First Carl Crawford goes on the DL. Now Evan Longoria goes on the DL. This is not good for Tampa, 2 integral parts to their first place team on the DL. With 71 wins and a 4.5 game lead on the Boston Red Sox, this would have been an uphill climb even with them healthy. That climb just got a little steeper. Crawford, was batting .273 with 57 RBIs and 25 steals, went on the DL with a right hand injury on Sunday, and might face season-ending surgery. Longoria, who began the season in the minors, was hitting .278 with a team rookie-record 22 home runs and 71 RBIs. He went on the DL when he was hit by a pitch on the wrist. The mettle of Tampa will be tested over these final 2 months

Today, a friend and I were talking and he showed me this article. I was shocked when I read this. A game that goes 11 innings or beyond, you can start anywhere in the batting order with the previous 2 batters in the order on base and no outs. So you can go up there with your #3 hitter, while your 1 and 2 hitters are one 1st and 2nd.

Apparently, the reason was to speed up games. Dumb. If you want to speed up games, you might as well start every inning with the bases loaded, no outs, and a 3-0 count on your best hitter. I like that more than this.

So last week Mike Nadel went off on Erin Andrews choice of dress at a recent game she covered, starting off his article with this:

Erin Andrews, the ESPN “it” babe who clearly isn’t afraid to flaunt it, sauntered around the visiting clubhouse, flitting from one Cubs player to another. Her skimpy outfit — designed to accentuate her, um, positives — had players leering at her. Some made lewd comments under their breath. Others giggled like 12-year-olds.

After reading this, I thought Erin Andrews was scantly clad at the game. However, after seeing a photo of her wardrobe, I knew Nadel was wasting paper and ink. This is what she wore

I don’t think anyone should be offended by her wardrobe. Maybe on a hot steamy evening, she didn’t want to wear a sweater and dress pants. After all, Erin Andrews fills 2 holes in 1 for ESPN. She provides the eye candy for ESPN’s biggest audience, young males such as myself, and she is an excellent reporter who knows her stuff. Her boss agrees, saying,

“Erin is a tremendous reporter. She’s a prepared, hard-working journalist who is well-respected and asks excellent questions,” ESPN news executive Norby Williamson said in a statement. “We’re proud to have her as an important part of our coverage team. Beyond that, we feel it’s unnecessary to even respond to any of the specifics outlined (by Nadel).”

Further, Nadel needs to get his facts straight too, regarding Andrews’ actions:

Still, the Brewers’ claims of being unaffected by this series’ results were as unbelievable as Erin Andrews’ work clothes. “Good for you, Rammie,” Andrews said three hours before the game, bending forward to shake Aramis Ramirez’s hand. “Good for you.”

Ramirez, who had three doubles in the Cubs’ 7-1 victory the previous night, sheepishly accepted Andrews’ congratulations. She didn’t ask him any questions because he was sitting on the players-only sofa; she seemingly just wanted to show “Rammie” her support. Weird.

Moments later, the blonde reporter was chatting with Alfonso Soriano. At one point, she placed her hand suggestively on Soriano’s left bicep.

“Hey, hey, hey! Look at this!” [Cubs Manager Lou] Piniella said, loudly and excitedly. “Are you doing a baseball game today or a modeling assignment?”

This is what Andrews said to that:

*On Lou Piniella’s comment: “That did happen. But my stance is that people can say what they want. Lou Piniella looks at me like a daughter. If it was the first time I had met him, that would be one thing.”

*On Ramirez, Andrews said she walked over to the players-only area where Ramirez was sitting because pitcher Ryan Dempster called her over to show her pictures of his son from the All-Star game. She said she was not aware his nickname was “Rammie” and said she did not call him that.

*On Soriano, Andrews said she touched his hand, not his bicep, and was trying to gauge where the bone was that he broke earlier this year.

And apparently, Nadel didn’t even talk to her about the article, as Andrews said

“I think my overall reaction is that it’s really sad that in 2008 … I have people watching every single move I make. When there’s a big game between the Cubs and Brewers going on, it’s sad that that’s what their focus is on. … And the last thing I had heard is that when you want to do a story on someone, you contact them.”

Way to bring the heat, Erin. The real unprofessional person here is Mike Nadel. I seem to have forgotten that this blog is about blasting the truth and asking the hard questions, so here I go: First off, why didn’t Nadel talk with Erin before writing the article. Second, why was Erin Andrews wardrobe the focus of the article to begin with? Third, why did Nadel write things that were not true, such as suggestively touching Soriano bicep and congratulating Ramirez? Someone ought to blast Mike Nadel and his unprofessional ways

Finally, the Packers and Brett Favre have ended their impasse, when the Packers sent #4 to the Jets, in return for a draft pick that will be determined based on the success of Favre and the team. It is believed that it will start at a 4th-round pick in 2009, and will increase in value based on how the Jets perform. According to the NFL Network, if Favre takes 50 percent of total snaps with the Jets in 2008, the fourth-rounder becomes a third-round pick. If he gets 70 percent of the snaps and the Jets make the playoffs, it becomes a second-round pick; and if he gets 80 percent of snaps and the Jets make the Super Bowl, it becomes a first-round pick.

