Week 16 Review in The All American Home Run Derby

Dilldocks continues to occupy our top spot after claiming the 2nd Quarter prize. 283 homeruns is good enough to lead our game, but just by 1 homerun. AllorNothin is well within striking distance with a total of 282 homeruns. #1Philsfan remains in the thick of things with 278 HR. Our 4th place team is whoopers and Mr. Papa Georgio holds down the 5th spot.Our player break down is as follows…1 player with 29 homeruns1 player with 27 homeruns2 players with 25 homeruns1 player with 24 homeruns3 players with 23 homeruns4 players with 22 homeruns2 players with 21 homeruns2 players with 20 homeruns4 players with 19 homeruns5 players with 18 homeruns5 players with 17 homeruns3 players with 16 homeruns8 players with 15 homeruns4 players with 14 homeruns6 players with 13 homeruns5 players with 12 homeruns4 players with 11 homeruns4 players with 10 homeruns5 players with 9 homeruns3 players with 8 homeruns6 players with 7 homeruns5 players with 6 homeruns3 players with 4 homeruns2 players with 3 homeruns3 players with 2 homeruns3 players have failed to go deepRyan Howard still leads the league with 29 homeruns and Adam Dunn is keeping pace with 27 homeruns. Pat Burrell and Chase Utley sit 4 homeruns off the lead while Dan Uggla is 5 back.We have 11 other players over 20 HR including Hanley Ramirez with 23 HR, Rick Ankiel with 22 HR and Josh Hamilton with 21 HR.There are 25 players between 15 and 19 HR. A few of these guys are Derrek Lee and Corey Hart with 15, Miguel Cabrera and Evan Longoria with 17 and Albert Pujols with 18.We have 23 players in the 10-14 HR group. Nick Markakis and Garrett Atkins lead with way with 14 homeruns each. David Ortiz sits at 13 and looks to return this week and add to that total. Hunter Pence and Torii Hunter each have 12 HR while Adam LaRoche and Alex Gordon have 11.Thirty players have less than 10 homeruns. Ryan Zimmerman has 8 homeruns and should return this week and add to that number. B.J. Upton sits on 6 and has been moved down in the order. Jimmy Rollins is also stuck on 6 and hopes for a big 2nd half. Delmon Young has now hit 4 HR and that’s practically on fire for him. Andruw Jones continues to be a huge bust with just 2 homeruns.

MLB Injury Report

What a week for baseball as the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game kicked off early in the week and gave fans plenty to cheer about.There are 2 robberies to report from Monday Night as Josh Hamilton stole the stage in the first round and then Justin Morneau stole the trophy from Hamilton despite hitting 13 less homeruns on the night.Josh Hamilton wrote another chapter in his amazing comeback story as he won over the fans in New York by stepping to the plate against his 71-year-old pitcher and crushing pitch after pitch deep into the New York night. When the first round had come to a close, Hamilton had set a new record with 28 homeruns in one round including 3 shots over 500 feet. The fatigue of 38 swings in the first round was too much for Hamilton as Justin Morneau defeated him in the Finals, 5-3. It was a proud moment for Canada and the Minnesota Twins as Morneau won his first Home Run Derby title.The All-Star Game proved to be just as exciting on Tuesday as the teams battled for 15 innings before Justin Morneau found himself in the spotlight again as he was able to slide in just ahead of the throw on a Michael Young sacrifice fly and the America League continued their run of dominance with a 4-3 win. We were all left to wonder what would have happened if Morneau were called out and the game went to a 16th inning. Every position and pitcher was used during the marathon and it’s possible that Bud Selig would have faced another nightmare. Business was back on schedule on Thursday when the 2nd half of the MLB season officially kicked off.The Mets were able to run their win streak to 10 games before losing a pair, but they remain baseball’s hottest team with a record of 8-2 over the last 10 games. They find themselves in a deadlock with the Philadelphia Philles for the division lead. The Florida Marlins are right on their heels, but also face a tough start to the 2nd half and could find themselves fading out of contention.As we turn out attention to the NL West, we find an embarrassment to baseball. The Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers are tied for the lead with 48-50 records. Each team is 5-5 over the last 10. The Rockies are playing well as of late, but also sport a 5-5 mark over the last 10. They have won 4 in a row after a 1-5 stretch. The 2 worst teams in baseball are holding down the bottom of the division. The San Francisco Giants have lost 9 of the last 10 and the San Diego Padres have come up short in 8 of the last 10, including 6 straight.Speaking of teams that have lost 8 of the last 10, Tampa Bay leads the American League East. The Rays are lucky to be in that position after Boston was swept by the Angels. Don’t look now, but the Yankees appear to be getting hot and should be adding their annual big name via trade any day now. This division should be fun to watch down the stretch.In the AL Central, the White Sox and Twins are tied with 55 wins, but Minnesota is one back in the loss column. The Twins came out of the break on fire as they racked up 20 runs on Texas in 2 games, before suffering a 1-0 loss despite Scott Baker having a perfect game through 5.2 innings. Minnesota pitching has been hot and things could get better if Francisco Liriano has anything to say about it. Liriano is 8-0 with an ERA of just over 2 in his last 10 starts at the Triple-A level. He would provide a huge boost to an already solid rotation if he could maintain those pre-injury numbers with the big club.Plenty to watch for this week as there will be quite a few clubs making the decision to make a move because they are out of contention or stay put because the guys are starting to catch fire.

