1.
2010 in baseball
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The following are the baseball events of the year 2010 throughout the world. Higher seed had home field advantage during Division Series and League Championship Series, the National League champion has home field advantage during the World Series as a result of the NL victory in the All-Star Game. December 12, Last day for teams to offer 2011 contracts to unsigned players, Bill Madden received the J. G. Taylor Spink Award for excellence in writing. Jon Miller received the Ford C, frick Award for excellence in broadcasting. Encarnación is treated for facial injuries to the front and right side of his face after he is struck by a firecracker rocket near his jaw. He goes to a clinic in the Dominican Republic on the 1st, but is later transported to Miami. January 4 – The New York Mets announce the signing of Jason Bay to a four-year, $66 million contract. The two sides agree on the deal on December 29,2009, however, it is not official until after Bay passes his physical. January 5 Five time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson announces his retirement, Johnson is 303–166 over his 22-year career, with a 3.29 earned run average. His 4,875 career strikeouts are second only to Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, the St. Louis Cardinals re-sign outfielder Matt Holliday to a seven-year deal with an option for 2017, for a guaranteed $120 million. It is the richest contract in Cardinals history, january 7 – The Seattle Mariners acquire first baseman Casey Kotchman from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for outfielder Bill Hall. January 11 21-year-old Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman signs with the Cincinnati Reds, in the evening, he addresses the situation further in an interview with Bob Costas on MLB Network. January 16 – The San Diego Padres acquire Scott Hairston and outfielder Aaron Cunningham from the Oakland Athletics for third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, two days later, the Padres reach an agreement with Jerry Hairston, Jr. on a one-year deal. The Hairstons become the set of brothers to play for the Padres. January 22 Oakland Athletics farmhand Grant Desme retires after a 30/302009 season in the minors, the New York Mets acquire former All-Star outfielder Gary Matthews, Jr. from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for reliever Brian Stokes and cash considerations. January 23 – Nolan Ryan and Pittsburgh attorney Chuck Greenberg complete the step of purchasing controlling interest in the Texas Rangers from Tom Hicks. The Dominicans become the first squad to qualify for the 2010 Caribbean Series, Leones del Caracas cruises past Navegantes del Magallanes, 7–2, in decisive Game 7 of the Venezuelan winter league championship to claim the title and earn a berth in the Caribbean Series. The Venezuelan team is led by Atlanta Braves outfielder Gregor Blanco, who hits.318 with a.538 OBP, Juan Delgadillo pitches 7 2⁄3 shutout innings to out duel San Diego Padres right-hander Walter Silva
2.
Major League Baseball
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Major League Baseball is a professional baseball organization, the oldest of the four major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. A total of 30 teams now play in the National League and American League, the NL and AL operated as separate legal entities from 1876 and 1901 respectively. After cooperating but remaining legally separate entities since 1903, the merged into a single organization led by the Commissioner of Baseball in 2000. The organization also oversees Minor League Baseball, which comprises about 240 teams affiliated with the Major League clubs, with the World Baseball Softball Confederation, MLB manages the international World Baseball Classic tournament. Baseballs first professional team was founded in Cincinnati in 1869,30 years after Abner Doubleday supposedly invented the game of baseball, the first few decades of professional baseball were characterized by rivalries between leagues and by players who often jumped from one team or league to another. The period before 1920 in baseball was known as the dead-ball era, Baseball survived a conspiracy to fix the 1919 World Series, which came to be known as the Black Sox Scandal. The sport rose in popularity in the 1920s, and survived potential downturns during the Great Depression, shortly after the war, baseballs color barrier was broken by Jackie Robinson. The 1950s and 1960s were a time of expansion for the AL and NL, then new stadiums, Home runs dominated the game during the 1990s, and media reports began to discuss the use of anabolic steroids among Major League players in the mid-2000s. In 2006, an investigation produced the Mitchell Report, which implicated many players in the use of performance-enhancing substances, today, MLB is composed of thirty teams, twenty-nine in the United States and one in Canada. Baseball broadcasts are aired on television, radio, and the Internet throughout North America, MLB has the highest season attendance of any sports league in the world with more than 73 million spectators in 2015. MLB is governed by the Major League Baseball Constitution and this document has undergone several incarnations since 1875, with the most recent revisions being made in 2012. Under the direction of the Commissioner of Baseball, MLB hires and maintains the sports umpiring crews, and negotiates marketing, labor, MLB maintains a unique, controlling relationship over the sport, including most aspects of Minor League Baseball. This ruling has been weakened only slightly in subsequent years, the weakened ruling granted more stability to the owners of teams and has resulted in values increasing at double-digit rates. There were several challenges to MLBs primacy in the sport between the 1870s and the Federal League in 1916, the last attempt at a new league was the aborted Continental League in 1960. The chief executive of MLB is the commissioner, Rob Manfred, the chief operating officer is Tony Petitti. There are five other executives, president, chief officer, chief legal officer, chief financial officer. The multimedia branch of MLB, which is based in Manhattan, is MLB Advanced Media and this branch oversees MLB. com and each of the 30 teams websites. Its charter states that MLB Advanced Media holds editorial independence from the league, MLB Productions is a similarly structured wing of the league, focusing on video and traditional broadcast media
3.
Baseball
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Baseball is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of nine players each, who take turns batting and fielding. A run is scored when a player advances around the bases, Players on the batting team take turns hitting against the pitcher of the fielding team, which tries to prevent runs by getting hitters out in any of several ways. A player on the team who reaches a base safely can later attempt to advance to subsequent bases during teammates turns batting. The teams switch between batting and fielding whenever the team records three outs. One turn batting for both teams, beginning with the team, constitutes an inning. A game is composed of nine innings, and the team with the number of runs at the end of the game wins. Baseball has no clock, although almost all games end in the ninth inning. Baseball evolved from older bat-and-ball games already being played in England by the mid-18th century and this game was brought by immigrants to North America, where the modern version developed. By the late 19th century, baseball was widely recognized as the sport of the United States. Baseball is now popular in North America and parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, in the United States and Canada, professional Major League Baseball teams are divided into the National League and American League, each with three divisions, East, West, and Central. The major league champion is determined by playoffs that culminate in the World Series, the top level of play is similarly split in Japan between the Central and Pacific Leagues and in Cuba between the West League and East League. The evolution of baseball from older bat-and-ball games is difficult to trace with precision, a French manuscript from 1344 contains an illustration of clerics playing a game, possibly la soule, with similarities to baseball. Other old French games such as thèque, la balle au bâton, consensus once held that todays baseball is a North American development from the older game rounders, popular in Great Britain and Ireland. Baseball Before We Knew It, A Search for the Roots of the Game, by David Block, suggests that the game originated in England, recently uncovered historical evidence supports this position. Block argues that rounders and early baseball were actually regional variants of other. It has long believed that cricket also descended from such games. The earliest known reference to baseball is in a 1744 British publication, A Little Pretty Pocket-Book, David Block discovered that the first recorded game of Bass-Ball took place in 1749 in Surrey, and featured the Prince of Wales as a player. William Bray, an English lawyer, recorded a game of baseball on Easter Monday 1755 in Guildford and this early form of the game was apparently brought to Canada by English immigrants
4.
Bryce Harper
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Bryce Aron Max Harper is an American professional baseball right fielder for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball. Harper was chosen by the Nationals with the first overall pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft, Harper won the 2010 Golden Spikes Award, awarded annually to the best amateur baseball player. Going into the 2012 season, baseball prospect-watchers, including Baseball America, MLB. com and he made his MLB debut with the Nationals on April 28,2012. Harper was selected for the 2012 All-Star Game, becoming the youngest position player to ever be selected and he has been touted as a five-tool player. Harper won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 2012, Harper attended Las Vegas High School. His older brother Bryan, who had been his teammate at Las Vegas High School, was one of the Southern Nevada Coyotes starting pitchers, and the brothers often worked as a battery. An advantage for Harper in his transition to his professional career was that the SWAC, like MLB. In 66 games, he hit 31 home runs,98 RBIs and his 31 home runs shattered the schools previous record of 12. He was named the 2010 SWAC Player of the Year, in the Western district finals of the 2010 NJCAA World Series, Harper went 6-for-7 with 5 RBIs and hit for the cycle. The next day, in a doubleheader, he went 2-for-5 with a double in the first game, and in the second game went 6-for-6 with 4 home runs, a triple. On June 2,2010, Harper was ejected from a National Junior College World Series game by home plate umpire Don Gilmore after a third strike. Harper drew a line in the dirt with his bat as he left the plate and it was Harpers second ejection of the year, and resulted in a two-game suspension. The suspension ended his career, as Southern Nevada lost the game from which Harper was ejected and lost their next game with Harper suspended. Harper won the 2010 Golden Spikes Award, the Nationals took Stephen Strasburg in 2009. Harper was represented by Scott Boras, following in Strasburgs footsteps, Harper held out until the very last minute before the deadline. With twenty-six seconds remaining, Harper and the Nationals agreed to a 5-year contract worth $9.9 million, including a $6.25 million signing bonus, and eight semesters of college tuition. When asked about the signing, Nationals President Stan Kasten said, The truth is, with a minute to go, Mike. Asked what changed in that final minute, Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo replied, on August 26,2010, Harper was introduced by the Nationals
5.