This move ends the impasse between the 2, and it keeps Favre out of Minnesota. According to the NFL Network, if the Jets were to trade #4 to the Vikings, they would have to give the Pack 3 first round picks. Finally, the situation is over, and I don’t have to hear this every day on ESPN.

What could possibly stop LeBron James from going to the New Jersey Nets and joining his buddy Jay-Z other than the other New York team, the Knicks? Some other title contender offering top dollar? Hardly. Then what could it be? Surprisingly, the answer is a European team.

A person close to James said he would consider playing overseas if he was offered a salary of “around $50 million a year.”

James’ current contract expires after the 2010-2011 season, but he can opt out after the 2009-2010 season. Even though many teams are working to clear out salary cap space for that summer, none could offer a contract beginning at even $20 million a year.

The Russian team CSKA Moscow and the Greek team Olympiacos, which recently gave Josh Childress a contract approaching $30 million over three years, have already contacted James, according to the person close to him. The person added, however, that no monetary or contractual discussions have taken place.

While $50 million may seem outrageous, it actually is not, considering the fact that David Beckham signed a 5 year, $250 million contract to play soccer in America, or the $33 million that Jerry Reinsdorf now regrets having given Michael Jordan to return for the 1997-98 NBA season. Additionally, the strength of the euro in comparison to the dollar, and the fact that European clubs are not bound by a salary cap make this deal sensible.

There have been several players who left the NBA for European league teams this summer, but none of James caliber have left - or even considered it. If James were to go overseas, it would be a disaster for the NBA. However,

The source close to James said LeBron would play in Europe only for a year or two before returning to the NBA. He said James would view it as an opportunity to popularize the game and himself overseas. He added that James would not consider himself to be playing in the “minor leagues.”

“Not at all,” the person said. “He believes those guys are pros also.”

The entire scenario falls in line with James’ stated goals of becoming a billionaire and “global icon.”

On Tuesday, MLB suspended Kansas City Royals catcher Miguel Olivo and pitcher Zack Greinke for five games for their actions during a brawl during a Sunday game with the Chicago White Sox.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was suspended two games and Royals manager Trey Hillman was given one game. All four were also fined. Hillman served his on Tuesday, per MLB rules, as managers and coaches are not allowed to appeal suspensions. Ozzie Guillen served the first game on Tuesday, and will serve the second game tonight. Olivo and Greinke appealed their suspensions, which will allow them to play until an appeal is heard.

I am outraged by the rulings. MLB is being way too excessive with Olivo and Greinke and way too light with the White Sox. Why wasn’t D.J. Carrasco suspended either? I don’t buy the excuse from the umpire that it wasn’t intentional. He threw at Olivo’s head twice. And what about Ozzie and his remarks after the game that he has admitted to ordering his pitchers to hit batters before and the fact that he said he will do it again? MLB really needs to give Guillen a very harsh penalty. This guy has gone off on the umpires before, he called Mariotti a homosexual term, and has admitted to ordering his pitchers to hit batters.

All-Star pitcher Dan Haren and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to terms on a 4-year extension, a contract which will pay Haren $44.75 million through the 2012 season, and a club option for 2013. With Haren locked up, now the Diamondbacks can turn their attention to their other ace Brandon Webb and locking him up to give the Snakes a potent 1-2 punch for many years down the road.

After being out for nearly a month with a blister probem on his right index finger, on Tuesday, the Chicago Cubs activated closer Kerry Wood from the DL.

To make room for Wood on the 25-man active roster, Scott Eyre was designated for assignment. On Wednesday, Wood pitched a scoreless eighth inning, in the Cubs 11-7 win. Cubs GM Jim Hendry said Eyre cleared trade waivers, giving the Cubs 7 days to work out a deal with someone.

After a series of off-field mishaps, the NFL has suspended Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall for the first 3 games of the 2008 season, with the possibility of the penalty being reduced to 2 games, if Marshall meets certain conditions.

Marshall and his attorney were angered by the ruling, and were hoping they’d get a warning, but no suspension. Despite an incident in the off-season that left Marshall with a broken arm, he has been having a really good training camp.

On Tuesday, August 5, the New York Mets placed closer Billy Wagner on the 15-day DL with a strained left forearm, leaving the Mets without their closer as they chase a playoff spot.

This is a damaging blow to the Mets playoff chances, as until yesterday, no one else had saved a game for them. Who closes in place of Wagner remains to be seen, but if Aaron Heilman is the answer, the Mets are dead meat. Heilman has given up 9 home runs, the most of any Mets reliever, including one yesterday. The only positive news for the Mets was that an MRI exam and X-rays on his pitching arm showed no structural damage.