Ed Randall's Talking Baseball

Ed Randall's Bat for the Cure 2011 Minor League Road Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Mon, 23 May 2011 16:41:00 +0000

I am proud to announce the launch of our 5th Annual Ed Randall's Bat for the Cure Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Road Trip Across Minor League Baseball with our new national sponsor, Walgreens, serving as propellant.

I am prouder still to tell you of our designation as an Official Charitable Partner of Minor League Baseball, which further validates our life-saving mission.

Never in the history of minor league baseball has there been a healthcare initiative of this magnitude.

that has served its unserved constituency from coast-to-coast.

Last season, 137 ballclubs graciously opened their homes to us and we have every expectation we will exceed that total this year.

We are especially gratified to be working with the Camden Riversharks of the Atlantic League. They will welcome the charity on June 24th and have pledged to make a financial contribution that will allow us to further our mission of spreading our twin gospels of prostate cancer awareness and education.

On Father's Day, the Spokane Indians of the Northwest League will don baby blue uniform tops as a show of support. The uniforms will be raffled off and proceeds donated to this charity.

I have a special place in my heart for Spokane as I was their play-by-play announcer on KHQ-Radio

in the same ballpark (with the same phone number) in 1975.

We thank them and all the clubs for their constant kindness and support and wish them all a great season.

Fw: Ed Randall's Meanderings, Minutiae & Miscellany

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Tue, 17 May 2011 20:53:00 +0000

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Ed Randall <edwrandall@yahoo.com>
To: russell@bravestreet.com
Sent: Tue, May 17, 2011 4:52:49 PM
Subject: Ed Randall's Meanderings, Minutiae & Miscellany

If ever there was an incongruous nickname, this was it.

Legendary broadcaster Bob Wolff, the voice of the Washington Senators, nicknamed a fresh-faced slugger named Harmon Killebrew, "Killer."

His persona was anything but, a kind, sweet, soft-spoken, self-effacing man who never boasted of his accomplishments and one of the nicest people I have ever met in the game.

Harmon Killebrew's personality belied his achievement on the field as, arguably, the most popular player in Minnesota Twins history: 573 home runs (he didn't need the wind blowing out), currently

11th on the all-time list, and 5th at the time of his retirement.

I have a personal note in his file folder at home dated July 23, 1992 that reads simply, "Dear Ed,

I'm sorry we didn't have connect for your show in San Diego (at All-Star FanFest). I hope you'll give me a rain check for another shot at it!"

That shot came on January 21, 1994 when Harmon Killebrew arrived at HBO Studios in Manhattan

to be a guest on the 341th edition of "Ed Randall's Talking Baseball.". Not only was he there to talk about his fabulous career but also to promote a new women's league, The National Fastpitch Association.

The story I will always remember was Harmon telling me was of his signing.

He was headed from his native Idaho to the University of Oregon to play baseball and football. United States Senator Herman Welker was from Harmon's home town. He was a great friend of Washington Senators' Owner Clark Griffith and told him about, as Harmon said, "a young boy out in Idaho he thought could hit the ball pretty well. I think more than anything else, just to keep Senator Welker quiet, Mr. Griffith sent Ossie Bluege, the farm director, out to see me."

There was torrential rain and it appeared that Ossie Bluege had made the trip for nothing. But the rain let up, the field was prepared and Harmon Killebrew hit a long home run over the left field fence. The following morning, the farm director went back to the field the next morning and stepped it off. The ball went 435 feet, pretty good for a 17-year-old. He immediately called Clark Griffith, left a contract in Senator Welker's law office and went back to Washington.

Soon thereafter, Harmon Killebrew became a 'bonus baby' and took his first at-bat in the major leagues in 1954 at age 17. It would be 1959 before he had his first full season. Two years later, the Washington Senators were now the Minnesota Twins and Harmon Killebrew, across the 1960s would become the face, heart and soul of the franchise.

He personified power, the first to clear the roof at old Tiger Stadium in Detroit and, as Casey Stengel once said about another prodigy, Ron Swoboda, "could hit home runs over tall buildings."

Eight times, Harmon Killebrew struck 40 or more home runs, a record surpassed only by Babe Ruth.

He made 11 All-Star teams and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1984. His statue rests outside Target Field in Minneapolis.

Harmon Killebrew was a great baseball player.

He was a better man.

