The Baseball Thread

the sawx are looking for a cheaper two-month rental than ubaldo.
they almost pulled the trigger on oft-injured rich harden, but it fell through in the wee hours.
expect them to grab a pitcher today (bedard?) as insurance for buchholz, who's wonky back injury refuses to heal...

MLB investigates A-Rod gambling

Major League Baseball is taking "very seriously" the allegations that Alex Rodriguez took part in some illegal, underground poker games,
one of which reportedly turned violent, and he could face suspension if his participation in the games is confirmed.

"We take this very seriously and have been investigating this matter since the initial allegation," MLB said in a statement. "As part of
the investigation, the commissioner's office will interview Mr. Rodriguez."

An MLB executive, speaking to ESPNNewYork.com on condition of anonymity, indicated that Rodriguez could miss games if the investigation
proves he was at the poker games.

"We're talking to people involved in the investigation and we're taking this very seriously," he said. "Because he had been warned about this
before, I would say a possible suspension would be very much in play."

The allegations, first reported by Star Magazine, are that the New York Yankees third baseman played in at least two of the games,
one of which took place at the Beverly Hills mansion of a record executive at which "cocaine was openly used" and a fight nearly broke out when
one of the players refused to pay after losing "more than a half-million dollars."

According to the story, details of which were reportedly provided by another player at the games, Rodriguez "tried to distance himself
from the game," once the violence broke out.

{ snip }

According to the baseball executive, MLB has yet to positively determine that Rodriguez took part in the games, which reportedly included
actors Tobey Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. The man did not know if baseball's investigators had yet
spoken to Rodriguez about the allegations, but he confirmed MLB has at least two investigators working on the case.

Cubs Zambrano mulling retirement?

In a shocking wave of events, Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano cleaned his locker out on Friday night,
then told clubhouse personnel he was retiring and leaving the team.

Zambrano had been ejected in the fifth inning after throwing two inside pitches that barely missed Atlanta Braves
third baseman Chipper Jones.

"It was a bad scenario all the way around and it didn't end very damn well," Cubs manager Mike Quade said.

Quade was perplexed by the chain of events that occurred.

"I came in, saw there was an empty locker," Quade said. "Then I heard that he was retiring, that he had left."

According to clubhouse personnel, Zambrano said he had enough and left Turner Field before the game ended.

"I don't know [if he's retiring]," Quade said. "So you guys go find him and see what he says."

Cubs ban Carlos Zambrano 30 days

Carlos Zambrano has been placed on the disqualified list and will go 30 days without pay and without contact
with his team, the Chicago Cubs announced Saturday.

"His actions last night were totally intolerable," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. "This was the most
stringent penalty we could enforce without a release."

After giving up five home runs in a 10-4 loss to the Atlanta Braves and getting ejected for throwing at Chipper
Jones on Friday, Zambrano cleaned out his locker and told trainers and clubhouse people during the game that
he was "retiring."

Zambrano's agent Barry Praver told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney that the Cubs were told within two hours
after Friday's game that Zambrano "definitely" wasn't retiring. Praver said Zambrano made private emotional
remarks to club staff and returned his things to his locker late Friday night.

Praver told ESPNChicago.com that the Major League Baseball Players Association will file a grievance on Monday
due to the severity of the punishment.

"His actions last night are very detrimental to his teammates," Hendry said. "There's not much worse than running
out on your teammates and announcing your retirement."

Hendry said he apologized to Braves general manager Frank Wren for the actions by Zambrano, which tarnished
former manager Bobby Cox's night. The Braves retired Cox's No. 6 before the game.


Zambrano was ejected by plate umpire Tim Timmons in the fifth inning after throwing two inside pitches to
Jones, the second going all the way to the backstop. The brushback pitches followed homers by Freddie Freeman
and Dan Uggla.


"It was uncalled for, the pitch to Chipper Jones," Hendry said.


"I feel that anything at all to detract from Bobby Cox's night other than usual competition is totally intolerable."