New York Mets' Rookie deGrom Ends the Teams' Pitchers' 0-64 Slump

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The New York Mets have had a slight problem with their pitchers this season. Not necessarily with their actual pitching performances, although the Mets have had better years in regard to pitching statistics - the problem was with their bats. Being primarily a fan of the American League and the designated hitter, I really did not see that this was some kind of record. Had I heard mention of the hitless streak? Sure. Did it mean that much to me? Not really. 

A huge proponent for the National League to just give in and adopt the DH, it did not occur to me that anything was amiss. I watch interleague play, of course, but I always assumed that pitchers just did not really put in much effort towards hitting (I have seen that Bartolo Colon has had some interesting at-bats since joining the Mets but I loved watching him literally stand there and look at the opposing pitcher like they were crazy ... I miss him on the A's!).

That the Mets' pitchers were 0-64 to start the season? In my mind was really a "so what, who cares?" type thing. Pitchers, in my little world at least, are just not supposed to hit. Seriously, I sound like a ridiculous baseball fan to some people when I say things like that but I definitely believe it (I do not think that the NL's lack of the DH makes anything THAT much more "strategic" - Am I biased? YES! Grew up an A.L. girl but still this is a "smart persons' sport" which I believe and a smart person should be able to see the merits of the DH vs. anything slightly "strategic- but whatever, that's just my opinion). It opens them up to injury and half of them are not even good at it anyway. Actually I'd say more than half but whatever I'm completely digressing from the story at hand ... one I actually found to be quite cute and interesting.

So as I was saying the Mets' pitchers were a Major League Baseball record 0-64 at the plate to start the season. I'm sure to the Mets' fans that seemed like an eternity and I guess it is. They broke the previous record held by the 1914 St. Louis Browns who opened their season in an 0-45 slump. A century is a long time to hold a record, however random or unpleasant, and the Mets pitchers beat it by being worse by 19 at-bats! Damn! 

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But as all streaks must come to an end the Mets' undesirable one did Thursday when rookie pitcher, Jacob deGrom, singled in the third inning of the final game of the Subway Series against the New York Yankees. The story would still be a good one if I only described deGrom as a "rookie." However, it the first MLB start of this kid's career as well as his first big league at-bat. He was a shortstop and would sometimes come in to pitch, in a relief role, while playing in college at Stetson University. 

The 25-year old was a starting pitcher during his four seasons in the minors going 21-11 in 58 starts with a 3.62 ERA but he would not have been the person you, I or anyone else would have picked to break the Mets' pitchers' hitless streak. deGrom hit .176 in just 34 plate appearances during time in the minors and he had only just been brought up from Triple-A Las Vegas to replace injured Mets' starter, Dillon Gee. Gee is on the disabled list with a right lat strain.

Even though the Mets went on to lose the game to the Yankees by a score of 1-0, I'd consider this somewhat of a win for deGrom - breaking the hitless streak, getting his first major league hit and compiling some good statistics - giving up just one run on four hits while striking out six and walking only two. The one run came on a RBI double in the seventh inning by Alfonso Soriano. I feel for the Mets since they didn't get the win but they will get more wins if deGrom pitches and hits the way he did at Citi Field on Thursday afternoon. The Mets and Yankees split the four game each winning two games apiece.

Is it Possible for Yankees' fans to Justify their Reception of Cano?

Could the fans of the New York Yankees really justify calling former Yankees’ second baseman Robinson Cano a “sell out” on his first game back at the new Yankee Stadium Tuesday night? Boos are one thing, they will always happen in situations like this. Although it was pretty classy for the Boston Red Sox to put together a video tribute for Jacoby Ellsbury who left the team for not only more money but to compete with their bitter rivals. Shouldn’t he too be considered a “sell out” by the Boston fans? Plus, can’t Yankee fans spot that he sold out to go to their team? Apparently not. For Yankee’s fans to chant “You Sold Out” at anyone is bordering on the side of amusing.

For more on my opinion of this story CLICK HERE! Brought to you by Sports Unbiased.