Killer

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Tue, 17 May 2011 16:55:00 +0000

If ever there was an incongruous nickname, this was it.

Legendary broadcaster Bob Wolff, the voice of the Washington Senators, nicknamed a fresh-faced slugger named Harmon Killebrew, "Killer."

His persona was anything but, a kind, sweet, soft-spoken, self-effacing man who never boasted of his accomplishments and one of the nicest people I have ever met in the game.

Harmon Killebrew's personality belied his achievement on the field as, arguably, the most popular player in Minnesota Twins history: 573 home runs (he didn't need the wind blowing out), currently 8th on the all-time list, and 5th at the time of his retirement.

He told me on this wonderful show I hosted called "Ed Randall's Talking Baseball" that a sitting United States Senator from his native Idaho was influential in his signing. Turns out the Senator was friends with Clark Griffith, the Owner of the Washington Senators and told him of a young slugger that he needed to sign.

Killebrew became a 'bonus baby' and took his first at-bat in the major leagues in 1954 at age 17. It would be 1959 before he had his first full season. Two years later, the Washington Senators were now the Minnesota Twins and Harmon Killebrew, across the 1960s would become the face, heart and soul of the franchise.

He personified power, the first to clear the roof at old Tiger Stadium in Detroit and, as Casey Stengel once said about another prodigy, Ron Swoboda, "could hit home runs over tall buildings."

Eight times, Harmon Killebrew struck 40 or more home runs, a record surpassed only by Babe Ruth.

He made 11 All-Star teams and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1984. His statue rests outside Target Field in Minneapolis.

Harmon Killebrew was a great baseball player.

He was a better man.

"The View from 62 Feet"

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 04:21:00 +0000

Danny, more Huff Post.

Thanks.

A Second At-Bat: Lucky Me!

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 15:50:00 +0000

Hi again everybody.

So when we last left Ed, Dr. Nicholas Romas, the world-renowned Chair of the Urology Department at the St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in Manhattan, was leaning forward from behind his desk, looking me in the eye and saying with a straight face, "Ed, you have cancer and you have a LOT of cancer."

This ruining of my day just confirmed what I had been prepared for by my general practitioner, Dr. John Cornwall, who had given me scouting reports that I was in trouble, I mean, BIG trouble. We've all had moments in our lives where, for one split second, we are completely disbelieving of what we had just seen or heard.

Not denial, mind you, just stunned...

You can read this post in its entirety on HuffingtonPost.com

Bombers Bombing?

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 13:24:00 +0000

Yankee fans should be very concerned with regard to a championship repeat performance. After winning eight straight games, they have lost five of their past six and eight of their last 10 games. Five of those losses have been one-run defeats. Three have come in the opposition's final at-bat. But with serious concerns about whether Derek Jeter has begun his final descent and Alex Rodriguez not hitting home runs with the frequency of the past, they no longer strike fear into the opposition and seem vulnerable. Their problems underscore just how hard it is to defend your crown. The World Champions are just 15-16 against clubs heading to October. The only certainty in the starting rotation remains CC Sabathia, on the verge of a 20-win season. They are no better than the Mets at the start of the season whose rotation was Johan Santana and four other guys until they got back to Santana. Fortunately for the Yankees, Andy Pettitte makes his long-awaited return this Sunday from the groin injury suffered in July. With a lack of trust in the ability of A.J. Burnett from game to game, Pettitte, if he is able to provide a much -needed lift to the rotation, becomes the #2 starter come October. How can they possibly re-insert him as the #3 for a possible match-up with Texas? In a five-game series, they'll see Cliff Lee, who won all of Philadelphia's World Series games against them last fall and owned them again on Sunday, twice. There is no waiting on a guy who's barely a .500 pitcher on a team 30 games over .500. How is that possible? The Yankees cannot put the good teams away. Ample evidence was provided in Texas, where they were swept and Tampa Bay where, save for a Jorge Posada game-winning home run, they would have been swept again. And know this about Tampa: they are superior to their World Series club of 2008 which got to the promised land without a bullpen of consequence. That was before they acquired Rafael Soriano in perhaps the most unsung deal of the post-season. He leads the American League with 43 saves and struck out Jeter and Rodriguez to close out an electrifying series in St. Petersburg. Now if only the local population would embrace them and show their enthusiasm at the gate. Shame on them.

