July 2009 Archives

Cleveland has agreed to trade C/1B Victor Martinez to the Red Sox, SI.com has learned.
From CNNSI.com

"The deal is believed to include right-hander Justin Masterson and another pitcher. MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo says the other player involved is lefty prospect Nick Hagadone. Coveted Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz is not included in the deal, SI.com has learned. Hard-throwing reliever Daniel Bard won't be involved either, as Cleveland only wants starters.

This deal comes two days after the Indians traded reigning Cy Young winner Cliff Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco to the Phillies for four prospects."

Brad Bergesen was pitching well. Then he got drilled.
And what does Doyle Lonnegan have to do with David Ortiz?
Why we're sick of Barry Bonds' defenders.

According to the New York Times, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez were on the list of steroid users caught in 2003.
Please, don't act surprised.
This makes us think of the story no one talked about earlier this year. It was back in May that former Sox player Lou Merloni said the organization taught players how to dope.

Delwyn Young makes an unbelievable catch.
The Keystone State squads made some trades. The Philadelphia Phillies looked to add an ace, the Pittsburgh Pirates continues to be a disgrace.
Heralded Baltimore Orioles rookie Chris Tillman made an erratic but promising debut.

Don't overreact.
Don't overreact? Are you kidding me? The Philadelphia Phillies are World Champs - a phrase we're still joyiously getting used to - and they just picked up the reigning American League Cy Young winner.
Don't overreact. He's not Roy Halladay.
That's true, he's younger and cheaper. But he did win 20 games last year.
Yeah, and he's 7-9 this season.
Big woop, he could have easily won 10 to 12. He's got a 3.14 ERA this year and leads the American League in innings pitched.
Boy, you're excited.
Of course I'm excited. WE'RE GOING TO WIN THE WORLD SERIES.
Hey now, simmer down. Wait a minute, did you just use the word "we?" Are you going to pitch for the Phillies?
Sorry about that. Got carried away there. As far as me pitching for the Phillies, well, they seem to be high on southpaws. They do have four left-handed starters now.
Speaking of don't you think that's dangerous? So many lefties. How are they going to contain Manny Ramirez or Alfonso Soriano?
Yeah, I'm concerned about having the reigning AL Cy Young winner, the reigning World Series MVP, a rookie with a 7-1 record, and Jamie Moyer, who's got 10 wins or more for five straight seasons. Plus he's 4-1 with a 3.30 ERA in his last five starts. I don't know how they're going to compete. It's going to be so much tougher now. Seriously, though.
Remember the last time you got this confident? When you thought Freddy Garcia or even Kevin Millwood were going to lead you to the promised land? Where did they take you?
None of those guys joined the Phillies after winning 20 games, let alone the Cy Young. Sure, there's a risk here, but at least the Phillies didn't give up a lot.
Oh no. Just last season you talked about how Jason Donald, Carlos Carrasco and Lou Marsen as being the future of the organization.
Are you kidding me? The future is now. What's Jason Donald, the next Mickey Morandini? At worst, Marsen is the next Mike Lieberthal or Carrasco the Next Brett Myers. Most people are scared Jason Knapp is going to be a staple in the Indians' rotation. But he's at least three years away. By that time Kyle Drabek will be anchoring the rotation and Happ should still be around.
So you're not counting on the Phillies still packaging Happ and Drabek to the Blue Jays for The Good Doctor?

The Pirates have traded Jack Wilson to the Mariners, who now look like serious contenders for the Wild Card. Shortstop had become a hole in their roster and Wilson fills it well.
Now, that probably means Jarrod Washburn is not on the block.
The Pirates, however, are willing to sell anything. They just groom players and trade them to contenders.

