Cardinals' Last Stand?

The Cardinals have to be feeling a lot like General George Custer right now.

They flew into the 2007 season with the highest of expectations. Fresh off their playoff heroics and the most unlikely World Series Championship in team history, the birds boasted a formidable lineup at season’s beginning. Albert would be Albert. Rolen and Edmonds had passed their prime, but both would still hit .270 average and bat in 80 runs. Eckstein would hit .300 and continue his clutch ways. The starting rotation, however, was suspect. Chris Carpenter would win fifteen to twenty games, and Wainwright would be a solid number two starter. Looper, Reyes, and Wells were question marks, but each had showed ability to win at the big-league level.

Opening night was fraught with pomp and pageantry. Fans cheered as the team rode around the warning track in convertibles, and members of the 1967 and 1982 Championship teams were on hand to celebrate with forty thousand plus raucous fans. Actor Billy Bob Thorton emceed the ceremony as the franchise’s tenth World Championship banner was hoisted above the stadium. The expectations were high; the enthusiasm was palpable.

Then the baseball began, and reality quickly hit.

The Cardinals dropped three straight to the visiting Mets and lost four of their first five. After a rash of injuries, (Chris Carpenter, Braden Looper, David Eckstein, Jim Edmonds and Yadier Molina have all spent time on the DL), abysmal starting pitching, (Reyes 0-10, Wells 4-13), and lack of any prolonged winning streak, the NL Central favorites find themselves six games under .500. But since the their division lacks the depth of, say, the AL East, they remain only eight games behind first place Milwaukee.

And tonight the Brew Crew come to town.

The redbirds have failed time after time this year to get back in the race. With the trade deadline looming and the Brewers threatening, tonight is their last stand.

Aforementioned problems notwithstanding, this team has one last chance to put themselves in a position to make the playoffs. If they sweep the series against Milwaukee and Chicago—currently two games out—goes 2-2, the Cardinals will pull within four games of first. Unlikely it is, but impossible it is not.

I’ve counted out the Cardinals time and time again this season, and I’m sure I’ll do it again if they blow it with the Brewers. Will the Cardinals win the World Series in 2007? Before you answer, how likely was it in 2006?

"Sherk"ing Responsibility

UFC Lightweight Champion Sean Sherk (left) and number one contender Hermes Franca squared off for the UFC’s Lightweight Championship earlier this month, and after five rounds of complete domination by the champion, Sherk retained his belt with a unanimous decision victory. At no point was the champion close to finishing Franca, but after five rounds of slamming him to the ground, passing his guard, mounting him at will and escaping his submission attempts, one thing became unmistakably clear. Few lightweights will be able to deal with the strength that Sherk brings into the Octagon.

Sean Sherk had become somewhat of a hero in recent weeks. Shortly before UFC 73, UFC All-Access—which gives fans a behind-the-scenes glance at fighters’ home life and training regimen—featured the Lightweight Champion and left the MMA world abuzz. Sprinting up steep hills, smashing truck tires with sledgehammers, sparring ten rounds without a hint of rest, Sherk showed fans all around exactly how he got his chiseled physique…or so we thought.

Last Thursday the California State Athletic Commission revealed that both Sherk and Franca both failed their pre-fight drug tests. Both tested positive for anabolic steroids. Franca quickly issued an apology, admitting guilt and claiming that he took the drugs to help him recover from a pre-fight injury. Sherk denies the allegations altogether. Both fighters will be fined a portion of their winnings and must serve a one-year suspension. Sherk has filed an appeal, and a hearing will take place early next month.

I’m not going to say Sherk is guilty, but look that the picture above. He looks more juiced than a bottle of Hawaiian Punch!

Unfortunately, Sherk and Franca’s failed drug tests are not isolated incidents but rather further evidence of growing steroid problem in MMA. Tim Sylvia has tested positive, as has Royce Gracie. You can add Kevin Randleman and Vitor Belfort to the list too. The problem is that, at the moment, UFC drug testing is conducted on a largely random basis. Those fighting for a title can expect to tested, but other than that, it’s only as unfortunate few.

Doping no doubt gives athletes in other sports an unfair advantage, but in MMA it’s simply dangerous. Remember Diego Sanchez’s knockout of Joe Riggs or Rashad Evans’ high kick against Sean Salmon. Think of what Gabriel Gonzaga did to Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 70. If Sanchez, Evans, and Gonzaga can do that to their opponents when they passed their drugs tests, can you imagine what they could do on steroids?

As much as I love MMA, I must say that it does provide greater risk for injury than most other mainstream sports. And if someone is seriously injured—or worse yet killed—in the Octagon, that just may be the death knell for the UFC. If UFC president Dana has even a scintilla of integrity or concern for his fighters, he will take drug testing into his own hands. At the moment he’s content to leave it up to state athletic commissions.

The fact is this. The more doping in MMA, the more likely it is for someone to get seriously injured in the Octagon. If Mr. White doesn't act soon, he may pay dearly!

Better Than a Movie

I was ready to crown the Michael Vick dog fighting story as the sports story of the decade. Less than a week after his indictment, a new story has emerged that may blow that story away. I'm not going to pretend to be an NBA die hard, but you really don't have to be one to understand the implications of Tim Donaghy helping to fix games for the mob. If you saw this in a movie, it would be fun to watch...but there is no way you'd ever believe it would happen. The only other time sports has imitated art this much that I can remember is Kirk Gibson's dramatic home run off of Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. To say the least, this is nothing like that. The Tim Donaghy scandal (we need to come up with a creative, fun name for this) is the NBA's worst nightmare. A league that desperately needed something good...some ray of hope, now has to face the fact that every marginal call from now on will be rightfully questioned by fans. Was the ref in on the fix? I never thought I'd live in a world where this is a reality.

