MLB

Pittsburgh Pirates superstar Andrew McCutchen loves Honey Boo Boo. HE LOVES IT. And he's not afraid to admit it.

McCutchen -- who recently signed a 6-year, $51.5 MILLION contract with the Pirates -- was strollin' through L.A. Live yesterday ... at the same time a Carrie Underwood concert was going on.

McCutchen swears he wasn't at the Underwood show (though he says he is a fan) ... but fessed up about his obsession with the "Honey Boo Boo" show.

Derek Jeter made the RIGHT MOVE by trusting his busted ankle to Dr. Robert Anderson ... so says two NFL superstars who tell TMZ Anderson was able to bring them back from some MAJOR foot injuries.

We spoke with Houston Texans QB Matt Schaub ... who went under Anderson's knife over the summer to repair Lisfranc injury (displaced bones) in his right foot.

Schaub tells us ... "Jeter is in great hands ... Dr. Anderson is the best in the business at what he does."

In fact, Schaub says Anderson exceeded his expectations when it came to recovery time -- "Everything was on schedule, and even ahead of schedule."

Schaub also had some words of wisdom for DJ -- "[Jeter] should follow all procedures that he's told and don't worry about anything ... [he] will be even better after the procedure than he was before going in.”

New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw says he also owes his career to Dr. Anderson -- telling TMZ the doc was able to treat him for multiple foot injuries ... and he hasn't lost a step.

"I had the greatest experience ... his staff around him is top of the line ... but to have the best doctor in the world, it's even more comforting."

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter fractured his ankle during last night's loss to the Detroit Tigers and will miss the remainder of the playoffs.

The Captain suffered the injury trying to make a diving play in the 12th inning. He is expected to be sidelined for the next three months, where he will be presumably be waited on hand and foot by the hottest women anyone has ever seen.

Game 2 of the series is today at 4:00 PM ET and it will mark the first playoff game the Yankees have played since 1995 without Jeter. In case you forgot what 1995 was like, here are a few things that didn't exist back then:

-- Facebook
-- Twitter
-- iPhone
-- Abigail Breslin
-- The Hunger Games
-- TMZ (HOW DID WE LIVE?!?!?!)

Jeter's injury isn't expected to be career threatening, but we gotta ask ...

While Alex Rodriguez keeps striking out, Derek Jeter strikes gold ... because he just unloaded his NYC condo for a cool $15.5 mil.

Jeter just sold his penthouse in the Trump World Tower to Brazilian magnate Silvio Luiz Reichert, says the NY Daily News. The four-bedroom apartment has 16-foot floor-to-ceiling windows, a living room, billiards room, piano lounge, wet bar, hardwood floors and an actual word-burning fireplace.

D.J. originally asked for $20 mil, but dropped the price and sealed the deal last month. Fear not ... there are no cardboard boxes in Derek's future, because he still owns a giant mansion in Tampa.

As for A-Rod, he's still trying to dump his $38 million Miami mansion. So far, no takers. Maybe he should call Raul Ibanez.

With his arm in a sling, Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Matt Kemp took his busted left shoulder out clubbing Tuesday night ... just FOUR DAYS after undergoing surgery.

Kemp -- who had arthroscopic work done on his rotator cuff and shoulder -- and the Angels' Torii Hunter hit up Supperclub in Hollywood Tuesday night ... where they battled crowds and the dreaded rose-seller lady on the way out.

Kemp seemed to be in good spirits for a guy who won't be able to swing a bat for the next three months.

Buuuuut ... Kemp just signed a $160 MILLION contract .... so is it a smart move to take your tender, vulnerable shoulder to a place packed with crowds and drunk people?

How's this for irony ... Barry Bonds -- the poster child for steroid abuse in MLB -- is coming to Lance Armstrong's defense after the cyclist was banned from cycling for doping ... claiming Lance got screwed over ( ... of course).

Bonds -- who was found guilty last year of felony obstruction of justice for lying during a federal investigation into steroid use by MLB players -- was leaving BOA steakhouse last night in Hollywood, when he was asked what he thought of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's ruling on Lance.

The photog asked Bonds if he thought Lance had been the victim of a witch hunt -- Bonds replied, "I don't know what they're doing, all I know is I love him. He's a great athlete."

Moral of the story -- for Bonds, the ends justify the means ... even if the means were dirty.

Country singer Luke Bryan admits ... he was reading from his hand and his watch while performing the National Anthem at the MLB All-Star game yesterday ... and says he can explain the whole thing.

Bryan came under fire from critics who claimed checking one's watch while singing the Anthem is plain disrespectful.

But Bryan went to his Twitter page moments ago hoping to clear things up.

Bryan wrote, "I did check my watch because I knew the stealth bomber would fly over 2 minutes in and I knew a [sic] started a little late."

Newly-voted National League MVP Ryan Braun from the Milwaukee Brewers has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs -- but the baseball star is challenging the accusations.

According to multiple reports, Braun was tested during the playoffs this year -- and the test showed his system contained elevated levels of testosterone.

