisite 75% needed for induction. In December, Gil Hodges received the most [...]

Back in the 40s and 50s the United States was facing a huge threat – communism. During this era, thousands of Americans were accused of being Communists or communist sympathizers and became the subject of aggressive investigations and questioning before government. Wisconsin Senator Joe McCarthy led the brigade with the “Hollywood Blacklist” and investigations by the House [...]

It’s been nearly 15 years since the BBWAA elected to not enshrine someone in Cooperstown. During the 1996 election, Phil Niekro received 68.3% of the vote, followed by Tony Perez (65.7%), and Don Sutton (63.8%). Ironically, all three would be enshrined by 2000.  I believe there is a good chance no one will be inducted by the [...]

I will be keeping this up as a sticky until our January 8th Hall of Fame show where we will announce the fan selections. Remember, the actual Hall of Fame announcement will be on January 9th. Here is my Hall of Fame ballot – you can weigh in on the conversation by voting here.

Last night was the deadline for teams to offer arbitration-eligible players a contract. Those that weren’t, were non-tendered, which now makes them a free agent. The Yankees are searching for bench help and a situational lefty. The Mets need a backup infielder, second lefty, and more starting pitching. Both teams 40-man rosters are completely full, [...]

Surprisingly, the Yankees won the bidding right to Seibu Lions shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima. Their bid was for a very reasonable $2 million dollars. The Yankees view Nakajima as a utility man to backup Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and Robinson Cano throughout the season. He’s basically replacing Eduardo Nunez, who could be part of a package to possibly bring back some pitching. Jon [...]

The Mets finally made some noise in Dallas as they signed Jon Rauch (4.85 ERA, 11 saves in Toronto last season) to a reasonable 1 year/$3.5 million dollar deal, but the real coup by Sandy Alderson was bringing in two players- RHP Ramon Ramirez and CF Andres Torres- for Angel Pagan, and signing RHP Frank Francisco. Pagan had fallen out of [...]