The Empire Strikes Back

Great move by Brian Cashman bringing Lance Berkman to the Yankees. The rich get richer.

Rumor Mill

Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot to the Dodgers for Blake DeWitt, accroding to MLB Network.

Rough Outing

Brett Anderson's return to the mound was less than successful. The White Sox (not exactly the Yankees lineup) smacked Anderson and the A's around for 10 hits and five runs in five innings. More troubling was the one strikeout. I'm no doctor, but arm surgery might be in Anderson's near future. They've already shut him down twice this year, and the problem doesn't seem to be going away. Too bad, as he is an elite talent.

Welcome To Detroit

New Tiger Jhonny Peralta has gone deep twice against the Red Sox. Maybe my initial reaction was off base. I believe I called the trade, "dealing for the sake of dealing." Here's hoping I was wrong yet again!

The Sox Did What?

Edwin Jackson to the White Sox? I think Hudson would have been just as useful down the stretch. Maybe Jackson is heading right back out of town as part of another deal. Cross your fingers White Sox fans!

Tejada to Padres

I guess Bud Black thought they weren't making enough outs.

Playoffs?

With apologies to Jim Mora, let's talk about the NFL playoffs. Last week we looked at a few postseason participants who may fall short in 2010. On the flipside, here are two teams that will crash this year's playoff party:

1) Miami Dolphins--Last year's 7-9 squad was best known for its use of the "wildcat" (I really hate that word by the way). With Brandon Marshall on board and another year of development for emerging QB Chad Henne, the Dolphins should be less gimmick-oriented this season. Ronnie Brown is still recovering from a foot injury, which means Ricky Williams will shoulder the load early. Williams enjoyed a great 2009 (1121 yards rushing, 11 TD) and should be productive again this year. An improving defense added LB Karlos Dansby from Arizona. And of course, don't forget the Bill Parcels factor. The Dolphins look like a serious wild-card contender to me.

2) Atlanta Falcons--The Falcons were a fun Super Bowl pick 12 months ago, but missed the postseason entirely. A return to January football will be built around a great running game. Michael Turner is a workhorse back who makes fantasy owners drool. A healthy Turner will mean big-time production for an offense that also features rising stars Matt Ryan and Roddy White. Toss in future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, and the Falcons should be a point-scoring machine. The 2009 defense was a major disappointment, including John Abraham's 5.5 sacks. He and the Falcons D should rebound to at least league average. That should be more than enough help for this explosive offense. Considering their favorable schedule (St. Louis, Cleveland, Cincy, Seattle) Atlanta could easily be a 12-win team in 2010.

Latest Rumors

It seems almost certain that the Diamondbacks will continue to dump salary, which means Adam LaRoche should be on the move. While I've never been the biggest LaRoche fan, he makes a lot of sense for the White Sox. Look for Kenny Williams to grab the Arizona 1B if they can't pull together a deal for Adam Dunn. By the way, MLB Network is reporting that the Nationals will offer Dunn an 11th-hour contract extension just before the deadline. Stay tuned!

The Curse Continues!

Three days ago, I traded Matt Garza in one of my fantasy leagues. A no-hitter later, and I am kicking myself!

Uh Oh

According to Jayson Stark, an unnamed baseball executive recently said that Ben Sheets "looks like Livan Hernandez." Not sure if he means stuff, appearance, shape, or something else, but I can't think of anything positive to take away from that comment.

Trade Partners?

Is it just me, or could the Tigers really use a few Cubs who appear to be heading out the door? I don't know how much Detroit is willing to give up, but Aramis Ramirez would be a nice fit now that Brandon Inge is on the shelf for four to six weeks. Ted Lilly would certainly be an upgrade for their "struggling" (it's funny if you say it like a drunken Joe Namath) rotation. Theriot, Baker, or Fontento would be useful off the bench as well. Hopefully Jim Hendry is already on the phone, but I doubt it.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

It's hard to believe, but the NFL season is right around the corner (woo hoooo). Before we dive into the divisional races, let's quickly review last year's playoff teams:

AFC--Indy, San Diego, New England, Cincy, NY Jets, Baltimore
NFC--New Orleans, Minn, Dallas, Arizona, Green Bay, Philly

If recent history has taught us anything, half of these teams won't make it back to the postseason. Who might be watching the playoffs on TV?

