What To Watch For in Baseball's Second Half

The All-Star Break is now a thing of the past, as the American League dominance continued last night in St. Louis. The second half of the 2009 MLB season commences tomorrow night, and the playoff races are heating up. Here are the top three stories to watch in baseball's stretch run:

1. The Fate of Roy Halladay

Halladay was not at his best in last night's All-Star Game, but make no mistake about it: He is one of the very best pitchers in baseball, second only to Tim Lincecum. Halladay has been consistently outstanding during his tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays, but as the Jays are experiencing yet another year of mediocrity, GM J.P. Ricciardi has placed Halladay on the trading block. Sources close to the Blue Jays seem to think that there is a 50-50 chance that Halladay gets traded, but just for the sake of argument, let's say he does get traded. Where will he end up?

In the National League, Philadelphia and St. Louis seem to be the top two contenders in the Roy Halladay sweepstakes. The Phillies just signed Pedro Martinez, but Pedro is past his prime. The Phillies need more pitching. The Cardinals, meanwhile, need Halladay to be considered a legitimate title contender. Halladay would be a welcome addition to a Cards rotation that already includes Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright.

In the American League, there have been rumors that the Red Sox and Yankees are possible destinations for the Jays' ace. For J.P. Ricciardi's sake, I hope that there is no truth to this absurd rumor. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: If Ricciardi sends Halladay to Boston or New York, he would automatically strengthen a division rival, making Boston or New York instant championship favorites. That would be beyond stupid on the part of Ricciardi. I trust that he's smart enough to see the inanity in such a trade.

Where will Halladay land? If I had to wager money, I'd bet Philadelphia. But Halladay is such a valuable commodity, if Toronto doesn't find a team willing to give up significant talent in return, they'd be better off keeping their ace.

2. Can the Giants catch the Dodgers?

Oh yes we can! Bruce Bochy's San Francisco Giants currently have a two-game lead in the NL Wild Card over the surprising Colorado Rockies. This is great news, but I think I speak for Giants fans everywhere when I say that I still have my sights set on catching the Dodgers. The Giants are seven games back of the hated blue, but that lead is not insurmountable, not with the incredible wealth of pitching that San Francisco has. Pitching, on the other hand, is where Los Angeles is most vulnerable. The Dodgers bullpen, namely Ronald Belisario, Jonathan Broxton, and Ramon Troncoso, have been overworked, and there is a chance that the 'pen will run out of gas in August and September.

Meanwhile, the 2009 Giants have the best chemistry of any Giants team since 2002, the team that went to the World Series. Thanks to the infectious energy of guys like Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Pablo Sandoval, Nate Schierholtz, and Travis Ishikawa, along with the steady leadership of veterans Edgar Renteria, Randy Johnson, Bengie Molina, and Rich Aurilia, the Giants have a terrific rapport.

I will be in San Francisco in August, attending all three Giants-Dodgers games at AT&T Park from August 10 to August 12. My hope is that those three games will play a major role in who wins the division. Go Giants!!!

3. Will Baseball Remain Exciting in Florida?

The Tampa Bay Rays and Florida Marlins, despite significant financial disadvantages, both remain in the playoff race. At the break, Joe Maddon's Rays are in third place in the highly competitive Al East, 6.5 games back of the first-place Red Sox and 3.5 back of the Yankees in the Wild card standings. Fredi Gonzalez' Marlins sit four games back of the Phillies in the NL East, and four games back of San Francisco in the NL Wild Card. Both Florida teams have a vast array of spectacular young talent. The Rays have Evan Longoria, B.J. Upton, Carlos Pena, Carl Crawford, James Shields, and David Price. The Marlins have Hanley Ramirez, Dan Uggla, Jeremy Hermida, Chris Volstad, and Josh Johnson. Both teams are fun to watch, but will either team be playing in October?

The answer is yes for the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays may be young, but they are also battle-tested. The reigning American League champions will not be afraid of playing in big games down the stretch. The Red Sox and Yankees will beat each other up for the division title, and the Rays will sneak in the back door and take the Wild Card. The Marlins, on the other hand, will fall a little short. They've got a good thing going in South Beach, but they won't be able to catch the Phillies.

