Bell, Marlins agree to deal

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Nathan Lowe

The Marlins introduced Bell on Monday as their new closer. US Presswire photo by Matthew Emmons.

The splurging Miami Marlins crossed off a big need on their holiday shopping list Monday.

In search of a power arm to anchor the back of its bullpen, Miami officially inked right-handed closer Heath Bell to a three-year, $27 million deal that will keep him in a Marlins uniform through 2014, with an option for 2015.

Marlins President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest announced the signing at a winter meetings news conference in Dallas.

“I’m really excited to be here and hugely honored,” said Bell, 34, who last pitched for the San Diego Padres. “Let’s go play.”

Since becoming a full-time closer in 2009 with San Diego, Bell leads the Majors with 132 saves and has converted over 90 percent of his save opportunities. In 435 career games with the New York Mets and Padres, Bell has compiled a 28-24 record and a 3.06 ERA.

“There’s just a lot of buzz about the Miami Marlins,” Bell said. “You can see it in this ownership. They want to go win… and they want to put a great organization together for not just this year but for many years on.”

Bell, fresh off a 43-save season for the Padres in 2011, will look to save 40-or-more games for the fourth straight season when he takes the mound next spring. His 43 saves tied him for the fourth-most in the National League and earned him a spot on the NL All-Star team for the third time.

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BGSU students weigh in on beer controversy

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Nathan Lowe

Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester recently admitted to drinking beer in the clubhouse during games, creating a league-wide stir. Photo courtesy of Boston.com

Alcohol is strictly prohibited in most workplaces—unless you’re a wine-taster or a Major League Baseball player.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester recently admitted to drinking beer in the clubhouse during games, sparking interest from the general public and raising concern among MLB brass.

BGSU students have mixed opinions as to whether major leaguers should be able to drink alcohol before, during and after games in the clubhouse.

Some said drinking alcohol in the clubhouse is permissible in all instances, and others said the league should put a cork in such behavior.

Mike Wainz, 19, a freshman business major from Toledo, Ohio, stepped up to the plate, saying he would like to see MLB Executive Vice President Joe Torre strengthen limitations on alcohol consumption in major league clubhouses.

“If players want to drink during games,” he said, “they should leave the dugout and sit in a suite with their buddies. I would be super mad if I were a teammate. Something needs to be done.”

Following the fiasco in Boston, Torre said in an USA Today report he plans to further investigate the issue and will consider banning alcohol in clubhouses as a result.

Eighteen teams currently do not permit the use of alcohol in their clubhouse, whether at home or on the road, leaving just 12 teams that continue to serve beer to players, according to Boston.com.

Connor Delong, 18, of Avon Lake, Ohio, was surprised by the number of teams that ban alcohol. He disagreed with Wainz and said no new rules need to be implemented.

“I don’t have a problem with drinking in the clubhouse,” said Delong, a freshman criminal justice major. “These players are grown men and should not be treated like kids.”

Senior Donnie Westcamp, 21, a computer science major from Groveport, Ohio, sided with the Red Sox players, despite being a fan of archrival New York.

“If the player is 21, I see nothing wrong with that,” Westcamp said. “This is just one incident.”

In fact, other teams have battled this problem in the past, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said in a May interview with ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, who reported that six players had been arrested on DUI charges between January and May.

Showalter, who managed the Yankees from 1992-95, said beer was readily available on tap in the clubhouse during his stay in the Bronx. He also said players could easily fill up a cup and walk out of the clubhouse with it, which is just one reason why teams are exploring ways to crack down on the problem.

Detroit native Bryan Warrick, 22, a senior journalism major, has seen the effects of alcohol abuse on his hometown team’s star first baseman, Miguel Cabrera. Police arrested Cabrera in February on suspicion of drunken driving and resisting arrest, an occurrence that left many Tigers’ fans, including Warrick, feeling embarrassed for their favorite team’s star.

“A lot of people think this is a Red Sox issue,” Warrick said, “but I know other teams have this same problem, which does not shine a positive light on the game of baseball.”

Posted in Person-on-the-street story, Red Sox | 1 Comment

La Russa retires a winner

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Nathan Lowe

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa waves goodbye to the media one last time following an announcement of his retirement. St. Louis Post-Dispatch photo by Christian Gooden.

Less than a week after winning his third World Series title, St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has decided to hang up his spikes, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes.

La Russa, who spent 33 seasons as a major league manager, the last 16 with the Cardinals, announced his retirement at a press conference on Monday morning.

“There isn’t one (factor) that dominates (my decision),” La Russa was quoted as saying. “They all just come together telling you your time is over.”

La Russa said that he made his decision to retire in August, informing General Manager John Mozeliak at the time; however, he did not notify owner Bill DeWitt and his players until Sunday night.