1) Green Bay Packers--First the good news. Aaron Rodgers is a beast. Any Packer fan crying for Brett Favre just isn't paying attention. However, Rodgers takes WAY too many sacks. Add to that a mediocre running game and a schedule that includes New England, Philadelphia, Miami, Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco, and the NY Giants, and you're looking at 8-8 or 7-9.

2) New York Jets--The Jets will be a trendy Super Bowl pick by the so-called experts, but I see a major market correction in 2010. Unless Mark Sanchez improves by leaps and bounds (20 picks last year), the offense will sputter. A great defense can only take you so far in today's NFL.

3) Cincinnati Bengals--This one is almost too easy. The Bengals were 6th in scoring defense last year, a number that will be very difficult to repeat. On the other side of the ball, Carson Palmer simply isn't the player he used to be. An inconsistent Chad Johnson (I refuse to recognize that other name) and the legally challenged Cedric Benson will spell big trouble in Cincy. Plus, its sister city is Nancy, France. Nancy? Seriously? Dr. Johnny Fever would be ashamed.

Southsiders Looking To Muscle Up

If you believe the latest trade rumors, the White Sox are now in the Adam Dunn sweepstakes. I'm not convinced that Washington will trade him, but if they are willing to deal, this would be a great move for the Southsiders. A lineup that regularly features Juan Pierre, Omar Vizquel, A.J. Pierzynski, Mark Kotsay, Alexei Ramirez, and Gordon Beckham (this year's version) is crying out for help.

Reds Righty Continues To Roll

Johnny Cueto is 9-2. Are you kidding me?

Where Will T.O. Land?

Terrell Owens' agent says his client will sign with an NFL team in the very near future. I'm sure I'll live to regret this, but I really hope it's the Oakland Raiders. Now that the Raiders have a decent QB, they need to get him some help. Louis Murphy isn't a bad option, but Jason Campbell could really use an upgrade at WR. Plus, how much fun would it be watching T.O. interact with the Black Hole crew?

Countdown

Now that LeBron has put his name on the dotted line, how long until "Favre Watch" begins? Personally, I can't wait for reporters to camp out on his front lawn again. Favre taking out the trash and cleaning up dog shi*t is great television.

I Should Have Known Better

John Lennon said it in 1964, and it's just as true today.

Exactly why did I think the Cubs might make some noise in the second half? Didn't I just sit through three+ months of rotten baseball? And even if those 90-ish games weren't enough, haven't I seen this bad movie year after year after year?

Fortunately, their performance against the Phillies on July 17th brought me to my senses. In case you were actually living your life on Saturday, here's a quick review of what you missed...

· The Cubs wasted yet another solid outing by a starting pitcher, as Randy Wells shutout the Phillies for seven innings.
· As good as Wells was on Saturday, the Cubs offense was just as bad. Cole Hamels and company held the Northsiders to one run and only ONE extra base hit. Aren’t the bats supposed to heat up with Chicago’s summer weather? The answer is, not when you have a collection of hitters who are allergic to getting on base.
· Just when it looked like one run might be enough, Carlos Marmol reminded us that the mailman isn’t the only person who walks. Five, count them, five free passes for the Cubs closer. Watching him sabotage the 9th inning was worse than watching that crappy Matt Damon/Iraq film.
· Trailing 4-1, the Cubs were stymied by the usually horrendous Brad Lidge. You’ve got to hand it to our Cubbies. They have a knack for making ordinary closers look like Mariano Rivera.

And just like that, my world makes sense again. Despite what Ted Lilly tells the media, the Cubs are NOT turning this thing around. If Jim Hendry has half a brain (which is debatable), he will use the last two weeks of July to dump salary and infuse some young talent for 2011 and beyond. I just hope Uncle Lou stocks up on whiskey and smokes. It’s going to be a LONG summer.

Brewer To Bulls

Another nice move by the Chicago Bulls:

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=5386506

The Eastern Conference should be a slugfest in 2010-2011.

