US Baseball Pro

Jason Buursma pitches, hits, plays all over the field and even runs the game music for Bucknell’s baseball team. Name the task and he’s handled it as the Bison’s do-it-all star.

“I just like to play,” the senior pitcher and outfielder said. “I like to be out there. Put me anyplace and I’m happy.”

And it shows. Buursma is one of the country’s top two-way players, serving as the Bison’s ace pitcher and top hitter.

Entering this weekend’s Patriot League tournament semifinal series against Army, the right-hander was 5-3 with a 3.16 ERA, 65 strikeouts, 10 walks and six complete games using an incredibly deceptive submarine-style delivery that induces lots of groundball outs. Buursma has been just as good at the plate, hitting .400 with 11 homers, 34 RBIs and 29 runs scored.

“We’ve had a couple of guys who have done both things, but maybe they were stronger in one area than another,” coach Gene Depew said. “Jason is basically at the top in both sides of it. I’ve never had anyone quite at this level.”

Florida is a beautiful city in America and a perfect place for base ball spring training. It is located in the south eastern region of the United States and is home for some of the major Base ball Teams. Climate of Florida is well regulated because of its proximity to water. This “Sunshine State” is known for its lightning and it is also known as lightning capital of United States. Afternoon thunderstorms are also common in Florida; precipitation is also higher in some parts of the Florida. Spring climate is ideal for baseball training. Florida baseball Spring training is a right choice for you during spring. Spring in Florida is composed of hot and wet climatic conditions.

Base Ball is known as the Americans favorite past time sport. It has fans from all over the world. The first base ball league outside Canada and United States was formed in Cuba and was founded in 1878. It remained as a strong opponent right from 1930 since international play began. A team can be strong with good guidance and training which can be obtained at Florida baseball spring training camps. Florida baseball Spring training camps makes you compete with international teams. A by product can be obtained by right mixture of talent and training which is imparted by Florida baseball Spring training camps. Florida can be rightly said as the traditional home of the MLB (Major League Baseball’s spring training) and almost 2/3rd (MLB) people have their spring training in Florida. Florida State has two Major league Baseball teams. It also hosts minor league baseball championships. Florida baseball spring training camps have immense experience backing them up which can definitely assist you in long term. Florida Marlins and Tampa bay rays are two home teams of Florida. Dolphin stadium is the home of Florida marlins whereas Tropicana Field is the home of Tampa bay rays.

Teams are informally organized into Grape fruit league. During spring training Florida hosts the following major league teams. These are the following clubs located in Florida for Florida baseball Spring training Atlanta Braves is located in Walt Disney world; Baltimore Orioles is located in Fort Lauderdale, Boston Red Sox located in Fort Myers, Cincinnati Reds located in Sarasota, Cleveland Indians located in Winter Haven, Detroit Tigers located in Lakeland, Florida marlins located in Jupiter, Houston Astros located in Kissimmee, Minnesota Twins located in Fort Myers, New York Mets located in Port St. Lucie, New York Yankees located in Tampa, Philadelphia Phillies located in Clear water, Pittsburgh pirates located in Bradenton, Saint Louis Cardinals located in Jupiter, Toronto Blue Jays located in Dunedin and finally Washington Nationals located in Viera. These are some of the Florida baseball Spring training camps located in Florida.

The Yankees avoided a sweep at the hands of the Cleveland Indians, by winning at home, 6-3, hitting four home runs. Yankee fans should be very nervous, as it takes four homers and barely 5 innings from Mike Mussina to get the job done.

I do not like the way the Yankees are playing inconsistent baseball, and even when they win, it feels like walking on shaky ground. The Yankees did hit four home runs against the Indians, courtesy of Robinson Cano, Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon, and Wilson Betemit.

The real fan will look inside the game, and realize what is happening. At 18-18, the Yankees sit at .500, an average team so far. Just because it is the Yankee brand, does not mean anything as we have seen the past several MLB seasons. Four homers is an aberration.

When the homers do not get hit on many nights, Mike Mussina’s performance of 5 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, will not have a great chance of standing. Mussina went to 5-3, but his ERA at 4.36 is hardly worth getting excited about. Mussina did win his 4th in a row, which is a positive.

Hideki Matsui continued his wicked hitting, his average now at .345, a 17-game hit streak in fold. Jason Giambi’s average is laughable at .163, same for Robinson Cano at .172. There are injuries on the squad, to be sure. The excuses, however, are ringing hollow.

The Detroit Tigers are next, and their offense is not playing games. The Yankee pitching had better be ready.

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Orlando Hernandez and Mike Pelfrey, the two contenders for the final spot in the New York Mets’ rotation, pitched against each other in a simulated game Tuesday.

Don’t expect their performances to sway manager Willie Randolph one way or the other.

“Like I’ve said all spring, I don’t take a lot out of simulated games,” Randolph said. “For Duque, it’s just a matter of getting him through healthy.”

Hernandez said he felt good about his outing, the latest step in a slow process of changing his delivery to compensate for a bunion on his right foot.

“I’m very happy today,” El Duque said, adding that he threw all his pitches. “I feel very comfortable. Every time I feel better and better. I’m going up.”

Hernandez’s command improved as the game went on. He walked four and hit a batter with a pitch in his first two innings, then gave up two long homers in his final inning.

“The one inning, when they were hitting (Hernandez) around a little, we were throwing all fastballs trying to work on location,” catcher Brian Schneider said. “There are times out there when he’s working on things. Today was all about working on things.”