My Friend Ernie

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Sat, 08 May 2010 23:10:00 +0000

In 1981, I was working for Enterprise Radio situated in Avon, Connecticut, the nation's first all-sports radio network. Perhaps we were ahead of our time because, 9 months to the day we went on the air, we had gone bankrupt. But,luckily, before we did, I was successfuuly campaigned to cover the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in Cooperstown. On that July Sunday, the great Ernie Harwell was ushered into the broadcast wing for his meritorious service to the game. That day began a wonderful friendship that would last almost 30 years. I have never met a kinder, gentler, more graceful and solicitous soul in my life. And he loved the love of that life, Lulu, through 68 years of marriage. Ernie was always there for me, never saying no to an interview request, ever upbeat, optimistic and funny with an infectious laugh. When I started Ed Randall's Talking Baseball on public access television (which, by the way, gives the First Amendment a bad name) in suburban New York, he rode with me to White Plains where we sat talking for a half hour in a studio with three cameras and no camera operators. But he never made that operation seem small, insignificant or beneath him. He ate in our home where my mom prepared a classic Italian dinner. I would take her to sit in the back of his radio booth when the Tigers visited Yankee Stadium. He made her feel what he made me feel: important. I was with Ernie when he was honored at a Congressional luncheon hosted by the Michigan delegation on the final weekend of the 1992 season. After all, he was the most beloved figure in the state. A guy would close his gas station with these words: "It's five minutes to Ernie." Two days later, at the final game of Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, he signed off on his final broadcast without fanfare but with his customary class and dignity, thanking the listeners for their friendship and loyalty. The reaction to his being fired for being 74 years old was fast and furious. Tigers Owner Mike Illitch restored order a year later. He delivered newspapers to Margaret Mitchell, author of "Gone with the Wind," Babe Ruth signed his shoe because he had nothing else on him, he is the only announcer in the history of baseball to be traded for a player (catcher Cliff Dapper from the Brooklyn Dodgers to the Atlanta Crackers), Jackie Robinson stole home in his first major league game in 1948, called Bobby Thomson's home run on the first coast-to-coast telecast of a major sporting event ("only Mrs. Harwell and I know I was on that afternoon") and was the guy who hired Jose Feliciano to sign the national anthem at the 1968 World Series. A few weeks ago, unable to get him on the phone, I sent him an email wishing him well. I told him I loved him. He response? "I love you, too." Proudly, that is our epitaph. He was not the broadcast voice of the Detroit Tigers. He was the Detroit Tigers. It was both an honor and joy to know him.

You Don't Even Have To Watch The Season (But Should Anyway)

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 23:52:00 +0000

A.L. EAST: NEW YORK

A.L. CENTRAL: CHICAGO

A.L. WEST: LOS ANGELES

A.L. WILD CARD: BOSTON

N.L. EAST: PHILADELPHIA

N.L. CENTRAL: ST. LOUIS

N.L. WEST: COLORADO

N.L. WILD CARD: ATLANTA

The Prostate Cancer Debate?

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:40:00 +0000

There is a dilemma surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

The PSA and DRE are imperfect indicators.

And yet, the death rate has consistently decreased from more than 39,000 in 1999 to less than 30,000 last year.

Numerous organizations my charity respects, most especially the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), comprised of world-class cancer treatment centers including Johns Hopkins, Sloan Kettering, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Duke, believe current scientific evidence shows that finding and treating prostate cancer early, when treatment might be more effective, may well save lives.

Unfortunately, I have become accustomed to disappointing statements regarding prostate cancer from the American Cancer Society, a bureaucracy infested with a self-interest that will never be confused with yours or mine. They ignore a decade of prima facie evidence that vigorous testing have been accompanied by a dramatic reduction in deaths from prostate cancer. The new so-called 'guidelines' are, in a word, inane. In effect, the ACS, without conscience, is assigning death sentences to countless men under the guise of 'guidelines.' In the cold, analytic halls of the ACS, it may sound perfectly reasonable to keep men ignorant of their prostate cancer status, but no man who has actually been diagnosed with the disease is likely to agree.

No, the PSA is not a perfect test. But it was the test that saved my life.

As many men as possible should have the opportunity to make an informed decision after receiving information about the uncertainties, risks and potential benefits associated with screening. Doctors, patients and opinion makers need to divorce testing from treatment.

