Yesterday, we reported the Madison Mallards' contract offer to Gary Coleman. As it turns out, Coleman decided to accept their proposal and made his baseball debut last night. He was promptly thrown out.

Here's the video:

Thankfully, the ump comes through with a short joke!

The Madison Mallards, a minor league baseball team in the midsts of a playoff push, are willing to win at all costs. The Mallards, in what is being considered an unprecedented move, have offered a contract to a former star: Gary Coleman of Different Strokes fame.

“As the Mallards prepare for the playoffs we feel that we need a special player to help put us over the top,” said Stenman. “Gary brings a lot of intangibles to the field and I feel like his presence would help invigorate our club as they get ready for a run at a championship. You can’t coach a strike zone like Gary has and I anticipate him being a force at the top of our lineup.”

Manager C.J. Thieleke is excited about the possibility to work with the star.

“I feel like he could develop a couple different strokes to rule the Northwoods League,” said Thieleke.

Under league rules, Coleman would not earn a paycheck for his play. He has yet to accept the contract offer. Until then, Mallards and their fans will be keeping their fingers crossed.

Tip of the Undrafted Free Agent's hat to THE SPORTS POINT.

The Red Sox have ridded themselves of their major malcontent, Manny Ramirez, by trading him to the Dodgers. In the weeks leading up to the trade, it was obvious the relationship between club and star was deteriorating. I mean, just ask Buster Olney: it took Manny 5.7 seconds to run out a grounder; that's glacial in baseball terms!

As with any nasty breakup, both sides will try to paint the other as the bad guy. Manny had his turn yesterday, saying the Red Sox were a bunch of backstabbers. No word from the team.

I can only imagine what the writers, who no longer rely on Manny for interviews, will have to say...

• Manny Ramirez beats on the elderly.
• Manny Ramirez hates kids dying from cancer.
• Manny Ramirez fakes injuries.
• Manny Ramirez hits his teammates.
• Manny Ramirez hates the troops.
• Manny Ramirez didn't keep a promise that he made when he was in his teens.
• Manny Ramirez is the biggest bum ever.

Wow.

So, Mr. Callahan, why wait until Manny was traded to share this with his (former) fans? Were you afraid to write, "Hey, you know that guy you fans adore? He's a real jerk," when the fans still supported him? Were you under orders to keep that stuff quiet? What gives?

Now, I'm not defending Manny Ramirez. Most likely, he is a jerk. I just love how some writers sit on this stuff until after the fact.

Disturbing news out of Chicago today: Drunken Cubs fans acted like drunken Cubs fans. That wasn't good news for the lone White Sox backer in the group:

McHenry County authorities say three Chicago Cubs fans face felony battery charges after allegedly beating a Chicago White Sox fan so badly he lost his right eye.

The men are accused of beating 32-year-old Robert Steele of Gurnee during a 2-year-old girl's Sesame Street-themed birthday party.

Police said Monday the men were drinking alcohol at the July 19th party and taunting Steele.

This is just the latest in a growing trend of rivalry violence. In May, a Yankee-loving woman drove her car into and killed a Red Sox fan after an argument -- which consisted of creative chants like "Yankees suck!" -- (shockingly) in a bar. Then earlier this month, a group of Red Sox fans beat a man with a baseball bat, figuring his New York license plates meant he was a Yankees fan. He wasn't, and they weren't even drunk.

So what does this all mean? People shouldn't get plastered when they are with a rival.

Shea Stadium is as dangerous as ever: Another fan fell off the escalator, leading to serious injuries. Man, riding on the handrails might not have been a great idea.

Here at the Undrafted Free Agent, little sympathy is spared for stupidity. As such, we have created a t-shirt for like-minded Mets fans. Enjoy.

Front

Back

Nine years ago, Josh Hamilton was on top of the world, becoming the top draft pick of the (then) Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Early on, he didn't disappoint, showing his immense talent in the minor leagues.