Bad News By The Bay

Let me start by saying I'm a Bruce Bochy fan (for the most part). He may not be the best manager in baseball, but his track record is pretty solid. Through 90 games, his Giants are in the mix for the NL West crown. The bad news for Giants fans is that they don't have a shot in hell! Maybe that's a bit harsh, but at a minimum it looks like a tough road to the postseason. Consider the following:

• THE OFFENSE IS OFFENSIVE: Even with Aubrey Huff's resurgence, the Giants still struggle to score runs (currently 11th in the NL). While Kung Fu Panda is likely to pick up the pace, Huff, Burrell, Posey, and Torres will almost certainly see a drop in production. The consistently empty at bats of Juan Uribe and Aaron Rowand are the final pieces of this inept puzzle.
• THEY OUGHT TO OUTLAW SOUTHPAWS: OK, Mickey was a tad off base when he dropped that bomb on Rocky Balboa, but I do see trouble for two of Bochy's lefty starters. So far Barry Zito (.249 OBA) and Jonathan Sanchez (.214 OBA) have pitched with good fortune and exceeded expectations. Both should see their share of hits allowed in the second half, which means Lincecum and Cain will have to carry the load once again.
• IT'S TOUGH AT THE TOP: Even with the punching bag that is the Arizona Diamondbacks, there's too much competition in the division for San Francisco to overcome. Sooner or later the Rockies will get healthy. The Dodgers certainly have a better 25-man roster. And the Padres? Well, I keep waiting for their ship to sink, but at some point we have to recognize the fact that they might be for real. The Giants simply don't have enough talent to jump over three teams, plus the wild card contenders.

Perhaps Bochy's crew will surprise me and stick in this interesting race. After all, Madison Bumgarner has been solid after four starts, and Brian Wilson is a hammer at the end of the bullpen. But at the end of the day, the Giants sure look like a seriously flawed team playing above their talent level. On the other hand, the National League has plenty of squads fitting that description.

Crystal Ball

No, not that crappy Styx song. Just a few bold predictions for the second half. With apologies to Heath Ledger... "And here we go!"

1. Led by a terrible lineup and their famous loose-cannon manager, the White Sox come back to Earth and finish in third place. Minnesota wins the AL Central, Detroit finishes second.
2. The Cardinals straighten out their bullpen and ride Big Albert (NL MVP once again) and a solid rotation to another division title. Dusty's Reds collpase and miss the playoffs completely.
3. The Rockies finally get healthy and hold off the collection of contenders in the NL West.
4. The Rays lack of offense catches up with them and they finish behind New York and Boston, both playoff teams.
5. In a battle that goes down to the final weekend, Atlanta claims the NL East crown. The Phillies finish a close second and bring home the wild card.
6. Cliff Lee and company bury the Angels and coast to the division title. The Rangers finish 2010 with the best record in the league. Josh Hamilton takes the AL MVP award.
7. After finishing 75-87, Lou Piniella resigns as Cubs manager and is replaced by Ryne Sandberg. During the offseason, GM Jim Hendry is cut loose. Somewhere in Peoria, IL, a grown man weeps with joy.
8. Matthew McConaughey makes another bad movie.
9. Steve Guttenberg and Buba Smith sign on for "Police Academy 10."
10. All reality TV shows join forces to create one mega program that features dancing fat people on a desert island. Each week they will sing against bachelors who are also gourmet chefs pretending to be models in New Jersey. Nearly 200 million viewers tune in for the first episode, then the planet explodes.

Braves, Jays Swap SS

My first thought was, "Yunel Escobar must have REALLY made somebody mad." Otherwise, I don't see the logic of this deal from the Braves standpoint. Alex Gonzalez does have 17 home runs, but those have come in 330 at bats. Add to that his Dunston-like OBP of .296 (above his career average by the way), and congratulations...you've just added another outmaker to go with Cabrera and McLouth.

To be fair, Escobar has been a major disappointment with the bat in 2010, and some writers and analysts question his defense (my two cents...both are solid but not spectacular fielders). The differences are:

1) He's only 27 years old (Gonzalez is 33)
2) He's coming off three productive offensive seasons
3) He's much cheaper than the former Marlin
4) He's still drawing walks, despite the current poor batting average and lack of power (.238/.334/.284, yes .284!)