I also find it hard to even dignify what passed for a dangerous Op-Ed column in The New York Times this past week from Richard Albin. It was overflowing with misleading information, important information was omitted and there were errors in logic.

Here's just one simple question for him: how can he claim that the PSA test has a place in indicating a return of prostate cancer after treatment if the patient hasn't found his cancer in the first place?

Frankly, this is not a debate for me.

Sent: Sat, March 13, 2010 7:37:25 AM
Subject: Fwd: New "Contact Us" submission from Sabina Carinci

Mr Randall

One of the readers of my blog ManagedCareMatters.com forwarded your note along.

I certainly appreciate the passion and depth of commitment you bring to this issue. I feel the same about the problems inherent in what I believe is over-testing and resulting devastating effects on men, their families, and the entire health care system.

You mention that the evidence against the PSA test is blown away by your belief that it saved your life. There is a cost, in dollars and human suffering, of that result. Hundreds of men were misdiagnosed, rendered incontinent and impotent, subjected to an intensely painful procedure, as a result of false diagnoses. In a very real way, those men 'paid' for each succesful outcome.

How many men need to suffer before the societal cost outweighs the benefit?

Far too many men receive false positive - and false negative - results from the PSA test, so many that the physician who discovered the antigen has publicly decried the test as presently performed.

Incontinence and impotence are only two of the 'side effects' of inappropriate testing. And far, far more men suffer from these than have an accurate diagnosis of the deadly form of prostate cancer.

With all due respect to Mr Haynes, we don't know if his cancer was the deadly firm or not.

We also don't know how many men were harmed by testing that is notoriously inaccurate.

If I may, I'd suggest you may want to consider using your considerable influence to encourage development of a more accurate test, one with fewer and less severe side effects.

I say this with respect and admiration for the passion and commitment you bring to this subject, and hope that all of us can help our fellows lead healthier, happier lives.

Joe Paduda

Sent from my iPhone

Joseph Paduda

Health Strategy Associates, LLC

203-314-2632

Begin forwarded message:

Date: March 12, 2010 8:22:04 PM EST
Subject: FW: New "Contact Us" submission from Sabina Carinci

Joe,

I am going to assume based on the number of cc's of the email below that quite a few people contacted Ed Randall about his advocacy of routine PSA screening at your recent urging. Apparently there is something to be said about "strength in numbers" since you remarked he wouldn't reply to you alone. I am forwarding the reply in the event you haven't yet seen it. With any luck he will reply to you as well now.

If I recall correctly the exact points you mentioned about PSA screening were mentioned in the book Too Much Medicine-Not enough health.
http://www.yourownhealthandfitness.org/notenoughhealth.php

Mr Randall mentions the recent breast cancer screening guidelines as well which I believe the author devoted an entire chapter to even before all of the latest uproar. I recommend this physician written book if you haven't already read it. I have no interest in the sales of this book-I just found it quite interesting.

Thank you for your blogs. I enjoy them a great deal.

Sabina Carinci

------ Forwarded Message
From: Ed Randall <edwrandall@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:27:23 -0800 (PST)
To: Sabina Carinci <scarinci@verizon.net>
Cc: Joseph Nunziata <joseph@nunziata-advertising.com>, Dan Mulligan <dan.mulligan@batforthecure.org>, <michaelrizzo@nyc.rr.com>, <neilromano@comcast.net>, <shelleychristie@yahoo.com>, <tmorrow@womenagainstprostatecancer.org>
Subject: New "Contact Us" submission from Sabina Carinci

Dear Sabrina:

Thank you so much for contacting us.

The theory--and all it is is a theory--that there should be little-to-no testing, that men are being over-tested is shot out of the sky by this simple fact: had I not been taken that same PSA test, I would be unable to respond to your note because I would have died at age 47.

And thanks to the testing I provided in concert with the Tampa Bay Rays last July, there is a man in St. Petersburg, Florida named Chuck Haynes who credits me with being alive today. He came up to me that day and said, "Ed Randall, you saved my life."

A couple of months ago, the federal government issued new, less stringent guidelines for breast cancer testing for women over the age of 40. There was such a furious reaction from women that Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius had to call a press conference the following day to disavow what had been said the day before.

Unless and until there is a viable alternative, this charity will continue its work to save lives.

