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Archive for January, 2010

 
THIRD BASE (3B) RANKINGS 2009

1. Alex Rodriguez – New York Yankees (34)

Approaching his mid thirties, Rodriguez is likely at the peak of his career entering the 2009 season. Rodriguez is still the clear #1 pick at third base, but the younger David Wright and Evan Longoria are inching closer and may overtake A-Rod in 2010. However if you have the chance, draft A-Rod and know that you will get a guaranteed 35-45 homeruns, 110-130 rbi, 110-120 runs scored, 10-20 stolen bases, and a .300 plus batting average in 2009. Having A-Rod on your team in 2009 is a great way to win your league’s championship.

2. David Wright – New York Mets (26)

Wright is a proven fantasy baseball stud, and at just age 26, there doesn’t look to be any let up from him for at least the next 5 years! Wright is nearly a rotisserie scoring god, as he more than adds his fair share of stats across every scoring category. The 2009 season should have Wright posting 30 homeruns, 110 rbi, 110 runs scored, 20 stolen bases, and an excellent .300 plus batting average.

3. Miguel Cabrera – Detroit Tigers (26)

If he qualifies at third base in your league, just take it and be thankful. Otherwise, Cabrera will likely only qualify as a first baseman from here on out in fantasy baseball leagues. Another career year could be in store for Cabrera in 2009, which means his first 40 homerun season, along with 130 rbi, 100 runs scored, and a .300 plus batting average are very realistic expectations for him in 2009.

4. Evan Longoria – Tampa Bay Rays (23)

At just age 23 for the 2009 fantasy baseball season, Longoria is ready to take over the reigns as a top 5 overall fantasy baseball third baseman for the next ten years. Expecting 30 plus homeruns, 100 rbi, 100 runs scored, 10 stolen bases, and a .280 batting average is likely from Longoria in 2009.

5. Aramis Ramirez – Chicago Cubs (31)

Currently entrenched in the prime of his career at age 31, Ramirez should once again post his usual numbers of 30 homeruns, 100 rbi, 90 runs scored, and a batting average close to .300 for the 2009 season.

6. Chipper Jones – Atlanta Braves (37)

Jones has been injury riddled the past few years, however when he does play, Jones is one of the best fantasy baseball third baseman in the game. An excellent batting average around .320 will lead his cause, with a good 20 plus homeruns, 80 rbi and 80 runs scored possible if he plays in just 120 games during the 2009 season. If Jones manages to play in more games, those stats will all go up across the board.

7. Garrett Atkins – Colorado Rockies (29)

If Atkins stays in Colorado, then he is clearly a very good third base option in 2009 fantasy baseball leagues. Not to mention Atkins duel eligibility at third base and first base helps his case tremendously. Teaming with the Colorado air, Atkins should post numbers around 30 homeruns, 115 rbi and 100 runs scored, while managing a healthy .300 batting average for the 2009 season.

8. Adrian Beltre – Seattle Mariners (30)

Even though Beltre has never reached that 40 homerun plateau again, he has actually been a model of consistency over the past six out of seven years. Beltre will finally be 30 years old for the 2009 season, so his prime fantasy baseball years are right now. His classic 25 homeruns, 80 rbi-90 rbi, 80 runs scored, 10 stolen bases, and .270 batting average is a good bet for him in 2009.

9. Kevin Youkilis – Boston Red Sox (30) BUST

Ok maybe I’m giving Youkilis the short end of the stick, but in all honesty, I just don’t seem him coming close his 2008 stats. In four prior seasons, Youkilis posted just 7, 1, 13, and 16 homeruns with averages totaling .260, .278, .279, and .288 in those four seasons respectively. In other words, a repeat performance of 29 homeruns, 115 rbi, and a .312 batting average in 2009 isn’t very likely. If you want to take a chance and draft him higher go for it, but just don’t expect 30 homeruns and 115 rbi.

10. Edwin Encarnacion – Cincinnati Reds (26)

At just 26 years old for the 2009 fantasy baseball season, Encarnacion has plenty of potential to improve upon his 2008 stats. Numbers in the range of 30 homeruns, 80 rbi, 80 runs scored, and a .275 batting average seem likely for Encarnacion in 2009.

11. Ryan Zimmerman – Washington Nationals (24)

Injuries derailed Zimmerman’s breakout campaign in 2008, so his outlook for 2009 will have many fantasy baseball managers once again thinking breakout year. 20-25 homeruns, 90-100 rbi, 90 runs scored, 5-10 stolen bases, and a .280 batting average is possible from Zimmerman in 2009.

12. Chone Figgins – Los Angeles Angels (31)

Speed, speed, and more speed is the name of the game for Figgins. In other words, if you want a third basemen who can single handedly help you win your stolen base category, Figgins is the guy. 40-50 stolen bases are likely in 2009 with more possible if Figgins can stay healthy all year. On the down side, Figgins doesn’t offer an ounce of power, so anything more than 5 homeruns would be a major achievement for him in 2009.

13. Mark Reynolds – Arizona Diamondbacks (26)

Reynolds is the prototypical major league baseball slugger. He has tremendous homerun and rbi potential, but his batting average is close to atrocious. However if he can come close to his .279 batting average during the 2007 season rather than his 2008 batting average of .255, Reynolds would shoot up these rankings and be a clear top 10 overall fantasy baseball third basemen by the end of the 2009 season.

14. Kevin Kouzmanoff – San Diego Padres (28)

With last year supposed to be his breakout campaign, Kouzmanoff’s 23 homeruns and 84 rbi didn’t quite cut it. In other words, Kouzmanoff has the potential for 35 homeruns and 100 rbi to go along with a batting average around .280 for the 2009 season. This just might be his breakout year.

