Baseball is so
entrenched in the Dominican Republic, and the talent pool runs so deep, that
nearly every team has an academy there. But Newman, like Alderson, said fraud
had become so pervasive that teams were becoming increasingly frustrated about
misplaced opportunity costs — investing money and scouting manpower to chase
players with uncertain identities. Alderson said the government in the Dominican
Republic had been more vigilant in response. “I think they have come to realize
that baseball is an important contributor to their economy in a variety of
ways; you can kill the golden goose,” Alderson said. “I think they understand
that it’s important for them to create an attractive environment for baseball
to continue to invest in their country — an environment where clubs can rely on
what’s represented to be the case.” http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/sports/baseball/identity-fraud-among-dominican-players-worries-baseball-officials.html?_r=1&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nyt%2Frss%2FSports+%28NYT+%3E+Sports%29&seid=auto&smid=tw-nytimessports
Hall of Fame third
baseman Brooks Robinson has been a fixture in
recent years at the annual Joe DiMaggio Legends game. But Robinson was unable
to attend Saturday's game because of injuries sustained in a fall Friday night.
Robinson, 74, fell backward from a stage during a charity dinner featuring
retired players at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino & Hotel in Hollywood. Several
retired players said they were told Robinson had two fractures in his rear
shoulder area, including a broken clavicle. They also said Robinson was alert
and responsive as paramedics treated him. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/marlins/hall-of-famer-brooks-robinson-injured-in-fall-2133136.html
Curt Flood was a
successful MLB player who earned seven Gold Glove Awards, played in three
All-Star Games, and won two World Series.
In 1970, after being traded to the Phillies against his wishes, Flood
challenged baseball's reserve clause, fighting it all the way to the U.S.
Supreme Court. Although Flood lost the court case, his step of suing MLB
ultimately paved the way for reforms like the 1975 Seitz Decision, which
granted baseball with free agency, a great benefit to everyone affiliated with
the game. Flood is considered by many to be the pioneer of free agency, but he
paid a significant price for his contributions by sacrificing a flourishing MLB
career for what he believed was right not only for him, but for all who played.
http://www.prorumors.com/2012/01/rumors/curt-flood-and-the-history-of-free-agency?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
First baseman Casey Kotchman has to be wondering what he has to do
to get a job. Kotchman had the best year of his career in 2011 as he hit
.306/.378/.422 with 10 HR's in 563 plate appearances for the Tampa Bay Rays. But
despite his career season, Kotchman hasn't had many suitors this offseason. The
Cleveland Indians were in on Kotchman earlier this offseason, but haven't
pulled the trigger yet. There was an outside chance that Kotchman could have
ended up back with the Rays, but they went out and signed Carlos Pena. While
those two windows have presumably closed on Kotchman, another one might be
opening http://www.mlbdailydish.com/2012/1/30/2757198/is-casey-kotchman-a-fit-with-the-baltimore-orioles
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