The Baseball Consigliere's 2nd Half Review

The sluggers were put on display and home field advantage for the World Series has been decided. The only thing left to do now is finish out the rest of the season.Some of the races appear to be headed deep into the final week of the regular season before they are settled.The 7-game losing streak for Tampa Bay has allowed Boston to take over the division lead and with the experience factor heavily favoring the Red Sox, there’s no reason to believe that they won’t hold off the Rays and win the division.Out west, it would make for a great story if Ian Kinsler and Josh Hamilton could will the Rangers to a division crown, but the pitching staff will make sure that doesn’t happen. The Angels have a solid rotation and a good enough lineup to take the title.The Central gets a little bit more crowded with the White Sox currently holding onto a slim lead over the Twins. Don’t forget that Detroit is starting to get healthy and has been playing well heading into the All-Star Break. It will come down to health for the Sox. Can Konerko and Jenks return to form? Can Thome avoid his annual trip to the DL? If the answer is no, Minnesota and Detroit will be waiting.The wild card race in the American League will be a duel to the end with the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees.The National League East could be the most exciting finish in baseball.The Phillies, Mets and Marlins are all separated by just 1.5 games. New York and Philly both have solid lineups and Florida is getting healthy at the right time. Look for pitching to be the deciding factor in the division race.The East might be the tightest race, but all eyes will be on the Central as the Cubs, Brewers and Cards battle to the end. We’ve already seen Chicago add Rich Harden and Milwaukee add C.C. Sabathia. Will St. Louis make a move to keep pace?The West should honestly just concede its playoff berth to a team that will actually finish above .500, but since that won’t happen, let’s take a look at the Dodgers and Diamondbacks. L.A. has just been dealt a blow with the loss of Takashi Saito for at least 6 weeks. Look for Arizona to recall Max Scherzer in hopes that he sparks the pitching staff. There have also been rumors that they will take a look at bringing in another stick in the form of Barry Bonds.Speaking of Bonds, he’s one of several players that could make a move in the second half and make a difference in the playoff races. Along with Arizona, New York has been mentioned as a possible location for Bonds. The Yankees may need another bat if Hideki Matsui is unable to return from his knee injury.Matt Holliday will be the biggest name to keep an eye on before the trading deadline. He’s not just a short-term rental so he won’t come cheap, but he’s definitely someone that St. Louis could bring in to keep up with Chicago and Milwaukee. They may also just be content waiting for Chris Carpenter to return and provide a boost.Another pitcher that could provide a boost is Joe Blanton. Look for Oakland to continue stockpiling prospects by trading away their proven talent. With Harden already gone, Blanton could be next with Philadelphia being the most likely destination.The Rays will also be a team to watch as they’ve been mentioned in the Bonds talks and they’ve also been rumored to be interested in adding Brian Fuentes for the stretch run.The rest of the season should provide some of the best baseball that we’ve seen in several years and the playoffs will be even better.