15. Chris Davis – Texas Rangers (23) SLEEPER

At this point in the rankings and your draft, now is the time to gamble on Davis. He will be just 23 years old for the 2009 season, and yet he already displays huge power potential. The jury is still out on Davis as to whether he is a first basemen or third basemen, but as of now it looks like the Rangers are set to make him their everyday starting first baseman to begin the 2009 season. Assuming Davis plays up to his potential, he could easily rack up 500-600 at bats, while producing anything from 30-40 homeruns and 90-110 rbi to go along with a decent .280-.290 batting average for the 2009 season.

16. Russell Martin – Los Angeles Dodgers (26)

Martin is obviously more valuable as a catcher, but after playing several games at third base in 2008, he will likely qualify as a third basemen in your league for the 2009 season. The added versatility is always helpful on fantasy baseball teams, so Martin’s 10-15 homeruns, 15-20 stolen bases, 60-70 rbi, 80-90 runs scored, and a batting average around .290 can definitely be useful.

17. Pablo Sandoval – San Francisco Giants (23) SLEEPER

Currently projected to play third base for the Giants, Sandoval may qualify at catcher and first base in your league based on his playing time in 2008. And if Sandoval does quality at all three positions, he may just be the steal of numerous fantasy baseball drafts in 2009. Sandoval offers outstanding power potential and could easily post 20 plus homeruns and 70 rbi while hitting at or above a .300 clip.

18. Mark DeRosa – Cleveland Indians (34) BUST

After posting a career year in 2008, the Cubs quickly bailed on the 34 year old DeRosa in hopes of getting good value for him while they still could. DeRosa’s fantasy outlook for 2009 looks solid, but with a track record that includes just 13 homeruns as his career high prior to his 21 homeruns in 2008, I highly doubt DeRosa will come close to 20 homeruns again in 2009. Expect solid numbers, but not great numbers from DeRosa in 2009. His best fantasy baseball asset is definitely his versatility, as DeRosa should qualify at second base, third base, left field and right field in your league, and if an injury occurs to a starter, DeRosa can even play first base and shortstop if needed, which would give him even more position eligibility in fantasy baseball leagues for the 2009 season. 15 homeruns, 70 rbi, 80-90 runs scored, 5 stolen bases, and a batting average around .285 seems realistic for DeRosa in 2009.

19. Jorge Cantu – Florida Marlins (27)

After making an outstanding comeback in 2008, it’s hard to believe if Cantu is for real this time around. If he is for real, then at just age 27, Cantu actually has the potential to increase his stats from last season. Cantu will likely also offer duel eligibility at both third base and first base in your fantasy baseball league, so the added versatility helps his cause greatly heading in the 2009 fantasy baseball season.

20. Aubrey Huff – Baltimore Orioles (32)

After a three year hiatus, Huff bounced back in 2008 to produce another 30 homerun, 100 rbi, and .300 plus batting average campaign. However while that may seem great and all, expecting that type of production from Huff again in 2009 is hard to believe. Yet with a decent major league track record, the potential to match his 2008 numbers is definitely there for Huff. Just don’t draft him too high or rely on him too heavily to carry your team at the third base position.

21. Michael Young – Texas Rangers (32)

With the Rangers looking to move Young from shortstop to third base for the 2009 season, the only real cause for joy in 2009 fantasy baseball leagues will be Young’s duel eligibility. Otherwise the typical Michael Young stats of 10-15 homeruns, 80-100 rbi, 80-100 runs scored, 10 stolen bases, and a steady batting average around .300 seem likely for him during the 2009 season.

22. Alex Gordon – Kansas City Royals (25)

Gordon was so highly touted coming out of college, that his 2007 and 2008 major league seasons seem like huge disappointments. Yet it is important to remember that Gordon will be just 25 years old for the 2009 season, and his best is yet to come. Expecting Gordon’s numbers to go up across the board looks like a very realistic possibility for him during the 2009 season. 20 homeruns, 80 rbi, 80 runs scored, 15 stolen bases, and a .275 batting average are possible for Gordon in 2009.

23. Ian Stewart – Colorado Rockies (24) BREAKOUT

Stewart is young, has plenty of power, and he plays half of his games at Coors Field. Looks like a breakout year could be in store for him in 2009. Stewart’s duel eligibility at second base and third base should make him a big time commodity for fantasy baseball teams looking for versatility and star potential. If you take a chance on Stewart and he comes through on his potential, he could very easily lead you to your league’s championship title in 2009.

24. Mike Lowell – Boston Red Sox (35)

With injuries decimating Lowell’s production in 2008, he definitely disappointed numerous fantasy baseball teams last year. Yet if Lowell is healthy to begin the 2009 season, he still has the ability to post 20 homeruns. But if Lowell’s age is finally beginning to catch up to him, then I wouldn’t expect much more than 10 homeruns for the 2009 season. As of now, Lowell is a very high risk, high reward pick, who could greatly disappoint or greatly surprise for the 2009 fantasy baseball season.

25. Melvin Mora – Baltimore Orioles (37) BUST

Even though Mora is coming off of a season where he belted 23 homeruns and 104 rbi to the tune of a .285 batting average, Mora’s age at 37 may finally begin to show in 2009 fantasy baseball leagues. After last seasons barrage, it doesn’t seem realistic to expect Mora to come close to his 2008 numbers once again in 2009.