Here's the AP story:
SEATTLE (AP) -- The Seattle Mariners have acquired shortstop Jack Wilson and right-handed pitcher Ian Snell from the Pittsburgh Pirates for shortstop Ronny Cedeno, Triple-A catcher Jeff Clement and three minor league pitchers.
Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik says he made Wednesday's trade to get a 31-year-old former All-Star shortstop and good defensive player in Wilson.
And the Mariners think Snell can restart his stalled career with them.
Cedeno was acquired this winter from the Chicago Cubs. He failed after Seattle gave him its shortstop job by trading Yuniesky Betancourt to Kansas City this month. Cedeno is hitless in his last 26 at bats.
Pittsburgh also gets minor league right-handed pitchers Nathan Adcock, Brett Lorin and Aaron Pribanic.

Is a Phillies move imminent? Carlos Carrasco was scratched for a start.
Thanks to Jeff Frantz for pointing out this link.
Zolecki seems to imply the deal could be for Cliff Lee. Since he gets paid for the Phillies, he's probably right.

Chris Woodward lays down a sacrifice bunt Tuesday. Who says the American League doesn't play small ball?
This time, Omar gets a public spanking.
Mark Buehrle continues to impress, even in a loss.
The regional teams get set for the trade deadline.

Who is the only player in Major League history to win the Rookie of the Year award as well as the MVP award during his career by unanimous vote?

The Southpaw returns and has a lot of catching up to do.
The Phillies and Yankees are on fire.
A Mets beat reporter has to defend himself.

The Southpaw is sorry he was too lazy to put up a first pitch yesterday. Forgive him, it was his first day of vacation.
Now, if you don't mind a quick ode to his favorite fan, check out the rest of today's First Pitch, which includes:
The Phillies going for a 10th win.
Mets officials tried to fight minor leaguers.

Maybe the Pirates and their fans should go on strike.
J-Roll heats up.
The O's make a trade.

Sure, Ryan Howard is exciting, and Mark McGwire held our attention, but no player made our jaws drop with the regularity of Ken Griffey Jr.
Some players change you.
You stop what your doing - even halting your breath - when they're on the field.
The way they move, be it the uncanny precision and frightening velocity with which they hurl a baseball, the way they scamper about the basepaths, making the outfielders irrelevant, or they way they can pummel a baseball into the farthest reaches of reality, grips your soul.
And when their careers pass on you sort through your collection of memories and find that their exploits make you smile. Maybe even bring a tear to your eye.
They are the most exciting players you ever saw.

The first pitch returns after an enjoyable All-Star break.
Why can't people stop putting Dave Trembley on the hot seat?
Holy cow, Jamie Moyer looked like Randy Johnson. Minus the fastball.

Here's a good feature on Radio and baseball.

Can Daniel Murphy and the Mets catch the World Champs? Or are the Phillies playing the Yankees to the Mets' Red Sox?
The Philadelphia Phillies, their fans and their city should be content with where they stand.
On top of the world.
Right now, they are the reigning World Series Champs. They hold back-to-back division titles. And they have crippled the egos new New York Mets fans.
It's kind of like how the Yankees used to be with the Boston Red Sox.
That's right, to the Metropolitans and their fans, the Phillies are the Evil Empire.
So, we can expect 86 years of dominance, right?
Come on, the Mets have more injured veterans than Walter Reed. The Phillies have a big lead. They need to be more concerned with the Marlins, not Willie Randolph, err, Jerry Manuel.
What could Phillies fans possibly worry about? Black Friday was more than 30 years ago.
They're World Champs. They got the rings. They got the glory. They got Cole Hamels.
But a bit of recent history looms over the Phillies. No, the shadow does not belong to Joe Carter, or the Ghosts of '64 for that matter.
It's the Ghosts of 2007.

It's time for a new feature here at The Southpaw.
So here's a cool photo of Jayson Werth making a nice play during the All-Star Game.
Tell us what your caption would be.

We're going to be very abbreviated this morning.
Consider it more of a bullpen session.
Here's the big news:

Slowly slipping under the Pedro/Halladay/All-Star game radar is this story. Pete Rose' reinstatement is still under consideration.

It's interesting that there was no mention of this during the game.

The World Champs are taking their chances with Pedro.

As for All-Star game coverage, we think you should read Tom Verducci's story about the NL's futility.