For years there have memorable contests in all the major sports where a questionable call or two seemed to change the outcome of the game. Throughout my life, I recall many people whom I considered uneducated or stupid, saying that some of these games in question were fixed. My thoughts were: "Yeah right", "Humans make mistakes", "What other conspiracies does he believe?". Maybe I was wrong? If Donaghy was able to possibly fix this many games, what other people have fixed games that we haven't found out about? David Stern has his work cut out for him. This is the nightmare scenario for a league that badly needed some good publicity.

This last year, the NBA All-Star game came here to yours truly...Las Vegas, NV. It was the hardest ticket in the history of Las Vegas sports. The game was taken off the board here in the sportsbooks to ensure there would be no ties to gambling. Since the handle on a contest like this was far less than what the casinos made on visitors who came in that weekend, they obliged. There were serious problems here in Vegas that weekend (good for another blog), but the weekend itself was something we needed to do to try and get a professional franchise here. Now, who knows? Was this enough to scare every major sport from coming here? As Las Vegas residents, this story is also a nightmare because it could have major consequences on our efforts to lure a team into coming here. This is simply not fair.

Most people associate Las Vegas with gambling and it's mob past. One of the last frontiers in the wild, wild west. Anything goes. What happens here stays here. You get the picture. While it's true this image often plays itself out every weekend, the mob has no part in it. I'm not saying they don't exist; I'm saying they don't have the power they once had here. Every major casino here is corporate now. No skimming in the back rooms...it's all legit. The reason that's important: because of the highly regulated and highly watched ways Las Vegas exists, a scam like Tim Donaghy would not happen here. If it was attempted, it would be caught far before 2 years. For those that want proof, google the 1994 Arizona St. point shaving scandal. You want to eliminate sports fixing? Eliminate the back alley bookie or the online casino. Although it's not yet known how/where Donaghy influenced the action on his games, it's nearly impossible that it happened here in legal sportsbooks. So now that Donaghy has screwed the NBA, hopefully he didn't also screw us here in Vegas. Only time will tell.

I said it before, I'm not a big NBA fan. The league has far too many problems which I've documented before. When this story broke, I couldn't have been more shocked. This isn't just horrible for the NBA, it has major implications for every sport and my city as well. Although the NFL will act like it isn't true, it's popularity has skyrocketed with the advent of more gambling outlets such as fantasy football and online sportsbooks. The NFL is a league that won't even let NBC advertise it's hit show "Las Vegas" during Sunday Night Football telecasts. This is the degree to which it wants to try and separate gambling and it's product. I completely understand the concept, but now many of their irrational fears have become somewhat rational. As Las Vegas residents, we will now have to pay the price for having legal, regulated sports betting more than ever before. In a world where you can place a bet that is completely unregulated with two clicks of a mouse, Vegas should not be the enemy. How many years will it take for one of the suits of any major sport to figure that out? With the help of Oscar Goodman, David Stern was almost there. We've already submitted our proposal to gain an NBA franchise. Although it's not official yet, we should have a new sports arena open by late 2010. With a population of 1.9 million, we're ready. No word has come yet...and now, we're probably screwed! F Donaghy. Seriously, F him. The damage he's done can't be measured in dollars. The integrity of the game, for truly the first time, has been called into question. As a sports fan, this makes me sick. As a Vegas resident, I'm beyond mad. I can't write about this anymore tonight as I feel my blood pressure rising beyond the levels of the great Lady Madden. I'm going to pop a Percocet and head to bed. Turning the television off now and...

Wait, Jodi Sweetin got married here in Vegas this weekend at the Little Church of the West. Anybody ever watch her show Pants Off Dance Off? I couldn't begin to name the channel it's on. TIVO it. Best show nobody has ever heard of. Now that I know she is married, I can rest easy. Local news always has the best reporting.

Michael "Con" Vick, "Depriciated" Bonds, and Jerry "Ying" Yang: A Chris Berman Blog Title

The NFL is light years ahead of any other sport in it's popularity. It's television ratings and revenue are unmatched for any other sport. There is absolutely no debating it. Yesterday, the face of a franchise, Michael Vick was indicted on charges that he is involved in a dog fighting ring. Dog fighting. Really? Apparently 40,000 people in the U.S. are involved in this "sport". What kind of sick, twisted individuals are these people?

With a day of reflection, I've seen that some of the arguments that support dog fighting claim that it's part of inner-city or black culture. Although these people are the vast minority, they are completely wrong. I'm not even a dog owner, yet I can't avoid grimacing when I hear or see details about this "sport". Like most Americans, I had no idea that this even existed. The good of this case is, that hopefully, people involved in dog fighting will be eradicated and have much harsher punishment than what they have now.

Let's not make the mistake of innocent until proven guilty here. I completely understand that this IS policy in all civilian trials, but let's be real. (Random voice from above: "BE REAL SON!")

Michael Vick is an asshole. Correction: Asshole. Seriously, wouldn't you rather have a drug addict at QB? At least a drug addict can rehab and pee his illness out. Michael Vick is a sick, sick human being. You can't cure stupidity. Risking his multi-million dollar contract for a few thousand on some dog fights. Unforgivably dumb. You can throw his brother Marcus into the label as well. Together, they are a perfect example of why bad or stupid human beings should not be allowed to breed. What parent raises kids like this? If I were President, there would be mandatory breeding laws. Certain people should not be allowed to breed. Low IQs? Too evil? Well guess what?...You don't get the privilege of....@%#%ing. Crime would be down, IQs would be up, poverty almost non-existent. This will never happen, but I thought it might be worth mentioning here. Marcus and Michael Vick are both an absolute disgrace to humanity. Blame mom. I don't care how hard it was being single and poor, she clearly sucked as a mother.

How guilty is he? This is not like the Duke Lacrosse scandal. There are NO conflicting reports. Also, it is not a county DA involved...it's big brother himself, the federal government. FACT: 90% of all people indicted by the Fed, settle out of court. FACT: Of the 10% of the cases that do go to trial, there is a 95% conviction rate. With that said, don't even attempt to give Vick the benefit of the doubt. He's an ASSHOLE.

