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The 2007 Ralphie Awards
'Tis the season to bring a little joy to all of the girls and boys who toil day after day in the media relations and broadcasting of your favorite minor league sports. Meet the best of the best who bring you your daily box scores, and add the color and passion to your club's broadcasts.
[Feature Section]
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Francona's Farm
Boston skipper Terry FRANCONA attributes the Red Sox' World Series success story to leadership from his farmhands. [Article] |
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The Baseball Winter League Meetings 2007
Minor League Baseball (MiLB) coronates a new king, and the struggle for the digital future of MiLB continues, plus all the trades, schmoozing, hand-shaking and back-slapping that surrounds the annual soul of baseball event.
[Special Event Section]
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Father Matt
Matt Antonelli is the prayer answered at second base for the San Diego Padres. Will the Friar Faithful be delivered a miracle, or will Father Matt find himself praying in Portland in 2008?
[Article]
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Exeunt Barry Bonds: Dealing with MLB's Drug Addiction
Barry exits the baseball stage, but was he the cause, or just a symptom of a bigger addiction?
[MAJOR BLOGS]
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Jurrjens Joy
Hurler Jair Jurrgens is looking at a new club, after the trade that sent him from Detroit to Atlanta. His journey from his native Curaçao to a shot at the Braves is a baseball love story, with a little island romance.
[Article]
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Putting your sports on the web
In Gear
Sports social search engines rev up your enjoyment of sports on the web. MLN takes you for a test drive of the better SSEs with an eye towards the ones that give minor league sports fans their props.
[Article]
MLN
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When the Pope Hosts the 700 Club
With the signing of Joe Torre as the Los Angeles Dodgers new skipper, is the farm system dead?
[Article]
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World Series Championships, Like Fine American Whiskies, Are A Blend
The Boston Red Sox swept the Colorado Rockies to give the club its second World Series ring in less than a half-decade. The championship clubs of the Red Sox are like fine American whiskies. Brian Ross explains. [BLOG]
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Will there be a civil war between the International League North and South over a thousandth of a point?
[Article]
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Shooting Stars
Rob Truck's Cup of Coffee tracks the fleetingly brilliant caeers of 18 momentary major leaguers who pitched their way into the dream, only to wake up back in the minors. [Article] |
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Blowing Up Da Brick!
Lou Merloni leads the Sacramento River Cats to slaughter the Richmond Braves as the Pacific Coast League slams the International League for the second straight Bricktown Showdown, the Triple-A Championship. [Article] |
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Fog Out
The weather took the field at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, CT , as fog shrouded the Eastern League All-Star game making for some bizarre, and sometimes downright scary play.
[Article]
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The Best Damn Minor League Sports Movie (of all time)
Did Paul Newman's band of misfits from the 1997 Universal Pictures film "Slap Shot" send Kevin Costner and "Bull Durham" to the showers? Find out in the first-ever fan vote for the best minor league or alternative pro sports movie of all time. [Article] |
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GOING OFF!In the ballet of pitcher and batter, an explosive crescendo is the intentional hit, followed by the dance-du-brawl on the mound. Catcher John Nathans caught Offerman's now famous faux-pas in the head, for which Offerman, and professional baseball may be eternally grateful. [Article]*
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HU's Da Man
Los Angeles Dodgers Taiwanese prospect, shortstop Chin Lung Hu, powers up the World team in a 7-2 blowout at the MLB Futures game. [Article] |
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Coolbaugh: 1972-2007
A great life in baseball remembered, Mike Coolbaugh was a professional baseball player, a father, and, until his tragic accident on the field, a new coach for Tulsa. [Article] |
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International League is the Life of the Fiesta
2007 Triple-A All-Star game in Albuquerque was a celebration of Triple-A Talent [Article] |
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The Doryfication of Baseball
How does Barry Bonds get away with 200+ (allegedly) juiced home runs? Do baseball fans have Dory-like attention spans? What about the tough minor league drug policy? Brian Ross takes us to task for not being 'mad as hell.' [MAJOR BLOGS]
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Guy Gets A Free Steak
Movie baseball all-star Kevin Costner, shows up in Albuquerque for a little BP and to polish up his clichés.
