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Going to a game at Wrigley Field in Chicago is an experience that every passionate baseball fan should aspire to at least once in their lives. The baseball game itself is in many instances secondary to what’s going on throughout the ballpark.

While the beloved Chicago Cubs haven’t won a World Series championship since 1908, it doesn’t deter fans from making the trek to Wrigley Field and participating in the overall experience.

The Cubs have always done a terrific job in ensuring that its fans receive a great experience as well, and despite their lack of success on the field, Wrigley Field is still of the most unique arenas in all of professional sports in terms of atmosphere.

Oftentimes fans from across the world will plan trips to Wrigley during the summer. It is not uncommon to see travel buses from all areas of the country, loaded with fans looking to take in the Wrigley experience for the very first time.

Many articles have been written about the ivied walls, the rooftop views outside the ballpark, and the unbelievable food available at Wrigley, but unless it is experienced first-hand, it’s hard to get an idea of what the atmosphere is really like.

One particular videographer decided to conduct an interview with one “ardent” fan this past Opening Day at Wrigley, and no doubt he is ruing that decision.

The woman in question was a little bit more than he had bargained for. She obviously spoke about the experience at Wrigley, but she had clearly been “preparing” for her Opening Day experience at Wrigley Field for far longer than was necessary.

Check out this interview, and you will get an idea of exactly what we’re talking about.

By the way, if you’re at Wrigley Field, and you happen to have an extra ticket, you might want to reconsider approaching this particular woman.

For continuing coverage of Major League Baseball, follow Doug on Twitter @Sports_A_Holic.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

In the wake of the news of the sudden and sad departure from Major League Baseball by Manny Ramirez, there will no doubt be many articles, op-ed pieces and columns regarding Ramirez and his place in baseball history.

In the past decade, baseball has without question gone through a very dark history. The Mitchell Report, detailing the use of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone (HGH) in Major League Baseball, was commissioned by Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig in March 2005. After a 21-month investigation, Mitchell, a former senator and federal prosecutor, submitted a 409-page report, detailing 89 MLB players who are alleged to have used steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs.

While Ramirez was not specifically named in the Mitchell Report, he was one of the names leaked from a list of players who allegedly tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003. It’s important to note that this list was never officially confirmed, and the list was in fact seized and then leaked illegally to certain media publications.

However, in 2009, Ramirez was suspended by Major League Baseball for violating their drug policy. Ramirez was found to have high levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG); a women’s fertility drug typically used by steroid users to restart their body’s natural testosterone production as they come off a steroid cycle.

There is absolutely no doubt that Manny Ramirez was one of the most feared right-handed hitters in the game during the mid-1990s and 2000s. His 555 home runs rank 14th all-time, his 21 career grand-slam home runs rank second only to the great Lou Gehrig, and no one in baseball history has hit more postseason home runs than Ramirez (28).

A 12-time All-Star and nine-time Silver Slugger award winner, Ramirez was adept at hitting mistake pitches. Although known to be quirky and aloof, it was also widely known that Manny had a voracious appetite for studying the science of hitting, often arriving at the ballpark many hours before his teammates to work on his signature.

However, there is one glaring fact that can never be ignored. Manny CHEATED.

He didn’t just cheat once, as was indicated with his suspension by MLB in 2009. He got caught twice, with the current allegations being investigated by Major League Baseball which led to Manny’s sudden retirement announcement.

We have had to learn a tremendous amount of knowledge concerning performance-enhancing drugs, anabolic steroids, Human Growth Hormone, the Cream, the Clear, masking agents and many other terms because of the drug scandal that has consumed baseball over the past ten seasons.

Many of the players who broke recent records (Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens) have all been accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs. While I won’t detail the allegations or say whether they’re true or false, they have tarnished their images and have caused irreparable damage—to the point that it could very well keep them from getting into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Considering McGwire’s poor percentage of votes on the last couple of Hall of Fame ballots, does anyone seriously think that the voters will be any less forgiving for Bonds, Clemens and Ramirez, when he is eligible?

There is absolutely no question that PEDs, or even the threat of PEDs, have forever tarnished the career of Manny Ramirez as it has for other ballplayers already.

