MLB Second Half

With the long drawn out all star game coming to an end in the wee hours of the morning, it is time for the all stars to regroup with there teams and get ready for the stretch run of the second half of the season. There are many question that I myself have been waiting to see answered. Plus, there are a couple that have already been answered. I think the first half was fun to watch if your are a Tampa Bay Devil Ray or a Chicago Cub fan. Not so fun to watch if you are a Colorado Rocky or a Seattle Mariner fan. Colorado Rockies had high hopes, but nothing has went there way and they are in Last place and the Seattle Mariners were the same way. They had a heck of a team and now they have a new manager and have started some what of a youth movement.  Lets get into the question that have been on my mind for the last couple of days.

1. Will the Chicago Cubs hold on and win the Division?
I feel that this is the year of the Cubs. Everything seems to be falling into place for them. The have been playing really good baseball, plus there pitching staff is the best. They have 2 guys that are 10 game winners and could have 4 guys win 20 or more games! The hitting has also came around. The only flaw they have to over come is to learn how to win on the road. IF the do that the curse will be broken!

2. Will the New York Yankees Make the Playoff?
If I had to tell you my answer today it would be now. I think the team is in Caous and needs some new players to be brought in. There pitching staff is getting really old and the only player that they can count on out of the bullpen is Marino Ravera and that is only to close out the game. Jobo Chamerblain has been one of the plus’s for this team. But, there hitting is to much of a question mark. I would really like to see them catch the Boston Red Sox’s and win the division and make the playoffs.

3. Will the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Flop?
I do not think they will, I think once they get out of this slump they will be one of the teams that will be in the playoffs and I am going on a long shot here, I think they will be the team to represent the American League in the world series. Write that down you hear it hear first!

4. Will Barry Bonds play again?
I would like to think he will because some team is in need of a bat. I think it is really said that the steroid case that he has against him has really hurt him. I feel that he is a good guy deep down. I liked seeing him hit home runs into mccovey cove. So I dont think he will get picked up but I would like to see it happen.

5. What Big name players will be traded to help teams with the stretch run?
I think that Ken Griffey Jr will end up getting traded, I would like to see him go to the devil rays I think he is the bat that they are missing. Jr would be a big plus for the team cause he camn play the field and dh for them. His team mate Adam Dunn will be another player that I think will be traded, I would not be surprised to see him in Yankee pin stripes. He is the bat that they need. Those are the two guys that I could see going.

2008 All star team

National League                                            American League

Catcher: Cubs, Geovany Soto                       
1st Base: Astros, Lance Berkman                 
2nd Base: Philles, Chase Utley                     
Shortstop: Marlins, Hanlin Ramirez              
3rd Base: Brave, Chipper Jones                     
Outfield: Cub, Alfonso Soriano                     
               Cub, Kosuke Fukudome                 
              Brewer,  Ryan Braun                        

NL Reserves: Catchers, Dogers, Russell Martin, Brave, Brian McCann, 1st base, Cardinal Albert Pujols, Padreas, Adrian Gonzalez, 2nd Base, Marlin Dan Uggla, 3rd Base, Cub, Aramis Ramirez, Shortstop National Cristian Guzman, Astro Miguel Tejada, Outfield, Rocky Matt Holliday, Cardinal Ryan Ludwick, Pirate Nate McLouth,

Pitchers: Rocky, Aaron Cook, Cubs, Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano,Kerry Wood, Diamondback, Dan Haren, Brandon Webb, Philly, Brad Lidge, Giant, Tim Lincecum,Brian Wilson, Brewer Ben Sheets, Red, Edinson Volguez, Met  Billy Wagner,

American League

Catcher:  Twins, Joe Mauer
1st Base: Red Sox, Kevin Youkilis
2nd Base: Red sox, Dustin Pedroia
ShortStop: Yankee, Derek Jeter
3rd Base: Yankee, Alex Rodriguez
Outfield: Red Sox, Manny Ramirez
               Mariner, Ichiro Suzuki
                Rangers, Josh Hamilton