Again, the All-Star game was a good one. Hope you had fun. I know we here at The Southpaw did.
We do have to say, however, that Curtis Granderson should have been the MVP. Crawford's catch was impressive, but the AL probably doesn't win without Granderson's triple.

And now, for the second half and the pennant races.

Thoughts on the later innings:

1. This game started too late. Young kids are headed to bed without some of their favorite players getting in yet.


2. I continue to reflect on Ryan Franklin's roster spot. It does bother me that a player busted for 'roids was chosen, let alone allowed to play.


3. Justin Upton looked like he'd just rolled out of bed on Curtis Granderson's big fly.


4. A bit of managing: Uncle Cholly puts Victor Martinez on first in hopes of the double play. Of course that meant speedster Adam Jones was coming up next. His fly ball put the AL on top, 4-3.


5. What's with Uptons and running slower home to first than first to second? Evidence: BJ in World Series against Phillies. Justin in 2009 All-Star game.


6. One reason for the American League's dominance in recent years has got to be the bullpen. It's not fair having to hit against Mariano Rivera, let alone Jonathan Pappelbon and Nathan. Plus they used to have Eckersley, Wetteland and Gordon at the high points of their careers.

The National League needs to make a move soon. Maybe Utley can go yard.
Some thoughts from the middle innings:

1. Is there a warning in the tale of Dan Haren and Co. for Mark Mulder with what the Phillies could do with Roy Halladay. The Oakland right was on his way to the Hall of Fame when he was traded to St. Louis. Since then, Mulder's career has been derailed while Haren has been a three time All Star, winning 68 games. Could J.A. Happ do the similar things? It's possible. But right now, if Halladay is there for the taking, the Phillies should grab him.


2. Jeff brought up David Wright's work as a pitchman. Remember, Jeff, he has a huge amount of stock in the company.


3. Someone needs to tell Carl Crawford to shave his ministache. It's rough. Really rough.


4. What a play by Chase Utley. Of course, Hanley Ramirez' stretch was as important. No word on that by Timmy McCarver. Of course, we had to bring up Timmy Mac, who should just retire. He's become a complete caricature of himself in the booth. The sad thing is when he does interviews he's insightful.


5. Can't help but wonder if Derek is wearing his thong.


6. Is it just me, or is the National League swinging very early in the count? Call these guys the Jimmy Rollins.


7. I'm not one to talk, but the ESPN headline right now says "Shinning in St. Louis" Groundskeeper Willie says: "Do you want us to get sued, lad." Anyway, the best part is Molly looked at it and said, "You didn't do that did you?"
   Gotta love the confidence.


8. That "It's all about the Buffalo's, Baby" Taco Bell commercial lasted longer than Todd Van Poppel's career.

York County's own Vic Wertz blasted a solo home run off Sal "The Barber" Maglie during the 1951 mid-summer classic.
It wasn't enough, however, as the National League won 8-3.
Wertz played in three All-Star games and was selected for another. He went 2-for-7 with a home run and two runs driven in as a representative for the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers.

We're not sure he's the only one ever to do it, but did you know you know York County's own Ken Raffensberger was an All-Star pitcher the same season he lost 20 games. He played in the Mid-summer Classic in 1944 for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Raffensberger's numbers in '44 included 13 wins and a 3.06 ERA. He finished his career with 119 wins against 154 losses.

Here are some early impressions:

1. It's nice that the National League let a prepubescent fan pitch the first inning.
   That kid, Tim Lincecum, had a rough first inning.
   Of course, he got hurt by hometown hero Albert Pujols kicked around a ground ball.


2. The Pepsi refreshed generation commercial was really cool.


3. Michael Young's play on Albert the Great's rip wasn't as fantastic as Joe Buck would have you believe. First of all, he stepped to the side and waved at it. He was lucky he got it. A good play would have been had he stepped in front of it and fielded it fundamentally.
   It just wouldn't have looked as cool


4. How about Roy Halladay's at-bat. Maybe he was showing the Phillies he could hit. He fouled off a bunch of pitches from Tim Lincecum. Of course, he didn't have his own batting helmet, which was fun to watch.


