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The Baseball Column: Oh, Danny Boy!

Friday, May 19, 2006 – updated: 3:06 pm EDT May 19, 2006

Can I See Some ID?
Back in 2001, supposedly 12-year-old pitcher Danny Almonte took the baseball nation by storm, dominating his alleged peers in the Little League World Series. As we later learned, it was too good to be true. Almonte was really 14 and the public adoration quickly became public outcry. Today the controvesial hurler is 19 and is expected to be selected in next month's MLB draft, but that's not why he's in the news. Young Mr. Almonte was recently married -- to a 30-year-old. Maybe we've been right all along -- he's just mature beyond his years (whatever they are).

Swisher Sweet
Anybody who read the best seller "Moneyball" undoubtedly came away with the conclusion that A's GM Billy Beane had a huge man-crush on Nick Swisher, who became the team's top selection in the 2002 draft. Beane talked of the then-Ohio State star "in the needy tone of a man who has been restrained for too long from seeing his beloved," author Michael Lewis wrote. Now fans are beginning to see why. As of May 19, the scruffy outfielder is hitting .304/.404/.659 with 13 homers and 34 RBI.

Cracked Belle
During his 12-year big league career, it would be an understatement to say that Albert Belle had issues. Whether it was alcohol or rage, you could expect some negative news about the sullen slugger on a semi-regular basis. Unfortunately, in retirement, that hasn't changed. In February, the 39-year-old was arrested on a felony stalking charge stemming from conversations he had with an ex-girlfriend. On May 17, while out on bail, he was arrested and charged for a second time for a similar incident with the same woman. Because he already had one felony case pending, Belle is now in jail and ineligible for bond.

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