Unfortunately, things didn't last. Hamilton began to struggle with injuries, and an addiction to cocaine began. In the years that followed, his life reached new lows: seven failed rehab attempts, five suicide tries, and (the least of his worries) three lost seasons.

Then in 2005, he turned things around. Having found strength in God, Hamilton's eight attempt at rehab worked. Two years later, he made his return to baseball with the Reds. He hit .292 with 19 home runs before being traded to the Rangers. He has yet to disappoint; the Hambino is hitting .308 with 22 homers and 98 RBI in route to his first All-Star appearance.

Oh, and he had 28 home runs in the first round of the Home Run Derby, adding frosting to the cake that is his recovery story. Who could resist such a perfect story? Nobody. Not the media. Not the public. Josh Hamilton was an inspiration for us all and addicts everywhere!

Shakespeare DiMaggio of Tirico Suave says not so fast; is Josh Hamilton really all that inspirational?

When I think of inspirational sports stories, I think of Lance Armstrong dominating the Tour De France after beating cancer. How about Ray Ray McElrathbey raising his younger brother and playing Division One ball for Clemson. Jim Abbott overcoming his disability and carving out a nice Major League Career. Or even Jason McElwain dropping 20 in 4 minutes. I don’t think of a guy who dealt with the adversity of an injury by taking up crack.

The people who would best identify with Josh Hamilton's story would be fellow drug addicts. But would they find all that much inspiration? Your run-of-the-mill junkie can't afford quality rehab clinics, let alone eight. Your average addict doesn't have a handler following him around, making sure he stays away from his vices.

The typical junkie isn't a talented baseball player.

If I was a drug addict, I think I might even resent Josh Hamilton.

Who would threaten a pregnant women? If she is carrying Jonathan Papelbon's baby and is his wife, a small minority of Yankee fans would. Or, at the very least, they would create a situation that makes her feel threatened.

That's what happened during MLB's All-Star parade down the New York streets. Now, we have video of some of the remarks directed at the couple.

For some crazy reason, I bet they heard worse.

Last night's All-Star game was a record-setting 4 hours and 50 minutes long. Please don't tell me you wasted your night watching (or even worse, live blogging) the game. There were so many things you could have done, like:

I firmly believe my prayers were answered when Justin Morneau scored to end last night's All-Star game. There is no other answer.

• Play 3,456 games of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Oddly enough, Clint Hurdle and Terry Francona would have played a best-of-one game if they ran out of pitchers.
• Watch Joey Chestnut eat 1,641 dogs. We here at the Undrafted Free Agent are confident that Joey Jaws will maintain his pace.
• Knockout Jose Canseco 7,293 times. That's a lot, even if it's just a rough calculation (read: random throwing together of digits). For the record, when I win, I will donate 85% of my earnings to the charity of my choice.
• Run the bases 864 times. Fatigue will never set in, allowing you to maintain a Prince Fielder-esque speed throughout.
• Watch the Chevrolet Man's dreadfully long MVP presentation 3.79 times. Just an aside: if anyone out there is listening, I need video of Chevrolet Man (like I needed proof that Roger Clemens used steroids) saying something like "baseball fans are awesome" before waiting for the fans to roar with their approval. The silence was deafening and really, really awkward.
  
• Write 57 kind letters to Florida Marlins second baseman under various names. Tell him to stay positive, that he is a fine defensive player. Forget that no All-Star has ever had as many errors in a single game.
• Reread the Mitchell Report twice and in its entirety. Notice how so few of the players named were at the game? They really are cleaning the game of steroids. Yeah, Bud!
• Change your mind about retirement no less than 5 times. Who cares? We don't have a legacy to ruin.
• Heat up no less than 1,193 times while playing a nostalgic game of NBA Jam, including 2,746 shots from downtown!
• Sleep.

What if Justin Morneau hadn't scored? Me thinks the game should have been decided on "rock, paper, scissors, chute!"

With so many activities to choose from, no wonder you decided to watch the All-Star game.