I mean seriously, did you really want to know anything about Bonds and his shrinking testicles?

Ramirez has been an explosive ballplayer throughout his 19-year career. However, he will now be looped in with the likes of others who have been accused of enhancing their bodies in order to achieve greater heights, and cheating will NEVER be forgiven in the eyes of Hall of Fame voters.

For continuing coverage of Major League Baseball, follow Doug on Twitter @Sports_A_Holic.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

In the 19-year career of Manny Ramirez, the slugger has hit 555 home runs, good for 14th on the all-time list. After today’s announcement, it appears that Ramirez will hit no more.

In a statement released by Major League Baseball, Ramirez, currently playing with the Tampa Bay Rays, has announced his immediate retirement rather than go though an investigation process tied to allegations that Ramirez may have once again violated MLB‘s drug policy.

Here is the official announcement from MLB:

“Major League Baseball recently notified Manny Ramirez of an issue under Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,” the statement said.

“Rather than continue with the process under the Program, Ramirez has informed MLB that he is retiring as an active player. If Ramirez seeks reinstatement in the future, the process under the Drug Program will be completed. MLB will not have any further comment on this matter.”

Ramirez, who was suspended by Major League Baseball for 50 games during the 2009 season for violating Major League Baseball‘s Performance Enhancing Drug policy, was off to a rough start for the Rays, hitting just .059 in five games.

No further information has been disclosed regarding exactly what the allegations concerning Ramirez and the possible drug violation are.

Bleacher Report will continue to update this breaking news story as more details emerge.

For continuing coverage of Major League Baseball, follow Doug on Twitter @Sports_A_Holic.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

When San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow was slammed to the ground and kicked repeatedly in the head in the parking lot at Dodgers Stadium during Opening Day last week, the news garnered national attention.

Today, the Dodgers have taken steps to address their overall stadium security.

In a statement released by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Bill Bratton, former Los Angeles Police Chief and Chairman of Altegrity Risk International, has been hired by the Dodgers to evaluate and assess overall security at Dodger Stadium and its parking lots.

Here is the press release in its entirety:

LOS ANGELES – Earlier today, the Los Angeles Dodgers hired Kroll Chairman and former Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton to assess policies and procedures related to security and fan services at Dodger Stadium, and to work with the Dodger organization to develop a best practices security blueprint that extends to both the stadium and the parking lots. 

“Bill Bratton is widely credited with spearheading modern community policing in America,” said Los Angeles Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt.  “There is no one better to lead a top-to-bottom review of our current practices and make recommendations to be implemented now and into the future.”

Bratton and his team at Kroll will begin consulting immediately. 

“I am pleased to have the opportunity to return to Los Angeles to consult with the Dodger organization on the security posture at Dodger Stadium,” said Bratton. “We will take a full and comprehensive look at security procedures and processes, and make recommendations based on our findings.”

Mr. Bratton possesses extensive expertise in U.S. law enforcement that includes achieving major reductions in violent crimes when he led the New York City Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department.

The Dodgers enjoy a longtime working partnership with the LAPD, and see Bratton and Kroll’s role helping with internal procedures at the Dodgers. 

“We are committed to ensuring that Dodger Stadium remains a family-friendly environment for all baseball fans,” said McCourt. 

Stow remains in an induced coma at a Los Angeles area hospital, and part of his skull has been removed to alleviate swelling on the brain.

“Bryan is hanging in there. He is doing the best that he can. They are doing everything they can to stabilize him,” John Stow, 39, told AOL News.

“We talk to him about the old times, the good times we had together, and share stories with music and interact with him as if he were awake. We want to tap into any part of his brain that can hear us and try and keep him holding on.”

A reward of $100,000 has been raised and is being offered for anyone who has information that will lead to the capture and arrest of the two suspects involved in the horrific beating.

For continuing coverage of Major League Baseball, follow Doug on Twitter:

@Sports_A_Holic.

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MLB Opening Day 2011 got off to a grand start on Thursday afternoon, and while there were some fairly impressive pitching performances, there were also some prodigious blasts as well.

In Cincinnati, the Reds and starter Edison Volquez got off to a bit of a shaky start when Milwaukee Brewers hitters Rickie Weeks and Carlos Gomez started the game with back-to-back home runs, the first time that has happened on Opening Day since 1969.

