One must not overlook the importance of the 2nd baseman getting to the base to receive the throw. If anything, the young second baseman should do his best to be at the base waiting for the toss. He must also be sure to avoid making his put-out “on the grass,” as the umpires say. He’s got to have part of his body touching the base when he catches the ball.

“Throw Wild To The Glove Side”

The first throw is as important as any other phase of the double play. It should be aimed at the glove shoulder. As the pros say-”If you must throw wild-throw wild to the glove side.” That means that if the infielder has to hurry, he should “hurry” to the glove side, where his teammate has a chance to get the ball.

If the ball goes to the barehand side, the receiver rarely can make the catch. Every fielder must keep in mind that it is of utmost importance to put out the lead runner. Be sure of that one!

Look on the relay to 1st for the second out as a bonus. When close to the bag, the second baseman should use an underhand toss with a little “mustard” on it (force). Again, like the first baseman, he should “show the ball” by keeping the throwing hand away from the body. If 2nd base is only a step or two away, the second baseman should wave the shortstop off, tag the base, then throw to 1st.

Other Duties

The 2nd baseman has specific assignments on infield flies, bunts, steals and extra base hits. The second baseman is to field all fly balls from short center to the short right field fence and everything to the mound in front of his normal field position.

On any fly ball deep to the area described, he starts immediately, determined to catch the ball. That’s his territory. He never gives lip on the ball unless an outfielder calls for the catch. The outfielder always has the “right of way” as he is in a much better position to catch the ball, view the situation in the infield and make a throw.

It is also most important for the first baseman and second baseman to understand that balls directly behind the first baseman are the second baseman’s responsibility (unless, of course, the first baseman need only take a few steps back to make the catch). After catching a “pop fly” with men on base, the infielder must quickly get into position to throw in case a runner breaks. He must be careful, however, not to be bluffed into throwing the ball unnecessarily. The best practice is to catch the ball, hold on to it and run rapidly to the mound.

Steals

Protecting the bag against the first-to-second base steal is another big job for the second baseman. With a runner on 1st, it’s best if he shortens up his position, so he can get to the base ahead of the catcher’s throw. If the batter hits consistently to right (regardless of whether he is right or left-handed) he should have the shortstop take the throw, wait for the ball to pass the batter, then race to his right to back up the shortstop.

The 2nd baseman is a crucial member of the team, and must be functioning at this best at all times.

Learn All The Tips And Tricks A Second Baseman Needs To Become An Expert

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[tags]baseball tips, baseball[/tags]

The pitcher is one of the most important players on a baseball team. Above all, he needs to know when to throw. He should always try to throw when the runner is moving away, or leaning away, from the base. Getting off the mound to back up the bases is another important duty of the pitcher. Read this article to learn the important duties of the pitcher. The pitcher must always remember what a crucial role he plays.

The left-hander, obviously has a great advantage in holding runners on 1st. He is looking directly at the runner and that alone will make the runner cautious. With a runner on 1st, the lefty should have the toe of his pitching foot about even with the instep of his right. He should practice the head-bob and the same trick of throwing from the three different stretch positions.

His best move however is this: he takes the stretch. He looks at the runner. He looks at the plate. He turns his head back to the runner. And-just as he starts to turn the head to the plate again, he steps toward 1st. If the lefty works hard on this move, he will pick more runners off 1st than he ever dreamed possible.

On throws to 2nd base all pitchers should use the “jump” move, turning in the direction of the glove hand. (A right-hander would turn left, for example.) If the runner is safely back or if the shortstop or second baseman fails to cover don’t throw the ball. (No balk on feint to 2nd.)

One more thing: if the pitcher is standing on the mound and suddenly sees the runner break, he should ‘back-off’-take his pitching foot off the rubber, and move it toward 2nd base. When a runner is stranded between the bases, the pitcher (or any fielder) should charge the runner, favoring the base ahead of the runner. With runners on 3rd base, the pitcher may use either the stretch or full windup. If he uses the full windup, he should shorten the arm swing and quicken the move. He must never pump more than once!

