Random Ramblings

Not much news yesterday,so I figured I would wait a day and combine two slow days into one post...

Value City Department Stores are filing for bankruptcy and will be selling off the remainder of its 37 stores.
Value City has never been in Hagerstown,but did have stores around the area in Frederick,Chambersburg and Cumberland.
But its last ditch effort to downsize last year,it closed them along with roughly 60 others in an effort to save the chain.
Around 4,000 workers will lose their jobs once the stores are liquidated.
The Columbus based store specialized in closeout items,so one never knew what you would find there.
You could go there 10 times and not spend a dime and then hit a inexpensive NHL jersey,where I bought an original Phoenix jersey and Ryan grabbed an Ottawa version.
RIP Value City-you will be missed.

The Pittsburgh Pirates declined the 2.6 million dollar option for Jason Michaels and allowed Doug Mienkiewicz,Chris Gomez and Luis Rivas all to test the free agent market as well.
Michaels would be paid far too much for being the 4th outfielder under that price.
Mienkiewicz would be a better fit on a contender,while Gomez and Rivas just plain suck at any cost.....

More bad news from the hospital ward for the New Jersey Devils as Andy Greene suffered a broken right hand in the loss to Toronto.
Greene assisted on three of the Devils five goals in the loss despite the injury that occurred in the first period on a shot by Pavel Kubina that struck the hand.
Greene had surgery yesterday and will miss four to six weeks.
Sheldon Brookbank will replace Greene in the defensive rotation......

The Devils signed highly regarded Russian left wing Alexander Vasyunov and assigned him to Lowell.
Vasyunov signed a three deal with the Devils after playing sparingly in the KHL (Russian major league) this season.
Vasyunov was the Devils second round selection in the 2006 draft...

The Devils host the Atlanta Thrashers tonight at 7:00

Ohio State is off this week,so no Buckeyes to watch,but I am looking forward to the Texas-Texas Tech in what could be the Red Raiders biggest game in the programs history.
As a long time Raider fan dating back to their old days in the defunct Southwest Conference (although I am not a Mike Leach fan),here is hoping for a Tech win.

The 2009 Carolina League schedule was finally released.
Frederick opens their home slate on April 17th against Salem,now a Boston affiliate.
The Lynchburg Hillcats make their first visit to Harry Grove Stadium on May 18th.

Until tomorrow

Photo Credits
Value City-Unknown