<font color=goldenrod>Buck's gotten a lot of praise for his ability to handle the pitching staff. There's more to being a good fielding catcher than throwing out runners. Matt Harvey has credited a lot of his success this year to Buck, and Jeremy Hefner has said Buck's played a big role in his rejuvenation over the past month and a half. He might not have a good throwing arm, but he calls a good game and keeps the ball in front of him.

If the Mets had 7 other good bats in their lineup, they could live with Buck swinging for the fences every AB. But they don't. He'd work much better in a backup role.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>If I hear one more report about the Mets trying to trade for Carlos Gonzalez this off-season I'm going to fucking scream. He would cost the Mets Wheeler AND Syndergaard as a start. Why would the Rockies even entertain trading him? He's young, awesome, and signed through 2017.</font>

Ivan Nova <3

The Red Sox. All they do is win. 5 and half game lead over the Orioles and a five game winning streak. Most wins in the MLB to date.

<font color=goldenrod>All Star Game rosters announced this evening. I already made my "official" predictions a couple of pages back, but if I had the ability to fill out the rosters based on who I thought should actually be there (starters listed first, primary reserve second), here's what I'd go with:

AL
C: Joe Mauer, MIN
C: Carlos Santana, CLE
1B: Chris Davis, BAL
1B: James Loney, TB
2B: Robinson Cano, NYY
2B: Jason Kipnis, CLE
SS: J.J. Hardy, BAL
SS: Jhonny Peralta, DET
3B: Miguel Cabrera, DET
3B: Evan Longoria, TB
OF: Mike Trout, LAA
OF: Adam Jones, BAL
OF: Jose Bautista, TOR
OF: Alex Gordon, KC
OF: Nelson Cruz, TEX
OF: Nick Markakis, BAL
DH: David Ortiz, BOS
DH: Edwin Encarnacion, TOR
Extra: 2B Dustin Pedroia, BOS
Extra: 3B Manny Machado, BAL

SP: Max Scherzer, DET
SP: Felix Hernandez, SEA
SP: Hisashi Iwakuma, SEA
SP: Yu Darvish, TEX
SP: Clay Buchholz, BOS
RP: Mariano Rivera, NYY
RP: Joe Nathan, TEX
RP: Grant Balfour, OAK
Extra: Jesse Crain, CHW
Extra: Bud Norris, HOU
Extra: Chris Sale, CHW
Extra: Justin Masterson, CLE
Extra: Bartolo Colon, OAK

Final Vote: 1B Prince Fielder, DET
Final Vote: 2B Howie Kendrick, LAA
Final Vote: 3B Josh Donaldson, OAK
Final Vote: P Derek Holland, TEX
Final Vote: P Hiroki Kuroda, NYY

NL
C: Yadier Molina, STL
C: Buster Posey, SF
1B: Paul Goldscmidt, ARI
1B: Joey Votto, CIN
2B: Matt Carpenter, STL
2B: Brandon Phillips, CIN
SS: Troy Tulowitzki, COL
SS: Jean Segura, MIL
3B: David Wright, NYM
3B: Pedro Alvarez, PIT
OF: Carlos Beltran, STL
OF: Carlos Gonzalez, COL
OF: Carlos Gomez, MIL
OF: Michael Cuddyer, COL
OF: Domonic Brown, PHI
OF: Andrew McCutchen, PIT
Extra: 1B Allen Craig, STL
Extra: 2B Marco Scutaro, SF
Extra: SS Everth Cabrera, SD
Extra: OF Jay Bruce, CIN

SP: Matt Harvey, NYM
SP: Adam Wainwright, STL
SP: Clayton Kershaw, LAD
SP: Patrick Corbin, ARI
SP: Cliff Lee, PHI
RP: Jason Grilli, PIT
RP: Craig Kimbrel, ATL
RP: Rafael Soriano, WAS
Extra: Rex Brothers, COL
Extra: Jose Fernandez, MIA
Extra: Travis Wood, CHC
Extra: Jordan Zimmermann, WAS
Extra: Jeff Locke, PIT

Final Vote: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, LAD
Final Vote: SS Ian Desmond, WAS
Final Vote: OF Hunter Pence, SF
Final Vote: P Mike Leake, CIN
Final Vote: P Edward Mujica, STL</font>

Made a manageable trip to Scranton for the day, going to check out Jeters first rehab game. I'll post a report later tonight

I wonder if the Yankees finally figured it out?

