Midwest Sports Fan Blog

An hourlong rain delay was just what Jaime Garcia needed to refocus.

The St. Louis Cardinals knocked out Bronson Arroyo in the fifth inning and their rookie left-hander overcame a shaky start in a 12-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, forging a first-place tie in the NL Central.

“I think in the first inning, sometimes it’s kind of like a shaky one for me because I’m learning,” Garcia said. “After the delay I was able to stay focused, stay in the game mentally and physically.”

Albert Pujols extended his streak of reaching base to nine straight plate appearances with two intentional walks and a single in his first three at-bats. He finally made an out in the fifth inning, hitting into a double play. Pujols added an RBI single in a five-run sixth, one day after hitting three homers at Chicago.

Click here to read the full article – By R.B. Fallstrom of Associated Press

Even as the losses piled up, Trey Hillman never lost the respect of his players or the Kansas City Royals’ management.

It was evident in the way the Royals allowed him to manage one last game, in the tears that filled general manager Dayton Moore’s eyes as he spoke about the man he hired to rebuild a struggling franchise.

Those losses were just too hard to overlook.

The Royals needed a change and, tough as it was, Hillman had to take the fall.

Hillman became the first manager to get fired this season, bowing out with a graceful exit and a win in his final game on Thursday.

Former Milwaukee Brewers manager Ned Yost will move from the front office to replace Hillman in the dugout for the remainder of the season.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Paul Molitor 4 Time Silver Slugger Award Winner Upcoming Signing – 5/15/2010 Here are the details: Where: Cow Palace When: 5/15/2010 Phone: (908) 258-7228 All Orders and Mail-Order need to be received by: 5/7/2010 Prices: Flats up to 11X14, Balls: $59.00; Premium Items: $79.00; Inscriptions: $20.00
Place a presale order for the Paul Molitor Signing or check out   a full list of Upcoming Memorabilia Signings.

Milwaukee Brewers Sports Memorabilia
and other Milwaukee Brewers Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Paul Molitor.

Robin Yount 3000 Hit Club Member Upcoming Signing – 5/15/2010 Here are the details: Where: Cow Palace When: 5/15/2010 Phone: (908) 258-7228 All Orders and Mail-Order need to be received by: 5/7/2010 Prices: Baseballs, Flats up to 11×14 – $90 Premium Items – $100 Helmet, Glove, Jersey – $150 Inscription – $30
Place a presale order for the Robin Yount Signing or check out   a full list of Upcoming Memorabilia Signings.

Milwaukee Brewers Sports Memorabilia
and other Milwaukee Brewers Autographs
Below are links to memorabilia available for Robin Yount.

Ozzie Smith 2002 Hall of Famer Upcoming Signing – 5/15/2010 Here are the details: Where: Cow Palace When: 5/15/2010 Phone: (908) 258-7228 All Orders and Mail-Order need to be received by: 5/7/2010 Prices: Flats including 11×14 – $59 Premium Items – $99 Bats, Jerseys, Art – $129 Inscription – $20
Place a presale order for the Ozzie Smith Signing or check out   a full list of Upcoming Memorabilia Signings.

St. Louis Cardinals Sports Memorabilia
and other St. Louis Cardinals Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Ozzie Smith.

Mark McGwire drew a standing ovation before the Cardinals’ home opener Monday, a clear sign many St. Louis fans have forgiven the former home run king for using steroids.

There was an immediate burst of applause even before the official introduction prior to the game against the Houston Astros. McGwire is the Cardinals’ new hitting coach.
“It’s always exciting here for opening day,” McGwire said before the game. “I’m sure it’s going to be awesome. I’m sure my stomach is going to be turning.”
McGwire was riding in the back of a dark blue flat bed truck around the warning track in the team’s annual procession. He showed up on the jumbo scoreboard just behind manager Tony La Russa and third base coach Jose Oquendo.
Cheers for McGwire dwarfed the response both La Russa and Oquendo received. After bounding out of the truck, he shook hands with Cardinals Hall of Fame Stan Musial.

Click here to read the full article – By R.B. FALLSTROM of The Oakland Tribune

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Randy Wolf’s debut for the Brewers was a success, Casey McGehee and Rickie Weeks homered and Milwaukee beat the Colorado Rockies 7-5 on Tuesday night.

Wolf (1-0) struck out eight in 6 2-3 innings in his first start since signing a $29.75 million, three-year contract in the offseason to bolster Milwaukee’s starting staff.
McGehee and Weeks did their part to help. McGehee hit a three-run homer in the first and Weeks added a solo shot off Rockies starter Greg Smith (0-1) in the fifth.

Trevor Hoffman gave up a run in a rocky ninth for his 592nd career save.
Milwaukee snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Rockies. Colorado’s Ian Stewart hit his second homer in as many days and doubled and tripled.


Click here to read the full article – By COLIN FLY of Associated Press

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Before you even ask, yes — Luke Hochevar’s bruised left ankle is fine.


At least that’s what Hochevar, who starts for the Royals tonight against Detroit, has been saying since he was hit by a line drive in his last outing, an exhibition loss to Texas on Friday.

“It’s not even an issue,” Hochevar said after Monday’s 8-4 loss to Detroit at Kauffman Stadium. “I haven’t felt it since I got hit. There’s no swelling, no bruising.”

It’s a good thing the ankle is the least of his concerns right now. This is clearly a big year for Hochevar, and the last thing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 draft needs is a distraction. He’s trying to get off to a strong start and put a disappointing 2009 season behind him.

Click here to read the full article – By TEREZ A. PAYLOR of The Kansas City Star

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St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols did not make the cross-state trip for Monday’s game against the Boston Red Sox because of discomfort in his lower back.

The three-time National League MVP did not play Sunday against the Florida Marlins — a scheduled day off — and is not expected to play against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, a game also being played in Fort Myers.

“We’ll definitely give him tomorrow,” said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. “Even if we were home, I don’t think he’d play. We’ll see how he feels on Wednesday.”

Pujols first experienced discomfort in his back on Sunday. Joe Mather will take his place at first base against the Red Sox.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig admitted at baseball’s quarterly meetings that he agonized over the statement he put out in reference to Mark McGwire’s admission that he took steroids during a good portion of his career.


Selig was unwilling to take his commissioner hat off and give his reaction to McGwire’s statement as a baseball fan.

“Look, I am the commissioner,” Selig said. “My public statement, which I wrote over and over and over, says exactly how I feel on the matter. I just don’t want to add to that. I painstakingly went over it. I went over and over it while I watched the Packers game Sunday night. They gave up so many points and scored so many that I had about five hours to re-write it about 100 times.”

Selig said he found out McGwire was going to speak up about his steroid use before the public did.

“I knew beforehand, but not much,” he said. “I’ve talked a lot about it to [St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa] and [Cardinals owner] Bill DeWitt. We’ve talked about it since they made him their hitting coach.”

Click here to read the full article – By Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com