Lady Gaga is New Pirates Mascot

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The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that they will be wearing their 1970’s-style yellow and black throwback uniforms during each weekend home series in 2010.

The Pirates have also announced that Lady Gaga has been invited to sing the national anthem, throw out the first pitch and wear this get-up during each of these games.

Gaga’s people have not yet confirmed that she will attend.

In a related story, rumours have surfaced that the song “Bad Romance” was inspired by a fling Lady Gaga had with former Pirate Al Oliver.

 

Jason Heyward is the KING of March Madness

 

Thumbnail image for heyward.jpgWith all the hype surrounding his prospect status and his spring training play, it would be easy for Atlanta Brave phenom OF Jason Heyward to get overly confident and carried away.

By all accounts, Heyward has remained humble and unassuming and has not taken his opportunity to make the big league club for granted. 

But with March Madness and NCAA bracket pools around the corner, Heyward may be showing his cockier more confident side!

“I am the King of March Madness”, Heyward was rumoured to be shouting up and down the clubhouse. “Chipper may know the strike zone but I know my brackets.”

Heyward has apparently won every March Madness pool he has ever entered, including 1992 when, at the age of three, he called the 6th seed Michigan as a finalist.

He called both 8th seeds Wisconsin and North Carolina for the Final Four in 2000 and in 2008 he broke with his underdog strategy to pick an all number one seed Final Four.

“I love March Madness”, said Heyward, ” I just love it”. 

Heyward’s pick this year : East Tennessee State.

 

SMOLTZ TO HOST AMERICAN IDOL ?

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John Smoltz recently joined TBS as a regular season and playoff baseball analyst.
According to reports, Smoltz has always seen himself as a TV personality and has long had aspirations to get in front of the camera.
“His in-game commentary used to drive Maddux and Glavine crazy”, revealed a former clubhouse attendant.”They had him kicked-out of the dugout and moved to the bullpen – why do you think he didn’t return to starting until after they were both gone.”
Apparently Smoltz would also torment Bobby Cox and Leo Mazzone by ‘cutting to commercial’ whenever they came out to the mound.
Smoltz is excited about the opportunity and hopes to bring a “Ryan Seacrest flavor” to the broadcasts.

Josh Hamilton: Injuries Are Part of the Game

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Despite best efforts, Josh Hamilton’s injuries will not keep him out of the Texas line-up.

The Fort-Worth Star Telegarm is reporting that x-rays on Hamilton’s left hand came back negative.  Hamilton suffered a contusion on the outside of  his left hand after being hit with a Madison Bumgarner fastball on Monday.

Earlier in the spring, Hamilton injured his shoulder while diving for a ball.

Last year, Hamilton suffered back, glute and nerve injuries.

Texas expects Hamilton back in the lineup on Wednesday.  He will miss Tuesday’s game due to additional dental work required after a February root canal.

In an unrelated story, ESPN reports that Hamilton’s fantasy mock-draft value has dropped for four consecutive weeks.


STRASBURG TO BE SENT DOWN !!


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The Washington Nationals have confirmed that prospect Stephen Strasburg will start the 2010 season in the minors.
The Washington Nationals have not confirmed that Strasburg is better than the balance of their entire pitching depth chart: 

1 John Lannan (L)
2 Jason Marquis (R)
3 Scott Olsen (L)
4 Ross Detwiler (L)
5 Craig Stammen (R)
5 Livan Hernandez (R)
6 Chien-Ming Wang (R)
7 J.D. Martin (R)
8 Garrett Mock (R)
9 Matt Chico (L)

The Nationals have also not confirmed that this was a strategic move to delay free agency.