Backing Up The Bases

As one of the most important players in a baseball team, the pitcher has the duty of getting off the mound to back up the bases. The pitcher backs up the third baseman on a single with a runner on 1st, the catcher on a single with a runner on 2nd. If both 1st and 2nd are occupied and the batter singles, the pitcher should hustle to a point off the left field foul line that is half way between 3rd and home. He can then back up 3rd or home, depending on where the play develops.

But like going to his left on balls hit to his left, the pitcher must start immediately. Any time a pitched ball gets by the catcher with runners on the bases, the pitcher should quickly cover home plate! In covering the plate, though, he ought to be careful of where he puts his feet. With his back to the runner, it would be foolhardy to stand in the base path. It’s best to leave one side of the base open, with the feet straddling the other and the body partly turned to the open side.

If the ball is to the pitchers right, he should leave the right corner open; if to the left, leave the left corner open.

Beware the $1,000,000 Arm and $0.10 Head

A boy may have a strong arm and know all the mechanics of pitching, but if he doesn’t think about the hitters weaknesses and strengths, he will become nothing more than a “thrower” and will not help his team much.

A pitcher, even more than a catcher or manager, will know which of his deliveries the batter can or cannot hit. That is, if he studies the hitter constantly. The younger the hitters are, the more faults they have. Thus the young pitcher has a great advantage if he thinks about the hitters.

Because he is one of the crucial players in a baseball team, the pitcher must always remember his important duties.

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[tags]baseball tips, baseball[/tags]

It is important for the youngster on any baseball team to learn to hit the ball where it is pitched. If it’s over the center of the plate, hit into center field. By doing this you can hit with full power and have a better chance of getting solid wood on the ball.

This matter of hitting the ball where it is pitched applies to the curve as well as the fast ball. As a matter of fact, it’s probably more important to follow this practice when batting against a curve-ball pitcher. A curve to a right hand hitter is normally going down and to the outside. The hitter might be able to hit the ball if he strides straight ahead, but most of the time the end of the bat will be pulling away from the ball.

A right hand hitter should hit the outside curve ball into right field-just as he would the outside pitch; the left hand hitter should try to whack it into left.

Aim At The Hitting Lanes

The batter’s constant objective is to “hit the ball where they ain’t, ” which is a crude way of saying: hit between the fielders. It will help the hitter if, when he stands at the plate, he tries to visualize the “hitting lanes”. He should carry a mental picture of lines running from the plate to the outfield, but between the third baseman and 3rd base; between the third baseman and the shortstop; over 2nd base; between the second baseman and the first baseman and between the first baseman and 1st base.

He should try to drive the ball down one of these lines, depending on where it is pitched. The hitting lanes give the batter five definite targets, instead of a single “blind” one.

Don’t Guess-Hit

This writer is a strong opponent of “guess hitting” for members of a baseball team. The guess hitter tries to decide before the pitch is delivered whether it’s going to be a fast ball or a curve. He also decides whether or not he will swing at the next pitch.

Only an exceptionally talented hitter can do this successfully. The average hitter can’t afford to be fooled, or to let a good pitch go by, which is just what he’ll do every time he “guesses” wrong. The best advice for any youngster is this: be ready to hit every pitch. Be ready to hit it to any field. Always expect the fast ball and it will never fool you.

If the pitcher throws a curve, you have time to adjust your swing. You may at least get enough wood on the ball to foul it off, which gives you another chance.

Bunting

Bunting is essentially a part of hitting, but the technique is very different. In the old days, a well executed bunt gave the fans a thrill. Now, the home run is the great attraction. Nevertheless, the bunt is an important weapon for the team at bat. Players and managers alike realize this, of course, when it fails to work at a crucial point in the Big Game.

The bunt is used for two purposes-to advance a runner; to get the batter on base. Since each bunt has a different objective, each is executed differently. The “sacrifice” bunt is used to put the ball on the ground out of reach of any fielder so that a runner, or runners, will have enough time to advance one or more bases.

Remember that practice is the way to advance all your skills to become a valued member of your baseball team!

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[tags]baseball tips, baseball[/tags]

Bunting is an aspect of hitting which baseball players need to master. It is an important weapon for the team at bat.