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Seriously Pineda? Again? Yankees' Pitcher Ejected for using Pine Tar!

Jason Mastrodonato/Springfield Republican

Less than two weeks after last being suspected of having a foreign substance on his hand, Yankees’ starter Michael Pineda was caught with a foreign substance on his neck in the second inning of Wednesday’s game. Both games were in series against the Yankees’ rivals the Boston Red Sox.

According to MLB.com the Red Sox NESN television broadcast caught a shot of the substance smeared on Pineda’s next. Red Sox manager John Farrell immediately took the information to the the umpires who went out and examined Pineda. They started with his glove and hand but found the substance smudged on his neck. Major League Baseball Official Rule 8.02 states:

“The pitcher shall not apply a foreign substance of any kind to the ball.” For any violation of the rule, the official rules indicate that “the pitcher shall be ejected immediately from the game and shall be suspended automatically for 10 games.”

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VIDEO: Soriano makes improbable catch, almost impeded by Steve Bartman?

11 years later and it's still like it was yesterday. The Cubs were oh so close to tasting National League Pennant victory for the first time in a century, when Steve Bartman reached over the wall. That's all the guy, a life long cubs fan, did. It was so much more than that though. The misstep of one man kept the Cubs from pennant victory, the closest they had been to a World Series in 100 years.

This highlight took place earlier in the week, in the Bronx and it's not October but it reminded me of well ... Steve Bartman. I feel for the man who had to move and I think I heard changed his name but bro, really?

Anyway, this play begs the question, "Will Cubs fans ever learn not to interfere in the game?" Maybe if Alfonso Soriano hadn't made the catch it wouldn't have been an out for the Cubs, maybe the Cubs fan caught the ball it wouldn't have either. It could have been reviewed and called fan interference. Even though it is a different venue, completely different circumstances and it's definitely not October, at least the last time I checked - this Cubs fan made me think of Bartman. After 11 years even an A's fan stills remember the pain of that season and not because the Red Sox killed the Oakland A's in the American League Division Series but because of the heartbreak that befell the city of Chicago.

Breaking News: Yankees' Ivan Nova to the DL

Jamie Squire

New York Yankees’ starting pitcher Ivan Nova is the latest in a very long list of pitchers to land on the 15-day disabled list. He exited Saturday’s loss, to the Tampa Bay Rays, in the fifth inning with elbow soreness. We’ve learned by the many pitchers this season to have elbow soreness that this is almost always a very bad sign. 

To find out more on this breaking story CLICK HERE! Brought to you by Sports Unbiased

Find us on Twitter @OakAsSocksGrl and @SportsUnbiased1

Tanaka's First Major League Outing a Success

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Masahiro Tanaka, the off-season’s most coveted free agent who was signed by the New York Yankees, made his first official Major League start Friday in Toronto against the Blue Jays. In the bottom of the first inning the it didn’t appear like the 25-year old Japanese phenom was going to have a very good day on the mound. The right-hander gave up a home run to the Blue Jays’ leadoff hitter, Melky Cabrera, on his third pitch.

Certainly an interesting and most likely terrifying way to start off your Major League career that is under the scrutiny of both U.S. and Japanese baseball fans and media. What started out on a bad note ended on a good one for Tanaka. After serving up the homer to Cabrera and two more runs in the second inning, Tanaka settled down into a rhythm that got him his first career win and the Yankees’ their second on the season.

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Yankees, Marlins to Honor Mo with Legends Series in Panama

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For the first time since 1947 Major League Baseball will be played in Panama, the country that gave us one of the game’s all-time greatest players. For Mariano Rivera, one of the elite pitchers in the game until his retirement at the end of last season, this is a dream come true and something even more special than all he accomplished in his baseball career, which is a lot.

