Archives › Craig Calcaterra

Mike Lupica’s latest column about A-Rod and the Dr. Galea investigation stands as proof that he’s never been involved in a federal investigation: Come on, there are more things fishy about all this than the old Fulton Fish Market. If the whole thing is so easily explained, if Rodriguez is “at ease” with the whole…

After  a stormy Thursday night and Friday, I woke up to a bright, clear and crisp Saturday morning. It would be my last day of baseball on this trip, and the fates smiled upon me, not only with the weather, but with a good game at a great spring training park. Phillies vs. Twins at…

You may now update all of your old “David Wright looks funny in that big batting helmet” jokes to Francsico Cervelli, who will be donning one in New York this season after suffering his second concussion earlier this week: Cervelli said he plans to wear the helmet at the plate all season, though he won’t…

You know the old line: spring training stats are meaningless. Giants fans had better hope so: Since signing a two-year, $23 million contract, Lincecum has been raked for seven runs (four earned) on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings. Both times Giants manager Bruce Bochy had to remove Lincecum from the game in mid-inning. Ignore…

Dave Shenin of the Washington Post doesn’t think so, and offers several reasons why what everyone things to be a foregone conclusion is not necessarily forgone. Among the reasons: Harper hasn’t “separated himself” from the pack like Strasburg did; He may not stick at catcher, thus diminishing his value; He’s a Boras client, thus inflating…

Darren Rovell reports on something new: Jerry Remy’s Sports Bar & Grill is opening near Fenway Park next week with a twist. It’s selling season tickets. For a one-time $500 fee, patrons will get a guaranteed table during Red Sox games. A same “ticket” for Patriots games costs $350 and $250 for Celtics games. Rovell…

I figured I’d have to jump through 50 hoops this morning in order to get my refund for last night’s rainout, but this email just popped into my box: Your credit card will automatically be credited the ticket price and convenience charges, and should post to your account within 7 to 10 business days.  Please…

As I’ve mentioned a couple of times, the Yankees denied my request for press credentials. I don’t have any problem with this. There are a metric crap-ton of writers who cover the Yankees, space, even in a big new park like Steinbrenner Field is limited, and if anyone in YankeeLand reads my stuff, they know…

This was an ugly, ugly game. Highlights, such as they were: As I sat down in the box I realized that the netting behind the backstop was lower than the already fairly low pressbox level.  During the course of the game three or four foul balls came in my general direction, each time banging loudly…

Jason Kendall sat for a deposition in his divorce case recently, and the subject of other players taking the ADD drug Adderall came up.  Kendall admitted to his own use — as much as 60 mg doses during the regular season, cutting back once the season was over — said that he believes Brian Giles…

I made my way down to the field as the Pirates came out to do their morning workouts, batting practice and the like.  Weirdest thing:  the team does all their stretching in a big circle with a couple of players leading the drills in the middle. Maybe other teams do this on some back field…

USA Today runs their fifth and final part of their panel-of-experts series this morning.  Today they cover a few of my favorite subjects: World Baseball Classic: The experts think they should change the scheduling of the WBC or pull the major leaguers out of the tournament altogether. Injuries are a big factor here, but I…

My original plan didn’t have me going down to Bradenton to visit Pirates’ camp, but when the Yankees decided not to offer me media credentials some time freed up, allowing me to catch the Pirates-Rays game yesterday afternoon.  I would like to thank the Yankees for their decision, because it meant that I got to…

“Sometimes I think you have to be careful what you say” – Ozzie Guillen, responding to Torii Hunter’s comments about black Latino baseball players being “imposters.”  I repeat: Ozzie Guillen is advising someone to be careful what they say. This is like Lindsay Lohan telling someone that they need to stop drinking so much or…

It’s a 1984 Detroit Tigers model, so I would be interested.  Whose is it? Lance Parrish? Larry Herndon? [swoons, bats eyes] Alan Trammell? How much would you pay for a piece of the Tigers’ 1984 World Series championship? Would you pay $5,000? That’s the asking price on eBay for the World Series ring of former…

As I wrote this morning, I was impressed with that Lego ballpark.  I probably should have Googled the subject, because there are many, many more of them. I’m still building a Tiger Stadium, though. Gonna smell like pee and cigars too, just like the real one. Just you watch.

You apparently get one day to savor your retirement before someone accuses you of taking steroids. Yahoo!’s Steve Henson, everyone: Eight years with the Red Sox made Garciaparra a master at deflecting tough questions in a genial manner. Performance-enhancing drugs weren’t a topic he’d discuss, and if steroids had helped him bulk up in Boston…

Former Pirate, Indian, Padre and — for this spring at least, Dodger — Brian Giles announced his retirement today, Dylan Hernandez reports. Giles finishes his career with 287 home runs and a line of .292/.400/.502.  He was a two-time All-Star and filled the role of “best player on terrible Pirates teams” in between Al Martin…

Todd Helton was already locked up for $16.6 million this year and $19.1 million next year with an insane $23 million option for 2012, but the Rockies felt it necessary to extend his contract all the same.  He’s now locked up for 2012 and given a contract for 2013. Financial details were not released, but…

This ceases to be interesting after the first few seconds, but those first few seconds are a lot of fun. Just one question: where’s the help from the shortstop and the second baseman? Dude comin’ after the pitcher with a bat and the waters just part. I’ve heard of pitchers who don’t trust their middle…

Kelvim Escobar waxes philosophical: The injured Mets reliever Kelvim Escobar said he was very confident he can come back from shoulder soreness to play this season, and hopefully very soon. But in the event he cannot, Escobar can live with it. “I’m a very proud man,” he said. “I’ve had a decent career. Whatever happens,…

Back in January, Jim Riggleman said he might use Eddie Guardado or Sean Burnett to close things out against strong left-handed lineups because “all I want is to make sure we get the outs.” As of this morning it’s just gonna be Burnett. Everyday Eddie was released after two innings of spring training work. Don’t…

Um, yeah.  Something tells me that Hughes has the inside track.  And even if he doesn’t, Girardi may go with Dave LaPoint or Andy Hawkins or someone.

Nature abhors a vacuum and apparently baseball writers abhor a lack of news: Mauer still has more leverage than Pat Williams on a teeter-totter, but as negotiations have lagged, Mauer’s hesitancy to accept a record-setting contract offer from his hometown team has made his signing less than a sure thing and raised this previously unthinkable…

Back up to the press box, I got my lunch on.  Much more elaborate spread than the Mets or the Twins put out. Lasagna, hot dogs, cold cuts, chicken salad, fresh fruit, cake and all kinds of other stuff. And though I didn’t hang around that long, there was a sign saying that they did…