26. Josh Fields – Chicago White Sox (26) BREAKOUT

With Joe Crede finally out of the way, the third base job in Chicago is now Fields’ job to lose for the 2009 season. Fields will be a sleeper pick for many fantasy baseball managers heading into the 2009 season, as he offers excellent power numbers, with 30 homeruns and 90 rbi being a very realistic possibility from Fields in 2009.

27. Carlos Guillen – Detroit Tigers (33)

Even though Guillen will be 33 for the 2009 season, he still brings a solid .290-.300 batting average, 10-15 homeruns, and 5-10 stolen bases to the table. Guillen’s best asset will be his versatility, as he should qualify at first base, third base, and possible even outfield in your fantasy baseball league for the 2009 season.

28. Hank Blalock – Texas Rangers (28)

Hammerin’ Hank hasn’t been much of a homerun hitter for a couple of years now, but maybe his transition to full time DH can get him healthy and his numbers back up into the 25 homerun range. Blalock’s best asset will be his versatility, as he should quality at both first base and third base in your fantasy baseball league for the 2009 season.

29. Casey Blake – Los Angeles Dodgers (35)

Blake will be 35 for the 2009 season, however I do believe another 20 plus homerun season could be in store for him during the 2009 season. Just remember however that Blake doesn’t offer too much help in other scoring categories, as he doesn’t steal any bases, score a lot runs, collect rbi’s, or even hit for a great batting average.

30. Troy Glaus – St. Louis Cardinals (33) BUST

At age 33, Glaus and his constant injury history has already made an impact on fantasy baseball teams even before the 2009 season started. But in case you haven’t heard, Glaus will miss the beginning of the 2009 season because of surgery on his throwing shoulder. His return is expected to be around mid to late May, so Glaus could possibly miss the first two months of the 2009 season. With this mind, expecting 20 homeruns and 60 rbi is still possible from Glaus in 2009. Just be aware of his career .256 batting average.

31. Dallas McPherson – Florida Marlins (29) SLEEPER

If Florida decides to move current third baseman Jorge Cantu to first base permanently for the 2009 season, then the power hitting McPherson will have the first crack at nailing down the starting third base job for the Marlins on opening day 2009. If McPherson begins the season as the starter, he has just as much potential as Texas’ Chris Davis. 30-40 homeruns, 100 rbi, 80 runs scored, and a .280-.290 batting average is possible if McPherson can claim a starting job for the entire 2009 season.

32. Blake DeWitt – Los Angeles Dodgers (23) BREAKOUT

Originally projected as a third baseman, DeWitt will have a chance to claim the starting second base job for the Dodgers in 2009 now that Jeff Kent has retired. With 27 games played at second base already under his belt from last year, DeWitt could slide nicely into that position for the entire 2009 season. As a combo 3B/2B eligible infielder, DeWitt holds great versatility which gives him an additional advantage over other third base options in 2009 fantasy baseball leagues.

33. Jed Lowrie – Boston Red Sox (25) SLEEPER

Given a chance to play third base and shortstop last year because of injuries to Mike Lowell and Julio Lugo, Lowrie now seems poised to become the everyday starting shortstop for Boston by opening day 2009. If Lowrie does claim the starting job, he makes for an excellent late round sleeper pick in 2009 fantasy baseball drafts, as Lowrie has the ability to post 10 homeruns, 15 steals, a .280 batting average, and 100 runs scored in a high powered Boston offense.

34. Brian Buscher – Minnesota Twins (28) SLEEPER

Given just limited playing time in 2008, Buscher produced admirably, and he will now be given a chance to open the 2009 season as the Twins starting third baseman. Buscher has decent homerun potential to go along with a solid batting average. Stats in the range of 15-20 homeruns, 70-80 rbi, and a .290 batting average is possible, with plenty of potential for higher stats if Buscher remains an everyday starter for the Twins in 2009.

35. Bill Hall – Milwaukee Brewers (29)

Just two years ago Hall belted 35 homeruns, however since then his production has gone downhill in a hurry. If Hall reaches 20 homeruns it would be an accomplishment for the 2009 season. Yet even with the 20 homerun potential, Hall’s terrible batting average, he holds a career .258 average, is enough to turn any fantasy baseball manager off.

36. Andy LaRoche – Pittsburgh Pirates (25) SLEEPER

Once a star studded prospect, LaRoche has yet to live up to his potential and all the hype surrounding him. However with a chance to finally play full time in the big leagues at third base for the Pirates in 2009, LaRoche could be poised for a breakout campaign. Keep him in mind during your 2009 fantasy baseball draft, as he is a very good sleeper candidate.

37. Pedro Feliz – Philadelphia Phillies (34)

Homeruns and rbi’s are the only reason Feliz should be considered on any fantasy baseball team for the 2009 season. Unfortunately those power numbers do come with a career .252 batting average. Beware.

38. Scott Rolen – Toronto Blue Jays (34) BUST

Rolen is clearly no longer a top third base option in fantasy baseball leagues anymore, and even if everything goes as well as it possibly could for Rolen in 2009, his numbers still shouldn’t surpass 20 homeruns, 80 rbi and 70 runs scored. Based on his age and injury history, you would be better off to take a chance on a young prospect then drafting Rolen.

39. Brandon Wood – Los Angeles Angeles (24) SLEEPER

Originally a shortstop converted to a third baseman and back again to shortstop, Wood has all the minor league credentials, but when he gets his chance in the big leagues, he fails miserably. Still Wood will be just 24 years old during the 2009 season, so maybe 2009 will finally be his breakout year.

