[erijnal]

The All-Star Break is bearing down on us. Are you happy with where your teams are?

Current division leaders:

AL
Boston Red Sox
Chicago White Sox
Los Angeles Angels

NL
Philadelphia Phillies
Chicago Cubs
Arizona Diamondbacks

The NL West is the Worst, the Tampa Bay Rays are still keeping pace with the BoSox, and the Cubs are helping keep elderly Chicagoans alive. Will the division leaders stay the same? Who are your picks for the wild card?

Let's discuss all things BASEBALL here!

 

[erijnal]

By the way, great story with the Fresno State Bulldogs today!

 

[jazzlvr123]

go red socks!!!

fenway park is literally a 3 minute walk away from my apartment you can hear the crowd roars from my room hehe.

unfortunately last time i went to fenway to watch them the socks lost!

 

[mikenas102]

unfortunately last time i went to fenway to watch them the socks lost!

If I had some extra money laying around I'd buy you season tickets. Go Yanks!

Anyway, looks like the AL is dominating the NL again in interleague play. I haven't seen the tally yet but it sure seems that way.

 

[mikenas102]

Oh and can we get rid of those freakin maple bats before we see somebody get killed?

 

[Robert Hudson]

Tampa bay is a real surprise this year. It will be interesting to see if they can keep it up all year. At least they are helping to beat the Yankees down.

If I had some extra money laying around I'd buy you season tickets.

from what I understand, every game at Fenway for the rest of the year is sold out.

 

[erijnal]

Seriously, those maples bats are scary

Any bets on whether the NL West division leader finishes over .500 at the end of the year?

Trade rumors! For pitching, C.C. Sabathia is a hot item assuming the Indians can't extend him, Erik Bedard is talented but doesn't seem to care about the game, Oswalt and Lowe might both be available, and the Blanton/Harden rumors should start up any day now. Oh, and you can go after Brett Tomko if you want

Not as familiar with the bats out there. Dunn's name is out there, as well as a few Pirates like Nady and Bay. Does anyone want Andruw Jones? hahah

 

[mikenas102]

Nothing against the Dodgers but I'm glad to see them struggle. As a huge Yankee fan I always disliked Torre as a manager. He was always overrated. It's good to see his reputation brought back down to earth by the dodgers. Nice guy and all but there are some people out there that think he's the greatest manager ever.

 

[erijnal]

Mike, every day I wonder why Scioscia was never given a chance. Every. single. day.

 

[fishman9809]

hey hey hey, the NL West may suck, but the Giants swept the Diamondbacks, so ha!! we always lose to bad teams and win to good teams, wat is up with them.

WHY DONT THEY GET RID OF ZITO?!??!?!?

 

[erijnal]

fishman, beating teams within our division isn't much to speak of these days hahah

It's kind of like a battle of the losers. Everyone's scuffling!

 

[mikenas102]

WHY DONT THEY GET RID OF ZITO?!??!?!?

With the contract they gave him he will be a Giant for the duration of that contract. Nobody is going to touch him at that price. Probably one of the top 5 worst contracts in baseball history.

 

[lildark185]

With the contract they gave him he will be a Giant for the duration of that contract. Nobody is going to touch him at that price. Probably one of the top 5 worst contracts in baseball history.

SF will probably end up eating his contract to get rid of him. Pavano's one of those bad contracts, he's such a useless pitcher.

 

[mikenas102]

Zito's contract doesn't even compare to Pavano's. Pavano was only for 4 years and nowhere near the money Zito is making. The best part about Pavano is that at least he isn't losing games for the Yanks. I'd rather him not play at all than do what Zito has been doing to the Giants.

Zito 7 yrs $126 million ($18 mil per year avg)
Pavano 4 yrs $39.95 million ($10 mil per year avg)

Not even close

And for all the Yankee haters from Boston how about this little ditty:
Matt Clement (remember him?) 3 yrs $25 million ($8.3 mil per year)

 

[mikenas102]

I also should have mentioned since signing the contract Zito is a combined 14-24 with 4.90 ERA. I'm still trying to find a contract in the history of MLB as bad as this one.

 

[erijnal]

I guess you could say that Schmidt's contract comes close. He might still give the Dodgers one good year though, depending on how effective he is coming back from shoulder surgery.

 

[mikenas102]

Yet another gem by Zito today.
5 innings, 4 ER, 5 walks 113 pitches in 5 innings and only 68 for strikes. Now at 5.99 ERA.

On another note:
Mark my words. The Rays are not for real and will finish 3rd in the A.L. East.

 

[freshyleif]

All I can say is to bad for you guys. I am an A's fan for 20yrs and have gotten used to watching all the great talent developed and then stolen by richer teams and larger salaries so sucks for you he is not having a good time in S.F. he sure was great for us. I mean if it would make you feel better every winter comes and I can expect to see half the roster change. Maybe money doesn't have anything to do with performance?

 

[BryceM]

The Rays are certainly not real, the Yankees don't look great, and the Sox are just waiting for their yearly slump. At least the Rays are making it interesting for once.

Go RedSox!

 

[erijnal]

And the Rays finish a sweep of the Red Sox..