SkyBall is the New Home Run Derby

The Sky Ball is supposed to bounce up to 75 feet off the ground, thanks to being filled with helium and pressurized air, so obviously you can hit it a mile too.

After the Sky Ball sold like hot cakes by itself, and naturally people were hitting it with all kinds of bats, Maui Toys stepped up to the plate with a Sky Ball and Bat set that is sold with the promise of hitting up to 300 feet.

Darren Rovell, CNBC's sports business reporter, named it "Sports Toy of the Year" because he can't hit a Wiffle ball but the Skyball makes him "feel good about [himself]."

Rovell also reported that Maui Toys is launching a Sky Ball set with a bam-bam fat bat for toddlers, a lock for his 2011 Sports Toy of the Year.

Skyball even got a little blurb in the July 26 issue of ESPN magazine (Aaron Rodgers cover, page 36). Paul Kix reported, "Kids aren't he only ones who want in on the action. The Yankees are mulling a session of Skyball before an upcoming game"

Where to Get Skyballs and Sky Ball & Bat sets

VAT19.com: SkyBalls in five colors
Amazon: Sky Ball and Bat set -  Sky Balls 2-pack -  Sky Ball JUMBO 2x size
Toys R Us: Skyball Jumbo

The Rundown: Carl Crawford’s Horrific Injury, Major League Manager Dies, Piniella Retiring

• "Ladies and gentlemen, that is precisely why you should always wear a cup." Carl Crawford went through some serious pain last night. On a pickoff attempt Crawford took the throw directly where it counts, forcing him to leave the game with a "testicular contusion." Insult to injury came when he rolled off the bag in pain and was tagged out by Baltimore's Ty Wiggington. Here it is if you can handle it. [NBC Sports]

• James Gammon, who played manager Lou Brown on Major League, passed away this weekend after a long battle with cancer.  [Deadspin]

• Lou Piniella has announced that he plans on retiring from baseball following the conclusion of this season. [Bleacher Report]

• Ubaldo Jimenez's struggles didn't begin last night when he was pulled in the sixth after giving up 6 runs, 4 earned. In his last eight starts he has posted an ERA of 4.85, 23 BB and only 48 K's in 52 innings. But, his run support has led him to a 5-0 record in this streak. In three of his no decisions his ERA is 9.00, without the support he's being given, his record and season could be on a very different path. [Bleacher Report]

• Angels Macier Izturis, Mike Napoli, and former Yankee Hideki Matsui, all hit 2-run home runs against the Yankees last night to win 10-2. [USA Today]

• Manny Ramirez has been placed on the 15-day DL with a strained calf. This is Manny's third stint on the DL this season. [NBC Sports]

The Best Infield Training Gloves

5.

Training gloves have evolved from a simple hard foam pad, like the Jeter SKLZ Softhands ($14.86 at Walmart), to small, leather, game-shaped gloves with webbing. Each type of training aid serves a different purpose. Softhands force you to use both hands, trapping the ball agains the pad. This teaches the mechanics of using two hands to not only catch balls, but to field ground balls hit directly at you as well. This method is great for prying Little Leaguers from their habits of using one hand to catch fly balls or field balls hit on the ground.

4.

The training glove most people use is the basic, round, flat pad with a slot for your hand and fingers on the backside. The Mizuno Classic Pro GXT-1 ($34.95 at Baseball Savings) and the Akadema Pancake Glove ($49.95 at Baseball Savings) give you more padding while using the same flat form as Softhands. The extra padding allows you to field balls hit or thrown harder at you while still forcing you to use two hands for a clean catch. There's no pocket and very little flexibility with these, but the leather is more durable and offers a more realistic feel for your glove hand.

3.

Cal Ripken brought a new design to the training glove field with the Great Hands Glove. It's padded for your thumb, palm and fingers, but also has a unique T-Pocket design that allows you to close your hand around the ball. They glove bends as you field the ball unlike the flat training gloves. While this is a step up, it's not as glove-like as possible. It doesn't feel real. The Great Hands Glove is 8.5 inches and only $35.00. It's an effective training aid and much cheaper than the flat glove.