Washington Nationals
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The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D. C. The Nationals compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the National League East division. From 2005 to 2007, the played in RFK Stadium. The Nationals are the major league franchise to be based in Washington, D. C. The original Washington Senators, who were referred to as the Nationals. They were followed by a second Washington Senators franchise in 1901, a member of the new American League. The second Senators franchise moved to Minnesota in 1961 and became the Minnesota Twins and they were replaced that season by a third Senators franchise, who eventually moved to Arlington, Texas, after the 1971 season and became the Texas Rangers. The current National League club was founded in 1969 as the Montreal Expos, part of the MLB expansion, which included the Seattle Pilots, Kansas City Royals, based in Montreal, the Expos were the first Major League team in Canada. Home games were played at Jarry Park Stadium and later in Olympic Stadium, the franchise had its highest winning percentage in the strike-shortened season of 1994, when the team had the best record in baseball. While the team struggled after moving to Washington, the Nationals have experienced moderate success in recent years, winning division titles in 2012,2014. Two of the teams first overall picks in the MLB Draft, Stephen Strasburg in 2009 and Bryce Harper in 2010, attracted new levels of attention to the team. At the time of his selection, Strasburg was called the pick in draft history. The Montreal Expos joined the National League in 1969, along with the San Diego Padres, with a majority held by Charles Bronfman. Named after the Expo 67 Worlds Fair, the Expos initial home was Jarry Park, starting in 1977, the teams home venue was Montreals Olympic Stadium, built for the 1976 Summer Olympics. Two years later, the team won a franchise-high 95 games, the team spent most of the 1980s in the middle of the NL East pack, finishing in third or fourth place in eight out of nine seasons from 1982 to 1990. Buck Rodgers was hired as manager before the 1985 season and guided the Expos to a.500 or better five times in six years, with the highlight coming in 1987. They finished third, but were just four games behind the division-winning Cardinals, Bronfman sold the team to a consortium of owners in 1991, with Claude Brochu as the managing general partner. Rodgers, at that second only to Gene Mauch in number of Expos games managed, was replaced partway through the 1991 season
6.
Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award
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The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America, MVP voting takes place before the postseason, but the results are not announced until after the World Series. The BBWAA began by polling three writers in each city in 1938, reducing that number to two per league city in 1961. The BBWAA does not offer a definition of what most valuable means. First basemen, with 34 winners, have won the most MVPs among infielders, followed by second basemen, third basemen, of the 24 pitchers who have won the award,15 are right-handed while 9 are left-handed. Walter Johnson, Carl Hubbell, and Hal Newhouser are the pitchers who have won multiple times. Barry Bonds has won the most often and the most consecutively, jimmie Foxx was the first player to win multiple times,9 players have won three times, and 19 have won twice. Frank Robinson is the player to win the award in both the American and National Leagues. The awards only tie occurred in the National League in 1979, there have been 18 unanimous winners, who received all the first-place votes. The New York Yankees have the most winning players with 22, the award has never been presented to a member of the following four teams, Arizona Diamondbacks, Miami Marlins, New York Mets, and Tampa Bay Rays. The most recent recipients are Mike Trout in the American League, in recent decades, pitchers have rarely won the award. When Justin Verlander won the AL award in 2011, he became the first pitcher in league to be named the MVP since Dennis Eckersley in 1992. Verlander also became the first starting pitcher to win this award since Roger Clemens had accomplished the feat in 1986. The National League went even longer without an MVP award to a pitcher—after Bob Gibson won in 1968, the 1910 race for best average in the American League was between the Detroit Tigers widely disliked Ty Cobb and Nap Lajoie of the Cleveland Indians. On the last day of the season, Lajoie overtook Cobbs batting average with seven bunt hits against the St. Louis Browns, American League President Ban Johnson said a recalculation showed that Cobb had won the race anyway, and Chalmers ended up awarding cars to both players. The following season, Chalmers created the Chalmers Award, a committee of baseball writers were to convene after the season to determine the most important and useful player to the club and to the league. Since the award was not as effective at advertising as Chalmers had hoped, in 1922 the American League created a new award to honor the baseball player who is of the greatest all-around service to his club. Winners, voted on by a committee of eight baseball writers chaired by James Crusinberry, received a bronze medal, voters were required to select one player from each team and player-coaches and prior award winners were ineligible
7.
National League
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Both leagues currently have 15 teams. The two league champions of 1903 arranged to compete against each other in the inaugural World Series, after the 1904 champions failed to reach a similar agreement, the two leagues formalized the World Series as an arrangement between the leagues. National League teams have won 48 of the 112 World Series contested from 1903 to 2016, the 2016 National League champions are the Chicago Cubs. By 1875, the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players was dangerously weak, additionally, Hulbert had a problem—five of his star players were threatened with expulsion from the NAPBBP because Hulbert had signed them to his club using what were considered questionable means. Hulbert had a vested interest in creating his own league. After recruiting St. Louis privately, four western clubs met in Louisville, Kentucky, Boston Red Stockings, the dominant team in the N. A. Hartford Dark Blues from the N. A. Mutual of New York from the N. A. St. Louis Brown Stockings from the N. A, the only strong club from 1875 excluded in 1876 was a second one in Philadelphia, often called the White Stockings or Phillies. The first game in National League history was played on April 22,1876, at Philadelphias Jefferson Street Grounds, 25th & Jefferson, the new leagues authority was tested after the first season. The National League operated with six clubs during 1877 and 1878, over the next several years, various teams joined and left the struggling league. By 1880, six of the eight members had folded. The two remaining original NL franchises, Boston and Chicago, remain in operation today as the Atlanta Braves, in 1883 the New York Gothams and Philadelphia Phillies began National League play. Both teams remain in the NL today, the Phillies in their original city, the NL encountered its first strong rival organization when the American Association began play in 1882. The A. A. played in cities where the NL did not have teams, offered Sunday games and alcoholic beverages in locales where permitted, the National League and the American Association participated in a version of the World Series seven times during their ten-year coexistence. These contests were less organized than the modern Series, lasting as few as three games and as many as fifteen, with two Series ending in disputed ties, the NL won four times and the A. A. only once, in 1886. Starting with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1887, the National League began to raid the American Association for franchises to replace NL teams that folded and this undercut the stability of the A. A. Other new leagues that rose to compete with the National League were the Union Association, the Union Association was established in 1884 and folded after playing only one season, its league champion St. Louis Maroons joining the NL. The NL suffered many defections of star players to the Players League, the Brooklyn, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and New York franchises of the NL absorbed their Players League counterparts. The labor strife of 1890 hastened the downfall of the American Association, after the 1891 season, the A. A. disbanded and merged with the NL, which became known legally for the next decade as the National League and American Association
8.
Joey Votto
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Joseph Daniel Joey Votto is a Canadian professional baseball first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball. He made his MLB debut with the Reds in 2007, Votto is a four-time MLB All-Star and a six-time Tip ONeill Award winner. In 2010, he won the National League MVP Award, the NL Hank Aaron Award, Votto was born on September 10,1983 to Wendy and Joseph Votto in Toronto, Ontario, and grew up in Etobicoke, a district in the west end of Toronto. His mother is a sommelier and restaurant manager and his father was a chef and a baseball fan who died at age 52 in 2008. As a child, he adorned his wall with a Ted Williams poster, Votto enrolled in high school at Richview Collegiate Institute in 1997. In high school, he also played basketball—playing point guard and once scoring 37 points in a game—and hockey and he played for the Etobicoke Rangers baseball program. Votto signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers after high school.302. He was promoted to the Class A-Advanced Potomac and hit five home runs in 20 games to end the season with 19. During his time in the leagues, Votto made appearances in the outfield and as a catcher. Vottos consistency declined during 2005 campaign with Sarasota, while he still hit 19 home runs, he struck out 122 times and his batting average dropped nearly 50 points to.256. Votto rebounded in 2006 with the best season of his league career. Playing with Class AA Chattanooga, he improved his average to.319. He led the Southern League in batting average and total bases and was third in home runs and he was selected to play in the 2006 Futures Game on the World Team. He was named to both the Mid-Season and Post-Season Southern League All-Star teams, and was voted a minor league all-star by Baseball America and he culminated his season by winning the Southern League Most Valuable Player Award. During his five seasons in the minors, Votto carried Ted Williams The Science of Hitting with him, Votto started off the 2007 season playing in Triple-A for the Louisville Bats. He was called up on September 1,2007 and he made his Major League debut on September 4,2007, striking out against Guillermo Mota of the New York Mets. In his second major league at-bat, he hit his first career home run and he went 3-for-5 and scored two runs as the Reds won the game, 7–0. On September 8, he went 1-for-3 with a home run and his three RBIs were the only Reds runs as they lost to the Milwaukee Brewers, 4–3
9.
Cincinnati Reds
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The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the National League Central division. They were a member of the American Association in 1882. The Reds played in the NL West division from 1969 to 1993 and they have won five World Series titles, nine NL pennants, one AA pennant, and 10 division titles. The team plays its games at Great American Ball Park. Bob Castellini has been executive officer since 2006. The origins of the modern Cincinnati Reds can be traced to the expulsion of a team bearing that name. Both were important activities to entice the citys large German population, while Hulbert made clear his distaste for both beer and Sunday baseball at the founding of the league, neither practice was actually against league rules in those early years. On October 6,1880, however, seven of the eight team owners pledged at a league meeting to formally ban both beer and Sunday baseball at the regular league meeting that December. Only Cincinnati president W. H. Kennett refused to sign the pledge, when these attempts failed, he formed a new independent ballclub known as the Red Stockings in the Spring of 1881, and brought the team to St. Louis for a weekend exhibition. The Reds first game was a 12–3 victory over the St. Louis club, upon arriving in the city, however, Caylor and Thorner discovered that no other owners had decided to accept the invitation, with even Phillips not bothering to attend his own meeting. By chance, the duo met a former pitcher named Al Pratt, the ploy worked, and the American Association was officially formed at the Hotel Gibson in Cincinnati with the new Reds a charter member with Thorner as president. The club never placed higher than second or lower than fifth for the rest of its tenure in the American Association, the National League was happy to accept the teams in part due to the emergence of the new Players League. This new league, a failed attempt to break the reserve clause in baseball. Because the National League decided to expand while the American Association was weakening and it was also at this time that the team first shortened their name from Red Stockings to Reds. The Reds wandered through the 1890s signing local stars and aging veterans, during this time, the team never finished above third place and never closer than 10½ games. At the start of the 20th century, the Reds had hitting stars Sam Crawford, seymours.377 average in 1905 was the first individual batting crown won by a Red. In 1911, Bob Bescher stole 81 bases, which is still a team record, like the previous decade, the 1900s were not kind to the Reds, as much of the decade was spent in the leagues second division
10.