28-year-old Braun is fighting the results, telling the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, he's the victim of "highly unusual circumstances" -- adding, "This is all B.S. I am completely innocent."

Los Angeles Dodgers star James Loney was arrested while being hospitalized in L.A. last month ... after allegedly smashing his Maserati into THREE other cars ... and then spitting at a cop ... this according to a police report obtained by TMZ.

Loney -- who plays 1st base for the Dodgers -- was arrested on November 14th ... because cops say he appeared to be under the influence of drugs after he swerved into a Toyota around 6pm ... and then careened into a Mercedes and a Mini.

According to the report, when cops first arrived to the scene ... Loney told one of the officers, "The bitch hit me from behind."

Cops say Loney appeared to be "restless, unsteady, aggressive and irritable" ... and he "exhibited eyelid tremors and his shirt was soiled and moist from perspiration, from his armpits down to his waistline."

Cops say when officers asked Loney what day it was ... he replied, "7/15 and Saturday" -- when in fact, it was 11/14 and Monday.

Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg seems to be very interested in taking the manager job with his former sworn enemy -- the St. Louis Cardinals -- telling TMZ, "It's a possibility."

Sandberg was recently dissed by his former team -- after the new G.M. Theo Epstein announced he would not consider Ryne to be the next Cubbies' skipper ... however, it's been reported that the rival Cards might want to bring him on board.

Ryne was out in Malibu this weekend, when we asked point blank if St. Louis was interested in his services. Sandberg grinned from ear to ear ... and replied, "We'll see ... it's a possibility."

The hits just keep on coming for Dodgers owner Frank McCourt -- who just announced he's selling the team!

"The Los Angeles Dodgers and Major League Baseball announced that they have agreed today to a court-supervised process to sell the team and its attendant media rights in a manner designed to realize maximum value for the Dodgers and their owner, Frank McCourt," read a joint statement from Frank and the MLB.

The Blackstone Group LP will manage the sale process.

There are rumors that Frank will fetch as much as $1 billion for the team -- but so far, that number is still unconfirmed.

The news of the sale comes a few months after the team filed for bankruptcy -- and one month after Frank's $130 million divorce settlement with ex-wife Jamie.

Frank and Jamie McCourt have reached a divorce settlement which will secure Jamie as a very rich woman, but at a price ... she's relinquishing all claims to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Under the settlement, which must still be approved by the judge, Jamie will snag $130 million ... this according to a report. The judge rejected an earlier settlement proposal, partly because of an unorthodox TV deal that fronted money to Frank. The TV deal is not part of this settlement.

So on the surface -- when it comes to the Dodgers -- it's a big victory for Frank. But insiders say far from a victory, Frank is probably going to lose the team, because at the end of the month a bankruptcy judge will decide if the Dodgers will go on the auction block.

Insiders think the judge will force the sale -- which should produce anywhere from $700 million to a billion bucks for the team.

12:17 PM: Frank and Jamie just released a joint statement ... Jamie will no longer stand between Frank and his TV deal -- claiming, "Jamie will be withdrawing her opposition to the Dodgers proposed sale of media rights and instead will be filing papers in support of the process."

Former Boston Red Sox stud Johnny Damon says his former teammate Jonathan Papelbon earned himself the right to party in New Orleans last weekend ... despite the fact the Sox had just skidded their way out of the playoffs.

Damon -- who played for Tampa Bay last season -- was leaving Boa in Hollywood last night ... when we asked about the photos of the Red Sox closer firing off beads on Bourbon street.

Damon replied, "[losing is] never easy and Jonathan Papelbon has had a great career so far ... so he can do whatever he wants."

He added, "I'm glad he's enjoying himself, I wish he was on my team."

San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow has finally been released from the hospital -- more than 6 months after he was beaten within an inch of his life in the Dodgers Stadium parking lot.

Stow has been making tremendous progress in his recovery -- recently talking with family members and friends.

Doctors say Stow will continue his treatment at an undisclosed long-term rehabilitation facility. Stow's doctor says his recovery will take years.

The 42-year-old paramedic's family released a statement -- saying, "We feel immense relief today, knowing that Bryan is ready to start the next chapter of his story."

Stow suffered severe brain injuries on March 31 after the Dodger's regular season opener against the Giants.

It doesn't matter that his team was eliminated from the MLB playoffs in one of the most epic September slides in baseball history -- Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon went out this weekend and partied his face off anyway!!!

Papelbon -- who reportedly made $12 mil in 2011 -- hit up Bourbon Street in New Orleans with some buddies Friday night.

In case you missed it, Pap's Sox blew 18 of their final 24 games ... and were shockingly eliminated from the playoffs two weeks ago when they lost the last game of the regular season.

Who needs the World Series when you've got a fistful of beads?

Manny Ramirez -- former star of the L.A. Dodgers and Boston Red Sox -- has been formally charged by the Broward State Attorney's Office with misdemeanor domestic violence and battery.