Sincerely,
Ed Randall

Subject: New "Contact Us" submission from Sabina Carinci

You've received a new submission from your "contact us" through your "Ed Randall's Bat For The Cure" Andy's Web Tools web site.

name: Sabina Carinci
email:
phone:

message:

http://www.joepaduda.com/archives/001760.html

please reconsider your advocacy of routine prostate cancer screening in light of the scientific evidence. see above and links within. thank you.

_______________________________________
------ End of Forwarded Message

Parallel Ladders

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:31:00 +0000

Derek Jeter has 2,747 hits, most in Yankee history. Alex Rodriguez starts the season with 583 home runs, tied with McGwire for 8th all-time , three behind Frank Robinson and only 179 behind Bonds. If each stays healthy, Jeter and Rodriguez will be climbing parallel ladders toward immortality. How high will they go? That was one of the subjects discussed on this morning's edition of "Ed Randall's Talking Baseball' by Kevin Goldstein, the managing partner of baseballprospectus.com and Sean Smith of baseballprojection.com. Each of these players are historically unique, this productive at rather advanced ages. Jeter turns 36 in June, Rodriguez, 35 in July. There have never been a pair of teammates like this in baseball history. The unknown variable, of course, is their health. But if they stay on the field and produce at previous rates, the projection is for Jeter to finish his career more than 3,400 hits. Only eight players have reached that plateau, only five, 3,500. As for Rodriguez, whose current contract has him playing at age 42, the projection is 815 homers, far beyond Bonds.

A Lesson in Humanity

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:13:00 +0000

(Photo NY Daily News)
Didn't want Black History Month to pass without paying tribute and what better way of doing so than speaking with Bob Scott? Now 79 years old, Bob, a pitcher/first baseman for the New York Black Yankees, was kind enough to join me this weekend on both my Sirius XM and WFAN-Radio shows. Bob joined the club in 1946 and was paid $175 a month. This was the same year that the color barrier had finally been broken as Jackie Robinson spent that season apprenticing for his Hall of Fame career in Brooklyn with their farm club, the Montreal Royals. Ironically, the signing of Robinson by Branch Rickey of the Dodgers signaled the beginning of the end for the Negro Leagues. And yet, the greats played on. Scott faced the great Buck Leonard, still active in his early 40s, a guy who, even at that advanced age, repeatedly ate his lunch. He also pitched and batted against Satchel Paige, who, by most acccounts, would be 40 years old in 1946. The highlight of his career was being selected by Jackie Robinson to a barnstorming all-star team that afforded him the opportunity to pitch in his hometown of Macon, Georgia. Bob Scott won 35 games in the Negro Leagues and had a career batting average of .278. Bob said those playing in the Negro Leagues never felt excluded from Major League Baseball. Rather, he said, they felt they were the superior league. When you look at what passed for major league teams yearly in Washington and in St. Louis with the Browns, who is to argue? Years ago, the great Buck O'Neill honored by television show with an guest appearance. When I asked him if he and his contemporaries felt left out, he smiled that electric smile of his, looked at me and said, "What's to say we weren't the better league?" To this day, Bob Feller, who barnstromed in the off-season with and against the best ever in the Negro Leagues, would agree. Bob Scott is side by side with Buck O'Neil. "I had all the talent in the world, but I don't live in regret." His exploits and herosim should never be forgotten or taken for granted from that shameful period in our history. With all due respect to Ruth, Gehrig, Mathewson, Foxx and all the others, for me, baseball didn't begin until April 15, 1947, the day Jackie Robinson began his one-man freedom ride down the highway to make us a better people.

Saturday on XM 175

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 02:16:00 +0000

If you have the miracle of satellite radio, I hope you'll tune into my "Talking Baseball" show Saturday at 10AM Eastern on XM 175. The greater part of the show will be devoted to Black History Month. One segment I eagerly look forward to is a conversation with one of the great hitters of the modern age, Al Oliver (EDitorial: Al Oliver unquestionably belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame). On September 1, 1971, Oliver was part of a Pittsburgh Pirates line-up made up entirely of minorities. The line-up included two Hall of Famers, the great Clemente and Willie Stargell. Dock Ellis started the game as the Pirates beat Philadelphia 10-7. We'll also talk to Bob Scott who will recount his days as a righthanded pitcher and first baseman on the New York Black Yankees from 1946-50. Now 79, Bob won 79 games in the Negro Leagues and had a career batting average of.278. We'll also speak with Hal Richman, who, as an 11-year-old, invented Strat-o-Matic Baseball, one of the greatest board games of all time. After three years on interpreting the statistics, Start-o-Matic is introducing a 103-card subset of players from the Negro Leagues. This task was daunting as coverage of and statistics from the Negro Leagues was spotty at best, due to the fact that the Arican-American newspapers publishing at the time were weeklies. We'll also talk with Dr. Charles Yesalis, a worldwide authority on performance enhancing drugs in the wake of Major League Baseball's decision to introduce testing for HGH into the minor leagues.