5. How about Tim Timmons umpiring down the left field line? What makes that interesting is it's the same name as a character from The Sandlot.


6. The last three presidents have been in the broadcast booth and it's nice that they're not as awkward as some other politicians. Presidents Obama, Bush the elder, Bush the Younger and Clinton are all sports fans and can have an easy rapport with broadcasters. It's a stark contrast from John Kerry. Here's something Peter Gammons wrote in 2004.
   So who puts the bug in candidates' ears about seeming what they are not? John Kerry last week professed to be a big fan of "Manny Ortez," then re-emphasized the phoofery by correcting it to "David Ortez." No, that was Dave (Baby) Cortez and "The Happy Organ." A few years back Kerry went on a Boston station with Eddie Andelman and said "my favorite Red Sox player of all time is The Walking Man, Eddie Yost," who never played for the Red Sox. Kerry is going to sweep New England. He's going to get 70 percent of the vote in Massachusetts. He doesn't have to be a Red Sox fan, all he has to do is not be John Ashcroft.
   

The All Stars Among Us was a fantastic idea.
And the follow through was pitch-perfect.
Watching the players crowd around those 30 fans who've done a lot for their communities was very touching. It was also very reminiscent of when the players surrounded Ted Williams at the 1999 Mid-Summer Classic.

Only Major League Baseball can screw up something as glorious as the All-Star game. There's no competition during the summer, it's just the marathon that is the Major League Baseball season. The highs and lows that are the backbone of our sports' culture happen then.
And the summer high is the All-Star Game. From May to August, nothing comes close to the drama. Consider, in the last four years, each game has been decided by two runs or fewer. Since 1980, the games have been decided by three runs or fewer in 22 of 28 games.
Yet, it could be so much bigger.
Here are three ways baseball could make the All-Star game the second-most watched sporting event.
1. Play it on Sunday, with the game starting at 7 p.m. This way, fewer people have to go to bed and miss the final innings. This could help make it a cultural event, much like the Superbowl.
2. Announce the Hall of Fame inductees at the game. Sure, there's a shorter turnaround between the game and the induction, but this will get more people paying attention.
3. The Home Run Derby is fantastic. Who doesn't enjoy seeing the big mashers bash the ball into insane reaches. Now, add to it. Have the derby on Saturday, and an alumni derby on Sunday, before the game. It should include some of the biggest stars of yesterday. Think about it, we could watch Mike Schmidt and Mike Piazza go at it. It would be a great warmup.

You take the Superbowl, I'll take the All-Star Game.
Oh, come on, you knew that was coming.
That said, The Southpaw is serious.
Tonight we'll discuss the 2009 game's action, learn some history, find out some local connections to the game, and make fun of Timmy Mac.
Hope you enjoy.

From the AP:
ST. LOUIS -- Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria is out of the American League starting lineup for the All-Star game because of an infected right ring finger.
He is being replaced by Texas third baseman Michael Young.
Chone Figgins of the Anaheim Angels is taking Longoria's place on the AL roster.

Sometimes baseball provides moments. A player will come out of nowhere to star unexpectedly. Tonight appears to be Nelson Cruz' night.
He blasted five shots, four of which could have knocked the man in the moon on the head, to open the finals of the Home Run Derby.
Then Prince Fielder blew the doors off the party.
He came in and made short work of the finals, hitting six home runs in just seven outs, to win the crown.
Well, tonight had some memorable bombs, many of which belonged to the home run king.
We even had some memorable discussion between Joe Morgan and Chris Berman.
Steve Phillips, as expected, was about as useful as Raphael Belliard in a home run derby.
But, we had fun.
Don't forget to check back for more tomorrow for some live blogging during the All-Star Game.