American League

Starters
C: Joe Mauer, Twins
1B: Chris Davis, Orioles
2B: Robinson Cano, Yankees
SS: J.J. Hardy, Orioles
3B: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
OF: Mike Trout, Angels
OF: Adam Jones, Orioles
OF: Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
DH: David Ortiz, Red Sox

Pitchers
RHP: Clay Buchholz *, Red Sox
LHP: Brett Cecil, Blue Jays
RHP: Bartolo Colon @, A's
RHP: Jesse Crain *, White Sox
RHP: Yu Darvish, Rangers
RHP: Felix Hernandez, Mariners
RHP: Hisashi Iwakuma, Mariners
RHP: Justin Masterson, Indians
RHP: Joe Nathan, Rangers
LHP: Glen Perkins @, Twins
RHP: Mariano Rivera, Yankees
LHP: Chris Sale, White Sox
RHP: Max Scherzer, Tigers
RHP: Justin Verlander, Tigers

Reserves
C: Jason Castro, Astros
C: Salvador Perez, Royals
1B: Prince Fielder, Tigers
2B: Jason Kipnis, Indians
2B: Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
2B: Ben Zobrist, Rays
SS: Jhonny Peralta: Tigers
3B: Manny Machado, Orioles
OF: Nelson Cruz, Rangers
OF: Alex Gordon, Royals
OF: Torii Hunter, Tigers
DH: Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays



National League

Starters
C: Yadier Molina, Cardinals
1B: Joey Votto, Reds
2B: Brandon Phillips, Reds
SS: Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies
3B: David Wright, Mets
OF: Carlos Beltran, Cardinals
OF: Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies
OF: Bryce Harper, Nationals

Pitchers
LHP: Madison Bumgarner, Giants
LHP: Aroldis Chapman, Reds
LHP: Patrick Corbin, D-backs
RHP: Jose Fernandez, Marlins
RHP: Jason Grilli, Pirates
RHP: Matt Harvey, Mets
LHP: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
RHP: Craig Kimbrel, Braves
LHP: Cliff Lee, Phillies
LHP: Jeff Locke, Pirates
RHP: Adam Wainwright, Cardinals
LHP: Travis Wood, Cubs
RHP: Jordan Zimmermann, Nationals

Reserves
C: Buster Posey, Giants
1B: Paul Goldschmidt, D-backs
1B: Allen Craig, Cardinals
2B: Matt Carpenter, Cardinals
2B: Marco Scutaro, Giants
SS: Everth Cabrera, Padres
SS: Jean Segura, Brewers
3B: Pedro Alvarez, Pirates
OF: Domonic Brown, Phillies
OF: Michael Cuddyer, Rockies
OF: Carlos Gomez, Brewers
OF: Andrew McCutchen, Pirates

NOTES
* Chosen on Player Ballot, injured
@ Injury replacement

J.P Arencibia gets the same praise but I wouldn't have him back catch my softball team

Cecil fucking made it!!!! Holy shitballs! Good for him!

American League gotta win this All Star Game this year.

Hopefully old man Leyland got a few tricks up his sleeve.

Jeter's first AB= a patient walk. Looks to be in baseball shape. 2 innings without a defensive chance.

Former NYY beat reporter Kim Jones is here. 100% hotter in person than on TV

Pirates have almost an equal chance of winning the World Series (5.9%) as they do of MISSING the playoffs (6.1%).

Braves only having Kimbrel sucks. Justin Upton totally doesn't deserve to be there, but Freeman does (and will probably lose to Puig). Chris Johnson has also been one of the best guys at 3rd in the NL, but I didn't expect him to be in.

Pineda started tonights game as a part of his own rehab. he was awful in the 1st inning. The last two innings have been terrific. He looks to be in good form, is hovering the 93-95 range and has found a groove.