Unless Escobar is a clubhouse cancer, Braves fans are probably a little confused today. Hopefully a deal for a productive OF (perhaps David DeJesus) is just around the corner.

All Star Game Log

Stardate…OK, I never got the whole “stardate” thing. At any rate, here are a few random thoughts from tonight’s matchup. Don’t forget, “it counts!”

· After 30 minutes of hitters wearing blindfolds, Longoria finally gets a solid knock. Seriously, Price could have thrown three pitches behind Ryan Howard, and he still would have swung.
· Andre Ethier makes his CF debut during the 2010 All Star Game. Perhaps John Buck will see some time at SS.
· Nice to see that Robinson Cano has bad hands in day games as well.
· OK, how many times can they show that creepy Sharp TV/Mr. Sulu commercial? Maybe the next version will include a random Starfleet officer in a red shirt who goes off to investigate a strange noise all by himself (a moment of silence for Ensign Jones).
· Andy Pettitte has gone nine years between All Star appearances. I believe Claudell Washington was the last player with that distinction. Speaking of Mr. Pettitte, is he a Hall of Famer? At the risk of upsetting Yankee Nation, I say “no.”
· The All Star break is always a good time to consider the Anti All Stars, or MLB’s Least Valuable Players. Here’s my quick list: Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Zambrano (don’t hit me big guy), Gordon Beckham, Pablo Sandoval (another burger Mr. Panda?), Trevor Hoffman, Chris Narveson, Carlos Gomez (yes, three Brewers), Oliver Perez (the streak continues), Chad Qualls, INSERT YOUR CRAPPIEST MARINER HERE, Lou Marson (“slugging” .262), Brad Bergesen, and Aaron Hill (how the mighty have fallen)
· With apologies to Stephen Strasburg, is there any pitcher more fun to watch than Josh Johnson? Truly a man among boys.
· Did I mention that this game “counts?” It’s a good thing that Omar Infante and Michael Bourn made the NL roster.
· Another nice play by David Wright. It’s gotta be the shoes!
· Tonight’s pitching-rich contest reminds me of Fernando Valenzuela in 1986. At one point I believe he punched out five straight AL hitters.
· A special thanks to Nike for leaving the White Sox years out of that new Griffey commercial.
· Phil Hughes is warming up in the pen. For some reason, Hughes was booed during the pre-game introductions. Did he make a nasty comment about Bobby Grich or something?
· I’m always amazed by Verlander’s stuff. From his easy windup, you wouldn’t think he pushes 100 mph. Nasty changeup to boot.
· It’s official. Mr. Sulu made my wife cry. The last time she was this upset, Ted Lilly and the Cubs gave up seven homers to Dusty’s Reds.
· The AL is on the board, but Joe Mauer brain cramps on the bases. “Not well-played Mauer.”
· Prediction alert…Ian Kinsler goes off for 20 homers in the second half. Of course, I predicted that “Avatar” would tank at the box office, so what do I know?
· Nice 3-2 pitch by Jon Lester. Personally, I think he’s on his way to this year’s AL Cy Young Award. Write it down! Bet the farm! Be the ball! Rock the vote! Keep it real!
· Solid effort in CF by Marlon Byrd. Back in Spring Training, who would have guessed that Byrd would be the Cubs only All Star? I guess Matt Capps was almost a Cub. Does that count?
· Even at age 35, Scott Rolen can still motor around the bases.
· McCann comes through for the senior circuit! Could the drought FINALLY be over? Remember, it took the Fonz 20 years to conquer Suicide Hill.
· I can’t believe McCarver hasn’t said “An Angel in the Outfield” yet. Time is running out, Tim!
· Brian Wilson…Great stuff, bad haircut.
· Valverde has been absolutely filthy this year. Where would the Tigers be without “Big Potato?”
· Heads up play in RF by Marlon Byrd!
· Broxton pitches through trouble in the 9th, and the NL finally breaks the streak. A victory every 13 years… You can set your watch to it.