AL Reserves: Catchers: Devil Ray, Dioner Navarro, Red Sox, Jason Varitek,1st base, Twin Justin Morneau, 2nd, Ranger, Ian Kinsler, Shortstop, Ranger, Michael Young, 3rd, White Sox, Joe Crede, Tiger, Carlos Guillen, Outfield, Red sox, J.D. Drew, White Sox, Carlos Quentin, Indian, Grady Sizemore, DH Ranger, Milton Bradley,

AL Pitchers: A’s, Justin Duchscherer, Blue Jay, Roy Halladay, Devil Ray, Scott Kazmir, Indian, Cliff Lee, Twin, Joe Nathan, Red Sox, Jonathan Papelbon, Yankee, Mariano Rivera, Angels, Francisco Rodriguez, Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders, Orioles, George Sherrill, Royals, Joakim Soria

 

NL Snubbs: Cubs Derek Lee, Cardinal Rick Ankiel, Red, Ken Griffey Jr, Brewer,  Prince Fielder, Jason Kendall, Philly, Ryan Howard,

AL Snubs,  Yankee, Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreu, Tigers, Ivan Rodriguez, Red Sox, Mike Lowell. Coco Crisp.

Is there any other player that you feel that got snubbed. What do you think of the team that is picked?

Mark Cuban’s Blog

For weeks I have been hearing about Mark Cuban having a blog I have came acrossed it. It is called Blog Maverick. This man is amazing. I thought that it would be about the Dallas Maverick’s, but not there is an article about Internet access to even Bill O’Riley not liking him. He is am amazing man. I feel that he should be the next owner of the Chicago Cubs. He has a great personality and does not care what people think about him. So I feel everyone needs to check out his blog and support it. Go to http://www.blogmaverick.com/ and check it out.

MLB: Let the Games begin!

The 2008 Major League Baseball season could be a really interesting one. The are many questions flying around about many different things in the league. Will this be the year that he Chicago Cubs end the curse? What team will Barry Bonds end up on? Can the New York Yankees win with A Rod? How will Joe Torre do in Los Angeles? That is just to name a few that I will be giving you answers to in the next week. I myself think that the Yankees are going to win it all again. They have retooled there pitching staff with young arms, but still have veteran leadership to take them to the promise land.

My World Series predication is going to be the Chicago Cubs vs. the New York Yankees. With the Yankees winning in 6 and closing the door of Yankee Stadium in style.

May the force be with you!

Chicago has finally found the next great 23!!!

The Chicago Cubs had Ryne Sandberg, The Chicago Bulls had the most Famous 23 of all time, Michael Jordan. Now there is a new Hero in town. He is not a QB or a RB but a Kick off/Punt Return Devin Hester. This man is absolutely amazing. He is the next coming on Michael Jordan. He wears the same number and he does things on the field that no one else can do. He has even stunned the best kick off/Punt returner of all time Deion Sanders. Deion has said that he is the new Prime Time and is better than Him. That is amazing. To come from a man who thought he was the best of all time. So what do you think? Is he better or not? Can he make a play at being at a level of the great MJ?

May the Force be with you!!

Who is your choice for Manger of the Yankees?

Yankees Fans we will have a new manager in about 2 days I am thinking. But, the question I have is who will it be? I have a couple of people in Mind.

Joe Girardi- He was there catcher from 96 to 2000 so he knows what it is like in the Bronx. As he was manager of the year in 2006 with the Florida Marlins.

Don Mattingly- He bleeds Yankee blue. Was the first base for them until 1995. Never has won a world series. He has been the bench coach for 4 years and is George Steinbrenner’s Choice for Mangers. ( That being said what the boss Say’s goes.)

Lou Piniella- He also bleeds Yankee Blue. This is a Long Shot, since he is managing the Chicago Cubs. But don’t count him out.