Besides having spent his entire 19-year career with the New York Yankees and helping them earn five World Series rings; Rivera is the all-time saves leader with 652. It’s a record that is virtually untouchable and may last forever. Now, the 13-time All-Star is bringing his beloved Yankees to play in his home country of Panama. It’s a dream he’s had since 1998, just his second year as the Yankees closer. To unite his team and his country, Rivera told the New York Post Thursday morning is,

“…the icing on top of the cake, a cherry on top of the cake.”

For More This Story Click Here  and for other MLB News and Updates Check Out the MLBAM Affiliated Pro-Blog Outside Pitch Sports Network LLC

Teixeira Having to Take it Slow This Spring

The New York Yankees are making Mark Texeira take it easy this spring training and it is not going over well with the first baseman. Teixeira has been dealing with the injury to his wrist for over a year now. The Yankees are making Teixeira take it slow this spring because the injury kept him out most of last season.

Texiera was not happy after being shut down by the team’s pitching coach, Larry Rothchild, after only a 21 pitch batting practice session according to the New York Daily News. Teixeira was quite irritated by his session being cut short but the incident has not caused a rift between the team and their first baseman.

For the rest of this story go to Sports Unbiased - Your Alternative Source For Sports

Goodbye El Capitan: Derek Jeter Announces his Retirement After the 2014 Season

Well everyone saw it coming with the retirement of Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte this past season. I guess that is everyone besides Yankees' first baseman Mark Teixeira. In a tweet by MLB Network Public Relations we found out how Teixeira felt when he heard the news,

@MLBNetworkPR: Teixeira on Jeter: I was shocked. I really did not see this coming at all.

I'm sorry but I think that's pretty hilarious. But back to the real matter - the Yankees are aging. I for one still think of guys like Jeter, Pettitte and A-Rod as if they are still kids - like I can still picture Alex Rodriquez on the Mariners and who thinks about that anymore - not just because of the steroid scandal but because of the publicity his move to the Texas Rangers and consequently New York Yankees brought ... and the steroid scandal and subsequent suspension of course.

I just expected that Jeter would be hanging up his cleats sooner than later. Sooner is almost always a better way for a player of any sport to go out. They go out still on top and that is exactly what the Yankees' captain will do, after this season at least ... Sometimes the "keep playing until you can't play anymore" way of going does work out. Look at guys like Jamie Moyer who pitched almost up until the day he turned 50 or Bartolo Colon who had an insane year last year - which was also the year he turned 40! But for most guys, especially one as high profile and widely beloved as Jeter, it is better to go out on top and still healthy. Besides it isn't as though Derek Jeter won't be voted into the Hall Of Fame in a few years time right? He is DEREK JETER!

In his 19-year career Jeter played in 2602 games, batted at a .312 average with 256 home runs and 1261 RBI. He was an excellent defensive second baseman, a good teammate (which is why he was named Captain of the Yankees) and overall a class act.

Honestly, I didn't even really feel the need to write a blog on this which is why it is going to be extraordinarily short and slightly dull but I couldn't let the moment pass without at least addressing it. Jeter has made a HUGE impact on the game. Not quite or even close to the impact that Mariano Rivera made and he did so a lot more quietly but Jeter was in the lime light his entire career, made an impact professionally in the sport and will leave a lasting impression that will not be forgotten ....

 Here is a copy of Derek Jeter's letter announcing his retirement and saying thank you to the sport, the Yankees, his teammates and the fans.

Will Johnny Damon ever again don a Major League Baseball Uniform?

Even though he has not played baseball since 2012, former Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees' star Johnny Damon, who recently turned 40 years old, has not formally retired yet. There were reports earlier in the year that Damon might try to make a comeback. There is still talk and still no definitive reports, but more has been learned about the aging outfielder's future plans.

According to Tampa Bay Times reporter, Marc Topkin, Damon told him that he is open to still playing baseball or even managing a club. There was one stipulation however. Damon refuses to manage or play on the minor league level. Those are high aspirations for the former star and two time World Series Champion, but are they too high?

