THE APPROPRIATELY NAMED BARTOLO COLON HAS HIS HEAD UP IT, SO SAYS JIM LEYLAND

 Oakland Athletics pitcher Bartolo Colon was given a 50-game suspension after testing positive for testosterone, according to MLB.  Jim Leyland, who doesn't comment on other team's players, stated that, "It's hard for me to feel sorry for anybody in that situation" when asked about the Colon.  At least the one who plays for the Athletics.

Sad, but despite my excitement over the resurgence (if that's what you want to call it) for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season, my enthusiasm for attempting to write anything more about Bartolo Colon, former Bucco manager Jimmy Leyland, or chemically enhanced players, simply does not exist.  Seems as though there is a continuous procession of baseball players testing positive for testosterone or other performance enhancing drugs.

Whenever these stories come to light, I am always reminded of the banner that someone in Philadelphia hoisted in defiance of Barry Bonds and his breaking of Babe Ruth's record, "BABE DID IT ON HOT DOGS AND BEER".  I fault Philly fans for a lot of things, but this was one of their finer moments.  It might have been an out of town fan, perhaps someone from the 'Burgh, but the sentiment rang true for baseball purists everywhere.

You can own that slogan on a wide variety of products.  The fine print states:

"On May 25th, 1935 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Ruth went 4-for-1, drove in 6 runs and hit 3 home runs in an 11-7 loss to the Pirates.  These were the last three home runs of his career. His last home run, number 714, cleared the roof at the old Forbes Field - he became the first player to accomplish that feat."

Ruth did it on hotdogs and beer tshirts
by JackFact

599 Home Runs for A-Rod, anyone care?

In the USA Today, Reid Cherner and Tom Weir asked if Alex Rodriguez sets an extraordinary record, and nobody claps, does he really make a sound? You can count me as someone who scarcely noticed, and certainly won’t be applauding the ‘achievement’.

Chemer and Weir wrote, “The Yankees superstar is on the precipice of doing something that only six other men in Major League history have accomplished -- hitting 600 home runs.

It is a list that includes Barry Bonds, Henry Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa.

The list does not include luminaries named Mantle, DiMaggio, Williams, Gehrig or Musial.

Last night A-Rod hit 599 and says of the milestone chase that he's "having fun. I'm going to hit it and, hopefully, when I (do), like (Thursday) it's going to count for a win."

But not since Bonds' pursuit of Aaron have there been this many mixed emotions about a milestone chase.

Rodriguez has rubbed many people the wrong way ever since he signed that $252 million contract in Texas.

Coupled with his steroids interview a year back, there are many who are turning their backs on A-Rod despite him being one of the greatest players of all-time.

Will you applaud him when he hits No. 600?”

No, I certainly won't be applauding A-Rod's milestone.  Afterall, Ruth did it on hotdogs and beer.

On May 25th, 1935 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Ruth went 4-for-4, drove in 6 runs and hit 3 home runs in an 11-7 loss to the Pirates. These were the last three home runs of his career. His last home run, number 714, cleared the roof at the old Forbes Field—he became the first player to accomplish that feat.