[Miester]

Originally Posted by ShocK

Jason Varitek an All-Star

David Ortiz Why was he named an All-Star?

Because it's not even about who the best players are anymore, its a popularity contest. Which is why you see a ridiculous amount of BoSox and Yanks in the starting lineup. Don't know why Mourneau isn't starting. Pedroia over Kinsler? give me a break. And Burrell/Griffy should easily be in there over Fukodome.

[Surge]

Originally Posted by Miester

Because it's not even about who the best players are anymore, its a popularity contest. Which is why you see a ridiculous amount of BoSox and Yanks in the starting lineup. Don't know why Mourneau isn't starting. Pedroia over Kinsler? give me a break. And Burrell/Griffy should easily be in there over Fukodome.

I don't even watch the game anymore, I'll watch the HR Derby and that's about it.

[LadyCroft]

Reports: A-Rod’s wife to file for divorce


MIAMI (AP)—Alex Rodriguez’s wife will file for divorce Monday, according to media reports.

Cynthia Rodriguez, who married the New York Yankees star in 2002, said the marriage is over because of the All-Star third baseman’s extramarital affairs, according to reports that appeared Sunday on the Web sites of Houston television station KTRK and The Miami Herald.

The reports come just days after Alex Rodriguez was linked to Madonna in various media outlets and Cynthia Rodriguez’s subsequent visit to the Paris home of rocker Lenny Kravitz, who said she came to France to escape the media frenzy in New York and denied that anything improper had happened.

Houston attorney Earle Lilly, who said he was hired by Cynthia Rodriguez last week to launch the divorce case, told KTRK the star’s “relationship with Madonna was the final straw for Mrs. Rodriguez.”

Rodriguez’s wife also is represented by attorneys Maurice Kutner and Anthony Sabatino of Miami and John Van Ness of Houston, the Herald reported.

“She feels that she has exhausted every opportunity to salvage the marriage, and that Alex has emotionally abandoned her and the children and has left her with no choice but to divorce him,” Kutner told the newspaper.

The former Cynthia Scurtis and Rodriguez were married Nov. 2, 2002, in Dallas. They have two children, Natasha Alexander and Ella Alexander, who was born April 21.

The suit is expected to be filed early Monday in Miami-Dade County Family Court. The court’s Web site did not list any divorce filing involving Cynthia Rodriguez late Sunday.

Lilly didn’t immediately return a phone call from The Associated Press.

Alex Rodriguez has refused to comment on his relationship with Madonna, who denied any romantic involvement with the slugger in a statement posted Sunday on people.com.

“My husband and I are not planning on getting a divorce,” Madonna said. “I know Alex Rodriguez through Guy Oseary, who manages both of us. I brought my kids to a Yankee game. I am not romantically involved in any way with Alex Rodriguez.

“I have nothing to do with the state of his marriage or what spiritual path he may choose to study,” the statement continued, apparently referring to reports that the singer had introduced the ballplayer to the form of Jewish mysticism known as Kabbalah.

Looks like A-Rods wife is filing for divorce. I hope he has a good pre-nup.

[The_Boogey_Man]

The Sabathia trade will help the brewers greatly. Granted they lost LaPorta (One of their Top Prospects), however, he is an outfielder and with the depth they have in the outfield there isnt much need right now. Either Seth McClung or Dave Bush will be dropped from the Rotation, Im guessing McClung since bush has been lights out his last 4 starts (with the exception of the game against Arizona last week). Even though Suppan has been looking really bad as of late, the brewers payed too much money for him to drop him from the rotation. This trade definitly makes the brewers viable contenders now.

[Porn Freak]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3475373

PHILADELPHIA -- Brad Lidge has spent his first three months in Philadelphia proving that a change of scenery can, indeed, be a wonderful thing. And now comes the payoff: He'll be sticking around through at least 2011.

Lidge, borderline flawless since his arrival from Houston, got his reward Sunday, signing a three-year, $37.5 million contract extension with the Phillies. The deal includes a signing bonus, an awards package, assorted escalators and a fourth-year club option that could bring the overall value of the contract to $49 million.

When the Phillies acquired Lidge from the Astros in a five-player trade in November, some observers suggested he might have trouble coping with the demanding fan base in Philadelphia. Lidge's overall numbers in Houston were impressive, but he had his ups and downs after allowing a memorable three-run homer to Albert Pujols in Game 5 of the 2005 National League Championship Series.