It is somewhat understandable that playing in the minor leagues would be a big step down and not forward for Damon. Yet, he is not even open to managing on the minor league level? Most former players who have become managers and most managers in general have had to start at the minor league level in order to advance to being the skipper of a Major League Baseball team. It is a job that takes time to move into. Normally, it is unlikely for anyone to just jump in at the highest level.

Damon's apparent ego aside, let's look at this realistically. 

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February 6, 1895: Happy Birthday Babe!

I really didn't realize that the Babe was born in the 1800's, 1895 to be exact, 119 years ago today, February 6th. And baseball is so much older. There is no sport with such a rich and amazing history as baseball but that is a topic for another day! Today is about the Babe .... 

Every strike brings me closer to the next home run." - Babe Ruth

The Babe is probably the most well-known, famous baseball player of all time. Even if someone say doesn't know who Joe DiMaggio or Ty Cobb is, you can guarantee they have at least heard of Babe Ruth. I so wish I could have met him, ok well at least have seen him play! 

I have seen some of the greatest of all time play ... Mariano Rivera. He would be the one I would say I am most proud to have seen play and I certainly do not doubt he will be the first unanimous Hall of Fame inductee. No one doesn't like Mo, no one. He was a class act on and off the field and one of the most AMAZING pitchers of all time. spent his whole career with the same team, I mean he is the legend people will talk about in 50 years. And I saw him play Everyone loves him and rightfully so! Randy Johnson would be another one, Ken Griffey Jr.,  ... these are legends I have seen live. I'm trying to think of some others but I will get back to that. Maybe in another blog post or something because this was supposed to be a little piece celebrating The Babe.

"Don't let the fear of striking out hold you back."

– Babe Ruth

George Herman Ruth Jr. was born in Maryland in 1895. Nicknamed The Bambino, The Sultan of Swat and The Babe he became the most famed baseball player of all time! He was sent to a strict parochial school as a boy where he excelled in baseball and later his pitching was noticed by the owner of the then minor league Baltimore Orioles, a minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. 

"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way."

– Babe Ruth

The Orioles owner, Jack Dunn, became Ruth's legal guardian. People called him Dunn's new babe. The nickname stuck and the man we know as Babe Ruth was officially born!  And most of the rest of the factual information most of us know (I'm assuming you may be a casual baseball fan) - called up to the Red Sox, won some championships, threw 13 scoreless innings in a game (a MLB record), got traded to the Yankees in 1919 so the owner of the Red Sox could finance the musical "No-No Nanette" and The Curse of the Bambino became a reality for 86 years before the Red Sox won their first championship in 2004. In New York Ruth became a full time outfielder and his offensive abilities only got better.

"If I'd just tried for them dinky singles I would've batted around six hundred."

– Babe Ruth

The Bambino holds so many MLB records! He was one of the first five players inducted into the hall of fame in 1936 along with Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson - those names all together At Spring Training every year when we get to see guys like Rollie Fingers, Vida Blue, Blue Moon Odom, Bob Welch, Rickey Henderson and Campy! Those guys are legends to me! But I am a baseball history nerd so these guy would be by far the coolest to see all together! OMG! 

Babe hit his final home runs at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, PA and reminded people of his greatness as they were all in one game on May 25, 1935. Of course everyone knows the story of when he called his shot and nailed a home run to left! That is just insane! 

"I looked out at center field and I pointed. I said, 'I'm going to hit the next pitched ball right past the flagpole.' Well, the Good Lord must have been with me."

– Babe Ruth

Ok back to the Babe's records, of course we all know the stories and the stats but for the casual fan I shall repeat the most important. Babe Ruth held the single season home run record with 60 which stood for 34 years. He held every important slugging record for years including most year leading a league in home runs with 12, most total bases in a season with 457 and the highest slugging percentage for a season for a single season with .847. In his career he hit 714 home runs in his career. That record stood until Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit number 715 to surpass him. 

Ruth's life after baseball never materialized the way he wanted it to.

He had dreams of becoming a big league manager. Unfortunately the reputation that preceded him was a bit to crazy of a lifestyle and he was seen as irresponsible aka not manager material. He later did become a coach with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was known as a very generous man. Ruth made his final public appearance for Yankee Stadium's, aka the House that Ruth Built, 25th anniversary in 1948.

