Found March 21, 2012 on FootBasket:
87439448
http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/images/photos/001/613/018/130210127_crop_650x440.jpg?1331824337Lance Berkman may find himself in a meeting with the commissioner for some rather opinionated statements he had regarding the sale and impending move of the Houston Astros to the American League.

Berkman was a long time Astro and still a popular figure in the Houston area, even though he plays for the division rival St. Louis Cardinals. He didn't bite his tongue on his feelings about how Bud Selig handled the sale of the Astros and says he would tell him if he was given the chance.


"I hate it. I feel like, basically, the commissioner extorted Jim Crane into moving the Astros," Berkman said of Houston's new owner during a conversation with two reporters.   


"If he (Selig) called me, I would tell him," Berkman said. 


Berkman also said he would have no problem telling Selig he extorted the Astros.


"Yeah, because I think that's exactly what it was: "We're going to hold the sale of the team up until you guys agree to switch'," Berkman said. "And it just so happens that the Astros were being sold right at the optimal time for that to happen."


Furthermore Berkman doesn't like the Astros' move to American League and doesn't care for their style of baseball. He says it makes no sense for the Astros to go to the American League and if anyone should go it should be the Milwaukee Brewers.


"It makes a heck of a lot more sense for the Brewers to go back to the American League from a historical standpoint," Berkman said. "Maybe not geographically, but it makes limited sense for the Astros to move from a geographic standpoint because they have the Rangers but then most of their away games are going to be starting at 9:30 p.m. Houston time.


"I just think when you have a franchise that has 50 years as a National League entity, and then you switch over to the American League, I just don't like it. I'm not in favor of it. I don't like the AL style of baseball to begin with. That plus the history element of it makes it ... I don't like it." 


I do agree that Milwaukee should make the switch back to the American League since they have a team built for that style of play. But from a competitive standpoint, I don't think the Brewers can win consistently with the likes of the Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, Angels and Rangers around.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer
 
I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what   goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their  take  on what's going on.Follow on Twitter @justsports72
THE BACKYARD
BEST OF MAXIM
AROUND THE WEB
RELATED ARTICLES

Lance Berkman accuses Bud Selig of extortion. America says duh all at once.

…now we all can’t talk until Lance Berkman says our name three times. In all seriousness, the Cardinals slugger had a few choice words for the way the commish handled the sale of the Houston Astros this offseason. EXTORTION! If you’ll recall, part of the agreement to push the sale through was for Houston, who has been in the National League since the 1960s, was to move to...
HARSH WORDS

Berkman: Astros were extorted

Lance Berkman has some strong feelings about the Astros switching from the NL to the AL, he calls it extortion by MLB.

Next Cardinals’ crop could be quite the harvest

Sunday’s St. Louis Post-Dispatch included a story on St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Oscar Taveras. Taveras opened eyes last season when he posted the highest batting average in the Midwest League since 1956. Taveras hit .386 with an on-base percentage of .444. Manager Mike Matheny admitted the batting mark caught his eye and has given Taveras a handful of at-bats with the...

Royals acquire catcher Quintero from Astros

Courtesy: Royals Media Relations SURPRISE, AZ The Kansas City Royals today announced that the club has acquired catcher Humberto Quintero and outfielder Jason Bourgeois from the Houston Astros in exchange for minor league pitcher Kevin Chapman and a minor league player to be named. To make room on the Royals 40-man roster, the club placed catchers Salvador Perez (surgery on left...

Understanding McClellan, reliever only

Last year the St Louis Cardinals entered spring training with Kyle McClellan‘s role unsettled.  He wanted to be a starter but had spent his first years working high-leverage innings late in games.  With the loss of Adam Wainwright to Tommy John surgery, McClellan was thrust full-time into the rotation. This year the Cardinals enter spring training with McClellan’s role settled...

BREAKING NEWS: Astros trade Jason Bourgeois and Humberto Quintero

Brian McTaggert from MLB.com is reporting that the Astros have dealt both Jason Bourgeois and Humberto Quintero. At this time, it is unclear as to who the two have been traded to, but McTaggert and Houston Chronicle beatwriter Zachary Levine have reported that both were scratched from action today and were seen saying their last goodbyes with their teammates following...

CARDINALS THIRD BASEMAN DAVID FREESE GETS A GQ MAKEOVER

David Freese led the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series victory last season, earning the NLCS MVP and World Series MVP awards in the process. Despite his success and his new status as a hometown hero, the Cardinals third baseman still had room for improvement, at least when it came to his fashion game. Freese classified his personal style as “lacking” and referred to his hair...

Hot hurler Rosenthal among Cards’ fourth cuts

The St. Louis Cardinals reassigned seven players to minor league camp on Tuesday, including hard-throwing right-hander Trevor Rosenthal.

Lohse allows 1 run as Cardinals beat Astros

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) -- Kyle Lohse allowed one run and three hits in five innings, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Houston Astros 6-1 Tuesday. Matt Holliday hit a two-run triple in a three-run first against Jordan Lyles and scored on Lance Berkman's a sacrifice fly. Lyles, competing for a spot in Houston's rotation, gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings...

Carp Hooked by Bulging Disc

Chris Carpenter has been shut down with a bulging disc in his neck. He’s likely to open up the season on the disabled list, and the Cardinals may have to turn to Lance Lynn for help in the starting rotation. This continues a disturbing trend in his surgery-speckled career, but using past players that have suffered this rarer injury as a guidepost can be problematic. Over the past...

Bud Selig Reverses Lifetime Ban on Shoeless Joe Jackson; Says He’s Welcome to Play Anytime

Bad to the Bone? Selig says "no." Shoeless Joe's remains are welcome to play again. NEW YORK (Sportsman’s Daily Wire Service) Eight Men Out. Baseball fans know it as the name of the motion picture which chronicled the eight members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox who were banned permanently from baseball. The most famous among the group was undoubtedly Shoeless Joe...

Cardinals major league notebook: 03/21/12

Chris Carpenter remains the most concerning of the St. Louis Cardinals injuries in spring training.

Cardinals 2, Mets 1

Johan Santana pitched six innings in his longest outing of spring training in the New York Mets' 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook also was effective, working six scoreless innings. Westbrook has allowed one earned run in 15 innings. Jon Jay hit a run-scoring single in the ninth off Garrett Olson. The Mets had tied it in the...

Recap: Spring Training Game 18 - Mets whack-around Astros 8-2

Final Score: NY Mets 8, Houston 2 Omar Quintanilla smacked a three-run double and Ruben Tejada added a solo home run to go with two runs scored as the New York Mets defeated the Houston Astros, 8-2, in spring training action. Rob Johnson had two hits, an RBI and a run scored for New York and starter R.A. Dickey allowed a run on one hit and three walks in 6 1/3 innings. Wandy...

Mets 8, Astros 2

Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey gave up just one hit in 6 1-3 innings and the New York Mets beat the Houston Astros 8-2 Thursday. Dickey held Houston hitless until giving up a single to Justin Ruggiano in the sixth. Dickey allowed one run, struck out four and walked three. Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez struggled for the second consecutive outing. After allowing seven runs in 3 1-3 innings...
THE MLB HOT 40
Today's Best Stuff
For Bloggers

Join the Yardbarker Network for more promotion, traffic, and money.

Company Info
Help
What is Yardbarker?

Yardbarker is the largest network of sports blogs and pro athlete blogs on the web. This site is the hub of the Yardbarker Network, where our editors and algorithms curate the best sports content from our network and beyond.