American League
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The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League, is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a league based in the Great Lakes states. It is sometimes called the Junior Circuit because it claimed Major League status for the 1901 season,25 years after the formation of the National League. At the end of season, the American League champion plays in the World Series against the National League champion. Through 2016, American League teams have won 64 of the 112 World Series played since 1903, the 2016 American League champions are the Cleveland Indians. The New York Yankees have won 40 American League titles, the most in the history, followed by the Philadelphia/Kansas City/Oakland Athletics. Originally a minor league known as the Western League, the American League later developed into a major league after the American Association disbanded, in its early history, the Western League struggled until 1894, when Ban Johnson became the president of the league. Johnson led the Western League into major league status and soon became the president of the newly renamed American League, babe Ruth, noted as one of the most prolific hitters in Major League Baseball history, spent the majority of his career in the American League. The American League has one notable difference versus the National League, in 1902, the Milwaukee Brewers moved to St. Louis and were renamed the St. Louis Browns. In 1902, The Cleveland Bluebirds were also renamed the Cleveland Broncos, in 1903, the Broncos were renamed the Cleveland Naps. In 1915, the Naps were renamed the Cleveland Indians, in 1903, the Baltimore Orioles moved to New York and were renamed the New York Highlanders. In 1913, the Highlanders were renamed the New York Yankees, in 1904, the Chicago White Stockings were renamed the Chicago White Sox. In 1908, the Boston Americans were renamed the Boston Red Sox, in 1954, the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore and were renamed as the Baltimore Orioles. In 1955, the Philadelphia Athletics moved to Kansas City and were renamed as the Kansas City Athletics, in 1961, the league expanded and added two teams as the Los Angeles Angels and the Washington Senators, expanding the league to 10 teams. The original Senators team moved to Minneapolis/St, Paul in 1961 and were renamed as the Minnesota Twins. The Angels team name changed to the California Angels in 1966, then to the Anaheim Angels in 1997, the Kansas City Royals and the Seattle Pilots were added to the American League, expanding the league to 12 teams. In 1970, the Seattle Pilots moved to Milwaukee and were renamed the Milwaukee Brewers, in 1972, the Washington Senators relocated to the Dallas/Fort Worth area and were renamed the Texas Rangers. In 1977, the league expanded to fourteen teams, when the Seattle Mariners, in 1998, the Tampa Bay Rays was added to the American League and at the same time, the Milwaukee Brewers were switched to the National League, leaving the American League with 14 teams
11.
Josh Hamilton
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Joshua Holt Hamilton is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Texas Rangers organization. He stands 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 240 pounds and he previously played for the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Hamilton is a five-time MLB All-Star and won the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 2010 and he was the first overall pick in the 1999 MLB draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He was considered a blue chip prospect until injuries and a drug addiction derailed his career, prior to the 2007 season, Hamilton was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the Rule 5 draft. During the off-season he was traded to the Rangers, during the 2008 season, Hamilton was named to the AL All-Star team. He also participated in the Home Run Derby, where he hit a record 28 home runs in the round and finished with 35 home runs. He made the All-Star team the next four seasons as well, in 2012, Hamilton received more votes than any other player on the All-Star Game ballot, besting by approximately 3.5 million votes the vote count set in 2011 by José Bautista. Hamilton won the AL batting title in 2010, on October 22,2010, Hamilton was selected as MVP of the 2010 ALCS. On November 23,2010, Hamilton was named the 2010 AL MVP, on May 8,2012, Hamilton became the 16th player in MLB history to hit four home runs in a game. All 4 home runs were 2-run home runs, and he set an AL record for total bases in a game with 18, Hamilton was born and grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, playing little league baseball alongside former South Carolina and Oakland Athletics catcher Landon Powell. Hamilton attended Athens Drive High School, in Raleigh, North Carolina where he starred as both a pitcher and outfielder, as a high school senior, Hamilton ran the 60 yard dash in 6.7 seconds and was clocked at 97 miles per hour on the mound. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays owned the number one pick and on June 2, Hamilton signed with Tampa Bay, receiving a $3.96 million signing bonus, and joined their minor league system. His first stop in the minors was the rookie level Princeton Devil Rays of the Appalachian League where he played 56 games and he later joined the Hudson Valley Renegades, and helped lead them to their first New York–Penn League championship. He spent the 2000 season with the Charleston RiverDogs in the South Atlantic League, Hamilton enjoyed a breakout season where he hit.301 average in 96 games, with 13 home runs and 61 RBIs. He was also selected to the South Atlantic League All Star game, in addition, Hamilton was named to the 2000 All-Star Futures Game, a game designed to showcase minor league prospects. Hamilton was also voted Minor League Player of the year by USA Today, at the start of his pro career, Hamiltons parents quit their jobs so they could travel with their son. Prior to the 2001 season, Hamilton was involved in an automobile accident and his mother and father were also injured in the accident, but they recuperated from their injuries. This also marked the time Hamilton started hanging around a tattoo parlor, the 2001 season also marked the beginning of his drug and alcohol use, and he made his first attempt at rehabilitation
12.
Texas Rangers (baseball)
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The Texas Rangers are an American professional baseball team based in Arlington, Texas, located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Rangers franchise is currently a member of the West division of the American League in Major League Baseball, since 1994, the Rangers have played in Globe Life Park in Arlington in Arlington, Texas. The teams name is borrowed from the law enforcement agency of the same name. After the 1971 season, the new Senators moved to Arlington, Texas, in 2010, the Rangers advanced past the Division Series for the first time, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays. Texas then brought home their first American League pennant after beating the New York Yankees in six games, in the 2010 World Series, the franchises first, the Rangers fell to the San Francisco Giants in five games. They repeated as American League champions the year, then lost the 2011 World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. At the winter meetings that year, it awarded a new team to Los Angeles as well as a new team in the nations capital and this new team adopted the old Senators name, but was considered an expansion team since the Twins retained the old Senators records and history. The Senators and Angels began to fill their rosters with American League players in an expansion draft, the team played the 1961 season at old Griffith Stadium before moving to District of Columbia Stadium. For most of their existence, the new Senators were the definition of futility, the teams struggles led to a twist on a joke about the old Senators--Washington, first in war, first in peace and still last in the American League. Frank Howard, known for his home runs, was the teams most accomplished player. Ownership changed hands several times during the stay in Washington and was often plagued by poor decision-making and planning. Owner Elwood Richard Quesada once wondered why he should have to pay his players because he believed they didnt belong in the majors and he later agreed to a 10-year lease at D. C. Stadium — a move that would back to haunt the Senators. In 1963, Quesada sold his stake in the club and resigned, Washington stockbrokers James Johnston and James Lemon owned the team briefly, suffering massive financial losses. Johnson died in 1967 and Lemon sold the team a year later to hotel and trucking executive Bob Short, Short named himself general manager and hired Hall of Famer Ted Williams as manager. Although Williams had never coached or managed at any level of baseball, Williams kept them in contention for most of the season, their 86–76 record would be their only winning season in Washington. The success though was brief, as Short borrowed most of the $9.4 million he had used to pay for the team, as the Senators general manager, Short was forced to make many questionable trades to lower the debt and acquire amounts of the much-needed revenue. As a result, the team fell back into the American Leagues cellar position
13.
2010 Major League Baseball season
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The 2010 All-Star Game was played on July 13 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, California. The National League ended a 13-game winless streak with a 3–1 victory, green backgrounds indicate teams that made the playoffs. Numbers in parentheses indicate seedings for the playoffs, determined by won-lost records, in first round of Playoffs two teams in the same division cannot play each other For much of the season,2010 was frequently labeled the Year of the Pitcher. 2010 saw many prominent pitching occurrences, including, Six no-hitters were thrown and they were thrown by Ubaldo Jiménez, Dallas Braden, Roy Halladay, Edwin Jackson, Matt Garza, and Halladay again, this time in Game 1 of the NLDS. It was only the time in major league history that at least six no-hitters were thrown in a single season. Bradens no-hitter and Halladays first were both perfect games, if not for Joyces mistaken call, Galarragas would have been the third perfect game in a season, and the third in less than a month. MLB pitchers combined for 329 shutouts and a record 34,306 strikeouts, a record-tying 15 pitchers recorded 200 or more strikeouts. Neftalí Feliz of the Texas Rangers earned 40 saves, breaking the record for most saves in a season for a rookie, stephen Strasburg of the Washington Nationals struck out 41 batters in his first four major league starts, a major league record. * Served as interim manager, replacing Cecil Cooper, ramirez became the 91st player to reach this mark. Ramírez hit his 550th career home run in the 2nd inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 31 and he became the 14th player to reach this mark. Iván Rodríguez, Recorded his 550th career double in the 6th inning against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 12, pudge became the 23rd player to reach this mark. Johnny Damon, Recorded his 1000th career RBI with a double in the 5th inning against the Kansas City Royals on April 14, Damon became the 264th player to reach this mark. Scored his 1500th career run in the 1st inning against the Los Angeles Angels on April 30 and he became the 68th player to reach this mark. Recorded his 2500th career hit with a single in the 3rd inning against the Baltimore Orioles on July 6 and he became the 92nd player to reach this mark. Collected his 100th career triple against the Texas Rangers on September 15 and he became 160th the player to reach this mark. José Guillén, Recorded his 200th career home run in the 7th inning against the Detroit Tigers on April 14, Guillen became the 296th player to reach this mark. On August 13, Guillen was traded to the San Francisco Giants, magglio Ordóñez, Recorded his 1000th career run scored in the 3rd inning on a Carlos Guillén ground out against the Los Angeles Angels on April 22. Ordonez became the 303rd player to reach this mark, Recorded his 2000th career hit with a single in the 4th inning against the Minnesota Twins on April 29
14.
