When I was growing up in the fifties in Brooklyn, the baseball writers pointed out that the teams leading the league (no divisions back then) would be the ones to win the pennant that October.

This year the axiom looks like it will hold true as I don’t see many second half surprises on the horizon.

Can the Mets get back in the race? How about the Angels, can they beat Seattle? What about the A’s,Giants, Astros, and White Sox?

Let’s see which July Fourth leaders are most secure.

Click “read more” [Read more →]

You can expect more fireworks today as middle relievers will be called to the mound to bail out stumbling starting pitchers.

The five man rotations are heading into their third full week without an off day, so only the strongest pitchers are getting the job done for 6 or more innings.

Once a team uses its middle relief two or three days in a row, unless the next starter comes up big, it gets ugly.

Ergo, yesterday 62 home runs, the most in a single day in major league history.

What’s up today? [Read more →]

Interleague play is over for the year. I was looking forward to it when it started and I’m thrilled it is over.

Baseball should have one week of interleague play matching the traditional or geographic rivals. Eighteen games is just too much. It takes too much of a bite out of the schedule.

Now the races can begin again.

Much to the chagrin of their pursuers, Atlanta, St.Louis, Los Angeles, Boston, New York, Seattle and others can have big weeks before the break.

Here’s why. [Read more →]

Since pitching is still the name of the game, I think it’s only fair that the best pitchers make the all star team, not the pitchers who can fill in the roster merely because each team needs a representative.

Joe Torre has imposed a rule that you don’t make the team as a starting pitcher if you can’t work in the game that Tuesday.

Ridiculous. The best part of the game is the introduction of the teams and recognition of the achievements of the players.

Plus, the game should be played on Wednesday to avoid these issues. This way players can get to the game, everyone can play (with proper rest), the festivities can be extended to a true midseason break, and the season can start back on Friday (weekend) with some excitement.

The actual all star game for the last thirty years has been boring, low scoring, and anticlimatic. Why jam it in on Tuesday?

So here’s my list of pitchers who should be in Milwaukee. Click “Read More” [Read more →]

There is some good baseball being played between the two Bay Area teams as they wrap up interleague play Saturday and Sunday in Oakland.

Last night, John Mabry had four hits against the Giants. After his third staright safety, Giants starter Livan Hernandez drilled Mabry in the back with a fastball. Mabry seemed stunned by the tactic, almost reaching the third base coaching box as he recoiled from the pain.

No problem. A’s pitcher Mark Mulder promptly drilled Shawon Dunston in his next at bat, obviously retaliating for the shot taken at Mabry. Dunston walked to first shaking his finger at Mulder.

Mulder didn’t look at Dunston, a dead give away that the pitch had a purpose.

Let me tell you who handled the situation the best.

[Read more →]

Nothing that happens in baseball ever amazes me.

Bartolo Colon, an Expo. Cleveland traded him because he makes too much money and wants a long term deal.

Colon would have been an AL All Star, does Bob Brenly put him on the NL squad?

The last time I checked the Expos were supposed to be going out of business.

Montreal gave up their top three prospects to get Colon for the rest of the season, which by the way could end in August, if the players set a strike date next month.

What does this trade tell you about the future.

Click “Read More” and I’ll tell you. [Read more →]

In what is turning out to be an exciting week of baseball, the front runners are in a position today to take the series today from the pursuers.

Minnesota and Chicago are developing a real dislike for each other in the blah AL Central.

The A’s Aaron Harang matched Jamie Moyer pitch for pitch in a game which demonstarted the baseball adage that good pitching will always stop mediocre hitting.

The Mets bull pen blinked first when the Braves Gary Sheffield hit a late inning grand slam to win the game, setting up today’s match up between Pedro Astacio and lefty rookie Damian Moss.

How about Mo Vaughn’s shot off the scoreboard in right?

What will today bring, click “read more” and I’ll tell you. [Read more →]

All the teams that needed to get back in the win column did so on Tuesday, setting up pivotal series match ups for Wednesday.

Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent got into each others way in the dugout in San Diego last night when Kent was telling David Bell how stupid Bell’s throw to second base was, the throw pulled Kent off the bag and led to a big Padres inning.

Bonds and Kent had to be separated, dragging Dusty Baker and others into the fray.

The A’s lost to Seattle as Tim Hudson, usually unflappable, disintegrated before our very eyes.

More fireworks today around the leagues, I’m sure.

Click “Read More”

[Read more →]

Sure, it’s only June, I’ve often said the baseball season is similar to reading a good book, you never know what is going to happen next, every day of the season is like reading another chapter.

One never knows how it will end, but one does know it is going to be a one heckuva good story.

Monday’s openers of the three crucial mid season series provided more grist for the mill.

Game two is tonight. Who has the pressure? Is there pressure on the Monday night losers? [Read more →]

With interleague play taking a break until the weekend the division leaders in the NL East, the AL Central, and the AL West face their pursuers in very interesting confrontations starting tonight.

The White Sox, barely alive in the Central, haven’t seen the Twins in 2002.

Manager Jerry Manuel is already accusing the press of being the negative force behind the Sox’ trouble.

Hey, Jerry how’s your pitching holding up this year? How’s the Big Skirt, Frank Thomas?

Most observers feel the Sox don’t come to play every night.

The Sox play the Twins 19 times this year, game number one is tonight.

They better bring their “A” game to the tough Metrodome, where the Twins have the best home record in the league.

How about the other leaders? Are they under pressure to win these crucial mid season games?

Read more and I’ll tell you. [Read more →]