Albert the great started things off. He hit some bullets, but the distance just wasn't there until the end. Tony La Russa has to be happy for that because that means he didn't change his stroke.
Pujols finished with six bombs but didn't qualify.
Ryan Howard qualified, finishing with 15.
Then Cruz hit some memorable shots deep into the St. Louis night.
Then Prince Fielder hit some moon shots, getting a standing ovation for his 503-foot tater.
However, the highlight of the round came from Mr. Gingivitis himself, Chris Berman. Boomer said the Commissioner's Office should have named Ken Griffey Jr. and Randy Johnson should have been named to the team like Mickey Mantle and other idols were in the 60s.
I couldn't agree more with this sentiment.
After all it is an all-star game. Sure, they might not be the premiereremi players in the game anymore, but they're still stars.

You've got to give Carlos Pena credit. He's trying to win it. But he doesn't need to be so selective.
Call it karma that we had to wait out his at-bat and he only got one.
Then, we Joe Mauer batted and was shout out.
So we needed Alber Pujols to hit two in the second round just so we wouldn't have to worry about Pena taking 15 pitches per swing.
And Albert delivered, launching one to Topeka.

How much pressure can one man shoulder?
Not only does Albert Pujols have to deal with the pressure of being in the Home Run Derby, but he's got an entire city hoping he's going to win the derby.
Then he falls behind seven outs to one home run.
He looked like raw bacon, all floppy and out of place.
Then he turned on a switch.
He hit what would have been a single that was so hard he almost impaled 18 children in left center.
The fans started rocking.
Then he sent a dribbler toward short and, again it looked like he was doen.
"If you're going to hit one, you might as well hit two," Joe Morgan said.
Well, Pujols hit one, so we habe bonus derby.

For whatever reason, the best swing in baseball is usually owned by a left-handed hitter.
There was Junior Griffey, John Olerud, Will Clark.
Now, we would have to say it's Joe Mauer.
Sure, the results are great. No one's going to argue with his two batting titles. But it's the sweet path the swing takes through the zone.
The sweet swing didn't help him get out of the first round, however.

It almost looks like Ryan Howard is pacing himself. It doesn't look like he's taking all-out, send-it-to-the upper deck efforts.
He never seemed to get in a groove, either.
But as a Phillies fan, that's OK. There's no need for him to screw up his swing and loose his grove.
That happened to Bobby Abreu and David Wright.

Even in the Home Run Derby, pitching is the key. Carlos Pena and his hurler don't look in sync. During recent years, two Phillies contestants, Bobby Abreu and Ryan Howard, were really in tune with their hurler.
He didn't just throw strikes he put the ball right where they wanted it. It's kind of like hitting off of Adam Eaton.
Pena looked like he could use an Eaton on the mound.
He drove most of his balls the other way, and that's not because he was late. It was because many of the balls were on the outer half of the plate.

Watching the derby with us at the Southpaw's is Molly and her young cousin Hope Stevens. Later in the week we'll tell you about Hope's adventures at her first Big League game.
This is also Hope's - not to mention Molly's - first Home Run Derby.
They've really gotten into it too. "There it goes," Hope says on every deep fly. If it doesn't go out, she groans.
With Adrian Gonzalez, it's mostly been, "Oh, it just missed."

If we'd have told you before the season started that Brandon Inge would be an All-Star let alone, a participant in the Home Run Derby, would you have believed us?
Didn't think so.
That said, we feel bad he never went yard.
Every year, somebody struggles. Oh god, Joe Morgan just asked everyone to pull for him.
But Mike Piazza, who's one of the best-hitting catchers of all-time, really struggled in home run derbies.

Jack Buck discusses Stan MusialThe highlight video and conversation with Albert Pujols about Stan Musial was fantastic.
He's a complete class act and rarely mentioned by fans today and modern writers when considering the best players of all time.
Consider this: Musial played much of his career in the same time as Mickey Mantle. Mantle had four seasons of 100 runs batted in or more. Musial did it 10 times.
He also had a .331 batting average.
A guy who's having a Stan Musial-like season is Prince Fielder. The Big Fella is hitting .315 with 22 home runs.
Now, Fielder's not a guy who's going to hit .300 for his career, but he hit's some shots Musial has to be awed by.
Consider Prince's 497-foot bomb tonight.