40. Mat Gamel – Milwaukee Brewers (24) SLEEPER

Much like another recent Brewers third base prospect before him (Ryan Braun), Gamel is all offense and no defense. With Bill Hall currently blocking his path to play third base for the Brewers to begin the 2009 season, Gamel may be destined to stay in the minors for at least a portion of the 2009 season. However Gamel’s offensive potential is good enough to warrant consideration now, as he could have an impact similar to what Evan Longoria had last year for fantasy baseball teams at third base.

 

Not only the baseball but also the other sports have been infected with the disease of performance enhancing drugs. However, the steroids are still a dark mark on the legacy of baseball. The performance enhancing drugs can been found over the professional baseball locker rooms. But what hurt baseball more was the way that steroids were brought to light, and how players continue to be exposed as performance enhancing drug users. 
    Baseball in the mid nineties seemed to be forgotten. After a long and painful labor dispute a large portion of baseball’s fan base were turned off. Attendance and television ratings were way down and it appeared that baseball might fall to the level of   This situation partly was caused by the using of performance enhancing drugs. Although baseball has been forced to support anti-steroid campaigns, but there still has a culture of encouraging upcoming players to gain a pharmaceutical edge. Future prospects are faced with a tough decision of gaining an edge through steroids or watching teammates who are using outperform them on the field. The decision is still being placed on prospects and 【 】 because baseball refuses to draw a hard line in the sand banning illegal and harmful performance enhancing drugs.

In order to get rid of the influence of performance enhancing drugs, baseball needs to support healthy supplements. There are supplements on the market that will help a player to add muscle mass, and improve their physical conditioning. For example, Creatine is widely used. Creatine can add muscle growth anaerobic strength and explosive power.  And it hasn’t been proven to have any long term medical side effects. Creatine is a substance that is naturally produced in your body. It is also not a steroid. Creatine just helps players to lift weights more often, without suffering such drastic lactic acid build up in their muscles which causes soreness. Many people are reluctant to take any supplements fearing that the supplement will become banned and they will be retroactively guilty. 

Under the influence of performance enhancing drugs, baseball needs to take steps to protect their rights. Then baseball would come out and support the healthy training drugs, like Creatine, and ensure people that they won’t be punished for searching for a legal performance edge; then it would lessen the pressure that players feel to either take no supplements at all, or go all the way to using illegal performance enhancing drugs. So it is beneficial to choose some suitable training supplements to baseball players.
     As baseball players, having a healthy body and well professional ethics are very important. If you want to know more about the baseball players, such as their jerseys, you can visit here

William “Willie” Mays

Played the majority of his career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing out with the Mets. Mays won 2 MVP awards and had 24 appearances in the All Star Game. He played center field and ended his career with 660 home runs, which is currently fourth all time. Mays was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of eligibility, and his number 24 is retired by the Giants.

George “Babe” Ruth

Also known as The Great Bambino and the Sultan of Swat, he was the first player to hit 60 home runs in a single season (1927). His total of 714 home runs wasn’t broken for 39 years until 1974, when Hank Aaron smashed the score. Ruth played for the Red Sox, but was eventually sold to te Yankees. He left a curse in Boston, who didn’t when another World Series Title for more than 50 years. Babe’s number 3 is retired with the Yankees.

Tyrus “Ty” Cobb

Cobb was credited widely during his major league years with over 90 records. He holds several of these still, including highest career batting average and most career batting titles. Cobb kept many records for over 50 years, including most hits and most runs. He also has the record for most steals with 54. Cobb was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1936.

Walter Johnson

Johnson was a right handed pitcher in the majors from 1907 to 1927. His record total of 3,509 strikeouts held for 55 years. Johnson is now 9th on the all time strikeout list, but in his time, only two others were within a thousand of him: Cy Young (700+ behind) and Tim Keefe. His 99 mph fastball was virtually unique in those times, and his sidearm delivery is unique even now. As a pitcher for the Nationals, Johnson won 417 games, second only to Cy Young, with 511. Those two are the only players in history to have more than 400 wins.

Henry “Hank” Aaron

Hank Aaron played 21 seasons with the Braves and his last two with the Brewers. Aaron’s most noteworthy achievement is his 755 home run record, surpassed by Barry Bonds in 2007 *cough* cheater *cough*. He was a 25 time All Star selection, and a 3 time Gold Glove winner. Aaron’s #44 is retired by both the Brewers and the Braves. He was inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, his first year of eligibility.

Article by Howard M. Bailey

Custom baseball gloves are the new trend among the baseball players. There is nothing wrong in getting the custom baseball gloves. Indeed, the customized baseball gloves provide you more comfort and greater performance in the sport. It is also true that each and every player have different requirements based on size, comfort, design, and style. Getting a unique and perfect custom baseball gloves will help you boost your confidence and perform better in the game.

It is also true that every individual player wants to increases his performance so most of them opt for custom baseball gloves. Due to the huge requirement of custom baseball gloves, today we have different companies offering this service to their customers. You just need to find the right service provider and order your customized baseball gloves. If you are also one of them, looking for the right source to get the perfect custom baseball gloves for you then this article is best for you.

Getting custom baseball gloves at your location is little bit tough. But you can always try to get it done at your location so that you can look and feel the custom baseball gloves before paying for it. Ask the sport accessory stores at your location about the custom baseball service and try to find the right service providers at your location.

If you will not get any success to find out the right service provider for your custom baseball gloves then you can take the help of Internet. Search with the term custom baseball gloves in any of the search engines and you will find the array of online stores offering this service to their customers. Try to find out the best online stores from the list on the basis of website security, payment security, customer feedback, reviews, and testimonials.

