Welcome to the 2008 America's Baseball League

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*TOP STORIES*

Padres win 4th Crown

ABL Kicks Off New Season

AMERICAN LEAGUE wins 2008 All Star Game

Victorville, CA - June 18, 2008

A repeat of last years game, the players would be the difference. AL was managed by Jarrod Sinclair and the NL managed by Ted Talbott, last year's World Series managers.

Sinclair would go with Big John Lackey to start countered by San Diego's own Johan Santana.

With both sides being retired in order in the first, the AL would make some noise in the 2nd. With 2 out, A-Rod walked and was advanced as Thome hit a ground ball to thirdbasemen, Miguel Cabrera who kicked the ball, putting runners on 1st and 2nd. Chipper Jones would cash in on the NL mistake by knocking in A-Rod from 2nd on a base it to right center. The American League would tack on another run in the top of the 2nd off of Jake Peavy courtesy of a Matt Holiday single.

After two perfect innings from Lackey, the AL went with AL Cy Young candidate Erik Bedard. Bedard struck out the side in the 3rd, but was not so lucky in the 4th. After striking out his 4th victim, he had to face the heart of the NL's order. Albert Pujols ripped a single to right, followed by a Carlos Pena single and a Magglio Ordonez walk to load the bases. Adam Dunn was due up, but Talbott brought in Jorge Posada to hit against the lefty. Posada dumped the ball into shallow right bringing in Pujols, but Pena was cut down at the plate by KC's Ichiro Suzuki. Sinclair brought in Houston Street to face David Wright, who greated Street with 2 RBI single to right giving the NL the lead 3-2. After a V-Mart walk, Cincinnati's Robinson Cano singled to right scoring Wright from 2nd giving the NL the early 4-2 lead.

The AL would answer in the top of the 5th, scoring 2 runs on Jeremy Accardo's balks.

In the top of the 6th, the AL pinch hit Jermaine Dye for Alex Rios. Dye hooked a ball down the left field line for a two run home run to put the nail in the coffin for the National League. The AL would add one more insurance run in the top of the 7th as pinch hitter Mike Lowell went deep to give the American League the victory 8-4 and home field advantage in the World Series.

Jermaine Dye is named MVP going 2-2, HR, 2 RBI. Other notable performances came from Jonathon Papelbon throwing 2 perfect innings striking out 4 for the AL. The NL's Carlos Pena goes 2-3.

ABL Announces 2008 All Star Teams

Victorville, CA - June 3, 2008

The ABL announces its 2008 All Star teams. Managers Jarrod Sinclair and Ted Talbott hand selected their players for the upcoming All Star Game. This game will be played during our upcoming break. To date the AL & NL have split the meetings 2-2. Below are the links to the previous All Star games....

2004: Bayless vs Talbott: NL 6 AL 2 - Chipper Jones MVP

2005: Carver vs Wolford: AL 6 NL 4 - Juan Pierre & JD Drew Co-MVP

2006: Carver vs Talbott: NL 4 AL 2 - Andruw Jones MVP

2007: Sinclair vs Talbott: AL 5 NL 4 - Michael Young MVP

Rumblings before Spring Training?

Cincinnati, OH - January 3, 2008

It didn't take the Reds long into the new year to pull off a major deal to continue with their youth movement. While most of the Queen City was excited about the acquisition of 2B Robinson Cano, veteran 2B Brian Roberts was not one of them. Within hours of the trade announcement Roberts agent contact the Reds front office demanding to be traded.

"Brian feels slighted by this current ownership group. He was a productive leadoff hitter and a veteran presence on this young club. The Reds go out and get another leadoff hitter in the latter half of last season and now bring in another second baseman. We just don't get it. What do we have to do for this club to make them happy?" said Robert's agent. There was some tension between Reds management and Roberts when the club acquired Grady Sizemore late last year. Manager Crash Davis kept insisting it was simply the emotions that boiled over during a losing season. Now it appears that with Cano onboard and several other middle infielders Roberts is fed up and wants to wear a new uniform in 2008.