Ed Randall with JJ Putz

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Sunday, February 21st - Former Met JJ Putz talks about his odd medical treatment with the Mets and his new beginning with the White Sox with during my interview with him on WFAN.

You can hear the entire interview from WFAN here right now....

http://multimedia.wfan.com/m/audio/29153340/ed-randall-with-jj-putz.htm

Ed Randall with Brady Anderson on 660 WFAN

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:01:00 +0000

Sunday, February 21st - Yesterday I was joined by former Oriole outfielder Brady Anderson to talk about his remarkable 1996 season and his thoughts on performance enhancement drugs in baseball.

You can listen to the entire interview from WFAN here now....

http://multimedia.wfan.com/m/audio/29153339/ed-randall-with-brady-anderson.htm

A guy called the XM show yesterday and said I was ...

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:26:00 +0000

A guy called the XM show yesterday and said I was "a great cure for spring fever." The theme was what happened to your baseball card collection. Was mom the culprit? Most who said their collections disappeared said it happened after they went off to college.

Ed Randall lesson: commute.

Did something I hadn't planned on the WFAN show: one guest staying the hour. That hadn't happened since Wally Backman did so in 2004 in the wake of his debacle as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Rising early especially for us in Southern California and overcoming early technical problems, Brady Anderson stayed the entire final hour of the show.

He is Baltimore's best all-time leadoff hitter and top-10 in every Orioles offensive category. He patiently explained having a 50-home run season such as he experienced in 1996--even though he had never hit more than 21 before or 24 in any season since--"was an aberration but was not a fluke." He said Roger Maris never came remotely close again to 61, Hack Wilson to 56 or Davey Johnson to 43.

Different eras.

He has difficulty understanding the public's cynicism and disappointment with the so-called Steroid Era, contending athletes have been seeking an edge since the first Olympics. He believes great players belong in the Hall of Fame and that all of these prolific home run hitters, even those tainted by scandal and allegations of using performance-enhacing drugs.

I said a player once told me that if you offered every player the opportunity to take a magic pill that would give them Hall of Fame skills at the cost of 10 years off his life, most all would.

I said McGwire insulted our intelligence when he said he would have hit 583 with or without PEDs. And if we can't believe what we are`watching, then it might as well be wrestling.

He said he faced a pitcher who put sandpaper in his mouth and was the umpire refused to throw him out.

As we parted, he thanked me and said he was going back to sleep.

Oh, and the pitcher was Tim Leary.

Next Homestand Scouting Report

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 01:05:00 +0000

When we run to the mound in the morning on WFAN (first pitch: 9:05) in the constant hope of throwing strikes on the low black knee-high, the guests include Brady Anderson, considered the poster child for one-year spikes in power statistics. In 1996, leading off for Baltimore, he struck 56 home runs as the most prolific one-season leadoff hitter in baseball history.

He never hit 24 in a season before or after. He has been answering questions regarding alleged use of performance-enhacing drugs ever since.

Also joining us, confirmed moments ago from White Sox camp, reliever J.J. Putz. He recently told a Chicago radio station that the Mets knew he had a bone spur in his elbow at the time of his trade from Seattle but wasn't given a physical. And the one he did receive in spring training is a formality. Most significantly, the Mets convinced him to continue pitching with the injury that eventually required season-ending surgery. He also said he was told by the Mets not to talk to the media about being injured.

Yeah, that'll work around here.

MiLB Charities Designates Bat for the Cure as Homegrown Charity Partner

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:05:00 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS–Minor League Baseball Charities is proud to announce that it has named Ed Randall's Bat for the Cure (BFTC) as its first Homegrown Charity Partner. BFTC, which has worked closely with Minor League Baseball for several years, heightens prostate cancer awareness,promotes early PSA testing and raises much needed research funds to fight the disease. In 2009,BFTC conducted over 130 Prostate Cancer Awareness Nights in its Minor League Road Trip program.