Choosing the right baseball bat is perhaps one of the most important choices a hitter has to make as this can make or break his performance. Of-course there is no replacement for hard work and constant practice, but a good bat is definitely a plus and can play a major role in improving batting performance. If you are a beginner thinking about buying your first baseball bat then these tips will help you get some idea of what factors you should be looking at. These tips are also applicable to fastpitch and slowpitch softball bats.

1.) Know Your League Rules: The first and foremost thing you need to know before venturing out to buy a bat is the rules of your league. Check with your coach and find out the exact requirements of the league. Do they want you to use wood or metal bats? Is there a certain ratio between the bat’s weight and length that you need to follow? These are some questions that you need to have answers for.

2.) Fix Up a Budget: Baseball bats are available in a range of prices starting from as low as and going as high as 0. A costlier bat does not necessarily mean better performance and is certainly not a replacement for hard work and practice. The only benefit of higher end bats is the relative light weight built. They come with very thin walls that help the hitter hit the ball with more power. The possible downside is that the bat will generate dents and other deformities as month’s progress. This means using your costly investment in batting cages would be a bad idea.

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If you are a recreational player and are looking for a bat that can be used for practice in batting cages, a better alternative is to go for bats in the mid price range. This way you can get yourself a decent bat that will last through-out a season or two without needing replacement.

3.) Bat Material: Wooden baseball bats are out of the scene so there is no point in buying them unless you are a pro. Wood bats are less durable and are heavier. They also do not generate a lot of power. This leaves us with aluminum bats that are available in range of prices depending on their quality. Extremely light weight bats generally tend to be more costly, but nothing can be said about their durability. The durability depends totally on the type of alloy used to manufacture the bad. Most budget bats were made with standard aircraft aluminum. These bats were a bit week. Bats that were made with aluminum and small amounts of copper were a lot stronger. Today the market is flooded with a range of bats from different manufactures claming superior quality material. The best way to find out which bat is more durable is to check online reviews on the bat online or check with people who have already used the bat.

4.) Feel of the bat: If this is your first bat, it is best advised that you go to a baseball store and feel the bat for yourself before making the buy. Of-course once you know which bat to buy, you can always order the same bat off the internet to get a better deal. Internet gives you the opportunity to compare shop you bat which could help you find great deals.

5.) Bat weight: The lighter the bat the more the bat speed. More bat speed helps generate more power. This is why it is advisable to go for bats that feel light enough for you. The best to test if a bat weighs right is to hold the bat with one hand near the bottom with only your fingers (with the exception of your thumb) and try to lift it a couple of times. If you are not able to lift the bat using only your wrist then the bat is not the right one for you.

6.) Length of the Bat: The right length is equally important as the right weight. The length of the bat should be in tune with the weight of the bat. This is also known as the length to weight ratio. Weight ratio of a bat represents how many ounces a bat weighs in comparison to its length in inches. If you are buying a college or high school bat, this ratio will be under -3.

No matter what kind of bat your choose, it goes without saying that practice makes the game perfect. Remember this and you are sure to have a great game!

Article by David Stack

Baseball, one of the most popular sports in the world, has also grown to be the national pastime especially for kids. As top baseball athletes today take the game into the next level, many baseball enthusiasts get into the sport. Baseball is indeed fun and exciting, which makes it a great sport for kids, teens, and adults. When you enter the field, baseball players should have the proper equipment to completely enjoy the game and also for safety purposes. Most reasonably priced baseball equipment can be found in the Internet, which is very ideal for those who want to enjoy the sports without spending much. Baseball Rampage is one of those retailers that offer affordable, high quality equipment from the top brands. With coupon codes on hand, you will definitely save more money from discounts and free shipping deals.

Baseballs are probably one of the most important items in playing the sport. Of course, without the ball, you have nothing to hit. In buying the baseball, make sure you pick the ones that are properly wrapped and stitched made from leather so that the balls would last long. Another important equipment would be the gloves. Baseballs are kind of heavy and hard, so gloves are used to protect your hand and for you to catch the ball easily. Most gloves preferred for playing are the ones made from leather. Gloves with open webbings are ideal so you would be able to watch the ball until you catch it. Closed-web gloves are used by pitchers to hide the type of pitch they’ll be throwing. For baseball bats, there are various types, like wood, aluminum and ceramic bats. Wood bats are best for batting practices, especially for kids and teens. Using a wood bat allows you to swing at ease with speed and control. Just choose the durable ones to avoid breaking and peeling. Aluminum bats on the other hand are the more popular ones nowadays. It is more reasonable because it is quite pricey when you frequently replace a broken wooden bat. Aluminum bats are also light that allow hitters to swing with power and speed. When you buy an aluminum bat, try to hit it and once it rings, buy it.

Proper attire is needed when playing baseball. A complete baseball outfit includes baseball shoes, uniform, batting helmet and batting gloves when hitting, and baseball caps when on defense. When buying a traditional baseball shoe, choose the light ones with metal spikes or rubber cleats to get grip from the ground. For the batting equipment, batting gloves serve as hand protection to prevent blisters and scratches, and batting helmets to protect your head. For catchers, they require a special equipment. It is the heaviest uniform in baseball and mostly composed of protective gear. Besides the gloves and helmet, the catcher should wear a mask to protect the face, chest plate, athletic cup, knee savers, thigh pads, leg guards and foot plates.

To be a safe and fun sport, Baseball requires several equipment. You might think it’s quite expensive but by searching in the Internet and using Rampage Baseball promo codes, you get lots of money saving deals. Even if you’re a kid just playing ball with other kids, or a varsity player for your school, or even a professional guy who just wants to have fun after a busy day at work, Baseball Rampage will surely provide you the best equipment you need to have an unforgettable baseball experience.