On to Barry Bonds. Guess what! I want him to break the record...soon! 2 reasons...both kind of selfish. 1. I picked him up in the 12th round of this year's fantasy baseball draft and he has far exceeded expectations...19 points today with his 2 home runs! 2. The sooner he gets past Hank, the less we have to see: ESPN "Chasing Aaron" scrolling along the bottom line of ESPN, highlights on SportsCenter of every half-important AB, or the famous "Chasing Aaron" popup that comes across the screen every friggin' time you try to see the MLB scoreboard for the day. I love ESPN, but c'mon people. That's all about that. I hate him, but I root for him for selfish reasons.

Last, but not least, congratulations to Jerry Yang...this year's winner of the World Series of Poker Main Event. He's a psychologist from Temecula, CA. When this comes out on television, I'm not sure but, it could shatter the unintentional comedy scale. He's not as big of a tool as Jamie Gold, but at 5'3 he has to stand up on A LOT of pots to intimidate the other players. He played very aggressively and also very intelligently at the final table. I'm not sure anybody could have done any better.

This is Chris Berman reporting, ESPN NEWS.

Bonds Depreciation

Barry Bonds is arguably the most hated athlete in professional sports. A few nights ago I had the opportunity to see the Cardinals-Giants game at Busch Stadium and, like in most ballparks these days, the fans had it out for Barry. His slightest involvement in any situation aroused the ire of the crowd. An announcer would speak his place in the starting lineup, and the fans would begin to hiss; a Cardinal would pop out routinely to left, and thousands would begin to jeer; the loudspeakers would announce his name as he strolled to the plate, and the forty-thousand plus in attendance would boo so loudly that you would think Don Denkinger had returned to Busch.

One thing became clear that Saturday evening. Barry Bonds has more enemies than Fidel Castro.

If you were to ask your average baseball fan why they dislike Bonds, his answer would probably include some mention of steroids. Bonds himself has admitted to taking performance enhancing drugs, but lost a great deal of respect by claiming that he did so unwittingly by using some type of laced topical cream. I believe, however, that our river of hatred runs much deeper than the steroids. Names like McGwire, Sosa, Giambi and Palmeiro are all synonymous with the juice, but only Bonds’ generates such singular scorn.

Although there are probably more reasons than we can count for why we hate Barry Bonds, I’ve listed what I believe to be the big three.

1) He has no respect for the game of baseball.

The nephew of Bobby Bonds and the godson of Willie Mays, Bonds comes from one the greatest baseball families in the history of the game. While he possesses talent comparable to either of them, Bonds lacks their class. Where Bobby Bonds and Willie Mays both epitomized athletic class, Barry typifies the narcissistic, unapproachable, larger-than-life superstar. He berates reporters and fans without hesitation. He is a clubhouse pariah.

2) He’s not a team player

To be completely honest, there have been few superstars in baseball history who have had such incredible talent but a lack of desire to help his team. When you look at other MLB superstars—guys like David Ortiz, Albert Pujols, and Derek Jeter—they all step up and lead their teams at crucial times—both in the dugout in the press.

3) Steroids Allegations

As I’ve already mentioned, steroids aren’t the only reason fans hate Barry, but they certainly hurt his cause. What makes fans even more averse to Barry is his insistent denial of any wrongdoing. Just look at his physique now compared to when he came up with the Pirates—he’s gotten huge. Some of that can be attributed to weight training, but by no means all of it. If there’s anything to learn from Pete Rose, it’s that America hates a liar.

Hopefully you’re reading this Barry. Maybe now you’ll know why.

ONLINE POKER

I had no work today. Went to bed at 3, woke up at 11. I went to go get my oil changed at 1:00 and had an approximately 2 hour wait to pick my car up. I had 2 beers at the local bar 'n grill while my car got serviced. 2 things were for sure at that point: 1. I was going to play poker. 2. I wanted a few more drinks. As you may or may not know, I live in the greatest city in the world, Las Vegas, NV. If it isn't the greatest city in the world (as to which I vehemently disagree), it certainly is the poker capital of the world. My thought was I should hit my favorite local casino and play some 1-2 no limit poker. Great thought. Free drinks, competitive play, on the way home.

I never made it there. My mind started to race. Why go there? I can play at home with half the rake?! Also, I won't have to drive home intoxicated. Within 3 minutes of my favorite local casino, I veered east towards my home in the far north of Las Vegas. After making dinner for my loving wife, I made a nice Crown 'n 7 and logged on to play online. Actually, I'm still playing as I write this.

The point is this....even though I live in the poker capital of the world, sometimes it's more fun to play online. Any drink available, low rake, fast play, no driving home. With the recent legislation (Safe Port Act-2006) passed through Congress, many people are scared of playing...and rightfully so. Once again, the government has decided to rub it's nose into the common person's business. Because of bureaucracy, we have a very ambiguous law that scares a lot of people. According to most legal professionals, the act of playing poker itself is not illegal but the act of depositing money into such accounts is illegal. Nice. And yes, that same legislation protected online horse racing wagering. So, as usual, this makes a lot of sense. It's OK to play poker if you have money in a poker account, but not OK to deposit money if you run out...oh yeah it's OK to bet on horses too (and deposit if you run out).

This is why I'm writing this. I ask each and every person that reads this blog (all 4 of you) to support HR 2046, the Internet gambling legalization bill. Poker is a skill. I could care less if online slots, blackjack, craps, or any other chance game is made legal. Poker is one of the great games of American history. With it's technological advancement, it should remain legalized in all forms. If the government decides it needs to regulate the industry, so be it. I'm willing to give that right to government if I can keep my freedom of playing a game of skill online. Who's with me? Buehler? Buehler??