2.

The Valle Eagle Trainer Lit'l Jen 975 is a training glove that feels like a real glove. It's small enough to force concentration and two hand catching the majority of the time, but shaped like a true glove, letting you backhand and field balls to your side with one hand. The Eagle Trainer is 9.75 inches, and has a velcro strap. It can be used for little leaguers, but the finger slots extend so that teenagers or adults can use it as well. The idea is there, but it looks like a youth glove. The velcro strap, while convenient, doesn't resemble a glove you're proud to wear... if you're older than 8. It's $57.99 and not the best quality, you could buy it because it's more useful than the flat gloves, or you could keep reading and get a better one for a better price!

1A.1B.

The Rawlings 5-Tool Pro Training Glove and the Mizuno Classic Pro GXT-2 Training Glove are the best training gloves I've found.

At 9.5 inches, the Rawlings ProTrain ($49.99 at Baseball Express) is great for middle infielders needing to practice quick transfers from the glove to the throwing hand. The most important thing is that it feels like a real glove. It's made for an adult hand, but out of the box it doesn't seem that way. It feels much smaller than 9.5 inches (hard to believe, right?), it's extremely stiff, and the first few times playing catch you'll get frustrated with the tiny webbing and pocket. The leather is good quality, and once it breaks in and you get used to the feel you'll forget how small it actually is. Overall...  a great glove for the price. It makes you concentrate more on where the ball hits your glove as you try to avoid taking the ball in the palm. It's not too much more expensive than a little league glove you'll find at Wal-Mart, but clearly better quality, and it can be used by almost all ages.

The Mizuno Classic Pro GXT-2 Training Glove is similar to the Rawlings glove, but only 9 inches. It's shaped more like a glove you could use on an everyday basis, but the size of it makes it a training glove. As you can see, it has a bigger pocket than the Rawlings trainer, making it more functional for fielding ground balls hit straight on and catching. The problem is backhanding because of it's small make. It's more expensive than the Rawlings, $59.99 at Amazon, but definitely a good buy. I wish I would have had this glove in little league, instead of the standard 11.75" or 12" monster that swallowed my hand.

Where to Buy:

Derek Jeter SKLZ Softhands
Walmart

Mizuno Classic Pro GXT-1 Training Glove
Baseball Savings
Dunham's

Akadema Pancake Training Glove
Baseball Savings

Cal Ripken's Great Hands Glove
Great Hands Glove

Valle Eagle Trainer Lit'l Jen 975 Glove
Valle Baseball

Rawlings 5-Tool Pro Training Glove
Baseball Express
RawlingsGear
Baseball Savings

Mizuno Classic Pro GXT-2 Training Glove
Amazon

The Rundown: Molina’s Cycle, Peralta’s Crazy Home Run, Burnett’s Temper Tantrum

• Rangers catcher Benji Molina, one of the slowest players in baseball, became the first catcher since 1900 to hit for the cycle with a grand slam. Molina needed a triple as he came to the plate in the 8th inning against the Red Sox. Ian Kinsler wasn't too confident in his teammate, "I would have bet everything I own that Bengie Molina would never hit for the cycle. Ever!" Molina hit a ball deep to center and was able to get the triple after the ball bounced off the glove of Eric Patterson. After lumbering his way into third he left the game with tightness in his right quadriceps. You need to watch him run out the triple! [NBC Sports]

• Indians Johnny Peralta hit an inside the park home run in his first at bat after the All-Star break. Tigers center fielder Ryan Rayburn leaped at the wall but crashed through the bullpen door as the ball ricocheted into an empty outfield, resulting in Peralta's 3 run home run. Watch him bulldoze the outfield wall! [Yahoo Sports]

