Parity hell to pay for Selig

October 27, 2005
Major League Baseball is caught in a turbulent transition. It is appropriately symbolic that this wind of change, which will have a heavy impact on MLB's TV negotiations with Fox, was blown in by a team from Chicago, the White Sox.
Unfortunately for MLB, this gust could wind up blowing millions of TV dollars out of the pockets of the owners (including some who actually use the money to pay players).
This may be the cost of MLB proving its point. Like last year, when the Red Sox's championship thirst was finally quenched, this White Sox franchise - after 88 years - satisfied its hunger and had Bud (Nutty Professor) Selig chowing down with a huge smile on his face, too.
When the White Sox and Astros made it into the Fall Classic, Selig's parity prayers were answered. The notion an owner can buy a pennant or world championship, which many baseball denizens call "the Yankee way," again was disproven.
The White Sox's win was neither a fluke nor coincidence. It was born of scouting, risk-taking, a professional front office and some old-fashioned intuition. Jerry Reinsdorf's checkbook was not the brains of the operation.
Selig also can stand up and cheer because personalities with potential marquee value - like Paul Konerko, Bobby Jenks and Ozzie Guillen - received national exposure. In terms of marketing - which includes the lucrative apparel market - this is a tremendous positive for baseball.
Still, there is a major negative here. Selig's crusade to level the playing field has severely diminished postseason TV ratings potential. White Sox-Astros ranks as the lowest-rated World Series in the history of televised baseball. Chicago's sweep averaged a 11.1 rating, which lifts this dubious achievement from the previously lowest-rated Series, 2002 Giants-Angels (seven games, 11.9 rating).
Adding insult to this ratings disaster is the sweep factor.
With two consecutive four-and-out Series, Fox has been hammered financially. About 80% of Fox's yearly payment to baseball (MLB and Fox have one year left on their six-year contract worth $2.5 billion) is based on the postseason. So, over the last two years, Fox has not covered its rights-fee nut, let alone made any money on its playoff and Series telecasts.
That's the rub for Selig. That's where this transition comes in. If MLB is entering a legitimate era of parity, can these darkhorse Series entries bring excitement, and a gift of robust TV ratings, to the party?
It was impossible to manufacture postseason ratings for the White Sox, who many left for dead during their late-season slump. Two of their three ALDS games against Boston aired in the afternoon. That's all the evidence needed to figure out the White Sox were not embraced as a postseason TV property.
With the Yankees, it is easier to control the ratings environment. Since the late 1990s, Fox successfully manipulated, milked and capitalized on the Yankees' presence. Even though the Bombers participated in two of the four lowest-rated World Series, their constant presence made ratings easier to project.
For years, John Madden, a football man who analyzes the ultimate parity league, has stated that the best element a sport can have is a dynasty for every team to chase. A dynasty is either loved or hated. There is no middle ground, no vanilla flavor. That sells. So does the story of an underdog trying to dethrone the bully. That scenario attracts the fringe fan who juices the ratings.
Now, baseball looks for next season's darkhorse. That's what the Foxies will be thinking about when they sit down with Selig's TV people to negotiate the next contract.
Recently, Fox Sports president Edward (Espresso Eddie) Goren told the Chicago Tribune the record-low Series ratings did not bother him. "What bothers me is the press writing a simplistic, knee-jerk, easy story," Goren said. "A more intelligent person would look at the entire landscape of television. ... We're still going to win the week (among the networks), and that's something."
What's Mr. Goren going to do when Selig, or one of his lieutenants, throws that line in the Foxies' face while asking for a 10% (or more) raise on MLB's next TV contract?
Please. Selig got what he wanted - parity.
Competitive balance comes with a price.
Now, Selig should prepare to pay it.