Later in the game, in the bottom of the ninth, Reds catcher Ramon Hernandez hit a two-out, three-run homer, giving the Reds a walk-off 7-6 win over the Brewers. It was only the second time in Opening Day history that a Reds game ended with a walk-off home run, the other happening in 2005 when Joe Randa went deep to end the game for the Reds.

So, it got us thinking here at Bleacher Report (no comments about seeing smoke, please). There have been some pretty dramatic home runs on Opening Day, but which ones were the most dazzling?

Here is a list of 10 home runs on Opening Day history that started seasons off with a bang.

For continuing coverage of Major League Baseball, follow Doug on Twitter @Sports_A_Holic.

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The blessed event is here once again. It is that one day of the year that baseball fans across the land have been pining for since early November, waiting with breathless anticipation for Opening Day.

In the city of Cincinnati, the unofficial birthplace of professional baseball in 1869, Opening Day is treated as an unofficial holiday. In fact, Michael Schuster, a local architect and devout Reds fan, is putting together a petition, to be passed around on Opening Day at Great American Ballpark, to put an initiative on the November ballot to make Opening Day an official holiday in the city of Cincinnati.

Makes sense to me.

I have been to several Opening Day games over the years, first in Boston, and then in South Florida for the Marlins. On each occasion, I was forced to take a day off, or use up sick time.

In Schuster’s comments, he told Cincinnati.com, “We don’t want to have problems with the unions, the schools or parents, but it’s time to give this longstanding tradition of our great city the respect it deserves.”

For decades, the official Opening Day game was played in Cincinnati, so obviously the fans there are passionate when it comes to this particular subject. However, wouldn’t it make sense to declare Opening Day a national holiday throughout the country?

Here are eight reasons why Opening Day should be declared a national holiday.

For continuing coverage of Major League Baseball, follow Doug on Twitter @Sports_A_Holic.

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Each year, players call an end to a career in Major League Baseball for various reasons. Some become tired of the daily grind and want to focus more on family, some have simply gotten older and are unable to compete at a desired level, and some are unable to fully recover from prior injuries.

This spring, several players have already announced their retirement, including Garrett Anderson, Jim Edmonds, Ian Snell and Mike Hampton. While Anderson, Edmonds and Hampton all enjoyed varying degrees of success, and each with over 15 years of MLB experience, Snell retired at the age of 29, unable to fully realize his potential after being drafted in the 26th round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

We will take a look at 12 players who will likely call it a career after the end of the 2011 season, and conclude whether or not some of the players should have retired earlier, or if they could possibly continue to play at a high level going forward.

For continuing coverage of Major League Baseball, follow Doug on Twitter @Sports_A_Holic.

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When Los Angeles Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia announced last Thursday that starting pitcher Scott Kazmir would open the season as a member of the starting rotation, he was asked by reporters whether or not Kazmir had earned the spot.

“Earned?” Scioscia said. “Define ‘earned.’”

Not exactly a stirring vote of confidence.

However, Kazmir, who struggled last season with a 9-15 record and a 5.94 ERA, is owed $14.5 million this season.

Considering what the Angels gave up in return for him, they are not quite ready to give up on the enigmatic southpaw right away.

However, the wait won’t be long.

The Angels have one of the better starting rotations in the American League with their top four pitchers (Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, Ervin Santana, Joel Pineiro).

But the last thing the Angels can afford is to wonder whether or not they’ll have struggles every fifth day with Kazmir on the mound.

“He’s tried a lot of things, but there hasn’t been one simple adjustment he’s been able to make that has brought consistency,” Scioscia told the Los Angeles Times. “We need it. He needs it. We’re past the point of development. We need him to pitch the way he’s capable of pitching.”

If Kazmir is unable to right the ship and return to his form from 2006 to 2008, when he was one of the more dominant left-handed pitchers in baseball, the Angels will need to look for a dependable arm to replace him in the rotation.

Here are five options.

For continuing coverage of the Los Angeles Angels, follow Doug on Twitter @HalosHub.

Don’t forget to bookmark Halos Hub for all of your Angels news!

