The slugger commented about how his life has changed since his 500th home run (you know, besides the steroids admission, a public break-up and then much-gossiped about relationships with famous women):

"I am enjoying the game more than I ever have. I get more enjoyment out of the little things, playing a team game, not trying to do too much. After winning a world championship with this team, there really is no comparison between a team accomplishment and a personal accomplishment. Those are nice but I have much better perspective. more ›

Facing a chorus of boos from Baltimore fans, some welcoming him back by holding up Styrofoam needles, Alex Rodriguez sent the first pitch he saw this season over the left field fence at Camden Yards. A-Rod said, "It was a dream. It's been two months, which is a long time. I've been watching a lot of baseball, being very frustrated. I feel like I'm back with my family now where I belong." He admitted that the 98 mph fastball from Jeremy Guthrie was a pitch that he would have struggled with last season before undergoing hip surgery that delayed his 2009 start by five weeks. The three-run homer ended up being all CC Sabathia needed, pitching a complete game shutout in what was easily his best outing as a Yankee. With the Yankees struggling and his onslaught of bad press throughout the off-season, A-Rod enjoyed the fresh start, saying, “I played baseball and forgot everything else. In ’08, I got away from that a little bit. I have no one to blame but myself." more ›

Since opening in '64, Shea Stadium has been a popular home for feral cats, who've been known to scamper onto the field during games. In the Mets' championship year of 1969, a black cat ran back and forth in front of the Cubs dugout, cursing Chicago's pennant hopes. Now a group called Neighborhood Cats is urging the Mets to relocate the feral felines to the new Citi Field. "They're part of Mets lore, so why not keep them around?," asks Bryan Kortis, the group's leader. He guesses there are 20-40 cats who call the stadium home, and if the Mets don't relocate them he predicts, "they're going to be overrun with rats." Pressure from other groups successfully saved the Home Run Apple, but Mets officials have yet to respond to this demand. And a Parks Department spokeswoman tells Newsday there are only a couple cats at Shea, and when they catch them, they're taken to a shelter. more ›

You may have heard that New York City will have two new ballparks to attend in 2009. Of course that means that Shea Stadium and Yankee Stadium will close their doors forever after the 2008 season. And if you want to be there for the last scheduled game at either venue, you better have a lot of money. Tickets for the finale at Yankees Stadium are being scalped online for as much as $17,000 with tickets for the Shea Stadium finale, and last chance to see the Home Run Apple, going for “only” up to $6,000. more ›

If you make it out to Shea Stadium the rest of this season and next season, and you witness a Mets home run, be sure to wave bye-bye to the Home Run Apple. We previously wrote about the movement to save the Home Run Apple when the Mets move to Citi Field in 2009, but recent reports makes it look like its days are numbered. more ›

As we were away from televisions most of Wednesday, we can’t give a blow by blow account of the storm coverage. However, we can give you a brief summary of some of the major things. more ›

With Citi Field construction making progress towards Opening Day 2009, we turn our attention to a relatively small detail at the stadium - the Home Run Apple. There's a movement afoot at SaveTheApple.com to...save the apple as it currently exists at Shea Stadium. While the website points out that renderings of Citi Field show an apple behind the outfield walls, there is no word on whether the apple is the same as the existing Shea apple or a new Citi Field apple. more ›

-Ryan Howard wins the Home Run Derby: For once, David Wright’s enthusiasm got the best of him. Not that Mets’ fans will complain, but Wright attacked the Home Run Derby the way he does everything else: full bore. The problem was, he didn’t pace himself and after hitting 16 dingers in Round One, he could only muster another six while Howard hit 17 in the first two rounds and then slammed five in the final for the victory. Of course, some speculate that the winner of the contest is cursed, so it is probably ok that Wright lost. more ›

The Yankees most consistent pitcher of late, Orlando Hernandez, officially became a Yankee pitcher yesterday when he pulled up lame in the 3rd inning. Hernandez suffered from a tight hamstring. No word yet on whether this will affect his next start. Somehow the likes of Juan Padilla, Bret Prinz, Scott Proctor, and Tom Gordon held the Blue Jays in check long enough for the Yankee offense to score 4 in the 8th inning and 2 in the ninth inning for their fourth straight win over the Blue Jays this year. (Box Score 7-4) more ›

The All-Star game is tonight at 8 on Fox. Lest you think that this game is as meaningless as the All-Star games of other sports, the two leagues are playing for home field in the World Series. Whether or not home field should come down to some players that may not care, or if home field actually matters in the World Series at all, is open to debate. more ›