Things could get interesting up in Oklahoma about this.  Since it's Big 12 I thought some of you all might be interested.

EXCLUSIVE: Barry Bonds' Home Run Record Tainted by Mechanical Device

By Michael Witte

Published: August 06, 2007 10:45 AM

NEW YORK (Commentary) Beyond his alleged steroid use, Barry Bonds is guilty of the use of something that confers extraordinarily unfair mechanical advantage: the "armor" that he wears on his right elbow. Amid the press frenzy over Bonds' unnatural bulk, the true role of the object on his right arm has simply gone unnoticed.

This is unfortunate, because by my estimate, Bonds' front arm "armor" may have contributed no fewer than 75 to 100 home runs to his already steroid-questionable total.

Bonds tied Henry Aaron's home run record of 755 on Saturday night and will go for the new standard this week back at home in San Francisco. As a student of baseball - and currently a mechanics consultant to a major league baseball team -- I believe I have insight into the Bonds "achievement." I have studied his swing countless times on video and examined the mechanical gear closely through photographs.

For years, sportswriters remarked that his massive "protective" gear - unequaled in all of baseball -- permits Bonds to lean over the plate without fear of being hit by a pitch. Thus situated, Bonds can handle the outside pitch (where most pitchers live) unusually well. This is unfair advantage enough, but no longer controversial. However, it is only one of at least seven (largely unexplored) advantages conferred by the apparatus.

The other six:

1. The apparatus is hinged at the elbow. It is a literal "hitting machine" that allows Bonds to release his front arm on the same plane during every swing. It largely accounts for the seemingly magical consistency of every Bonds stroke.
2. The apparatus locks at the elbow when the lead arm is fully elongated because of a small flap at the top of the bottom section that fits into a groove in the bottom of the top section. The locked arm forms a rigid front arm fulcrum that allows extraordinary, maximally efficient explosion of the levers of Bonds' wrists. Bonds hands are quicker than those of average hitters because of his mechanical "assistant."
3. When Bonds swings, the weight of the apparatus helps to seal his inner upper arm to his torso at impact. Thus "connected," he automatically hits the ball with the weight of his entire body - not just his arms - as average hitters ("extending") tend to do.
4. Bonds has performed less well in Home Run Derbies than one might expect because he has no excuse to wear a "protector" facing a batting practice pitcher. As he tires, his front arm elbow tends to lift and he swings under the ball, producing towering pop flies or topspin liners that stay in the park. When the apparatus is worn, its weight keeps his elbow down and he drives the ball with backspin.
5. Bonds enjoys quicker access to the inside pitch than average hitters because his "assistant" - counter-intuitively - allows him to turn more rapidly. Everyone understands that skaters accelerate their spins by pulling their arms into their torsos, closer to their axes of rotation. When Bonds is confronted with an inside pitch, he spins like a skater because his upper front arm is "assistant"-sealed tightly against the side of his chest.
6. At impact, Bonds has additional mass (the weight of his "assistant") not available to the average hitter. The combined weight of "assistant" and bat is probably equal to the weight of the lumber wielded by Babe Ruth but with more manageable weight distribution.

Bonds has worn some sort of front arm protection since 1992. In '94, a one-piece forearm guard was replaced by a jointed, two piece elbow model. In `95 it got bigger and a small "cap" on the elbow was replaced by a "flap" that overlapped the upper piece and locked the two pieces together when the arm was elongated. In '96, the "apparatus" grew even larger and so did the "flap."

It seems to have remained relatively the same until -- interestingly-- 2001, the year of his record 73 home runs, when an advanced model appeared made (apparently) of a new material. It had softer edges and a groove for the flap to slip into automatically at full arm elongation. More important, the upper half of the machine was sculpted to conform more comfortably to the contours of Bonds' upper arm. Since 2001, the apparatus seems to have remained relatively unchanged.

Several years back, baseball was rightfully scandalized by the revelation that Sammy Sosa had "corked" his bat. The advantages conferred by the Bonds "hitting machine," however, far exceed anything supplied by cork. Ultimately, it appears the Bonds "achievement" must be regarded as partly the product of "double duplicity" -- steroidal and mechanical.

Coroner: Ball hit Coolbaugh on neck, ruptured artery
Associated Press

Updated: July 25, 2007, 12:25 PM ET
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 TULSA, Okla. -- The foul ball that killed Tulsa Drillers hitting coach Mike Coolbaugh ruptured an artery in his neck and he died from a loss of blood to the brain, a coroner said.

Coolbaugh

Pulaski County (Ark.) Coroner Mark Malcolm told the Tulsa World Tuesday that the line drive hit Coolbaugh on the left side of the neck while he stood in the first-base coach's box during Sunday's minor league game in Arkansas.

"I think everyone assumed he was hit in the head," Malcolm said. "It's probably what it looked like, but he was actually hit on the back of his neck just behind the ear."

Coolbaugh was standing in the first-base coach's box about 90 feet from home plate when Driller Tino Sanchez hit the foul line drive.

Medical personnel administered CPR on the field before Coolbaugh was taken by ambulance to Baptist Medical Center in North Little Rock, where he was pronounced dead at 9:47 p.m.