Another MAJOR MOMENT
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The VIP Room
Branch Rickey Weighs In on the Helmet Debate
Is there a practical way to protect base coaches from injrues? Pacific Coast League president Branch Rickey gives us his two cents.
[MAJOR BLOGS]
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Rising on the radar
MLN ONES2Watch 2007
Beyond the MLN FAB50 Baseball 2007 prospects on the fast track to the major leagues, there is another group of rising stars just starting out, or not quite ready to advance as fast as our FAB50 picks. They are the MLN Ones2Watch™. Tyler Colvin of the Daytona Cubs (Chicago Cubs) is no. 1 in a list of 25 players that you'll want to check out!
[Article]
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The Editor's Raves
The Height of COOL
The tragic death of base coach Mike Coolbaugh reignites the debate over whether the guys on the line deserve a little protection. MLN Sr. Editor Brian Ross issues a challenge to the baseball powers-that-be.
[MAJOR BLOGS]
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The Guerrilla Stringer
On Picking One's Battles
Columnist Dan Hickling who blogs his journey through minor league sports from the road that he has well traveled, takes on his most fearsome opposition.
[MAJOR BLOGS]
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The Best of the Best in the Minors
MLN FAB50 Baseball 2007
The MLN FAB50 sets the standard for player rankings with a list that blends talent and the realities of the player's farm system.
Evan Longoria is the no. 1 player in the minors. Who are the other 49?
Big photos. Feature articles on each player by some of the best writers in the biz.
[Feature Section]
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Higher Office
While other former governors and mayors jockey to become president, former Indiana governor Joe Kernan has already landed the plumb presidential positon, at the top perch of the South Bend SilverHawks. [Article] *
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Raves for Rantz
The Minnesota Twins inducted farm director Jim Rantz into their Hall of Fame this spring. Many fans don't know him well, yet every player for more than 21 years has had to get his personal seal of approval before they even set foot on a farm field. [Article]* |
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The Big Save
Boston Red Sox rookie hurler Jon Lester has been responsible for many a save over his baseball career, but an automobile accident last August may have saved his. [Article] * |
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Tides Tradition Ebbs with Humdrum Help on Orioles Farm
The deal may make sense on paper, but as freelancer Jon Elliot opines, the drop in the quality of talent is a hard pill to swallow for Tides fans who have watched Mets superstars since the sixties. [MAJOR BLOGS]
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The Lobsterman
Pitcher Devern Hansack was set adrift by the Astros in 2004 and returned to a life of lobster fishing in Pearl Lagoon, Nicaragua. Now the lanky righty owns part of a major league record and he is fishing for a major league career with Boston.
[Article]*
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Why Mike Moore May Become the Unintentional Savior of Baseball
Mike Moore retires this week leaving minor league baseball's owners a whole lot richer. Will his move to turn MiLB.com into MLB.com's Mini-Me have an unintended payoff?
[MAJOR BLOGS]
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The Real Deal
MLB Draft 2007
Watch the ESPN-2 coverage on day one? Did they have clue-zero about the inner workings of the Major League Draft? HINT: It's really the minor league draft.
[FEATURE]
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The Results Are In!
MLN Vote4TheBest 2007
This year, we let the fans choose the best venue, arena or baseball stadium. You told us about your favorite features, food, and entertainment too. What is the best minor league sports facility in North America? You chose wisely.
[Feature]
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Express Delivery
Philip Hughes is the golden arm of the Yankees. Was he rushed to hush the New York Media?
[MAJOR BLOGS]
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New Section!
Behind the Cage
MLN debuts the tips and news tidbits from around minor league and indy baseball with a special video performance that left Mississippi burning...
