Jason Kipnis Gets 6-Year Extension Before Home Opener

Just before the Cleveland Indians celebrate 20 years at Progressive Field during their home opener this afternoon, the team announced Jason Kipnis would be sticking around for a while.

The gritty, All-Star second baseman, who turned 27 on Thursday, has agreed to a six-year, $52.5 million contract extension, keeping him in Cleveland through the 2019 season with a club option for 2020.

This, along with the recent signings of Michael Brantley and catcher Yan Gomes, as well as free agents Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn last year to multi-year deals, show the team wants to compete now, not just in the future. That's pretty big news for a club who hasn't won a World Series since 1948.

Kipnis batted .284 with 17 home runs and 84 RBIs last season, stealing 30 bases to lead the Indians in runs, hits, RBIs, steals, and also hotness.

[Let's Go Tribe]

Jordan Schafer is High as a Kite and not as Hot as We Remember

Do you ever find some one -- let's say a professional ballplayer for, let's say, the Houston Astros -- incredibly attractive for like two seasons, just to find out that he's actually not all that great-looking?

That totally just happened to us.

Nice mug shot, Jordan Schafer. It's okay to get stoned, just try to not be so high that you get caught next time.

I mean, seriously. Smoking a joint in your Land Rover right next to a cop? So dumb. We are sorry he took your ganja peanut butter cups, however.

Not cool.

Of course, this isn't the first mentally-challenged thing Schafer has done in his life. Back in 2008 when he was just a 21-year-old pup, he took HGH like a total idiot, got caught, and was suspended for 50 minor league ballgames. I'm sensing a pattern here.

Aaaaaaand, of course there's A Hilarious Dugout to accompany the story.

[ESPN]

Roy Halladay is a Hot Mess

Roy Halladay left his team's 6-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs Monday evening in a dizzy, light-headed daze. Heat exhaustion.

I don't know about all you, but I've been holed up in the air conditioning of my home for the past few days. You honestly couldn't pay me to throw a heater... mainly because I live in Minnesota and I've been bred to withstand temperatures literally 130 degrees colder than this.

Unfortunately, Halladay is paid to throw heaters, so he didn't have much of a choice but to start Monday night in the 91 degree humid Chicago air. Yuck. He lasted until Starlin Castro led off the fifth inning with a single and was promptly replaced by Drew Carpenter.

It's all good though, since the Phillies' ace should be ready to go for his next start. Drink plenty of water Roy!

[Yahoo!]

Happy Birthday Man Muscles!

Happy 28th Birthday, Joe Mauer. Get well soon, and take care of those sexy legs.

P.S. Happy Birthday to Troy Polamalu as well, who turns the Big 30 as he shares this special day (and his shampoo) with Man Muscles.

Joe Mauer and Troy Polamalu: Super Pretty Hair

There are two or three things we know for sure about Joe Mauer and Troy Polamalu, and one of them is that they both have very nice hair. Enjoy.

[We Want to Shampoo Joe Mauer's Hair]

Adam Jones on the Five Four Catwalk

There's probably quite a bit you know about Adam Jones.

For instance, you were probably already aware of the fact that the Baltimore Orioles center fielder was originally drafted by the Seattle Mariners with the 37th pick of the 2003 draft as a right-handed pitcher who dabbled at short stop.

Maybe you've heard that the 25-year-old Gold Glove recipient became just the second player in Yankee Stadium history to hit a triple and a grand slam in the same game as a visitor back in July of 2008. Okay, so that stat was a little obscure.

We're sure you heard about the time border patrol wouldn't let him into Canada because they had mistaken him as Adam "Pacman" Jones, who has a history of breaking the law. True story.

But we bet you didn't know that he makes a damn sexy clothing model! Jones has teamed up Five Four in their new campaign. A snippet:

Adam Jones is the quintessential Five Four modern gentleman; he is hard working, motivated, stylish and passionate about his career. He has achieved a high level of success at a young age and is someone that Five Four proudly associates with its brand.

Hot. Read more about Jones' new endeavorer at the Five Four link below, where you can see the rest of his spread.

[Five Four]

We Want to Shampoo Joe Mauer's Hair

By now, you've heard about Joe Mauer's new gig as a pitchman for Head & Shoulders. He's no Troy Polamalu, but damn those sideburns are nice.

Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the Head & Shoulders commercial shoot as well as an interview with Man Muscles himself. It's Sexytime.

[FOX Sports]

This One is for the Ladies

This one goes out to all of our female readers, and anyone else who enjoys objectifying ballplayers, of course.

Be patient: due to it's awesomeness, this video may take a few seconds to load. Just refresh the page if you can't keep your pants on. Happy Holidays!

Smokin' Hot Stove: Twins and Orioles

Hot Stove time! The Minnesota Twins have traded shortsop J.J. Hardy and utility infielder Brendon Harris to the Baltimore Orioles for right-handed relievers James Hoey and Brett Jacobson.

This seems like a decent deal for all parties involved, except for female Twins fans who fell madly in lust with Hardy's sparkly baby blue eyes last season.

Under the Bleachers with Jeff Manship

We had the ridiculous pleasure of interviewing Minnesota Twins pitcher Jeff Manship recently. The 25-year-old righty was called up to the big leagues last Thursday when fellow reliever Jose Mijares hurt himself in an attempt to cover first base and landed on the disabled list. The Manship made his first appearance since July 19 Wednesday night against the Chicago White Sox, going 1.1 scoreless innings and earning the win.

Instead of inquiring about his pitching repertoire, what it's like to get the call-up, the difference in batters from AA to AAA to the majors, etc., we decided to get to know him a little better. Enjoy...

Jason Bay Could Have Been a Professional Curler

It broke my small, cold shriveled heart last winter when the Red Sox and Jason Bay couldn't seem to come to an agreement to keep Jason in the Bay State.