Malcolm said there was nothing medical personnel could have done to save Coolbaugh.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

absolutely crushed it.  It was weird being at the Redhawks game tonight because I sat behind none other than CHoP.  He seemed like a nice guy when he was talking to people, but man did he set this organization back.

Other thoughts:

1.  Freddy Guzman sure seems to dog it running down the line if it's not a clear hit
   
2.  Mark Redman is done.  Dude's best days are behind him
   
3.  Drew Meyer also done.  He's hitting in the low .200s and just looks bad at the plate.
   
4.  Chris Stewart looks to be a real good defender.  Not impressed with his bat
   
5.  Nate Gold din't do anything before I left (8th)

I'll say this, other than Jason Lane for Round Rock I was very un-impressed with those dudes.  

Did anyone get the pleasure of hearing JM on the Dan Patrick show at lunch today?  He said CC Sebathia should start the AS game because of his record AND because he is black and the black community needs it because of the declining numbers.  He tried to backtrack when pushed about it, but I just thought that was innappropriate.  

Do you all ever listen to the radio and get so pissed when the show hosts start bashing the Rangers and their points are uneducated and misinformed?  Case in point here in OKC about 5 minutes ago.  THey were blasting the Rangers about the Brewers trade last year.  The host brought up Coco and his saves this year.  What he failed to mention is Coco has a mental issue with RBIA.  They don't look at the whole picture.  I would call in and defend the Rangers more if I wasn't at work.  MAn that crap pisses me off.

Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg is expected to announce his resignation today to accept a position with the newly forming Big Ten Network.

Kevin Weiberg
Courtesy/Big 12 Conference
Commissioner Kevin Weiberg is expected to step down from his position with the Big 12 to take a job with the newly forming Big Ten Network.

Weiberg is the second commissioner in Big 12 history, having replaced Steve Hatchell in October 1998. During his time as the conference's leader, Weiberg, an Anthony native and Kansas State graduate, also has served as coordinator of the Bowl Championship Series, a member of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee and chairman of the Division I-A Collegiate Commissioners' Association.

Under his leadership, the amount of income distributed by the Big 12 to its member schools soared from $64 million in 1999 to $106 million this year.

The move is a change of professional direction for Weiberg, 50, taking him away from day-to-day involvement with conference operations and into the fast-changing landscape of sports television. The Big Ten last year became the first college league to form its own TV network, which ostensibly will offer increased exposure to all 11 of its member schools.

In leaving the Big 12, Weiberg also returns to the conference where he worked for nearly a decade before joining the Big 12. He began as associate commissioner and chief operations officer and subsequently was promoted to deputy commissioner.

Weiberg this spring was instrumental in negotiating a new contract between the Big 12 and ABC/ESPN that is believed to pay the conference more than $450 million over eight years beginning with the 2008-09 academic year.

But Big 12 leaders stopped short of forming their own dedicated network, in part because the revenue-sharing framework written into conference bylaws places a premium on more attractive games played by higher-profile programs.

The Big Ten distributes all revenue equally.

"I think in television, to me, moving toward a more equal revenue-sharing structure sets a much better tone for a conference, because it kinda gets you out of the mindset of thinking about what a television appearance does for me personally and you begin thinking about how you grow the whole in a more significant way to benefit everyone," Weiberg told The Capital-Journal at last month's Big 12 spring meetings in Colorado Springs. "That's why I've always been a champion of it. I think someone, as we've spoken about this in our private meetings, as accused me of being infected by the Big Ten idea on this because I worked there for a while, and I guess I'll confess to that. I think, in some regards, that model is a better model."

Weiberg began his career in 1979 as sports information director at Wayne State in Nebraska. He moved to Wichita State University in 1980, serving in various administrative posts until 1987, when he became associate athletic director at Maryland.

Weiberg, who is under contract with the Big 12 through 2010, is expected to announce his resignation at a news conference today.

Can anyone tell me where he is ranked?  I would love the Rangers to draft him in the later rounds if he is available.  His power numbers aren't great for a corner outfielder, but all he has done for 4 years at OSU is hit.  His average has always been great.  He just had a 35 game hit streak snapped last weekend.  He is fast.  He plays a good LF.  I don't know.  I just think winner when I see this kid play.

Can anyone tell me where he is ranked?  I would love the Rangers to draft him in the later rounds if he is available.  His power numbers aren't great for a corner outfielder, but all he has done for 4 years at OSU is hit.  His average has always been great.  He just had a 35 game hit streak snapped last weekend.  He is fast.  He plays a good LF.  I don't know.  I just think winner when I see this kid play.

Was on sports radio in OKC and said the Rangers want a college position player in the 1st round.  I don't subscribe to BA so sorry if this is old news.  He specifically mentioned LaPorta and Borbon.  He also backed up the Rangers when the radio host bashed us for our pitching.  The host tried to say we need to draft all pitchers then Callis said we won't have position prospects then.  Callis then went on the say that Hurley and Diamond look like good prospects and that we have drafted better lately.  Of course, the host is a huge Red Sox fan so they can do no wrong. He sounded disappointed when Callis didn't have the Red Sox in the top 3 in talent evaluation.