By Tim Kolodziej
CNHI News Service

“If you don’t invest very much, then defeat doesn’t hurt very much and winning isn’t very exciting.” — Dick Vermeil

You have to swing the bat.
It’s why you play the game.
When you’re at the plate with two men on base, the pitcher staring you down and the umpire calling out, “3-and-2!”, all eyes are now on you.
You don’t have to hit a home run. You don’t have to crack a double off the fence.
But if the pitch is anywhere near your sweet spot, just swing the bat.

By Steve Woodhouse
CNHI News Service

At home, in one of my many baseball card albums, I have a 1985 Topps rookie card of Roger Clemens.

It has long been one of my favorite cards in my large collection. The recent press Clemens has received
has in no way diminished its value to me because I believe in the American ideal of being innocent until proven guilty.

Clemens being accused of lying to Congress has got to be the biggest case of the pot calling the kettle black SINCE the actual pot and kettle incident. Did I miss the story of Congress suddenly finding a conscience?

By John Shinn
CNHI ews Service

Barry Switzer became a legend at Oklahoma because of the success he had against its biggest rivals. In his 16 seasons, the Sooners went 12-5 against Nebraska and 10-5-1 against Texas.
“Those were the games you had to win,” the coach said.
But with Nebraska bolting for the Big Ten Conference next season, that long rivalry between the Sooners and Huskers will fade into history.
Unless the teams meet in this year’s Big 12 championship game Dec. 4 in Arlington, Texas, the only time they’ll meet in the next decade would be in a bowl game.

Josh Beckett looked like a solid investment through the first six innings as the Red Sox jumped ahead 4-0, but he allowed Seattle batters two homers in the seventh and questions about his pitching efficiency were raised again.
Associated Press

By Christopher Smith
CNHI News Service

BOSTON — Four years, $68 million. With every start the right-hander makes, the contract extension Josh Beckett signed in April looks like a worse and worse decision by the Red Sox.

Beckett is going to have to pitch better — plain and simple.

By Mike Burke
CNHI News Service

Cal Ripken Jr. turned 50 this week, which would have caused me to let out a gasp and a “Where did it go?” or a “How can this be?” had I not beaten Iron Man" to this milestone by 14 months.

As a Baltimore Orioles season ticket-holder at the time, I had the opportunity to see Cal come up to the bigs.

But he was never my absolute favorite Oriole player. That distinction belongs to Brooks Robinson, the one and only No. 5.

Eddie Murray also ranked ahead of Ripken on my roster of favorite Baltimore players.