Joe Torre, a popular motivational speaker through PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency, has resigned as MLB executive vice president to pursue the purchase of the LA Dodgers.

“I am so appreciative of the chance (commissioner Bud Selig) gave me to see the game from a different perspective by working for Major League Baseball, especially during such a great time for our sport,” Torre said. “I have made this decision because of a unique chance to join a group that plans to bid for the Dodgers. After leaving the field, this job was an incredible experience, one that I enjoyed very much. I want to thank the commissioner and all of my colleagues over the last year, particularly the members of the baseball operations group and the major league umpires.”

The group Torre is joining is backed by Los Angeles real estate developer Rick Caruso, president of Caruso Affiliated, known for building high-end outdoor shopping centers, including The Grove, a 20-acre retail, dining and entertainment site adjacent to the Farmers Market in Los Angeles.

“In Rick I found a partner who understands consumers and fully appreciates that the Dodgers are a treasured LA institution,” Torre said. “Since moving to Los Angeles, I have seen firsthand Rick’s dedication to business and the people of Los Angeles.”

Source: ESPN

A number of groups have expressed interest in buying the Dodgers. Former team stars Steve Garvey and Orel Hershiser headline one group, Lakers legend Magic Johnson leads another, while former Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley has put his name in the ring.

The team will be sold in a bankruptcy auction, similar to how the Rangers were sold last year. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban came in second in that bidding and has also said he would be interested in the Dodgers at the right price.

Initial bids for the team are due by Jan. 23 with the Blackstone Group, Frank McCourt’s investment banker. The price likely will break the record for a baseball franchise, topping the $845 million paid by the Ricketts family for the Chicago Cubs in 2009.

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Magic Johnson is a popular speaker says PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency.  He was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers where he won a championship and the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in his rookie season. He went on to win four more championships with the Lakers during the 1980s.

“I love baseball,” Johnson told the paper. “I’ve been a Dodgers fan and gone to the park many, many times.”

“Stan Kasten is my man,” Johnson said. “He’s a winner. He’s built two incredible organizations and he’s well-respected. That is what was important to me. I had to get with a winner, a guy who understands baseball inside and out. … Both guys are about building a winner and making a difference in the LA community.”

MSN FoxSports reports:

Earlier this week, former talk show host Larry King said he was interested in joining a potential ownership group with White Sox executive Dennis Gilbert.

“It would be a thrill of a lifetime to be a part owner, partial owner, of a team I grew up rooting for as a child in Brooklyn,” said the 78-year-old King.

Former Dodgers Steve Garvey and Orel Hershiser have also expressed interest in forming an investment group to bid on the team.

Other potential bidders include Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Pittsburgh Penguins co-owner Ron Burkle, according to the Times.

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Halman had been playing baseball and conducting clinics in the Netherlands over the off season.

Although reports are sketchy, police reportedly told the media that when they arrived at the home, they found Halman bleeding from a stab wound, but were unable to revive him.

Greg Halman was signed by the Seattle Mariners in 2004 when he was 17 years old, and spent several years in the team’s minor league before moving up to the major league in Sept. 2010. Halman played in nine games near the end of the season. He also played in 35 games for the M’s in 2011, hitting .230/.256/.345 with two homers and six RBI after being called up in early June.

“It’s just time to do something else and I know it,” he told the press conference announcing his retirement. “Maybe buy a minor league club” and “maybe open a book store”, he said.

Suite101.com reports:

La Russa did not just win. He revolutionized baseball. During his years in Oakland, he turned former starter Dennis Eckersley into a one-inning closer – a new concept in baseball. La Russa redefined the entire way to use a bullpen, coming up with situational relievers – something that is used with all 30 MLB teams today. La Russa also came up with the odd strategy of batting the pitcher eighth in the order – doing it 432 times in his managerial career.

La Russa told a press conference announcing his retirement that he had made his decision to step away from the game in August 2011 despite a mutual contract option for 2012 and told his club general manager, John Mozeliak, of his decision. He informed his coaching staff and players on October 30 after the club’s World Series parade and celebration.

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Fans were elated when Cardinals third baseman, David Freese, was named Most Valuable Player (MVP). Freese batted .348 with five extra-base hits in the Series and set an MLB record with 21 RBIs in the postseason.

“To win it is an incredible feeling,” Freese said. “I’m just full of joy.”

Manager Tony La Russa, who has has taken MLB teams to the postseason 14 times and is one of only two managers to win the World Series in both leagues said, “It’s truly a dream come true. It’s hard to imagine it actually happened.”

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“You had to be here to believe it,” St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said.

“Growing up or whatever, and you see stuff like that happen, those become memories,” Freese said.

“I understand it’s not over till you get that last out,” Texas manager Ron Washington said. “I was just sitting there praying we got that last out. We didn’t get it.”

If the past is any indication as to what will happen in game 7 on Friday night, the Cardinals may have the past on their side.