D-Day Rumor Mill

Written by Consigliere
It’s that time of year again when we hear “buyer” and “seller” in every other baseball story. July 31st marks the non-waiver trading deadline and teams begin to analyze each plate appearance, each pitch thrown and each contract on the books. Some teams are in the hunt and must decide if they are willing to dump prospects for a rental player that could help them reach the postseason. Other teams are hoping that they can find a trading partner willing to take a huge contract off their hands while giving up some young prospects.The rumors come and go so fast that it’s often tough to keep up with who might be going where, but here are some of the current talks between the movers and shakers.One of the biggest names circulating is Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday. Two possible destinations for him are Oakland and St. Louis. Holliday is signed through 2009 so the price will be steep. Oakland may not be able to afford the price and unless the Cards were to send pitching the other way, their OF is plenty stocked right now.Xavier Nady is more likely to be on the move and two teams that have been showing interest are Tampa Bay and Atlanta. Tampa Bay seems to have better options in house, but Atlanta could be a good fit. Jeff Francoeur hasn’t been hitting well and they could use some offensive help. If Atlanta starts to slip out of the picture, not only would the deal be off, but they could also begin shopping slugger Mark Teixeira. Teixeira will be a free agent after this year and the Braves probably can’t afford him, but if they hang onto him for the rest of the season, they could get draft picks as compensation if he leaves.Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. seem to be prime candidates to relocate, but it appears Griffey to Tampa Bay wasn’t true and there just doesn’t seem to be a market for the high-priced Dunn. American League teams don’t want a DH that bats .240 and National League teams are scared off by his defense.There are several players that may or may not become available depending upon how the next couple of weeks shake out.Ivan Rodriguez seemed to be playing his last games in Motown, but the Tigers are suddenly in the hunt and Brandon Inge going down, leaves Detroit needing Pudge in the lineup.The Rangers could be looking to move Frank Catalanotto or Hank Blalock if they hit a losing streak this month.The Angels may be interested in Brian Giles. The Padres might be mathematically eliminated already and Giles could contribute in Anaheim, but the Angels usually aren’t deadline dealers.Brian Roberts could also be moved if the Orioles find themselves on the outside of the playoff race. Roberts would be their biggest piece of trade bait, but closer George Sherrill has also been rumored to be heading to the Red Sox as a setup man for Jonathan Papelbon. The Red Sox rumors don’t stop there though.Boston may also be looking at Joe Borowski, Chad Bradford, Rich Harden, Roy Oswalt, Brian Fuentes and C.C. Sabathia. Fuentes and Sabathia are in the middle of most trade rumors right now.Fuentes could find himself out of the closer role and out of Colorado with the list of new teams growing daily. Along with the Red Sox, the Yankees, Rays, Cubs and Cards are also reportedly interested.C.C. Sabathia would be the biggest deal to go down, if the Indians end up moving him. They apparently would like to resign the reigning Cy Young winner, but as they fall double digits back in the division race, things could change. The Phillies, Rays, Cubs and Brewers have been mentioned the most as possible trading partners.Other arms that are rumored to be available are Joe Blanton, Huston Street, A.J. Burnett, Erik Bedard, Bronson Arroyo and Greg Maddux.

Back to the Future

It’s time to head down to the clock tower, fire up the flux capacitor and drive the DeLorean all the way back to March 10th, 2008.I know what you’re thinking. That wasn’t that long ago, but in baseball terms it was about a month before the season started. That’s when yours truly, The Consigliere, sat down and calculated the homerun projections for our pool players.It’s almost 4 months later and about midway through the season, so it’s time to look back and point out my spot on mathematics or take the blame for the minor miscalculations.For the purposes of this article, we’re going to ignore anyone who missed several games and concentrate on the guys who have been able to stay on the field.Right down the middleAlbert PujolsPrediction: If his elbow will allow him, Pujols will return to the 40 HR club.2008 Total: 17 HR. Despite his minor calf setback, he should finish right around 40 HR.Ryan HowardPrediction: Expect Howard to flirt with 50 this year.2008 Total: 20 HR. Howard started off in a huge slump and has found his groove as of late. He’ll clear 40 and aim for 50.Adam DunnPrediction: No reason to believe that Dunn can’t top 40 this year.2008 Total: 20 HR. He’s right on pace.Jim ThomePrediction: Thome should hit about 30.2008 Total: 16 HR. Bullseye.Magglio OrdonezPrediction: Maggs should contribute with a HR total in the mid 20s.2008 Total: 12 HR. Hopefully the injury doesn’t wreck my projection.Lance BerkmanPrediction: He should easily clear 30, with an outside shot at 40.2008 Total: 22 HR. Good call here.Ryan BraunPrediction: Braun should get 40 this year.2008 Total: 20 HR. Another one for The Consigliere.Manny RamirezPrediction: Should see 30 HR again.2008 Total: 16 HR. On pace to hit 30+.Carlos LeePrediction: If you want 30 HR, Lee is your guy.2008 Total: 18 HR. Headed for at least 30.David WrightPrediction: Hit 30 HR last year. Look for him to top that this year.2008 Total: 16 HR. Just where he needs to be right now.Adrian GonzalezPrediction: 40 HR potential.2008 Total: 21 HR. He’s found his potential.Derrek LeePrediction: Has a good shot at 30 this year.2008 Total: 15 HR. The Cubs slugger has returned.Jermaine DyePrediction: He’s a safe bet to top 30 this year.2008 Total: 18 HR. 30 looks to be a lock.Chipper JonesPrediction: Injuries are the only thing stopping Jones from hitting 30 each year.2008 Total: 16 HR. He’s looking for 30, but will the quad let it happen?Nick MarkakisPrediction: Expect more than last year’s 23 HR.2008 Total: 12 HR. Right on target at the midway point.Rick AnkielPrediction: Expect 25+ HR.2008 Total: 16 HR. The power is there and he’s improving this year.Brandon PhillipsPrediction: Expect around 25 this year.2008 Total: 14 HR. He may end up right on 25.J.J. HardyPrediction: Hardy will be lucky to hit 20 HR.2008 Total: 8 HR. Should finish short of 20.Corey HartPrediction: Hart could reach 30 HR.2008 Total: 14 HR. He’s a little off the pace, but coming on after a rough start.Aaron RowandPrediction: Hope for 20 HR.2008 Total: 8 HR. Another guy that will not make 20.Gary Matthews Jr.Prediction: He’ll hit 15.2008 Total: 7 HR. I might get this one dead on.Alex GordonPrediction: Expect 20.2008 Total: 11 HR. Right on pace.Joey VottoPrediction: Look for 20-25 HR.2008 Total: 12 HR. The rookie is aiming for dead center on this projection.High and insideJustin MorneauPrediction: 30-35 HR.2008 Total: 12 HR. Need a big 2nd half if I’m going to get this one.Carlos BeltranPrediction: 33 HR.2008 Total: 12 HR. I need the postseason Astros Beltran to show up.Miguel CabreraPrediction: Expect 35-40 HR.2008 Total: 11 HR. What the hell is his problem?Chase UtleyPrediction: He’ll hit close to 30…by the All-Star Break.2008 Total: 23 HR. Ok, so I made the last part up.Ken Griffey Jr.Prediction: Still a threat for 30.2008 Total: 9 HR. The threat is fading.B.J. UptonPrediction: He hits 20 HR.2008 Total: 6 HR. Rays need him if they want to remain contenders, so I still got a shot.Dan UgglaPrediction: Could dip from last year’s 31 HR.2008 Total: 23 HR. He still “could”, but not likely.Hanley RamirezPrediction: Look for a season of 20-25 HR.2008 Total: 20 HR. I love Han Ram, but who knew?Victor MartinezPrediction: Expect about 20.2008 Total: 0 HR. Ugh!Jason GiambiPrediction: I don’t like his chances for 20 HR.2008 Total: 17 HR. Come on 2nd half slump.Justin UptonPrediction: Expect about 12 this year.2008 Total: 9 HR. It seems to be a K or a HR, but he should still beat my mark.Evan LongoriaPrediction: 15-20 HR.2008 Total: 15 HR. All Hail Evan Almighty!Delmon YoungPrediction: Look for an upside of 20 HR.2008 Total: 2 HR. He’s got the skills, but something isn’t clicking

