Pirates and Dimondbacks Drama

Hey All,

I know I haven't been on here much this year with my blog, and for the I apologize. Just been busy with a bunch of other stuff. But never fear, I'm back and better than ever, and boy do I have a good one for you folks tonight. Late last week the Pirates took on the Diamondback's in Arizona, and boy did sparks start to fly. It all got started on Friday and then got worse from there. There was late game missed calls, players being beamed, and managers getting tossed. This isn't enough for me though. I feel that more fines should be held to the Diamondbacks organization for what they did in Saturday's game.

To be fair in the matter at hand, this case started on Friday night in the 9th inning of the game. Pirate Pitcher Ernesto Frieri plunked D-backs All-Star Paul Goldschmidt on the hand fracturing it. This only becomes significant because he is behind Andrew McCutchen in the NL MVP race. Goldschmidt is more than likely going to miss the rest of the regular season because of his hand and is about 95% chance he is out of the race for NL MVP.

Now let's flash to Saturday's game all the way to the 9th inning, yet again. This time D-Backs pitcher Randall Delgado drills Andrew McCutchen in the small of his back with a 95 MPH Fastball. Now most would think it's retaliation, and you would be right. But, there is a bit of principle here. Now, if McCutchen would have just gotten hit by a pitch, I'd be okay with this and wouldn't be writing this. That wasn't the case on Saturday. Now had this beaming happen in the first inning, the second inning, hell I'd even take the third inning there would be no problem. This happened in the 9th inning, they waited the entire game, and that's not right. Not only that, but the sign that was given to Delgado was really obvious as to what was going to happen.

Delgado got a sign that was a middle finger pointed down, and then pointed right to McCutchen. This was after the Catcher looked at the coach for the call. So this came from the Manager. Now, the Manager had been tossed earlier in the game for making a big scene with Martin after Friday's night game, and then getting into it with the Umps after a questionable call in Saturday's game. So it came from back up Manager, or was called in from the club house. Either way this call came from the bench, and wasn't just the players doing this on their own.  

The one major problem that I have with these actions is NOTHING was done about it. Even McCutchen, who typically keeps his cool had something to say. “They had all game to retaliate. They had the first inning to retaliate. They had the first pitch (of the ninth inning at-bat) to retaliate. They missed. You throw a slider on the second pitch and then you throw up and in on the next pitch. Are you trying to hurt me too? That’s the question…. We understand that retaliation is going to happen in this game. But you know, there’s a right way to do it. If you’re going to hit me, hit me. He hit me square in the spine. If I get hurt, what happens then?”

I couldn't have said this better myself. Something needs to happen to the Diamondbacks origination. Fines, suspensions, or a combination of the two, no matter what, something needs to be done by MLB. This is getting out of hand. Someone is going to get hurt, and this late in the season, it could case a team to miss the postseason. If I had my way, the Pitcher Delgado, the Catcher who put the sign up, and both Manager, and acting Manager at the time should all be fined, and all be suspend for their actions. Not only was it classless, but it was uncalled for. This could have very well ended Cutchen's season as well as his career. The ball did hit him right in the spin. The league needs to do something and it needs to do something quick. I mean hell, it's already Tuesday night, and nothing has happened yet. How long do we have to wait for a punishment? Sure shouldn't be this long, and I won't rest until something is done.

Until Next Time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports. 

Punches in Pittsburgh Punishment

Hey All,

I'm sure If you've watched Sports Center you've seen the bench clearing brawl between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Pittsbugh Pirates. This all started after Gomez and Cole had words after Gomez hit a triple off of Cole.

Today the league handed out the punishment. There were four players involved, and ESPN has more on this story.

Carlos Gomez suspended 3 games http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10822556/major-league-baseball-issues-penalties-milwaukee-brewers-pittsburgh-pirates-scuffle?ex_cid=null -via SportsCenter http://bit.ly/zzSpRY

After these suspensions were handed out, Gomez, Snider, and Martin are appealing their suspensions. I think this is a great move for Snider and Martin, not so much Gomez. I feel this way because Snider and Martin were sticking up for their pitcher Cole. Not to mention that Snyder got drilled by a Brewer defending Cole, Martin was just out there to support his teammates, but Gomez started the whole thing by being cocky. 

I don't think the suspensions are just. For one, Gomez deserves more than a 5 game suspension. He is a repeat offender, who said in his statement after the game "That's how I play, if they don't like it then they don't like it." He's telling everyone he's not going to stop with his attitude on the field, and basically start more bench clearing brawls on the diamond. 

Second Martin shouldn't get a suspension for defending a fellow teammate, and Snider got blasted in the face and taken out by another Brewer, again for defending his pitcher. There is no reason for these two to have a suspension, but Gomez needs more than 5 games for this. What is 5 games? Like a series and a half, in the beginning of the season? Who cares about that? It means nothing. I say a full week of games worth of suspensions. 

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports

Two Game, Two Extra Innings Walk Offs

Hey All,

Well it's official, the baseball season is upon us, and boy did it get off to great start. A lot of teams seemed to look like there was no layoff from the Winter season. They jumped right back into things like there was no offseason. One of the teams is the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are playing some great baseball right now, like they did last season. The pitching is right where it was last season, even after losing their ace A.J. Burnett to the Phillies. The hitting is right where it was when the season ended last year, with maybe a few cobwebs that need beaten off, but who doesn't need to do that. It seems like the only way to go for the Pirates, is up.

The season got underway this past Monday March 30th with opening day against the Cubs. This game was a pitchers duel throughout the entire game, as it was 0-0 going into the 9th inning. Neither team could buy of run in this game because of the pitching. Francisco Liriano pitched a gem on opening day. He went 6 innings with only few hits and 10 K's. He is one of few Pirates who had double digit strikeouts on opening day. Though Liriano didn't get the win on opening day you still can't say that he didn't deserve a win, if only he got a little run support. The Bucs were able to get a win in the bottom of the 10th inning on a Neil Walker walk off home run. This is Walker's first walk off home run ever, and it just so happen to happen on opening day in Pittsburgh.

Yesterday, Wednesday April 2nd, the Bucs had their hands full with the Cubs yet again. Only this time, there was a lot more runs scored, and innings played. This game had a lot of excitement with run support, as well as pitching. This game was 2-1 in favor of the Bucs in the top of the 9th. This meant it was time for the closer. Jason Grilli was called in to close the game out, and I thought it was a done deal. Well, the Cubs had other plans. They were able to get a run and stop Grilli from getting his first save of the season. This meant that the Bucs were going into extras for the second time in as many games. This hasn't happened since 1964 that the Bucs had to go into extras two times in two games, and oddly enough, it was against the Cubs.

This game though, wouldn't just go 10 innings, it would go 16 innings and had just as much excitement. In the 12th inning, the Cubs were able to take the lead 3-2 and it looked like the Bucs were going to lose this game. Well, they had other plans. They were able to get another run off the bat of Marte, and no one was able to get a run until the 16th inning. The Bucs looked like they weren't going to make it out of the 16th and the game was going to go into the 17th, but Tony Sanchez had other plans. With runners on the corners and a full count, Sanchez had one pitch left to face. He was able to slap a ball into left and score Marte from third. This was just as exciting as Walkers, because this was also Sanchez's first career walk off RBI.