Predictions For Tonight's Game

My wife says AL, and Jeter MVP. I'll go NL, and Hanley Ramirez. The winner gets a copy of "Tango and Cash" on Blue Ray.

Cub Busts, Part 2

On the surface, it seemed like a slam dunk: signing a productive offensive catcher who was the son of a former Cub, and a popular Cub at that. Yes, we're talking about Todd Hundley, a name that still sends shivers down our spines.

The Cubs signed Hundley to a $23-million deal on December 19, 2000. At age 31, Hundley was coming off a brief but solid season: 90 games, 24 home runs, .284/.375/.579. A three-time all star, Hundley was never known for his prowess behind the plate. However, the Cubs weren't thinking defense when they inked the former Met and Dodger. The Northsiders needed to improve a lineup that produced only 764 runs the season before (good for 11th in the NL).

Hundley got off to a slow start in April of 2001, batting only .207 with three homers in 66 at bats. Little did we know, that was as good as things would get. His injury-plagued 2001 season ended with numbers that would make Rick Wrona sick to his stomach: .187/.268/.374. The flu-like fun continued in 2002: .211/.301/.421. A few months later, Hundley was sent packing in exchange for 1B Eric Karros (and his rockstar hair) and 2B Mark Grudzielanek, who hit .314 and helped the Cubs win the NL Central in 2003 (let's not discuss that famous postseason).

A decade later, the Hundley years still haunt Cub fans. Once again, I was convinced that the front office had a game plan. Once again, I ended up feeling like the Fonz on roller skates.

First-Half Headscratchers

We're just over half way through a fantastic baseball season that has seen its share of shocks and surprises:

• Pablo Sandoval--I certainly didn't think Kung Fu Panda was as good as his 2009 numbers, but this year's pefrormace is criminal. Through Sunday, Sandoval is choking down a .322 onbase percentage and a .382 slugging percentage (not to mention a few too many chili dogs). The Panda has become an out-making machine, which of course makes his awful defense look that much worse.
• The Chicago White Sox--As much as it pains me to say it, Ozzie Guillen is doing a great job this year. He must be! How else could his team be in 1st place with the worthless Juan Pierre in LF (from an offensive standpoint, maybe the worst everyday corner outfielder in the history of baseball), the ancient Omar Vizquel (with his weak bat and weaker arm) at 3B, Gordon "I hit my head and forgot how to play baseball" Beckham at 2B, plus the usual cast of offensive liabilities (A.J. Pierzynski, Mark Kotsay, etc). Yes, the pitching has been good, but not THAT good. Personally, I had the ChiSox penciled in for sub-.500 in 2010. For the record, I also thought Clear Pepsi was a good idea, so what the hell do I know?
• The Promotion of Pedro Alvarez--Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled to see Alvarez in the majors. However, bringing him up to face two LHP in his first two games seemed like the ideal recipe for a slow start. Couldn't the Pirates have pulled the trigger a few days later?
• The Firing of Fredi Gonzalez--Maybe Hanley Ramirez walked in one day and said "him or me." Anything short of that, and the Marlins made a big mistake by chopping Gonzalez. Their loss will likely be the Braves gain in 2011.

Ouch!

Scott Kazmir's line vs. Oakland last evening:

5.0 IP
11 Hits
13 ER

Did he date Mike Scioscia's daughter or something?

Do You Remember?

Let's turn back the calendar to late March, when the various talking heads were making their annual postseason predictions. Most of the picks were pretty obvious (Rays, Yankees, Red Sox, Twins, Cards, Phillies), but one popular selection struck me as odd: the Seattle Mariners winning the AL West.

At first I thought that I must be missing something. Maybe the Mariner offense is much better than the numbers would suggest. Perhaps the third, fourth, and fifth starters got their hands on some magic pitching dust. Maybe Dave Aardsma and Milton Bradley will beat the odds and not implode before our eyes.

Well, 86 regular season games later, and the Mariners reside in last place, which is right where I thought they would be. In all honesty, I didn't think they would be this bad. However, a lineup built around an old Ken Griffey Jr., an overrated Chone Figgins, a disappointing Casey Kotchman, and the aforementioned Milton Bradley had trouble written all over it.