He died of cancer on August 16, j1948. He left most of his money to the Babe Ruth Foundation for Under Privileged Children and is survived by his wife Claire and two daughters, Dorothy and Julia. So there's a little mini bio of one of the all time greats in the game of baseball!! With all my randomness just thrown right in there! But that's why I sometimes do just blog posts and not articles ... I can put more of my personality into a blog post vs an article ... anyway, I am rambling so I will conclude with a quote from the Bambino,

  

Baseball was, is and always will be to me the best game in the world."

– Babe Ruth

Tanaka Signs with the Yankees

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Get ready for this one folks, it is going to be a huge shock. Japanese phenom, RHP Masahiro Tanaka, has finally chosen a home – a home in New York. This winter’s most coveted free agent has signed with the New York Yankees at least according to a source who passed the breaking news on to ESPN’s Buster Onley.

The contract is reportedly a seven year deal worth $155 million with a club opt-out after four years and is the fifth largest ever for a pitcher. Apparently the Yankees are sparing no expense in order to return to their former dominance. The Yankees missed the post season in 2013 for just the second time since 1995.

Having been on a winter spending spree by already signing OF Jacoby Ellsbury, OF Carlos Beltran, and catcher Brian McCann to lucrative deals, it’s no surprise that the Yankees went after Tanaka. All four of those contracts combined comes to around $438 million.

Read More and give us your opinion on Tanaka on Sports Unbiased - Your site for all Sports News, Polls and Predictions!


*I woke up to my phone giving me this news this morning ... and it wasn't all over the internet yet! Kinda shocking and funny .... technology! LOL! SMH.*

Nats Interested in Balfour; Overbay inks Minor League Deal with Brewers

Nationals Interested in Balfour

Free agent closer Grant Balfour may have finally found a home with the Washington Nationals — or at least they have expressed their interest, according to a source at  MLB.com. Balfour was an All-Star closer for the Oakland Athletics last season. Unfortunately for Balfour, the Nationals have had their closer,Rafael Soriano, signed to a two-year, $28-million contract since January 2013. If Balfour ultimately makes a deal with Washington, he would have to pitch in the set-up role. 

After leaving the A’s via free-agency this off-season, both Balfour and the Baltimore Orioles expected him to be their new closer. But after a physical on Balfour, the Orioles rescinded their offer of $15 million for two years because of issues with his wrist and knees, though it was first reported that it may have been his throwing shoulder. Balfour was unhappy about this and voiced his opinion to the media. He made a statement to The San Francisco Chronicles’ Susan Slusser who tweeted,

Balfour told me he told (Orioles’ executive vice president Dan) Duquette that he deserves to be treated w/ respect and he was not & #Orioles just lost their best chance at winning.

He is also quoted by Slusser as saying,

I am 100 percent fine. I am the All-Star pitcher I was last season. My shoulder is fine. Everything’s fine. I’m ready to come out there in the ninth inning, do what I do.

Last season with the Athletics, Balfour, 36, acquired 38 saves in 65 games and posted a 2.59 ERA. He also beat Oakland’s record, previously held by Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley, for consecutive saves.

As of today, the Nationals’ roster is at the 40-man limit, so if they were to sign Balfour, someone would have to be traded or designated for assignment. According to a baseball source that could be reliever,Drew Storen. Storen struggled towards the end of the 2012 season for Washington and in the National League Division Series that year. He lost his job as closer in 2013 when Soriano was signed. During the 2013 season, his struggles continued to mount and he was eventually sent back to Triple-A Syracuse but did finish the season with the Nationals.

As the Nationals are in the process of fine tuning their roster before Spring Training and Grant Balfour is still available and looking for a place to play in 2014, this might just be the right match.

Read more on MLB Nation - delivering the latest news, insights, and analysis from around the league.

