Nyjer Morgan Charges Mound, Setting Off Brawl Between Nationals, Marlins
by FanHouse Staff
Washington Nationals center fielder Nyjer Morgan found himself at the center of his biggest controversy yet Wednesday night, when he charged the mound and threw a punch at Florida Marlins pitcher Chris Volstad to kick off a bench-clearing brawl (see video here) between the two teams in the sixth inning of the Nats' 16-10 loss to Florida.
Morgan was angered when Volstad threw a pitch behind him, the second time the Marlins hurler appeared to take aim at the speedy outfielder. As that second purpose pitch flew past catcher Brad Davis and to the backstop at Sun Life Stadium, Morgan paused briefly, then tossed his bat aside and rushed toward Volstad. Morgan's punch appeared to glance off the side of Volstad's head, and almost immediately thereafter he was clotheslined by first baseman Gaby Sanchez and pummeled by a number of his other Marlins teammates.
"He hit me the first time, so be it. But he hit two other of our guys? All right, cool. But then he whips another one behind me, we got to go," Morgan said of the events that pushed him over the edge. "I'm just sticking up for myself and just defending my teammates. I'm just going out there and doing what I have to do."
Morgan and Volstad, who had a bruise on his face in post-game interviews, were tossed from the game along with Marlins pitcher Jose Veras and manager Edwin Rodriguez. Nationals manager Jim Riggleman and pitcher Doug Slaten were ejected later in the game when Slaten hit Sanchez in the hip with a pitch.
by Josh Alper
We know that Marlins president David Samson was already furious that Deadspin published the team's financial records, but it's a good bet that his anger level is even higher now that their publication is creating some issues with their stadium contract.
Miami mayor Tomas Regalado asked the city attorney to look into reopening the city's contract with the Marlins for a parking garage at the team's new stadium, according to the Miami Herald. His request comes on the heels of Miami-Dade Commissioner Rebeca Sosa's request that county administrators try to get the team to pony up more money for the stadium's construction. In both cases, the revelation that the team made in excess of $30 million in 2008 and 2009.
"If the answer is in the negative, what recourse do we have to expose those who misinformed the commission and public during a public hearing?" Regalado, who voted against the stadium deal, asked the city attorney. 
by Tom Krasovic
West Coast Bias, classing the place up, gives you Dick Enberg's spirited ode to Nolan Ryan's 383-strikeout season.
The American League's Cy Young award in 1973 went to Jim Palmer of the first-place Baltimore Orioles, in part, the former Angels broadcaster said, because Ryan's feats with a weak California club were muted by geography.
"I'm still pissed off about that, it was such an injustice," Enberg told me. "Because Palmer is on a good team and has a little flossier record, he gets enough votes to win it. It's just an incredible injustice. Great praise Ryan, a Hall of Famer and all of the things he's done. But he didn't win a Cy Young award. What did he have to do? If he had pitched for the Orioles, he would've been 30-5. Yeah, Palmer had a great year, but when you sort it all out ..."
o. As arm ailments stall Stephen Strasburg, I think of Ryan and his bionic right arm.
The Express threw as hard as Strasburg, notched 61 career shutouts and probably did one-arm chinups between innings.
"The games he pitched were the most dominating I've ever seen," Enberg said. "Frightening fast, and his curveball, I swear, you could almost hear the ball sing. That may be an exaggeration, but time rewrites history."
o. If Mat Latos were an equity fund, the stock market would be healthier.
"Wow, he's the best young pitcher I've seen all year," said a veteran scout who only recently saw the Padres right-hander for the first time, and will tune in Friday for Latos against the Cheatin' Phils. "Had four plus pitches with command and a lot of poise. Sometimes we put too much into wanting the Harvard-type education; he's a free spirit, and that's beautiful."
o. Western Civilization is blessed for another year, as Vin Scully will return to the Dodgers in 2011.
"He's the best, the best," said Enberg, who owns 13 Emmy awards. "He never makes a mistake. He has such great command of the language. He's the poet laureate of our profession." 
by Pat Lackey
For a long time, the real finances behind Major League Baseball have been something of a mystery to the public. Forbes estimates each team's profit every year, but the reliability of the Forbes numbers is always up for debate. The last two days, though, have created a whirlwind of information that's shed new light on how baseball does business.
Yesterday, the AP obtained a copy of the Pittsburgh Pirates' financial records and published a story about their profit margins in the past few years. The team responded by opening their books to local reporters to explain where the money had gone. Then, early this morning Deadspin posted a ream of financial documents belonging to the Pirates, Marlins, Angels, Rays, and Mariners with a promise of more to come in the next few days. 
Marlins catcher Ronny Paulino has been suspended for 50 games after violating MLB's drug policy.
Paulino tested positive for an unspecified performance-enhancing substance and his suspension begins immediately, MLB announced Friday.
The 29-year-old has played in 91 games for Florida this year, hitting .259 with four homers and 37 RBI. He has been the Marlins' regular starter behind the plate this season, including four of their last five games.
The Marlins have 42 games remaining this year, so Paulino's suspension will reach into the second week of the 2011 regular season.