Umps are the regular targets of fans, players, and managers alike. The fan voices his displeasure from the stands or his couch. The players, on occasion, will get in the ump's face. However, the great umpire confrontations are between managers and the men in blue. So, we ask, which manager ejections and subsequent tantrums are the best?

8. Lloyd McClendon
The Pirates were 20 games below .500, and manager Lloyd McClendon was able to keep his cool. McClendon was finally able to let it all go on a questionable call. When an ump called Jason Kendall out on a close call at first, McClendon argued and got himself wrung up. He then pulled the base from the dirt and carried it back to the dugout, starting a new trend for managers everywhere.
7. Kash Beauchamp
Kash Beauchamp is another minor league manager unable to keep his cool. This time around, Kash appears to ask to ump to smell his shoe and his armpit. I'm going to guess he is telling the ump that he stinks, or something like that. Either way, he looks like an idiot that we can laugh at.


6. Bergin Tatham
Kicking dirt is acceptable. Screaming is acceptable. Stealing bases is acceptable. Really, as a manager, you can do anything short of striking an ump. Apparently, Enka High School baseball coach Bergin Tatham didn't get the memo.


5. Earl Weaver
If there was a Hall of Fame for managerial ejections, Earl Weaver would be a first ballot inductee. This particle tirades just makes me chuckle. Earl comes storming out, looking to take a piece out of the ump. The two go into a great exchange, the ump having to look down the entire time. (I think we have a new member of the Nate Robinson Complex Club.) That's great, but my favorite part is how upset he gets over a little finger-poking.


4. Butch Hobson
This next manager flip-out could have been avoided if the umps stuck with their original call, even if it was wrong. The men in blue were unsure whether the first baseman was on the bag. The first base ump called the runner out, but the home plate umpire overturned the call. Nashua Pride manager Butch Hobson had a conversation with the umps, getting thrown out in the process. Hobson decided to get his money worth. He ripped out the base, took it into the stands, and gave it to a young fan.


3. Lou Piniella
When it comes to managerial tirades, Lou Piniella is a five-tool manager. Screaming ability: check. Arm strength (a must for throwing hats or bases): check. Use of props: check. Creativity: check. Timing: check.

Piniella makes the list for his performance on August 21, 1990. After Barry Larking was called out on a close play at first, he argued the call. He threw his hat down and was ejected on the spot. Unwilling to be silenced, Piniella pulled up first base and threw it. Then he picked it up and hurled it again (must not have gone far enough the first time), sending it flying and rolling all the way into short right. This is the classic Piniella moment. Unfortunately, the video is nowhere to be found. So, how about a Sweet Lou self-parody in this Aquafina commercial?


2. Joe Mikulik
Joe Mikulik, manager of the Asheville Tourists, flipped out on the umps for calling a base stealer safe. He belly flops into second, rips it out, and gives the ump a closer look before throwing the base back. Mikulik continues with his tantrum, throwing bats, cleaning home plate (after covering it with dirt), and, overall, acting a fool.


1. Phillip Wellman
Mississippi Braves manager Phillip Wellman was thrown from a game and into baseball folklore with this tirade. After kicking dirt on home plate, he drew the umpire's strike zone in the dirt. Then he took third base and chucked it into the outfield. If that wasn't enough, he belly crawled to the mound, and tossed a grenade (or the rosin bag) at the umpire. Finally, he grabbed two bases and walked out of the field.


Did I miss a major managerial meltdown? Leave a comment!

JTA, the self-described global news service of Jewish people, has a breaking news story for you: Jews make baseball all-star squads!

Yes, it's true. In fact, Jews outnumber Giants on this year's roster. "At least three players of Jewish descent" were named to the roster, though there may be more players with unknown Jewish blood powering their All-Star performances.

Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis, who openly identifies as a Jew, was named a starter. Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun was also named a starter, but only identifies himself as half-Jewish. Ian Kinsler, Rangers second baseman and another half-Jew, is a reserve.