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/

San Francisco re-signs Fassero to one-year, $750,000 contract

October 29, 2005
SAN FRANCISCO — Left-hander Jeff Fassero re-signed with the San Francisco Giants on Friday, agreeing to a $750,000, one-year contract.
Fassero, who will turn 44 in January, went 4-7 with a 4.05 ERA last season, his second with San Francisco. He made six starts and appeared as a long reliever, yielding just a .194 batting average to left-handed hitters.
Fassero has played in 15 major league seasons with Montreal, Seattle, Texas, Boston, the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis, Colorado, Arizona and San Francisco. He is seventh among active left-handers with 710 career appearances.
He can earn an additional $100,000 in performance bonuses. He made $620,000 this year, including $120,000 in bonuses.
SHORT HOPS — Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon, a key member of Boston's 2004 World Series championship team, filed for free agency. ... Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt joined the growing list of candidates for the Devil Rays' vacant manager's job. ... Right-hander Kevin Millwood, who led the AL in ERA, became the fourth Indians pitcher to file for free agency. ... Reliever Jose Mesa filed for free agency after Pittsburgh elected to pay a $500,000 buyout rather than exercise a $4 million option. ... Cincinnati declined a $4.55 million option on right-hander Ramon Ortiz and turned down its $2 million mutual option with infielder Rich Aurilia. ... Pat Gillick and Gerry Hunsicker were interviewed for Philadelphia's vacant general manager position. ... Local investors in Indianapolis-based businessman Jeff Smulyan's bid to buy the Nationals would be able to veto any plans to move the club from Washington. ... Boston assistant GM Josh Byrnes was hired as Arizona's general manager. Byrnes, 35, replaces Joe Garagiola Jr., who resigned to become senior vice president of baseball operations in the commissioner's office.

Source: http://www.modbee.com/

Smulyan says local investors could veto any Nationals move

October 29, 2005
Local investors in Indianapolis-based businessman Jeff Smulyan's bid to buy the Washington Nationals would be able to veto any plans to move to another city.
Smulyan, CEO of Emmis Communications Corp., and the former owner of the Seattle Mariners, announced that element of his bid Friday, part of an effort to quell any concern among city politicians about having someone who isn't from Washington purchase the Nationals.
"I have said on numerous occasions that we will not move the team. We want to be in Washington -- that is the whole reason for our bid in the first place," Smulyan said in a statement.
Baseball hopes to select a buyer among eight groups before the Nov. 16-17 owners' meeting. The sale price reportedly is around $450 million.
Smulyan, who says he would buy a home in the Washington area and commute from Indianapolis, has added people with local ties to his group, including former Redskins players Art Monk, Charles Mann and Calvin Hill, and former FCC chairman Richard Wiley.
BASEBALL
Reds decline 2 options
The Cincinnati Reds declined a $4.55 million option on right-hander Ramon Ortiz and turned down their $2 million mutual option with infielder Rich Aurilia.
Ortiz gets a $175,000 buyout and is eligible for salary arbitration.
Aurilia gets a $150,000 buyout and is eligible for free agency.
The Reds also hired Jim Pransky, who was in the Oakland organization, as a professional scout.
54 free agents file
Baltimore's Rafael Palmeiro became a free agent following a tumultuous season in which he became the highest-profile player suspended for steroids.
Texas pitcher Kenny Rogers, not wanted back by the Rangers after throwing a tantrum and shoving two cameramen, also filed.
Also among the 54 players filing were Boston center fielder Johnny Damon, New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams, New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza, Cleveland pitcher Kevin Millwood, Chicago Cubs shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman and Pittsburgh reliever Jose Mesa.
• Red Sox assistant general manager Josh Byrnes was hired as GM of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Also, the Red Sox were unable to reach an agreement with GM Theo Epstein. . . . Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt joined the growing list of candidates for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' vacant manager's job, emerging from an interview optimistic about his prospects. . . . Infielder Ramon Vazquez and Cleveland agreed to a $700,000, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration.
FIGURE SKATING
Czisny leads way
American Alissa Czisny, 18, won the women's short program at Skate Canada in St. John's, Newfoundland.
Czisny scored 58.54 points. Japan's Fumie Suguri, a former world bronze medalist, was second (52.12).
HORSE RACING
50 thoroughbreds moved
Fifty thoroughbreds were moved to Gulfstream Park after Calder Race Course in Hallandale Beach, Fla., was damaged by Hurricane Wilma.
Calder's main facility and track rail were extensively damaged. Many barns lost their roofs in the storm's 100-mph winds.
• Bluegrass Cat rallied for a 11/4-length victory over Political Force in the 30th running of the Grade III, $126,000 Nashua Stakes for 2-year-olds at Belmont Park. Ridden by John Velazquez, Bluegrass Cat covered one mile in 1:36.02.
SPEEDSKATING
Canadian tops world mark
Canada's Cindy Klassen broke her own world record at 1,500 meters at the World Cup team trials in Calgary, Alberta.
She was timed in 1:53.77 seconds, beating her previous mark of 1:53.87 set on Jan. 9 at a World Cup competition in Salt Lake City.
TENNIS
Roddick advances at Lyon
Top-seeded Andy Roddick advanced to the semifinals of the ATP Lyon (France) Grand Prix.
Roddick beat Croatia's Mario Ancic 6-4, 6-4 and will face Fabrice Santoro, who ousted Vincent Spadea 6-2, 6-2.
Star news services

