Just saw this on ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption.  Cuban hitter, Lisban Correa attacks the pitcher Osniel Sosa who had just beaned Correa.

This is just plain wrong.  In no case should a hitter attack a pitcher and go after him with a bat in hand.  Luckily no-one was hurt. 

Where were the Sosa’s teammates?  Why didn’t they come to his aid when the Correa charged the mound? 

And in the early part of the vid, the umpire tried to stop Correa, but Correa ran through the sign for him to stop.

I do understand that there are times when beanballs occur and I understand that the hitter hit with one has every right to be mad.  I would never condone anyone going after the pitcher with a bat in hand.

C’mon, Man!

Today on the World Wide Leader in Sports ESPN television program Around the Horn, when asked by host Tony Reali about the ridiculous floating realignment system that MLB thinkers have suggested, Bill Plaschke, columnist for the Los Angeles Times, frequent ATH contributor (and Billy Joel lookalike contest winner) suggested relegation as a solution.

A few months ago BBI also proposed relegation for Major League Baseball as a way to revamp how baseball works. Others have come up with their own proposals as well.  Maybe now is the time to really look at the concept. Here’s what Plaschke said on today’s ATH program:

“So, baseball’s great minds have gotten together and they’ve come up with THIS?  This is absolutely absurd.  Baseball’s economic system is broken so instead of trying to fix the system, they are trying to fix the heart and soul of the game to make the system work.  That’s absolutely…it makes no sense at all.  Having teams…if a team doesn’t win, oh no, boo-hoo I can’t win, I’ll just change divisions.  I’ll go to a place where maybe I can win, instead of being in it.   How ‘bout instead of this reorganization, how ‘bout, how ‘bout Relegation?  How ‘bout doing what they do in the English Premier Soccer League?  Where if you don’t do well…you know what Tampa Bay?  You don’t wanna play well here, you go to Triple A.  Go to Triple A, Tampa Bay, how about that?”

MLB needs to look at all the different proposals that are out there to fix its economic structure and the competition, including salary caps, revenue sharing, realignment and especially, relegation.

“Win or go to another league” would be one way to make sure the competition increased and could also expand the overall fan base. And it might serve as extra motivation for the teams that are perennial losers in MLB and perennial winners in the minors.

A relegation/promotion system would require a total restructuring for all baseball organizations and leagues, especially the ownership of developmental teams.  An idea perhaps would be to leave Single A and Double A alone and promote Triple A to the less-than-Premier League.  And you could then start bringing in teams from other baseball-rabid countries such as Cuba (if the US ever lifts the trade embargo), Japan and the Dominican Republic.

It’s an idea whose time has come.

On the Yankees mlb.com website, Yankees Managing Partner little brother reiterated that they would not offer Yankees Manager, Joe Girardi, and future Hall of Famers  Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter contract extensions.

This because of a long-standing policy.

NEW YORK — The Yankees won’t alter their stance not to deal with contract extensions during the season — even for Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter and manager Joe Girardi, managing partner Hal Steinbrenner said on Tuesday.

“People just have to understand that everybody does business in a different way,” Steinbrenner said to reporters following Tuesday’s news conference to announce the details of the inaugural Pinstripe Bowl. “I just don’t believe in contract extensions, and that’s throughout the organization, no matter who it is. Hopefully, nobody takes that personally, it’s just business.”

Steinbrenner did say that he has expressed to each his desire to keep them with the Yankees, but he will deal with their individual contracts after the season, as has been club policy in the past.

“I’ve got a great relationship with them all,” Steinbrenner said. “I’ve expressed to all of them that, ‘You’re part of the Yankee family and you’re wanted. It wouldn’t be the same without you.’ But as far as no extensions, it’s a business policy of mine.”

Jeter, entering the final year of a 10-year, $189 million deal, and Rivera, in the last of a three-year, $45 million contract, are both eligible for free agency after the season. Girardi’s three-year contract is also set to expire after 2010.

Hal just told everyone how stupid he really is.  And if his father wasn’t George he’d be waiting tables someplace.  Oh wait, that’s really an insult to people who are waiters.  Sorry.

Joe Girardi was the skipper at the helm of their latest World Series title.  Think he deserves an extension?

Mariano Rivera just continues to be the best closer of all-time, especially in the clutch.  Think he should take number 42 and go someplace else?

Derek Jeter, the latest Captain of the Yankees, is in the final year of his mega-deal and continues to perform at a high level, especially at the plate.  I’m sure he wants to remain a Yankee for life, but why chance it?  Think anyone wants to see him in a Tigers’ uniform?

It’s time for the Steinbrenner brothers idiots to get off their high horse, drop the bureaucratic policy stance bovine defecation and sign all three of these men to the contract extensions they deserve.

Disclaimer:  I’m an avowed Yankees Hater.