This is a great start for the Pirates, and lets everyone know that they are no joke and are here to contend. The bullpen has been able to hold down the fort like they did all of last season. The hitting and the defense has been there like it was last season. The only thing that I see is room for more improvement. They are only going to get better from this point on, and I can't wait to see how this season turns out.

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports. 

Opening Day is Almost Here

Hey All,

As I'm sure most of you know, the baseball season is about to get underway. Spring training is almost to a close, and the teams are about to get out of their camps, and into their home stadiums. A lot of the teams have made some strides in Spring Training, and others picked up right where they left off. 

The one team I will be talking about today, and for most of the season, is the Pittsburgh Pirates. Yes, because they are my favorite team, and yes they are also my hometown team. Along with that they are one of the least recognized teams in the league, and don't get the respect that they deserve. So, that is why I'm here. To give them the recognition that they rightfully deserve. 

They went into Spring Training coming off of their best season in a very long time. Roughly around 21 years of being under .500 and not even coming close to the postseason. Now that's all changed. They had a winning season and made it past the opening round of the playoffs last season, and things are looking up for the Battling Bucco's. 

They are returning most of their starters from last year, and have made great moves in their farm leagues. The pitching staff is right where it left off, minus the work of A.J. Burnett, who has retired after a long a successful career. Pittsburgh has made the necessary moves to fill the void of the Ace. The only problem is, they have too much talent and not enough roster spots. There just isn't enough room at the table for everyone, and a lot of quality guys will be moving down to AAA Indianapolis.  For example, left handed pitcher (LHP) Michael Schlereth, son of former NFL great and ESPN Analysis Mark Schlereth. Schlereth hasn't given up a run this Spring Training, yet he was told that, even though he's had a great Spring Training, there just isn't room in the bullpen for him.

Now even though he won't be moved up with the club, that doesn't mean that he won't get a chance to play for the team this year. Baseball is a very long season, and you just simply can't predict injuries, trades, or anything else that could effect a player this year. I'm almost certain that Michael will be playing for the team at some point in time this season. 

The Pirates will have their home opener, as well as opening day, on March 31 and I can't wait to see what they bring to the table this year. I have all the faith in the world that the Pirates will be a contender this year and will make a strong run through the postseason. 

Until next time,

You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports. 

Peavy Cuts Finger in Accident

Hey All,

Boston Red Sox pitcher Jake Peavy, who was scheduled to start tomorrow in Florida, was scratched after he cut his finger on his non throwing hand with a fishing knife on Saturday. This was all said by manager John Farrell. Farrell also went on to say that the accident happened where Peavy is staying in Florida, and that Peavy had a procedure Sunday. 

"He's going to be 'no-throw' for three days and then initiate a throwing program off the mound," Farrell said. "It's his non-throwing hand, so he can keep his arm in shape, but he's a scratch for tomorrow." 

Since Peavy cannot go, Brandon Workman will get the start against the Pirates instead. The plan for the Red Sox was for all of their veteran starters to get 5 starts in spring training. Since Peavy will have to miss this start, it's uncertain if he's going to be able to keep that schedule. Farrell said that since this injury is on his glove hand, they would be able to pad the finger to give it added protection for when he does return. 

This isn't the worst news that the Red Sox have had to go through, considering what they went through last season, and I think they turned out all right. After all, this is only spring training, and it's a very long season. Since this injury didn't accrue to his throwing hand, there really isn't any means to freak out about this one. 

The Red Sox have been through a lot, and have turned it around in the past few years. Espically with all the short comings to the Yankees, and the rest of their devision, I think they will have a very good chance at the post season again. Seeing how they were able to handle the Orioles today, winning by a score of 8-6 on 12 hits, and only gave up 9 on the other end. Yes I know that in spring training, up to this point, they are 1-2 and took down a team that was 2-0. This is  a good sign that they are able to play with this big boys. 

Until next time,

You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports 

A Rod Latest

Hey All,

There is more news on the latest in the Alex Rodriguez injury/biogensis case. It's looking like A Rod is going to make his debut in the majors this Monday against Chicago.

For more on this store read the link below.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/scott-miller/23013919/joe-girardi-arod-will-be-in-the-lineup-monday-night-if-activated via http://cbssportsapp.com

Until next time.
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports

Baseball Update

Hey All,

A quick baseball update for ya, and what has gone on, prior to, and now that it's the first games back since the All Star break. There has been a lot that has gone on right before the break. Some good, some bad, but mostly bad for one team in particular. The team is not one I am to fond of, but non to less you never want anything bad to happen to anyone. That team would be the New York Yankees.

The Yankees have had one of the worst starts they have ever had. Injuries have plagued their team, and it just seems like if it can go wrong, it has gone wrong. Besides the injuries there's also the biogenisus scandal going on, which one player specifically is right in the middle of it. We'll get to that a little later, right now the injuries is what interests me the most.

The Yankees have had almost all of their stars go on the DL, some of which are still there. Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, these are just some of the names for the Yanks that are on the DL, and it's not looking good.  A Rod has been out all year and is finishing up his rehab assignments now, and Teixeira has been back for only a handful of games this year. The newest name to this ever growing list of injuries is Derek Jeter. Jeter has just been put on the 15 day DL with a strained Quad. He says it feels fine, yet he hasn't ran on it yet. So, I don't know how he can sit there and say it's fine, when he hasn't tested it out yet.

The next thing that really is hurting the Yankees is the Biogenisus scandal, that has A Rod right smack dab in the middle of it. He has already been caught before using PED's, and this will be his second offense. For second time offenders, it can bring up to a 100 game suspension, and that will crush the Yankees this season. They've only had A Rod for one game this season, and he only produced one hit, and had to be taken out before the game was over because he was have discomfort in his quad. There's only one other catch to this story, and that's Rodriguez might not just be suspended for 100 games, he could receive a life time band from the game of baseball for lying about using PED's.

To make matters worse for the Yankees, their first series back from the All Star Break, they get the Red Sox. A rivalry game that means everything to both these teams. The Red Sox beat the Yankees very easily by a score of 4-2. Doubront got the win, bringing him to a 7-3 record and is looking strong moving forward. Pettitte got the lose bringing him to 7-7 on the season and isn't looking good.

The scoring got started in the Bottom of the 1st inning when Ellsbury homered to right on a 1-0 count. After that Napoli was able to reach base for Gomes. Gomes hit a 2 run blast over the monster on a 2-2 count. Making the score 3-0 Red Sox. Another point wasn't scored until the Top of the 4th inning when Catcher Saltalamacchia committed an error, and Gardner was able to score. The next points were scored by the Yanks on a double to left from Stewart scoring Overbay. This was the Top of the 5th inning. This put the Yanks back in the game, but not for long. The Sox got yet another run, and the final run of the game, in the Bottom of the 7th inning on a single to right from Iglesias scoring Gomes. After that closer Uehara would come in and get his 9th save of the year and shut it down.

New York didn't need this game to go the way that it did. As of right now, based on the way they've played and how well the rest of their Division is doing, they only have a 7% chance of making the playoffs this year. This is very uncommon for the Yanks, they have been consistently in the post-season for the past 17 times out of the last 18 years. To make matter worse for the Yankees, the Pittsburgh Pirates have over a 90% chance of making the post-season this season, and they haven't had a winning record for a record breaking 21 straight seasons.