Any fears of culture shock were unfounded. Lidge suffered a brief setback in spring training when he tore the meniscus in his right knee and needed arthroscopic surgery to correct the problem. But he's been dominant since his return in early April, going 2-0 with a 0.77 ERA, 19 saves in 19 opportunities, and 47 strikeouts in 35 innings. He didn't allow a run in his first 17 appearances with the Phillies.

"I think if you're closing and you're going through a rough time, it's difficult no matter where you're at," Lidge said in a press conference at Citizens Bank Park. "I was really excited for this challenge. For whatever reason, coming in here, I felt like this was where I needed to be.

"I enjoy the fact that the fans here are so passionate about the game. That gives me a lot of energy. I love it here."

With Chad Durbin, Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero and Tom Gordon doing some heavy lifting in front of him, Lidge has helped make the bullpen a major strength for the Phillies. Philadelphia's relievers carried an aggregate ERA of 2.74 ERA -- second best in the majors to the Chicago White Sox -- into Sunday's game against the New York Mets.

Lidge would have been eligible for free agency this winter. Given the recent contracts signed by Cincinnati's Francisco Cordero (four years and $46 million) and Minnesota's Joe Nathan (four years and $47 million), he probably would have been able to fetch a longer guaranteed deal on the open market.

But the Phillies approached him about an extension in May, and once Lidge determined that his family was happy in Philadelphia, he gave his agents, Rex Gary and Jim Turner, the go-ahead to begin negotiations with assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

"Right out of the chute, when we made the trade, we knew this wasn't going to be a one-and-done type of guy," Amaro said. "We view Brad as somebody who can help us contend for many years. We all know how important it is to close out games you should win. This is an important piece to our organization's future."

With Lidge in the fold for three more years, outfielder Pat Burrell is the lone high-profile Phillie still on the cusp of free agency. Burrell, in the final year of a six-year, $50 million deal, has 21 homers and 53 RBIs and leads all National League outfielders with a combined on base-slugging percentage of .995.

"We've stated that we want to keep Pat here," said David Montgomery, Phillies president and CEO. "It's just a question of having a meeting of the minds. I think he likes it here, and we want him here. We'll see."

The Phillies' commitment to Lidge also raises questions about the future of Brett Myers, who is having a rough year after being displaced as closer and moving into the starting rotation. After Myers went 3-9 with a 5.84 ERA and 24 homers allowed, the Phillies sent him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to work on his mechanics.

Myers allowed three runs in five innings in his first Triple A start, while relying primarily on his breaking ball. One scout who saw the game said Myers' fastball clocked in at 88-91 mph.

"He was very hittable," the scout said. "If he's going to turn it around, he's either going to have to show better fastball command or figure out a way to add some velocity."

Myers, who is already under contract for $12 million in 2009, has expressed his fondness for closing in recent years. But that avenue is now shut with Lidge signed for the next three years.

Jerry Crasnick covers Major League Baseball for ESPN.com.

The Phills overpaid for Lidge. It's a nice story on his comeback but he is not worth 10 million a season.

[taylorfitz]

Originally Posted by LadyCroft

Looks like A-Rods wife is filing for divorce. I hope he has a good pre-nup.

They have kids together so he will have to pay child support even if he has the perfect pre-nup. Considering his massive salary his soon to be ex-wife will be set for life unless he actually spends on the child support money on her children...

[ShocK]

CC a Brewer? Fine by me, tbh I'm glad he's out of the A.L and now he can(or should) be able to do great against the N.L.

I actually kind of feel bad for A-Rod. I hope for the best for him.

Also, with Tek being voted as an All-Star, I guess it's slightly better that the players voted him in because of the respect they have for him but I still strongly disagree with him being an All-Star.

[LadyCroft]

Originally Posted by taylorfitz

They have kids together so he will have to pay child support even if he has the perfect pre-nup. Considering his massive salary his soon to be ex-wife will be set for life unless he actually spends on the child support money on her children...

Yeah, the child support thing goes without saying. It's going to be a huge sum of money but nothing compared to half of his entire fortune though if he wasn't smart enough to do a prenup.

[RaMonJR]

Never thought A-Rod would get a divorce, kind of surprising. Funny how Madonna says nothing happened and he refused to say anything. Looks like he's on his own.

Hey, as long as the guy is kicking ass and gets the yanks to a WS, I couldn't give a shit who he's piping.

Btw, Brett Gardner for RoTY.

[TheHitmanHart]

Sabathia to the Brewers.

What a disaster of a season for the Indians. Experts pick them to win the World Series before the season started, and now they're dealing their ace.

BTW RaZorJR, A-Rod WILL NEVER get the Yankees to the WS.