2010 American League Championship Series
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The 2010 American League Championship Series was the best-of-seven game series pitting the winners of the 2010 American League Division Series for the American League Championship. The American League wild card-winning New York Yankees faced the American League West Division champions Texas Rangers, the Rangers won the 2010 ALCS and face the National League champion San Francisco Giants in the 2010 World Series, the franchises first ever appearance in the World Series. The series, the 41st in league history, began October 15, the Rangers had home field advantage in the series, as the wild-card team defers home field advantage in the LDS and LCS regardless of regular-season record. Friday, October 15,2010 –8,00 p. m. at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in Arlington, Texas The Yankees quickly fell behind as the Rangers got to their ace, CC Sabathia. In the first inning Josh Hamilton cracked a three-run home run to put Texas out in front, Michael Young added two more runs in the fourth with a double. Rangers starter C. J. Wilson had gone for seven innings, allowing only a single earned run. In the eighth inning, New York left fielder Brett Gardner reached base on a single to lead off the top of the inning. Darren Oliver relieved Wilson and allowed back-to-back walks to Nick Swisher, Rodriguez hit a two-RBI single, reducing the deficit to 5–4. Robinson Canó tied the game with a single and Marcus Thames followed with a single of his own to give the Yankees a 6–5 lead. That lead would be enough, as Kerry Wood shut down the Rangers in the eighth and in the ninth Mariano Rivera secured his 42nd postseason save, his final postseason save of his career. Saturday, October 16,2010 –4,00 p. m. at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in Arlington, Texas Once again the Yankees starter, the Rangers Elvis Andrus scored on a double steal in the bottom of the first inning. David Murphys solo home run in the second and three straight two-out hits by Mitch Moreland, Elvis Andrus, and Michael Young made the score 3–0. Nelson Cruz hit a double off the right field wall in the bottom of the third. Murphy and Bengie Molinas consecutive doubles increased the lead to five, Robinson Canó answered with a lead-off double off the center field wall in the top of the fourth. Canó advanced to third on a wild pitch, Colby Lewis struck out Nick Swisher and Jorge Posada, but surrendered an RBI single to Lance Berkman. Berkmans hard hit just passed first baseman Morelands glove but Moreland recovered the ball, Cruz hit another lead-off double in the bottom of the fifth and scored on Kinslers RBI triple. Hughes was then relieved by Joba Chamberlain, Chamberlain struck out Murphy and Molina, but surrendered an RBI single to Moreland. Canó hit a home run in the top of the sixth inning
15.
New York Yankees
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The Essendon Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League, the sports premier competition. Formed in 1871 as a club and playing as a senior club since 1878. It is historically associated with Essendon, a suburb in the north-west of Melbourne, dyson Heppell is the current team captain. A founding member club of both the Victorian Football Association, in 1877, and the Victorian Football League, in 1896, the club claims to have over at least one million supporters Australia wide. Essendon has won 16 VFL/AFL premierships which, along with Carlton, is the most of any club in the competition, the club was founded by members of the Royal Agricultural Society, the Melbourne Hunt Club and the Victorian Woolbrokers. The Essendon Football Club is thought to have formed in 1872 at a meeting it the home of a well-known brewery family, the McCrackens, whose Ascot Vale property hosted a team of local junior players. Robert McCracken, the owner of several city hotels, was the founder and first president of the Essendon club and his son, Alex, Alex would later become president of the newly formed VFL. Alexs cousin, Collier, who had played with Melbourne, was the teams first captain. The club played its first recorded match against the Carlton second twenty on 7 June 1873, Essendon played 13 matches in its first season, winning seven, with four draws and losing two. The club was one of the junior members of the Victorian Football Association in 1877. During its early years in the Association, Essendon played its matches at Flemington Hill. In 1878, Essendon played in the first match on what would be considered by modern standards to be a field at Flemington Hill. In 1879 Essendon played Melbourne in one of the earliest night matches recorded when the ball was painted white, in 1883 the team played four matches in Adelaide. In 1891 Essendon won their first VFA premiership, which they repeated in 1892,1893 and 1894, one of the clubs greatest players, Albert Thurgood played for the club during this period. Essendon was undefeated in the 1893 season, at the end of the 1896 season Essendon along with seven other clubs formed the Victorian Football League. Essendons first VFL game was in 1897 was against Geelong at Corio Oval in Geelong, Essendon won its first VFL premiership by winning the 1897 VFL finals series. Essendon again won the premiership in 1901, defeating Collingwood in the Grand Final, the club won successive premierships in 1911 and 1912 over Collingwood and South Melbourne respectively. The nickname first appeared in print in the local North Melbourne Advertiser in 1889 and it was known firstly as Essendon Town and, after 1905, as Essendon
16.
2010 National League Championship Series
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The Giants won the series 4–2 and went on to win the 2010 World Series. The series, the 41st in league history, began on October 16, the Phillies had home field advantage as a result of their better regular-season record. The Phillies hosted Games 1,2 and 6, while the Giants were at home for Games 3,4 and 5, San Francisco won the series, 4–2. Saturday, October 16,2010 —7,30 p. m, the Giants jumped out to a 1–0 lead in the top of the third inning on a Cody Ross solo home run, Halladays first hit allowed in the postseason. The Phillies quickly tied the game up in the half of the same inning on a home run from catcher Carlos Ruiz. The game remained tied until the top of the fifth inning, when Ross belted his second homer of the game, another solo shot, giving San Francisco a 2–1 lead. The Giants extended that lead to 4–1 the following inning on a string of three hits, namely, a single by Buster Posey, a double by former Phillie Pat Burrell. In the bottom of the inning, the sixth, the Phillies closed the deficit to 4–3 on a two-run blast from Jayson Werth. Lincecum and Halladay then each pitched a scoreless half of the seventh before turning the game over to their respective bullpens. Sunday, October 17,2010 —8,00 p. m. at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania In the first inning Chase Utley walked, mike Fontenot misfielded Plácido Polancos grounder and everybody advanced. Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins both walked, bringing in Utley for the first run, Oswalt no-hit the Giants through the fifth inning until Cody Ross hit a home run, his third in two games. This was the third game in which Rosss solo home run broke up a no-hitter. In the bottom inning, Shane Victorino doubled, then advanced to third on a Utley fly out, Polancos sacrifice fly brought in the second Phillie run. In the bottom of the seventh inning Oswalt hit a single up the middle and that knocked Sánchez out of the game, bringing in Ramón Ramírez. Oswalt then advanced on a Victorino sacrifice bunt, Polanco then ripped a single up the middle bringing in Oswalt. Ramírez was brought down and in came Jeremy Affeldt, Affeldt struck out Howard then intentionally walked Jayson Werth. Giants manager Bruce Bochy then sent in Santiago Casilla to face Jimmy Rollins, Rollins ripped a three-run double off Casilla, extending the Phillies lead to five. With a five-run lead, Oswalt pitched a scoreless eighth and he struck out nine while allowing three hits and walking three
17.
San Francisco Giants
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The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball franchise based in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1883 as the New York Gothams, and renamed three years later to the New York Giants, the team moved to San Francisco in 1958. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the National League West division. As one of the longest-established and most successful baseball teams. The team was the first major team based in New York City. They have won 23 NL pennants and have played in 20 World Series competitions – both NL records, the Giants eight World Series championships rank second in the National League and are tied for fourth overall. The Giants have played in the World Series 20 times –14 times in New York, six in San Francisco –, the Giants franchise has the most Hall of Fame players in all of professional baseball. The Giants rivalry with the Dodgers is one of the longest-standing, the teams began their rivalry as the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers, respectively, before both franchises moved west for the 1958 season. The Giants have won six pennants and three World Series championships since arriving in San Francisco and those three championships have come in 2010,2012, and most recently in 2014, having defeated the Kansas City Royals four games to three during the 2014 World Series. The Giants began as the baseball club founded by millionaire tobacconist John B. Day and veteran amateur baseball player Jim Mutrie, the Gothams, as the Giants were originally known, entered the National League in 1883, while their other club, the Metropolitans played in the American Association. Nearly half of the original Gotham players were members of the disbanded Troy Trojans, Louis Browns in a pre-modern-era World Series. They repeated as champions the year with a pennant and Championship victory over the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. It is said that one particularly satisfying victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, Mutrie. From then on, the club was known as the Giants, the Giants original home stadium, the Polo Grounds, dates from this early era. It was originally located north of Central Park adjacent to 5th and 6th Avenues and 110th and 112th Streets, the Giants were a powerhouse in the late 1880s, winning their first two National League Pennants and World Championships in 1888 and 1889. But nearly all of the Giants stars jumped to the upstart Players League, whose New York franchise was named the Giants. The new team built a stadium next door to the Polo Grounds
18.
Philadelphia Phillies
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The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball franchise based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, the Phillies compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the National League East division. Since 2004, the home has been Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies have won two World Series championships and seven National League pennants, the first of which came in 1915, the franchise has also experienced long periods of struggle. The 77 season drought is the fourth longest World Series drought in Major League Baseball history, the longevity of the franchise and its history of adversity have earned it the dubious distinction of having lost the most games of any team in the history of American professional sports. Despite the teams lack of success historically, they are one of the more successful franchises since the start of the Divisional Era in Major League Baseball. The Phillies have won their division 11 times, which ranks 6th among all teams and 4th in the National League, the franchise was founded in Philadelphia in 1883, replacing the team from Worcester, Massachusetts in the National League. The teams spring training facilities are located in Clearwater, Florida and its Double-A affiliate is the Reading Fightin Phils, which plays in Reading, Pennsylvania, and its Triple-A affiliate is the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, which plays in Allentown, Pennsylvania. After being founded in 1883 as the Quakers, the changed its name to the Philadelphias. This was soon shortened to Phillies, Quakers continued to be used interchangeably with Phillies from 1883 until 1890, when the team officially became known as the Phillies. Player defections to the newly formed American League, especially to the cross-town Philadelphia Athletics, poor fiscal management after their appearance in the 1915 World Series, however, doomed the Phillies to sink back into relative obscurity, from 1918 to 1948 they only had one winning season. Though Chuck Klein won the Most Valuable Player Award in 1932 and the National League Triple Crown in 1933, after lumber baron William B. Cox purchased the team in 1943, the Phillies rose out of the standings cellar for the first time in five years. As a result, the fan base and attendance at home games increased, but it soon became clear that not all was right in Coxs front office. Eventually Cox revealed that he had been betting on the Phillies, the new owner, Bob Carpenter, Jr. scion of the Delaware-based DuPont family, tried to polish the teams image by unofficially changing its name to the Bluejays. However, the new moniker did not take, and it was dropped by 1949. This led to the advent of the Whiz Kids, led by a lineup of players developed by the Phillies farm system that included future Hall of Famers Richie Ashburn. In contrast, the Philadelphia Athletics finished last in 1950 and long-time manager Connie Mack retired, the team struggled on for four more years with only one winning season before abandoning Philadelphia under the Johnson brothers, who bought out Mack. They began play in Kansas City in 1955, as part of the deal selling that team to the Johnson brothers, the Phillies bought Shibe Park, where both teams had played since 1938
19.