[Section]
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Spark Plug
Can Sarasota Reds outfielder Jay Bruce reignite the Big Red Machine in Cincinnati the way that he's lighting up the Florida State League? [Article] |
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Flying Oak
Visalia Oaks third basemen Rusty Ryal goes airborne; The Manchester Monarchs Rex and his Zamboni cover Center Field. It's all part of this month's...
[MAJOR MOMENTS]*
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Not Your Father's Catcher
Braves catching phenom Jarrod Saltalamacchia is the third man on one of the few 40 Man rosters deep in catchers. Can he break the major league roster? Will it be in Atlanta? [Article]
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ZAMBONI SPRING
Would someone please explain to me why the International League is scheduling April games in the Northeast? To give the Central and South the make-up games. Jim Mandelaro catches the fox in the henhouse. [MAJOR BLOGS].
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MLN Sports Spring Baseball Report 2007
As the ravages of this snow-bound spring thaw out, warm your hands over the computer keyboard as you check out our spring reports for the major league farm systems. Minor League News has dispatched reporters to Spring Training to bring you back not only the movers for this year's major league rosters, but the prospects making their way to your home towns to populate your favorite farm franchise.
Some old faces in new places, some exciting new prospects, and why Yankee fans might find going 'organic' will be cool.
[Feature Section]*
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Finish BIG
Glen Perkins 2006 season ended with a taste of life on the mound of the Metrodome. Will this Minnesota native get to make it a permanent address in 2007? [Article] |
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Slow Hand
For Minnesota Twins prospect Kevin Slowey, it isn't about speed. It isn't about finesse. It's all about the control. [Article] |
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Putting His Imprint on 1000
Ron Johnson began his minor league managerial career believing that he was the second coming of Earl Weaver. After topping 1000 games in 2006, what does the Pawtucket Red Sox skipper do for an encore? [Article]
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Overnight Sensation
Ryan Howard graces the covers of the major league media machine, as it gears up for the greatest new "super slugger" in a generation. MLN MAJOR MOMENTS kicks off with a look back our coverage of Howard before he became an overnight sensation.
[MAJOR MOMENTS]*
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Tucson Sidewinders Take A Bite Out of the
Bricktown Showdown
At the inaugural Bricktown Showdown, the Pacific Coast League takes the first bite out of the new Triple-A championships. A look back at the 2006 debut. [Article]
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MLB Civil Rights Game - The Misfire in Memphis
Once again, Major League Baseball tries to put a little flash on its season opener to distract from NCAA March Madness. Once again, a good idea gets lost in the execution. [MAJOR BLOGS]
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Boston Herald Columnist Steve Buckley is Full of Bulls
Boston Herald columnist Steve Buckley calls Durham "just another minor league tank town." Them's fightin' words. [MAJOR BLOGS]
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The VIP Room
The VIP Room, a guest blog for leaders in the minor league sports biz and players with a take, makes its debut. [MAJOR BLOGS]
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Finding Fenway
This winter, 12 players were selected by the Boston Red Sox for a special camp to prepare them for their journey to the major leagues. [Article]* |
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TITANIC Talent
Elijah Dukes career was steaming towards Tampa Bay through troubled waters. Has it finally run aground? [Article] |
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50 v. 50
Minor League Baseball put out its most recent round of Top 50 players for the end of the 2005 season. I think our MLN FAB50 Baseball rankings are better. Here's why.
by MLN Consulting Baseball Analyst Lary BUMP
[The NEW Writers' Bullpen @ MAJOR BLOGS]
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SPEED KILLS
The more speed you've got, the more money you're worth. After a minor tune up in the Arizona Fall League, will Boston Red Sox prospect Jacoby Ellsbury be big money in 2007? [Article]
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Have Gun - Will Travel
Who is the guy with the radar gun sitting behind home plate? The most important person in the game. [Article]
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