Darryl Strawberry Had a Sports Bar?

The hottest new sports bar that you never knew existed has closed its doors.

That's right, Darryl Strawberry's joint Strawberry's Sports Grill, which opened in August 2010, called it quits this past weekend.

"It came out of nowhere,” Darryl’s older brother Michael told The Queens Courier. “I am very sad. Rest assured it had nothing to do with my brother and me."

According to a baseball pun heavy story, employees at the should-be popular Queens eatery suspected the restaurant was having issues when management "stopped placing orders for food and paychecks were being bounced."

Now, I've never worked in the food industry, but I'd have to think that that's never a good sign.

"They gave us checks on Friday but said we couldn’t cash them until Tuesday because they said there was no money,” the employee said. “People may not be getting paid. They owe some people $600 to $800."

For the record, this isn't the first time the three-time World Series champ showed his lack of business acumen.  Strawberry famously became the third contestant let go from "Celebrity Apprentice" back in Season Three after asking Donald Trump to be fired.

You see, what I'm doing there is building a case that the eight-time All-Star might not have the best business sense.

Oh...nevermind.

David Freese and Erin Andrews an Item?

Alright interwebs...it's time to fire up the rumor mill.  Apparently there's a power couple coupling up during the playoffs right under our noses.

And, no, I'm not talking about Justin Verlander and Kate Upton.  That's old news.  Heck, you can't even search for the Detroit Tigers ace on Google without being inundated with pictures of the two.

Remember last year, when whispers about David Freese, the then-newly minted World Series MVP and Erin Andrews were swirling because they appeared together at the Country Music Awards in Nashville?

They're back.

According to Terez Owens, the St. Louis Cardinals third baseman and FOX Sports reporter have been enjoying one another's company this postseason.

Of course, if the two are indeed an item...that might explain why she's stationed in the San Francisco Giants dugout and not across the diamond.

Sergio Romo agrees.

Derek Jeters Collects 200th Postseason Hit

Is it fair to call Derek Jeter "Mr. October" yet? I mean...dude does have more anythings than anyone else ever has during the postseason.

And Saturday night, the hits just kept on coming for the New York Yankees captain.

Literally.

With a second-inning single off Detroit Tigers starter Doug Fister, Jeter became the first player in baseball history to record 200 career postseason hits. Sure, Jeter has played almost an entire season's worth of postseason games (158 to be exact), but, still, any way you slice it...200 base knocks in the playoffs is pretty impressive.

Behind the shortstop on the all-time postseason list, former teammate Bernie Williams (with 128 hits) and slugger Manny Ramirez (117). The next closest active player is Albert Pujols who, in 74 postseason games for the St. Louis Cardinals, collected 88 playoff hits.

If you want to have some fun playing with numbers, Jeter has 3504 combined regular and postseason hits. At the same age (38 years, three months and 17 days), baseball's all-time hit king Pete Rose had 3344 (3289 regular season, 55 post). And, yes, I realize combining the two totals is pretty much irrelevant. But, it is worthy of a little cyber ink...if that is such a thing.

You see, the "Hit King" has been very vocal of late, dismissing Jeter's climb up the all-time hits ladder and eventually approaching his hits record.
　
"I don't think he will break the record," Rose said in a recent interview. "He still needs 950 hits, right? He had a great year this year, but you think he can do that again? At 39? A shortstop? Let's say he does it again. Let's say he gets 200 more hits next year. And let's say he gets 200 more hits when he's 40, though I don't think he can. Okay, can he get 200 more hits when he's 41? You think he can?"

"I don't think he can get 200 more hits at 41, but let's say he does. Okay, now he's 42. He’s gonna get 200 more hits then? At 42? Let me tell you, I've been there, the body locks up," Rose continued. "Jeter's a great hitter. I'd say he hits like I did. But he's gonna get 200 hits when he's 42? I don't think he will. And even if he does all that, he's STILL 150 hits short."

I've got to agree with Rose on this one...I don't think Jeter gets to 4256. But, then again, no one is dropping good money at a Las Vegas store to hear what I think.

 

Red Sox Eyeing Japanese Phenom

In 2007, the Boston Red Sox were hoping to catch lightning in a bottle when they paid more than $50 million just to talk to Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Now...six full. less than stellar seasons later, the Japanese-born hurler has, seemingly, pitched his last game in BeanTown.

But, according to reports out of Boston, they're trying, again, to cash in overseas. 

A major league source confirmed multiple reports out of Japan that the Red Sox (who were represented by international scouting director Eddie Romero and Pacific Rim coordinator Jon Deeble) met with Japanese high school phenom Shohei Otani on Thursday. Otani has met with all 12 teams in the NPB and with at least a few major league teams while trying to decide whether to pursue pro ball in Japan or the US. The 18-year-old right-hander has been clocked at 100 mph.

WEEI also reports that the 6'4" righty has had meetings with representatives from the Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers. 

 

Get Your Own Adam Greenberg Action Figure!

Have you tired of the Adam Greenberg story yet?  I know I haven't.

And if you're like me and can't wait to get your hands on the 2013 Topps trading card with his likeness on it...you're in luck.  Dude's "One At Bat" with the Miami Marlins has been immortalized with its own McFarlane sports figure.

Well, almost.

It seems that one enterprising individual took the time to create an custom McFarlane figure of Greenberg and, naturally, now it can be yours.

Here's the eBay listing.  And, man, if anyone's listening...that thing should would look good here at the home office!

Josh Hamilton Being Compared to T.O.?

Given Josh Hamilton's production during his time with the Texas Rangers, critics would have been hard pressed to compare the outfielder to anyone else in the game.

