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Great Deals on MLB Gifts

sports — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 02:20:22 +0000

A lot has been written (rightfully so) about the blockbuster trade that sent ace pitcher Roy Halladay to the Philadelphia Phillies, but the reigning National League champions are not the only team in Major League Baseball to make significant upgrades.

Yesterday, the Boston Red Sox made a splash of their own, publicly announcing the signings of pitcher John Lackey and outfielder Mike Cameron. The Red Sox were in the hunt for Halladay this offseason and before last year’s trade deadline but ultimately chose to hang onto their young prospects and sign arguably the best starting pitcher on the market.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were also active over the last couple days, signing now-former Yankee Hideki Matsui to a one year deal that all but assures the end of longtime halo Vladimir Guerrero. And with sluggers Jason Bay and Matt Holliday still in line to get fat new contracts, free agency looks to remain exciting as teams look to instantly upgrade their teams.

With all of this baseball activity going on, I have rounded up some great deals on fan gear from the official Major League Baseball online store. They have some killer sales going on for the holidays and many great gifts in a variety of price ranges.

This Philadelphia Phillies Maxwell Meshback Adjustable Cap is currently on sale for $19.99 and is eligible for a buy one, get one half-off promotion. The cap has a screen printing on the front with an embroidered logo and is guaranteed to be delivered in time for Christmas.

This Boston Red Sox Union Knit Cap is a stylish way to keep your head warm this winter. Currently on sale for $16.99, it features an embroidered logo on the front-left side and is made of 100% acrylic.

Show off your Christmas cheer and team pride with this Forever Collectibles Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 17″ Stocking. Surface washable with embroidered team logo and name, it is currently on sale for $19.99.

Image Source: MLB.com

Roy Halladay Sent to Philadelphia in Blockbuster Trade

sports — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:30:01 +0000

No matter which team you think got the best end of the deal, there is one undeniable fact that we can all agree on — no one can say that Major League Baseball’s off-season was uneventful.

The term “blockbuster trade” gets thrown around a lot in sports (probably way too much), but this was no doubt a blockbuster trade. Anytime one of the most dominant pitchers in the game changes teams, not to mention leagues, there is a strong argument to be made for deeming the move a blockbuster one. When two Cy Young award winners in their prime get shipped out, it becomes an absolute no-brainer.

In case you haven’t heard, the will-he-or-won’t-he-stay-in-Toronto saga of Roy Halladay is now over. With the Blue Jays unlikely to be able to retain his services in the long term, they finally decided to part ways with their prized possession and were actually somewhat forced to make the move. Teams, in fact, have been inquiring about Halladay as far back as before last season.

The highly sought after hurler was obviously not the only big name to change zip codes in the deal. The other big name in the four-team, nine-player trade is Cliff Lee, who like Halladay is a both bona fide front of the rotation starter that will look to take his new team to the next level. The rest of the trade package is built primarily around minor league players and cap relief, but do not be surprised if at least one of the relatively unknowns turns out to be a star.

Here is a breakdown which teams will get which players as reported by ESPN:

Philadelphia Phillies – RHP Roy Halladay (from Toronto), RHP Phillippe Aumont (from Seattle), OF Tyson Gillies (from Seattle), RHP Juan Ramirez (from Seattle), $6 million cash (from Toronto)
Seattle Mariners — LHP Cliff Lee (from Philadelphia)
Toronto Blue Jays – C Travis d’Arnaud (from Philadelphia), RHP Kyle Drabek (from Philadelphia), 1B/3B Brett Wallace (from Oakland)
Oakland A’s – OF Michael Taylor (from Philadelphia via Toronto)

What team do you think got the best end of the deal? What team do you think got the worst? Let us know in the comments section below!

Image Source: NY Daily News

MLB’s First Big Trade of the Offseason

sports — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:28:50 +0000

In an off season that was supposed to feature a limited amount of dollars, few (if any) big money signings, and a large figurative line drawn in the sand between owners and agents, well, all of those things still hold true.

However, the annual Major League Baseball winter meetings have brought one (and only one, so far at least) piece of juicy news in the form of an almost-done three way trade. Even if it will ultimately fall short of “blockbuster mega-trade” status, it is the biggest news regarding player movement in this early stage of the MLB offseason.

The trade has yet to be consummated, but here is what the three teams should end up with barring any last minute changes.

New York Yankees: Curtis Granderson
Arizona Diamondbacks: Edwin Jackson, Ian Kennedy
Detroit Tigers: Max Scherzer, Daniel Schlereth, Phil Coke, Austin Jackson

Granderson is both the biggest name and the biggest gamble in the deal. The Diamondbacks received a pair of reliable pitchers, the Tigers received four young players with considerable upside, and the Yankees received a player that is seen somewhere between OK and great depending on who you ask.