Yes, Cliff Lee and King Felix were a fantastic one-two punch, but two starters can only take a team so far. With Lee now in Texas, Seattle fans are about to find out what the crappy end of a baseball season really feels like. Hopefully Marty Crane has a healthy supply of Ballantine in the fridge.

Can I Offer You A Cup Of Kool Aid?

Yes, Mr. Hendry. Whatever you say, Mr. Hendry. It was much better than "Cats." I will see it again and again...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-0710-bits-cubs-dodgers-chicago20100709,0,4528617.story

(To be fair, what else is he supposed to tell the media?)

You Know My Name

Boesch...Brennan Boesch:

.341/.393/.595
12 HR in 232 AB

Where would the Detroit Tigers be without this 25-year-old rookie? Now the real question, can he sustain it? His minor league history says probably not.

A third-round pick in 2006, Boesch has 53 home runs in 1807 minor league at bats (a homer every 34 at bats), including a 28-home-run season in AA Erie. To call him a free swinger would be an insult to free swingers. Boesch has walked a whopping 117 times in those 1800+ at bats, good for a .319 career on-base percentage.

Looking ahead to the second half, we should expect a serious market correction for Mr. Boesch. Is it possible for him to keep up this unprecedented pace? Sure. It's possible that I'll win the lottery tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath. However, if he continues to hit for power, the Tigers will certainly live with the first-pitch outs. After all, this is the team that continues to give at bats to Gerald Laird and Don Kelly.

On The Move

According to ESPN, Cliff Lee is on his way to Texas...

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/news/story?id=5367615

I Don't Get It

I keep hearing that it's "good for the league" to have LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade playing together for the Miami Heat. What am I missing? Wouldn't it be better for the NBA if Cleveland was actually competitive in 2010-2011? Wouldn't it be better to have the game's biggest star in New York or Chicago? Wouldn't it be better to have Dwyane Wade and LeBron James competing against each other in the postseason? At any rate, I know one person who doesn't think this is so wonderful. That would be former Heat forward Michael Beasley, who was just exiled to the hapless Minnesota Timberwolves. Sometimes life is cruel.

LeBron's Surprise Choice

A source close to the source who knows a guy who once worked with somone familiar with a hotel near Akron, Ohio, has confirmed that LeBron James will sign a five-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. "LeBron has been secretly talking to Chirs Kaman and Travis Outlaw since last summer," says the source. "They're looking forward to being the NBA's next 'Big Three.' Now with Vinny Del Negro calling the shots, the championship pieces are falling into place."

Cub Busts, Part 1

Forty years on this planet have taught me a few things...

1) All reality TV is lousy (except for maybe "Deadliest Catch")
2) There is no such thing as a bad beer or a bad meal
3) The most frightening words in the world are "The Cubs have acquired..."

The list of rotten Cub trades and signings is longer than Lindsay Lohan's rap sheet. Over the next few weeks, we'll revisit some of those stomach-turning transactions (some might call this exercise "therapy").

MEL ROJAS (signed by the Cubs in December of 1996): Nothing scares true Cub fans like a new closer. In 1996, Mel Rojas saved 36 games in 74 appearances for the Montreal Expos. He allowed only 56 hits and five homers in 81 impressive innings, striking out 92 and walking only 25 (unintentionally). So when the Cubs signed Rojas the following offseason, I was actually excited. Sure, previous closer moves had tanked like that "Cavemen" show (see Calvin Schiraldi, Goose Gossage, and Dave Smith), but this was different. Rojas was a powerhouse reliever in the prime of his career. What could possibly go wrong? It didn't take long to find out. Rojas was so bad that he didn't even finish one season in Chicago. After 55 innings, 30 walks, and 11 homers allowed, the Cubs cut their losses in the summer of 1997 and shipped the former bullpen ace to the New York Mets in a deal for Lance Johnson. Two years later, Rojas was out of baseball.

So what's the moral of this story? Appearances can be deceiving? Look before you leap? Know which way the wind blows? Never pet a burning cat? I'm not really sure. However, I do know this...Every time the Cubs acquire a relief pitcher, another year ticks off my life.

