Un fucking believable.

Cant wait for LA to have a new owner.

Padres take two out of three against the Red Sox AT Fenway?? What in God's name is going here? Either way, it was a lovely series win. Other than Gonzalez tearing our pitching staff a new asshole, I am happy with the end results.

Chase Headley has run his batting average up .290 plus. I wish he's hit for more power, but I think he might be finally turning the corner and becoming the professional hitter he was billed as when he was a prospect.

<font color=goldenrod>LOL Mets win in the 13th on a walkoff hit by pitch.</font>

So I guess for all their day games this year, the financially struggling L.A. Dodgers have been wearing the throwback Brooklyn uni's.

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/liv..._front_600.jpg

Nice look. Noticed this while watching yesterday's Detroit/L.A. game.

Jim Riggleman resigns as manager of the Nationals.

<font color=goldenrod>What a selfish douche. Resigned because the Nats wouldn't pick up his 2012 option on the spot.</font>

I'm going to be honest - I don't blame him for wanting something more permanent. He's worked for ten years in MLB, he feels like he's worth something more. However, quitting your job without much of a warning isn't the way to get other people to hire you.

Giambi returns to Yankee Stadium and gets a home run at his first at bat. Heh.

Kinda curious how the Red Sox are going to handle this road trip. A theory was being tossed around one of the networks throwing Gonzo in the outfield and putting Ortiz at first. But with Gonzo being red hot lately, I can see Ortiz only pinch hitting.

That wasn't just a home run. He planted it right in the bleacher creatures. Shot.

<font color=goldenrod>Manny Acosta sucks.</font>

Starlin Castro has been ridiculous the last 10 games.

20 hits in 42 AB's. 9 rbi, 3 sb's.

Probably the hottest player in the majors right now.

...in 2 years he'll be the best shortstop in all of baseball.

I'm pretty sure Michael Kay wants to have sex with Troy Turlowitski

Welcome to the season Swish

I don't get it...Jim Riggleman wanted the Nationals to pick up his option for next year, after helping the team get to .500, and the team refused, so he resigned...

...so then the Nationals go and get DAVEY JOHNSON, and not only do they name him Manager, but they sign him for next year, too...

So glad the Mets thought he was useful (see: Jorge Sosa)

http://mlblogstheshorebirds.files.wo...hado-card2.jpg

Wrong

Riggleman didnt stand a chance for next year to begin with, I think Davey Johnson was rumored to be coming in next year anyway, so he gets a jump on things. Keep in mind 2012 is supposedly "the year" that the Nationals finally get their asses in gear given they'll have Stasburg back and probably bring Harper up by May. The fact that they aren't playing too shabby now is giving hope for that even more.

Sabathia gets to 10 wins first.

Frank McCourt might be taking a page out of the Mets' book and sell a minority ownership stake to keep the Dodgers afloat for a little while longer. Payroll is due next week and he's had some inquiries.

Votto is killing the Orioles.

ugh

...Now analysts and commentators point to 2013 as "the year", since Strasburg will be coming back from Tommy John Surgery, so the Nationals will be careful with him, protect him, etc (not too many innings), and Harper now looks like he will be brought up after the All Star Game...

...that's what Jayson Stark said, anyway...Buster Olney too.

:nono: Red Sox have been "cold" scoring-wise ever since the 1st game against the Padres.

Ended up loosing a 2-0 lead and the first 2 games against the Pirates.

When the team looses, they tend to loose in bunches and it doesn't get better as the next series is against the Phillies. This year might also be the first in a long time of them having a horrible record in inter-league play.

...they need Jon Lester to get back into his groove.

He pitched pretty well the last couple of games but either the offense or the bullpen hasn't given him any help. To be fair he's given up a few too many home runs in those outings so its something he needs to fix fast.

Wow, Justin Verlander has been the best pitcher in Baseball this year. So dominating.

I love Old Timer's Day.

Charlie Hayes!

God David Wells is so drunk right now

Lou!

BERNIE!

<font color=goldenrod>He was actually pretty good last year, and had great numbers in the minors this year before his call up. I think the issue is that he switched his number from 36 to 46 for whatever reason. Oliver Perez' old number. That number should be banished from being worn by Mets pitchers forever.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Anyway, it's that time of the year again. With a week to go before the preliminary All Star Game rosters are announced, time to predict who will be there.


American League

Starters
C: Russell Martin, New York Yankees (pretty much a crime, but I don’t see the Yankee fans letting his lead slip)
1B: Adrian Gonzalez, Boston Red Sox (AL MVP, as predicted by me at the start of the season)
2B: Robinson Cano, New York Yankees (slam dunk choice)
3B: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (wins in a landslide)
SS: Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland Indians (Jeter might still squeak by with the win in the vote, but he might still be injured by then and even if he wasn’t, he should realize he’s not an All Star)
LF: Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers (not really an All Star year, but he’s probably got enough fan support to hold on to the last outfield spot)
CF: Curtis Granderson, New York Yankees (another landslide)
RF: Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays (yet another landslide)
DH: David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox (predicting the AL starters really leaves nothing to the imagination)
P: Josh Beckett, Boston Red Sox (fucking nasty this year, Weaver is probably the only other option)