The great P'Loza wanted me to make World Series predictions. I say it's way, way too early for that but OK. Note: these will change in 2.5 months. Further note: he will probably edit this out. (Editors Note: Quit being a chickenshit and pick a winner already! - TPC)

ALCS: LA Angels over Detroit
NLCS: San Diego over NY Mets

World Series: LA Angels over San Diego

My brain says Detroit over SD or NY Mets, but I'm going to go ahead and let my heart pick. I hate Detroit, I hate SD and NY Mets...so why not put a team in the WS that I enjoy to watch?!

Rich Kim

World Series Picks - The People's Champ

Now you have all of our divsional picks here's my NL/ALCS and World Series picks. I would love to hear who everyone else would pick. Leave a comment or send us an email to bullpencatcherblog@yahoo.com and let's see what ya got! We'll be posting Rich's predictions later when he sobers up.


ALCS
Detroit over Boston

NLCS
San Diego over Milwaukee

World Series
Detroit over San Diego

TPC

I AM AN IDIOT - Rich's Picks

About 3 weeks ago, on a long drinking binge, I made my MLB playoff predictions on the Bullpen Catcher. While most of the article was coherent, a couple of the picks were not. Since I'm competing with The People's Champ, I'm giving myself a 2nd chance and posting my revised playoff predictions. 100% sober. No need in breaking every team down completely as there are a number of teams that are simply not worth mentioning. Example: 60% of the AL East.

New picks:
AL East-Boston. The Yanks will make a couple of nice trades and make this a race before it's all said and done, but at 10 games behind it's going to be very hard to make up. I disagree with Paul about the Sox. They are good, but not all that. Good team, will win the division...but the Yanks will play better ball than the Sox in the 2nd half.

AL Central-Detroit. OK. I'm a complete idiot by picking Minnesota before. Not that they are a bad team, it's just the Tigers are the best team in baseball right now. Hitting .295 as a team, they are the first team EVER to score more than 500 runs before the All-Star Break. Their starting pitching is solid and there is a high probability they will make a trade to get an arm or two in the bullpen. Team to beat in the AL as of today.

AL West-LA Angels. This team has reinvented itself as more offense than pitching. Escobar and Lackey are under-rated and Weaver is a solid #3 if his back stays healthy. Ervin Santana and Bartolo Colon have become huge liabilities this year. The middle relief is God awful, but Shields and K-Rod are probably the best setup-closer combo in the game if the starters can get it that far. Seattle appears to be the team that will chase them instead of Oakland, but I'm sticking with my original pick.

AL Wild Card-Cleveland. Let's face it, it's going to be one big mailto:cluster@# between Cleveland, Minnesota, Seattle, Oakland, and the Yanks. So to give myself the best chance of beating Paul, I'm taking the team with the best record currently. No science, no analyzing, no coin flipping. That's it.

NL East-NY Mets. Only up by 2 games, they are not a lock to win the division...but I still say they win going away. Atlanta and Philly will hang around and compete for the Wild Card.

NL Central-Chicago. There I did it. I'm still not sold on the Brewers. There is no question they have young talent, but I'm betting they don't have what it takes to win down the stretch. The Cubbies are finally playing good baseball and have stayed relatively healthy. Now that the cancer is gone (Michael Barrett), the team is finally headed in the right direction. And after all, August is their month. *snicker* If it isn't the Cubs, it easily could still be the Cards or the Astros. One of the 3 will make a 2nd half run to overtake Milwaukee, my money is on the Cubbies to make believers of us all. (for at least a week or two in October)

NL West-San Diego. The pitching out there is outstanding. Getting very little publicity since they are on the West Coast, they have quietly played very good baseball. If this team could add a bat or two to their lineup before the deadline, I'd call them the odds on favorite to win the NL this year.

NL Wild Card-LA Dodgers. Like the AL, competition is going to be tight for the wild card. We'll call this race a super cluster#%^!. Atlanta, Philly, Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis, Houston, LA, Arizona. All those teams, but I'm still convinced the NL West is going to get the wild card this year. Arizona will compete, but I'm not sure their offense can win them enough games down the stretch.

So there you go, not a lot of surprises. But why should there be? Although I'm sure I'll want to change these picks in another 3 weeks, I won't. Standing firm on these. I think.

Take the AL -130 to win the All-Star game tonight. If they played 10 times, the AL wins 7. Bet 130 to win 100.



Rich Kim

MLB 2nd Half Predictions - National League

We’re going to condense the National League predictions into one post and speed this up a bit since Rich has conveniently decided to change his picks. After my NL picks, I’ll post Rich’s new picks.

NL East

New York Mets
This team has been decimated by injuries but still remain one of the top teams in the NL because they are a proven, battle-tested mix of vets and young guys. I love their lineup and they will only get better as they get healthy. As for their pitching, Pedro Martinez can make an impact come playoff time and I believe they’ll make a move to shore up that rotation (Willis maybe?).
Mets will pull away and win the division easily.

Atlanta Braves
The back end of their rotation isn’t going to be enough to get the job done and some of their veterans are starting to show their age. Clubhouse bickering is going to take its toll on team morale. This team is nearing its rebuilding period and won’t have enough to keep up with the Mets or the Wild Card.

Philadelphia Phillies
They have the dubious distinction of leading the NL in runs scored and runs allowed. If they played in the AL they’d be 10 games under .500. Yet another disappointing year in Philly.

Florida Marlins
Florida is still too young to compete and its pitching staff has been a total disappointment. If they’re smart, they’ll dump the overrated Dontrelle Willis and continue to rebuild around guys like Olsen, Sanchez, and Johnson. Hanley Ramirez is going to compete with Jose Reyes for All-Star starts for the next 7-10 years, and if they can keep Miguel Cabrera away from the buffet table he could become this generation’s Robin Yount.