Roberts is still a full time player with speed. He can hit leadoff and would be a good a productive part for any ball club. With the glut of 2B currently on the Roster in Cincinnati it will be interesting which IF they decide to trade. You can't blame the Reds for going after Cano. Their front office was undecided about how to spend the first round draft pick. Some in the organization wanted to continue to stockpile young arms, while Manager Crash Davis wanted to take the best hitter available (some believe it would have been Ryan Braun). Now the Reds don't have to make that decision. They picked up a 24 year old excellent defensive 2B that will pair with Troy Tulowitzki for a well above average double play combo. Add that mix Daveid Wright and the Reds infield is in good hands for a few years.

When asked about the Roberts situation all Reds Owner Mike Thomas would say was, "We are always looking to improve the team. If moving Brian can make us better than we will accommodate his request. We haven't lost faith in Brian, he is a talented ball player and if he's here when the season opens we'll see how it goes. If some other ball club calls about him we will obviously listen."

There are still a few weeks until the season starts, and this situation will be worth watching, but this reporter bets the Reds roster isn't settled yet.

Cardinals Introduce First Baseman Howard, New Pitching Staff

St. Louis, MO - December 28, 2007

In just three weeks Cardinals GM Jake Eyre has shown how committed he is to fulfilling the promise he made of competing in 2008. Today he and the Cardinals front office introduced the players that will take the team from the lottery into competition. First Baseman Ryan Howard, Starting Pitcher Dan Haren, Starting Pitcher Roy Oswalt, Starting Pitcher Tim Hudson, Outfielder Chris Young, and Closer Trevor Hoffman were introduced to the media today.

When asked about joining the Cardinals all seemed very excited about the team’s chances. “I was on a team that went to the World Series in Los Angeles. I know what it takes to get there. I think that this Cardinals team has that potential.” Howard, who led the league in RBI’s last season and was second in Home Runs should provide a healthy boost of power for the offense.

When asked about the opportunity to start for a contending team Chris Young responded “Its great! I enjoyed my time on the Reds but I look forward to getting the opportunity to show what I can do here. Playing as you can imagine behind Grady Sizemore makes it hard to get any playing time. When asked about the acquisition of Young, Eyre said “We are very happy that we were able to acquire the talents of Chris. We feel that going into this season and future seasons that he and Delmon will become a great combo out there, both defensively and offensively.

When asked about his other acquisitions Eyre said “One of this team’s major off-season goals was to acquire a pitching staff capable of challenging the Padres and Braves rotations for dominance in the National league. It is my philosophy that hitting wins games, and pitching wins championships. Getting Ryan, Raphael and Chris helped our offense greatly, but it was equally important that we got the pitching to help them compete.

Starting Pitchers Dan Haren and Tim Hudson, who were both acquired in a dramatic two trade arrangement sounded positive of the team’s chances. Haren, formerly of the Padres said that he looked forward pitching for the Cardinals. “I hope that my experience with the Padres will help the Cardinals win it all.” Hudson and Oswalt also sounded happy. Hudson was happy to hear about the trade. “I was flattered that the Cards would trade Josh Beckett to in part get me. When I look at the rotation that the front office has assembled I can’t help but smile. We will win a lot of games.”

Oswalt, who played for the now Braves franchise last year also seemed optimistic of the team’s chances. “Looking at the trades the front office has pulled off you can’t be anything but impressed. They are serious about winning.”

The Cardinals hold the third overall pick in the draft. When asked about how it would be used Eyre smiled and said that it would be used to complete “ A pressing off season goal.”

The Freddy Sanchez Show!

Atlanta, GA - December 21, 2007

First, All-Star Freddy Sanchez gets the news that Pirates management is moving the team to Atlanta. Before he can pack his bags, Freddy gets dealt to a new team and a new league. So two weeks before Christmas, he packs his bags for Anaheim.

Angels' GM Jarrod Sinclair has other ideas, however, packaging Sanchez and two others to Kansas City for slugger Prince Fielder.

Not long in the Midwest, Sanchez will only change planes in Missouri on his way to meet up with his old team in Atlanta. The Braves and Royals agreed to a deal sending reliever Pedro Feliciano to KC for Sanchez along with a swap of draft picks.

Freddy is not the only player to be moved multiple times. The list of All-Stars who have changed addresses more than once includes Prince Fielder, Scott Rolen, Chris Young, and Carl Crawford. It must be Christmas time in the ABL!