Magglio Ordonez Platooned and the End of an Era

USUALLY IT'S THE YOUNG MEN who get platooned in the U.S. Army, but in the baseball world it's a sure sign that your better days are behind you. Just two years removed from winnning the A.L. Batting Title, Magglio Ordonez is finding himself platooned in the outfield with rookie Clete Thomas. But it's not just Ordonez who has been fighting to keep his spot in the lineup. With guys like Frank Thomas, Mike Piazza and Luis Gonzalez now retired and David Ortiz, Vladimir Guerrero and Ken Griffey Jr. becoming human again, this is the beginning of the end of an era. So long to the hey days of the 2000's as we welcome the new guard in hitters like Ryan Howard, Justin Upton, Evan Longoria, Prince Fielder, Nick Markakis and Ryan Braun.

Grand Theft Contact

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, there were two recent incidents involving umpire contact. Last week Jerry Manuel bumped umpire Bill Welke's cap with his own, drawing a fine and a one game suspension. And on Wednesday, umpire Paul Schrieber put his hand on Magglio Ordonez's back while Ordonez was arguing balls and strikes with him. Schrieber will likely be fined as well, and his actions were deemed extremely rare for an umpire. Although the amounts are typically undisclosed, such seemingly small and innocent contacts probably amount to three to four digit fines, and you could almost see the fines popping up as if in a videogame.