• A.J. Burnett must have never watched Bull Durham. If you're going to hit something in frustration, at least use one hand... preferably your left, A.J. After two awful innings against Kansas City, the Yankees righty slammed open the clubhouse doors, slicing both palms on plastic lineup holders. He was then pulled in the third inning because of the cuts. He has now apologized to his team for the idiotic display. [NBC Sports]

• Alex Rodriguez hit his 598th home run this weekend... but more impressively, he will make his acting debut in a movie titled Friends with Benefits. The movie will star Justin Timberlake, Woddy Harrelson, and Andy Samberg. Get Ready. [Bleacher Report]

• Most fans are lucky to catch a foul ball or home run once in their lifetime... this guy did it on consecutive pitches off of Stephen Strasburg's bat. MLB Fan Hall of Fame shoo-in. [NBC Sports]

• Julio Borbon became the first Ranger to steal home since 1991. With two outs in the fourth inning the Rangers put on a double steal against the Red Sox, bringing home Borbon and making the score 3-1. [MLB.com]

The Rundown: All-Star Rosters Set, Big Days for Hunter and Stubbs, Thome Reaches Milestone

• The All-Star rosters have been set. The AL squad includes six players from both the Yankees and the Red Sox. Joe Mauer led the MLB with over 5 million votes, while Albert Puhols was the leading vote getter in the NL. Check out the starters. [Bleacher Report]

• Angels All-Star Torii Hunter blew up for 7 RBI in an 11-0 rout of the Royals. Hunter tied his career high for RBI with his 2-home run game. [USA Today]

• Drew Stubbs hit 3 of the Reds 7 home runs against the Cubs this weekend in a 14-3 win. 20 mph winds helped the Reds hit 4 of their home runs in an 8 run seventh inning. [Yahoo Sports]

• The D-Backs committed 6 errors, assisting the Dodgers in a 14-1 pounding. D-Backs starter Rodrigo Lopez: "I don’t have words to describe it. I never pitched with so many errors behind. They weren’t trying to make errors. Getting a groundball routinely and not able to make the outs, it is hard to explain because I have never seen anything like that. It was frustrating for me pitching out there, and for them, too." [Yahoo Sports]

• Ubaldo Jimenez gave up a monster 7 run (all earned) third inning against the Giants, but managed to come out of the game with an 8-7 lead. Jimenez struck out 5 in his six innings, and his ERA jumped for the third straight start all the way to 2.27. [MLB.com]

• Jim Thome hit 2 home runs in a win over the Rays on Saturday to tie and then pass Harmon Killebrew on the all-time home run list. Thome's second home run of the game gave him sole possession of 10th on the all-time list. After the home run, a message from Killebrew congratulating Thome was played on the scoreboard. "That is something that will go down as one of the better moments in my career. I was extremely touched and taken back. Any time a baseball game stops and somebody like that speaks, it's very humbling." [MLB.com]

The Rundown: LeBron and the “LeBratwurst” in the Minors, Vlad Beats the Angels

• The Oklahoma City RedHawks, Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, have offered LeBron James an opportunity to play minor league baseball. They're offering him a rental home, free lawn care, a LeBratwurst named after him, and a chance to win a championship. They're also considering offers for Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. [AP]

• Vladimir Guerrero had a four-hit night, producing 5 RBI against the Angels in a 6-4 win. Vlad hit two home runs, including a grand slam against his former team. "He’s as dangerous as any hitter in the game right now. He’s obviously at a level we haven’t seen in a couple of years." [AP]

• Mark Ellis stole home for the Oakland A's last night against the O's. Then two innings later, the official scorekeeper changed it to a fielders choice because Ellis only scored after O's catcher Matt Weiters needlessly threw to second on a ball four. Check out the video. [MLB.com]

• Felix Hernandez ensured the Mariners their first road series win since April when he tossed a 2-hit shutout against the Yankees for a 7-0 win. Hernandez K'd 11 in his gem. Joe Girardi said, "He’s as good as we’ve seen all year. His slider, changeup and curveball. He really had it all working tonight. He’s got electric stuff." [Yahoo Sports]