Washington Nationals
Worst team in baseball. Can someone please explain to me why they didn’t trade Alfonso Soriano last year? Did they really think they’d be able to sign him? This team will lose 110 games.

NL Central

Milwaukee Brewers
This division is wide-open and I hate to pick against my Cubbies but the Brewers aren’t getting enough love. They have a good lineup that has overachieved so far but I think some of these guys are for real. Specifically, your NL Rookie of the Year – Ryan Braun. The key down the stretch will be their rotation. Ben Sheets is a top of the rotation guy and Suppan, Capuano, and Bush will come around. Then you throw in rookie phenom Yavani Gallardo and you’ve got the best rotation in the divison.

This will be a close one but I think Milwaukee is the more complete team and they win the division by a smidge.

Chicago Cubs
I hate to pick against the Cubs when they have a real shot at winning this division, but the wild card will have to do. Even though they’ve been playing better lately they still suck at home and they aren’t scoring as many runs as you would think. Another rotation that is overachieving and guys like Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis are not going to be as dominant the second time around. In all honesty, I’ll take a wildcard berth, though I’m not sure I could stand another 2003. Chicago takes home the Wild Card – and then get bounced in the first round.

Pittsburgh Pirates
The rest of the division is mediocre at best but I’ll take this rotation over St. Louis’ or Houston’s any day. This is another team that could compete in a couple years if they would just add a few big bats. And, no, Adam LaRoche does not count. I say Pittsburgh barely beats out the….

St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros
St. Louis got really old, really fast. They are in the beginnings of a long rebuilding process but no fan will admit it. If they can unload guys like Rolen, Eckstein, and Encarnacion that would be a bonus for a team that needs an infusion of young talent…young talent that is not coming from the minors. As for Houston, there will be no miraculous second half run this year. They aren’t going be as bad off as the Cardinals over the next 5 years but this is definitely not their year. Is Craig Biggio still starting? Yep, they’re not going anywhere but down.

Cincinnati Reds
See: Chicago White Sox


NL West

San Diego Padres
Phenomenal pitching…timely hitting…good team defense. They have all the makings of a division champ but they have to pick up another bat and Adam Dunn would look good on this team. They are flawed just like every other National League team but pitching and defense will carry them through to a division crown.

Arizona Diamondbacks
This is another team that could use another big hitter in the lineup but pitching is their strong-point. This is the theme of the NL West and it’s no different here. It’s not that I like them as much as I don’t like the Dodgers.

Los Angeles Dodgers
See: Arizona Diamondbacks with one big exception. Brad Penny is due for his 2nd half collapse and that will kill this team.

Colorado Rockies
They’re exciting and score a lot of runs but they’ll never compete in this division if they don’t improve their pitching. Their farm system is loaded so expect Colorado to continue to improve.

San Francisco Giants
They aren’t just old, they’re decrepit. I’m sick of hearing about Barry Bonds so I’m just going to pretend this team doesn’t exist.

The People's Champ

MLB 2nd Half - AL West

Anaheim Angels
First things first, I refuse to acknowledge the ridiculous name change. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way let me tell you why I hate this pick. They can’t win the division with this rotation. They need another starter to compliment John Lackey (11-5, 2.91) and Kelvim Escobar (10-3, 3.19) and I’m not sure Jered Weaver is ready to step up and be that guy. After all, he is a Weaver. They also need another bopper in the lineup. Picking against the Oakland A’s in the 2nd half is like picking against the Cubs in April.

Ok, now let me show you why I’m an idiot for even questioning this pick. Weaver doesn’t have to step up – he’s almost there with his 3.67 era. If he can just stay remotely healthy, they’ll be ok. And the Angels have this year’s Francisco Liriano in Joe Saunders, minus that whole ligament thing. In fact, why not just pitch Ervin Santana at home and Saunders on the road? This could work. Also, they can get away with a so-so rotation because any lead is safe after 7 innings.Why add a big home run hitter like Adam Dunn and mess up a team batting average of .284, good for 2nd in the bigs? The only thing that would screw up this lineup would be if Bartolo Colon ate Reggie Willits.

The Angels run away with the division.


Seattle Mariners
The biggest surprise west of the Mississippi. At 13 games over .500 they have positioned themselves nicely in the Central without really doing anything great. Aside from the third-best league BA, they are pretty much average in just about every batting statistic. So how the hell is their record so good? I don’t know either. What I do know is they have the pieces in place to hold off the A’s. Even if those pieces are limited to Ichiro, JJ Putz, and King Felix. Wait, Ichiro running their manager out of town has to be considered a positive, right? This is the same guy who has a career .503 winning percentage, and that’s counting his five 1st place finishes with Cleveland. Now I’m just rambling and I haven’t even made a compelling argument for them to finish ahead of Oakland. Yeah, well neither can you!


Oakland Athletics
It’s no secret Oakland is a great 2nd half team but this is the year they fall short….way short. They have gone from being injury-plagued to injury-prone and the money ball approach has finally caught up with them. Check out these team batting leaders.
BA – Shannon Stewart .309
HR – Jack Cust 15
RBI – Nick Swisher 46
R and SB – Shannon Stewart 47 and 8
They’re 23rd in runs and batting average with Stewart as the only regular player batting over .300. You simply can’t win with these stats and a middle of the road OPS. The only reason this team is even sniffing .500 is because of overachieving starting pitching. Dan Haren is a bona fide stud, an all-star starter, and was stolen in what could go down as one of the worst trades in history (much like that Twins trade we talked about in the Central post). They’ve got a guy in Joe Blanton who regressed last year but has rebounded nicely this year and that’s about it. Write this down…Chad Gaudin is about to plummet back to earth in a really bad, bad way (if you have him in a fantasy league sell now!). They are the San Francisco Giants of the American League without the steroid problem. Wait, I forgot they signed Mike Piazza. They are exactly like the Giants.