How fun would it be to be a kid out there catching fly balls?
Watching these teens and preteens take routes to the ball like they're wide receivers and how they all crowd around each other like it's a youth soccer game is awesome.
Their joy is contagious.
Another person who's enjoying himself is Nelson Cruz. He hit some absolutely majestic shots.
A star is born.

Apparently, Albert Pujols is looking for a walk.

We've already admitted the Home Run Derby is like candy on Halloween.
However, we don't want cavities.
And Chris Berman is the plaque that causes gingivitis. His schtick has gotten very old.
Back in the day, hearing Boomer's "Back-back-back and Gone" was a blast.
Now, however, he's more full of himself than Bill O'Reilly or Keith Olbermann. He's gotten to the point where he's distracting.
Plus, baseball fans have been able to enjoy the likes of Karl Ravich and John Miller all season, why can't we hear them now?

Really? We needed David Cook? If Major League Baseball and the companies involved in the All-Star game insist we have to listen to some pre-derby music, we should get something every generation likes. Treat this like the Superbowl. Give us Springsteen. Heck, give us Bon Jovi.

Sure, the home run derby is the Snickers of baseball events, but we love the sugar rush.
Even though Big Mac, Sammy, and so many of the sluggers of recent memory are tinged with steroid allegations, there have been some memorable nights from players who haven't been touched with the dirt of PED's.
We think of Ken Griffey Jr. bashing one off the warehouse at Camden Yards.
Speaking of former stars, we have to talk about the big news story of the day.
According to several reports, Pedro Martinez is on his way to a physical. If he passes it, he will be headed to the World Champions.
If you want to read our thoughts on Pedro joining the Phillies, click here.
Now, back to the sugary goodness.

Roy Halladay, right, and Tim Lincecum have different styles, but there's no doubt both are aces.
From the AP:
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Tim Lincecum and Roy Halladay were selected Monday as the starting pitchers for the All-Star game.
Last year's NL Cy Young Award winner, Lincecum is 10-2 with a 2.33 ERA for the San Francisco Giants. He will get the ball Tuesday night at Busch Stadium, NL manager Charlie Manuel announced.
Lincecum made the All-Star team for last season's game at Yankee Stadium but was unable to pitch because he was ill.

Washington has the worst record, by far, in Major League Baseball. So why was firing the Nationals manager a bad move?
Breaking down the first half.

The Houston Astros have claimed Chris Coste off waivers. The backup catcher has become a folk hero in Philly. This CSN Philly report discusses how the organization never warmed up to him as much as the fans. This Philly Burbs story discusses the number crunch he faced.
There's no doubt Coste's story is a fantastic one, coming up as 33-year-old rookie. We can't help but hope his career continues with success.

So, Joel Hanrahan was the winning pitcher for the Nationals yesterday. Thing is, he pitches for the Pirates. Go figure.

Jamie Moyer is on the hill for the Phillies tonight.
Did you know he has ties to York County? Well, now you do.

Several reports are saying three-time Cy Young winner Pedro Martinez has signed with the Phillies.
However, the general manager says that's not the case.
John Heyman says the answer will come by Sunday.
In other Phillies news, Shane Victorino earned a trip to the All-Star team.
The Detroit TIgers' Brandon Inge is the last player added to the American League.

The All-Star game has given us many memorable moments. Pete Rose barreling over Ray Fosse, Pete Rose getting ambushed by Jim Grey in the 1999 All-Star game. OK, not every memory surrounds Charlie Hustle.
Reggie Jackson hammered a ball out of Tiger Stadium. Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio shared the outfield. As did Aaron and Mays.
So with all that history, what are the greatest performances in All-Star history?
Well, The Southpaw's done some work and here they are.