• Josh Hamilton now has the longest hitting streak in the MLB this season -- 23 games. "I've been on some streaks before, but they'd always end at like 13 or 14, and then I'd get a day and pick back up. It's never lasted this long, so I can't really compare it to anything." [MLB.com]

• Roger Clemens volunteered to throw batting practice meatballs for the Texas League Home Run Derby. The Derby should have known that he's not the kind of guy to give up bombs without a fight. Clemens kept his son Koby, and five other contestants from hitting a single home run. Matt Clark of the San Antonio Missions won the contest with a grand total of 4 home runs. Can you really expect the Derby to be entertaining when the pitcher says this? "I didn't throw too many cutters on 'em." [NBC Sports]

The Rundown: South Carolina Wins CWS, Span’s Three Triples, Lee’s Third CG in a Row, Hamilton’s Streak Continues

• South Carolina won the College World Series 2-1 in walk-off fashion against UCLA last night. The Gamecocks second baseman Scott Wingo led off the bottom of the 11th inning with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. With only one out Whit Merrifield, the right fielder who got KO'd in a collision a few nights ago, came up with an opposite field RBI single to end the game and give South Carolina its second team national championship, and its first "major" championship (Women's Track and Field isn't major, Erin Andrews??!! Come on!). USC (54-16) dominated UCLA's former first round draft pick Gerrit Cole last night in Game 1 of the finals, and faced a second-round pick in Rob Rasmussen last night. Jackie Bradley Jr. was named the CWS MVP for his performance in basically all games except the final. Bradley Jr.'s response to the award, "I was 0 for 5 tonight with 3 Ks! They didn't even need me tonight!" [USA Today]

• Denard Span put the Twins back in first place with 3...count 'em... 3 triples and 5 RBIs against the Tigers last night. His trifecta tied the modern day record for triples in a game. Jim Thome lumbered his way to a triple the night before, his first in seven years, and Span felt he had to respond. "He definitely inspired me. A triple for me is like hitting a home run for a power hitter.” [Yahoo Sports]

• Cliff Lee won his third game in a row... excuse me... his third COMPLETE game in a row, and fifth of the season. With Lee's performance the Mariners took the first game of a three game series against the Yankees 7-4. "[Lee] never beats himself. He never walks people. He has the ability to strike you out, he knows how to change speeds extremely well. He just knows how to pitch." [MLB.com]

• Josh Hamilton extended his hitting streak to 22 games as the Rangers lost to the Angels 6-5. His line drive single in the third gave him the franchise record for hits in a month with 48. [MLB.com]

• Ozzie Guillen didn't even make it halfway through the game before being ejected for the fourth time this season and 23rd of his career which began in 2004. He's got a long way to go to reach Bobby Cox's record of 143 ejections, but he's well on his way. [MLB.com]

• Brave's star rookie outfielder Jason Heyward has announced that he will not try to play in the All-Star game. Heyward is second in voting among NL outfielders, but was just placed on the 15-day DL for a deep bone bruise in his left thumb. He is eligible to come off the DL during the All-Star break, but doesn't want to jeopardize his status for the second half of the season. [NBC Sports]

• Remember Mark Prior? The Cubs phenom pitcher out of Southern Cal who's career was plagued with injuries after going 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA in 2003? Well, Prior is attempting to make a comeback to the big leagues and is scheduled to throw for MLB scouts today at USC. [NBC Sports]

The Rundown: South Carolina Dominates CWS Game 1, Ubaldo Wins 14, Guillen’s Hit Streak Ends at 21

• South Carolina dominated UCLA 7-1 in Game 1 of the CWS Finals. Gamecock starter Blake Cooper (13-2) was phenomenal, taking a no-hitter into the 5th and shutting out the Bruins into the 9th inning. He threw 136 pitches, striking out 10, while only walking one. USC's pitching has produced a 2.41 ERA in the CWS and held opponents batting average to an embarrasing .191. [USA Today]