Bunting For The Hit

The right and left hand batter moves differently when bunting to get on base but both need the element of surprise to be successful. The right-hander, at the last possible moment, draws back his right foot and puts his weight on it. At the same time, he brings both hands diagonally down and to the left until they are in front of the left hip. He then pulls the left hand back, letting the bat slide through the right until just before it reaches the label.

The bat is now level with the ground with the end extending into the strike zone. The left hand is close to the left hip, but above and in back of it. The right hand is about eight inches in front and above the left hip. The batter is now in position to “chase” the ball. He pushes off the back foot and goes after it with the left foot leading. The ball should make contact with the bat at just about the time the left foot strikes the ground. The batter then keeps going for 1st base.

To reconstruct:

the pitcher’s arm is coming down. Just before the ball reaches the plate, the batter rocks back on his right foot, drops the bat, steps toward it with the left foot, bunts and keeps going. If the ball is wide, he faces the bat toward 1st and, in a sense, tries to keep contact with it as he runs toward 1st. If it’s an inside pitch, he makes his step toward 3rd to bunt the ball.

The left hand batter, also striving for surprise, brings the bat down and takes his step with a single motion. The right hand drops to a point just above the right hip; the bat slides through the left until just before it reaches the label. The first step is also made with the back foot-but it’s a cross over-step as the body pivots right. The left foot crosses in front of the right and toward 1st base if the pitch is inside, toward the mound if outside.

After the ball is bunted, of course, the baseball player keeps running. As the left hand batter gets more proficient with the “drag” bunt, he can start concentrating on just where to place it. He should try to put the ball at the first baseman’s extreme right and the pitcher’s extreme left in the bunting area.

If he can force the first baseman, or even the second baseman, to field the ball in this area, he has a base hit. If the first baseman ignores the bunt, it will take both the second baseman and pitcher too long to get to the ball to make the put-out.

If the first baseman fields the ball, the second baseman or pitcher will have to cover 1st base, which will be very difficult.

One more thought: The batter should remember that he doesn’t have to bunt the ball. Actually, he should bunt the pitch he likes best. Many right hand bunters like the ball low and outside. Left hand batters usually like the inside pitch between the waist and the shoulders.

This technique should be practiced faithfully by every baseball player.

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[tags]baseball tips, baseball[/tags]

There’s no doubt that major league baseball is an exciting sport, one that can command a fan’s attention for many months each and every passing year. With practically a game every day of the week, it all adds up to non-stop action.

It all starts in the spring of the year. Travelers who migrate to warmer climes will often be pleasantly surprised to catch a big league team playing at a small, intimate park near their favorite vacation spot.

There’s nothing better than seeing great baseball while soaking up the March sunshine. If you are a Chicago Cub fan who usually follows your team to their Cactus League spring training haven in Hohokam Park, try sampling the Grapefruit League in 2010.

The Florida Grapefruit League boasts a total of seventeen stadiums that are the spring home to eleven Major League teams. For folks from the more northern United States and Canada it can be a heavenly experience as they exchange biting winter storms for bleachers, beer and hot dogs.

Get out your map and pick a central location to serve as your home base, sort of a “mission control”. From there you can fan out in all directions, sampling a team a day if you desire, with stadiums all within a couple of hours drive.

Canadians can catch the excitement when the Toronto Blue Jays play the Red Sox or New York Yankees at Dunedin Stadium. Nearby there’s the Bright House Networks Field, newly opened in 2004, where the Philadelphia Phillies serve up great baseball and fans can chow down on Philly Cheese steaks.

Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte had a major face lift, opening anew in 2009 for the champion Tampa Bay Rays. Next on the list, a little bit north, is Steinbrenner Field where the New York Yankees flex their muscles. You’ll shake your head when you step inside because it looks and feels just like the stadium in New York.

Fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates can enjoy watching their team at McKechnie Field which had a complete renovation in 1993. The Cincinnati Reds’ spring training was at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota in 2009, but if you want to catch them in 2010, you’ll have to head to Goodyear Stadium in Arizona where they will share space with the Cleveland Indians.

Fort Myers hosts the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium, which was severely damaged by the hurricane in 2004. It has been re-built and looks just like the entrance to Churchill Downs. Sorry though, there are no horses racing around the infield, just lots of great baseball. Nearby is the baseball history museum at Terry Park Stadium.