Overbay Inks Minor League Deal with Brewers

Even quite a few other options available to play first base in 2014, the Milwaukee Brewers signed Lyle Overbay to a minor-league deal with an invitation to Major League Spring Training. The signing was announced on Twitter earlier today by the team’s official account.

This comes as a bit of a shock as just last week they also signed Mark Reynolds to a minor league contract complete with an invite. Not to mention the fact that there will be three other players, Juan Francisco, Sean Halton and Hunter Morris, also competing for a spot at the big league level.

Overbay, 36, has played with a number of teams in his career including the Brewers. In his two seasons with Milwaukee, Overbay hit.289 with 35 homers and 87 doubles, setting a club record in his first year with 53 doubles.  He spent last season with the New York Yankees appearing in 142 games and hitting .240 with 14 home runs and 59 RBI.

After first breaking into the majors with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Overbay was traded to the Brewers in 2003 and became their starting first baseman in 2004 and 2005. He was then traded to the Toronto Blue Jays where he spent five seasons after which he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a free agent in 2010. Since then he has played with the Pirates, Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox and the Yankees and has been released three times.

OverBay, who turns 37 this week, has played in 1,446 games over his thirteen-year career hitting .267 with 342 doubles, 147 home runs and 640 RBI.

Read More on MLB Nation - delivering the latest news, insights, and analysis from around the league.

Hafner to Coach for Notre Dame College; Continue Playing

Former Cleveland Indians’ designated hitter Travis Hafner has become a member of the baseball coaching staff at Notre Dame College as a volunteer assistant coach. The school’s head coach is also a former Indian, pitcher Len Barker. The college is located in South Euclid, Ohio.

Hafner, who played for the Yankees last season, has been helping out with the team during the off-season and wants to continue doing so as his “schedule permits.” His responsibilities will center, of course, around offense Hafner told Cleveland.com’s Dennis Manoloff by phone on Wednesday,

“One of my passions is working with young hitters, and I look forward to doing so for Lenny and Notre Dame College.”

Hafner, 36, came into the majors with the Texas Rangers in 2002 but was traded that off-season to the Indians. He spent ten seasons with the Indians and last season with the New York Yankees. Currently still a free agent, Hafner intends to continue playing Major League Baseball.

He is a career .273 hitter with 213 home runs and 731 RBI.  Last season, however, Hafner’s numbers were way down. He batted .202 with 12 home runs in 82 games with the Yankees. Still, Hafner insists he is ready for the 2014 season,

“I’m working out every day, getting ready for the upcoming season.  The body and swing feel good.”

This year is the first year for the Notre Dame College Falcons in the Mountain East Conference and the college’s second year as an NCAA-II school. Their season opens on February 22 against King College in Bristol, Tennessee. The Falcons’ home games will be played at All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon, Ohio.

Both head coach Barker and the school’s Director of Athletics Scott Swain expressed their enthusiasm about having Hafner as part of their staff. Said Swain,

“We’re ecstatic to have someone as accomplished as Travis as a part of our department. His remarkable career with the Indians is well documented, and his presence, hard work, and dedication should help us a ton moving forward.”

Barker continued on saying,

“We’re very excited to have Travis on board. He’ll be a big part of what we’re trying to do here, and that’s win a conference championship.”

For more information check out MLB Nation - delivering the latest news, insights, and analysis from around the league.

Alex Rodriguez Suspended For Historic 162 Games; Federal Court Appeal Next

According to Major League Baseball Network the decision in the case of Yankees’ star Alex Rodriguez’s involvement with the Biogensis performance enhancing drug (PED) scandal has finally been made official. The Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball announced arbitrator Fredric Horowitz’s decision to suspend A-Rod for an unprecedented 162 games including all post season games. Even though the suspension was reduced from an unprecedented 211 games to 162 games.  This is the longest PED related suspension in baseball history.