Source: http://www.indystar.com/

Yanks target CF, pen

The Yankees' organizational meetings are expected to begin Monday in New York, with the focus on finding a centerfielder and upgrading the bullpen.Although general manager Brian Cashman has promised to redefine many team officials' roles in an effort to keep himself at the top of the team's chain of command, the usual cast from Tampa and New York is expected at the meetings.
Manager Joe Torre will attend, but it's not clear whether George Steinbrenner will fly up from Tampa. Publicist Howard Rubenstein said Friday he was unaware of The Boss' travel plans, but he has always attended these meetings.An internal debate among team officials already is taking place about whether it would be prudent for them to commit big money to Red Sox free-agent centerfielder Johnny Damon or give up young talent to acquire the Twins' Torii Hunter, who likely would want an extension and perhaps a raise from his $10.75-million salary.The Yankees like the thought of Orioles free-agent closer B.J. Ryan, 29, setting up for Mariano Rivera and are expected to push for him. He has said he is open to setting up, but many teams, including the Mets, will be interested in having him close, which means a higher price tag.The only starting pitcher the Yankees were expected to go after probably won't be on the market after all. According to a report in the Japan Times, the Seibu Lions say they will not give up Daisuke Matsuzaka, 25, a hard-throwing righthander.Piazza, Bernie file. Mike Piazza, coming off a seven-year, $91-million contract with the Mets, filed for free agency. He likely will look for work with an American League team so he can split time at catcher and DH. Bernie Williams, Tom Gordon, Ruben Sierra and John Flaherty are among nine Yankees who have filed; Marlon Anderson and Miguel Cairo are among six Mets who have done so.