Texas Rangers
Good division…terrible team…one winning record this decade….pitching sucks. Sammy Sosa’s hat size just grew a half an inch.



My Pick: Division Winner - Anaheim in a landslide, Wild Card - N/A

Rich's Pick: Division Winner - Anaheim in a close one, Wild Card - N/A



Next up...NL East.

The People's Champ

MLB 2nd Half - AL Central

Detroit Tigers
It’s hard to believe the Detroit Tigers, who lost 91 games as recently as 2005, would be competing for the best record in baseball. Magglio Ordonez will not, I repeat, will not win an MVP, but this team is so deep it can stand a fall back to earth by Maggs. While I agree with reader Dave Sharp that San Diego and Oakland (and about 10 other teams) have lower ERA’s than Detroit, but for my money this is the best pitching staff in baseball. The loss of Zumaya is huge, but is it just me or would Brad Lidge be a perfect fit for this team? Maybe Otsuka? The Tigers obviously need to add another reliever but Detroit will hold off the Twins to win this division.

Minnesota Twins
Even though they’re 7 games out of first, this team earns its stripes in the second half. Johan Santana and a solid bullpen are carrying the pitching staff, but it will only be a matter of time before young guys like Boof Bonser and Kevin Slowey put it all together. And the rotation will be even more deadly when young phenom Matt Garza decides to stop throwing nothing but fastballs. Justin Morneau is absolutely crushing the ball and Joe Mauer is going to chase another batting title. And since Torii Hunter is in a contract/option year, he’s inevitably on pace for a career year. Can you imagine what players could do if they played every year like it was their contract year? Fun fact of the day…Did you know that after the 2003 season the Twins traded A.J. Pierzynski to the San Francisco Giants for Joe Nathan, Francisco Liriano, and Bonser? I’m guessing Giants GM Brian Sabean doesn’t have this trade listed on his resume. Anyways, Twins make their annual comeback, falling just short of another division title but will make the playoffs via the American League Wild Card.

Cleveland Indians
I agree with Rich here, even though it’s tough to pick against the Indians with that potent offense and with the way the front of the rotation has pitched. But there’s no way C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona (combined 3.71 era) can continue to carry this rotation (combined 5.79 era for other three starters). This is just too much to ask from a guy in Carmona that was 1-10, 5.42 era last year and Sabathia who is on pace for a career high in innings and has the league hitting .270 against him. Combine that with a 21-23 road record and I think it’s only a matter of time before Minnesota catches them.

Kansas City Royals
What does key free agent signings and on the job training for prospects get you? A fourth place finish! Though, the big difference this year is there is real reason for optimism because the Royals have the potential building blocks for a bright future. Though struggling in first full big league season, 3B Alex Gordon is widely considered one of the top prospects in baseball and hard-hitting DH Billy Butler is getting some playing time with Mike Sweeney on the mend. OF Mark Teahan is improving and the farm system has been dramatically upgraded over the years. Combine these position players with a future rotation that could include the likes of Gil Meche, Luke Hochevar, Zack Greinke, and Tyler Lumsden and there is legitimate excitement in KC. Now if they could only sneak their way into the National League like Milwaukee did in 98, they’d actually have a chance to compete.

Chicago White Sox
Estate Sale
U.S. Cellular Field
333 W. 35th St.
Chicago, IL 60616
Now through July 31st. Everything must go!
*Will trade reasonably priced RF for a bag of used baseballs and a rosin bag. Buyer beware: High mileage, Bad Wheels.
*Looking to move antique Cuban SP that was once smuggled into the country. Listed as 35 years old but no documentation to confirm age. New York a preferred destination.
*Also, two really annoying announcers free to a good home – He Gone!
*Gently used left-handed pitcher not for sale. You can look but you can’t touch.
*Will consider any offers for left-overs. Planning to rebuild for the future.

My Pick: Division Winner – Detroit Tigers, Wild Card – Minnesota Twins
Rich’s Pick: Division Winner – Detroit Tigers, Wild Card – Cleveland Indians

Next up…AL West

The People’s Champ

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The People's Champ

MLB 2nd Half Predictions – AL East

We have officially entered the dog-days of summer and we here at Bullpen Catcher couldn’t be more bummed out. Let’s face it; if you’re not a golf, NASCAR, or tennis fan, it’s not the most exciting time of the year. While we admire grown men that aren’t afraid to putt from the rough, the determination it must take to resist the urge to turn right, and the wonderfully long legs of Maria Sharapova, right now baseball is the only sport that tickles our fancy.

In order to spice things up a bit, Rich and I have decided to make things competitive around here and make some predictions. Whether it be handball (yes, Rich has actually bet on this) or just a good old game of poker, we definitely look for any excuse to place a friendly wager. So now that I’ve labeled us as degenerate gamblers, let me get to the point. Rich and I are going to be writing competing columns to predict the outcome of whichever sport is relevant at that point in time. What is at stake you ask? Pride my friend, pride.

Our first head-to-head match up will be predicting the 2nd half and playoffs of the 2007 Major League Baseball season. Rich has already posted his predictions so let’s see how The Champ’s picks stack up to his. (Note: During the NFL season, we will be posting our picks with the spread included. We’ll keep a running tally to see who the bigger idiot is. My money is on me!). Since I can be a little long-winded, I will be breaking up this column into separate posts by division. Teams are in order of finish with a brief summary.

AL East

Boston Red Sox
Ladies and Gentlemen: Your 2007 AL East Division Champions. The most dominant and probably most likeable team of 2007. Their lineup is scary, their bullpen is solid and even though their rotation is one of the best in baseball, they’re considering adding an extra arm. My money is on Mark Buerhle joining the Sox, which would make this rotation the best in baseball if it isn’t already. At press time they have a league-leading six All-Stars and a team full of grinders and hustlers. As usual the AL is stacked and the Red Sox are the cream of the crop.