The Yankees, obviously, think very highly of Granderson and believe he can anchor center field for the next decade a la former New York favorite Bernie Williams. The question on everyone’s mind, though, is which Granderson will the Yankees will get?

Will they get the player with a .272/.828 lifetime batting average/OPS or the player that batted a lowly .249/.780 last year? Will they get the left-handed slugger who should theoretically thrive in Yankee stadium or the player who struggled against lefty pitching last year? Will they get a player who can handle the pressures of playing in the big apple or will they get someone who melts under the bright lights?

Personally, I think he will do just fine. He will have more protection in the lineup than he has ever had thus far in his career, will be playing in a ballpark much more conducive to his skill set, and can rely on savvy veterans like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera to ease him into the voracious New York media.

He isn’t going to be the cornerstone of their franchise, but then again, they’re not asking him to be.

What do you think of the trade? Was it too much for the Yankees to give up? Can Granderson be the next great Yankees’ center fielder?

Image Source: ESPN

Pujols Wins National League Most Valuable Player Award for the Third Time

sports — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:11:42 +0000

Anyone who watches baseball will tell you that Albert Pujols is an absolute machine that strikes fear into every pitcher he faces, but even the most die-hard baseball fan may not realize just how good he is compared to the all-time greats. So, for those that need to be reminded of his considerable talents, it was announced late Tuesday night that he won the National League Most Valuable Player Award for the third time in his career, placing him second in National League history behind none other than Barry Bonds.

Perhaps just as impressive as it being his third MVP title is the fact that he won it with a unanimous vote, which is the first time that is has happened since, you guessed it, Barry Bonds in the historic 2002 season. Pujols finished with 448 votes, which is over 200 more than second place finisher Hanley Ramirez of the Florida Marlins, who managed to tally 233 votes. The top four was rounded out by Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies with 217 votes and Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Bucks with 203 votes.

In case the MVP award is not enough to convince you of his prowess, take a look at the following stats: he led the majors in home runs with 47, runs with 124, a .658 slugging percentage, and 44 intentional walks. As if that weren’t enough, he lead the National League with an on-base percentage of .443, was second in the league with 45 doubles, and was third in batting average (.327) and RBIs (135).

While most of us would be ecstatic to receive such a prestigious award for the third time, Pujols told the Associates Press that he has other things on his mind:

“I always make a joke. I got 10 fingers. I want to get nine more rings,” Pujols said to the AP. “I want to get as many as Derek Jeter has so far [five]. Obviously that’s hard to do.”

And with the way he has performed over his career, that lofty goal just may be possible.

What do you think? Does he deserve to be mentioned with the likes of Barry Bonds? How many more MVPs do you think he can win?

Image Source: isportsweb.com

Kansas City Royals’ Zack Greinke Wins the AL CY Young Award

sports — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:01:34 +0000

After a season of dominating American League hitters on a team that struggled to get him wins, Greinke got his well deserved award. He easily beat Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners, receiving 25 of 28 first place votes. While he ended the season with only 16 wins, tied for the lowest total wins for a CY Young winner, voters focused on his other numbers like his MLB leading ERA 2.16. Greinke’s team the Kansas City Royals had by far the worst team record for an AL CY Young winner, something that some experts thought might cast him the award. I mean, put him on a winning team like the Yankee’s and who knows how many wins he would have had this year, and I’m glad the voters didn’t dock him for that. All year Zack dominated and there were some stretches in the season when he just seemed unhittable.

Greinke though, who is extremely shy and was diagnosed with a social anxiety disorder in 2005, said that he has some mixed feelings about winning the award. The good part for him is that he had a great season and he is being recognized for it. The bad part is the attention he will now receive for winning the award. Like I said, he is a shy guy that prefers to remain anonymous so this new attention is going to be a big change going forward, but for now Zack will take the award and what comes with it.

Deals on New York Yankees Championship Gear

sports — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:23:55 +0000

For the first time since 2000 the New York Yankees finish the season as Major League Baseball’s World Series Champions. The Philadelphia Phillies made a valient effort to defend their title but ultimately the Yankees were too talented to be denied their MLB record 27th World Series title. To put that in perspective the team with the second most World Series titles, the St. Louis Cardinals, have won “only” 10 titles. There are also eight MLB teams — the San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, and Washington Nationals — that have never won a World Series.

From signing big free agents (A.J. Burnett, Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia) to opening their 1.5 billion dollar stadium, it has been an exciting year for the Yankees. The expectations for them from the beginning of the season were sky high and for good reason — they have a payroll of over $200 million, which is by far the league’s highest. Although they struggled at times throughout the season and had to overcome a lack of depth in their starting pitching in the playoffs, you can’t argue with their end result.

So, to celebrate the end of the season and the Yankees historic World Series victory, here is a collection of officially licensed gear that is on sale now.