Read more on Sports Unbiased - your website for all Sports News, Polls and Predictions

A-Rod Decision Expected Any Minute; Yankees' Star May Be Open to Taking Reduced Ban

It’s been approximately five months since Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig issued an unprecedented 211-game suspension to New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez for allegedly violating the league’s Joint Drug Agreement and interfering with the league’s investigation. The decision, being made by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz, is due any day now. According to sources it could happen at any minute.

Shortly after the ban was issued the MLB Player’s Association (MLBPA) filed a grievance against Rodriguez’s suspension saying it was without “just cause.” A-Rod, who has never failed a drug test, has admitted to using performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) during his tenure with the Rangers between 2001 and 2003 but not since the league’s Joint Drug Agreement was implemented. The 211 game ban is the most of any player since Miguel Tejada received 105 games in early 2013 for amphetamines. The suspension is broken down into 50 games for violating the Joint Drug Agreement and 111 days for interfering with the investigation of the Biogenesis lab in Florida.

Read more on Sports Unbiased - your website for all Sports News, Polls and Predictions!

What is the Rule 5 Draft?

A lot of even the most die hard baseball fans haven't even heard of the Rule Five draft or if they have they don't know a lot about it or the impact it can possibly have on their favorite team. Honestly, I learned a lot about it last season because of one ballplayer who did make a difference on the A's,  a tall guy named Nate Freiman.

But let's first look at what the Rule 5 Draft is and how it works. As stated by MLB.com a team can select any player who is not already on a 40 man roster who has played at least four years of professional baseball since signing at age 19 or who has played at least five years of professional baseball since signing at the age of 18. 

There are three phases of the draft Double-A, Triple-A and Major League. If a player is selected from the minors then the money does not exchange hands between the player's existing organization and their new one. This changes however in the Major league phase of the Rule Five draft.  A team must pay $50,000 to the team they choose a player from.  The selected player must be kept on their new team's 25-man roster for the entire season. The player may not be not be optioned or designated for assignment. 

If a selecting team feels the need they have the option to waive Rule Five player and if the player clears waivers but does not sign with another MLB team he must be optioned back to his original team for $25,000.

A Rule Five player must be active for 90 days which stops teams from placing a Rule Five draftee on the disabled list for the majority of the season. Even if the draftee is placed the DL for a number of days the remainder of the 90 days carries over to the next season. Once a Rule Five player has spent a full 90 days on a MLB team their status reverts to normal and they may be optioned or designated for assignment. 

Yes, this all sounds clinical and confusing at first. Now let's look at Nate Freiman. Freiman who was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2009, spent the first four years of his professional career making waves but was kept in the minors due to Padres regular first baseman Yonder Alonso. Now eligiable for the Rule Five draft he was selected in the second round by the Houston Astros but by March the Astros had to waive Freiman due to the signing of first basema/designated hitter Carlos Pena, the acquisition of 1B/DH Chris Cater from Oakland and their already everyday 1B Brett Wallace. There was just no room left for Freiman who cleared waivers and was picked up by the Oakland Athletics. 

At this point Freiman had not yet started to fulfill his 90 active days so the A's had to keep him on their roster those 90 days. Freiman stayed on the A's the entire year making some important contributions at first base and at the plate. On April 3, he had two hits in three at-bats in his major league debut and it seemed the A's had found the right handed hitting first baseman they had been looking for to complement their current staple at first base, left handed hitting Brandon Moss. Freiman was also named Rookie of the Month for the month of May after going 13-37 with a .351 batting average. 

The most notable moment of 2013 for Freiman and his real introduction to the rest of the major leagues was a walk off single against New York Yankees' iconic closer Mariano Rivera. Rivera, pitching in his final season and final game at Oakland's O.Co Coliseum, came in during the 18th inning of a marathon game to pitch to Freiman. Freiman hit a walk off single to left field scoring catcher John Jaso thus ending what was becoming (I can tell you because I was there) an almost unbearably hot July day that was beginning to turning into evening! Now Freiman has a job with the Athletics platooning regularly with Moss at first base. 

Find the rest of this article on Sports Unbiased your site for all Sports News, Polls and Predictions (and stuff written by yours truly! lol) .....