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The game of baseball can be truly amazing to watch at times—especially when one rookie player completely stuns a veteran so much that he forces an error.

That’s exactly what happened on Wednesday afternoon in an exhibition game between the Los Angeles Angels and the defending champion San Francisco Giants in Tempe, Ariz.

Angels center fielder Peter Bourjos forced 14-year veteran Miguel Tejada into making an error with sheer boldness.

Bourjos started the bottom of the fourth inning by laying down a beauty of a bunt to reach on a single. The next batter, Erick Aybar, blooped a double into right field. As the relay throw came in to the shortstop Tejada, Bourjos was already rounding third base with no signs of stopping.

Stunned, Tejada turned to throw but literally threw the ball directly into the ground, the ball rolling harmlessly toward the first-base dugout as Bourjos crossed the plate.

Speed kills.

Angels fans have known for a while now just how fast Bourjos can be. However now, the rest of the baseball world is seeing how Bourjos and his blazing speed can affect the outcome of any play, offensively or defensively.

Speed can be an amazing thing to watch in baseball. Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson redefined the art of baserunning during his career, shattering every record in the books.

Just two seasons ago, the baseball world watched as Boston Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury successfully attempted a straight steal of home plate during a game against the New York Yankees on national television. Yankees catcher Jorge Posada never had a chance.

Peter Bourjos possesses that kind of speed.

Teammate and right fielder Torii Hunter is awestruck at what Bourjos is capable of as well.

“He’s a freak of nature,” Hunter told MLB.com. “He does things normal guys just can’t do. Me and Vernon (Wells) are here to help him become as good as he can be. The sky’s the limit.”

Not only does Bourjos possess incredible speed, with the ability to get to any ball in any part of center field, he has a bit of pop in his bat as well. Last season, in 181 at-bats, Bourjos hit six home runs, which would project to about 20 in a full major-league season.

As spring training moves to a close, Bourjos is finding his comfort level at the plate as well. “I feel like I’m having good at-bats,” he said. “I’m walking, stealing some bases. I’ve gotten a few good bunts down. As I’m getting more comfortable, I’m getting to know the pitchers better.”

If Bourjos continues on this path, the Angels will have found the leadoff hitter they’ve been searching for since the departure of Chone Figgins, and both Wells and Hunter can just sit back and continue to watch the development of a very special player.

For continuing coverage of the Los Angeles Angels, follow Doug on Twitter @HalosHub.

Don’t forget to bookmark Halos Hub for all of your Angels news!

You can also find us on Facebook at Halos Hub!

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

There are a number of terrific pitchers in the American League who have garnered much attention in recent years.

Last season, Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners was the top dog, earning the AL CY Young award in spite of a 13-12 record. The year before, the honor went to Kansas City Royals pitcher Zack Greinke, who posted a 16-8 record and won it in a landslide over last year’s winner, Hernandez.

Other pitchers have gained accolades in recent years, but one pitcher has consistently flown under the radar when it comes to talking about the elite pitchers in the American League: Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jered Weaver.

Last season, Weaver’s numbers were eerily similar to those of Hernandez. Both finished with a 13-12 record, both pitchers had exactly 34 starts, both had almost the exact same number of strikeouts, with Weaver just edging Hernandez for the AL lead, 233-232. And both had WHIPs under 1.10 (Hernandez 1.057, Weaver 1.074).

Both pitchers also shined for teams that were woeful offensively. The Mariners scored the lowest amount of runs for a team in a single season since the advent of the designated hitter in 1973, while the Angels scored a full 202 runs fewer than the previous season.

Yet, King Felix reigns supreme when it comes to the discussion of the best pitchers in the American League, while Weaver, who has compiled a 64-39 record with a 3.55 earned run average in five seasons, quietly goes about the business of great pitching without the accolades.

Bleacher Report will look into possible reasons as to why Jered Weaver appears to not gain a whole lot of respect outside of the Los Angeles area, and whether or not there is a conspiracy theory in effect.

Well, no, my name is NOT Oliver Stone, so we’ll just forget that last part.

For continuing coverage of the Los Angeles Angels, follow Doug on Twitter @Sports_A_Holic.

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