2010 World Series
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The 2010 World Series was the 106th edition of Major League Baseballs championship series. The Giants won the series 4–1 to secure their first World Series championship since 1954, in their respective League Championship Series, the Rangers and the Giants eliminated the 2009 World Series teams—the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies—each in six games. The Rangers victory in the ALCS gave the franchise its first World Series appearance in its 50-year history, the Giants were the first National League champions to have home-field advantage since 2001, because the NL won the All-Star Game 3–1 on July 13. For the second year, Series games were scheduled for earlier start times in hope of attracting younger viewers. San Francisco landmarks, such as Coit Tower, the Ferry Building, an exclusive VIP party was held on the eve of the World Series at the California Academy of Sciences, most media were not allowed near the event. With three games slated in Arlington, this marked the 5th time the city hosted both a World Series game and the upcoming Super Bowl. The Rangers and their fans had a history of futility. Enfranchised in 1961 as the iteration of the Washington Senators. The team relocated to Arlington, Texas, for the 1972 season but failed to make the postseason for over 20 years. They went on to win three titles in 1996,1998, and 1999, but were eliminated by the New York Yankees in the ALDS each time. The Rangers last postseason appearance before 2010 was in 1999, heading into 2010, the Rangers were plagued with off-field issues. During spring training, manager Ron Washington admitted to prior cocaine use, in the offseason, Iván Rodríguez, Marlon Byrd, Omar Vizquel, and Andruw Jones all departed due to free agency. Kevin Millwood was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Chris Ray, the Rangers also traded two minor leaguers to the Florida Marlins in exchange for Jorge Cantú, and Joaquín Árias to the New York Mets in exchange for Jeff Francoeur. The Rangers spent most of the season in first place in the American League West and their.556 winning percentage was the lowest among all eight 2010 postseason teams. In the postseason, the Rangers faced the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS, Game 5 was another decisive Rangers victory, as ace Cliff Lee stymied the Rays and the offense struck Rays ace David Price once again. This was the first postseason win in franchise history, additionally. In the ALCS, the Rangers faced the wild-card winning New York Yankees, the Yankees had swept the second-seeded Minnesota Twins in their ALDS. The Rangers held a 5–0 lead in Game 1, only to see the Yankees come back, however, the next three games were all blowouts, as the Rangers took a 3–1 series lead
20.
World Series
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The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball in North America, contested since 1903 between the American League champion team and the National League champion team. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a playoff. As the series is played in October, during the season in North America. As of 2016, the World Series has been contested 112 times, with the AL winning 64, the 2016 World Series took place between the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Cubs. Seven games were played, with the Cubs victorious after game seven, the final score was 8–7, the game went into extra innings after a tied score of 6–6. This was the third World Series won by the Cubs, as well as their first title since 1908, in the National League, the St. As of 2016, no team has won consecutive World Series championships since the New York Yankees in 1998,1999, all championships were awarded to the team with the best record at the end of the season, without a postseason series being played. From 1884 to 1890, the National League and the American Association faced each other in a series of games at the end of the season to determine an overall champion. These series were disorganized in comparison to the modern World Series, the number of games played ranged from as few as three in 1884, to a high of fifteen in 1887. Both the 1885 and 1890 Series ended in ties, each team having won three games with one tie game, the series was promoted and referred to as The Championship of the United States, Worlds Championship Series, or Worlds Series for short. In his book Krakatoa, The Day the World Exploded, August 27,1883, Simon Winchester mentions in passing that the World Series was named for the New York World newspaper, but this view is disputed. Until about 1960, some sources treated the 19th-century Series on a basis with the post-19th-century series. After about 1930, however, many authorities list the start of the World Series in 1903, following the collapse of the American Association after the 1891 season, the National League was again the only major league. The league championship was awarded in 1892 by a playoff between half-season champions and this scheme was abandoned after one season. Beginning in 1893—and continuing until divisional play was introduced in 1969—the pennant was awarded to the club in the standings at the end of the season. For four seasons, 1894–1897, the league played the runners-up in the post season championship series called the Temple Cup. A second attempt at this format was the Chronicle-Telegraph Cup series, in 1901, the American League was formed as a second major league. No championship series were played in 1901 or 1902 as the National and these series were arranged by the participating clubs, as the 1880s Worlds Series matches had been
21.
2009 Major League Baseball season
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The 2009 Major League Baseball season began on Sunday, April 5,2009 with the New York Yankees defeating the 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies 4–2. The regular season ended on October 6, extended two days for a playoff between the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins to decide the American League Central Division champion. The postseason began the day with the Division Series. This was the time the season was completed in November. The American League champion had home advantage for the World Series by virtue of winning the All-Star Game on July 14 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. Both teams wore replicas of their 1965 uniforms in the contest, the New York Yankees, with 103 wins, clinched Major League Baseballs best record in the 2009 season, and the #1 seed in the American League by winning the AL East. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim won the second seed with a 97–65 record, in the AL Central, the Minnesota Twins defeated the Detroit Tigers in a one-game playoff for the division championship and the #3 seed. The Los Angeles Dodgers had the National Leagues best record, clinching the top seed in the Senior Circuit, the NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies, who were defending their 2008 title, was the #2 seed with a 93–69 record. The St. Louis Cardinals, from the NL Central, notched a 91–71 record, note, Major League Baseballs playoff format automatically seeds the Wild Card team 4th. Normally, the No.1 seed plays the No.4 seed in the Division Series. † –11 innings † –13 innings ‡ –11 innings The Seattle Mariners named Milwaukee Brewers scouting director Jack Zduriencik its new manager on October 22. Washington Nationals GM Jim Bowden resigned on March 1 amid allegations that he was skimming money from Latin American players. During the last days of the season, two teams fired their general managers, effective at the end of the season. On October 3, the Toronto Blue Jays fired J. P. Ricciardi after eight seasons, the following day, the San Diego Padres axed Kevin Towers, who had been the longest-tenured GM in Major League Baseball at 14 seasons. Gaston had previously been the Blue Jays manager from 1989 until 1997, on January 15, the owners of the 30 Major League Baseball clubs approved two rule changes governing the playing of postseason and one-game playoff games. The game is resumed when conditions permit at the location from the point of suspension. This rule change codifies the controversial interpretation of the rules made by MLB commissioner Bud Selig during Game 5 of the 2008 World Series. Coin tosses will no longer be used to determine home-field advantage for one-game tiebreakers held to determine division champions or wild card teams, instead, performance-based criteria—including head-to-head record between the tied clubs—will be used to determine home-field advantage
22.
2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
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The 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 81st midseason exhibition between the All-Stars of the American League and the National League, the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. Fox also teamed with DirecTV to produce a separate 3D broadcast, kenny Albert and Mark Grace called the 3D telecast. ESPN Radio also broadcast the game, with Jon Sciambi and Dave Campbell announcing, the National League won the game 3–1, ending a 13-game winless streak. This was the third All-Star Game hosted by the city of Anaheim, California, since 2003, the winning team has earned home field advantage for the World Series. A short memorial honoring George Steinbrenner, the owner of the New York Yankees who died early morning, was held prior to the game. The 2010 All-Star Game marked the first time major changes took place since the 2003 decision to begin handing home field in the World Series to the winning league, the designated hitter became a permanent fixture of the game regardless of site. Other changes included having the rosters of each team increased to 34 players. Pitchers who started the game on the Sunday immediately before the game became ineligible to pitch in the game. As with any player ineligible or unable to play, each was recognized as an All-Star. Finally, a modified re-entry rule also made its debut, the All-Star Fan Fest, a quasi museum/theme park, was held from July 8 through 13 at the Anaheim Convention Center across the street from Disneyland. July 8 was reserved for media and VIP, while the opening came on July 9. The Sirius XM Radio All-Star Futures Game and Taco Bell All-Star Legends, in addition, the second annual 5K Charity Run and Fun Walk was held that morning. ESPN2 televised the Futures game, while ESPN taped the Legends, the Gatorade Workout Day and State Farm Home Run Derby also took place at Angel Stadium on July 12. MLB Network telecast the Workout Day events, while ESPN televised the Home Run Derby live, the Chevrolet All-Star Red Carpet Parade took place on the morning of the event finishing on Disneylands Main Street USA. MLB Network telecast the Parade on a delayed tape basis, the winners of the final vote were Nick Swisher of the New York Yankees and Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds. § – When Bell replaced Yovani Gallardo due to injury on Wednesday, July 7, attendance –45,408 Pitching dominated the first half of the ballgame, as both starting pitchers and their immediate successors put up zeroes. Both teams finally threatened to score in the fifth inning, with Justin Verlander on the mound for the American League, David Wright singled and stole second. Andre Ethier singled but Josh Hamilton was able to hold Wright at third with a throw from right field
23.