The Battling Buccos are having one of the best starts to their season in a long time. They've won more games in the first half of the season, then they've ever had  since 1996. In my opinion, they have a great team and everyone is doing their part, and helping this team to make a playoff run. There's only one problem with this, and that's the Division that they play in. It's one of the hardest Divisions in the Majors if you ask me. With the Reds, who are always a tough team, the Cardinals, who are always at the top of the Division, and the Brewers, who the Pirates just can't seem to beat, it makes it very hard to make the playoffs. But I'm not asking for a playoff birth this season. I'm asking for a winning season to break this streak of losing ones, as I'm sure every Pirates fan is wishing for.

This baseball season has been one of the most unpredictable seasons I've ever seen. With teams who shouldn't be up in the running for the playoffs, to teams who are always up there, being at the bottom of the Division. I can't wait to see how the rest of the season plays out, and will keep you up to date with everything that happens along the way.

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports.

Red Sox Spring Training

Hey All,

Today, down in the spring training camps for the Red Sox, there was a familiar face on the field. Former catch, and caption Jason Varitek was back in Red Sox red and blue helping out the catchers.

Varitek is in a new role since retiring in 2011 and taking 2012 off to be with his family. He is now in an assistant role with the Red Sox, and will be helping build a new foundation with the club.

Most reporters are use to seeing Varitek with ice bags on just about every part of his body, but today was a different story. He was in a white polo with multiple color strips, gray pants and gray Nike's. Not his usual look, but all in all probably a better look for a seasoned vet. He spent 13 minutes and 43 seconds with the media today, and I think the old timer found a new favorite word. He use the word "learning" about a dozen times in that 13 minute interview.

"I'm learning a lot of different areas, different avenues," said Varitek "Just learning. I'm going to be involved in a lot of different areas, and have been since September. Part of building that foundation, you learn what the coaches are doing, what baseball ops are doing, what the minor-league coordinators are doing. In my position, it's a lot of learning and understanding what everybody's doing."

Varitek will be helping out with the minor-league and scouting for the up and coming draft in June. Also, which the Red Sox organization like the most, he will be helping out the catchers. He's already on the field now with the catchers showing them his tricks of the trade.

Now I say the man is more then qualified to do this: with three All-Star Game appearances, a Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger award, and not to mention 2 World Series rings on his finger, I'd say he's more than qualified for that job. To go along with that, the man was just a tough player, and
left everything out on the field. That's why, when he was a player, in his post-game interviews he had ice bags on every part of his body; shoulder, knees, back, neck, hamstrings, and that's just what we could see.

I can't wait to see what he will do for the organization, since he's done so much on the field, I can't wait to see what happens with him off the field. Clearly it can't do anything but improve what the Red Sox were last season, and a playoff birth would be a good goal to shot for this year.

World Series Sweep

Hey All,

Last night was game four of the MLB World Series, and it was one for the ages. It was San Francisco's to loss from game one. After they gave Verlander a run for his money, I knew that the Giants would have yet another World Series Title.

The Giants were able to sweep the Tigers and take home their second Title in just 3 years. Their win Sunday was do in large part to their pitching. It was outstanding throughout the playoffs. Now let's take a look at who produced in critical times for the Giants.

 Marco Scutaro, who else? delivered one more key hit this October, a go-ahead single with two outs in the 10th inning that lifted the Giants to a 4-3 win.

On a night of biting cold, stiff breezes and some rain, the Giants combined the most important elements of championship baseball. After three straight wins that looked relatively easy, they sealed this victory when Sergio Romo got Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera to look at strike three for the final out. ''Tonight was a battle,'' Giants star Buster Posey said. ''And I think tonight was a fitting way for us to end it because those guys played hard. They didn't stop, and it's an unbelievable feeling.'' ''Detroit probably didn't know what it was in for,'' Giants general manager Brian Sabean said. ''Our guys had a date with destiny.''


''Tonight was a battle,'' Giants star Buster Posey said. ''And I think tonight was a fitting way for us to end it because those guys played hard. They didn't stop, and it's an unbelievable feeling.''

Posey, the only player who was in the starting lineup when San Francisco beat Texas in the 2010 clincher, and the underdog Giants celebrated in the center of the diamond at Comerica Park.

Posey put the Giants ahead 3-2 with a two-run homer in the sixth and Delmon Young hit a tying home run in the bottom half. It then became a matchup of bullpens, and the Giants prevailed. Ryan Theriot led off the 10th with a single against Phil Coke, moved up on Brandon Crawford's sacrifice and scored on a shallow single by Scutaro, the MVP of the NL championship series. Center fielder Austin Jackson made a throw home, to no avail.


I think what happened to Detroit was the layoff that they had from sweeping the Yankee's in the ALCS. They had more than a week off, and you would think that would help a team, yet it did not. The only thing the layoff did for the Tigers was make them sloppy. The pitching was horrendous, they bats disappeared, and  the players just looked like they didn't care anymore. But what surprised me the most, was how quick this postseason went for the MLB. It was over in a blink of an eye. The excitement of late inning games, and game 7's, just didn't happen this season. It's quite sad to see, if you love baseball, you just don't want it to end.

I'm sorry to have to say this to you baseball lovers out there, but it's Football season, and hopefully soon it will be Hockey season. All good things must come to an end, and for the Tigers, it ended in extra innings in game four of the World Series.

Read more at http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/san-francisco-giants-beat-detroit-tigers-four-games-win-world-series-02812

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports.

The Collapse of The Pirates

Hey All,

Today is a very sad day in the land of the Burg. It's now October and the battlin buccos should be preparing for the postseason, but yet they are not. Following the worst half of baseball that I have ever seen in my life. The Pirates have now had 20 straight losing seasons. That sets an MLB record, a record no team what's to hold. Unforchantaly the Buccos own that record.

The Pirates fell apart right after the trade deadline. There was no stopping it, the management had made its decision. They should have kept the team as it was when they were winning, instead of trying to bring a new comer in. Pedro Alvarez said it the best, "we should have kept all of us together, and not try and make some big move."

If you look back on when the Bucs were winning, you'll notice that they were just out there to have fun and play baseball. Between throwing up the Zoltan Z after every hit, and the pitchers having more enthusiasm after every pitch, that was when the Pirates were winning games. Then the pressure got to them after the All Star break and they fell apart.

Do I think Wandy Rodriguez was a bad pick up, no, but I don't believe he was a good fit in the Pirates pitching rotation. When manager Clint Hurdle moved around the starting rotation is when he got into pitcher James McDonald's head and his "stuff" wasn't there anymore. He was in the heads of his players. Hurdle shouldn't have picked up a pitcher, but rather pick up a position player to help out the hitting. The Pirates weren't losing games by much, in the first half of the season, just by 1 or 2 runs. If they would have brought in a big bat to help out, I think I'd be talking about how far the Bucs are going to go into the playoffs, rather than them missing it yet again and having an under .500 season.