Source: http://www.newsday.com/

MEMORIES OF BOB BROEG

10/29/2005
Among the many who revered Bob Broeg were his colleagues and those who played on the teams he followed. Following are some of their memories. The nicknames Broeg gave them are in parentheses.Jim (Jamesy) Creighton, Palmdale, Calif., retired Post-Dispatch editor: "For the last 20 years or more, it has been the fashion for columnists to be controversial or hyper-critical, but that was never B.B.'s style. As you know, his columns could be Byzantine, but he was great at pounding out a running account of a game."Kevin Horrigan, former sports editor and columnist, now a Post-Dispatch editorial-page writer: "It was a great experience for me, hearing him talk about the Hall of Famers and then getting to the Otesaga Hotel (Cooperstown, N.Y.) and sitting down for lunch with B.B. and having all these legends stop by the table to talk. Ted and Bobby Doerr actually had lunch with us, so I still brag about the time I had lunch with Ted Williams."Longtime Post-Dispatch baseball writer Rick (Ricky Ricardo) Hummel: "B.B. popping off the team bus in Boston before Game 7 of the 1967 series against the Red Sox to buy a starving Bob Gibson two egg sandwiches. Gibson says he ate one before the game and one after, but the suspicion is he ate both of them afterward." Gibson won, and the Cardinals took the Series.
Bob (Killer Mac) McCoy, vintage copy editor, who always smiles when he talks about editing the syntax in Mr. Broeg's columns: "It's like fishing. You thought you had it and were reeling him into the net, and he'd break out somewhere else."Creve Coeur lawyer Jerome Wallach, a 1960s star lineman for the Missouri Tigers. In 1960, '61, '62, they won 32 games and lost only three, the greatest period in MU history: "I always think of him in the context of Mizzou football. He always had his bow tie perfectly tied and started talking about something that happened in the Oklahoma State game, things I didn't remember, but he had it down pat."Richard (Dickie Bird) Kaegel, a sportswriter for the Kansas City Star, formerly with the Post-Dispatch: "The season the (Mizzou) Tigers went to the Fiesta Bowl and played Arizona State in Tempe, I was all geared up to do the 'running' on the game (the major play-by-play account) when, just about kickoff, I heard this voice: 'Uh, Dickie Bird, maybe I better do the running.' So he did. I guess with his beloved Tigers in a bowl game, B.B. couldn't stand the thought of having someone else's byline on the story."Joe Pollack, retired Post-Dispatch columnist and critic and a former Globe-Democrat sportswriter: "Broeg won the pool among sportswriters on the final score of a Mizzou-Oklahoma game. Riding in a police car, we were speeding, running red lights, so we could meet the team charter plane. Broeg turned to Bill Callahan, the Mizzou sports information director, and asked for his winnings. He asked more than once, as the police car sped around corners on two wheels. Callahan replied, somewhat peeved, 'Can't you wait a little while? Don't you trust me?' Broeg replied, 'Oh, I trust you, but I'd rather the money were found on my body than yours.'"Dave (Doorman) Dorr, former Post-Dispatch sportswriter and Hall of Fame basketball writer: "Beyond his measureable achievements as a sports journalist, I think his legacy - and what I will always remember him for - was his compassion and thousands of kind gestures on his part for others, many of which were unknown to anyone but Bob and the person he befriended."Marty Hendin, Cardinals vice president of community relations: "I have always considered him to be the Cardinals historian. And every time I saw him, one of the first things he'd say was, 'When are you going to retire Frankie Frisch's No. 3?' - his boyhood hero, the Fordham Flash."Gary (Movie-Star Handsome) Clark, Post-Dispatch copy editor in sports and now business: "We used to count the names he dropped in his column. The record is in the 60s or 70s, and the number was in dispute because we couldn't decide whether to count 'the man who shot Liberty Valance' as one or two."Terry Edelmann, a daughter of the late Globe-Democrat sports editor and columnist Bob Burnes. Edelmann is community relations director for the Catholic Education Office: "The Broegs and my parents held court in Ruggeri's restaurant on Wednesday nights. All sorts of sports celebrities would come in there; it was very exciting. With Garagiola and the Berra brothers working there, it was a sports hot spot."

Source: http://www.stltoday.com/

Third & Short

October 29, 2005
BOSTON - The Boston Red Sox were unable to reach an agreement with general manager Theo Epstein on Friday and negotiations on a new contract are expected to go on until Monday, when his current deal expires.
"Talks continue," owner John Henry said in an e-mail.
The Red Sox do not like to announce deals on weekends, especially with the New England Patriots playing Sunday night and linebacker Tedy Bruschi expected to make an emotional return from a stroke.
BOSTON - Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon, a key member of Boston's 2004 World Series championship team, filed for free agency on Friday along with second baseman Tony Graffanino.
Damon hit .316 this year with 10 home runs and 75 RBIs. The team's best relievers, Mike Timlin and Mike Myers, also are eligible to file, as are first baseman John Olerud, and reliever Matt Mantei.
CINCINNATI - The Cincinnati Reds declined a $4.55 million option on right-hander Ramon Ortiz on Friday and turned down their $2 million mutual option with infielder Rich Aurilia.
Ortiz gets a $175,000 buyout and is eligible for salary arbitration. He was 9-11 with a 5.36 ERA in 30 starts last season.
Aurilia, who gets a $150,000 buyout, batted .282 with 14 homers and 68 RBIs. He becomes eligible for free agency.
PITTSBURGH - Reliever Jose Mesa filed for free agency Friday after the Pittsburgh Pirates elected to pay a $500,000 buyout rather than exercise a $4 million option.
The 39-year-old Mesa had 70 saves in two seasons with Pittsburgh but lost his closer's job late last season after blowing his final three save opportunities.
The right-hander went 2-8 with a 4.76 ERA, converting 27 of 34 save opportunities before pitching only twice during the Pirates' final 16 games. He was much better a season ago, converting 43 of 48 save chances while going 5-2 with a 3.25 ERA. Mesa has 319 career saves.

