Death of a Blog

Most of you have noticed that our writing here has died a bit. That is because we've been busy embracing the new sports community we've become a part of over at ArmchairGM.com. It is a sports site built and totally maintained by sports fans like us. It is quite the interesting site and we encourage all of our friends to check it out and become a member of it. We are still writing, we just found a bigger forum to wirte in.

Who Should Be the NL's Starter for the 2006 All-Star Game?

As I did with the AL yesterday, today I'm going to take a look at the top 5 guys that have a shot at being named the starter for the MLB All-Star Game. I want to say again that all of these guys may help or hurt themselves over the next month, but I think these are the ones to watch.

1. Brandon Webb, Arizona Diamondbacks - 8-1, 2.06 ERA, 2 CG, 2 SHO, 104.2 IP (leads MLB), 74 K, 13 BB, 1.07 WHIP. Almost everyone will agree that, for now, the discussion should start and stop with this guy. He's been spectacular for the first half of the season.
2. Bronson Arroyo, Cincinnati Reds - 8-2, 2.31 ERA, 1 CG, 68 K, 18 BB, 1.10 WHIP. Nothing brings a bigger smile to my face then a former Red Sox succeeding after being traded away, especially in the NL. Big concern here is whether during the second half of the season hitters will figure him out now that they've seen him a couple of times.
3. Tom Glavine, New York Mets - 9-2, 3.06 ERA, 64 K, 26 BB, 1.15 WHIP. Rock solid for arguably the best team in baseball this year. Sentimental favorite, but how can you deny Webb?
4. Brad Penny, Los Angeles Dodgers - 7-1, 2.34 ERA, 58 K, 23 BB, 1.17 WHIP. The Dodgers didn't make it to first on Nomar's bat alone. How many of you realized he was having this good of a year? Honestly.
5. Pedro Martinez, New York Mets - 6-2, 2.94 ERA, 97 K, 20 BB, 0.90 WHIP. Pedro barely gets the nod over Jason Schmidt because he has a ridiculously high 10.19 K/9 and a ridiculously low 5.99 H/9.
   

Honorable Mention: Jason Schmidt, Chris Young, Derek Lowe, Carlos Zambrano

Who Should Be the AL's Starting Pitcher in the All-Star Game?

es, I know the All-Star Game is still a month away, but I thought now was as good a time as any to take a look at the possible starters. First I'll start with the American League. Remember, many (if not all) of these players will still have 4 or 5 more starts before the All-Star break. Some could totally fall out of contention and others could move up, but these are the ones I feel are vying for the honor right now.

1. Mike Mussina, New York Yankees - 8-2, 2.76 ERA, 1 CG, 94.2 IP (leads AL), 85 K, 16 BB, 0.99 WHIP. Moose has been stellar this year and has solidified himself as the ace of the Yankees staff. As of right now I think he deserves the start over the other guys, but it's still a tight race.
2. Roy Halladay, Toronto Blue Jays - 7-1, 2.93 ERA, 2 CG, 43 K, 10 BB, 1.01 WHIP. Roy is having another Cy Young type of season and is helping the Jays keep pace with the Sox and the Yanks in the East.
3. Jose Contreras, Chicago White Sox - 6-0, 2.54 ERA, 36 K, 20 BB, 1.04 WHIP. The only thing holding Contreras back from being number one is the fact he's missed time due to injury. He could still make a strong surge over the next three weeks. Fun stat, batters are only slugging .301 against Contreras this year, the best in the AL.
4. Curt Schilling, Boston Red SOx - 9-2, 3.81 ERA, 77 K, 9 BB, 1.03 WHIP The old Curt is back and he's mowing down hitters. Schilling's been Boston's most consistent starter with Beckett, Clement, and Wakefield struggling at times. Only concern here is the 13 HR he's given up already this year, a rarity for Schill.
5. Johan Santana, Minnesota Twins - 6-4, 3.16 ERA, 91 K, 16 BB, 1.05 WHIP Living proof that a great win/loss percentage does not make a pitcher. Too bad the Twins have been so bad in the first half wasting many of his efforts.

Honorable Mention:Kenny Rogers, Scott Kazmir, Justin Verlander, Barry Zito, C.C. Sabathia

10 Players to Watch in Fantasy Baseball

Here are 10 players, 5 pitchers and 5 hitters, that I think are about to have a hot streak or should be getting more press for their current hot streak. Some of these guys may be available in your fantasy baseball leagues, but most won't...sorry.