The Boston Red Sox also play in Fort Myers, at The City of Palms Park. The name suggests a pleasant park, and so it is. Most of the infield seats are shaded from the sizzling Florida sun, protecting the pale skin of northern snowbirds who have come to watch their beloved Sox.

Come to Joker Marchant Stadium near Lakeland to watch the Pittsburgh Tigers. The crowds here are light, so there are great seats at reasonable prices. Next on this odessey is Chain of Lakes Park where the Cleveland Indians work out. It’s a classic built in the sixties that will give you that old time baseball feeling.

If you’re bringing the family and making Disney World your home base, be sure to visit Osceola County Stadium in Kissimee where the Houston Astros play. Right next door to Disney World is Champion Stadium, home of the Braves. It’s a beauty with great seat location between the bases.

On Florida’s east coast you’ll discover the Space Coast Stadium. The Washington Nationals began training here in 2007. A bit further south, is Holman Stadium, known as Dodgertown. It is small, laid back and personal, with easy access for Los Angles Dodgers autograph hounds.

Loyal New York Mets fans can enjoy a spring game at Tradition Field. Next, on your journey, is Roger Dean Stadium, which hosts the Florida Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals. Even though you’ll be there in March, be sure to bring a big hat and lots of sunscreen.

Furthest south in this migration is Fort Lauderdale Stadium, home of the Baltimore Orioles. Rumor has it that these birds may fly to Arizona soon, so catch them while you can.

SitClose.com provides Cubs fans with Chicago Cubs tickets, entertainment and corporate events. Nick Messe is the founder and president of Lead Frog LLC which provides elite private business consulting services.

[tags]Chicago Cubs tickets, Chicago Cubs ticket broker, online Chicago Cubs tickets[/tags]

After the excitement of the World Series each year, baseball fans brace themselves for a few lonely months until things start up again. They may switch their loyalties to something like basketball or hockey, but in their hearts they are simply biding their time and counting down the days.

Thanksgiving comes, and soon Fall approaches Winter. Then comes Christmas and soon you’ll be ringing in a New Year. February finally arrives, and thank goodness it’s a short month, because you’re in a hurry for March and the magical season called Spring Training. At last it’s time to toss some shorts and t-shirts into a suitcase and migrate to warmer climes where baseball reigns supreme.

Come and join thirteen million of your fellow baseball fans as they pursue eleven Major League teams in the Cactus League. There are nine stadiums that radiate within fifty miles of Phoenix, and a couple of hours away in Tucson, there are two more ball parks for you to enjoy.

What could be better than basking in Arizona sunshine, hot dog in one hand, a beer in the other as you watch the boys of summer in the spring? There are so many games in one day, all within driving range, that you’ll have a hard time deciding where to go first.

Surprise Stadium is where you can catch the Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals. This stadium is one of the newest, only a half dozen years old. If you like great food with your baseball, head on over to Peoria Sports Complex. Have dinner first and then enjoy the San Diego Padres or the Seattle Mariners.

If smaller, more intimate parks are your preference, check out Maryvale Park where the Milwaukee Brewers entertain seven thousand fans. The San Francisco Giants work out in the historic part of Scottsdale at the beautiful Scottsdale Stadium. This park is a real stunner with lots of bars and eateries to chose from.

The Oakland Athletics have flexed their muscles since 1984 at the Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The ladies in your group will love browsing the cute shops on nearby Mill Avenue in Tempe. After the game, why not celebrate at one of the many distinctive restaurants.

The recently renovated Tempe Diablo Stadium boasts some of the largest crowds in the Cactus League. You probably should think ahead, and not count on divine intervention to get into this park. The games are usually sold out, so get your tickets from an online ticket broker in advance, if you want a chance to see the famous Los Angeles Angels.

The most sought after games in the entire Cactus League have got to be the Cubs who play at Hohokam Park in Mesa. Fans should consult their Chicago Cubs ticket broker to ensure a seat, because this place rocks. Join the sea of Cubbies fans and plan to party big time.

Glendale, hosts another hugely popular venue called Camelback Ranch, which seats 13,000 lucky fans who come to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox. The 10,000 seat Goodyear Ballpark welcomed the Cleveland Indians in 2009, and in 2010 the Cincinnati Reds will move over from the Grapefruit League.