Major League Baseball Monthly Report

Written by Administrator
Each month, I’ll break down which of our pool players get the credit for their team leading the division and which players get the blame for their team being in the basement.AL EastFirst Place: Tamp Bay RaysCarlos Pena spent a lot of time sitting out and only has 1 HR, 5 RBI and 2 Runs to show for the whole month. That means that our pool player that gets the credit for keeping the Rays at the top is B.J. Upton. He has 6 HR, 41 RBI, 52 Runs and 23 SB.Last Place: Toronto Blue JaysVernon Wells came back early in June and hasn’t gotten back to his usual form yet, but Alex Rios hasn’t been there to pick up the slack either. Rios had just 1 HR and 7 RBI in June.AL CentralFirst Place: Chicago White SoxLast week in this very spot, I called out Nick Swisher, Paul Konerko, Jim Thome and Joe Crede for their lack of production. They responded in June. Konerko went on the DL, but the other 3 combined for 19 HR and 55 RBI, while raising their averages.Last Place: Cleveland IndiansGrady Sizemore and Ryan Garko combined for 10 HR and 35 RBI in June, but Travis Hafner missed the entire month.AL WestFirst Place: Los Angeles AngelsVladimir Guerrero put up 6 HR and 16 RBI last month, while Torii Hunter and Gary Matthews Jr only combined for 3 HR and 16 RBI.Last Place: Seattle MarinersRiche Sexson in June: 22 games, 6 runs, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 21 K. You have a guy that is 6-8, 240lbs and he has 1 extra base hit all month! He failed to record an RBI in 20 of 22 games! I’m getting an idea of why the Mariners are the worst team in baseball.NL EastFirst Place: Philadelphia PhilliesChase Utley and Pat Burrell have taken turns carrying the team. Ryan Howard handled that task in June. He hit 5 HR and knocked in 26 runs. Last Place: Washington NationalsRyan Zimmerman hasn’t played since the last time I wrote this column. The Nationals are going nowhere fast.NL CentralFirst Place: Chicago CubsSoriano is hurt, then he’s not, now he is… Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee have remained solid, but Kosuke Fukudome has picked up the slack for Soriano. He had 3 HR, 13 RBI and 19 Runs for the month of June.Last Place: Pittsburgh PiratesAdam LaRoche and Jason Bay haven’t set the world on fire, but they’ve been solid. The Pirates simply have no pitching.NL WestFirst Place: Arizona DiamondbacksJustin Upton in June: 23 games, 7 runs, 8 hits, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 25 K, while he fell from a .275 to a .236 average. Chris Young has been slightly better. They deserve no credit for the Arizona’s success and hardly deserve a spot on the club right now. Last Place: Colorado RockiesThe big 3 have returned from the DL and Hawpe and Holliday have been playing very well. Look for the Rockies to climb out of the cellar.