Any questions about Hernandez’s ability to get hitters out with his new delivery and apparent lack of velocity (his fastball was clocked between 78-81 mph Tuesday) could be answered soon enough. Randolph said Hernandez will make his spring training debut Sunday against St. Louis.

Meanwhile, Pelfrey breezed through his first four innings, giving up one run and three hits, all doubles—two to minor leaguer Rene Reyes and another to Schneider.

Pedro Martinez did a nice job dodging the dangerous bats. Carlos Delgado wasn’t so fortunate.

Martinez pitched four scoreless innings in his spring training debut while Delgado needed four stitches to close a bloody gash in his arm after a freak accident as the New York Mets beat Detroit 7-4 in a split-squad game Sunday.

Martinez had an earlier exhibition start rained out and skipped another because it would’ve meant a three-hour trip across the state.

“I’m happy about getting out there and facing some real hitters,” Martinez said. “I’m right where I want to be.”

Delgado, one of many Mets already injured this spring, definitely was in the wrong spot.

The slugger hit an RBI double in the third inning and later took a lead off third base.

Brady Clark swung and broke his bat, and the jagged barrel sailed down the line and speared Delgado on the outside of his right forearm. Right away, his arm was covered in red streams.

“It was a lot more blood than I wanted to see,” Delgado said.

Delgado immediately left the game and exited with a small bandage. He was previously scheduled to be off Monday and expected to be out a couple of days.

Delgado said he was watching Clark’s infield popout and didn’t see trouble headed in his direction. When he spotted the flying bat, he tried to twist his body but it was too late.

The New York Yankees and New York Mets signed Alex Rodriguez and Johan Santana this off-season, respectively, to huge contracts that will make each superstar rich beyond any of our wildest dreams. The reality is, the New York Yankees and New York Mets will not make them rich-you will! Still like your team’s deal?

It is not just the New York Yankees and New York Mets. Any of your favorite baseball teams paying for high-priced baseball talent, this story is about your team, and the effect of these huge salaries on your wallet.

To read about the contract of a Johan Santana, Alex Rodriguez or any other big-money baseball player, is on the surface to say, “Great, my team made a big move. At least it’s not my money.” Whoa, not so fast. The reality is that it is your money. How? Any time you pay for a ticket to the game where the price has increased, you help pay their salary. Any time you sip from the cup of beer at the game where price have gone up, you help pay their salary. Any time you bite into the hot dog at the game where prices have increased, you help pay their salary.

Is it fair for a baseball player or star athlete to make exponentially more money than a teacher, a repairman or anyone else that helps us live our lives in a more immediate manner? Fair, my friends, has nothing to do with it. Economics 101-the law of supply and demand. The fair value of something is the exact amount that someone is willing to pay for it.

Alex Rodriguez and Johan Santana are merely playing the system for what it is worth, getting the most money from the New York Yankees and New York Mets that their agents can draw.

In reality, we would do the same whether we openly admit it or not. When we go into our reviews at work, we look to improve our state, and deservedly so. We work hard, are loyal, and have only so many opportunities to reap any kind of reward.

MLB, its Owners, its players and machinery are out for one thing and only one thing above all else. That is, to make money for itself and its players. How does it do this? By getting money from its fans.

So the New York Yankees signed Alex Rodriguez to a long-term, huge contract. Better believe that your ticket prices, beer, hot dogs, gear and cable bill are headed North accordingly. So, in the end, it is you that pays Alex Rodriguez, or Johan Santana, or whichever high-priced star happens to play at your favorite stadium.

As a New York Yankees fan, New York Mets fan, Los Angeles Dodgers fan or wherever, you want your team to win. To win, you have to pay high-priced players. The question is whether you mind paying more for a better product?

When you buy a television, you expect to pay more for a better brand than Joe Schmo’s TV brand. We don’t think of it in those terms but it is the way that it is when you the fan shell out money to be a part of sports. You want to follow a competitive team? Then you will shell out the bucks, out of your own pocket, to compensate your favorite team in return for a better product. Fair? Fair has nothing to do with it…never does.

Fans of MLB do have a choice, and the power, to put the brakes on high-priced contracts, such as Alex Rodriguez and Johan Santana’s. The reality though, is a stark one for true fans. The answer is to stop paying.

The New York Yankees, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and every other MLB team pays attention to one thing and one thing only-how much cash is rolling in.

Stop following the Los Angeles Dodgers or Boston Red Sox with your wallet, and there will be less to pay the players. Less to pay the players, the less salaries will be. Less fannies in seats, the lower ticket prices will become. Supply and demand.

The reality however, is that MLB knows this will never happen. In the wake of strikes, steroid scandals and such, MLB still enjoys record attendance throughout the United States. As a MLB fan, you cannot have it all. If you want to follow MLB, be ready to pony up cash. The closer you want to follow, the more cash you will need.

Alex Rodriguez, Johan Santana and the others do not care about how much you have to pay. They care about how much they can make during a limited MLB career. It is a Catch-22, but fans will continue to come, continue to pay, continue to harbor some resentment.

MLB fans-the reality is this is the going rate to have access to the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets or whichever team you follow. You cannot have everything. You can have your favorite team, on a competitive level which is expensive, but in the end it will be your cash bankrolling the winning, creating the competitive atmosphere that you are then able to follow. Is it worth it? Only you can decide for yourself. Until now, the answer among MLB faithful is a resounding, yes.