Thanks, JTA! I was worried that MLB would be Jew-less after Shawn Green retires, but I guess there will always be something^[1] drawing Jews to baseball.

1. The Undrafted Free Agent would like to apologize for perpetuating stereotypes. We are just frustrated that anyone found people of Jewish descent making an All-Star team all that newsworthy.

Each season, how many times does a hitter drop his bat and run to first? The short answer: many. Still, I have never seen anything like this.

Who knew adjusting a pillow could be so dangerous? Brandon Inge, who "couldn't even make this up," pulled his oblique Monday night after he stretched out to move his pillow. He is expected to miss two weeks.

Baseball has had its fair share of bizarre injuries, and Inge's would just be the latest. Where does it rank against baseball's all-time odd injuries?

Dishonorable Mention: Joel Zumaya
Originally, the Tigers staff believed the inflamation in Joel Zumaya's arm was caused by, I don't know, activities actually related to baseball. Then they found his problems were more consistent with another game, Guitar Hero.

Dishonorable Mention: Adam Eaton
In a way, I feel sorry for former Padres pitcher Adam Eaton. All he wanted to do was watch a movie. But no, those damn plastic wrappers stood between him and his DVD. So Eaton decided to pull out the paring knife. He accidentally stabbed himself in the stomach, leading to an ER visit. I think a smaller knife would have sufficed.

10. Mark Smith
When the air conditioning stopped working, Orioles outfielder Mark Smith decided to do some investigating. That is, if investigation means sticking just means sticking your hand in the air conditioner. Smith hurt his hand in the process.

9. Sammy Sosa
Sammy Sosa, along with Mark McGwire, placed MLB on his back, brining back the fans' interest. How could we have known his back was so weak. Sammy Sosa's back handled that heavy lifting and the first sneeze; it was the second one that brought out the back spasms. Sosa's double-barreled sneezing forced him to miss a game in favor of back treatment.

8. John Smoltz
John Smoltz is among the best pitchers of his generation. Still, he isn't above an odd (and preventable) injury. You see, Smoltz's shirt was wrinkled. Why not iron the thing? That's what Smoltz did, but he forgot to take off the shirt. He scalded himself with the iron.

7. Steve Sparks
Sparks, while playing with the Brewers, attended a motivational speaking seminar hosted. The group ripped phone books in half and blew up hot water bottles. Sparks was motivated to try it himself. He dislocated his shoulder while trying to tear a phone book in half.

6. Bret Barberie
Bret Barberie was a utility player who has two claims to fame: Jillian Barberie (his former wife) and a chili juice injury. Barberie accidentally jubbed the juice in his eyes, causing him to miss one game while playing with the Marlins.

5. Wade Boggs
Wade Boggs was a greater hitter, winning batting titles in the process. It wouldn't have hurt if, even just once, he was have practiced putting on shoes instead of hitting. Boggs once strained his back while slipping on a pair of cowboy boots. The injury kept Boggs out of the lineup for seven games.

4. Kevin Mitchell
Former slugger Kevin Mitchell has a long history with the bizarre injury. On one occasion, Mitchell was placed on the disabled list after apparently straining rib muscles while vomiting. Later, Mitchell was four days late for 1990 spring training when he was hurt eating an overcooked microwaved donut, leading to a root canal.

3. Greg Harris
Eating sunflower seeds is commonplace in a baseball dugout. Former Ranger Greg Harris learned the hard way that the seeds need to be taken seriously. He injured his wrist while flicking sunflower seeds.

2. Marty Cordova
Most baseball players tan naturally by spending many summer hours under the sun. Others choose to get their tan a different way. Not Marty Cordova. A visit to a California tanning salon provided baseball with one of its more bizarre injuries. Marty Cordova burned his face under some tanning lamps. The Orioles outfielder was ordered by doctors to stay out of direct sunlight for a couple of days. I'm sure he didn't get too much heat from his teammates for that.

