Tony Castro

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Green seen all over Spring Training on St. Patrick's Day

Tedi the Leprechaun is a fixture at the Red Sox's St. Patrick's Day game.

The first thing Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Kameron Loe did after waking up Saturday was to dye his facial hair green. It is, after all, St. Patrick's Day.

"It's kind of a tradition I've got," says Loe. "I'm a quarter-Irish or so. I have a little fun on St. Patrick's Day. It's about the only hair I can grow, so I figured why not color it green?"

On Saturday, green was all over spring training -- and it wasn't just the well-manicured baseball diamonds. It has become an annual tradition throughout the Grapefruit and Cactus leagues.

"It's a good day to wear green," said Giants closer Brian Wilson, who has also died his beard on past St. Patrick's Days. "Everybody likes to wear green on St. Patrick's Day."

Friday, March 16, 2012

The Much-Hoped-For Comeback of Andy Pettitte

A crucial game, be it the playoffs, the World Series or even a division leading battle with the Red Sox, who would you rather see on the mound for the Yankees? Miguel Pineda, throwing a 91-mph fastball that's going to likely wind up in the seats, Hiroki Kuroda possibly getting a shot off his head...

Or 39-year-old Andy Pettitte who has been there, done that so many times when the Yankees badly needed a win?

As of Friday, you can put you money on Pettite who came out of retirement not for the money -- he could have had millions more if he'd done it two months ago -- but because he loves it.

"This is all about me having the desire to do this again," said Pettitte, who signed a non-guaranteed, $2.5 million Minor League contract. "For what I'm coming back and playing for, it's an awful lot of money and I realize that, but it's a long ways away from what we were talking about in January. But I have a desire to work again."

Friday, March 2, 2012

The SI Swimsuit Model Who Catches Mark Sanchez's Passes

Kate Upton likes her food so spicy it makes her sweat. The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover girl, who has been linked to Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, appears in the newest commercial for burger chains Hardee's and Carl's Jr.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Pete Rose Waiting in Exile

Pete Rose left L.A. for Las Vegas and his second wife for a new life, but he's getting no second chance in baseball.

"Pete Rose is at peace," writes Reid Forgrave of FoxSports.com.

"At least, Pete Rose says he is at peace. Sure, he'd be the happiest guy in the world if he woke up tomorrow and the commissioner of Major League Baseball reinstated him to the game, ending a suspension from baseball that's 22 years long and counting. Yet baseball's all-time hit king says he's no longer consumed by that possibility. He's not mad or bitter at anyone, not anymore. And he doesn't say a prayer every night, hoping that he'll someday get into the Hall of Fame.

"Charlie Hustle's 70 years old now, and he has other things to live for: five grandchildren, the youngest of whom was born late last year; a stunning girlfriend who is four decades his junior and who has posed nude for Playboy; and a window-filled 14th-floor condo at Panorama Towers, just a few blocks off the Las Vegas Strip."

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