New York Yankees
It’s almost unfathomable to think $200M buys you a sub-.500 team that’s currently 11 games out of first. But that’s what George Steinbrenner has purchased this year. They’re old, their pitching sucks, and they no longer have that aura of the Bronx Bombers. They’ll create a little noise in the second half with a schedule that starts at Tampa, versus Toronto and Tampa, at KC and Baltimore, versus the White Sox and KC and they’ll undoubtedly pick up a few games in the win column and tons of fair-weather faithful. But the nail in the coffin will be a stretch of 17 of 20 games against Cleveland, Detroit, Anaheim, and Boston. This year the players, in an act of kindness and gratitude for their overpaid salaries, have decided to repay management by giving them the entire month of October off. And just to pile on, Yankee fans, I’d like for you to meet your 2008 manager – Don Mattingly. Enjoy!

Toronto Blue Jays
I’m shocked this team is only one game under .500 with the injuries they’ve suffered. What I’m not shocked about is the fact that they have all these injuries in the first place. This is what you get when you invest a combined $24M/year in A.J. Burnett and Troy Glaus. ESPN.com even reports management has started ripping Burnett for his lack of durability and reliability. Hmm…isn’t this the same guy that started more than 20 games only three times during his seven years in Florida? Sure didn’t see this one coming. This team just reeks of mediocrity.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays
17 games under .500…19 games out of first place…just another typical year for the Devil Rays. While the Devils Rays continue to struggle year in and year out, they have the pieces in place to be competitive real soon. No seriously, they are going to be really good…in 2009. To quote Jonah Keri of ESPN.com, “By 2009, the Rays could sport a rotation of Scott Kazmir, David Price, James Shields, Jacob McGee and Jeff Niemann.” You probably haven’t heard of these kids besides Kazmir, but they could be really, really good. And if their hitters continue to develop and the words “domestic dispute” and “hostage situation” aren’t added to Delmon Young’s bio, this team will be in playoff contention by ‘09. As for 2007, avoiding their sixth last place finish in seven years has to be considered a moral victory.

Baltimore Orioles
Manager Sam Perlozzo has been fired. Free agent manager Joe Girardi turned down an offer to coach the team. They’ve lost 12 games in a row. Leo Mazzone apparently retired two years ago but didn’t tell anyone. With Miguel Tejada on the disabled list their lineup is a Who’s Who of….WHO?? Since we’re on the subject of the B-12 Bomber how come nobody talks about Tejada when we talk about steroids? Is it coincidence that his power numbers have plummeted and his body has broken down since being accused of juicing? This team feels just about right here in last place.

My Pick: Division Winner – Boston , Wild Card - N/A
Rich’s Pick: Division Winner – Boston, Wild Card – N/A

Next up…AL Central…

The People’s Champ

Hot Dogs

July 4. High temp in Las Vegas: 116. Lots of great air conditioned casinos here...but for the rest of the country, the 4th means heading outdoors to watch fireworks or to a nearby pool/lake/beach. First incredibly bad joke of this blog!: It's the beginning of the "dog" days of summer. The funnest part about the whole day: The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island, NY. Is there a more American event than seeing who can eat the most hot dogs in 12 minutes? Overeating isn't just a habit here in America, it's a sport. With that in mind, I present the first ever Bullpen Catcher running diary of the July 4 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest!!!

10:01 AM: 74 degrees and a forecast of indigestion. 30,000 plus are live to watch this truly American event. Paul Page and Richard Shea are the commentators. Anybody ever heard of these guys? Competitive food eating experts?

10:02 AM: Kobayashi is officially listed as probable for the event. Is he healthy? Will he be able to compete? In the words of the great Paul Page: "Is he really the underdog?" Apparently Chestnut now holds the record for hot dogs eaten at 59.5 in an event earlier this year. He's never beaten Kobayashi heads up, will this be the year? Only 40 more minutes of commentary and we'll find out.

10:04 AM: Paul and Richard send it to Jimmy Dykes on the field. Nothing like a sideline reporter to break down the action. Jimmy has a tray of 59.5 hot dogs. In 12 minutes, Joey Chestnut ate over 11,000 calories. How many mini-heart attacks in the next 3 months? This is outstanding! Bonus: I just learned there is a championship belt for the winner of this competitive eating event. My question: How has competitive eating killed less people than professional wrestling over the last 20 years?

10:07 AM: Jimmy Dykes just showed footage of the competitive eaters arriving from their "secret" hotel. Why is this secret? Are these people famous? Who follows this? There needs to be a show just about the people that follow competitive eating.

10:10 AM: Jimmy is interviewing "spoiler" Patrick Bertoletti. Patrick is comparing himself to Ross Perot. He's going to surprise everybody by being under the radar. This guy seems to boast the overwhelming intelligence that most competitive eaters share. How did Perot fare in those elections? Great thing to compare yourself to.

10:14 AM: A commercial for the Perfect Pushup. Great demographics. How many of these will be sold to people who watch competitive eating?

10:15 AM: The little bar at the bottom of the screen says Saturday the USA Rock Paper Scissor Championship will be televised at 9 PM ET on ESPN. Get your TIVO ready.

10:16 AM: "Feats and Meats" statistic. Dimaggio hit safely in 56 games. Roger Bannister broke the 4:00 mile. Wilt Chamberlain had his 100 point game. And yes, it happened. Joey Chestnut ate 59.5 hot dogs in June 2007. As you can see, we could be witnessing history today.

10:17 AM: Richard Shea: "Patrick Bertoletti is one of the fastest rising stars in competitive eating." Try saying that out loud without cracking a smile. I dare you.

10:18 AM: Richard Shea on Tim Janus (another competitor): "He always gets here...but probably won't win...he's like the Jake Plummer of summer." Classic.

10:19 AM: The "Bun-tenders" to watch: Bertoletti, Janus, Simpson, Thomas. None of them have ever eaten above 46 dogs.