“We went through the season and I felt that this just feels like it’s time to end it and I think it’s going to be great for the Cardinals to refresh what’s going on here,” La Russa said in the same Post-Dispatch article.

When La Russa informed Mozeliak of his decision in August, the Cardinals trailed the Milwaukee Brewers by 10 1/2 games in the standings, but the third-winningest manager in Major League Baseball history urged that the timing of the ordeal had nothing to do with his team’s dire outlook.

“That’s a good connection to make because of the coincidence, but it’s inaccurate,” he was quoted as saying less than 24 hours after fans gathered for a parade downtown to celebrate the Cardinals’ 11th World Series championship.

La Russa, 67, led the Cardinals to two World Series championships and nine postseason berths. He won his other World Series ring in 1989 as manager of the Oakland Athletics and retires with 2,728 wins, trailing only legendary Connie Mack and John McGraw on the all-time list.

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Pujols not sorry for avoiding reporters

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Nathan Lowe

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols crouches to the ground after making a costly error in Game 2 of the World Series. Pujols did not apologize for dodging reporters after the game. Photo courtesy of Eric Gay, Associated Press.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols did not apologize for failing to speak to reporters after his team’s 2-1 ninth-inning loss to the Texas Rangers in Game 2 of the World Series last week, Jim Caple of ESPN.com writes.

Pujols committed a crucial error in the ninth inning that prolonged a Rangers’ rally. With his team clinging to a one-run lead, Pujols failed to cut off centerfielder John Jay’s throw toward home plate. Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus advanced to second base on the play and eventually scored what proved to be the game-winning run.

When reporters entered the clubhouse after the game, Pujols was unavailable to provide clarification of the pivitol play. The absence of street clothes in his locker indicated that he had likely gone home.

Pujols later acknowledged making the costly ninth-inning error, but said he doesn’t have a responsibility to speak with reporters and expressed no regret for his actions.

“My responsibility is to my God and my family,” he was quoted as saying in the same ESPN report. “I don’t have any responsibility to anybody else. And I try to do the best I can to represent the game of baseball. I do that. Sometimes you make a mistake. Do I feel I made a mistake last night? I don’t think so.”

Pujols was not the only player who was unavailable to the media following the loss. Catcher Yadier Molina, left fielder Matt Holliday and right fielder Lance Berkman were not in the clubhouse when reporters arrived.

Unlike Pujols, however, Berkman apologized.

“That won’t happen again,” he said. “I’ll make sure — if I have to stand in there — that one of us is available for comment, win or lose.”

Watch the play here

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Red Sox pitchers reportedly drank beer during games

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Nathan Lowe

Boston Red Sox pitchers Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and John Lackey drank beer in the clubhouse during games, Boston.com first reported. Photo courtesy of CBS News.

Boston Red Sox starting pitchers Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and John Lackey regularly drank beer, ate fast-food fried chicken and played video games in the clubhouse during games, Boston.com reports.

A day after the report was issued, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com tweeted that Lester may not have been involved with his beer-drinking buddies. “A trusted team source insists Lester should not be lumped in with other starters regarding beer-n-chicken-palooza,” he said.

Former Red Sox manager Terry Francona sounded off on the issue–as first reported on Boston.com–expressing his dissatisfaction with the star pitchers in an appearance on Boston radio station WEEI.

“The guys that weren’t down on the bench, I wanted them down on the bench,’’ he said. “I wanted them to support their teammates.’’

Francona has become a scapegoat for disappointed Red Sox fans and front office personnel, who watched their team stumble to a 7-20 finish in September. Boston led the Wild Card by nine games when the month began but struggled down the stretch, becoming the first team in major league history to fail to qualify for the playoffs after holding that big of a lead in the final month (MLB.com).

According the same Boston.com report, team sources said Francona may have abused pain killers and not been fully invested in winning or controlling his players, a report he vehemently denied. “I went and saw the proper people and it was not an issue,” he said referring to a previous knee surgery. “It never became an issue, and anybody who knew what was going on knows that.’’

Boston.com also reported that Francona denied reports that his deteriorating marriage affected his commitment to the team. He spent the season living in a hotel after he and his wife of nearly 30 years separated.

“It makes me angry that people say these things because I’ve busted my [butt] to be the best manager I can be,’’Francona said. “I wasn’t terribly successful this year, but I worked harder and spent more time at the ballpark this year than I ever did.’’

Francona’s future as a manager remains in doubt. The former major league outfielder and first baseman guided the Red Sox to World Series championships in 2004 and 2007. Prior to winning a title in 2004, Boston had not won a championship in 86 years.

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About Me

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Nathan Lowe

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Nathan “Nate” Lowe is a sophomore public relations major at Bowling Green State University.  A native of nearby Northwood, Ohio, and a graduate of Lake High School, he is a contributing writer to the Press Newspapers and covers high school sports for the Maumee … Continue reading →

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