Desperate times, to paraphrase, call for… Ike Davis. Perhaps the most hopeful sign to come out of an otherwise desultory Spring Training for the Mets was the surprising success of young Ike Davis, son of former major leaguer Ron Davis.  The plan was not to rush him, even if it meant going with...

One of my favorite things about Sirius XM Radio — and probably the reason I got it in the first place — is the MLB package.  As most baseball fans know, it has live play-by-play of every game and the newly-rebranded MLB Network Radio (formerly XM Home Plate) on XM Ch. 175 / Sirius 210. When...

The more I watch and listen to broadcasts of other major league teams, the more I appreciate — get this — Michael Kay and John Sterling. In the last few days, as I’ve sampled quite a few games, it’s become even more noticeable how unabashed rooting is the norm for many team’s...

A new study by market research firm Brand Keys puts the Boston Red Sox, Indianapolis Colts, San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Red Wings at the top of their respective markets in team loyalty. The Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Raiders, Charlotte Bobcats and Atlanta Thrashers finished at the bottom in the index...

Five years ago, when the Yankees were scheduled to open the MLB season vs. Boston, I thought it was overkill.  Opening Day was enough, I reasoned, it didn’t have to be against Boston with all the craziness that the rivalry brings.  Plus it was coming off not only the Red Sox’s first title...

Though golf has for years been a favorite pastime of baseball players during the off-season, I’m not sure about Callaway’s attempt to tie the two sports together in a new campaign it launched today celebrating the long ball. The idea is that, with MLB Opening Day less than a week away, the...

Babe Ruth-signed baseballs, while treasured, are not that uncommon.  Ruth happily autographed thousands of them while he played and in the few years after he retired.  Some surely ended up being used in sandlot games, being thrown out by overzealous mothers or meeting some other calamity, but many...

The Baseball Hall of Fame has a poll up on its Website, asking which of four milestones you are most looking forward to seeing this year.  The candidates: Ichiro Suzuki’s 10th 200-hit season Alex Rodriguez’s 600th home run (17 away) Trevor Hoffman’s 600th save (nine away) Juan Pierre’s...

Much has been made of the drawn-out negotiations for the services of Johnny Damon this off-season, in particular the belief that he and his agent, Scott Boras, misread the market and left money on the table.  Word is that the Yankees offered the free agent left fielder $14 million for two years, which...

This morning’s snow in the Northeast (where it’s not wanted) and lack thereof in the Pacific Northwest (where the IOC has been doing snow dances for weeks) notwithstanding, Pitchers, Catchers and PR Guys report to Spring Training for all MLB teams in the next couple of days. Marketers, too. New...