Rumors for April, 2010
Podsednik's wife and daughter okay after 'family emergency'
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Kansas City Royals left fielder Scott Podsednik missed two games this week to make a trip to Kansas City to attend to a “family emergency” according to Gordon Dutton of The Kansas City Star.
The emergency turned out to be an auto accident involving his wife Lisa and daughter Paytra Ellen, who turns 1 next month.
“Fortunately and luckily,” he said, “they came out of it OK. Everyone is doing well.”
Lisa Podsednik is best known for being Playboy’s Playmate of the Month in July 1998, a St. Pauli Girl and a reporter for FOX Sports Net. We won’t post risque pictures of Lisa here since we’re a family-oriented website, but you can easily Google them.
Wrigley Field to be used as football stadium
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Slightly off-focus, but it’s Wrigley Field, so we have to cover it.
Carrie Muskat of MLB.com tweets that the Chicago Cubs will hold a news conference on Friday to announce that the Illinois-Northwestern Big Ten football game on November 20, 2010 will be held at The Friendly Confines.
According to a Sporting News article from last month, many of the issues have already been resolved including fitting the football field onto Wrigley, allowing liquor sales and being aware that the locker rooms were not designed for large football squads.
Wrigley Field was used by the Chicago Bears between 1921 and 1970.
Milton Bradley leaves landlord with $58K in unpaid rent and damages
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The Clubhouse Cancer aka Milton Bradley is being sued by former landlord Pantelis Kotsiopoulos for $44,000 in unpaid rent and $13,900 in damages to his North Michigan Avenue condo that he rented to the outfielder.
In the suit, Kotsiopoulos contends that Bradley left red paint on white silk draperies, water rings and wine stains on an ebony zebra wood credenza, food and juice stains on a silk velvet ottoman, and a five-foot coffee splattering on the master bedroom carpet.
Bradley who will be in Chicago this weekend when his Mariners play the White Sox has denied the allegations. Bradley has demanded at least $30,000 from Kotsiopoulos saying he never returned his $15,000 security deposit and failed to notify Bradley of any damages.
Kotsiopoulos said that if he could talk to Bradley face-to-face he would tell him “to grow up.”
“I don’t take these things personally,” he said. “But we expect to be treated like we treat our tenants.”
Information from Cynthia Dizikes of the Chicago Tribune was used in this article.
John Smoltz Retirement Rumors: Staying in shape?
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At an Atlanta Press Club luncheon on Wednesday, Braves manager Bobby Cox was asked about John Smoltz and his possible return. Cox replied, “John is still staying in shape, ready for that call, but I think he’s happy with what he’s doing right now [broadcasting for TBS and MLB Network]. If that call doesn’t come, he’ll be just fine.”
Late last month when Smoltz was asked about retirement, he said, “Not officially, but close.”
If Smoltz, 42, does officially retire, he will finish his career with a 213-155 record, a 3.33 ERA, 154 saves and 3084 strikeouts in 21 seasons with the Braves, Cardinals and Red Sox. Smoltz currently has a deal with Peachtree TV, TBS and the MLB Network. You can see Smoltz’s contract details and statistics here.
Information from Ken Sugiura of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was used in this article.
His middle name is 'Alias'
Posted by: | CommentsAtlanta Braves rookie slugger Jason A. Heyward
is setting the record straight about his middle name. It was widely believed that his middle name was “Adenolith”, but Heyward was quick to correct the media by telling them, “that’s not my middle name. My middle name is Alias.”
David O’Brian of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says it pronounced Uh-lie-us and comes from the Bible.
“It’s a symbol for strength, courage, perseverance,” said Heyward, who had no idea where Adenolith got started or how it got connected to him.”
PRO Rumors quickly updated the Heyward entry in our player database just in case he comes after us. You can see it here.
What will $23MM buy Lincecum? An old-school Volkswagen bus
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Martin Schoeller of GQ Magazine tells us that the San Francisco Giants are well aware of two-time Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum’s potential to “erase the bad taste” left by Barry Bonds. In doing so, the team gave him a two-year, $23 million contract.