• Ubaldo Jimenez picked up his MLB leading 14th win of the season Monday against the Padres. Ubaldo took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. He gave up four runs in the sixth, but came out with the win, 7 Ks, and an ERA of 1.83. [MLB.com]

• Stephen Strasburg lost his second game in a row, evening his record at 2-2 this year. He gave up four runs, three earned, throughout his 6 1/3 innings against the first-place Braves. He struck out seven, leaving him two Ks shy of tying Herb Score's record for Ks through the first five games of a career at 50. The Nationals offense was non-existent for Strasburg's second straight start, being shut out again in a 5-0 loss. [Yahoo Sports]

• Jose Guillen gave the Royals its longest hitting streak in nine years, but it ended Monday at 21 games. Guillen went 0-3 with a walk against the White Sox. During his streak he hit .378 going 31-82. [MLB.com]

• Scott Rolen hit his 300th career home run off the left field foul pole on Monday. Rolen's shot broke up a tie in the fourth inning and the Reds went on to beat the Phillies 7-3. "I guess I look at it and I wanted to hit it [Sunday] because it was my parents' 45th wedding anniversary. My whole family was here, we were going to eat dinner and I thought, 'Wow, that'd be great.' I guess when you force something, it doesn't work out all the time." [MLB.com]

• Edwin Rodriguez became the MLB manager born in Puerto Rico this week when he got the interim position with the Florida Marlins. Just days later had a chance to head home with his new ball club. The Marlins beat the Mets 10-3 Monday night at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico. [NBC Sports]

2010 South Carolina Players Gear: Jackie Bradley Jr., Blake Cooper, Sam Dyson and more

The South Carolina Gamecocks are in their second CWS Final of the decade. After losing their opening game, South Carolina won four straight to reach this point. They routed #1 overall seed Arizona State 11-4, got revenge on Oklahoma after being down to their last strike, then completed the streak to the finals with two tight victories over their rivals from Clemson. We've already highlighted some UCLA players and their gear, now let's look at their opposition for the National Championship.

Jackie Bradley Jr. was hot from the start of the CWS going 5 for 8 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI in his first two games. now he's hitting .421 with a CWS leading 9 RBI. When he steps to the plate, you sense that something special is going to happen. Bradley is one of the most confident players in college baseball, and rightfully so. Jackie swings a brand new 2011 Easton Surge. It's slick, one half of the bat is almost all black, and the other is covered with Easton's newfound love of huge and obnoxious lettering. It's a two piece bat with a composite handle that helps reduce vibration from the ball and an alloy barrel. It's originally $399.99, but we found it for $299.99 at Eastbay with free shipping when you use this code: IPEBT668

The Surge isn't only Jackie's bat though, it's also the preferred bat of Brady Thomas, the Gamecock responsible for the walk-off hit against Oklahoma in the 12th inning. Thomas went 2 for 4, scoring 2 runs in South Carolina's first upset of Clemson. Easton's bat successfully produced two base hits through the infield to advance South Carolina to face Clemson in a decisive game 3.

Whit Merrifield has the all-time hit streak record at the University of South Carolina. He was a home run short of the cycle when he got bulldozed in a collision with the Gamecocks' second baseman. He could be a catalyst for the South Carolina to defeat the favored UCLA in the finals. Merrifield uses the same bat and batting gloves as Beau Amaral and the UCLA Bruins: the 2010 Easton SV12 Ozone 90 (Originally $299.99, its on sale at Team Express for $199.99), and all-white Easton Stealth Speed Batting Gloves, which Brady Thomas also uses, see above. ($39.99 from Baseball Rampage).

The Gamecocks will rely on Blake Cooper, Sam Dyson, and Matt Price to keep the UCLA offense in check. Cooper has a 12-2 record on the season and started both games South Carolina played against Oklahoma, pitching well but racking up an 0-1 record for the CWS. Cooper wears an Easton Premiere Professional Series PPX 161B Baseball Glove. It's an all-black glove with a Double X webbing pattern, it also has an exterior index finger sleeve. This glove is pretty cheap, originally only $149.99, we found it on Homerunmonkey for $129.99 ( get a free t-shirt if you buy Cooper or Price's glove from Homerunmonkey !).