The New York Yankees authentic 2009 World Series Champions cap is the authentic locker room cap worn by the players after their big win. This stretch fit cap is a one size fits all item and is currently on sale for $29.99.

The New York Yankees replica home jersey with 2009 World Series Champions patch bears the official team colors and logos and is made of 100% polyester. It comes in sizes small through quadruple-extra large and is on sale for $94.99.

The 2009 Official World Series program is the perfect way to learn about the World Series. According to the product description, the 250-page program contains many interesting facts and stories like the history of the World Series, full rosters for the Phillies and Yankees, features from some of the best baseball writers in the industry, and insights into the game’s biggest stars. At only $15 the World Series program is a tremendous value for fans looking to remember the World Series.

The Highland Mint New York Yankees 2009 World Series Champions Commemorative 24KT Gold Coin is a limited edition (5,000 made) collectible item that any serious Yankees collector would love to own. It is on sale for $29.99 and will more than likely sell out fast because of its limited availability.

The New York Yankees 2009 World Series Champions Official Club House T-Shirt is made from 100% cotton and has screen printed graphics. It is available in sizes medium through double-extra large and is on sale for $24.99.

Find more deals on Yankees gear at Smarter.com.

The Biggest Sports Stories of the Weekend

sports — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:04:30 +0000

This past weekend in sports was one of the most eventful of the year. It was the first weekend of the NBA season, the midway point of the NFL season, the start of the MLS postseason, and the final stretch of the MLB season. Sprinkle in some big games in college football, international soccer, and the NHL and there was really too much to watch on this Halloween weekend.

However, for those that did find the time to take in all the wonderful sports action it will be a weekend they will not soon forget. And for those who were not able to catch all the excitement, here is a quick recap of the weekend’s three biggest stories.

World Series: The New York Yankees inched their way closer to their 27th championship and first since 2000. Joba Chamberlain gave the Yankees a scare Sunday night when he allowed the Philadelphia Phillies to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth, but a three run top of the ninth started by an amazing at bat by Johnny Damon propelled the Yankees to a 7-4 victory and 3-1 series lead. A.J. Burnett will take the mound in game five for the Yankees tonight against Cliff Lee and attempt to close out the series in Philadelphia.

NFL: The Denver Broncos entered week eight of the NFL season as one of three undefeated teams in the league. Unfortunately for Broncos fans, the team will not enter week nine with the same status following a 30-7 blowout at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens. The Indianapolis Colts remained undefeated after narrowly beating the fading San Francisco 49ers and the league’s other unbeaten team, the New Orleans Saints, is host to Atlanta tonight on Monday Night Football.

Arguably the biggest NFL story of the weekend, though, was Brett Favre‘s return to Lambeau Field to face his former team. Although he already beat the Green Bay Packers earlier this year, it was the first time he has played at Lambeau Field as a visitor since leaving the team to play for the New York Jets last season. He was booed heavily in the beginning of the game, despite there being a fair number of purple jerseys in the crowd, but received the last laugh as he led the Minnesota Vikings to a 38-26 victory.

NBA: Finally, the NBA season is here and opening weekend did not disappoint. We saw some of last years playoff teams take care of business (the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and Orlando Magic are all undefeated) and others come out of the gate struggling (the Cleveland Cavaliers are 2-2 and the Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Hornets are 1-2). What is more interesting (although we shouldn’t be surprised) is how some of last years bad teams are seemingly worse than they were before.

The New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, Indiana Pacers, and Golden State Warriors are a combined 0-17. It is not as though any NBA analyst was predicting these teams to make it to the NBA finals this season, but their play so far has been less than encouraging for fans hoping they would make a strong push to get into the playoffs and possibly cause some damage.

What do you think was the biggest story of the weekend? Any predictions for next weekend?

Image Source: Guardian.co.uk

The Weekend in Sports: Yankees World Series Bound

sports — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:50:29 +0000

After grinding out 162 regular season games and nine playoff games, the New York Yankees finally punched their ticket to the World Series Sunday night with a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. It will be the Yankees first trip to the big dance since 2003 when they lost to the Florida Marlins in six games. Although they have struggled sealing the deal this decade, the Yankees history is quite illustrious. This marks the 40th time they have won the American League pennant and a win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series would be their 27th time winning it all.

Of course, the Phillies will more than put up a fight to defend their World Series crown. The match up features some of the best pitchers in the game (Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, CC Sabathia, Mariano Rivera, etc.) as well as some of the leagues’ premier hitters in Ryan Howard and Alex Rodriguez. Game one is scheduled Wednesday in New York at a time to be determined.

