It's time for Congress to investigate ticket brokers

Enough with steroids and all the ills associated with the scourge that's plaguing professional and even amateur sports. Well, not enough with steroids, it's good there's at least an attempt to mete out this and other instances of cheating from baseball and other high-end athletics. It is, however, time to turn part of our attention to ticket brokers and the evil deals between professional sports and the middle men who exist for the sole reason of profit-mongering.

I recently paid over $300 to obtain two tickets for bleacher seats at Wrigley Field. If I remember correctly, I paid $12 a pop for those same seats back in the early 90's. That's an 80% mark up over 16 years? Insane. I haven't read much about ticket brokers and organizations such as Stub Hub, but in doing business with said organization recently things seem a little too corporate for this to be ad hoc capitalism designed to help fans sell to fellow fans. Why do tickets that cost $38 face value go close to $160 on the internet? How is this legal, and why isn't anyone looking into this? Something stinks.

This article in the Chicago Tribune is worth reading, and it provides a glimpse into what would seem in my mind to be very shady business. MLB's contract/relationship with Stub Hub should be investigated. Hard.

Damon-less Yankees

Maybe the Yankees are wise to not rush Johnny Damon back. Damon stayed on the DL today with a bad shoulder (he says he's ready to play today) and still mananged to sneak out a 2-1 win over Oakland. The Yankees sweep the first three games to begin the second half and now stand just five games out of first in the AL East.

8-point Font

Mike Fontenot just ripped his eighth home run off Astros starter Brandon Backe. That brings Fontenot's slugging average over .500 for the season. He's a little guy - 5'8, 170 - but you have to think he can earn some at bats down the stretch if he continues to hit balls out of the park.

Update: Fontenot singles and scores in the seventh when college teammate Ryan Theriot knocks him in from second with a base hit. Cubs lead Houston, 4-0.

Fantasy Impact: Fontenot is hot enough to earn some starts right now, but once Alfonso Soriano gets back, Mark DeRosa will slide back into his starting spot at second base. Fontenot is a good add for about a week, then he's a bench player again unless he somehow outperforms DeRosa for the long haul.

Jose going away

Jose Contreras hits the DL and lands in Ozzie Guillen's doghouse.

"I wasn't too pleased the way he handled the situation because he didn't let [team trainer] Herm [Schneider] know, he didn't let myself or [pitching coach Don] Cooper know about it and he was continuing to pitch that way," said Guillen. "I don't want any of my players go out there with any kind of pain and try to be a hero. I don't want to say I was upset, but I was a little disappointed when one of my players is hiding stuff from us for no reason."

Shades of Scott Rolen and Tony La Russa, anyone? Here's wondering if Contreras is wearing out his welcome on Chicago's south side.

Johnny on the DL (still)

Johnny Damon did not come off the DL today as originally expected.

"There's nothing more I need to do," said Damon, who is batting .319 with 50 runs and a .387 on-base percentage. "I'm going to feel it, probably, until the offseason, but it's not a situation where it's going to get worse. Some days I'll wake up and it'll be a little tight, but I'll come in here, jump in that hot tub and go."

With such significant players as starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang and designated hitter Hideki Matsui also out with injuries, Damon recognizes why the team is waiting.

"I think they want to be extra cautious," he said.

Actually, you'd think they'd be rushing these guys back to play considering they're in third place in the AL East and it is decision-making time in terms of making trades.

Pujols sits

No worries, Albert Pujols is not injured. He's just getting a rare day off in the Cardinals' series finale with San Diego. Those thinking he wasn't in the lineup because he was hurt will be relieved to know that Tony La Russa was merely giving his slugger a break since he didn't get one for the All-Star game.