Baseball: - Smokeless Tobacco, NCAA Agent Rule, Kevin Brown, Roger Clemens, Prospects

Major League Baseball (MLB) and the players’ union have agreed that players, managers, and coaches, will no longer be able to carry a tobacco tin or package in their uniforms at games, or any time that fans are in the ballpark. In addition, they will be prohibited from using smokeless tobacco during televised interviews, at autograph signings and other events where they meet fans, or at team-sponsored appearances. The agreement is included in the new 5-year contract, accepted in November by the players, managers, and coaches that takes effect in 2012. The American Lung Association welcomes the move as smokeless tobacco has long been a fixture of baseball.  http://www.rtmagazine.com/news/2011-12-21_01.asp

The rule appears in the NCAAs regulations as bylaw 12.3.2.1, and states:  A lawyer may not be present during discussions of a contract offer with a professional organization or have any direct contact (in person, by telephone or by mail) with a professional sports organization on behalf of the individual. A lawyer's presence during such discussions is considered representation by an agent. - http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/inside-the-rules-ncaa-no-agent-rule

What do you think about when you hear Kevin Brown? Chances are you would think of the fact that of all people HE was the first $100 million contract in baseball. And after signing the bloated contract with the Dodgers he started demanding they pay his flights to visit his family in Georgia (as if 9 figures couldn't get some plane tickets.) And he was such a prickly guy that Sports Illustrated called him an ornery S.O.B. on their cover. http://sullybaseball.blogspot.com/2011/12/brown-and-kevin-tale-of-two-kevins.html

Roger Clemens is arguably one of the best starting pitcher's in Major League Baseball history. The "Rocket" what they use to call him with his blazing fastball and his dominating presence on the mound. For most of his career, he was known as a prima donna. We all know how much talent Roger had and how great he was, but there were many incidents where Clemens was out of line. It is great to have confidence when you are a pitcher, don't confuse that with arrogance. Clemens has won a record high seven Cy Young awards, six in the American League and one in the National League. He was also the oldest pitcher to ever win the Cy Young award at age 42. Only three pitchers in Major League Baseball history had won awards in both leagues. A very prestigious award to have under your belt. In 1986, he had one of the best season's ever. He posted a 24-4 record with a 2.48 earned run average, winning .857 percentage of your games is an incredible mark. I would take those odds any day of the week. Don't forget that same year Roger had won the MVP title in the American League. http://www.streetarticles.com/baseball/should-roger-clemens-be-voted-into-the-hall-of-fame

As baseball prospects get more and more hype, the expectations thus change. These guys are going to be stars. This is why I loved the Mat Latos trade from the Reds' perspective. Sure, maybe Yasmani Grandal and Yonder Alonso will both turn into great players; but Latos is already a terrific player. It could work out for both teams, but the fact is it's the kind of trade we rarely see anymore; as Rany writes, general managers are essentially afraid to trade prospects for fear of getting burned. In other words, they've bought into the hype. The truth, of course, is that most prospects don't become stars. Jarrod Parker may have a higher ceiling than Trevor Cahill, but the odds are his career won't be as good as Cahill's. I'm not saying prospects aren't important; there's nothing more valuable in baseball than a young player making a low salary. As the Tampa Bay Rays have shown, if your system keeps churning out talented young players, you can compete with a low payroll. As the Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates have shown over the past 15-plus years, however, banking solely on cheap young players is a difficult proposition.  http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/19437/prospect-mania-is-it-out-of-control

Baseball: Houston Ownership Deal, Brett Pill, Joakim Soria, Roger Clemens

Jim Crane is becoming impatient at how long it's taking Major League Baseball to approve his purchase of the Houston Astros. The Houston businessman told the Houston Chronicle in his first interview since the news conference to announce the sale that his contract with current Astros owner Drayton McLane has a deadline. He said in the story posted Thursday night that the $680 million deal with McLane announced May 16 goes through Nov. 30. - http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/6946057/jim-crane-waiting-mlb-approval-buy-houson-astros  

San Francisco Giants rookie Brett Pill blasted a Home Run in his first two major league games. As a result the baseball card market for the career minor leaguer who turns 27 on Friday all of a sudden his previously worth very little baseball cards were selling at levels that match the best in the game. Check out the insane prices people have paid for some of his rarest cards. - http://topprospectalert.com/2011/09/08/giants-rookie-brett-pill-baseball-cards-blow-up  

Joakim Soria - $6 million option vests with 55 appearances. - “The Mexicutioner” (quite possibly the coolest nickname EVER) has already made 58 appearances, allowing the Royals to have another year of an elite closer at a discount price. Soria has had a down year when compared to his first four seasons, but his value is still evident. He has an $8 million team option for 2013 and $8.75 million in 2014, each with $750,000 buyouts. It wouldn’t be surprising for him to be dealt by the deadline next year, especially if Aaron Crow stays in the bullpen and becomes closer-worthy. - http://thebaseballhaven.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/2012-mlb-vesting-options  

Last Friday, Judge Walton ruled that Clemens must stand trial again and set April 17, 2012 as the trial date. Lawyers for Roger Clemens argued vehemently that he should not have to stand trial again since his trial had already begun (causing double jeopardy). But Judge Walton, stating that the holding of the Supreme Court of the United States is that the defendant has to show that the prosecutors intentionally showed the jury the evidence (and while, in this case, even questioning the prosecutors’ motives), would not go so far as to say that they did act intentionally. Thus, Judge Walton did not dismiss the case. Indeed, he stated that he could find no case where a defendant was successful, on this fact pattern (mistrial at the start of a trial), of getting an indictment dismissed.As a result, Roger Clemens will be tried again. Clemens did have to waive his right to a speedy trial (Judge Walton would have set the retrial for a date earlier - http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/09/09/kallas-remarks-updates-on-the-roger-clemens-and-barry-bonds-cases