The humble pitcher admits that he doesn’t completely understand the impact on Major League Baseball or the city of San Francisco. “I haven’t even had a chance to reflect on what’s going on with my career,” he says. “I don’t really know the significance of the two Cy Youngs. I feel like that understanding will come with time. If my career gets extended—then I’ll understand what they mean.”
Has Jose Canseco taken one too many MMA punches?
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve been watching Jose Canseco’s Twitter account over the last few days thinking it’s just a phase that may come and go, but he’s been going off for quite some time for no apparent reason. Here’s a sample from the 40/40 man’s Twitter account:
We’re assuming that he’s referring to MLB or maybe the steriod industry here:
We’ll have to find out who his “genetically perfect girlfriend” is and hopefully get his permission to clone her:
We’ll forward this one to Child Protective Services:
Canseco goes on-and-on about threatening others, talking about his testosterone levels and referring to his world as the “twilight zone“. You can join the Canseco and Friends Twitter discussion here.
Was Volquez lying about using drugs for fertility?
Posted by: | CommentsBob Nightengale of USA Today
questions Cincinnati Reds’ pitcher Edinson Volquez’s fertility drug excuse as the cause of his failed drug test. Not whether he took the drugs or not, but rather the reason for taking the fertility drug.
Gary Wadler, a board member of the World Anti-Doping Agency says that fertility pills are frequently used by athletes who are on steroids or coming off a steroid cycle or trying to create testosterone. He adds, “its not a very effective drug for fertility.” The drug in question also is used to get testicles back to normal, and if Volquez was using this to have children, he would have requested a therapeutic use exemption.
Nightengale says that there were 108 players who received exemptions last year by Major League Baseball, two of them were for low levels of testosterone.
Yesterday, Major League Baseball suspended Volquez for 50 games for using performance enhancing drugs. Volquez said, “as a result, I tested positive when I reported to spring training,” he said. “Although I understand that I must accept responsibility for this mistake and have chosen not to challenge my suspension, I want to assure everyone that this was an isolated incident involving my genuine effort to treat a common medical issue.”
Volquez, 26, has a career 24-19 record with a 4.37 ERA with the Rangers and Reds. He was an NL All-Star in 2008. His 2010 salary is $445,000, so on a prorated basis, the pitcher will lose about $137,346 for being suspended 50 games.
PRO Rumors: Zambrano, Viola, Jacobs, Colon, Igarashi, Blevins, Marquis
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Wednesday evening “hump-day” PRO Rumors:
- Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle says that Oakland A’s pitcher Jerry Blevins had a back spasm during today’s game versus the Yankees. Carroll says his oblique hurts when he coughs.
- Bill Ladson of MLB.com says and a team press release, the Washington Nationals have placed right-handed pitcher Jason Marquis on the 15-day disabled list with loose bodies in his right elbow.
- Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic says that the Diamondbacks recalled Cole Gillespie and optioned left-handed pitcher Jordan Norbeto.
- Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune says that Carlos Zambrano of the Cubs will move to the bullpen starting on Friday. Manager Lou Piniella said that the move may not be temporary.
- Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com says the Baltimore Orioles have claimed left-handed pitcher Pedro Viola off of waivers from the Reds. Viola was then optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
- Adam Rubin of ESPN says that the Mets Mike Jacobs has cleared waivers and he’s willing to go to Triple-A Buffalo if playing time exists.
- Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star said that right-handed pitcher Roman Colon has cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Omaha.
- According to the Associated Press, the Mets placed reliever Royota Igarashi on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. To take his place the team recalled right-handed pitcher Manny Acosta from Triple-A.
Braves fan takes motorcycle picture then gets punched in the head
Posted by: | CommentsTwo knuckleheads decided to pose for a picture on Fulton County Sheriff Sgt. Looney Jones’ motorcycle after a game. Probably something they shouldn’t have done, but it doesn’t warrant their immediate physical punishment from the cop. Check it out here:
The guys were apologizing, but the officer still hit one of them and continues to threaten them with a taser. WSBTV says the two men were not arrested.
In a written statement in response to Jones’ actions, Fulton County Sheriff Ted Jackson said, “We will follow the evidence wherever it leads us. Please be certain that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.”
Last week Dodgers security was taped abusing a fan. Hopefully this will not become a trend.