Angel Stadium
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Angel Stadium of Anaheim, originally known as Anaheim Stadium and later Edison International Field of Anaheim, is a modern-style ballpark located in Anaheim, California. The stadium is referred to by its unofficial nickname The Big A. It is the fourth-oldest active Major League Baseball stadium, behind Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and it hosted the 1967,1989, and 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Games. Located near the boundary of the parking lot is the landmark Big A sign and electronic marquee. The halo located near the top of the 230 tall, 210-ton sign is illuminated following games in which the Angels win, which gives rise to the fan expression, Light up the Halo. The station provides convenient access to the stadium, the nearby Honda Center, and Disneyland from various communities along the route, which links San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, and San Diego. The Anaheim Resort Transit stops at the center along with Orange County Transportation Authority buses. and 2 to 3 AMA Supercross Championship races a year, the stadium also houses the studios and offices of the Angels owned and operated flagship radio station, KLAA. Angel Stadium has been the home of the Angels since their move from Los Angeles, on August 31,1964, ground was broken for Anaheim Stadium and in 1966, the then-California Angels moved into their new home after having spent four seasons renting Dodger Stadium from the Dodgers. The stadium was built on a parcel of about 160 acres of land originally used for agricultural purposes by the Allec, Russell. Consistent with many sports stadiums built in the 1960s, it is located in a suburban area. The field dimensions were derived from a study conducted by the Angels. Based on the air density at normal times, the Angels tried to formulate dimensions that were fairly balanced between pitcher, hitter and average weather conditions. The Angels tinkered with those dimensions several times, expanding or contracting parts of the outfield by a few here and there. One of the no-hitters, on June 1,1975, was his fourth, the Coliseum seated almost 100,000 people, and the Rams had trouble filling it even in their best years. Rosenbloom brokered a deal by which the Rams would move from Los Angeles to an expanded Anaheim Stadium, to add more seats for football games, the mezzanine and upper decks were extended completely around the playing field, resulting in a roughly trapezoidal, completely enclosed stadium. An elevated bank of bleachers was built in right field, and temporary seats were placed underneath, another bank of bleachers was built in left field. As a result, the view of the mountains and State Highway 57 was lost. A black and white scoreboard/instant replay video board was installed above the newly constructed upper deck seats in left field, a triangular metal spire was added to the top of the Jumbotron to evoke the original emplacement of the Big A
24.
Anaheim, California
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Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a population of 336,265, making it the most populous city in Orange County, Anaheim remained largely a rural community until Disneyland opened in the city in 1955. This led to the construction of hotels and motels around the area. The city also developed into a center, producing electronics, aircraft parts. Anaheims city limits extend from Cypress in the west to the Riverside County line in the east and encompass a diverse collection of neighborhoods, Anaheim Hills is a master-planned community located in the citys eastern stretches that is home to many of the citys affluent. Downtown Anaheim has three historic districts, the largest of which is the Anaheim Colony. The Anaheim Resort, a district, includes Disneyland, Disney California Adventure. The Platinum Triangle, a redevelopment district surrounding Angel Stadium, is planned to be populated with mixed-use streets. Finally, Anaheim Canyon is a district north of California State Route 91. Anaheims name is a blend of Ana, after the nearby Santa Ana River, and heim, the city of Anaheim was founded in 1857 by 50 German-Americans who were residents of San Francisco and whose families had originated in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Franconia in Bavaria. For $750 a share, the formed the Anaheim Vineyard Company. Their new community was named Annaheim, meaning home by the Santa Anna River in German, the name later was altered to Anaheim. To the Spanish-speaking neighbors, the settlement was known as Campo Alemán, although grape and wine-making was their primary objective, the majority of the 50 settlers were mechanics, carpenters and craftsmen with no experience in wine-making. The community set aside 40 acres for a center and a school was the first building erected there. The first home was built in 1857, the Anaheim Gazette newspaper was established in 1870, for 25 years, the area was the largest wine producer in California. However, in 1884, a disease infected the grape vines, other crops – walnuts, lemons and oranges – soon filled the void. Fruits and vegetables had become viable cash crops when the Los Angeles – Orange County region was connected to the railroad network in 1887. The famous Polish actress Helena Modjeska settled in Anaheim with her husband and various friends, among them Henryk Sienkiewicz, Julian Sypniewski, while living in Anaheim, Helena Modjeska became good friends with Clementine Langenberger, the second wife of August Langenberger
25.
Road (sports)
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A road game or away game is a sports game where the specified team is not the host and must travel to another venue. Most professional teams represent cities or towns and amateur sports teams often represent academic institutions, each team has a location where it practices during the season and where it hosts games. When a team is not the host, it must travel to games. Thus, when a team is not hosting a game, the team is described as the team, the visiting team, or the away team. The venue in which the game is played is described as the stadium or the road. The host team is said to be the home team, major sporting events, if not held at a neutral venue, are often over several legs at each teams home ground, so that neither team has an advantage over the other. Occasionally, the team may not have to travel very far at all to a road game. These matches often become local derbies, a few times a year, a road team may even be lucky enough to have the road game played at their own home stadium or arena. This is prevalent in college athletics where many schools will play in regional leagues or groundshare. The related term true road game has seen increasing use in U. S. college sports in the 21st century, while regular-season tournaments and other special events have been part of college sports from their creation, the 21st century has seen a proliferation of such events. These are typically held at sites, with some of them taking place outside the contiguous U. S. or even outside the country entirely. In turn, this has led to the use of true road game to refer to contests played at one home venue. In some association football leagues, particularly in Europe, the teams fans sit in their own section. Depending on the stadium, they will either sit in a designated section or be separated from the home fans by a cordon of police officers. However, in the leagues in England, supporters may be free to mix. When games are played at a site, for instance the FA Cup final in England which is always played at Wembley Stadium. This results in each team occupying one half of the stadium and this is different from other sports, particularly in North America, where very few fans travel to games played away from their home stadium. Home and away fans are not separated at these games
26.
2010 Tampa Bay Rays season
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The Tampa Bay Rays 2010 season was their 13th season of baseball. Outfielder Gabe Kapler, who had signed before the 2009 season to just a one-year contract, was re-signed to another one-year deal for $1.05 million on October 27,2009. Second baseman Akinori Iwamura was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for relief pitcher Jesse Chavez on November 3,2009. Iwamura had a $4.85 million option for 2010, but with other players in the organization who could fill the position. The Rays acquired catcher Kelly Shoppach from the Cleveland Indians on December 1,2009 and that player turned out to be minor-league pitcher Mitch Talbot. Jesse Chavez was dealt to the Atlanta Braves for relief pitcher Rafael Soriano on December 10,2009, the Rays had been in talks with the Chicago Cubs to send Pat Burrell to Chicago in exchange for Milton Bradley. Unable to make an agreement on how to split the cost, first baseman Dan Johnson was signed to a $500,000 contract for one year on January 11. The Rays, who needed a win that night to keep their lead over Boston. Relief pitcher J. P. Howell, starting pitcher Matt Garza, only center fielder B. J. Upton went to salary arbitration, though he did state he was interested in a long-term deal with the Rays. Uptons arbitration case was held on February 12 and he asked for $3.3 million, but the case was awarded to the Rays, meaning he would make $3 million instead. On February 3,2010, the Rays signed reliever Mike Ekstrom, recently waived by the San Diego Padres, to a minor-league contract, catcher Alvin Colina and reliever Heath Phillips were also signed to minor-league contracts and invited to spring training. One day after the end of the 2008 season, the Rays let hitting coach Steve Henderson go, quality assurance coach Todd Greene would not return either, as the position was eliminated. Derek Shelton was hired as the new hitting coach on October 21. Shelton had been with the Cleveland Indians in the five seasons. However, after opposition to this deal was made known, the plans were deferred. Rocco Baldelli returned to the Rays on March 2 as an assistant who would work with younger players. Infielder Hank Blalock was signed to a contract on March 8. Blalock was first reported to be interested in signing with either the Rays or the Florida Marlins just days before the deal was made
27.
2010 New York Yankees season
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The Yankees opened and closed the regular season against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. This marked the first time since 1950 this happened, the Yankees regular season record for 2010 was 95 wins,67 losses, 2nd place in the AL East behind Tampa and good for the AL Wild Card. Following the Yankees 2009 World Series championship, Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui departed as free agents, on December 9, pitcher Andy Pettitte signed a $11.75 million contract for 1 year. On December 22, the Yankees traded outfielder Melky Cabrera, pitcher Michael Dunn, on January 27, outfielder Randy Winn signed with the Yankees on a one-year contract worth $2 million. On February 16, the Yankees announced that pitcher Dustin Moseley signed a league contract with an invitation to spring training. On February 28, pitcher Chan Ho Park signed a $1.2 million, to make room for Park on the 40-man roster, pitcher Edwar Ramírez was designated for assignment. On July 30, the Yankees acquired Austin Kearns from the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later, on August 20, the player was revealed to be Zach McAllister. On July 31, the Yankees traded minor leaguers Mark Melancon, on July 31, the Yankees acquired Kerry Wood from the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Source, MLB Standings Grid With the series win in Oakland clinched, only one other club in team history started with as many as four series wins in a row, the 1922 Yankees. Both of those made it to the World Series, although they lost. During this time, the Yankees tied an April record of 12 straight error-less games, on April 22 against the Oakland Athletics the Yankees turned a triple play for the first time since June 3,1968. On May 8, Mark Teixeira hit 3 home runs against the Red Sox, on June 11, Andy Pettitte won his 200th game as a Yankee, becoming the third player to achieve the feat. The other two players are Yankee pitching legends Red Ruffing and Whitey Ford, during the last 2 games against the Astros, Jorge Posada hit grand slams in back-to-back games becoming the third Yankee player to do so. The other two players are Baseball Hall of Fame members and Yankee legends Babe Ruth and Bill Dickey, brett Gardner became the first player in MLB history to hit a grand slam and an inside-the-park home run during back-to-back games on July 3–4. The Yankees suffered three losses during the month of July, two of which happened during the All-Star weekend. First, on July 11, longtime Yankee Stadium public address announcer Bob Sheppard died at age 99, then just two days later on July 13, longtime owner George Steinbrenner died at age 80. Steinbrenner was the longest tenured owner in Yankees history and among active ownership, on July 21, former Yankee manager and executive Ralph Houk died. Against the Royals on July 22, Derek Jeter hit only the second home run of his career
28.