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Bombs Bursting in Air!

Bombs Bursting in Air


Most people should be able to tell you that Francis Scott Key is responsible for the National Anthem that we hear before each baseball game, but not many know the journey of the song.

Francis Scott Key was actually a poet who wrote a poem called “Defence of Fort McHenry” after witnessing Royal Navy ships attack Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. After being circulated, renamed and set to the tune of a British drinking song called “To Anacreon in Heaven”, Francis Scott Key’s poem became “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Although the debut of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in baseball typically gets linked to its rendition during the 7th inning stretch of the 1918 World Series, some historians will tell you that it was played as far back as 1897.

No matter what year the tradition began, it will certainly be heard at every ballpark this 4th of July, as a full slate of games entertains us while we celebrate our freedom.

Let’s take a look at some of the day’s key matchups…


Mets @ Phillies
Besides the possibility of fireworks in the hitter friendly park, it’s Johan Santana vs. Cole Hamels in a heavyweight pitching battle.

Athletics @ White Sox
Nick Swisher welcomes his ex-teammates to The Cell. You can also tune in to see if Jack Cust has 4 strikeouts or if he hits one into the parking lot. He reminds me a lot of Joaquin Phoenix’s character in Signs. “Felt wrong not to swing.”

Nationals @ Reds
Ok, so the matchup doesn’t look very exciting, but I had to include the Washington Nationals playing in The Great American Ballpark on the 4th of July!

Cubs @ Cardinals
Another installment of this classic rivalry. The Cubs will send Carlos Zambrano to the mound, while the Cardinals trot out undefeated Mitchell Boggs.

Red Sox @ Yankees
Enough said.



The pool players that are most likely to send bombs bursting into the air are…

Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder vs. Tom Gorzelanny and his 6.18 ERA

Nick Swisher at home vs. ex-teammate Joe Blanton and his 4.97 ERA

Alex Rodriguez because it’s a big game and that’s when the stars come out

Hanley Ramirez at Coors Field vs. Greg Reynolds and his 5.75 ERA

Chase Utley and Ryan Howard because they are too powerful for Citizens Bank Park

Written By: The Baseball Consigliere
Website: www.letsgodeep.com

The Power of "4"

The Power of “4”
When Alfonso Soriano hit 39 HR in 2002, he provided power numbers from a 2nd baseman, which hadn’t been seen in quite awhile. Soriano was eventually moved into the outfield, once again leaving a power void in the middle infield.
The resurgence of the power hitting 2nd baseman has begun and four players on pace for great years. Chase Utley, Dan Uggla, Brandon Phillips and Ian Kinsler are all on track to finish with 25+ HR and 90+ RBI, with Utley and Uggla aiming higher.
Brandon Phillips has 13 HR and 43 RBI. He has the lowest RBI total of the group, but finished out last year with 94 RBI to go along with 30 HR. His .271 average is also the lowest of the four players mentioned but he’s in a lineup with Griffey, Dunn, Votto and Bruce. Look for him to get hot after the break.
Ian Kinsler has the lowest HR total of the group with 12, but he boasts the highest batting average, hitting .305 with 47 RBI. It’s Kinsler’s run total that has been the most impressive. He’s rounded the bases 64 times, which is good for 2nd best in the league.
Chase Utley certainly isn’t a surprise anymore, but his power seems to be even better than previous seasons. He’s led the MLB in homeruns for the majority of the year and currently sits in 2nd with 22 bombs. He’s also 4th in the MLB in RBI with 63. His .291 average and 57 runs make him a very well rounded player.
Dan Uggla has become the blue print for a power hitting 2nd baseman this year. His hot streak of late has allowed him to surpass Utley and take the MLB lead in HR with 23. He’s 9th in the league with 57 RBI and has 57 runs to go with his .294 average.
The Reds and Rangers aren’t likely to be in contention when the playoffs roll around, but look for Utley and Uggla to battle it out for the NL East title. Both the Phillies and Marlins know that the added bonus of having a power hitting 2nd baseman could provide just the boost needed to make a postseason run.

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White Sox Musings

We all know that the Chicago White Sox were swept by their cross town rivals this past weekend! What most of you don't know (unless you're from Chicago) is that the "cry babies" on the south side couldn't go back to the Cell without having some crass parting words for the Chicago Cubs organization and their fans!
Listed below are some parting comments made by Ozzie Guillen & crew before they offically crawled their way back to "The Cell" with their Bibs, Rattlers & Diapers on!
Ozzie Guillen: "The rats at Wrigley Field have gotten bigger, they must be lifting weights".
A.J. Pierzynski: "Cubs Fans are all idiots".
John Danks: "Their Clubhouse smells like someone urinated in it"!
Too bad the rest of the organization didn't have a s much class as their GM Kenny Williams! Oh well, I guess they'll NEVER get used to being eternally known as "The Other" team that plays in Chicago.

