A scout for the Baltimore Orioles was fired at the end of June after his name turned up in a probe into illegal gambling. Major League Baseball’s investigative unit working with a federal investigation uncovered the link.

The MLB investigative unit was formed at the suggestion of former Senator George Mitchell following his report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. Apparently the unit is trying to clean up all aspects of baseball. Read more…

Los Angeles will play host tonight to the latest attempt by Major League Baseball to draw attention to itself through “stunt casting”. Much like Sammy Davis, Jr., on “All in the Family”, Joe Namath on “The Brady Bunch”, or Britney Spears anywhere on television, it’s an attempt to goose the viewing numbers through one-time events.

Bud Selig and Co. have become quite the pros at the technique. In previous years, MLB has dabbled in Mexico City and San Juan recently. This year alone, baseball has been to Beijing, Taipei, and Tokyo.

However, Bud likes to make splashes at home, too. Therefore, Memphis has a Second Annual Civil Rights Game exhibition between the Mets and White Sox today, followed by a celebration of the Dodgers’ escape from New York 50 years ago by invading their temporary home that first season in L.A.: the L.A. Coliseum.

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