Breaking LeBron News

LeBron just drove through McDonalds's and ordered decaf. He must be going to Miami!

Bulls Ink Boozer

Not on the level of signing Wade or James, but a nice move to be sure. Led by an exciting new coach, the Bulls are heading in the right direction.

It's A Fine Line

Before we punch Strasburg's ticket to the Hall of Fame, let's take a look back at a few "can't-miss" pitchers who fell a bit short:

1) Mark Prior (5 seasons, 42-29, 3.51 ERA) As a lifelong Cubs fan, this one is especially painful. How many times did we hear the phrase "perfect mechanics" in regards to Prior? Obviously, there is no such thing.

2) Ben McDonald (9 seasons, 78-70, 3.91 ERA) The original Big Ben actually cracked the 200-inning mark three times, though he never sniffed the postseason.

3) Darren Dreifort (9 seasons, 48-60, 4.36 ERA) For his 48 career wins, Dreifort cashed in a cool $64 million. At least he had a good agent.

4) Todd Van Poppel (11 seasons, 40-52, 5.58 ERA) No, that career ERA is not a typo (4.6 walks per 9 innings will do that to a pitcher). Other than a decent season or two out of the pen, Van Poppel was basically pounded from the word go.

5) Brien Taylor & Ryan Anderson (No MLB experience) Years later, it's still hard to believe that neither of these super prospects made it to the majors. Personally, I would have bet serious money that the "Little Unit" was going to be a star. Very sad, as both had the world at their feet.

6) Dwight Gooden (16 seasons, 194-112, 3.51 ERA) We saved the best for last. Obviously, winning 194 games is a huge accomplishment for any pitcher. However, in say 1989, how many wins would you have predicted for Gooden? I'm guessing 300+.

It goes without saying that we're all rooting for Strasburg. Unfortunately, for every Roger Clemens there are countless Todd Van Poppels. I'm afraid the odds are not in his favor.

I'm Not A "Hater"

Don't get me wrong, I love watching Stephen Strasburg pitch. However, the over-the-top coverage is borderline obnoxious, and it really takes away from other great MLB stories. Here are just a few:

1) The First Place San Diego Padres--Don't even pretend that you saw this coming. Several great pitching performances, and another solid managing job by Bud Black. Great city, great story.

2) Joey Votto--In only his third full season, Votto has become one of the league's best players. Seems like a great guy as well. If only the Reds had a different manager!

3) Vlad Strikes Back--Nice to see him healthy and hitting. He's not a true MVP candidate (not even the best player on his own team), but Vlad is a force once again. However, he still looks like C-3PO on the bases.

4) Cliff Lee--Dominating the league, and possibly on the move before the trade deadline. Who says the NBA has the best storylines?

5) Bobby Cox's Magical Mystery Tour--Nice to see Bobby going out on top. Here's hoping Atlanta stays healthy and makes a playoff run for one of the best managers in my lifetime.

The Allstar Game Hurts My Head!

Anyone who knows me is sick and tired of my Allstar Game complaints, but what the hell, let's vent for the 2,000th time...If the Allstar Game truly "counts," then the selection process MUST BE CHANGED! No more fan voting, and no more "every team must be represented." If that approach is too harsh, then I'm sure you will love Plan B...We simply go back to the way it was, which means the game doesn't "count," fans can vote for their favorites, and crappy teams like the Pirates and Astros send underserving players. If it's an exhibition game once again, which is of course what it was designed to be, then a silly rule here and there really doesn't hurt anything, like home field advantage in the World Series!

The AL East So Far

Hats off to Terry Francona, who may be doing his best work as Red Sox manager. How he has overcome their awful start and a truckload of injuries is simply amazing. If this roster gets healthy in August and September, I see another October push in Boston's future.

LeBron Signs With ?

It has to be Cleveland, right? I know the Cavs got bounced in the playoffs, but they still had the best record in the East. Plus, don't tell me LeBron wasn't injured during the postseason. He didn't look like the same guy vs. Boston. Write it down...LeBron returns to Cleveland, they tweak the roster, and it's another 60-win season in 2010-2011.