The last thing the bugs me about the Pirates season was the fans chanting "MVP!! MVP!!! MVP!!!" every time McCutchen got up to bat. Do I think he had a chance at it, in the first half of the season, yes. Do I think he carried that team at that time, yes. Do I think if they had a first half MVP as well as a second half MVP that he would have won it, yes. But that does not mean that he is going to get it. Yes I know he was batting in the 400's and his slugging and on base percentage were outrageous, but by no means was he in MVP forum.

All in all the Pirates had a good season, and have a lot of room for improvement. I've said this countless times but if they can find and put a team together that works, and that is winning an having fun, they will be a nice team and can make a good run for October and the postseason.

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports.

More Problems In Boston

Hey All,

Boston Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks' season might be over.

More On The Red Sox Gordon Edes and the rest of the ESPNBoston.com team have the Red Sox covered for you.

He was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday after he broke a bone in his right hand. Middlebrooks was hit by a pitch in the ninth inning of Friday's game by Cleveland Indians reliever Esmil Rogers.

"He had a terrific run for us," Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said. "He's a terrific player. I don't think he'll be back this year. He might for a short stint, I don't know.

"I couldn't be happier or more proud of everything he did and developing into the player that he did. It's a damn shame."

The Red Sox recalled third baseman Danny Valencia from Triple-A Pawtucket to take Middlebrooks' place on the roster.

Middlebrooks, 23, emerged after an injury to former Red Sox slugger Kevin Youkilis. Because Middlebrooks played so well, the Red Sox were able to trade Youkilis to the Chicago White Sox.

Middlebrooks was batting .288 with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs.

"I see no silver lining of him not being in the lineup," Valentine said.

Valencia was acquired from the Twins on Aug. 5 in exchange for minor league outfielder Jeremias Pineda. Valencia was sent to Triple-A Pawtucket. While he was recalled Saturday, he didn't arrive in Cleveland in time for the start of Saturday's game.

Valentine commended Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington for the Valencia trade.

"Good job by Ben and his crew, trying to increase the depth at different positions," he said.

Valencia could get the bulk of the playing time at third. Pedro Ciriaco was at third against the Indians on Saturday.

"I have no idea (what we'll do)," Valentine said. "We'll figure it out, though. There are no concrete plans."

Mike Aviles, in the lineup at shortstop on Saturday, won't be shifted to third.

Valencia batted just .198 in 34 games with the Twins this season. Valentine said Valencia fell out of good graces with the Twins.

"There was something they didn't like over there," Valentine said.

The new scenery could be exactly what Valencia needs.

"We like his approach at the plate," Valentine said. "We like his defensive abilities. It seems like his head was in the right place."

Valentine said it's time players wear a protective apparatus on the wrist to prevent injuries such as the one Middlebrooks suffered. He said two or three times every year players are sidelined with broken hands.

Meanwhile, Red Sox DH David Ortiz is experiencing some soreness in his strained Achilles. Trainer Rick Jameyson told Valentine that Ortiz's leg bothers him only when he runs straight ahead.

"He had off yesterday and felt great," Valentine said. "Today he is going to hit and run.

"We are trying to make sure he has no setback."

Bob Finnan is a contributor to ESPNBoston.com.

It just seems to be one problem after the other for Boston. They just can't seem to catch a break this year. With the way they are looking right now I see no chance of them making the postseason, yet again. Unless they can make a miraculous come back from now till October. But they will have to win every series from here on out.

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports.

Walk-Off Winner

Hey All,

The Boston Red Sox were taking on the Chicago White Sox at Fenway. The Red Sox had a 2-1 lead in the series and were looking to bring the brooms out last night. They did just that, by in dramatic fashion with a 3 run walk off homer by Cody Ross.

Ross' 5-year-old son stood behind him as he sat at a podium during a postgame interview session, triggering him to recall when he first started to enjoy hitting in the clutch.

"I've always wanted to be up in those situations since I was like my son's age," Ross said of his three-run homer in the ninth that lifted the Boston Red Sox to a 3-1 victory against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night. "It's a great feeling, especially when you're the hero."

Ross' dramatic shot came one night after he hit three-run homers in back-to-back innings of a 10-1 victory.

Before the game, he was jokingly asked if there'd be a repeat performance.

"I thought it was kind of a dumb question, but I guess it wasn't," he said, smiling, with his blond-haired son, Hudson, just off to his left.

Boston took three of four games in the series and is 5-2 since the All Star break.

It was the fifth loss in 13 games for AL Central-leading Chicago, which opens three-game series at second-place Detroit on Friday night.

Boston's Clay Buchholz had a solid start, allowing one run, six hits, striking out six and walking one in eight innings. But he was set to be the loser until Ross' blast.

"I was sitting on the couch watching," he said. "He's been in big situations and is a guy that thrives in those situations most of the year."

When Ross reached home plate, he was met by Nick Punto, who tore his jersey.

"He was famous for that in St. Louis [last postseason]," Ross said. "I met the shredder."

While Buchholz had his own little celebration.

"I was running around the clubhouse," he said.

Matt Thornton (2-6) got one out, but left with runners on first and second before Addison Reedfaced Ross, who hit a 1-1 pitch into the Green Monster seats.

Carl Crawford opened the ninth with a single, but was erased on Dustin Pedroia's fielder's choice grounder. Adrian Gonzalez then singled to right before Reed came in. Just before the first pitch, Boston sent Punto in to pinch run, slowing Reed down a bit.

"You go back and forth and make decisions, figure them out," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of electing to open the inning with Thornton. "You got the two lefties coming up with Crawford and Gonzalez, so you know you know you still got Reeder out there if Ross and the rest of the righties come up."

Reed just felt he missed badly with the pitch.

"It was supposed to be a fastball away, and it just sailed over the middle of the plate and he got a good piece on it," he said.

Alfredo Aceves (1-6) pitched one inning for the victory.

Chicago rookie left-hander Jose Quintana continued the impressive start to his career, pitching eight shutout innings.

Quintana held Boston to five hits, striking out two and not walking a batter in his 10th major-league start. The 23-year old has held opponents two runs or fewer in eight starts.

Buchholz had been given the second-most run support in the majors at 7.48 runs per nine innings -- only behind teammate Felix Doubront's 8.38 per -- but the Red Sox couldn't solve the rookie lefty.

Boston was held to one hit until loading the bases with one out in the seventh on singles by Pedroia, Gonzalez and Ross. Shortstop Alexei Ramirez was leaning the wrong way on Will Middlebrooks' liner, dove back, grabbed the ball on one hop and fired to second to start an inning-ending double play.

The White Sox grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Adam Dunn drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on Paul Konerko's single, barely beating right fielder Ross' throw. Alex Rios followed with his sacrifice fly to center and Dunn trotted home easily.

Unlike Wednesday night when the Red Sox pounded a rookie left-handed starter for eight runs, three home runs and 12 hits in four innings, Boston had only Pedro Ciriaco's two-out triple in the third.

Second baseman Pedroia returned from the 15-day disabled list after being out with a strained right thumb and went 1 for 4.

Chicago's Kevin Youkilis didn't play because of a tight left hamstring. He was 4 for 8 with a home run and three RBI in his first series against his former team of 7½ years since being traded on June 24.