The always entertaining and insightful Rob Neyer takes a great look at what the all-time NL All-star team would be.
Imagine a team with Joe Morgan and Johnny Bench or one with Roy Campanella and Jackie Robinson or Steve Carlton and Mike Schmidt.
Oh, they were on teams together.
Well, anyway, imagine Schmidt, Carlton and Henry Aaron. Or Bench, Morgan and Doc Gooden.
Anyway, it's fun to look at.

Andruw Jones, how are ya?
Shane Victorino is pushing to make the All-Star team.

At the end of October, after he'd hoisted more trophies than Larry King's had trophy wives, you'd have thought Cole Hamels was the toughest man on the face of the earth.
Sure, he sounded like a cross between Michael Jackson and Steve Carell.
Sure, he looked like a surfer dude.
Sure, he's all gangly, his arms and legs flying forth as he tosses that unhittable change-up.
But he ate Manny Ramirez, Prince Fielder and Carlos Pena alive.
Between smiles he gave dragons noogies. After speaking softly, he could take on the entire UFC. And he didn't need a big stick.
This guy swam in pools filled with great whites. And they were afraid of him.
Then this comes out.
Hamels has a teeny-weeny, curly-haired dog. Not that there's anything wrong with that. My mom and dad have a cute, little chitzu-poo. But my dad doesn't throw fastballs past Evan Longoria and Ryan Braun.
My dad doesn't put the fear of god into Chipper Jones.
The really weird thing about this picture of Hamels, as Jeff Frantz so succinctly pointed out, is what reason on God's green earth is there for Hamels to need a backpack?
Sure, he looks young. He probably has to show his ID to get into R-rated movies. But a backpack? Seriously. Is he heading off to trig? OMG, guys. Where's my BFF?
But there is a prototype for the grown male carrying a backpack. Josh, played by Bradley Whitford, on the West Wing.
He always had a backpack slung over his shoulder.
While Josh helped President Bartlett run the free world, he never had to toss aside BJ Upton like it was nobody's business.
Cole Hamels is a baseball god. And not only do gods not answer letters, they don't carry little dogs around in their backpacks.
Are we going to tell Cole that?
No way.
We'll have David Ortiz do that.
Then we'll watch him go 0-for-4 with three whiffs the next time he faces Cole Hamels.

Twenty years ago, the Oakland Athletics were in the middle of winning three straight pennants.
During a run from the mid-80s to early 90s, they had a memorable offense that included Dave Henderson, Terry Steinbach, Dave Parker, Carney Lansford and Tony Phillips. However, the stars were Rickey Henderson, Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire.
Which of the big three boppers finished their career with the most extra base hits?

Thinking about a Roy Halladay trade, one that would send him to the Phillies, is like thinking about Santa the night before Christmas.
Trust me, it is.
And how awesome is it that Alan Embree didn't even throw a pitch and he got the win.

Sports Illustrated has several Mid-season stories.

• Here are Tom Verducci's awards and notes.
• Ted Kieth has 10 burning questions.
• John Heyman also has some hardware to be handed out.

;
If you can catch a home run that rocketed off the bat of David Ortiz you've got a memory for life. On the jump, you can read about how a lawsuit and physics play a part in being able to take a souvenir home.

Editor's note: Here is a great piece from the wire:

By Bill Reiter
McClatchy Newspapers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- My friend's voice erupts from the other side of the phone with a degree of giddiness usually heard only in the voices of children.
"Dude," he says excitedly, "it's a Monday and the Royals are sucking! The place is going to be empty."
Let me explain.
There is, for true baseball fans, a Holy Grail we know exists, a unicorn you can actually capture: a home run ball.
If you can be lucky and quick and in the right place at the right time--if a piece of the American pastime can find your outstretched hand--you can go home with proof that something good and pure still exists in the game.
This belief is what has my buddy Reid, who at that very moment is speeding toward Kansas City with high hopes, sounding as earnest and irrepressible as any 10-year-old kid. He, too, has armed himself with his glove, with the thought that today is finally the day, with the comfort that as bad as the Royals have been, the competition to catch a homer will be low.
"This is going to be as good a day as there is to catch a ball," he says confidently.

