News - Mike Schmidt
Turtle Wax(R) and Baseball Great Mike Schmidt Offer Car Care Tips to Turn Amateurs into Pros CHICAGO, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- With Spring Training underway, it's the start of a new season for baseball fans.
Free agent left fielder Raul Ibanez has joined the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies and will replace inconsistent slugger Pat Burrell. Terms of Ibanez' contract were not disclosed, but ESPN.com said he signed for $30 million over three years. Last season, Ibanez, 36, batted .293 with 43 doubles, 23 home runs and 110 RBI while playing in all 162 games for the Seattle Mariners. It was his third straight 100-RBI plus season. Ibanez, who began his 12-year career in 1996 with Kansas City, is .286 lifetime hitter. In 2008, he hit better against lefthanded pitching (.305) than righthanded pitching (.288). Burrell, like Ibanez, is a free agent.
Jimmy Rollins won the National League MVP award Tuesday in a close race over Matt Holliday, boosted by speed and steady all-around play that drove the Philadelphia Phillies to their first playoff berth in 14 years.