Source: http://www.theeagle.com/

Schilling makes pitch to combat atrophy

MEDFIELD, Mass. -- Just call it some neighborly help.
Red Sox ace Curt Schilling spent several hours on Saturday signing autographs and thrilling countless fans with a smile, all to benefit the family of 5-year-old William Johnson and those who share his debilitating condition.
Officials with Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (FSMA) estimated that nearly 2,000 people passed through an old warehouse and waited up to an hour to have personal articles and memorabilia signed by the 2004 postseason hero.
The Sox hurler and his wife, Shonda, put together the "Extreme Yard Sale" in their hometown of Medfield to raise money for FSMA and simultaneously help Heidi and Tripp Johnson clear out some 20,000 pounds of lifelong possessions in the wake of having their home renovated by the crew of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."
"The Johnson family is a Medfield family and they're friends with our family, and their son Will has SMA and goes to school with my son, Grant," said the pitcher. "They're friends and we've known them since we came to Boston, and this is just something we threw together this week."
Schilling is no longer amazed by the support and turnout at such events as Saturday's fundraiser, which is expected to generate up to $40,000 for FSMA.
"I don't wonder," he said. "I've stopped being surprised at the way fans are here."
Will's mother Heidi was busy on Saturday running around the warehouse, trying to make sure as many people as possible left satisfied.
"The Schilling family is the most giving family we've ever known," she said. "They turned my dusty old yard sale into probably one of the biggest SMA events we've ever had in the area. And now we're going to make the difference for Spinal Muscular Atrophy because of the Schillings."
Will Johnson and others with SMA did their share by selling $2 bracelets. Fans paid $25 per autographed item.
"He's 5 1/2, so it's kind of hard for him to even express it, but, man, his smile tells it all," Will's mother said. "He knows these people came here for him and all the people that suffer like him. He knows how big it was to have Curt to come to his yard sale."
Of course, there were other issues on the minds of the hundreds of Sox fans who turned out at the fundraiser -- like will Manny Ramirez and Theo Epstein return in 2006?
"It's just Manny being Manny," Schilling said of Ramirez's reported threat in Saturday's Boston Globe to not report to Spring Training unless he's traded. "It's another month and another month where everything happens. It's no big deal. It's happened every month I've been here."
As for the Epstein, Schilling is still hopeful for a quick and satisfying resolution to his contract negotiations.
"I'm hoping everything gets done and resolved in the next 24 to 48 hours," he said. "He's an asset to the club."
Schilling's day, which included his child's soccer match before the yard sale, concludes with another charity event. The Schillings will host a private reception at the State Room in Boston to thank "Curt's Pitch for ALS" members who donated to the ALS Association's New England chapters in 2005.