The Southpaw is sick and tired of King Felix. He's barely a duke. Barely.
The Phillies opened up a can Monday.
And yes, we actually defend Derek Jeter.

Pedro Martinez, who led the Boston Red Sox to the promised land, could be joining the team that occupies that sacred ground.
That's right, the Philadelphia Phillies are inexplicably scouting Pedro Martinez.
Sure, he won thre Cy Young awards. But he won 17 games the previous three seasons.
What's the benefit here?
Sure the staff has trouble, but unles Pedro is willing to pitch out of the pen, he doesn't bring much to the table.
Is he better than Joe Blanton, who the past two years has a lower ERA than Martinez does during the same span? No.
Is he better than Cole Hamels? Historically, yes. Currently, not even close.
Is he better than Jamie Moyer? Not really. They're both maxed out after 5-6 innings. They both will give up home runs.
Is he better than JA Happ? That's a tough question. Happ is young but he has been the Phillies most consistent starter. Since joining the rotation, Happ has gone six innings or more in five of eight starts. Pedro won't do that.
Now, as for the Phillies fifth starter. Pedro might be better than some of the rookies, but if the Phillies are going to contend for a long time, it might be more worth their while to have those young kids get some innings in.

Randy Johnson doesn't look so dominant with the stick.
We've got All-Star news.
Is Mets-Phillies still a rivalry?

Seventy years ago, Lou Gehrig stepped to a microphone and became the Pride of The Yankees.

Don't forget to check out The Southpaw's Player Appreciation of Lou Gehrig.

This was a story that ran in the Philadelphia Inquirer on Memorial Day.
It has a local connection as well, through Gettysburg College.

Memorial Day always makes me think of Harry O'Neill.
A major-league ballplayer, a World War II hero . . . O'Neill's story, I've often thought, might make a nice newspaper takeout, perhaps even a book or screenplay.

His short life was as sweet as any imaginable. And as bitter.
"Porky" O'Neill reached the big leagues as a catcher. But while he got to wear the uniform of his beloved hometown team, the Philadelphia Athletics, his career consisted of a single game -- a single inning, really, with no at-bat, in a meaningless 16-3 loss.

He wore another iconic American uniform, too, as a Marine first lieutenant. Again, things didn't turn out well. A Japanese sniper's bullet ended his decorated career as well as his life.

Continued on the jump.

Who was the last New York Mets pitcher to win 20 game?
A. Steve Trachsel
B. Al Leiter
C. David Cone
D. Dwight Gooding
E. Ron Darling

The champs play like chumps. The chumps play like champs.

Is someone about to hit .400?
It's certainly not Jimmy Rollins, who might need to take some batting tips from the Arizona pitching staff.

There should be a separate league for Albert Pujols. The rest of the Big Leagues just aren't good enough for him to compete with.
Now that Pujols has reached the 30 home run plateau, we need to reflect on how great his young career has been.
Caution, what you're about to see might shock you.
If toughness is measured in today's pop culture- infused world by Chuck Norris, well, Albert Pujols is much tougher to get out than the bearded fellow.

The Nationals continue to make moves.
Today they optioned Elijah Dukes to Triple-A.
Yesterday they acquired Nyjer Morgan from the Pirates. Sure, Morgan is 28 and doesn't have much "upside" but he brings a lot to the Nationals. He gives Washington an influx of speed.
But we think there's going to be a domino effect.
With Morgan in center, the Nats will then be able to move Willie Harris to left. Then they can move Adam Dunn to first.
That means the Nationals can trade Nick Johnson for a plus pitching prospect.
Plus this has the added benefit of ridding the team of not one, but two, outfielders with attitude issues.

Brian Roberts scores the go-ahead run in an insane, ridiculous and historic rally against the Boston Red Sox.
All we can say is wow.
Wow for the Orioles.
Wow for the Rays.
Wow for Albert the Great.