Go Cubs!

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MLB Injury Report: 6/22/2008

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Injury Report 6-22-08
Chipper Jones
Jones will sit out his 3rd straight game due to his quad. He should return soon.
Eric Byrnes
Byrnes should be back with Arizona very soon and he’s had plenty of time on the DL to recover.
Hideki Matsui
Matsui had his knee drained recently, but isn’t expected to land on the DL.
Hank Blalock
Blalock has been on his rehab assignment for 3 days and should rejoin the big club early in the week.
Albert Pujols
Pujols seems to be recovering nicely and a return date is scheduled for Thursday.
Alfonso Soriano
Soriano should be back in time for the Cubs Vs. White Sox Series at the Cell this weekend!

Week 12 Review from The All American Home Run Derby

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Week 12 Review
Dan Uggla now leads the Majors with 23 homeruns and fellow 2nd baseman Chase Utley is just one shy of his mark. Ryan Braun, Lance Berkman and Adrian Gonzalez all have 20 HR.
Sixteen players have between 15 and 19 round trippers. Hanley Ramirez represents the middle infield with 16, while Ryan Howard(19) and Pat Burrell(18) give the Phillies 3 players in the Top 9.
The 10-14 HR group has 28 members. Miguel Cabrera(10) remains at a snails pace, but Corey Hart(11) has turned around a slow start. Joey Votto(12) and Brandon Phillips(13) show that Dunn and Griffey aren’t the only power hitters in Cincy and ARod(14) continues to climb the leaderboard.
Thirty players comprise the 5-9 HR crew. Eric Byrnes(6), Vernon Wells(7), Matt Holliday(8) and Brad Hawpe(9) are all looking to make up for time lost on the DL. Khalil Greene(7) is showing that last year’s HR total was just a fluke and Justin Upton(9) is out to prove that he’s the real deal.
The fifteen players with a total of 5 or less HR continue to disappoint. Not surprisingly, 10 of the guys have spent time in the minors or injured, but Kosuke Fukudome(5) and Delmon Young(1) can’t use that excuse.
The only players that have failed to go deep are Josh Field, who is still in the minors, and Victor Martinez, who is out until after the break. Barry Bonds will no longer be mentioned barring his return.

Week 11 Review of The All American Home Run Derby

Week 11 Review
That Philly 2nd baseman still leagues the league and our pool with 22 homeruns. Gonzalez, Berkman and Uggla are all 3 off the pace and Braun, Hamilton, Burrell and Dunn are 4 back.
We have 13 players between 14 and 17 homeruns. Howard has 17, Pujols 16, Soriano 15 and Jason Bay 14. Pujols and Soriano won’t be moving from those totals for a few weeks.
Twenty- one players fall between 10 and 13 HR. Phillips has 13, Wright and C. Young are at 12, ARod is up to 11 and Corey Hart has increased his total to 10 homeruns.
The 6 to 9 HR group is 32 players strong. Kinsler has turned around a slow start and now has 9 bombs. Rowand has 8 in his new city. Griffey Jr has 7 so far and Hawpe has returned from the DL with a bang and now has 6 HR.
There are 19 underachievers with 5 homeruns or less. Fukudome hit 3 in his last 10 games to raise his total to 5. Bruce ended a 10 game homerun drought with his 4th HR. Blalock wants to return this week and add to his total of 3. A. Jones is the only player with 2 and Andy LaRoche has returned and gotten on the board with 1. Martinez, Fields and Bonds are the last 3 sporting the Goose Egg.

Jr. Finally does it!

Griffey Joins Elite Club
With the emergence of Joey Votto and the Cinderella run of Jay Bruce, it was easy to forget the real story for the Cincinnati Reds coming into the 2008 MLB Season.
When will Ken Griffey Jr make history? How long until he joins a select few of baseball’s greatest hitters? What day will he hit #600?
Griffey seemed to be stuck on #599 for far longer than he had hoped, but on Monday, the wait was over. Junior joined Sammy Sosa, Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays as only the 6th player in MLB history to hit 600 HR.
With 10 more homeruns, he’ll pass Sammy Sosa for 5th place on the All Time HR list, but that’s probably about as far as “The Kid” will make it.
He needs 61 more to pass Willie Mays and over 100 to catch Ruth, Aaron and Bonds.
What if Griffey had been able to stay healthy for his entire career? For the young man that dominated the 90’s, it only seemed like a matter of time until he was crowned as the greatest homerun hitter of all time.
In Seattle, Griffey will always be known as a Gold Glove centerfielder with the most beautiful swing that’s ever made contact with a ball.
In Cincinnati, he’ll always be known as the former Gold Glove centerfielder that couldn’t seem to round the bases without reaching for his hamstring.
From 2001-2006, Griffey missed 418 games. Those 418 games may be the difference between being one of 6 players to hit 600 HR and being the best homerun hitter ever.
If you compare his games played to Barry Bonds, Junior comes up 547 games short. Considering that he’s hit a homerun every 4 games over the course of his career, we’re talking about 137 HR lost. That would put his current total at 737 and counting. The 137 HR total is probably actually selling him short based on the fact that the 5 seasons prior to 2001, Griffey hit an average of 49.8 HR per year.
While it’s easy to see how Ken Griffey Jr could have been the best ever, just sit back and enjoy the fact that you have been able to witness a true legend of the game for nearly 2 decades.