Tucson Electric Park is a fantastic modern stadium to enjoy watching the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, if baseball history is one of your loves, make tracks to an American original called Hi Corbett Field. It is one of the oldest stadiums in the United States, where fans can absorb baseball culture from way back in the 1930’s. This is the way baseball should be enjoyed - the old-fashioned way. Aren’t you glad that Cactus League baseball has finally arrived?

SitClose.com provides Cubs fans with Chicago Cubs tickets. Nick Messe is the founder and president of Lead Frog LLC which provides elite private business consulting services.

[tags]Chicago Cubs tickets, Chicago Cubs ticket broker, online Chicago Cubs tickets[/tags]

Baseball is a game that demands good conversation. What do you do when the game is on hold for a rain delay? What are you supposed to think about and discuss with your neighbors in the stands next to you while the home team has an extended meeting at the pitcher’s mound? When there is no baseball currently being played, it might be time to talk about the greatest baseball teams of all time. For example, you might discuss the merits of the 1954 Giants and the 1950 Yankees. The next time you use MLB tickets that you purchased online, you might want to bring up this important subject with your fellow baseball fans.

One of the foremost articles written about the best baseball teams of all-time is Roger Weber’s piece “Determining the Best Major League Team Ever Through Logical Statistical Comparison,” which sought out a rational, numbers-oriented ranking for the best teams of all-time. He even went so far as to divide up the history of baseball into general eras, where changes in the leagues and in the game itself would have made comparisons between teams more difficult. In his list of the best teams from 1947-2005, Weber listed the 1950 New York Yankees as the No. 8 team and the 1954 New York Giants as the No. 7 team. But is this ranking sound when you compare team matchups? Is there enough data out there to suggest that the 1950 New York Yankees would have beaten the 1954 New York Giants in a hypothetical World Series matchup of two teams separated by four years?

In 1954 the Giants won the World Series, but the title was significant at the time mostly for ending a streak of Yankees championships. The Yankees had won the past five World Series titles in a row, and six of the past seven. After the 1954 Giants championship the Yankees went on another tear, playing in nine of the next 10 World Series matchups and winning four of them.

In trying to put together a hypothetical matchup of the players and circumstances of the 1954 Giants and the 1950 Yankees, it’s important to look at the pitchers of these two great teams, because although they were both highlighted by excellent hitters (Willie Mays and Joe DiMaggio, respectively), it was arguably their defense that made them great teams. The Giants finished the 1954 regular season with the best team ERA in the National League, and the Yankees were No. 2 in team ERA in the 1950 American League. For the sake of making this discussion simple, let’s try to determine who would have won Game 1 of the hypothetical series between the 1954 Giants and the 1950 Yankees. Both teams are starting their aces.

For the Giants, Johnny Antonelli would have taken the mound, and for the Yankees, Vic Raschi would be the opening game starter. In 1954 Antonelli was the Pitcher of the Year, led the league in ERA (2.29) win-loss record (21-7, .750) and recorded six shutouts en route to the lowest hits per nine innings average in the league (7.27). Raschi was good in 1950 for the Yankees, but not as good as Antonelli at his peak. Raschi had a 21-8 record (.724) in 1950, but his ERA of 4.00 was purely pedestrian. He allowed an average of 8.1 hits per nine innings, which ranked him fifth in the league. Vic Raschi was ranked in the top five of the league in several key categories, including wins, strikeouts per nine innings, total strikeouts and complete games. Antonelli and the 1954 Giants would have probably won Game 1 of their hypothetical series with the 1950 Yankees.

Written by Brent Warnken. StubHub has sponsored this article. StubHub.com is a great place to get MLB tickets, as well as tickets for other sports teams, theatre performances, concerts and special events.

[tags]MLB, sports, tickets, baseball[/tags]

The extra base hit is one of the most exciting plays in baseball. It happens often enough that people get to witness one during the course of a regular ballgame, yet it requires elite speed, accurate hitting and timing and the coordination of players and coaches to make it happen. Who is the king of extra base hits? Well, that answer depends on what kind of extra base hit you’re talking about. As you know, there are three kinds of extra base hits - the double, the triple, and the inside-the-park home run. Each takes a different kind of skill and a different kind of player.