Reserves
C: Alex Avila, Detroit Tigers (reallllllly should have been the starting catcher)
1B: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
1B: Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox
2B: Howard Kendrick, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
3B: Kevin Youkilis, Boston Red Sox
SS: Jhonny Peralta, Detroit Tigers
OF: Michael Cuddyer, Minnesota Twins
OF: Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston Red Sox
OF: Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles
OF: Matt Joyce, Tampa Bay Rays
DH: Michael Young, Texas Rangers

Pitchers
Aaron Crow, Kansas City Royals
Gio Gonzalez, Oakland Athletics
Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Chris Perez, Cleveland Indians
Alexi Ogando, Texas Rangers
Michael Pineda, Seattle Mariners
Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees
James Shields, Tampa Bay Rays
Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers
Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
Jordan Walden, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Final Vote Candidates
Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers
Brennan Boesch, Detroit Tigers
Kyle Farnsworth, Tampa Bay Rays
Dan Haren, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees


National League

Starters
C: Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves (slam dunk choice here)
1B: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds (Pujols may still win the vote despite being injured, Votto is second in voting and a better defender than the only other logical choice to start at first)
2B: Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee Brewers (passes Brandon Phillips in the final week)
3B: Placido Polanco, Philadelphia Phillies (man, he’s decent enough and all but what a shitty year for NL third basemen)
SS: Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies (I love Reyes, but I think Troy will get enough support to last the final week)
LF: Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers (got his spot all but sealed up with his huge lead)
CF: Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers (passes Holliday for the third OF spot in the final week, Kemp NEEDS to start)
RF: Lance Berkman, St. Louis Cardinals (him and Holliday are close in votes, but Berkman is the choice here – Holliday just hasn’t played enough to warrant making the team)
DH: Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers (there are DHs even in NL parks now, there’s no vote on this but Prince seems like the easy choice to fill the spot)
P: Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies (Others have a case to start, but Roy is the biggest name and the reigning Cy Young so he gets the nod)

Reserves
C: Miguel Montero, Arizona Diamondbacks
1B: Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies
1B: Gaby Sanchez, Florida Marlins
2B: Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds
3B: Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves (again – weak 3B choices this year. Every position needs a backup, this might be more of a “congrats on a great career” selection)
SS: Starlin Castro, Chicago Cubs
SS: Jose Reyes, New York Mets :love:
OF: Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds
OF: Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates
OF: Hunter Pence, Houston Astros
OF: Justin Upton, Arizona Diamondbacks

Pitchers
Mike Adams, San Diego Padres
Jhoulys Chacin, Colorado Rockies
Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies
Joel Hanrahan, Pittsburgh Pirates
Jair Jurrgens, Atlanta Braves
Ian Kennedy, Arizona Diamondbacks
Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves
Cliff Lee, Philadelphia Phillies
J.J. Putz, Arizona Diamondbacks
Jonny Venters, Atlanta Braves
Brian Wilson, San Francisco Giants
Jordan Zimmermann, Washington Nationals

Final Vote Candidates
Stephen Drew, Arizona Diamondbacks
Tommy Hanson, Atlanta Braves
Kyle Lohse, St. Louis Cardinals
Michael Morse, Washington Nationals
Shane Victorino, Philadelphia Phillies</font>

TINO GOES YARD!

<font color=goldenrod>Reading up on the selection process - I think it's funny how little say the managers actually get in the rosters. Besides the starters being selected by the fans, I forgot that the players in each league vote on 5 starting pitchers, 3 relievers, and a backup at each position (including 3 reserve outfielders). The manager only gets to fill like 8 spots, and if there are teams that have been omitted their hands are tied there too.

For that reason, I'm sure some of the reserves I picked won't make it. Yadier Molina will probably be the reserve catcher instead of Montero because Molina is considered the best defensive catcher in baseball by everybody and that should get the players' votes. At least Molina has hit this year, so it's not a big deal.

On the AL side, I can see Ichiro being voted in as a reserve outfielder solely on reputation. That'll mean somebody gets snubbed and frankly I think Cuddyer (or Kubel) and Adam Jones are the only players worthy enough to represent their respctive teams, so that'll mean Matt Joyce gets the heave-ho.</font>

I agree with everything Big Vito except you don't believe Tex will make it? Hasn't he been doing really good? I think Mark finds a way on to that list for the All Star game. He does deserve to be there.

<font color=goldenrod>Teixeira has a .247 batting average. No thanks. It was hard enough butting Ryan Howard and his .257 BA on the NL team but I just feel like he's become a perennial guy that will get in as long as the power is there.

Gonzo, Cabrera, and Konerko pretty much have to be there - and I can't find room for 4 1B on the AL team like I can for the NL. Teix might be a replacement if one of the other 3 goes down or if Gonzo makes good on his promise from last year that he wouldn't play in Arizona out of protest.</font>

Im gonna throw all of my remaining votes to get JJ Hardy in at SS..lol

I think the lone Os rep will either be Hardy or Wieters...

Go cubs go. Go cubs go

Jays sweep the Cards. They looked like a totally differnt team than the one that got swept by the Braves