Diskussionen » whether there is just cause for the suspen

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Mike Trout keeps padding his stats with 1 1/2 weeks to go until the All-Star break. He homered leading off the ninth inning after the Los Angeles Angels twice rallied to tie the game, giving them a 7-6 victory over the Houston Astros on Friday night. Trout sent an 0-2 pitch from Tony Sipp over the wall in left centre field and charged into a celebratory mob at home plate. Teammate Erick Aybar doused Trout with a blue sports drink, staining his white uniform, and fans chanted "MVP! MVP!" "The adrenaline rush you get when it goes out, its something special. Its always good to come up big," Trout said. "What a comeback. We were up three, they came back and scored five, and we just kept fighting." It was Trouts second career walkoff hit, both of them homers. The American League player of the month for June hit his team-leading 20th homer, and has eight homers in his last 18 games. Trout became the eighth Angels player with 20 or more homers and at least 60 RBIs before the All-Star break, and the first since Vladimir Guerrero in 2004. "Its one of those things where you see the pitch and see the swing, and you say to yourself, Theres not many players in our game that can do what he did with that pitch," Astros manager Bo Porter said. Trout figures to start in centre field in the All-Star game on July 15 in Minneapolis. Joe Smith (3-0) got the victory for the Angels, who have won eight in a row at home for the first time since Sept. 16-24, 2005, and have the majors best record at home. Los Angeles has won 11 of 14 overall. Sipp (1-1) took the loss for the Astros, who dropped their fifth in a row. "I went at him with my best stuff," Sipp said about Trout. "But even when you make a good pitch sometimes, a guy of that calibre will put a good swing on it." Houstons Jose Altuve, who came in leading the AL in hits, stolen bases and batting average, went 0 for 5 with a strikeout. The Angels blew a 3-1 lead in the third and then trailed 6-5 on Albert Pujols 510th career homer -- a two-run shot -- in the fourth. They tied it 6-all in the seventh on Howie Kendricks RBI double off the right field wall that scored Pujols, who singled leading off. Pujols was 3 for 4, and Kendrick went 4 for 4. "You never know whos going to step up," Trout said. "Howie came up with a big double, I put a good swing on it in the ninth and it went out. Im going to swing if its close." The Astros led 1-0 in the second on Chris Carters homer. They took a 6-3 lead in the fourth on George Springers two-run homer and a three-run shot by Jon Singleton. Angels starter C.J. Wilson continued to struggle. The left-hander has failed to pitch more than five innings in four of his last seven starts. He gave up six runs and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings, struck out six and walked one. Wilson was watching game video in another room afterward. Houston starter Dallas Keuchel allowed five runs and 13 hits in five innings, struck out one and walked one. The left-hander was scratched last Saturday against Detroit because of left wrist inflammation. He was making his first appearance since June 22, when he allowed five runs -- four earned -- in a 5-2 loss to Tampa Bay. "That was very disappointing on my part," Keuchel said. "The offence did more than enough to come out with a win, and I just didnt do my part. I havent been too good as of late, so I guess I have to go back to the drawing board and figure some stuff out." NOTES: Trout became the 13th major league player aged 22 or younger with 20 or more homers before the All-Star break. ... Houston activated RHP Josh Fields from the 15-day DL after he went on it because of soreness in his right forearm. ... The Astros traded RHP Andrew Robinson to Atlanta for a player to be named or cash considerations. ... The Angels improved to 28-29 on the Fourth of July, including 14-14 at home. ... Los Angeles won on a walkoff single by Aybar on July 4, 2013. ... The announced crowd of 43,557 was the Angels fourth sellout of the season. Kasperi Kapanen Jersey . - David Tomasek had two goals in regulation time and was the lone scorer in the shootout as the Belleville Bulls upset the Oshawa Generals 6-5 on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. Kris Versteeg Jersey . Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone dismissed Tuesdays massive anti-government protest in Manama as "a lot of kids having a go at the police." "I dont think its anything serious at all," Ecclestone was quoted as saying in The Guardian newspaper on Wednesday. http://www.officialmapleleafsfanstore.com/authentic-darryl-sittler-maple-leafs-jersey/ .J. - Several people have collapsed in an overcrowded New Jersey train station while waiting in long lines to get to the Super Bowl. Tim Horton Jersey . His head snapped back from the impact and hit the floor. The All-Star power forward was all right afterward, a relief for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Doug Gilmour Jersey . Hes the same player he always was, only now his efforts are being rewarded. The rookie manager has made a habit of heaping praise on others when things are going well, and accepting criticism when they arent. But in the case of Hurtado, its what the coach is NOT saying that may be the secret to a superb run of form.On Monday, Alex Rodriguez filed his lawsuit in U.S District Court against Major League Baseball, the Office of the Commissioner and his own union, the MLBPA. Ultimately, the big point of the lawsuit is to get a judge to set aside A-Rods 162-game suspension so he can play this upcoming season. As I wrote here, that wont happen. Judges are very reluctant to overturn the decisions of arbitrators unless the arbitrators make decisions that are nuts, crazy and out in left field. They are especially reluctant when the arbitrator is seasoned and well-respected, which is the case here with Fredric Horowitz. In his court document, A-Rod is arguing that the suspension was "wholly unjustified" and "baseless." Horowitz, however, relied on a lot of evidence to come to the conclusion that there was a reasonable basis for the suspension. Horowitz found that the evidence confirmed that A-Rod used three different types of PEDs over three years between 2010 and 2012: testosterone, IGF-1 and HGH. In fact, Horowitz wrote that the "only reasonable inference to be drawn from the weight of the evidence" is that A-Rod cheated. Horowitz also found that A-Rod tried to destroy evidence and bribe Tony Bosch, the founder of Biogenesis and the key witness in all of this. On this basis, Horowitz wrote that "deliberate efforts to obstruct an MLB investigation" or to "cover-up misconduct" can subject a player to further discipline. So in suspending A-Rod for 162 games plus playoffs, Horowitz ruled that there was "clear and convincing evidence" that A-Rod used or possessed PEDs over the course of three years and also, on at least two occasions, obstructed MLBs investigation. While the "length of the suspension may be unprecedented," concluded Horowitz, "so is the misconduct he committed." So A-Rods likelihood of success in getting his suspension overturned by the court is between zero to five per cent - and probably closer to zero per cent. I just dont see it happening. Now on to another part of the lawsuit: A-Rod is also suing the MLBPA. Basically, he is alleging that the union didnt have his back. Specifically, A-Rod says the union breached its legal duty to fairly represent his interest against MLB. How you ask? A-Rod cited a few examples: (1) The Drug Policy provides that most of the information surrounding a suspension is confidential and cannot be made publlic.dddddddddddd Despite that, A-Rod argues, information was continually leaked to the public. Rather than challenge these leaks, the union "sat on its hands". (2) MLB filed a "sham lawsuit" against Bosch. The lawsuit, he argues, had no merit and the real reason for it was to force Bosch to cooperate with MLB. It worked and Bosch spilled the PED beans. A-Rod says the union should have challenged the lawsuit. (3) MLB bought evidence and according to A-Rod engaged in heavy handed investigation techniques. Rather than take issue with that, the MLBPA did nothing. (4) The former head of the MLBPA made public statements strongly suggesting that A-Rod took PEDs. Mr. Weiner said this on Chris Russos radio show: "based on the evidence we saw, we made a recommendation" that he accept a suspension. A-Rod says that Mr. Weiner acted against his best interests, which is a breach of the duty of fair representation. By the way, the MLBPA took very serious issue with A-Rod attacking Mr. Weiner. He passed away in November from an inoperable brain tumor and was beloved and respected by everyone - including his adversary MLB. While A-Rod may be taking issue with his own union, ultimately this will not have an impact on whether his suspension gets reduced. Thats a separate issue focused on whether there is just cause for the suspension. Whatever duties his union did or did not discharge wont be relevant. As for what is next, I expect the judge in short order to rule he wont touch the suspension and as a result A-Rod will miss the entire 2014 season. After that, the Yankees will likely buy out the last two years of his deal and A-Rod will never play major league baseball again. Apart from being 39-years old when his suspension will be done, hes also toxic; no team will touch him. A-Rod has burned a lot of bridges: Yankees, MLB and the union. On top of that, hes admitted to doing PEDs between 2001 and 2003, and according to the Horowitz decision, he did PEDs from 2010 to 2012. The assumption may well be that A-Rod took PEDs for most of his career. Whether fair or not, for many he has lost the benefit of the doubt, and as a result the legitimacy of his numbers will be forever questioned. As we watch the final chapter in the A-Rod saga unfold, there is a growing sense that A-Rod may become a pariah unwelcome in any baseball circles. His relationship with baseball may be coming to a decisive end. ' ' '