Back in the early days of baseball, the fields were larger, the players were on fewer drugs and the traditional homeruns were fewer and farther between. Sometimes professional baseball games were played at stadiums with walls set up for a greyhound race or a gladiator bout. If you recall the famous Willie Mays play “The Catch,” the one where he’s making an in-stride, over-the-back catch in the back of the outfield, you might not know that the photo is famous mostly because the wall was so incredibly far back that typically a hit of that length would have gone for at least a triple. He was playing in the New York Polo Grounds, and they didn’t shorten the fence. So when you compare hitters from before about 1960 to hitters from today’s game, you have to take that into consideration. There were fewer home runs, but much more doubles and triples. Would you have rather purchased MLB tickets to see the game in those days? Take into account that you would probably not have been able to secure the seats online.

The King of Extra Bases
The player who owns the all-time extra base hits record is the one, the only, Hammerin’ Hank Aaron. Aaron hit a remarkable 1,477 extra base hits (although 755 of those were home runs). He led the league in doubles four times and led the league in total bases nine different times. Barry Bonds, Stan Musial, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays round out the top five. Interestingly enough, only four of the top 15 extra base hitters were right handed.

The King of Doubles
Doubles might be a more accurate determiner of which player is the King of Extra Base Hits, because home runs are obviously not included. If you’re a speedy player you can get two bases out of a hit that a slower player might have only taken one. Tris Speaker is the all-time doubles leader, with 792 in his career. He’s followed by Pete Rose (the all-time hits and singles leader), Stan Musial, Ty Cobb and Craig Biggio.

The King of Triples
Triples are dominated by the old-timers. Sam Crawford is the all-time leader with 309. Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Jake Beckley and Roger Connor round out the top five. In fact, you have to travel down the list to No. 14, Jim Rice, to get a player who played past the year 1930.

The King of Inside-the-Park Home Runs
A good argument can be made that Honus Wagner was the king of inside-the-park home runs. While stats from those days make it hard to separate inside-the-park homers from regulation homers, it is recorded that Honus hit no fewer than five inside-the-park grand slams.

Written by Brent Warnken. StubHub has sponsored this article. StubHub.com is a great place to get MLB tickets, as well as tickets for other sports teams, theatre performances, concerts and special events.

[tags]MLB, sports, tickets, baseball[/tags]

As of Thursday, July 30th, the San Francisco Giants are No. 2 in the National League West Standings with a record of 55-46. Seven games behind the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers and only a half game ahead of the surging Colorado Rockies, the Giants are in the thick of the Wild Card race in the National League. In fact, if the regular season was to begin today the Giants would be the winners of the NL Wild Card spot, as they have a better record than Florida and Atlanta in the East, as well as Chicago, Houston and Milwaukee in the Central.

In order to keep ahead of the game and rally the team in the second half of the season, the Giants needed to add hitting. It was no secret that San Francisco was relying heavily on their premier rotation of starting pitchers. All-Stars Tim Lincecum (ERA 2.30) and Matt Cain (2.12, best in the NL) have led the best pitching unit in baseball. The Giants have given up the fewest runs so far and lead the league in strikeouts. The offense has been nearly the complete opposite. The Giants’ batters have managed to score the second fewest runs in the National League, behind only the San Diego Padres. It was clear to everyone who looked at this team that they needed to add some hitters to the lineup to make this team elite.

And that’s just what the Giants did. On Monday the 27th of July the Giants made a trade with the Cleveland Indians, dealing pitching prospect Scott Barnes to Cleveland for first baseman Ryan Garko. Batting .285 heading into the trade, Garko immediately became one of the Giants’ best hitters, trailing only Pablo Sandoval in terms of batting average. He trails only Sandoval in terms of home runs, as well.