MLB Injury Report: 6/8/2008 from Letsgodeep.com

Injury Report 6-8-08 Matt Holliday
Holliday is wrapping up a successful rehab stint and should rejoin the big club on Tuesday.Josh Hamilton
Hamilton missed Sunday’s game due to illness. He’s day-to-day.Vernon Wells
Wells was expected to be out 6-8 weeks, but missed just one month before returning to the Blue Jays lineup.Andy LaRoche
Look for the Dodgers to bring LaRoche up as soon as Monday morning.Chipper Jones
Jones is bothered by a quad strain once again and will miss at least a few games.Rick Ankiel
Ankiel has an infection is his knee that has kept him out of the lineup for a while. He could return on Tuesday.David Ortiz
Ortiz will be out at least 2-3 weeks with a wrist injury. If it doesn’t get any better by then, he could miss the rest of the season.

The Baseball Consigliere's Monthly Report

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Consigliere’s Monthly Report (May)
Each month, I’ll break down which of our pool players get the credit for their team leading the division and which players get the blame for their team being in the basement.
AL East
First Place: Tamp Bay Rays
Carlos Pena has regressed from last year, but with 10 HR, 32 RBI and 26 runs, he’s still been solid. BJ Upton only has 3 HR to his credit, but he’s been great in every other area. He has a .305 average, 34 RBI, 32 runs and 17 SB.
Last Place: Baltimore Orioles
All of the blame can’t fall squarely on Nick Markakis, but most of it can. He’s hit 9 HR which puts him on pace to set a career high, but he’s batting just .263 with nearly a strikeout per game. At this rate, he’ll end up about 40 RBI shy of last year’s total.
AL Central
First Place: Chicago White Sox
Nick Swisher, Paul Konerko and Jim Thome have all been average at best. Joe Crede’s .264 average is amazing compared to the other 3 and his 9 HR and 29 RBI look decent, until you realize that he had 2 HR and 7 RBI for the month of May. It’s clear that our pool players aren’t the reason for the Sox success.
Last Place: Kansas City Royals
Alex Gordon improved a bit in May and carries a .280 average with 5 HR, 25 RBI and 32 runs. Those are nice numbers for a contributor, but Gordon has to play like a superstar if the Royals are ever going to win.
AL West
First Place: Los Angeles Angels
Vlad Guererro, Torii Hunter and Gary Matthews Jr all have very similar numbers. They average about 6 HR, 27 RBI and 27 runs each. Hunter has the best average at .275, but this team is fortunate to be in first with Vlad not hitting like we’ve all come to expect.
Last Place: Seattle Mariners
Adrian Beltre has nothing to brag about with a .244 average, but it’s great compared to the .204 of Richie Sexson. Sexson, who spends most of his time lately riding the pine, only has 18 runs on the year. Even more concerning is the fact that 9 of those 18 have come off his homeruns.
NL East
First Place: Florida Marlins
Last month, I said, “When you look at the Marlins, you don’t have to look any further than superstar shortstop Hanley Ramirez.” While this still holds true, it’s now a 2-man show in Florida. Ramirez is batting .292 with 9 HR, 23 RBI, 44 runs and 13 SB. Dan Uggla has emerged as the star of May though. Uggla is batting .297 with 16 HR, 38 RBI and 43 runs.
Last Place: Washington Nationals
Zimmerman’s May was slightly better than his April, but now he’s been out for the last 8 games with a shoulder injury. The Nats are in trouble.
NL Central
First Place: Chicago Cubs
Last month at this time, Alfonso Soriano was on the DL and Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee were picking up the slack. It’s now a 3-headed monster, as they have combined for 35 HR, 112 RBI and 111 runs!
Last Place: Pittsburgh Pirates
Adam LaRoche(April)- 1 HR, 5 RBI, 6 Runs
Adam LaRoche(May)- 5 HR, 19 RBI, 14 Runs
As you can see, LaRoche has rebounded and Jason Bay is batting .296 with 13 HR, 29 RBI and 43 runs. As a team, the Pirates just aren’t good.
NL West
First Place: Arizona Diamondbacks
Chris Young has now topped Justin Upton is every category but average. Young has 4 more HR, 4 more RBI, 10 more runs and 3 more SB. If the D-Backs want to stay in first, they need “The Franchise” to step it up a notch.
Last Place: Colorado Rockies
Troy Tulowitzki – Currently on the DL
Matt Holliday – Currently on the DL
Brad Hawpe - Currently on the DL