This can only mean good things for the Boston Red Sox. They are getting healthy, starting to hit the long ball, and winning games since the All Star Break. This happened last year with Boston getting off to a slow start, picking it up near the middle, but we all remember the crumble that happened last September. As a Red Sox fan I hope there's no crumble this year, but rather just great baseball and a run for the postseason.

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports.

Batting Crown In Pittsburgh?

Hey All,

The battlin Bucs are heating up, including that of center fielder Andrew McCutchen who looks to bring a batting title to Pittsburgh.

For the Pirates, home is where you hang your crown. Yet the Bucs' home is also where hitters hang their heads, mourning drives that become warning-track fatalities.

The man promising to bring the NL batting crown "home" has barreled-up on that contradiction. Andrew McCutchen returns to PNC Park on Friday night accompanied by the rest of the first-place Pirates and enough flashing numbers to make Elias' head spin.

McCutchen's .369 average puts him in position to add to the Pirates' 25 historical batting titles, the most for any Major League team (St. Louis is runner-up in the NL with 22 crowns, while Red Sox players have won 24 AL titles).

Amazing enough that average is 153 points above what McCutchen produced in the second half of the 2011 season. It has a lot to do with Pirates ownership's reaction to that swoon: A six-year, $51.5 million contract extension agreed to during Spring Training.

"That freed up Andrew," manager Clint Hurdle said. "His attitude became, 'I can just go and play now.' Sometimes something like that can lock up a guy, worried about living up to it. Not him."

McCutchen is also contending for the NL home run crown. His 22 are second to Ryan Braun's 26, after McCutchen waited until the Bucs' 29th game to hit No. 1.

The future Home Run Derby participant did not connect for his first homer until May 8, a game he had also begun with an average of .298. In 61 games since McCutchen is batting .404, with 22 home runs and 58 RBIs.

"The thing is, those first five weeks he was getting pitches to hit, but wasn't hitting them," Hurdle recalled. "He's not missing them now. He's playing the game the best he's ever played."

All this makes the center fielder the embodiment of Pittsburgh's strange journey along the National League Central's yellow brick road. For he has built, and will try to maintain, those incredible numbers in a home park that was designed to be pitcher-friendly and has lived up to that blueprint.

Wait, you say, haven't the Bucs led the Majors in scoring since the start of June? That they have, and it is a contradiction that leads to the most confounding part of the Pirates' contention for the division title.

Good thing that Hurdle keeps saying that the season's outcome will define this team because, at the moment, it defies definition. Throw all of the team's stats into a numbers-crunching machine and it would sputter, emit sparks and finally just blow up.

The Bucs' well-chronicled offensive turnaround has had less to do with adjusted swings than with the schedule. Through May, which they ended with a ridiculous team average of .218, the Pirates played 29 of 50 games at home. Since then they have played 25 of 41 games on the road.

The Pirates have hit 64 of their 101 home runs on the road, where they average 4.5 runs compared to 3.7 at home. Despite this their 29-14 record in PNC Park is the Majors' best home mark.

It doesn't make sense until the spotlight shines on their collective 2.39 ERA in those 43 home games, more than two runs lower than the road mark (4.68).

"Our pitchers love pitching at home. It's a pitcher-friendly ballpark," Hurdle reiterated. "When you develop a home-field mentality, you build your club to your home field. What we tried to do is get the personnel in place we need to have success.

"But," Hurdle added, "our guys have gotten over the mentality that left field is too deep, that it is not a hitter's park. It is -- if you hit line drives and keep the ball low and hit it hard, good things will happen. There's a lot of grass out there."

There was also a lot of grass around the 457-foot center field sign in Forbes Field -- where 13 of the Pirates' batting titles were won between 1909-1970. Before that, Exposition Park hosted seven bat kings. Three Rivers Stadium produced four titles, while Freddy Sanchez's 2006 title was the only one in PNC Park's first 12 seasons.

McCutchen thrives among those grass blades, although his wrists can generate the bat-speed and power to send balls soaring over them. His 10 home runs at PNC Park account for 27 percent of the team's home total. He also is hitting 30 points higher at home (.386) than on the road (.356).

He shouldn't count on those MVP chants subsiding during the upcoming six games against the Marlins and Cubs.

McCutchen's version of his breakthrough is as monotonous as the two, three hits he seems to be getting daily.

"[I'm] just going up there trying to hit the ball hard, without trying to do too much," McCutchen keeps saying. His modesty belies all the hard offseason work the All-Star put in to get to this point.

"He worked on things he had to do to be the best player he can be and he hasn't varied from that for one day," Hurdle said. "It's a very special time and place for him. And the other thing is, he's having fun with it. Too many times, we get that head-down-and-grind mentality of, 'I've got to do well' and falling to pieces if things don't go right. Andrew is enjoying this ride."

He enjoys it the most of any of the Pirates hitters when the ride pulls into PNC Park. On a personal level that is. Everyone is stoked by the wins, but when it comes to maintaining offensive equilibrium, no one is as balanced as McCutchen.

Go down the line: Pedro Alvarez has 13 road homers among his 19 (a total which pairs with McCutchen to form the NL's second-best one-two punch, behind only the Milwaukee twosome of Braun and Corey Hart). Casey McGehee has hit seven of his eight on the road and Neil Walker is hitting 59 points higher on the road (.324) than at home (.265).

The Pirates' chief home-field advantage is knowing what to expect and how to prepare for it. Hurdle's lineup often reflects the defensive needs of the day's pitcher, whether his tendency is to get grounders or get to the ball in the air.

By the time a visiting team might have figured it out, it has to move on.

"Our confidence level spikes at home," Hurdle said. "It's not like we aren't confident on the road, but at our place and in front of our fans, it's just different."

Home Run Derby

Hey All,

Prince Fielder made a splash at the All-Star Home Run Derby. Eight of them.

The Detroit slugger joined Ken Griffey Jr. as the only players to win multiple titles, thrilling the crowd at Kauffman Stadium with several shots into the right-field fountain and beating Toronto's Jose Bautista 12-7 in the final Monday night.

"Just being mentioned with him is real special," said Fielder, who spent time at Griffey's house when he was a kid. "My dad would let me go over and play video games all day. He always took care of me when I was a kid."

On a night when the Yankees' Robinson Cano was repeatedly booed and went homerless, Fielder put on the most powerful display among baseball's big boppers. Winner at St. Louis' Busch Stadium three years ago, Fielder had a total of 28 home runs over three rounds to cap the main event on the eve of the All-Star game. He hit the four longest drives of the night, including a pair at 476 feet.

"They were far," he said. "That's not easy to hit it out there."

While the ball stayed out of McCovey Cove during the 2007 Derby at San Francisco's AT&T Park and the right-field swimming pool last year at Chase Field in Phoenix, there was plenty of aquatic activity in Kansas City, second only to Rome for most fountains in cities around the world.

After three splash shots among his five homers in the first round, Fielder started off the second round as the setting sun lit up clouds in a pretty pink behind the left-field wall. His mop of dreadlocks visible as he hit without a helmet, Fielder deposited four more balls into the 322-foot-wide water spectacular, which by then was illuminated in the twilight.

He added another water drive in the final round, then leaned against one of his sons while he watched Bautista swing.

"I'm a little disappointed," Bautista said. "I'm capable of doing more. I had a lot of fun doing it."