"Minor League Baseball is proud to name BFTC as our initial charity as part of our Homegrown Charities Partners program," stated Pat O'Conner, Minor League Baseball President. "By its nature, the Homegrown Charities Partners is a program where these partners have, in large part, roots traceable to Minor League Baseball. BFTC is such a partner."Ed Randall's personal and career paths run deep into Minor League Baseball. BFTC's noble and good work is done with many of our member teams. We have an obligation to look out for our fans when we can and BFTC is an important component in the lifestyle and wellness testing and education in our cities. This is a natural partnership and we are pleased to welcome BFTC to our charities partnership family," O'Conner added.

"It is an honor for my organization to partner with Minor League Baseball and be designated one of their official charities," Ed Randall, the Chairman and Founder of Ed Randall's Bat For The Cure said. "It is humbling to be included in the company of other legacy Minor League Baseball Charitable Partners, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Special Olympics and The ALS Association.

"After two years of preparations that began at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Dallas in 2005, we debuted our Prostate Cancer Awareness Nights in Pawtucket, Rhode Island in June, 2007. Now 275 ballparks later, the team owners and operators, and their devoted staffs, are the reason we have scaled this mountain to plant our flag. My charity is excited to be forging a long and mutually beneficial relationship between our organizations since we both believe that the health of every fan is important. We look forward to helping men stay healthy through greater awareness and knowledge about prostate cancer.

"For the second year in a row, BFTC will sponsor free, simple PSA screenings for thousands of Baseball Winter Meetings attendees. The free screenings will be held on Wednesday, December 9, inside The Baseball Trade Show™ at the Indiana Convention Center. The Minor League Baseball Charity Partner's Program was founded in 2004 to provide national exposure for charities, expand current relationships between clubs and local chapters and to foster new relationships where none exist. The ALS Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Special Olympics are National Charity Partners of MiLB Charities.

For more information go to www.batforthecure.org or Contact: Steve Densa, Minor League Baseball, (727) 408-0313

It's Raining, It's Snowing, The Old Man Blah, Blah, Blah...

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:13:00 +0000

The Baltimore-Washington area has received more snow this season than Minneapolis and Anchorage. Here in the New York area, four snows in just the past two weeks. Is it me or do you also feel warmer knowing that somewhere pitchers will be popping the gloves of their catchers? Spring training officially begins tomorrow with pitchers and catchers reporting. Twelve teams are scheduled to being workouts Thursday -- with the 18 others over the next week. Cleveland's first workout isn't until the 23rd while Minnesota and Milwaukee are last with full-squad workouts on the 27th. The Twins traditionally have been one of the last teams to report. Their formula is simple: they simply count backward from Opening Day to figure out how much time is needed. Is spring training too long? Probably. Starting pitchers are probably the only ones who need the full six weeks to get ready. If spring training were to be shortened, rosters would need to be expanded at the start of the season to accommodate extra pitchers. Long or short, spring training is the best racket in American professional sports.

Sunday, February 14th - Michael Weiner of the MLBPA joined me on WFAN to Talk Baseball..

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:52:00 +0000

Sunday, February 14th - Michael Weiner of the MLBPA joined me to talk baseball on WFAN. You can listen to the interview here now: http://tinyurl.com/ykeaot3

Elgibile for Free Agency

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:11:00 +0000

Thanks to all of you for listening to the start of our new season on WFAN-Radio this morning. It's our 8th year, meaning we already have enough time in to have qualified for free agency. The theme was catching up for the lost time we were not on the air. With our station the flagship station of the New York Mets network, they got home field advantage with Adam Rubin, their beat reporter for the New York Daily News, our leadoff hittter. Then it was on to a review of the Yankees' off-season with Anthony McCarron of the News and Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record. As for the status of the other 28 clubs, that was left to Ken Rosenthal, the senior baseball writer for Fox Sports.com and MLB field reporter for MLB on Fox. We also welcomed for the first time the new Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, Michael Weiner, who addressed a number of issues, not all of them pertaining to performance-enhancing drugs. Our closer was the noted Pulitzer-Prize-winning writer, Ira Berkow, who came on to talk about his 18th book, "Summers in the Bronx, Attila the Hun and Other Yankee Stories," a compilation of his 40 years covering the Yankees.