PITCHERS

1. Livan Hernandez - Last 4 starts he's 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA. Perhaps Livan is back to last years form.
2. Jorge Julio - The move to Arizona means a move back to the closer role for Julio. In 3 years closing for Baltimore he recorded 83 saves and even posted a 1.99 ERA in 2002. If he can get back to his Baltimore form he can help keep the D-backs in the race.
3. Chris Young - Has flirted with a no-hitter each of his last two starts and is now 5-3 with a 3.39 ERA. The big 6'10" righty also has a better than 2:1 K/BB ratio.
4. Matt Wise - Since May 14 Derrick Turnbow has seen his ERA go from 1.88 to 4.74 and he has only converted 3 of 7 save oppurtunities. Look for Wise and his 2.79 ERA and 1.09 WHIP to get a chance sooner rather than later.
5. Kenny Ray - There have been whispers that hard throwing righty will take over the closer role in Atlanta for weeks now, but with Reitsma struggling (7.20 ERA and 8 for 12 in save oppurtunities) Cox may be ready to pull the trigger.

HITTERS

1. Jose Castillo - I actually had this guy on my fantasy team and dropped him, now look at him. For the month of May he had 101 AB and all he did was this: 15 R, 7 HR, 21 RBI, .413 OBP, .634 SLG, and a .366 BA.
2. Corey Patterson - If you aren't already riding this band wagon than it's too late. 7 HR and 25 SB already for the year and is still on an incredible run of 10 SB in his last 8 games.
3. Kendry Morales - This guy can flat out hit. A notoriously slow starter at every level, but look for him to be a force if the Angels get their offense going. In the Eastern League last year he had 17 HR and 54 RBI in just 74 games and he led the Arizona Fall League with 14 doubles and was third with a .380 BA.
4. Jason Botts - Called up last week by Texas this switch-hitter was batting .318 with 10 HR and 32 RBI in just 40 games at Triple-A Oklahoma. He's big (6'5") and powerful (led all Texas minor leaguers last year with 25 HR and 102 RBI) and is playing in a very hitter friendly ballpark.
5. Bobby Crosby - Has a career June BA of .337 compared to his non-June BA of .225 and has hit .395 over his last 10 games. A lot of people have given up on him this year so he may be available.
   

Chachi's Monday Ramblings

• The Tigers are looking good and they have their pitching to thank. Through Sunday the Tigers were leading the majors with a 3.26 ERA, 8 shutouts and a .235 batting average against. Their starters are leading the majors with 25 wins and a 3.27 ERA while the bullpen is tops in saves (19) and second in ERA (3.23), batting average against (.214) and hits per nine (6.93). Perhaps the Tigers are for real.
• Bravo to the NBA for scheduling the 2008 NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans. It's is nice to see more and more of the sports community trying to do their part to help the beleaguered city.
• On another NBA note, LeBron James took another step towards proving he is the next great player in the NBA. Although he and his team looked tired in the second half of game 7, he still managed to push what many consider the best team in the NBA to the brink of elimination. Not bad for a 21 year old. And to think, after 3 years out of high school Jordan was just finishing up playing at UNC.
• A play at the plate is one of the most exciting plays in baseball. A collisoion can make it even more exciting and tense. A good right cross after the collision, well that's just priceless. I'm thinking Barrett gets suspended 10 games, maybe 20. Also, check out this photo gallery on SI. com of the best baseball brawls. Click here.
  
• According to the Bradenton Herald the Devil Rays are looking at changing their team name and possibly the team colors. Note to Tampa ownership: The name doesn't suck, it's the team that does.
• If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend Patrick Hruby's Page 2 article on ESPN.com about how many home runs Barry Bonds would have hit without steroids. Personally I think he did a great job and the final number he came up with is totally realistic.
• 2 game 7's in the NBA tonight and Yankees vs. Red Sox. It's a good day to be a sports fan.
  

Chachi's Monday Ramblings

Happy Mother's Day! This year I'll be doing hours of back breaking work for my mother in her yard and garden. Next year I'll just buy her the stupid bike that she wanted. Love ya ma! For the record, this weeks piece is being written while surrounded by 4 cats. One of which has camped out on my lap while I try and write. My mother is so on the verge of becoming one of those weird cat ladies.