When he won three years ago in St. Louis, Fielder's 23 homers included a 503-foot drive that disappeared between two sections of bleachers in right-center. Griffey won titles in 1994 at Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium, 1998 at Denver's Coors Field and 1999 at Boston's Fenway Park.

Cano set a final-round record of 12 en route to last year's title in Phoenix, where he hit 32 overall. This year he was the object of loud booing throughout by fans upset he didn't select the Royals' Billy Butler after promising to take a hometown player for his derby team.

Fans chanted "Bil-ly Butler!" in between their boos. When it was over, Cano got hugs from Boston's David Ortiz and Yankees teammates Curtis Granderson and CC Sabathia.

"I was criticized before I got here. If you play for the Yankees you get booed everywhere you go," Cano said.

It was the 17th time a player went homerless in the Derby, the first since Detroit's Brandon Inge in 2009.

"That was the most interesting reaction to a home rum derby I've ever seen, but the fans were excited which is all that counts," Granderson tweeted.

Carlos Gonzalez and Andrew McCutchen (four each) and Matt Kemp (one) also were dropped after the first round.

Carlos Beltran (12) was dropped after the second round, when Mark Trumbo and Bautista were tied with 13 apiece, leading to a swingoff won by Bautista 2-1.

Trumbo and Bautista each managed to put a drive into the small fountain beyond the left-field wall. Trumbo also hit a pair of shots over the Royals Hall of Fame in left, toward Interstate 70.

Until Next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports.

MLB Midseason Leaders

Hey All,

It's that magical time of the year for baseball, it's the All Star Break, and teams are getting some much needed rest. I know you all are wondering, who's leading at the midway point of this season? Well that is what I am here for. I have all the updates on your Midseason leaders in the major leagues.

The Weekend All-Star Buzz while you were instructing your postman, in this heat, to deliver the mail straight to your swimming pool. ...

1. Mid-year MVPs: Josh Hamilton of the Rangers and Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates.

The Angels' Mike Trout is closing the gap quickly, and the Yankees' Robinson Cano is right there, too ... with the Blue Jays' Jose Bautista, the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera and Paul Konerko of the White Sox and David Ortiz of the Red Sox in the conversation. So let's see where we are three months from now.

But right now, Hamilton is the guy. Even though he's gone quiet lately, there's still no looking past those numbers. He leads the AL in OPS (1.088) and RBI (75), he's tied for first with 27 homers. He powered the first-place Rangers in May, helping them pad a lead large enough to keep them in first at the All-Star break despite a recent five-game losing streak.

"He's a freak," says one admiring scout, and that scout isn't alone in his assessment. On his good days, Hamilton is the biggest game-changer in the majors. The Rangers' task in the second half, especially if they maintain their division lead, will be keeping Hamilton healthy. He's been less than 100 percent in each of the past two postseasons.

McCutchen? Call it a dark horse pick if you want. The Reds' Joey Votto leads the majors in OPS (1.088). But McCutchen is second (1.017) to him in the NL, leads the majors in hitting (.359) and pretty much has accounted for roughly 33 percent of the Pirates' offense by himself: He's scored 55 runs and knocked in 56 for a total of 111 of Pittsburgh's 332 runs.

"He's carried us," says one Buccos front-office man, and where McCutchen has taken the Pirates at the break is straight to first place in the NL Central. We'll see where the second half leads. But, for now, after a North American-sports record 19 consecutive losing seasons, if the Pirates win and McCutchen keeps doing his thing, the question isn't, "Is McCutchen really the MVP?" The question is: "How can he NOT be the MVP?"

After McCutchen, midyear Thanks for Playing MVP shout-outs also go to the Mets' David Wright, the Brewers' Ryan Braun, the Giants' Melky Cabrera and the Rockies' Carlos Gonzalez.

2. Mid-year Cy Youngs: Justin Verlander, Tigers, and R.A. Dickey, Mets.

Love what Chris Sale and Jake Peavyo of the White Sox and Jered Weaver of the Angels have done. But Weaver missed two weeks with a sore back and Sale just hasn't carried the workload of Verlander, who has pitched 30 more innings. Verlander tops the majors with 132 2/3 innings pitched, he's tied with Washington's Stephen Strasburg for the major-league lead with 128 strikeouts, he's holding opponents to a .200 batting average (third in the AL). Verlander remains the answer to the question: If you had to win one game in the AL, who's your pitcher?

Dickey has baffled and dominated in nearly every start. The back-to-back one-hitters were a thing of beauty. Wins, ERA, innings pitched, opponents batting average ... Dickey's got it going on. His 0.93 WHIP is second in the majors to Weaver's 0.90. The Giants' Matt Cain, the Pirates' James McDonald (and maybe even A.J. Burnett), the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw, the Nationals' Gio Gonzalez and the Reds' Johnny Cueto are in the race.

3. Managers of the Mid-Year: Buck Showalter, Orioles, and Clint Hurdle, Pirates

Last time the Orioles were a winner, Brooks Robinson was in diapers (sometimes it feels that way, doesn't it?). And Hurdle edges the Dodgers' Don Mattingly by a narrow margin the size of, say, Dee Gordon. No way should Mattingly's Dodgers be leading the NL West at the break ... but Hurdle, ahoy, mate. The Pirates, as you may have heard, haven't had a winning season in two decades.

4. Rookies of the Mid-Year: Mike Trout, Angels, and Bryce Harper, Nationals.

Fifteen years from now, we'll look back on this season as the launching pad for Trout and Harper.

5. All-Star Fun: Words of wisdom from Royals Hall of Famer George Brett as they're gathered in Kansas City: "I played like my dad was in the stands. I know in high school, I know in Little League, if I hit a ground ball and didn't run it out, I got my ass kicked."

6. Zack Greinke, Marathon Man: Well, sort of. He started Saturday's game for the Brewers against the Astros but was ejected after only four pitches. So he started again on Sunday and went three innings. And the Brewers plan to start him for a third consecutive game Friday when they open the second half against the Pirates, which will make him the first pitcher since Red Faber of the 1917 White Sox to start three consecutive games in the same season.

7. Shane Victorino and Cole Hamels, trade bait: Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. vows he will not trade the present for the future, but as the sun sets on Philadelphia's great run, he's going to have to make some hard decisions between now and July 31. The Phillies, who rank with the Marlins and the Tigers as the majors' most disappointing clubs, are sub-.500 at the All-Star break for the first time since 2006. They lost their 50th game on Sunday. Last year, they didn't lose their 50th game until Sept. 12.

8. Justin Upton, enigma: The Diamondbacks are getting a lot of play on their disappointing outfielder, as Jon Heyman writes here.

Diamondbacks fans are booing as Upton struggles with an OPS down some 160 points from last year, when he hit .289 with 31 homers and 88 RBI. This season, he's at .267 with seven homers and 36 RBI. Arizona is in position to make a second-half run, but Kirk Gibson's club has shown no signs of putting one together so far. Meantime, neither the Dodgers nor the Giants look capable of running away from the division. The difference at this point between the Diamondbacks contending or fading? An Upton hot streak. Justin, the clock is ticking. ...