He's not Bruce Almighty...He's Bruce "Lee Roy"

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Ever since ESPN has tabbed Jay Bruce as Bruce almighty; this nickname has spread across the networks, newspapers & internet like wildfire! Has everyone forgotten about another Bruce that was one of the biggest bad asses on the silver screen in the 1980's?If you've seen the cult classic The Last Dragon by Barry Gordy, you know what I'm talking about! He's the baddest Bruce I've ever known (Yes, even badder than Bruce Lee) because he was the coolest karate chopping Mo Fo I've ever known! How many dudes do you know that could use their aurora & Afro to completely dominate & strike fear into their opponent? Maybe Bruce Lee Roy has shown Jay Bruce the ways of the dragon & how to connect with his inner Chi to funnel that energy into his big bat these day ;)Anyways, rent the movie if you haven't seen it & I hope you enjoy this story not about Bruce Almighty, but.......The New Bruce "Lee Roy"The Reds didn't seem to be headed in the right direction when they traded away Josh Hamilton and signed Corey Patterson. Why wouldn't you just bring up Jay Bruce to play CF? Probably for the same reason that Joey Votto had to wait patiently while Scott Hatteberg wasted plate appearances. Dusty Baker loves his vets. If you're a rookie and want to get your chance, you have to make it impossible for you to stay in the minors. Jay Bruce did exactly that. Through 49 games at Louisville, Bruce was batting .364 with 34 runs, 9 doubles, 3 triples, 10 HR and 8 SB. The one knock on Bruce has always been his high strikeout rate, which showed in Louisville(12 BB/ 45 K) and that's exactly the reason that the Reds kept using as a reason to leave him in Triple-A. When rumors started to heat up that Ken Griffey Jr would be traded back to Seattle and that Adam Dunn might be on the market, it seemed that Bruce's time was coming. After Bruce had a 10 game stretch where he batted .611, including 3 HR in his last 17 at bats; the Reds couldn't ignore him anymore. Cincinnati officially made the call up on May 27th when they designated Hatteberg for assignment and Bruce has been something out of **** tale ever since. He made his debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates and collected 3 hits, 2 walks, 2 runs, 2 RBI and 1 SB. In the 6 games since his call up, he's batting .591 with 2 HR, 6 RBI, 10 runs and 2 SB. He also notched his first career walk-off HR in a win over Atlanta. Oh, and as for his one flaw... he has 6 walks and just 1 strikeout so far.
Take It Deep: www.letsgodeep.com

Surprise!!!

Surprise!!!
Every year a few players start out very hot and every year those players eventually cool off. As the month of May comes to a close, we have a few guys that are still hot and showing no signs of slowing down. A couple of them are no strangers to the spotlight and a couple are just beginning to take center stage. Let’s take a look at the 5 guys that are the biggest surprises thus far.
Lance Berkman
Berkman has been around the game for a while now and has made quite a name for himself, but this year he’s looking to set career highs across the board. He’s currently batting .384 with 17 HR, 47 RBI, 57 runs and 10 SB. His batting average is downright ridiculous and he’s already set a career high in stolen bases. If he can maintain his current pace, he’ll set new marks for HR and RBI and shatter his previous run total.
Chase Utley
Some would call Utley a rising star and others could make the case that he’s already a certified superstar. He’s doing everything in his power to make the latter true. Utley is right at his career pace for average, runs and stolen bases, but his power numbers are through the roof. He’s currently batting .310 with 17 HR, 46 RBI, 42 runs and 5 stolen bases. He’s on pace for 49 HR and 133 RBI, which would destroy his previous highs of 32 HR and 105 RBI.
Dan Uggla
The Marlin middle infielder doesn’t have the experience that some of the other guys, but he’s well on his way to stardom. Uggla is carrying a career high .307 average along with 16 HR, 38 RBI and 41 runs. At this rate, Uggla will set new career highs across the board with 51 HR, 120 RBI and 130 runs.
Josh Hamilton
Hamilton burst back onto the scene last year and showed why you never give up on talent. With his troubles in the past, Hamilton is looking to make up for lost time. He’s batting .324 with 13 HR, 58 RBI and 35 runs. He’s already set a career mark for RBI and is currently on pace for a whopping 174 this season. At this rate, he’ll hit 39 HR and cross the plate 105 times.
Joey Votto
It turns out that the only thing holding Votto back was Dusty Baker. Once Votto was given his fair shot, he took it and ran. He’s currently batting .294 with 10 HR, 29 RBI and 28 runs. He only played a handful of games last year so he’s already setting career highs. At the pace that he’s on, he’ll hit 30 HR while scoring 85 times and knocking in 90 RBI. The scary thing is that I think he can top those numbers. Not bad for a rookie that started the year behind Scott Hatteberg.

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