New Evidence Against Barry?

So the Feds come out firing on Thursday, actually raiding, then firing. Next thing we know, with about a month before the start of Barry Bonds' federal perjury trial, the Feds say they have new damning evidence against the former slugger...or do they?
I find it interesting that while invetigators told the NY Times they have urine tests to confirm Barry took more than "the cream and the clear" during his playing days, they also went out of their way to bring in former teammate Bobby Estalella to testify against Bonds and raided the house belonging to the mother-in-law of former Bonds trainer Greg Anderson, who by the way has been to prison multiple times by refusing to testify against his client.
Wouldn't the urine tests be enough? In all these years we haven't had a positive test from Bonds come to light, and now a month before the trial starts investigators say they have it but are pursuing all these other angles? A no-name catcher who claims to have taken the cream and the clear as well as HGH provided by Bonds trainer Greg Anderson? Thats the best they can do?
Anderson is a whole seperate ball of wax. He's been to jail three times during this saga and not once has dropped dime on his former client. It appears Anderson is the spoke in the wheel the Feds just can't land. Why else would they start a "tax investigation," against his mother in law and raid her home so close to trial? Because he's refused on several occassions to rat out his friend. So much so he's ignoring another subpoena and facing more jail time.
Will the Feds give up? Not at all, someone needs to take the fall for steroids, but it appears the case against the poster-boy Bonds has a lot of holes in it. We'll find out in about a month. My money says no test, no witness, no conviction.

Bakersfield Stadium Problem Solved!

Sometimes the most obvious answers are right in front of you, and it takes a smack in the back of the head to make you open your eyes. In a time where financial responsibility is at an all-time high in cities across America, building a new minor-league ballpark for any city is a tough sell, especially here in Bakersfield, CA.
But after the Bakersfield Blaze said they're leaving without a new stadium, just days after the City Council told City Manager Alan Tandy, they'd love to save baseball, when they can afford it, I found the answer, thanks in part to a few gentleman much wiser than I.
CSUB Baseball coach Bill Kernan took me on a tour of his new facility on Friday...and the answers came from his mouth. "Why doesn't the franchise or the city just pay to put in 4,000 seats here?" He asked. "Does Bakersfield even realize we built this field?"
I don't know if the rest of the city know, but they will now. A beautiful diamond and home field for the Runners was recently built using private funding on CSUB's campus, and while they one day hoped to build another Stadium like facility down the street, in these economic times, why not build around what you got?
No permanent seating is in, no permanent concessions either, and none will be in until after the first season (so construction doesn't interfere with this years games). Why not develop a plan and find funding at a much smaller cost than 14 or 35 million (the number proposed for a new stadium) and build around CSUB's field?
Coach you are a brilliant man, when this baseball thing ends, you have a future in politics. Check out my photos and video link below. Tell me what you think? Could this be the future home of the Runners and the Blaze?

Reaction, Colletti Interview

Dodgers GM Ned Colletti was my guest on Home Turf Wednesday in preparation for his keynote speech Saturday at the BC Hot Stove Dinner. I will have the audio posted shortly in case you missed it but what an interview indeed.
I was really impressed with Colletti's candor when it came to things like his bullpen, the free agent market and of course Manny Ramirez. When it comes to Manny, Colletti has had his fill on questions this off season, but when he broached the subject, I had to ask.
The response was surprising, but yet at the same time exactly what Dodger fans want to hear. The Dodgers have offered what they are going to offer, Manny wants to be a Dodger, they want him to be a Dodger and that's where they stand. On the flip side Colletti said the Dodgers will play next season...with or without him. Colletti has been trying to juggle Manny-Mania this off season while working to fill other free agent gaps. The team made headway when Rafael Furcal and Casey Blake were re signed, but I think they've let a little bit of their pitching staff slip (Lowe, Saito etc) while the wait out the Manny situation. Guillermo Mota was a nice sign today but I think LA is a few starters and middle relievers away from being where they need to be.
As Colletti pointed out, the NL West will be stacked with pitching this season, Peavy in San Diego, Lincecum in San Francisco,Webb in Arizona, some of the best hurlers will be in the West this season, LA has to land a Randy Wolfe, Jon Garland or a Braden Looper in order to compete. Manny is great and all but you need pitching to win out west.
Hopefully Dodger fans are satisfied with the interview, Colletti covered all the bases and appears to have a plan. If that plan includes Manny, better sooner than later before that pitching pool dries up and LA is left hoping the sales of Manny hats and dreads makes them enough cash to counteract a third place divisional finish.

Alright, that's more like it

It's been a long 8 days for the CSUB men's basketball team. After letting an 18 point lead dissappear against Loyola Marymount back on January 4th, the Runners had some time to think about it, and practice through it.
Well CSUB bounced back in fine form on Monday night beating San Jose State 61-55 at Rabobank Arena. It was their first win over the Spartans in the DI era and a fine recovery from two 15 point losses to the Spartans last season.
It wasn't an overall impressive offensive game for either squad, San Jose shot 20 percent in the first half, hitting just 5 field goals and 17 points at the half. The Runners weren't much better and actually ended up trailing the Spartans in the field goal percentage category but 19 offensive rebounds, and an overall 40-33 rebounding edge made the difference. It allowed CSUB to control the ball and get off 15 more field goal attempts than the Spartans. I know this is a football stat but time of possession was definetely in the Runners favor.
CSUB came out fired up, and played tremendous defense, shutting down big man CJ Webster while CSUB's big men, Santwon Latunde scored 12 and Cory Brown added 7, had their way underneath. It looked like San Jose spent too much time looking forward to their roadtrip to Hawaii this weekend as opposed to focusing on the Runners. Oops, in case they forgot, we are a Division I team now, and on any night against any D-I team you better be ready to play, otherwise you get outplayed, just like the Spartans last night.
Come out Saturday for UC Riverside, check out an old D-2 rival making their D-I debut against the Runners. Outta be fun.

New Blaze Manager Good Fit in Bad Times

Sorry I can't help it, new Blaze Manager Steve Buechele is a hoot. After coming on Home Turf Monday I just get the vibe that this guy is perfect for the Bakersfield job even as baseball in this town appears to be on the outs.
I like his attitude, his determination to get his "kids" to win. He also promised fun while saying he actually ignored warnings from other managers that didn't have too many kind things to say about Bakersfield. Steve's best words came when he told me "I don't care what kind of facility we play in, we're gonna play ball." In a world when it's commonplace for minor league managers, especially those in Bakersfield to complain about facilities, I'm glad to see one who realizes it's about the game, not what year your stadium was built in.
If this is in fact the final season of the Rangers affiliation in Bakersfield, and if the ownership chooses to move the team, I think Steve Buechele is going to leave a last impression on this town. How can you not love a guy who rocked the following haircut in the 1990 baseball card photos:

When asked if his 1990 do will make a reappearance in Bakersfield, he quickly shot back..."the mullet is gone," and described his aging hair almost 20 years later. He also claimed the 1985-1990 Rangers might have led the majors in "awful hair." If the Dodgers can sell a million Manny Ramirez caps with the dreadlocks attached, I want first dibs on selling Steve Buechele Bakersfield Blaze Mullet Caps, or starting mullet Mondays with free admission for those still willing to rock the early 90's hair fashion.
Should be an interesting season, let's hope its not the last.