9. Giancarlo Stanton and Andrelton Simmons, ouch: Game-changing injuries in the NL East as the first-half closes. Stanton, the Marlins' slugger, is out four-to-six weeks following knee surgery. If the Marlins' season isn't torpedoed already, this could do it. Simmons, the Braves' slick shortstop who replaced Tyler Pastornicky, broke a finger on his throwing hand against the Phillies on Sunday and is expected to open the season's second half on the disabled list. If the Braves can keep the left side of their infield on the field when he gets back -- Simmons and Chipper Jones -- they've got a shot.

10. The Franchise: The Marlins may make for awful baseball, but they're going to make for riveting television once The Franchise is up and running. After all that's gone wrong so far, you ask, how could they finish the first half with an even louder thud? Heath Bell blew another save by surrendering three runs in the bottom of the ninth in St. Louis, and Hanley Ramirez reverted to form by punching a dugout fan and taking two stitches to a finger.

"Very stupid injury. Very immature," manager Ozzie Guillen told reporters. "You're going to hurt yourself because you can't hit? Good hitters don't do that. Good hitters battle back and try to get better."

The second half will be all about battling back for a number of teams and players. The Marlins? Grab a pile of newspapers, because we're going to need some fish wrap.

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports.

Pirates Loss Close Game

Hey All,

After spending most of the week with the Houston Astros, who kept scoring first then had no retort, the Pirates on Friday night ran into someone who punched back.

The Bucs, the shocking leaders of the National League Central, and the NL West-contending Giants, shocked by three straight losses in Washington, D.C., exchanged volleys to the entertainment and ultimate disappointment of many in a sold-out PNC Park who watched San Francisco hold on for a 6-5 victory.

"To jump out early, have them jump back, and for us to continue to chip away ... that's the way we're playing now," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle, disappointed by the result but certainly not by the effort as his crew suffered only its second loss in 10 games.

The Pirates' last salvo went a long way: Pedro Alvarez led off the eighth with a 457-foot homer off lefty reliever Javier Lopez, but all that did -- besides awe witnesses -- was cut into the final margin.

The loss ended the season's fourth four-game winning streak by a team that has yet to make it to five. That might reflect the unavoidable fact of always having a weak link in the five-man starting rotation, which at the moment is Erik Bedard.

"We'll look at some tape, try to help him figure out some things over the [All-Star] break," Hurdle said of the veteran lefty, who for the fourth time in seven starts could not make it through five innings. Asked whether he might already have some idea of what those things are, the manager admitted, "I do have some thoughts, which we'll share with him first."

Bedard on Friday was quite charitable with the 3-0 lead the Pirates had presented him.

The Giants thus attempted to tighten up two races, the one they trailed by a game and a half and the one the Pirates led by two games.

The small picture was as compelling. After shadowing each other atop the NL batting charts for weeks, Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen and Giants left fielder Melky Cabrera got some face time.

Although the averages of both players officially rounded off to .356, the two began the night at a ridiculous .00011 apart; McCutchen lead at .35593 and Cabrera at .35582.

The Bucs won that battle, if not the war.

After a 3-for-5 night that included two RBIs, McCutchen was at .360.

Cabrera also drove in two, but had "only" two hits in four at-bats to finish at .358.

McCutchen's teammates appear as stunned and impressed by his performance as are outside observers. Pick a context -- batting .550 in July after earning June Player of the Month honors, 17 hits in his last seven games, 27 hits in his last 52 at-bats against left-handers, a dozen games with three-plus hits -- and McCutchen is in his own orbit.

"Me and McCutchen are from the same class [of 2005] out of high school, and to see where he's at is pretty outstanding," said Alvarez, who tied McCutchen for the team lead with his 16th homer. "I just hope that he can keep going, because we're feeding off his energy. It's been a lot of fun to play alongside him."

Before pulling their first-inning punches, the Bucs pushed across a quick run for a 1-0 lead. They began the game with three consecutive singles, by Josh Harrison, Drew Sutton and McCutchen -- the last good for his 55th RBI.

Harrison, getting a start at short and atop the lineup, lit the fuse again in the third. He led off with a walk and, one out later, scored when McCutchen's drive found the 410-foot nook in left-center for a triple. Neil Walker's double delivered McCutchen for a 3-0 lead.

Bedard entered the fourth with a no-hitter -- having retired nine straight after a game-opening walk of Justin Christian -- but never got out of it.

"We saw him really improve after the leadoff walk," Hurdle said. "The second and third were very crisp. The fourth was bad all around."

Precisely what the Giants did -- bat around. Ryan Theriot sent an RBI double to right-center and scored on Cabrera's game-tying homer, which cleared the bases but not Bedard's plate.

"Rod [catcher Barajas] was going down to block it; it was going to go in the dirt," Bedard said of the 1-and-0 curve to Cabrera. "But he hit a home run on it."

Bedard had a slightly different evaluation of that pitch than did his manager, who had said that breaking pitch was something the pitcher "probably wanted lower."

"They're not just cashing it in and sitting back, waiting for something to happen," said the beneficiary of the rally, southpaw Barry Zito. "They're making it happen. That home run Melky hit was a huge lift for the team, and everyone else added in their spots."

A run-scoring single by Hector Sanchez gave the Giants their first lead at 4-3, and they added to it when Harrison let Joaquin Arias' grounder carom off his glove and into left for an error.

"The guys bounced back good," said Giants manger Bruce Bochy. "They got an early lead, but the club did a great job of putting together a big inning."

Bedard retired Zito on a sacrifice bunt, then his 3 2/3-inning start was over. He needed 37 pitches just to get through two-thirds of that fourth inning.

Casey McGehee's sixth homer in the fifth reduced Zito's lead to 5-4 but, after 2 1/3 hitless innings by Chris Resop, Juan Cruz surrendered Theriot's sacrifice fly in the seventh to reset the San Francisco lead at 6-4.

All in all, the Pirates are surging and need to keep this momentum up well past the [All Star] break, and cruise into the playoffs. They need to keep using McCutchen's "energy" and hope that the pitching stays where it's at, and they will be just fine. I can't wait to see what they do this afternoon against the Giants in the heat at PNC Park as they try and keep the lead in the NL Central Division.

Until next time
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports.

Home Field Advantage With All Star Game

Hey All,

Everyone has been speculating about home field advantage with the All Star Game in the MLB. And Twitter and Facebook have been blowing up about it. Here's what's been going on


Hashtag: #Enough.

I'm changing dugouts, switching sides, calling a failed experiment for what it is.

I renounce my support for World Series home-field advantage being attached to the All-Star Game.

Twitter did it.

Not that I don't see value in Twitter. I do. Especially when Ozzie Guillen is at the control. For some reason, I love knowing that he loves shopping at Bed, Bath & Beyond. I was so sad when Guillen de-Twitter-ed. (Is that a word? It should be a word.)

Not that I'm anti social media. I'm on Facebook. I see its value. It allows us to learn things about our kids we'd never learn in a million years during dinner-table conversations ("So what about this party Friday night?" "I dunno." "Will Hannah's parents be home?" "I dunno." "Does Hannah even have parents, or did she hatch from a giant Slurpee cup?" "I dunno."). But, Twitter and Facebook as a part of the All-Star Game?

This is where I part ways with its attachment to the World Series.