CATCHER (C) RANKINGS 2009
1. Brian McCann – Atlanta Braves (25)

McCann will be just 25 years old for the 2009 season and he is just beginning to reach the prime of his career. McCann is an established 20 plus homerun guy who can also hit for average while posting excellent RBI totals for a catcher. As a middle of the order batter, McCann should get plenty of opportunities to put up excellent stats in 2009 while batting after Chipper Jones, and likely a much improved Yunel Escobar. Not to mention he has decent protection around him if Kelly Johnson continues his success and Casey Kotchman and Jeff Francoeur can reach their full potential. 20-25 homeruns, 80-100 rbi, 60-70 runs scored, and a solid .300 batting average are realistic for McCann in 2009.

2. Russell Martin – Los Angeles Dodgers (26)

If you want steals from your catcher position, then Martin is the hands down favorite. Some may even argue that his combination of steals and homeruns make him the #1 overall catcher for 2009. Also if your league gives him third base eligibility, this improves his versatility and makes him a better pick then more popular catchers like Joe Mauer and Victor Martinez. 10-15 homeruns, 15-20 stolen bases, 60-70 rbi, 80-90 runs scored, and a batting average around .290 seem like a good bet for Martin in 2009.

3. Joe Mauer – Minnesota Twins (26)

Mauer has been a consistent fantasy baseball catcher for the past four years, however his power numbers have not yet developed as had hoped. Still with plenty of potential and a proven track record, Mauer seems to be the safest pick at catcher after Brian McCann and Russell Martin. A high .320 plus batting average is Mauer’s safest bet in 2009, combined with 10 homeruns, 5 stolen bases, 80 plus rbi, and 80-90 runs scored.

4. Geovany Soto – Chicago Cubs (26)

After finally getting a full time job last season, Soto blazed onto the fantasy baseball scene and he doesn’t look to be letting up anytime soon. So assuming last year wasn’t a fluke, Soto offers outstanding power numbers for a catcher, and if he continues his success, he could easily be ranked above Joe Mauer, with the potential to over take Russell Martin at #2 by the end of the 2009 season. 25 homeruns, 90 rbi, 60-70 runs scored, and a solid .290 batting average is likely for Soto in 2009.

5. Victor Martinez – Cleveland Indians (30)

As the no-doubt #1 catcher for the past 4 years, Martinez finally takes a back seat for the 2009 fantasy baseball season. Now at age 30, wear and tear appears to be catching up to Martinez, literally. If he can maintain a steady balance of catching, playing first base, and being the DH, then there is plenty of potential for Martinez to rebound in 2009. However just remember Martinez isn’t a guaranteed commodity anymore. 20 homeruns, 80 rbi, 60 runs scored, and a batting average around .295 is likely for Martinez if all goes well and he stays healthy in 2009.

6. Ryan Doumit – Pittsburgh Pirates (28)

After finally nailing down the starting catcher’s job in 2008, Doumit showed he can offer more than just bench warming stats for fantasy baseball teams. An excellent combination of homeruns, rbi, and batting average, while batting third or fourth in the Pirates lineup makes Doumit a great option at catcher in 2009. 15-20 homeruns, 70 rbi, 70 runs scored, and a .300 plus batting average can be expected from Doumit for the 2009 season.

7. Chris Iannetta – Colorado Rockies (26) BREAKOUT

Iannetta went from my sleeper list last year, to a full fledged top 10 overall fantasy baseball catcher entering the 2009 season. If Iannetta continues his success from 2008, then 20-25 homeruns and 80 plus rbi are a very realistic possibility for him in 2009. Just make sure you don’t bet too much on Iannetta’s potential, because he could disappoint greatly. 20-25 homeruns, 80 rbi, 70 runs scored, and a batting average around .280 is possible if Iannetta wasn’t a fluke last year.

8. Bengie Molina – San Francisco Giants (35)

Even at age 34 last season, Molina still managed to belt out 16 homeruns, 95 rbi, and a .292 batting average. Numbers like that from a catcher are gold for fantasy baseball teams. While a downturn in production is likely in 2009, Molina still has plenty to offer fantasy baseball teams in 2009. 10-15 homeruns, 70-80 rbi, 40-50 runs scored, and a batting average around .295 is a realistic possibility for Molina in 2009.

9. Mike Napoli – Los Angeles Angels (27) BREAKOUT

Slowly entrenching himself as a 20 plus homerun hitter, Napoli will be entering the commonly known breakout age of 27 for the 2009 season. If you believe in that type of stuff, Napoli could be in store for a career year in 2009. If all goes as best as it could, Napoli has the ability to post 25-30 homeruns, 70-80 rbi, 60 runs scored, 5-10 stolen bases, and a batting average around .280.

10. Kelly Shoppach – Cleveland Indians (29)

With Victor Martinez’s injury struggles in 2008, Shoppach brings plenty of power potential to the table for fantasy baseball teams in 2009. 20-25 homeruns, 70 rbi, 60 runs scored, and a batting average around .270 seem like a good bet for Shoppach in 2009.

11. Matt Wieters – Baltimore Orioles (23) SLEEPER

Based on pure potential, Wieters offers a tremendous combination of power and batting average to be a top 5 overall catcher by the end of the 2009 season. However Wieters must first claim the job as the #1 catcher in Baltimore, or another year in the minors may be in store.

12. Pablo Sandoval – San Francisco Giants (23) SLEEPER

Currently projected to play third base for the Giants, Sandoval may qualify at catcher and first base in your league based on his playing time in 2008. And if Sandoval does quality at all three positions, he may just be the steal of numerous fantasy baseball drafts in 2009. Sandoval offers outstanding power potential and could easily post 20 plus homeruns and 70 rbi while hitting at or above a .300 clip.