Other baseball news: The Yankees victory over the Angels and subsequent berth in to the World Series was not the only piece of interesting baseball news over the weekend. After much debate in St. Louis over whether or not manager Tony La Russa would return to the club next year, it was announced that he and management agreed to a one year deal for 2010 that includes a mutual option for 2011. However, the real buzz surrounding the agreement was word that the Cardinals will be replacing hitting coach Hal McRae with a former slugger most recently known for his refusal to speak about the past during a Congressional hearing on steroids. That slugger is none other than Mark McGwire, who was coached by La Russa during his time with the Cardinals and Oakland Athletics.

College football: For those of you (like me) who do not like the BCS and desperately want to see a playoff system implemented, the storm clouds have started to brew with the most recent set of BCS rankings. The top four teams in the current standings — Florida, Alabama, Texas and Iowa — are all undefeated and barring an upset, three of those teams will likely end the season that way. A one-loss USC team comes in at number five and is followed by another set of undefeated teams in TCU, Boise State and Cincinnati. Even if only half of these top-eight teams win out we are looking at plenty of BCS drama and will hopefully move one step closer to a playoff system.

NFL: After seven weeks of play there are still three undefeated teams (Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, and New Orleans Saints) attempting to join the 1972 Miami Dolphins in the NFL history books. The Dolphins ran the table that year and remain the only team to have ever completed a perfect season. The field was nearly trimmed down to two teams this week as the Saints struggled against, ironically, the Dolphins. The Saints found themselves down 34-24 at the end of the third quarter but scored 22 unanswered points in the fourth to secure the victory.

What do you think was the biggest story of the weekend? What are you looking forward to the most this week? Let us know in the comments section below.

Get Your Philadelphia Phillies Gear

sports — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:13:56 +0000

With a 10-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday night, the Philadelphia Phillies have earned a trip to their second consecutive World Series. They scored runs at will against the Dodgers and showed why they are the reigning champions of Major League Baseball.

Their play hasn’t just been good — it has been historically good. They are attempting to become only the fourth National League team to win back to back World Series and the first since the Cincinnati Reds did it in 1975-76.

And what better way to celebrate this tremendous achievement than with your very own Philadelphia Phillies World Series gear! Fastball Fanatics has some great deals on Phillies swag that can be delivered in time for you to show it off while watching game one of this year’s World Series.

This “majestic Philadelphia Phillies red 2009 World Series bound fan favorite hoody sweatshirt” is the perfect piece of Phillie clothing. It will keep you warm if you are lucky enough to tail gate a game and can be worn through the rest of fall and winter. It is on sale for $49.95 and comes in sizes small through double-extra large.

The “Antigua Philadelphia Phillies red 2009 NLCS Champions back to back champs performance polo” allows you to sport your Phillies pride while enjoying a round of golf or a day at the office. It is also on sale for $49.95 and comes in sizes medium through triple-extra large.

One of the most popular ways to share your love of the Phillies is with one of the “Philadelphia Phillies 2009 NLCS Champions red car flags.” They are simple to attach to your car or truck and will show everyone on the road your passion for the Phillies. These 12″ x 15″ car flag comes complete with 21″ pole and are currently on sale for $12.95.

Shop for more affordable Phillies gear at Smarter.com.

So Much for an All-California World Series

sports — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:38:47 +0000

One day after the Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Philadelphia Phillies — giving the Phillies a 3-1 lead in the series — the Los Angeles Angels decided to do the same. They were absolutely shellacked by the New York Yankees, losing at home 10-1 Tuesday night. The blowout put the Yankees up 3-1 in the series and gives them the chance on Thursday to bounce the Angels from the playoffs and return to the World Series for the first time since 2003.

CC Sabathia was dominant once again and picked up his second win of the series. He pitched eight innings of mostly error free ball, allowing only five hits while tossing five strikeouts. His only blemish was allowing a solo home run to Kendry Morales in the fifth inning, but was otherwise untouchable. Alex Rodriguez also had an impressive outing, reaching base on three of his four at-bats and homering in his third consecutive game. Rodriguez has taken a lot of flack the past few years for his post season struggles, but with his recent performances he is making his case to be the next Mr. October.

With the game not close after the third inning, the most interesting part of the contest was the work of the umpires. They incorrectly called Nick Swisher safe at second base in the fourth inning during a pickoff attempt, then later in that same inning incorrectly called him out for leaving third base too early while attempting to tag up on a pop out. In the fifth inning the Angels once again received the shaft, this time when catcher Mike Napoli tagged out Robinson Cano and Jorge Posada but crew chief Tim McClelland declared that only Posada was out.

These three blown calls may get swept under the rug because the game was a runaway, but bad officiating has plagued the MLB playoffs and become a justifiable topic of debate. Don’t believe me? Just ask any Minnesota Twins fans who watched umpires foul up their chances with bad calls during their divisional series against the Yankees.

What do you think? Has officiating been that bad or has the media been over reacting? Is it time for MLB to extend the use replay?

Image Source: News Observer