Welcome Home

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 18:43:00 +0000

I got a phone call yesterday morning that I will be inducted into my high school's Hall of Fame, All Hallows, this fall. It's three blocks from Yankee Stadium and I took the subway behind the center field fence when it was a grammar and high school for 12 years. Don't think I don't think about that every time I'm on the field at Yankee Stadium. My initial reaction to this incredible honor was to quote Groucho Marx who said, "I'd never want to belong to a club that would have me as a member."

My new Pulitzer-Prize-winning-book-in-waiting, "Baseball for the Utterly Confused" from McGraw-Hill hits bookstores this week. This is NOT like baseball for dummies. It has a lot of history in it and all-time lists that I take editorial license with. It's an entertaining read, especially the excerpts from my unforgettable playing career that people are still talking about.

Our all-in-color, Tony-Award-winning "Ed Randall's Tallking Baseball" show begins its 8th season on WFAN-Radio Valentine's Day morning at 9AM. We'll go about the business of catching up on all the news we've missed since being off the air.

Live on WFAN tomorrow 2/14/2010 from 9:00AM - 11:00AM

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:04:00 +0000

On the Air tomorrow on WFAN from 9:00AM - 11:00AM. Listen live to WFAN anytime here: http://tinyurl.com/yz3jben

Triple Guitars Night at Feinstein's at Loews Regency Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:54:00 +0000

On February 1, 2010 former NY Yankee star Bernie Williams, Grammy winning guitarist Earl Klugh and fellow guitarist, vocalist and bandleader John Pizzarelli played their guitars on the same stage for the first time to raise funds for Ed Randall's Bat For The Cure charity and its fight against prostate cancer at Feinstein's at Loews Regency located on Park Avenue in New York City .

You can now view pictures from this historic event on my charity web site www.batforthecure.org

In Gratitude

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:46:00 +0000

A man of a very few thousand words--me--in speechless in expressing my gratitude to Earl Klugh, John Pizzarelli and Bernie Williams for their "Triple Guitars" collaboration on behalf of Ed Randall's Bat for the Cure, as well as John Iachetti at Feinstein's. It was a watershed event for our charity and a valued entry point into the world of entertainment. Rumor has it that these three world-class artists had such a good time, they are anxious to gather again for Triple Guitars II. That day can't come fast enough.

Images of the 2009 Season

noreply@blogger.com (Ed Randall) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:45:00 +0000

The Yankees and Mets opened new stadium for the 2009 season. One will never be confused for the other...Gary Sheffield struck his 500th home run....Eric Bruntlett of Philadelphia turned a line-drive into an unassisted triple play to end a victory over the Mets...Randy Johnson won his 300th game...Giants teammate Jonathan Sanchez threw a no-hitter...Mark Buehrle did one better, a perfect game, on July 23rd at home in Chicago against Tampa Bay...The American League won the All-Star Game because the American League always wins the All-Star Game...Pudge Rodriguez surpassed Carlton Fisk for most games caught, career...Mariano Rivera walked...Manny was told to walk away for 50 games...David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez came up positive. Ortiz was positive he was innocent...Alex missed six weeks with a bum hip, stepped to the plate in Baltimore and homered on the first pitch he saw. In his final game of the season, he set a new record with 7 RBIs in one inning, a three-run homer and grand slam...The captain passed the captain as Derek Jeter moved by

Lou Gehrig as the Yankees' all-time leader in hits... Mark Reyolds of Arizona extended his major league record with 223 strikeouts in a season. Every pitcher would love that...There were no 20-game winners for the second time since 2006. Justin Verlander, CC Sabathia and Felix Hernandez each won 19...NL unnanimous MVP-in-waiting, Albert Pujols led the league with 47 homers, the fewest since 1995, a strike-shortened season...Mark Teixeira led the AL with 39. He was down six when Carlos Pena of Tampa Bay broke his hand and was lost for the rest of the season...Ichiro led the AL in hits fpr the fourth consecutive season and has 9 staright 200-hit seasons...Hanley

Ramirez became the first Florida Marlins player to win any of the Triple Crown categories when his .342 led the National League....In one of the most moving tributes ever in sports, the Angels left their chapagne-soaked clubhouse and jogged as a team out to centerfield to the image of Nick Adenhart, paying tribute to their teammate senselessly killed in April...We pray for Ernie Harwell.