1. Glenallen Hill
Nightmares can induce emotional and psychological stress. For Blue Jays outfielder Glenallen Hill, bad dreams brought on a more physical pain. Hill fell out of bed and crashed into a glass table while having a nightmare about being covered in spiders. Hill sustained several cuts in the process, leading to baseball's most bizarre injury.

Ryan Lefebvre, a Royals broadcaster, says he complimented Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton's accountability for his past mistakes. Lefebvre then decided to make an "interesting" comparison to fellow Ranger Milton Bradley, saying "it doesn't appear Milton Bradley has done the same thing in his life."

Bradley, who was watching the game on the clubhouse TV, wasn't very happy with the comments. He decided to try having a chat with Lefebvre after the game.

Bradley left the clubhouse after the game and reached the press box but never talked to Lefebvre. General manager Jon Daniels and manager Ron Washington chased after Bradley, and Daniels escorted him back to the clubhouse.

Bradley then walked around with tears welling up and his voice breaking as he spoke.

"All I want to do is play baseball and make a better life for my kid than I had, that's it," Bradley said to a quiet clubhouse. "I love all you guys. ... I'm strong, but I'm not that strong."

Many players tried to console Bradley, who had his head down at his locker.

What really bothers me about Lefebvre's comparison is that, really, there isn't much to compare between the two's mistakes. Josh Hamilton was abusing cocaine and heroin during his troubled period. Too my knowledge (and Wikipedia's), Milton Bradley has never had serious legal problems outside of disorderly conduct and rumors of assault. It seems much of his trouble stems from on-field confrontations. Personally, I can live with that.

That being said, could Bradley have handled past situations with more maturity? Absolutely. Would I be annoyed by sideline critics like Lefebvre? Surely. Did going to the press box help his cause at all? Nope.

Who cares if it was the eighth inning in a two run ballgame? Joe Morgan had a trivia question to ask! How did a simple question into a discussion about a fishing trip, Kurt Russel, and so much more? Well, Awful Announcing has the transcript (which I think is better) to go with the video.

"Jon, I gotta ask you a trivia question. I was fishing with Matt Franco, used to play for the Mets. I was fishing with him on a boat, and Matt Franco asked me this trivia question. He said he had talked to players past and present. He asked me, Which guy hit the hardest line drives most consistently of all I'd ever seen. Hardest line drives."- Joe Morgan
"That's a trivia question?"- Jon Miller
"Well, it was for me and him. We were playing trivia on the fishing boat."- Joe
"Where would I look up the answer to that?"- Jon
"Well, you should know the answer!"- Joe
"Give me the question one more time."- Jon
"All right. Who hits the hardest line drives of any player you ever saw on a consistent basis?"- Joe
"Dave Winfield."- Jon
"All right, keep going. That's one. That's "A". "A" wasn't right.- Joe
[Loud Laughs] "Yes it was right! I beg to differ!"- Jon
"I'm gonna give you, uhh … I'm gonna give … I'm gonna give you a hint. You even broadcast games for him."- Joe
[Long Pause] "I broadcast Dave Winfield's games."- Jon
"No … for the answer, I'm talking about. I'm telling you, he asked all the other players. I'm not saying—"- Joe
"Well, I'm saying, this is a question for which there is no correct answer."- Jon
"Yeah, there's a correct answer."- Joe
"Well, what did you say? What was your answer? Did you get it right?"- Jon
"Yes." [pause] "Al Oliver."- Joe
"Oh, Al Oliver. He was—"- Jon
"See!"- Joe
"He was a very good line drive hitter."- Jon
"I knew you would say that. See, I knew that you'd eventually come up with the answer."- Joe
[Al Oliver and Dave Winfield Talk]
"It was interesting because Matt Franco said if I got the answer correct, he would introduce to his cousin … the actor … Kurt Russell. And I said, 'Okay.'- Joe
"That's his cousin?"- Jon
"That's his cousin."- Joe
[Laughs] "So when did you meet Kurt?"- Jon
"Well I haven't met him yet. I just answered it last week."- Joe
"Well, what's taken him so long? We're in L.A. Kurt could have been here tonight. Or maybe he wants to wait till you're in New York, and we can help Kurt Russell … escape from New York."- Jon
"Yeah, that was a great movie. Snake Plissken. The Snake."- Joe
"You want to meet him bad, don't you?"- Jon

In my high-stakes games of sports trivia, questions like that just wouldn't fly.