10:23 AM: Joey Chestnut is also the world record holder for 212 gyoza in 12 minutes. I don't know what gyoza is, but 212 sounds like a lot.

10:24 AM: US vs Japan statistic. Olympic medals: US 2407 Japan 367. Yet 9 of the last 10 Hot Dog Champions from Japan. Impossible. Japan needs to be tested for performance enhancing drugs.

10:26 AM: Keith Hernandez and Walt "Clyde" Frazier Just for Men commercial circa 1994. If I wasn't watching a hot dog eating contest on July 4, that commercial would be fairly high on the unintentional comedy scale.

10:27 AM: Nobody has yet seen Kobayashi. Rumors are flying. Will he be able to compete this year with his sore jaw (wisdom tooth)? Crazy Legs Conti, another competitive eater, just called Kobayashi, "the greatest athlete in the history of sport." This is why the Just for Men commercial barely registers on the unintentional comedy scale.

10:28 AM: Tim Brown, the first competitor is introduced. Apparently, he is the burrito specialist. Next, Allen "the Shredder" Goldstein from Plainview, NY is introduced. He has held titles in bologna and matzah balls. You just can't make this stuff up.

10:29 AM: Dale "The Mouth of the South" Boone from Atlanta, walks up the stage donning a coonskin cap and overalls. He is the titleholder for reindeer sausage and pork 'n beans. A direct descendant of Daniel Boone. Yes, really. Only in America.

10:31 AM: Patick Philbin wins the award for Butterbean look alike. Big bald white guy. Has eaten 4 pounds of cornbread in 10 minutes. Terrific. Paul Page: "Patrick is living proof that weebils wobble but they don't fall down."

10:32 AM: Arturo Rios "Grande". Rookie. Holds the pig feet eating title. No joke here, just thought it was worth mentioning.

10:33 AM: Hailing from Henderson, NV...Rich "The Locust" Lefevre. The chili, spam, and birthday cake champion of the world. Making Southern Nevada proud.

10:34 AM: Most impressive competitor. Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas. 105 pounds, 5'5. She's eaten 10% of her body weight in cheesecake. If that doesn't give you goose bumps, I don't know what will.

10:35 AM: A competitor, Tim "Eater X" Janus, in an ultimate warrior painted mask approaches the stage holding a sign stating "On the 7th day, God created Hartford." I don't think it will get any weirder than that.

10:36 AM: Patrick Bertoletti introduced. Hometown? You guessed it...Las Vegas, NV. Making us all proud. He ate 2 hot dogs for every day Paris Hilton spent in jail last event. And he's dedicating his performance today to Nicky Hilton! Terrific!

10:37 AM: To a thunderous applause, Joey Chestnut makes his way down the stage. I just got goose bumps. This happened. It's like Rocky making his way to the ring.

10:38 AM: "The #1 ranked eater in the world....struggling with an injury today but coming here as the 6 time defending hot dog eating champion...Takeru Kobayashi." Minutes away from starting, I'm giddy.

10:40 AM: A commercial for the redexcerciser. Again, know your audience.

10:41 AM: Chestnut interviewed stating he hasn't eaten in 2 days and he's hungry. Really?

10:42 AM: "The gurgitators are under way..." Kobayashi already being compared to Curt Schilling. 1 minute down: Chestnut 11 Kobayashi 9. Fast start.

10:43 AM: Less than 2 minutes in and I forgot how obscene eating a hot dog quickly appears to be.

10:44 AM: Chestnut is easily at record pace. 3 minutes down: Chestnut 28 Kobayashi 23. Panning the other competitors, Chestnut and Kobayashi are the only 2 that don't have the "I'm full" face.

10:45 AM: Chestnut now has veins popping out of his forehead. This is great. Chestnut 39 Kobayashi 35.

10:47 AM: Paul Page: "it doesn't appear Kobayashi has any gag reflex." He's currently making a run. 5 minutes to go. Chestnut 47 Kobayashi 45.

10:49 AM: 4 minutes to go and Chestnut just broke 50. Kobayashi down by 2 still. Chestnut turning red.

10:50 AM: 3 minutes to go, already a new record with 54 dogs. I'm watching history. Kobayashi ties it at 55 dogs seconds later. The crowd going nuts. And down the stretch they come...

10:51 AM: I'm not sure what color Chestnut is right now. Beyond red. Maybe orange? Over/under on when he drops to the floor in a seizure: 35 seconds. Kobayashi and Chestnut neck and neck.

10:52 AM: Each eater has 2 counters. Interesting job. 1 minute to go. Tied at 60. Richard Shea: "This would be the greatest moment in the history of American Sports if Chestnut can bring the belt home..."

10:53 AM: Clock says 14 seconds, both eaters with 62 dogs and Kobayashi suffers a "reversal"! Clearly the best possible choice of words for spewing hot dog out of your mouth. Chestnut shoves a pile in his mouth. Photo finish. Kobayashi chewing on previously chewed food out of his hands. Immediately, we are reminded that on this July 4 we are close to where George Washington landed to fight the British.

10:54 AM: Currently, waiting for the results of the photo finish and watching Kobayashi eat regurgitated hot dogs out of his hand. You really cannot make this stuff up. The genius at ESPN that decided to televise this either needs to be shot or given a promotion, I'm not sure which one.

10:55 AM: Unofficial results: Chestnut 66 Kobayashi 63. The "reversal of fortune" Kobayashi suffered is going to hit him hard.

10:57 AM: "CHESTNUT HAS DONE IT!" 66 dogs. American flag in hand, draping it over his shoulder. Chants of "Jooo-eeeyyy" in the background. Veins popping out, skin color orange-yellow. Joey states he could eat another hot dog if he needed to. What a country. God Bless America.

10:59 AM: I'm hungry. Maybe a hot dog for lunch?

Rich Kim