• Reports out of NY have the Knicks parting ways with Larry Brown soon. This is crazy, and here's why: 1) You can't fire a coach after one year. Unless of course he's really, really, really bad or he killed somebody. 2) The Knicks have the highest payroll in the NBA and some of the worst talent in the NBA. Last time I checked the GM had a little bit to do with that. 3) This situation has the oppurtunity to provide high comedy for all of us for the next year. What stupid thing will Isiah do next? What will Brown or Marbury say next? Who knows, this thing could go anywhere. However, if Isiah decides he is firing Brown so he can coach the team, then I am all for it. Nothing is funnier than Isiah coaching a crappy team that he put together. Who would he blame when things go all to hell?
• There is no joy on the north side of Chicago right now. Without D. Lee the Cubs have tumbled, losing 13 of their last 14, basically giving them the same record as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. They absolutely need pitching to help them stop this slide (I'm looking in your direction Mr. Zambrano) and I believe getting a healthy Wood and Prior back are the only way they'll have a chance till Lee is fully recovered.
• I know it's only mid May, but division races appear to already be heating up. In the AL East you have Boston and New York tied with the Blue Jays only a game back. Chicago and Detroit are seperated by only half a game in the AL Central, while St. Louis, Cincinnati, Houston, and Milwaukee are all within 5 games of first in the NL Central. In the NL East the Phillies, winners of 13 of their last 14, have pulled within one game of the Mets, and in both the NL and AL West, all four teams are within 4 games of first place. So far, it looks as if we may have quite a few tight races to watch come the August.
• Rasheed Wallace guaranteed a game 5 victory for the Pistons over the Cavs Wednesday night. I am now actively looking forward to this game. This will be a true measure of whether Lebron is the heir apparent to MJ's throne. If Rasheed would have said something like that playing against Jordan you know MJ would have dropped 60 points on them and had a least 3 higlight reel dunks over Rasheed. It brings a smile to my face thinking about those days and how basketball used to matter. Lebron, here's your chance to bring me closer to caring again.
• Rumor has it that Reggie Bush has told his agent to get his deal done quickly with the Saints no matter what it takes. Now here is a guy who is showing an understanding of what the Saints return to the city of New Orleans is going to mean this year and how much he, as the #1 draft pick and potential face of the franchise, could hurt or help with both his team's and city's resurgence. Bravo!
• Fans at the San Jose Sharks game Sunday booed the Canadian national anthem because they were playing the Edmonton Oilers, a team based in Canada. I could tell you how stupid this is, but we're talking about people that live in a state that elected Conan the Barbarian governor. Enough said.
• Finally, I swear I will throw my freakin' remote through my tv if ESPN doesn't stop flooding it with Barry Bonds crap. The absolute worst part is when they break in for every one of his at bats live. THIS HOME RUN WON'T EVEN PASS RUTH PEOPLE, ONLY TIE HIM! Why do I need to see this? At this point does anybody rationally believe, even at ESPN, that 20 years from now everyone will want to remember where they were the day Bonds hit 714? NO! Now get off my television and let me watch the 2004 World Series of Poker reruns in peace.

Ten Things to Watch for Tonight - Yankees vs. Red Sox

1. Mussina vs. Schilling - Are both vets for real this season or will the wheels start falling off soon?
2. A-Rod vs. The baseball - Was last night the start of some weird defensive problem for him? Will he right the ship tonight? Is he another Knoblauch?
3. Whether Johnny Damon can finally get a hit against his former team. If he goes 0-fer again watch and listen for the boo-birds.
4. How many times they reference Babe Ruth, Bucky Dent, Aaron Boone, and 2004. ESPN loves beating this dead horse.
5. How many times Chris Berman talks about, and sucks up to, Barry Bonds despite the fact that Bonds isn't even playing in the game he is covering. I'll put the over/under at 7. (And I just know Berman's going to be doing the game tonight just to torture me.)
6. And if Berman is doing the game, watch for how many times he and Morgan start prattling on about something and totally ignore the action on the field. (I'm actually thinking of making a Chris Berman broadcast into a drinking game. The world needs this, he'll be more tolerable if everyone's slightly inebriated.)
7. Mike Myers' psyche. He gave up the bomb to Ortiz last week and he has to be able to get lefties out, especially Papi, if the Yankees are going to be around in September and October. Now would definitely be the time to get a morale boosting out against Papi as he is currently in a bit of a slump.
   
8. Right field. An adventure right now for the Yankees with Sheffield on the DL.
9. Jorge Posada. He has a career .444 average against Schilling and the Yankees are going to need the veteran catcher to help spark the offense and call a good game against the powerful Boston lineup.
10. George Steinbrenner. If the Yankees play anything like last night, his head may explode.