You might have heard that Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez and first baseman Kevin Youkilis had a bit of a confrontation last night. Speculation on the cause of the squabble said Manny, being Manny, was to blame in one way or another.

Not so fast! A Red Sox source told ESPNdeportes.com that Manny and his other Red Sox teammates are growing frustrated with the Greek God of Walks apparent selfishness at the plate. They said:

"It all happened because Manny complained about Youkilis' habit of throwing bats, helmets and other objects in the dugout when he has a bad at-bat, something that has become a constant practice," the source said.

"Other players have told Youkilis in the past about the situation, which makes him look selfish and that he is more worried about each at-bat than about the team. If Boston is winning easily, there's no reason to throw objects all over the dugout because of a bad at-bat.

"There was a meeting where the team let Youkilis know that many of his teammates were tired of his explosive reactions for each bad plate appearance. It became very bothersome … more so when the team is winning and it's in first place. There's not much room for individualistic attitudes."

Well, that was unexpected. I think a new nickname is completely called for at this time. The Sultan of Selfishness?

No Yankee has worn the number 3 since the club retired it 60 years ago. That is not good enough for some. Linda Ruth Tosetti believes the Babe "belongs to all of baseball" because he single-handedly saved baseball in America after several betting scandals. His number should never again be worn in a MLB game, she says.

Tosetti, Ruth's granddaughter, did what any woman with a "Ruthian mug" would do. She created a website and started a petition. The petition, which has been signed by 1383 people online, reads:

A PETITION TO RETIRE BABE RUTH'S NUMBER "3" THROUGHOUT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

For his contributions to our national pastime, for his contributions to children all over the world and for his humanitarian works: Babe Ruth single-handedly saved the game of baseball with his mighty bat, his charismatic personality and his inherent sense of fair play. He made it possible for baseball to become the international game it is today.

When it was not possible for minorities to participate in Major League baseball, Babe was not deterred. He spoke up on behalf of these fine men, he barnstormed with them and his actions and words on their behalf has not gone unnoticed by baseball historians.

Please help to achieve this tribute for an American icon, George Herman "Babe" Ruth. Thank You!

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Tosetti's petition frustrates me on a few accounts.

First, this idea that baseball was "single-handedly" saved by Babe Ruth. He was a factor, but he was not the only person involved in leading it past betting scandals. Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis was given absolute control after the Black Sox scandal. The suspensions and bans he handed out were important in ending that dark chapter in baseball history. The radio, exciting rivalries, and Ruth played important roles, too.

This next part just makes me laugh: "When it was not possible for minorities to participate in Major League baseball, Babe was not deterred." I am at a loss. I think this could be worded differently.

Lastly, what does it matter if Babe Ruth's number is retired or not? I mean, his legend has lasted over half a century without this honor.

Last week, Commissioner Bud Selig expressed his concern about the potential danger of shattering maple bats. On June 24, Selig will meet with the players association and several teams to address the issue.

Banning the use of maple bats completely is one option. However, the idea was contentious during the last labor negotiations; the players wanted no part of parting with their bats.

Selig is said to be looking into several other solutions if an outright ban falls through.

For starters, Major League Baseball could restrict the width of bat handles. The way things are now, players seek bats with a thin handle and a large barrel; often times, they will thin the handle to make it even thinner. This, supposedly, gives the hitter more snap in his swing. It also makes the bat more susceptible to shattering.

Taking a page out of Japanese baseball's book, Selig would extend the netting from behind the plate down the first and third baselines. This, of course, would protect the fans who may be paying just partial attention to the game.

What about those people who are paying attention to the game? Pirates hitting coach Don Long, who lost feeling in his upper lip after being sliced by a shattered bat, compares them to spears or thrown javelins. White Sox third baseman Joe Crede says they lodge into the field like lawn darts (interesting that the metal lawn darts are banned because of fatal injuries). Some fielders acknowledged that their main concern when a bat breaks is to avoid the bat instead of playing the ball.

Unless Selig and the Union address the breakage itself by either banning or restricting the bats, the fielders will still be placed in a bad position defensively. That being said, protecting the fans would be a good start.

What do the Mariners and the Tigers have in common? Both teams are in need of a left-handed bat in their lineups. If that player must be a designated hitter, so be it. A player like Barry Bonds would be well-suited for their on-field needs.

Bonds' agent Jeff Boris said not even a single team has contacted him regarding Bonds since he became a free agent. Even more, he doesn't expect Bonds to play any baseball this season.

As a result of unsigned players like Bonds and Kenny Lofton, the MLB players' association has decided to investigate the possibility of collusion.

According the Collective Bargaining Agreement, "Players shall not act in concert with other Players and Clubs shall not act in concert with other Clubs." (Of course, this wasn't on the books in 1918 when the owners released all of their players with an agreement not to sign each other's players, thus allowing them to reduce player salaries).

Dan Halem, MLB senior vice president and general labor counsel, said, "The union notified us that it was investigating potential collusion regarding Barry Bonds and asked for information, and we told them that there was absolutely no collusion with respect to Barry Bonds or any other free agent."

Honestly, why would teams have to work together to keep Barry Bonds away from a baseball field? The lack of interest in Bonds has nothing to do with collusion and everything to do with Bonds. Consider the cloud of steroids and media personnel that follow his every at bat; Bonds would be nothing but a distraction. Few--if any--fans would actually be excited to see baseball's anti-hero on their favorite team.

The MLBPA can keep digging, but they will find that thirty teams made thirty separate decisions. They all chose to avoid Bonds and his baggage.

Not collusion. Just sound logic.

Evan Longoria, a highly-touted prospect in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, was recalled from Triple-A Durham. He is expected to make his debut today against the Baltimore Orioles.

Longoria, the third pick in the 2006 MLB Draft, will be stepping in for injured third baseman Willy Aybar, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list after missing his second game with a hamstring injury.

With an outstanding spring, Longoria showed he was the Rays' best option at third base. He was both offensively and defensively superior to Aybar. Accordingly, the Rays sent him to the minors to start the year, where he hasn't had the best of starts.

“We’ve been decimated by injuries. It’s not necessarily the ideal way that we wanted to call him up,” Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said.

“But we’re confident in his ability to adjust at the plate, and what he brings to us defensively is something that we felt was very important to where we’re going.”

If Longoria can contribute at the plate and is that something the club has been searching for defensively, why did Tampa Bay start the season with Aybar?

The answer is simple: money. By spending just 13 days in the minors to start the year, this season will not qualify as a full season of experience for Longoria. Longoria will not be eligible for free agency until after the 2014 season. Thus, the Rays will have the third baseman on the cheap for an extra year.

The problem comes in the system. Players with three years of service or less essentially have their salaries controlled by the club. If a player doesn't like the team's offer, the team can just renew to player's contract for even less. For example, Prince Fielder had 50 homers and was second in the NL MVP voting, yet will earn $670,000 this season--a fact he wasn't too happy about. Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez, among the league's best at his position, is signed for $439,000 this year.

In Longoria's case, the Tampa Bay Rays will have him dirt cheap for what amounts to four seasons.

Then, after the 2011 season, Longoria will be eligible for arbitration and receive market value. In 2014, he can become a free agent and get his revenge. Still, an extra year he will wait.

Wouldn't it be fitting if the Rays turn it around with Longoria, only to missing the playoffs by a game? If only he was here from the beginning, they say.