At this point, why not just have the home-plate umpire text ball and strike calls after each pitch a week from Tuesday in Kansas City? Just add barbecue sauce and unicycles and the circus will be complete.

In case you missed the memo, here it is: Major league baseball is setting up computer stations near the dugouts and is encouraging players to Tweet and Facebook upon exiting the game.

The idea came from Arizona last summer, when players were allowed to tweet during the Home Run Derby, and baseball deemed it a smash hit.

Too much time in the desert without enough water, and now look what happens.

"At its core, baseball is a social activity, so it's natural that social media has become such a huge part of how fans enjoy the game today," Tim Brosnan, an MLB executive vice-president, said in a statement several days ago. "This initiative will bring fans closer than ever to their favorite players, resulting in what will no doubt be the most 'social' event in baseball history."

The whole "This Time It Counts" thing?

The effort to make the All-Star Game serious and meaningful?

Sorry, but you can't have it both ways. If you're going to tie this game to the ultimate competition, the World Series, then you absolutely can't treat this game as a 140-character mid-summer dip in the pool.

Here's the thing: A whole lot of people have hated the idea of attaching the World Series home-field prize to the All-Star Game ever since Commissioner Bud Selig introduced it within hours after the waterlogged fiasco that was the All-Star Game tie in Milwaukee in 2002.

Not me. Maybe I was in the minority, but I never saw a good reason why the All-Star Game had to be a meaningless exhibition in the first place.

It's always been, by far, the best All-Star game of any sport.

There is absolutely no reason why it shouldn't continue to be the best, if handled properly.

Which is why I was with Selig from the beginning on this. The All-Star Game does not have to be a meaningless exhibition. But that's what it was on its way toward becoming by the time of the Milwaukee disaster.

Because Orioles fans at the 1993 game in Camden Yards boxed Cito Gaston's ears with boos when he left Baltimore's Mike Mussina warming in the bullpen and never used him, subsequent managers turned the game into an adult version of one of the worst aspects of today's youth sports: Everybody plays.

Time was, Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio played all nine innings at the All-Star Game (Williams did so in 1941, the year he hit .406).

In today's touchy-feely world, Williams would get his prerequisite two All-Star at-bats and then Skip would send Mario Mendoza up to bat for him in the fifth.

That's what I thought we'd be getting away from when Selig unilaterally attempted to re-inject the All-Star Game with meaning by decreeing that the winning league would get World Series home-field advantage. Good for him, I thought. People often criticize Selig for being too wishy-washy, or too slow to move. Well, he wasn't in this case, and I've always applauded him for it.

It absolutely was worth the effort to make -- or keep -- the All-Star Game relevant.

Now, this.

Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips is an All-Star player and, for my money, an All-Star Tweeter (@DatDudeBP). Dat Dude is drop-dead hilarious. But he leaves the game in, say, the sixth inning, and now maybe instead of picking up a subtle infielder shift and passing it on to an NL teammate, he's not even watching the game. He's locked in at some computer screen.

Extreme example, yes. Guys often aren't watching the game once they depart, anyway. They're socializing, or leaving the park early to catch a flight.

But at least there was a movement to return the All-Star Game to a serious competition.

This completely undermines that.

Bottom line is, if you're going to link something to a championship event, then it's all got to be treated -- not tweeted -- as a championship event. And not as simply another link to click.

Put this on Facebook: Baseball, at this point, should just return to each league getting World Series home-field advantage in alternate years and be done with the myth of "This Time It Counts." I'd tweet that, but it's too many characters.

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports.

Pirates In First

Hey All,

The Pittsburgh Pirates are unstoppable right now as they just had a sweep of the Kansas City Royals. The Buccos have done nothing but win since they hit the .500 mark, and haven't looked back since.

Ever since the Bucs have won the series against the Reds with a 2-1 victory in that series, the Buccos have moved themselves into a tie for first place in the Central Division with the Reds. This is the hardest part of the Buccos season, and they have gone on a rampage through this part of their schedule.

No one counted the Pirates in this season, like they do every season, but the Bucs are proving everyone wrong. With their new motto "finish" they have seemed to have new life. Now I know they had a good season last year around this time, but they were never in the first place spot. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Pirates don't need to make any trades. Their team is where they want it to be, and the bats are coming alive. The pitching along with the defense are outstanding this season.

All the Pirates need to do is keep this momentum up well past the All Star break. I feel if they don't make any changes, they keep playing like they are, and "finish" the games like they are they will be in solo ownership of first place and making a run for the postseason.

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports.

MLB Update

Hey All,

 As we enter the third month of the season, here are some notes on the current Major-League Baseball standings that struck me as interesting.

There are 19 teams that are .500 or better right now. That sounds impressive, but it's not as impressive as it sounds. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time 19 teams were .500 or better at this point in the season was after games were finished on July 31, 2010.

There are 8 teams with 30 or 31 wins, but only two (Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Dodgers) with more than 31 wins. There are 14 teams either in the Wild Card lead or within 3 1/2 games of a Wild Card spot, not including 6 division leaders.

There are 3 teams on pace to lose at least 100 games this season. They are: Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, and the San Diego Padres. The Twins have a current record of 20-33 and if they keep this pace up they will end with a record of 61-101. The Cubs have a current record of 18-35 and are on pace to finish with a record of 55-107, and the Padres are only a few games behind them at 18-37 and will finish with a record of 53-109, if they keep this pace up.

The only time in the last 25 seasons that 3 or more teams finished with at least 100 losses in a season was 2002, with a record  4 teams had 100 + losses.

At this point in the season all of the teams in the AL and NL East are .500 or better. This is the latest into the season that every team in those division are .500 or better. But as every baseball fan knows, it's not how you start the season, it's how you finish. Would you like some proof? The Detroit Tigers started at 9-3, they have since gone 16-26. The Kansas City Royals started at 3-14, they have since gone 20-15. Finally the Boston Red Sox had a start of 12-19 and have since gone 16-7. Each of these teams have picked it up since they had a terrible start to the season, and have got their seasons back on track.

Now to talk about a team that is probably surprising every in the Marlins. The Miami Marlins have more wins in the month of May, then the Cubs, Twins and Padres have all season. They also have as many wins as the Royals, A's, Astros and Rockies do all season with 23. They are playing some hot baseball and if they can keep this pace up, they will be a tough team to beat come playoff time.

One of my favorite teams the Pittsburgh Pirates are over .500 with a record of 27-26. The Pirates haven't had a winning season since 1992, and last season they were over .500 as late as August  1st with a record of 54-53. The Pirates have been on a good run as of late and had this same type of run last season. If they can keep up this winning thing past the All Star break, and they might be able to make a run to the playoffs and have a winning season. The Pirates, Indians and Mets are above .500 but are being outscored on the season. Last year, the only team to finish with a winning record and a negative run differential was the San Francisco Giants (86-76, -8). Let's hope it doesn't come to this for the Pirates, Indians and Mets.

The last couple of teams we will talk about are the Orioles, Yankees and Rangers. They are the only AL teams over .500 at home and on the road. Last year 6 AL teams had winning records both at home and on the road. This can only mean good things for these teams. With the bats coming alive for the Rangers and Yankees and the Orioles just playing good ball all around, these three teams are going to be the teams to beat for a long time this season.

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports.