Opinion

For the past three nights, the Tampa Bay Rays brought back memories of the 2008 World Series—a series they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies.

On Tuesday night, the Phillies returned to Tropicana Field for a rematch and Rays management expected a filled house to greet them. There were plenty of factors to assume this. First, no World Series rematch had ever drawn less than 37,000 fans.

Second, the Phillies have long trained in Clearwater—a short distance away from Tropicana field, creating a huge following.

When New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain hit a liner right at Atlanta Braves pitcher Kenshin Kawakami Wednesday night, everyone at Turner Field collectively held their breath.

While the primary concern was about Kawakami's safety (luckily, he only suffered a neck contusion and is day-to-day), the Braves also worried about losing their solid new starter.

The New York Times reported last week that former Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa was on a list of 103 players who tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in 2003.

Sosa, 40, a seven-time All-Star selection and six-time Silver Slugger Award winner, helped revitalize the game of baseball in 1998 when he and fellow juicehead Mark McGwire pursued Roger Maris’ home run record.

The New York Times reported last week that former Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa was on a list of 103 players who tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in 2003.

They have had the best record in Major League Baseball all season long. They have the lowest team ERA in the league. They have a top-notch closer with 18 saves.

Despite all of the above-mentioned success, the Los Angeles Dodgers have something in common with Rodney Dangerfield: They get no respect.

Over the last few years, it has become very apparent that the media and the Hall of Fame voters will never allow one of the greatest power hitters of my generation to enter the Hall of Fame.

My question is: Why? What is their basis to keep Mark McGwire out?

All they can say is McGwire used performance-enhancing drugs.

Has McGwire failed a drug test like Rafael Palmeiro or Manny Ramirez?

The answer is no.

Was McGwire on the dreaded Mitchell Report like Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, Andy Petite, Roger Clemens, and many others?

This article originally appeared at the Baltimore Sports Report.

The dream began for shortstop Robert Andino on August 4, 2002, as he signed with the Florida Marlins and kicked off his minor league career. 

As the Giants continue to surprise people in the National League early on, and the need for an offensive upgrade becomes more evident with each passing series, a lingering question is on the minds of Giants fans everywhere:

Who do we give up to make this team better?

And the main player who is deemed expendable by a majority of Giants fans, bloggers, and columnists?

Jonathan Sanchez.

The blame for Geovany Soto and his struggles this season have been either a sophomore slump or the World Baseball Classic. Now it appears that the latter is true.

On Thursday, a positive marijuana test result, that was taken during the WBC, was made public. Soto quickly made a statement (a la Micheal Phelps) saying "I am embarrassed by my inappropriate behavior."

He "assured the organization this was an isolated incident and a misstep in judgment that will not be repeated."