However, the Mets were a good option as well, as their fan base is tortured, pessimistic, and shares a blinding, irrational hatred of Princess Purplelips and the rest of those self-important taint wankers in the Bronx. If that's not a recipe for love I don't know what is.

Anywho, Bay showed up in Port St. Lucie yesterday for Spring Training, and let me just say that he charmed the PANTS OFF the occasionally angry, sometimes arrogant and always cynical New York Media. By doing what?

A More Manly Man Muscles

We didn't think it was possible, but Joe Mauer has managed to make himself even more manly. Man Muscles seems to have taken a page out of teammate Nick Blackburn's book by showing up to Spring Training camp with a scruffy beard. We find that down-right sexy.

The reigning American League MVP and batting champ grew out the scruff when he took spankin' new Twins shortstop J.J. Hardy up to his cabin to go ice fishing. Yes, that's the type of thing Minnesotans do for fun in the dead of winter. Believe me, the more beer you bring to the ice shack, the more fun you end up having. It's science.

Grady Sizemore is Sorry About That

Grady Sizemore has publicly addressed last November's nude photo scandal that shocked all of Cleveland, Ohio and some of the rest of the country, apologizing to his fans and the organization for the "embarrassment" it has caused.

Grady, you have nothing to be ashamed of, but hopefully you've learned a valuable lesson here: Never, ever, under any circumstances, email, picture-mail, snail-mail, or fax risque photos of yourself. They could be used against you in the future by scorned old flames or ex-wives. Or... of course, they could be "stolen from your email account."

Does anyone actually believe that?

Speaking of shamelessness, we were "part of the problem" when we posted the Indians' center fielder's Myspacey Sexytime self portraits here on Babes Love Baseball. We are not sorry. Or embarrassed.

The three-time All-Star underwent offseason elbow and abdomen surgeries and has been given the go-ahead by his doctors who say Sizemore won't have any limitations when training camp opens in a few weeks.

"I’ve been hitting and throwing and lifting and running and looking sexy everything has felt good," he said.

[Yahoo! Sports] | [Grady's Ladies] | [Sports Untapped]

Merry Christmas Ladies: Grady Sizemore Poses Half Naked for You

Hey there! I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving weekend, I know I did. Anyway, if you're a woman (...or a gay man) and a baseball fan, there's no doubt you've heard about the sexy myspace-style bathroom pictures of Grady Sizemore which were stolen from his inbox.

If you haven't seen them yet, it's our pleasure to bring the beauties to your attention. Here's one to wet your whistle, and here's the rest. Let this be a lesson to all you guys and gals out there who are considering emailing risque photos of yourself to your significant other. DUMB IDEA. Unless you'd like other folks to possibly see them someday.

P.S. To those of you who've already come to the brilliant conclusion that we are horrible people for stooping so low as to objectify the Cleveland Indians centerfielder, I say... it's not the first time, and it most certainly won't be the last.

[AP] | [Busted Coverage]

We Heart You, J.J. Hardy

J.J. Hardy has officially become the second-smoking-hottest third-smoking-hottest Minnesota Twin (second and third to Man Muscles and Nickgasm, of course) after being traded away from the Milwaukee Brewers for outfielder and all-around spazatron Carlos Gomez.

Welcome to Minnesota, big guy.

More on this and other Hot Stove goodness after I stop drooling.

[MLB] | [Dugout Central] | [Brew Crew Ball] | [Twinkie Talk]

The Real Top Ten Hottest Players In Baseball

I'm a woman who has been accused of being more passionate about baseball than I am about boyfriends.

That may be true, but it doesn't mean I'm unable to spot a smokin' hot baseball player when I see one.

An unidentified Fox Sports analyst has recently come up with a list of the Top 10 Hottest Baseball Players, in slideshow format. What the requirements were to land on this list, I have no idea. It's so incredibly wrong in so many ways, I felt the need to speak out about it.

Jimmy Rollins, Barry Zito and Ichiro Suzuki as your top three? Umm, no.

Continue reading this story at Fantasy Pros 911.

Put It Away Joe Nathan

Put those dimples away this instant young man.

Man Muscles Makes History

Even after going 0-for-3 in regular game #163, Minnesota Twins backstop Joe Mauer has earned his second American League batting title.

Man Muscles struck out twice (for just the eighth time this season) and was thrown out in the eighth after bunting the ball like 2 feet. His 0-for night lowered his batting average to .328, just two points ahead of Boston Red Sox midget second baseman Dustin Pedroia, making Mauer the first catcher in either league ever to win two batting titles.

You'd think he'd be pumped about that, but that's not how Joe rolls. He's a team player.

"I'm sure looking back, maybe I can take some positives out and feel good about this year," he said.

Kind of a weak way to end the season, but I still want to have his babies.

[Aaron Gleeman] | [Fanhouse] | [Nick & Nick]

Oh My God, Oh My God, Oh My God, Oh My God

Little did I know at the tender age of 12 -- the year I fell madly in love with Chipper Jones' switch-hitting swing -- I would be lucky enough to see him earn his first batting title, 14 years later.

Hot.

Grady Sizemore Just Got 30% Hotter

Grady Sizemore hit his 30th home run Monday night, becoming the second Cleveland Indians player to hit at least 30 bombs and steal 30 bases in a single season.

Sizemore, who led off the game against the Detroit Tigers and took the second pitch he saw into the visitor's bullpen at Comerica, became the first 30/30 player this season and the first American Leaguer since Alfonso Soriano (Texas Rangers) in 2005.

The other Tribe member to accomplish the feat was Joe Carter in 1987, when he had 32 longballs and 31 steals.

[AP] | [Wax Heaven] | [The Fanhouse] | [Indians Zone]