Jeter just led off the inning. Rocket line out to 2nd. Bat speed appears to be good.

Brett Cecil's performance against the Ttigers this week I think got him in. Totally dominated Cabrera and company.

I miss Ms. Jones on YES Network. I think she's working at MLB network now.

Oh, and uh, pics or gtfo.

Yasiel Puig made it into the Final 5 pool for the fan vote on the NL side.

AL side has Steve Delabar (Blue Jays), David Robertson (Yankees), Koji Uehara (Red Sox), Tanner Scheppers (Rangers) and Joaquin Benoit (Tigers) for its fan voting choice.

Jeters last AB was a groundouts to third with good hustle. Looks very close to being ready.

After a very rough first inning, Pineda was great. He's also looking good.

Delabar has been outstanding but won't win.

everyone involved in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade sucks

Lol the Jays last year traded Eric Thames who was dfa this year for Steve Delabar.

Bartolo Colon

The worst All Star this year is easily Ben Zobrist. Shitty numbers, was only picked presumably because Leyland wanted a utility guy. No way should Longoria have been snubbed as the Rays' rep.

Good report here. Yanks need Pineda up.

And 60 year olds Jeter and A-Rod will still be better than what they're putting out there on the left side.

All the help we can get

TULO'S GOING TO START A REHAB ASSIGNMENT TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!

Rajah Davis should start at left ahead of Melky when he gets back. I know he takes weird routes at fly balls but fuck is he fast and has been clutch.

Starling Marte goes yard on a 3-2 count with two outs to tie the game. Hard to not root for this Pirate team.

Still hoping for a Garza freak injury to kill his trade value.

2 notes about the all star game:

1. i hope Puig makes it in
2. I am baffled and angered that 0 Pirates made the starting line up. 1st place in baseball means nothing I guess......One of these days you fuckers will wise up :P

Dumbasses holding up "W" flags and signing like they just won the division.

<font color=goldenrod>I'm actually kinda shocked Puig was on the Final Vote. Bochy said a week ago that he didn't feel he'd played long enough to be an All Star, so I figure he'd have been left off entirely. Kinda makes me wonder if MLB urged him to include Puig.

At least the Pirates had 4 reps. The A's are leading their division and only got Bartolo Colon. Grant Balfour not making it is baffling to me. Should have definitely made it in ahead of Glen Perkins.

Josh Donaldson was a huge snub too, but it'd have been hard to fit him in even if they did the right thing and put Longoria in instead of Zobrist. I appreciate Leyland giving props to the unheralded set-up guys, but Donaldson, Longoria, Howie Kendrick, and others all should have been in the Final Vote at least.</font>

Trenton Thunder's bat dog Chase retired on friday after 13 years of service. Bit of sad news for us Yankee fans. He's been battling a form of blood cancer. :'(

His son Derby will be taking over.


<iframe height="224" src="http://www.milb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=28621907&width=400&height=224&property=milb" frameBorder="0" width="400">Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe>

VOTE PENCE

Miggy, Machado, and Beltre are all better or equal 3B options than Donaldson. Not so much a snub but he picked the wrong year and position to break out.

Yeah Fosse was saying last week how a "case could be made" for him to be on the all star team but I don't see that at all. It's like you said, he's having a great year but so are 4 other 3B, one of them a lock for the HOF.

<font color=goldenrod>I actually saw there being a chance for 4 3B on the team. Wouldn't be the first time 4 guys at the same infield position made it in. Really not that big a deal considering DH/PH opportunities throughout the game and such. I kinda figured Longoria was well known enough that he'd have won the player vote, which would leave Leyland to sort through the other three for one spot, with Donaldson and Machado having the inside track since they can play other infield positions. Could have actually fit both in had the players not voted in Salvador Perez, essentially forcing Leyland to take a 3rd catcher to take care of the Houston rep.

Apparently Leyland actually called Donaldson and apologized to him for not picking him, since he himself felt it was an unfortunate snub he had to make. So that was pretty cool of him.</font>

So, Vito, as a Mets guy what are your views on Lastings Milledge? Did you believe the hype?