2010 Boston Red Sox season
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The 2010 Boston Red Sox season was the 110th season in the franchises Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox opened and closed the season at Fenway Park against the New York Yankees – the last time the team opened and closed a season at home against the Yankees was 1950. On November 5,2009, the day after the Red Sox-rival Yankees clinched their 27th title, among these free agents were, left-fielder Jason Bay, left-handed relief pitcher Billy Wagner, and productive bench-outfielder Rocco Baldelli. On the same day, Boston traded pitchers Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez to the Florida Marlins for an outfielder named Jeremy Hermida. Many questioned the move, since Hermidas career has been far below the potential he was drafted in the 1st round in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft. Contrary to popular opinion, Epstein supported Hermida saying, We still think theres a good hitter in there, Jeremy is a player who hasnt fulfilled his potential yet. We were able to him at a reasonable cost to see if he can fulfill that potential with us. Days later, on November 9, Boston resigned two key players in the 2009 campaign.1 million option picked up after hitting.336 with 8 HR and 41 RBI in 56 games during 2009. Were going to look for Victor to be an everyday catcher for us next year. We feel like that puts us in the best position to win with Victor catching as much as he can, the other spot well have available is for more of a traditional backup. Well see what Teks decision is before we move forward, Epstein told Boston reporters at the General Managers Meeting in Chicago, Boston also signed veteran knuckle-baller Tim Wakefield to a two-year deal worth $10 million. Before the All-Star break, Wakefield was tied for the American League lead in wins with 11 and was selected to his first All-Star game. Unfortunately, Wakefield did not get an opportunity to finish his season the way as injuries kept him to just four starts after the All-Star Break. He wants to end his career in a Red Sox uniform, for us, the finances made a lot of sense, Epstein told reporters at the GM Meeting in Chicago on the same day. Ever since the 2004 departure of former Red Sox star-shortstop Nomar Garciaparra at the Trade Deadline, none of these players were successful in taking over. We were looking to upgrade at shortstop and we were pretty clear about that going into the winter. Right from the start, we identified Marco as the best free agent, Scutaro had a break-out season with Toronto in 2009, batting.282, scoring 100 runs, belting 12 homers, and producing a.379 OBP as the leadoff hitter. Ramírez had pitched for the Cincinnati Reds from 2008–2009, compiling a 1–1 record with a 2.97 ERA, the next day, Boston traded minor-league pitcher Chris Province to the Minnesota Twins for starter/reliever Boof Bonser
29.
2010 Toronto Blue Jays season
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The 2010 Toronto Blue Jays season was the 34th season of Major League Baseballs Toronto Blue Jays franchise, and the teams 21st full season of play at the Rogers Centre. The 2010 season was the first under general manager Alex Anthopoulos, after a poor 2009 season in which the Blue Jays finished with a 75–87 record,2010 saw the team improve by 10 games, finishing with an 85–77 record and in fourth place in the American League East. Led by José Bautista, whose 54 home runs set a record and led the Major Leagues. Halladay signed an extension with the Phillies worth $60 million for 3 years. The Phillies were scheduled to play in Toronto on June 25,26 and 27, however due to the G20 summit meeting in Toronto, those games were held in Philadelphia. Halladay made his first start against his old team in spring training, getting lit up in the first inning allowing 4 runs on 5 hits, for more detailed information about arrivals and departures see Free agency and Waivers. In total, the Blue Jays lost 16 players in the offseason,4 as free agents and it was a trade-filled offseason, including The Doc Deal, which landed the Jays three players for Roy Halladay. The Jays made five trades in total, the Jays traded cash considerations for two pitchers in separate deals, and traded a player to be named for Zach Jackson. All told, the Blue Jays added 26 new players to their roster, of the five major league free agents of the Blue Jays, John McDonald was the only one to re-sign with the team, accepting a two-year, $3 million deal. Michael Barrett and Kevin Millar were designated for assignment and subsequently released, Marco Scutaro signed a contract with the Boston Red Sox, giving the Blue Jays Bostons second-round draft pick and a supplemental first-round compensation draft pick. The team non-tendered Raúl Chávez, then signed him to a minor league deal. The Blue Jays signed shortstop Álex González to a one-year, $2.75 million contract on November 26,2009, on January 13,2010, the Blue Jays signed four minor leaguers, Chris Lubanski, Willie Collazo, Jorge Padilla and Jesús Merchán. On January 19, they also signed Jeremy Reed and Steven Register to minor-league contracts, Blue Jays minor league free agents signed by other teams include Fabio Castro, Bill Murphy, and Bryan Bullington and Buck Coats. The Blue Jays made some moves with potential on the waiverwire, Alex Anthopolous made his first transaction ever when he picked up reliever Sean Henn from the Orioles in late October 2009. He acquired Jarrett Hoffpauir on November 3, once free agency started to kick in, he claimed shortstop Mike McCoy from Colorado, and never made a transaction for the rest of 2009. Anthopolous made his first waiver claim of 2010 on January 7, Bocock was waived and picked up by the Phillies on January 26. The Blue Jays only waiver loss during the 2009–2010 offseason was utility player Joe Inglett, on January 15,2010, six Blue Jay pitchers filed for salary arbitration. Shaun Marcum re-signed with the Blue Jays on January 18 to a one-year, the next day, Jeremy Accardo, Shawn Camp, Jason Frasor, Casey Janssen and Brian Tallet signed one-year deals with the club
30.
2010 Chicago White Sox season
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The 2010 Chicago White Sox season was the organizations 111th season in Chicago and 110th in the American League. The Sox opened the season against the Cleveland Indians at home on April 5 and they finished the season with an 88–74 record, in second place in the American League Central, six games behind the division champions Minnesota Twins. It was the year in a row that the Sox competed against Pittsburgh as an interleague team besides the Cubs. Also it was the first time that Sox played the Washington Nationals since that franchise moved from Montreal following the 2004 season, October 5,2009 – SP Freddy García 2010 $1 million option picked up. October 6,2009 – RP Matt Thornton 2010 $2.25 million option picked up, October 9,2009 – OF DeWayne Wise granted free agency after rejecting a Triple A assignment. November 5,2009 – OF/1B Mark Kotsay is resigned 1 year/$1.5 million, november 5,2009 – Acquire 3B Mark Teahen from Kansas City, via trade for 2B Chris Getz and 3B Josh Fields. November 6,2009 – OF Jermaine Dye $12 million mutual option is declined, november 23,2009 – INF Omar Vizquel agrees to 1 year/$1.375 million deal. November 25,2009 – OF/DH Andruw Jones agrees to 1 year/$500K deal, december 11,2009 – RP J. J. Putz agrees to 1 year/$3 million deal with $3 million incentive bonuses. December 12,2009 – RP D. J. Carrasco is non-tendered declaring him a Free Agent, december 18,2009 – Acquired OF Juan Pierre from Los Angeles Dodgers for Minor League Pitchers Jon Link and John Ely. Source, MLB Standings Grid On the Opening Day, the White Sox shutout the Cleveland 6–0. On April 12 at Blue Jays, the Sox snapped their losing streak in Rogers Centre and took the first victory since June 1,2007. In the next two games, Carlos Quentin hit the White Soxs first grand slam of the season, beating the Jays 11–1, the Sox split the four-game series with Blue Jays. On April 16–18, the Sox got swept by the Indians in Cleveland for the first time since May 30 to June 2,2003. On April 23 against the Mariners, Andruw Jones hit two home runs on his 33rd birthday including his home run which made it 7–6. On the next day, in the top of the inning, Casey Kotchman hit a soft ground ball down the right field line. This is a fan interference ground rule double which two men scored from first and second making it 4–2 Mariner lead. Then in the frame, the Sox scored three runs via two home runs, one by Paul Konerko and a walk-off by Alex Ríos, which made it 5–4. On the next day, White Sox swept the Mariners at a score of 3–2 with Paul Konerkos GW home run in the eighth inning, Paul Konerko broke the franchise record for most home runs hit during the month of April with 11
31.
2010 Detroit Tigers season
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The 2010 Detroit Tigers season was the teams 110th season. This year saw the passing of legendary Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell, the Tigers spent most of the season in 2nd or 3rd place. The third-place Tigers finished 13 games behind the AL Central Champion Minnesota Twins, with an 81–81 record, Austin Jackson made the Tigers opening day roster, and was American League Rookie of the Month for April. 2010 also saw the debuts of several rookies from the Tiger farm system, including Brennan Boesch, Scott Sizemore, Danny Worth, Casper Wells, Boesch was called up on April 23,2010, and was named the AL Rookie of the Month for May and June. The Tigers sent three players to the 2010 All-Star game, miguel Cabrera and José Valverde were selected as reserves, and starter Justin Verlander was added to the team when another AL starter who was selected was unable to pitch due to scheduling. At the All-Star break, the Tigers were an out of first place in the AL Central. But a slow start and injuries to key players Magglio Ordóñez, Carlos Guillén, closer Valverde would also suffer a series of nagging injuries down the stretch. The Tigers finished the season with an 81-81 record, good for third place,13 games back of the division-winning Minnesota Twins, while playing outstanding baseball at home, the Tigers were just 29-52 on the road. Only the Seattle Mariners had fewer wins than the Tigers among American League teams. Austin Jackson finished second in the AL Rookie-of-the-Year voting, Justin Verlander enjoyed another strong season. After a slow start and a trip to the minors. On July 26, the Tigers were on the end of Matt Garzas no-hitter in Tampa. On October 9, first base coach Andy Van Slyke announced he is leaving the team, on November 9, the Tigers hired Tom Brookens as their new first base coach. Brookens played on the 1984 World Series championship team and was most recently the manager of the teams Class-AA affiliate at Erie, on November 6, the Tigers removed Marcus Thames and Matt Treanor from their 40-man roster, allowing them to become free agents. On November 16, the Tigers released Jarrod Washburn and Aubrey Huff to free agency, on December 1, the Tigers released Plácido Polanco to free agency. On December 8, Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon turned down arbitration, on December 7, the Tigers traded Clay Rapada to Texas for a player to be named later or cash considerations. On December 9, the Tigers completed a 3 team deal and they gave Curtis Granderson to the Yankees and Edwin Jackson to the Diamondbacks and received Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth from Arizona and Austin Jackson and Phil Coke from New York. On December 21, the Tigers traded Dusty Ryan to San Diego for cash considerations or a player to be named later, on March 30, the Tigers traded Nate Robertson and cash considerations to Florida for Jay Voss and cash considerations
32.