Home teams have won the last eight game 7s in the World Series, starting when the Cardinals defeated Milwaukee in 1982.

The Cardinals have also won the most game 7s in series history: 7-3.

The Ranger’s catcher was also part of a strange play that ended game five. Neftali Feliz got Lance Berkman swinging for the final out but the ball deflected off of Napoli’s knee. His underhand toss to first base secured a 4-2 win and placed the Rangers one game away from the 2011 World Series title.

Did a Bad Phone Call Do La Russa In?

ESPN reports:

As difficult as this idea might be to grasp, St. Louis bullpen coach Derek Lilliquist apparently strayed from La Russa’s instructions — twice — because the noise level at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington was so overwhelming that he couldn’t hear the Cardinals manager over the bullpen phone. The crowd of 51,459 was sufficiently deafening and disruptive to turn La Russa and Lilliquist into Abbott and Costello.

“Sometimes it gets real loud, especially in some of the bullpens that are right amidst the fans and excitement,” La Russa said. “It happens in Philadelphia. It’s hard to hear it there. So it’s not unusual. Maybe we need to come up with some ear mikes or something.”

SB Nation reports:

A bullpen mixup may have cost the Cardinals the game, as La Russa and Bullpen Coach Derek Lilliquist failed to communicate on who should be warming up to face Rangers slugger Mike Napoli. With two runners in scoring position and two outs in the bottom of the eight inning, Manager Tony La Russa expected closer Jason Motte to be warm and ready for a showdown with Napoli, but instead discovered he had to stick with Marc Rzepczynski. The matchup was unfavorable, and Napoli hit a game-winning double as a result, but La Russa still felt it could have worked, saying this after the game:

“We had a chance with Rzepczynski’s stuff to get Napoli on the first pitch, and then he put a nice swing on a breaking ball.” Via ESPN Dallas

La Russa didn’t quite know how to explain the gaffe after the game, saying “that phone in a loud ballpark, it’s not an unusual problem.”

With a 3-2 series lead, the Texas Rangers are now only one game from their first championship with two chances to win it in St. Louis after their 4-2 victory Monday.

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Craig hit a 98-mph fastball to right field that was out of reach of sliding right fielder Nelson Cruz, giving the Cardinals the game winning run defeating the Texas Rangers 3-2.

Baseball Tonight Analyze Cardinals’ win over the Rangers. Watch Video:

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Cal Ripken, Jr. is a popular speaker says PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency

According to Sporting News:

Ripkin told 105.7 FM in Baltimore that he likely is a year or two away from such a position. Cal Ripken says he’s at least a year away from returning to baseball full-time.

“When I say something like, ‘I have a little itch to come back,’ I’m certainly all ears and open to talk and listen at all times,” Ripken said. “But realistically, I’m firmly planted in what I’m doing right now, at least for the next year or two years. Then I’ll have to reevaluate and say, ‘OK, do I really want to come back to the big league scene and is there going to be an opportunity?’ And that’s the truth of it.”

“When I retired, I wanted to make sure I was available to get my kids off to college and I’ve kept a very good relationship with (Orioles owner) Peter Angelos. He’s been very helpful to the foundation. We talk quite often. … I imagine because the Orioles are struggling, it becomes a little bit more of a topic.”

Known as baseballs Iron Man, Ripken broke Lou Gehrig’s record in 1995 for consecutive games played (2,130) and voluntarily ended his streak in 1998 after playing 2,632 consecutive games. Although he finished his career at third base, Cal is still best known for redefining the position of shortstop.

Ripken retired from baseball following the 2001 season after 21 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. His name appears in the record books repeatedly, most notably as one of only eight players in history to achieve 400 home runs and 3,000 hits. On July 29, 2007 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame after receiving the third highest voting percentage in history and collecting the most votes ever.

Cal Ripken’s name has become synonymous with strength, character, endurance and integrity. His philosophy of working hard, playing with passion and enjoying the game has made a tremendous impact on baseball and on fans everywhere.

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Magic Johnson is one of our more popular speakers says PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency

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Source: Los Angeles Times Sports

After The Times’ Bill Plaschke asked him about the 1992 Dream Team’s competitive scrimmages during practice, Johnson leapt out of his chair and began demonstrating the moves Michael Jordan used during those intense sessions.

In frame-by-frame detail, Johnson imitated Jordan sticking out his tongue, adjusting his shot in mid-air to avoid being blocked by David Robinson and delivering a 360-degree-spin dunk, a sequence that Johnson said was the “greatest shot I have ever seen.” He also told that story to bolster his argument about why the 2008 Redeem Team would have no shot against the Dream Team

“When you think about the Olympics and the Dream Team, I have to throw it to you,” Johnson said. “Kobe [Bryant] and them won by 22 points. Ehh, 22 points? We won by an average of 44 points. So when they want to step up to that, you tell them we’ll be waiting on them.”