Thankfully, FOXSports.com's Jen Floyd Engel has some suggestions.

Nobody will want to admit this, but Hamilton had quickly become the T.O. of the Rangers, a talented player whose production no longer justifies the headache. The Rangers have decided he is no longer worth it, which is why on Tuesday in their post-mortem wrapup, they said Hamilton will be allowed to “test the market,” the same phrasing used about now-Angels pitcher CJ Wilson.

That is code for we have no intention of Hamilton being a Ranger going forward.

Yikes.

Now, I'm not a huge Hamilton supporter.  Matter of fact...I've publicly called dude a "douchebag", but to compare the 2010 American League MVP to Terrell Owens is a little much given the former wide receiver is regarded by many as the biggest cancer in team sports. 

By comparison, the worst Hamilton has done recently is quit chewing tobacco while his team was competing for the top spot in the National League West.

And as far as Floyd Engel suggesting his production "no longer justifies the headache"?  Me thinks there are plenty teams out there that would love the pains of a guy who has averaged 33 home runs and 107 RBI over the last three seasons.

***Props to Black Sports Online.***

Trump: A-Rod "Can't Perform Without Drugs"

Alex Rodriguez does poorly in the playoffs...that's what he does.

That said, fans are calling for New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi to move the struggling slugger down in the batting order.

"I trust our guys...I'm with them every day," the skipper said when asked about moving A-Rod.  "Nothing that we do will be something that is just a knee-jerk reaction."

But, when you consider that the three-time MVP is in the midst of a 1-for-9 postseason so far and hasn't hit a postseason homer in his last 87 plate appearances...the critics might be on to something.

One of the most critical, "Johnny New York" himself...Donald Trump.

Now, I'm not sure what Trump knows about baseball, steroids or, well, sports for that matter considering he ran the USFL into the ground and, just last year, allowed Jose Canseco to join the cast of  "The Apprentice", but dude sure isn't afraid of letting everyone know his opinion.

Talkin' Jeffrey Maier with the Ballhawks

Sixteen years ago, Jeffrey Maier became a household name in both New York and Baltimore.

Alright, it might be a stretch to call dude a "household name", but the 12-year-old did, at the very least, get his fifteen minutes of fame.

You see, on October 9, 1996, Maier stuck his glove over the rightfield fence at Yankee Stadium and snared what would be a Derek Jeter home run ball.  It was that home run that tied up the game between the Yankees and Orioles and, ultimately, led to the Bombers having the chance to win the contest in extra innings.

And, as is customary when you're reminded of an incident like this (the Steve Bartman fiasco also comes to mind), you've gotta track down those who have "been there" and "done that" and no one epitomizes that more than baseball's premier ballhawk, New York native Zack Hample and Charm City's finest, fellow ballhawk, Tim Anderson.

HOVG:  Gentlemen, as guys spend part of your time at the ballpark trying to get your hands on baseballs...do you agree or disagree with what Jeffrey Maier did 16 years ago?

HAMPLE:  I totally disagree with what Jeffrey Maier did.

ANDERSON:  Do I agree with what he did...interfering with a ball that was in play? Absolutely not. I have never been presented with that exact situation during a game, but there have been a few times where I tracked a ball down the aisle and, as I realized it would be close to wall, made a conscious effort to make sure I was behind the wall.

HOVG:  But can you blame the kid?

ANDERSON:  Do I blame Maier for, at 12 years old, reaching out to catch a ball hit toward him? Not really. He was twelve and he didn't know; as much as I hate to say it.

HAMPLE:  I can't really blame him for interfering, though, because he was pretty young at the time, and it's only natural to reach for a ball in that situation. What bothers me about the whole thing is that (a) the ball clanked off his wrist and he has always been credited with "catching" it and (b) he has been glorified for breaking a rule that I've obeyed countless times over the years.

HOVG:  You've had something similar happen to you, Zack, have you not?

HAMPLE:  I was nearly ejected from Yankee Stadium in 1992 for ALMOST interfering. I was sitting in that exact same spot and reached over the wall for a deep fly ball off the bat of Joe Orsulak that I easily could've caught. At the very last second, I yanked my glove back, enabling Yankees right fielder Dion James to jump and make the catch...and I was STILL berated by security. As they were walking me out of the section, the highlight was shown on the jumbotron; I made them stop and watch it, and they saw for themselves that I pulled my glove back before the ball reached me. Only then did they allow me to return to my seat, so yeah, I'm pretty annoyed by the whole thing.

HOVG:  Tim, you're a fixture at Camden Yards.  Is Jeffrey Maier still a topic of conversation among Orioles fans?

ANDERSON:  Of course Maier is mentioned here around Baltimore and at Camden Yards, mostly to describe how a catch was made, or as a joke when something like it happens during the game. But it still hurts because who knows what the Orioles could have done if that call is overturned? Thank God we have redemption in 2012; this time with replay.

HOVG:  Is there anything teams can do to prevent something like what happened with Jeffrey Maier from happening again?

HAMPLE:  Ultimately, stadiums should just be built better to prevent fans from interfering. Just separate the stands from the outfield wall by a few feet a la Turner Field. That's all it takes. It's so easy. But it's rarely done.

Zack Hample has snagged 6452 baseballs at 50 different Major League stadiums since 1990. You can check out his website (The Baseball Collector) or follow him on Twitter at @zack_hample.

When Tim Anderson is not at Camden Yards, he is online contributing to both The Diamonds Edge and Baseball and Things.  You can find "Mr. Shagtastic" on Twitter at @TimmyWade94.