Source: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/

Wagner Is a Must-Have Free Agent; Just Ask His Successor

October 30, 2005
IF it takes one to know one, Brad Lidge knows Billy Wagner.
Lidge is the closer who uncharacteristically had a few missteps in the Houston Astros' postseason journey. Before Lidge, though, there was Wagner, and Lidge credits Wagner with teaching him everything he knows about closing.
"He taught me a ton of stuff," Lidge said. "The most important thing I learned was getting in a comfortable routine and doing the same thing day in and day out as a closer."
Wagner is a prime topic of conversation because he is a free agent and will be hotly pursued as teams, including the Mets, seek to shore up their bullpens. A platoon of closers and potential closers will be available as free agents, but Wagner will clearly be the most desired of the bunch.
"We'll continue to communicate with the Phillies to see how that plays out, and we're fielding calls as they come in," Bean Stringfellow, Wagner's agent, said. "He's never been a free agent, and he's intrigued by it."
Wagner, a 34-year-old left-hander, had 38 saves in 41 opportunities for Philadelphia this year. In the past five years, with the Phillies and the Astros, he has had 177 saves in 195 opportunities, a 91 percent success rate. In the same period, Mariano Rivera of the Yankees has been successful 90 percent of the time, 214 saves in 239 chances.
"Everybody could use Billy Wagner," Lidge said. "There's not one team that could not use a guy like Billy Wagner. He's the best there is in baseball. He dominates guys. He played in a hitter-friendly park and had an unbelievable year. I don't know who's going to be lucky enough to get him, but everybody needs him."
Depending on the teams that pursue Wagner, he could wind up with a new salary of about $10 million a year for three years. The Yankees pay Rivera $10.5 million a year. What makes Wagner so good?
"First of all, he throws a hundred" miles an hour, Lidge said. "Secondly, he's learned to spot his fastball. He's got a good slider, too, but in the last couple years, he's learned to paint the corners with his 100-mile-an-hour fastball. If you're doing that, guys don't have a chance. I know it's hard to control your fastball sometimes, but he's found a way to have consistent mechanics to be able to paint the corners with his fastball. That's why he's dominating so much right now."
Lidge, 28, and Wagner were Houston teammates briefly in 2002 and then for all of 2003, before the Astros traded Wagner to the Phillies for three young pitchers. They traded him because they felt Lidge, younger and cheaper, would be ready to be the closer.
"When I got to the big leagues, I had been a starter my entire career," Lidge said. "I had never pitched out of the bullpen. I feel really fortunate and blessed that I had him to learn from. He taught me everything I know to do for a routine, how he physically and mentally prepared for a game, the way he warmed up. I didn't have any idea what to do."
Wagner especially taught Lidge the importance of the mental part of closing. Good closers are able to shrug off poor games and come back the next day and do their jobs without letting failures affect them.
That attitude helped Lidge in the postseason after he gave up game-losing home runs to Albert Pujols of St. Louis in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series and to Scott Podsednik of the Chicago White Sox in Game 2 of the World Series.
"He gave me a call after those outings didn't go well," Lidge said. "He talks to me on occasion when things aren't going great. He says 'don't change anything; you know you're the best.' He is the best. I really have so much respect for him. He's one guy who never changes. He goes in every time and gives it everything he has."
Among other available pitchers who are or have been closers are Trevor Hoffman, B. J. Ryan, Bob Wickman, Todd Jones, Octavio Dotel, Kyle Farnsworth, Tom Gordon, Roberto Hernandez, Mike Timlin, Tim Worrell, Ugueth Urbina, Matt Mantei and LaTroy Hawkins.
Players eligible for free agency can file through Nov. 10 and begin signing with new teams after that date.
A Close Sweep
The White Sox swept the Astros in the World Series but only by an aggregate of six runs. That matched the smallest run differential in the previous 18 four-game sweeps. In 1950, the Yankees defeated the Phillies by 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 and 5-2. The White Sox defeated the Astros by 5-3, 7-6, 7-5 and 1-0.
With the Red Sox defeating the Cardinals in four games last year, it was the fifth time World Series sweeps occurred two years in a row. The Yankees were responsible for three of the previous four successive sweeps (1927-28, 1938-39, 1998-99). Oakland, in 1989, and Cincinnati, in 1990, were the other successive sweepers. There has never been a string of three sweeps in a row.
The Man Behind Guillen
Ozzie Guillen was a 25-year-old Chicago White Sox shortstop when he met Jeff Torborg. It was a fateful meeting, leading to a World Series championship 16 years later.
"He was known as a character who clowned around," Torborg said. "But I could tell then that he had a future in baseball after he was finished playing."

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/

Manny reportedly asks for trade

October 29, 2005
Boston Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez has asked to be traded or he will not report to spring training, this according to the Boston Globe.
The Globe, citing an team source, said that Ramirez's agent Gene Mato told Red Sox owner John W. Henry that Ramirez wanted out. Boston general manager Theo Epstein did not confirm or deny the request to the paper, but did say that the two sides have an open line of communication and will continue to talk throughout the off-season.
The slugger is a 10-5 player, meaning he has at least 10 years of experience and five straight with one club, and as a result he can block any trade he doesn't like.
Ramirez has requested a trade a number of times since joining the Red Sox. He almost got his wish during this past season, when he was nearly shipped to the New York Mets. That incident led to Ramirez taking several days off before returning to the field.
Ramirez, who has three years and $57 million remaining on his current eight- year, $160 million contract, hit .292 with 45 homers and 144 RBI this season. It marked his eighth straight season with more than 100 RBI and sixth time he had over 120 RBI in a season.

Source: http://www.fresnobee.com/