2010 Texas Rangers season
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The Texas Rangers 2010 season was the 50th in franchise history. The team, managed by Ron Washington, won their first division title since 1999, Washington would become only the second manager in franchise history to lead the Rangers to the post season and the first to ever win a post season series. They would win the American League pennant by defeating the defending World Series champions, in the World Series, they lost to the San Francisco Giants in five games. Because the National League held home-field advantage in this World Series, Arlington, the 2010 season showed the results of a 5-year plan implemented by GM Jon Daniels in 2007 with the Mark Teixeira trade. The 2007 trade deadline and the draft a month prior would all be key pieces of the successful Rangers season. And trades which resulted in Cliff Lee, Bengie Molina, instead of dividing the locker room or casting doubt with the players, the teammates stood behind their manager. Hes my manager, third baseman Michael Young told team mates during a meeting where Washington informed the players of his drug test. Wilson, Lewis, and trade deadline ace Cliff Lee would each finish in the top 20 among American League pitchers in ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts, thanks to utility infielder Esteban Germán the claw and antlers would become an active part of the Rangers in-game celebration. Following a play involving strength a Rangers player would look to the bench, after a play involving speed a player would place his thumbs on each side of his head and outstretch his fingers to make antlers. On the final day of the fans would participate in a pre-game claw. Rudy Jaramillo turned down a 1-year extension and took the coach position with the Chicago Cubs. The Rangers signed Clint Hurdle for the position of hitting coach, Iván Rodríguez signed a 2-year deal with the Washington Nationals. The Rangers received a draft pick for Rodriguez who was a type B free agent. The other type B free agent on the Rangers, Marlon Byrd, signed a 3-year deal with the Chicago Cubs, Omar Vizquel signed with the Chicago White Sox, as well as Andruw Jones. Neither free agent met type A or B status so Texas received no compensation for their departures, at the winter meetings Jon Daniels made headline moves when Texas traded Kevin Millwood and $3 million to the Baltimore Orioles for pitcher Chris Ray and a PTBNL. The Orioles later selected Ben Snyder in the rule 5 draft from the San Francisco Giants, following the Millwood trade, the Rangers signed Rich Harden to a 1-year deal. The contract includes a mutual 2nd year option, Michael Young told the media his new teammate … has the best stuff in the league. I didnt say some of the best stuff, I mean the best stuff Ive seen
33.
2010 Oakland Athletics season
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The Oakland Athletics 2010 season was their 42nd in Oakland, California. It was also the 110th season in franchise history, the team finished second in the American League West with a record of 81-81. The Athletics 2010 season is remembered mainly for Dallas Bradens perfect game, Braden accomplished the feat on May 9,2010 against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays had the leagues best record at the time, the season also saw Oaklands starting rotation improve greatly. The Athletics, led by a trio of promising young starters, all told, the team allowed some 135 fewer runs than it did in 2009. Cahill, along with closer Andrew Bailey, would be rewarded for their performance with All-Star selections. The 2010 season was the only non-losing season of manager Bob Gerens tenure, geren would ultimately be fired midway through the Athletics 2011 season. On Mothers Day, Braden pitches 19th perfect game in league history against the MLB best, Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays less than two weeks before had hit Braden up for four runs on eight hits over just four innings, Bradens batterymate was Landon Powell, who was drafted the same year as Braden and had caught him in all levels of pro ball. In the top of fifth, Evan Longoria broke an unwritten rule by attempting to break up the perfect game with a bunt. All 12,228 fans werent too thrilled to see Tampas best hitter try to lay down a bunt, as Manager Joe Maddon said, Powell said that he started getting neverous around the sixth inning and was more excited about going back to behind the plate than hitting. He finished throwing 109 pitches with six strikeouts, which is tied for third fewest, on September 1, Rajai Davis stole his 40th base for the season, becoming the fourth Athletic to have 2 seasons with +40 SB. Also, Barton walks twice and is the first player in history to have five consecutive multi-walk games. September 6, Pennington steals 23rd base, most for an Athletic infielder since Carney Lansford in 1989, September 8, team has 2 double-steals in one inning, first time since July 17,1983. September 10, Crisp steals 3 bases in one game, September 9 and 10, team steals 4 bases in consecutive games for first time since July 30 and 31,1993. September 14, Sogard gets first career hit in eight inning, September 21, Carter gets first career hit in sixth inning, snapping 0–33 streak. September 23, Braden and Ziegler threw a combined one-hitter, fourth time in Oaklands history the team has throw a no-hitter and one-hitter in same season, September 26, Tolleson hits first career home run. September 27, Ellis hits career 191st double, tying Miguel Tejada for 10th on Oaklands All-Time list, September 28, Braden records career-high eighth pickoff of the season
34.
2010 Los Angeles Angels season
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The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 2010 season is the franchises 50th season and 45th in Anaheim. The Angels began this season as the three-time defending American League West division champions, during the 2010 season, the Angels hosted MLB All-Star Game at Angel Stadium for the third time in franchise history. The offseason challenge for the Angels was one of the toughest in baseball with ESPN saying one of the top ten offseason questions was Will the Angels be able to keep their team together. On November 5,2009 the first day eligible players could file for free agency, soon after, general manager Tony Reagins stated the teams focus was on re-signing Lackey and Figgins. A few days later, owner Arte Moreno added he wanted to retain both Lackey and Figgins, but with limited options, would have to choose just one of the two stars. If you look at what theyre asking, you cant bring both of them back, Moreno said, negotiations with Guerrero also stalled, as Moreno added, Weve talked to his agent just recently. We talked to his agent two years ago and we could never get close enough. After signing Abreu, LA Times reporter Mike DiGiovanna estimated that GM Tony Reagins had roughly $12 million to spend to keep payroll at the level as the previous year. With about $12 million to work with, Reagins said. We do have available to be active in free agency. We feel we can take on some payroll, but were going to have to be creative and this move assured the Angels of receiving first-round draft picks should Lackey or Figgins decided to sign elsewhere. On December 8, Figgins finalized a deal with rival the Seattle Mariners. The LA Times reported that the Angels reluctance to add a year to their offer was a huge factor in the infielders decision to sign with Seattle. Because of Figgins status as a Type A Free Agent, the Angels received a draft pick from the Mariners. So if you are going to make a commitment, certainly the pitching end of it is something youre going to consider. However, when Angels GM Tony Reagins was asked about the trade, he had no reaction, adding. A lot of things get thrown around and arent accurate, on the same day however, sources indicated that the Angels had signed Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui to a $6.5 million one-year contract. The Angels bullpen also saw turnover, on December 12, the Angels announced they would not offer reliever José Arredondo a contract after learning he would undergo elbow reconstruction and be unavailable in the 2010 season. Soon after, on December 22, veteran reliever Darren Oliver signed with division rival Texas Rangers, the Angels signed closer Fernando Rodney as a possible setup man or as an alternative closer for the Brian Fuentes
35.
2010 Seattle Mariners season
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The 2010 Seattle Mariners season was the 34th season in franchise history. The Mariners finished the season with 61 wins and 101 losses, most of the 2009 major league coaching staff was retained, with the exception of third base coach Bruce Hines. Mike Brumley was named the new third base coach on October 30,2009, on December 7, the Mariners announced their minor league staff. The Mariners also lost their home run leader, Russell Branyan, two-time Gold Glove winner Adrián Beltré opted for free agency on November 5,2009, and later signed with the Boston Red Sox. The third baseman declined $12 million in arbitration from the Mariners only days after the team signed Chone Figgins, beltre officially parted ways with the Mariners when he signed a one-year, $9 million deal with the Boston Red Sox. Pitcher Phillippe Aumont, noted as one of the top prospects in the organization, was sent to the Phillies in the trade for Cliff Lee, also, pitcher Brandon Morrow was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays as well. Carlos Silva, whose time in Seattle was plagued by injury, was traded to the Chicago Cubs on December 18, Chone Figgins signed a four-year contract valued at $36 million. General manager Jack Zduriencik noted Figgins versatility on defense and could ask him to second base as well. Ken Griffey, Jr. returned to the Mariners with a deal after a successful 2009 season. Shortstop Jack Wilson signed a two-year, $10 million deal to remain in Seattle, Wilson was one of the players received from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the trading deadline in 2009. On December 14,2009, the Mariners, along with the three other organizations including the Philadelphia Phillies, the Toronto Blue Jays, and the Oakland Athletics agreed to a 4-team, 9-player deal. The Mariners received former Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee from Philadelphia in exchange for three prospects as a complement to ace Félix Hernández. On December 18,2009, the Mariners traded pitcher Carlos Silva and cash considerations to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Milton Bradley, on December 22, the Mariners traded Brandon Morrow to the Toronto Blue Jays for pitcher Brandon League, and a minor league prospect. The Mariners acquired first baseman Casey Kotchman from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for utility player Bill Hall, a player to be named later, and cash considerations. On January 29,2010, the Mariner signed outfielder Eric Byrnes to a one-year, the Mariners signed first baseman Ryan Garko to a one-year $550,000 contract on February 1. On February 6, the Mariners re-signed pitcher Érik Bédard to a one-year, $1.5 million contract, on November 25, the Mariners re-signed minor league pitchers Steve Bray and Steven Shell, and catcher José Yépez. On December 9, the Mariners signed outfielder Corey Patterson to a league contract with an invitation to spring training. On December 16, the Mariners signed 19-year-old Brazilian prospect Pedro Okuda to a league contract