13. Chris Snyder – Arizona Diamondbacks (28) BREAKOUT

Snyder has plenty of power potential considering he posted 16 homeruns and 64 rbi in just 334 at bats during the 2008 season. If Snyder can manage to collect between 450-500 at bats, he could have a career year while coming close to 25 homeruns and 80 rbi.

14. Jesus Flores – Washington Nationals (24) SLEEPER

Unlike more highly touted catching prospects such as Jeff Clement, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Max Ramirez, and Taylor Teagarden, Flores actually has a starting spot essentially nailed down to begin the 2009 season. With playing time on his side and 400 plus at bats likely in 2009, Flores is a great sleeper candidate heading into the 2009 fantasy baseball season. Flores has decent power potential to warrant a roster spot on almost all fantasy baseball teams no matter the league or roster size and scoring.

15. Ramon Hernandez – Cincinnati Reds (33)

If Bengie Molina can manage 16 homeruns and 95 rbi at age 34, then there is plenty of hope for Hernandez to rebound in his new Cincinnati hitter friendly ballpark. A return to 15-20 homeruns and 70 rbi is possible for Hernandez in 2009.

16. AJ Pierzynski – Chicago White Sox (32)

If you follow Pierzynski’s track record, then 10-15 homeruns, 50 rbi, 60 runs, and a .280 batting average is almost money in the bank. Nothing great, but definitely not terrible.

17. Dioner Navarro – Tampa Bay Rays (25)

After a very slow start to his career, Navarro finally showed signs of life last season with the Rays. Luckily for him and fantasy owners, Navarro will be just 25 years old for the 2009 season, and the potential for another steady increase in stats is possible. Expect a decent average around .290 along with 10 homeruns and 50-60 rbi.

18. Kurt Suzuki – Oakland Athletics (25)

Essentially the definition of streaky, Suzuki’s 2008 stats went from a batting average of .281 in April, to .213 in May, to .370 in June, to .326 in July, to .250 in August, and .234 in September. In other words, Suzuki doesn’t offer too much stat wise, but when he gets hot, he’s hot.

19. Yadier Molina – St. Louis Cardinals (27) BUST

I can’t help it, but I’m just not a Molina believer yet. Many fantasy baseball managers will be sky high on Molina entering the 2009 fantasy baseball season, but I won’t be one of them. Molina just simply doesn’t have enough power and he definitely doesn’t have any speed to help fantasy baseball teams. Not to mention Molina will always bat near the bottom of the order, so limited rbi and runs scored hamper his value also. However be Molina will be entering the 2009 fantasy baseball season at the magic age of 27, and he is coming off of a full season of batting .304, he does has some potential to continue his success. If you feel like being brave and going out on a limb, then Molina is worth taking a flyer on late in your draft as a backup catcher.

20. Jorge Posada – New York Yankees (38)

Age and injuries appear to have finally caught up with Posada. He could easily be ranked lower with numerous prospects having more potential then him for the 2009 fantasy baseball season, but his successful history and a stacked Yankees lineup could lead to some decent stats in 2009 if he is healthy.

21. Jeff Clement – Seattle Mariners (26) SLEEPER

Clement has seemingly been a stud can’t miss prospect for a of couple years now, and yet each year he ends up being that ‘miss’ prospect. Considering Kenji Johjima’s struggles last year and Seattle’s rebuilding project likely in store for 2009, Clement should finally get ample time to show what he can do. If he plays to his potential, Clement could easily post 20-30 homeruns.

22. Max Ramirez – Texas Rangers (24) SLEEPER

If you are looking for a young catcher with plenty of power potential, then Ramirez is a top choice. He posted 19 homeruns, 57 rbi, and a .347 batting average in just 81 minor league games in 2008, and he is fresh off being named Rookie of the Year in the 2008 Venezuelan winter league, where he posted 15 homeruns, 53 rbi, and a .298 batting average in just 50 games. If the logjam at catcher in Texas ever breaks up, Ramirez has tons of potential to be a top 10 overall fantasy baseball catcher by the end of the 2009 season.

23. Jarrod Saltalamacchia – Texas Rangers (24)

Salty is young and he can flat out hit. However with so much talent at catcher in Texas right now, Saltalamacchia may be on his way out of town. This would actually be a good thing for him and fantasy teams, because if he stays in Texas along with all the other stud catching prospects, his at bats and fantasy stats will likely be limited in 2009.

24. Taylor Teagarden – Texas Rangers (25)

As long as we are looking at Texas catchers, why not include the third on this list. Teagarden had by far the most productive stint among all the Rangers catchers in 2008, however he doesn’t project to have as much power as Max Ramirez, and he shouldn’t post as good of a batting average or be as good of a pure hitter as Jarrod Saltalamacchia. In which case, Teagarden is likely the third best catching prospect in Texas to begin the 2009 season. Still, Teagarden clearly has potential if he can get at bats.

25. Jason Varitek – Boston Red Sox (37)

Much like Posada, age has finally caught up to Varitek, as his stats have slowly declined over the past three season. However now that Varitek has resigned with the Red Sox, you can bet he will be the everyday starting catcher, which means he will remain a decent backup catcher on 2009 fantasy baseball teams.

26. Kenji Johjima – Seattle Mariners (33)

A huge bust last year, Johjima went from a top 10 overall fantasy baseball catcher entering the 2008 season, to no mans land entering the 2009 fantasy baseball season. However Johjima had produced very good stats in 2006 and 2007, so a rebound is always possible in 2009.