Then on Wednesday the 29th the Giants made a trade with Pittsburgh to acquire second baseman Freddy Sanchez for a pitching prospect, Tim Alderson. Sanchez, batting .296, then replaced Garko as the Giants’ second best hitter. Although Sanchez is rehabbing a nagging injury, he’s expected to enter the lineup soon enough. According to CBSsports site wire reports, Garko was excited that the Giants got Sanchez. Said Ryan Garko, “It’s just exciting to be a part of this. The pitching’s so good and we’ve got real good players. I think we can make a run at it. Coming from Cleveland, where kind of the opposite is going on, as a player, when ownership and the general manager are going out there and getting you help, it’s a great thing.”

Are the Giants done adding talent to their lineup? According to San Francisco general manager Brian Sabean, it appears they are. Said Sabean, referring to acquiring Sanchez, “Simply put, our long-awaited next move has finally been consummated. A kid that has distinguished himself as an All-Star three out of the last four years and a batting champ within that time frame. The timing’s great.”

The time has also never been greater to get San Francisco Giants tickets online. The Giants now have a plucky, gritty hitting lineup that will likely feature Randy Winn leading off, followed by Freddy Sanchez, Pablo Sandoval, Bengie Molina, Ryan Garko, Edgar Renteria, Aaron Rowand and Andres Torres.

Written by Brent Warnken. StubHub has sponsored this article. StubHub.com is a great place to get San Francisco Giants tickets, as well as tickets for other sports teams, theatre performances, concerts and special events.

[tags]San Francisco Giants, baseball, sports, tickets, MLB[/tags]

Based on the prevalence of sports movies and the intersecting worlds of athletes and actors, it only seems natural to suggest that there are certain actors who ought to play certain Major League Baseball players in future, hypothetical movies. Choosing the right actor to correspond to the right player is a tough task. You need to get the look down right and the personality has to fit. Here are a few suggestions, just in case these athletes need to be played in any upcoming movies.

Manny Ramirez - Luis Guzman: The Dominican slugger would best fit Luis Guzman in both looks and personality. Manny is known as much for his strong hitting as he is for his lazy out-fielding. He’s a guy who enjoys having fun while he’s working hard. Guzman is a Puerto Rican character actor who usually plays a somewhat comic role as a sidekick. They’re both on the heavy side. Think of Guzman in the film “Waiting,” where he played a chef at a fast food restaurant.

Aaron Rowand - Kevin Dillon or Peter Berg: The San Francisco Giants’ outfielder Aaron Rowand has a lean face, a goatee and plays hardball with intensity- especially on defense. Rowand is also famous for his unusual stance. He usually squares up his cleats in the box, and then adjusts his midsection so that it looks as though he’s standing on his tippy-toes and trying to make a circle out of his legs and the ground. It’s an odd way to try to get a hit. Similarly, Kevin Dillon and Peter Berg have lean, mustachioed and goatee faces in most of their acting credits, and their characters usually have some kind of emotional volatility. Dillon is most famous for his role as Johnny Drama in HBO’s Entourage, where he plays a struggling actor who never gets a part because he’s always having a meltdown. Berg was most famous for his roles in TV dramas, like Chicago Hope and Friday Night Lights.

David Wright - Nick Lachey: The Mets’ third baseman carries a high average and is usually seen around the gossip column smiling with a beautiful woman on his arm. He’s young, round-faced, but is good looking with dark black hair. Who would fit best in the role of David Wright? How about Nick Lachey? Although he’s more of a musician per-se, we’re sure Lachey had to do some acting for his role on the reality show Newlyweds. Plus, he used to be seen in the gossip columns all the time with his former wife Jessica Simpson and other famous beautiful women, like Vanessa Minnillo.

Cole Hamels - Luke Wilson: Cole is tall, a little on the lanky side, and has trademark straight dark hair that goes down over his ears. He’s the reigning World Series MVP, and he made quite the impression with female Philadelphia Phillies fans when he helped the team win it all. The best actor to play Cole might well be Luke Wilson, who has played some roles with longer hair- notably in Bottle Rocket and The Royal Tenenbaums. If you’re looking for something to talk about with your buddies at the stadium next time you use MLB tickets you purchased through StubHub.com, try discussing which players out on the field resemble famous celebrities.

Written by Brent Warnken. StubHub has sponsored this article. StubHub.com is a great place to get MLB tickets, as well as tickets for other sports teams, theatre performances, concerts and special events.

[tags]MLB, sports, tickets, baseball[/tags]