I have given you my choices any one else have an opinion let me know who your choice is?

MLB Playoff/World Series Predictions

ALDS Series ONE: Los Angeles Angels vs. Boston Red Sox. (3-2 Boston Wins.)
Boston was the winner in the AL East and had a dog fight holding on to the lead in the finally games of the season.Los Angeles played really well all year and they have a great manager that know how to win. I think this is going to be a good series with Boston pulling it out narrowly.
ALDS Series Two: New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians. (3-1 New York Wins)
My brother is going to kill me on this one. Cleveland was won the division 2 weeks ago and it is hard to get the motor going again. I think Cleveland will take the first game at the Mistake by the lake, but the Yankees have more experience and that is what is going to help them win the series.
ALCS Series: New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox’s (4-2 New York Wins)
Yankees Vs Sox again. I know this one is getting old. I Believe this is the best rivalry in baseball. The Red Sox have really played bad down the stretch and the Yankees are playing like a team on a mission.
NLDS Series ONE: Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies (3-2 Colorado Wins)
Two of the hottest teams in baseball meet up in the first round. Colorado has not been to the playoff for 12 years. Philly came back from 7 games down to win the Division. Who has enough gas to win the series. I think Colorado will pull this one out in five, but all the game will be really close.
NLDS Series Two: Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (3-0 Chicago Wins)
If the cubs get there bats going and the pitching is really good. This could happen. Arizona has a young ball club. The Cubs of the Curse of the Goat and Steve Bartman. I feel the Cubs are going to sweeps the diamondback.
NLCS Series: Colorado Rockies vs. Chicago Cubs (4-2 Chicago Wins)
In 2003 the Cubs were 5 outs away from the world series. But that was a completely different team. This team has a Great Manager who does not believe in Curses and know how to use his pitching staff.

World Series: Chicago Cubs vs. New York Yankees
I have put the winners next to the prior games, but this is a toss up. Due I go for my Favorite team or do I go for the Lovable Losers?Both teams started out cold and got hot. Both Teams have Great Managers. So what do I do. I am going to have to go with the CUBS. My gut is telling me that it could be another 100 years before they get back. (4-3 CUBS WIN!!) Holy Cow!!

Is this the year of the Chicago Cubs?

With the baseball season just three days from being finished, the team from the North side of Chicago, are ONE game from clinching a playoff berth. For the second time in the millennium, they WILL win the National League Central Title. This is a great accomplishment, since they have only won the division title, three times in 30 years, and that is my whole life time.

Is this the year the curse is finally broken? Do we get our hopes up, only to be shot down again? Is the hitting line up and pitching staff good enough to win the world series? Is Lou Pinella the savior of the Cubs?

I am going to end this post with a little song………….

“Take me out to the ball game,

Take me out with the crowd.

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,I don’t care if I never get back,

Let me root, root, root for the Cubbies,If they don’t win it’s a shame.

For it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out,

At the old ball game.”

This and That In MLB!!!

Major League Baseball has about 2 weeks left in the season and there is alot of interesting story lines that are playing out. The first that has caught my attention is the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox Race for first place in the division. At one point the Yankees were 9 games out going into labor day weekend. They ended up sweeping them and picking up ground. As of last night the Yankees are now 2 games behind the Red Sox’s and up four and a half in the wild card. I would like to keep the streak of 10 division titles alive and win the division.

The other race that has also caught my eye is the national league east. The Milwaukee Brewers had a nice 6 game lead at the all start break. But the Chicago Cubs, who have been playing really good baseball are tied with the brewers for first. Is this the year the Cubs get over the hump? Being from Illinois I would love to see them go to the world series. It is time for them to break there 99 year drought.

I know I have said in early post that cubs would have a hard time beating the Yankees but if the Yankees give it there all to win the division they may have nothing left for the playoff to even make it to the world series.What is something that has caught your attention this last month of September? Who would you like to see win the World series?

May the Force be with you !!!