Dyson was a fourth-round draft pick by the Toronto Blue Jays this year. He started the second game against Clemson, going 6 2/3 innings giving up 2 runs and striking out 5. He wears the Easton PSX 161B Baseball Glove. As you can tell, Dyson's logos are yellow and Cooper's are red and white. While there are some small differences such as this and the "Easton" logo being on the index instead of middle finger, the model of glove is the same. It's originally $219.99, but $199.99 at Homerunmonkey.

Price had a huge role in beating Oklahoma in the elimination game. He threw 3 no-hit innings, striking out 5. Price has to be effective out of the bullpen for South Carolina to win. He uses the Easton Premiere Select PSX 10B Baseball Glove, the same that Bruins Trevor Bauer and Gerrit Cole wear. It's originally $249.99, but you can get it for $199.99 from Homerunmonkey.

The official shoe of South Carolina baseball is the Under Armor Yard 5/8" Red Metal Baseball Cleat. I don't know, but Merrifield looked like he was flying before being decleated by his teammate. Could it be the shoes? Who knows? They're $79.99 from Team Express.

Where to Buy:

Jackie Bradley Jr. and Brady Thomas' 2011 Easton Surge Baseball Bat
Eastbay (Dont forget the code for Free Shipping: IPEBT668)

Whit Merrifield and Brady Thomas' Easton Stealth Speed Batting Gloves
Baseball Rampage

Whit Merrifield's 2010 Easton SV12 Ozone 90 Baseball Bat
Team Express

Blake Cooper's Easton PPX 161B Baseball Glove
Homerunmonkey

Sam Dyson's Easton PSX 161B Baseball Glove
Homerunmonkey

Matt Price's Easton PSX 10B Baseball Glove
Homerunmonkey

South Carolina's Under Armor Yard Red Metal Baseball Cleat
Team Express

The Rundown: CWS Final, Jackson’s No-No, Zambrano’s Tantrum, Hamilton’s Hit Streak

• The 2010 College World Series Final starts tonight at 7:30 ET. UCLA, the #6 overall seed won Bracket 1 over the surging Horned Frogs from TCU. It's hard to believe that UCLA, a school with 106 NCAA championships, has never won it all in baseball. The Bruins will face South Carolina, the winners of Bracket 2. The Gamecocks were down to their last strike in Omaha before rallying to beat Oklahoma in extra innings and eventually upset their rival Clemson twice. The CWS Final is a best of three game series that could last until Wednesday if necessary. [NY Times]

• D-backs Edwin Jackson threw a no-hitter this weekend against his former team, the Rays. It wasn't pretty, with eight walks (seven in the first three innings) and the most pitches in the MLB in five years, 149, but with six Ks, Jackson found a way to keep Tampa Bay at bay. Adam LaRoche hit a home run in the second inning that turned out to be the game-winner in a 1-0 victory for Arizona. [NBC Sports]

• Carlos Zambrano came into the dugout after allowing four runs in the first inning of a game against the White Sox and went absolutely nuts! He came down the steps screaming and didn't stop for quite some time. He was pulled from the game and suspended indefinitely by the Cubs for his actions. "It becomes a bit of a tired act. And every time it recurs, it is a little bit more disappointing." [USA Today]

• Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton extended his hit streak to 21 games on Sunday with a two-run home run. He's hitting .477 (41 of 86) during the streak, and has raised his batting average to .346, good enough for second in the league. He already has 47 hits in the month of June, tying a franchise-record for hits in a single month. [Yahoo Sports]

• The Boston Red Sox are falling apart. They've been dealing with injuries to Josh Beckett, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Mike Cameron throughout the year, but this weekend three more Sox went down. Dustin Pedroia broke his foot on a foul ball, Clay Buchholz hyperextended his knee running bases, and then Victor Martinez broke his thumb, taking multiple foul balls to the same spot. [MLB.com]