AGRI Biz

Hope springs eternal. Alas. Chicago Cubs fans are resiliently optimistic. They’re also habitually disappointed. More than a century after the Cubs’ last World Series win, the locals are still praying for a miracle in the Windy City—which would be better news if earthly prayers weren’t so apt to blow away in a stiff breeze. Faith means believing that anything can happen. Fatalism, on the other hand, means knowing that it usually doesn’t. I’m not ...

The baseball season is all of 12 days old and already we think a player is done for the year? What we have failed to realize is that the somewhat odd need some fans and members of the media have to jump on a topic and run with it. Apparently, the story of the week is David Ortiz's struggles. This might be compounded by the fact all the talking heads in ...

On April 14, 1947, Major League Baseball was a whites-only sport. Not since the expulsion of black players in 1888 had a non-Caucasian man swung a bat or thrown a pitch in the Big Show. That changed on April 15, 1947, when Jackie Robinson suited up for the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. Today—the 63rd anniversary of this historic event—it is our duty, both as baseball fans and as Americans, to appreciate ...

Today is the 63rd anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier. April 15, 1947 is arguably the most historic date in baseball history because of the monumental event that day. Robinson’s courage and accomplishments on and off the field not only changed the landscape of baseball, but society as well. However, exactly five years earlier on April 15, 1942, Hiram “Hi” Bithorn became the first Puerto Rican to appear in ...

Here’s a look at the unheralded players who played well on Wednesday. David DeJesus, Kansas City Royals DeJesus went two for five with a run, a double, two RBI, and a walk. He’s hitting .324 on the year. Scott Podsednik, Kansas City Royals He didn't steal a base this time, but went two for four to raise his average to .457. Jose Guillen, Kansas City Royals Between this trio and ...

Brett Gardner was 0-3 for the New York Yankees. Not zero for three at bats in yesterday's loss to the Angels. Gardner is zero for the last three games. In a total of 10 at bats in the last three Yankee games, Gardner has not gotten a hit. He did get one walk yesterday and scored one of the Yankee runs. Gardner is not the only Yankee struggling right now. The most obvious ...

All right, the Pittsburgh Pirates began 2010 by winning two out of three at home, then lost two out of three each in two road series, for a tally of 4-5. At that rate, alternating an extra win at home and an extra loss on the the road, would put them at .500. And their record, so far, has been compiled against three fairly redoubtable teams, but all outside their division. The next ...

Just like Monday was a bad day to be an American League second baseman, Wednesday was a bad day to be an American League closer. Whether it was because of injury or because of just flat out pitching poorly, there were a bunch of closers who were replaced on Wednesday. Let’s take a look at what is going on in the world of closers.   Baltimore Orioles Out: Mike Gonzalez. The Orioles ...

As I sit here gazing at my complimentary Phillie of the Month calendar, a problem occurs to me: they’re all fully dressed. What happened to equal opportunity, women’s liberation, and all the hints I sent last year? My husband buys a subscription to a crappy car magazine and gets a calendar with Marisa Miller scantily clad in a dozen seasonal plunge bras. I spend hundreds on a season ticket package and ...

Javy Vazquez started his second game in his second stint for the New York Yankees yesterday.   Pitching against the Angels, Vazquez was just as abysmal as he had been against the Rays last Friday night.   Vazquez threw 100 pitches and 59 strikes in 5.1 innings against the Angels, giving up six hits and four earned runs while striking out four and walking two.  He finished with an ERA of 9.82 for his ...