27. Gerald Laird – Detroit Tigers (29)

Likely to be the Tigers opening day starter at catcher for the 2009 season, Laird will have a great lineup around him which could increase his stats tremendously. Double digit homeruns and a decent batting average is possible.

28. Josh Bard – Boston Red Sox (31)

Seemingly Jason Varitek’s eventual replacement in Boston, Bard has never displayed much hitting or power potential throughout his career. However batting in an explosive lineup that includes David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Jason Bay, Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkilis to name a few, Bard could see a ton of good pitches with runners on base and in scoring position. Thus the potential for a breakout year from Bard is there for the 2009 season.

29. Miguel Olivo – Kansas City Royals (31)

Even though Olivo will be sharing the catching duties in Kansas City with John Buck, his past three years of posting 16, 16, and 12 homeruns, make him likely to post another season of double digits homeruns. If you need a #2 catcher, Olivo is someone who actually offers some pop in his bat.

30. John Baker – Florida Marlins (28) SLEEPER

Baker showed enough upside at the end of the 2008 season, that the Marlins decided to hand over the starting job to him entering the 2009 season. If Baker can continue his success, he could be a major sleeper who posts 10-15 homeruns and a batting average around .300.

Bats are standard part of baseball and softball equipment. However, baseball and softball bat are different in many ways. Above all, for young softball and baseball players bats are the same. On the other hand, at the adult level there are obvious and important differences between bats. Above all, there is significant difference even in softball. Moreover, slow-pitch bat is very distinguishable from fast pitch bat.

The length of the bat is one main difference between softball bats. When one starts to play at a young age, it would differ by up to 3 inches in length. But when an adult plays softball on a slow pitch, it would differ to an inch. The difference at adult fast-pitch would differ to 2 inches in length and in adult baseball would differ up to 3 inches in length. However, there is no difference between softball and baseball bats at the youth level.

After obvious differences in length, the second most vivid difference is that the barrels of baseball bats are fatter than those of softball bats.

One of the rules, which NCAA introduced, is to lower the performance of aluminum bats. NCAA also recommended that the weight in ounces of a bat must be no lesser than 3 in numeric quantity of the length of the bat. So, a 32 inch baseball bat must weigh no lesser than 29 oz. It can be 32 oz, 31 oz, 30 oz or 29 oz but not less than that. The other difference between baseball bat and softball bats is in the diameter of the barrels of the bats. Usually the diameter of a baseball bat barrel is bigger compared to a softball bat barrel diameter. Hence, baseball bats are fatter than softball bats. Adult softball bats are much narrower than adult baseball bats. One of the main differences is the diameter that differs along the length of the bat.

Then there is so called “Trampoline effect”, which implies the effective barrel stiffness. It comes as a result of distinguishing the elastic properties both baseballs and softballs. In the past, the games of \”hardball\” and \”softball\” were called due their “softness”. Today, softballs are not \”soft\” at all. In dependence of their static and dynamic stiffness, softball can be found as harder than baseball. Along with differences in weights and diameters, they also have different construction and elastic properties

At last, you probably don’t want to use your softball bat in baseball, since it is most likely that your bat would crack or break. Softball bats cannot hold the forces that result of an impact from baseball. You can get good performance and a ball can get off the bet fast, but eventually, you the softball bat would break. In addition, you would get the same result if you decide to use your fast pitch bat in slow-pitch; most likely, you would ruin it. However, you can try with a slow-pitch bat in a fast-pitch softball, but due to weight you wouldn’t be able to swing well. At last, it would most likely result with a bad hit.

Article by Jewel Smith

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What are strike offenses? Strike offenses in the state of California are primarily used as a deterrent model by the state criminal justice system, but also to keep career criminals behind bars. People who are convicted of serious crimes become felons, and will incur one strike against them. Two strikes and the rules get trickier; three strikes will more than likely change the game permanently. Since 1994 this mandate has been used against many habitual law violators, and its tenets are still in effect.

Serious felonies and violent felonies count as strikes. Under the California Three Strikes Law, the most notable serious felonies that qualify as strikes are:

1. Assault
2. Rape
3. Murder
4. Arson
5. Burglary
6. Drug possession with intent to sell
7. Lewd or lascivious acts committed on a child less than 14 years of age

Violent felonies overlap into the serious felonies column, which also include aggravated assault, assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery, oral copulation by use of force, and battery.

Nonviolent felonies such as possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell, and drug trafficking are also included in the strike category. First-time offenders, depending upon the severity of the crime, usually end up serving approximately two thirds of the appropriated sentence.

All of the aforementioned felonies, as a first strike, will result in mandatory prison sentences. With the exception of 1st degree murder, convicted felons can serve anywhere from two to fifteen years for each respective offense. Repeat offenders, or second-strikers, will suffer harsher penalties if convicted, and will spend twice the amount of time behind bars; for example, if a person is convicted of robbery and serves a five year sentence, a second conviction of the same or unrelated felony would automatically double the sentence, resulting in a ten year stay. Second strike offenders must complete 80% of their term.

California laws become more stringent with increased crime commission. The baseball terminology Three strikes and youre out takes precedence after the third felony has been committed. This means that three-strike offenders will serve no less than 25 years in prison, and life without parole hinges upon the discretion of the judicial system.

In no way, shape, or form is this information to be construed as legal advice. California penal codes are a matter of public record, and can be accessed at no cost through various mediums of communication.

Those seeking legal information about strike offenses should visit the Will & Will, LLP law office in Riverside, California.