But no matter what happens to the Rays and Marlins, whether they make the playoffs or not, they deserve increased fan support from Floridians. The Sunshine State has a history of being apathetic toward our national past time, and that is a shame. Because they are missing out on some tremendously exciting baseball.

Jonathan Sanchez throws a no-hitter in San Francisco!

I'm not even going to try to be impartial on this one. As a diehard Giants fan, here are my thoughts on Jonathan Sanchez's spectacular no-hitter tonight against the Padres:

---What an awesome night to be a Giants fan! Sanchez's no-no is the first San Francisco Giants no-hitter in 33 years, when John "The Count" Montefusco no-hit the Atlanta Braves on September 29, 1976.

---This is also a tremendous underdog story. Jonathan Sanchez had been struggling mightily in the Giants rotation this season, having lost four consecutive decisions and losing his spot in the rotation. But in the wake of Randy Johnson's injury, the Giants needed a spot starter tonight against the Padres, and Bruce Bochy called on Sanchez.

---GM Brian Sabean had been involving Sanchez in trade talks, but I think it's pretty safe to say that his spot in the rotation is safe for a while after the no-no.

---Am I biased? Yes. But Jonathan Sanchez's no-hitter is further evidence that the Giants have the best pitching in baseball. Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Barry Zito, Randy Johnson, Jonathan Sanchez, Ryan Sadowski, Jeremy Affeldt, Justin Miller, Merkin Valdez, Bob Howry, Brian Wilson...........the list goes on and on.

---Even a Dodger fan had to be moved by Sanchez's embrace with his father after the game. His father had just flown in from Puerto Rico to see his son pitch for the very first time. What a story.

---The only thing keeping the no-hitter from being a perfect game was Juan Uribe's error in the bottom of the eighth. It was a truly flawless performance from Sanchez: 110 pitches, 0 walks, o hits, 11 strikeouts. What an awesome performance.

---As unbelievable as Sanchez was, he should give a special thanks to center fielder Aaron Rowand. With one out in the top of the ninth, and with 30,298 Giants fans on their feet at AT&T Park, the Padres' Edgar Gonzalez sent a fly ball into deep center. Off the bat, it looked like the no-hitter was going to come to an end, but Rowand made a sensational leaping catch to keep the no-hitter alive.

---Duane Kuiper and Jon Miller both made phenomenal calls of the no-hitter. More proof that the Giants have the best broadcasting team in baseball.

---Congratulations Jonathan Sanchez! Thanks for providing the most exciting baseball moment of 2009! Go Giants!

King James Acting Like a Prince: LeBron's petulant offseason continues

Have LeBron James and Kobe Bryant swapped places? Prior to the 2009 NBA offseason, the common assumption was that King James was the best, most mature player in basketball, a freakish athlete who also happens to be a superb role model. Prior to the 2009 NBA offseason, Kobe Bryant was viewed by many as an incredibly talented player who also happens to be a selfish jerk. Flash forward a month or so and the tables have turned. Kobe is fresh off his fourth NBA championship, playing in a NBA Finals in which he was more of a team player than boll hog. Bryant's uncharacteristic performance in the Finals went a long way in making people forget about his despicable offseason rants a couple of years ago in which he unleashed an all-out verbal assault via the internet toward his teammate Andrew Bynum. I maintain the belief that Kobe showed his true colors in that online rant, but even a Laker hater and Kobe critic like myself was impressed by his unselfish play in the Finals. Meanwhile, LeBron's reputation continues to take a nosedive. Now, Kobe need not worry about his immature past. Because King James has overtaken the throne when it comes to offseason petulance.

First, there was the incident after Game 6 against the Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals when LeBron refused to shake hands with the Orlando players and refused to talk to the media after his Cavs were eliminated. That did not reflect well on LeBron, but many, including myself, simply chalked it up to the understandable frustration of losing. But the regrettable antics did not stop there. Last month, while shopping in New York City, LeBron was spotted wearing a shirt that read, "LBJ. MVP" in big, bold letters. Once again, LeBron was ripped by the media, criticized for such an unnecessary, boastful display of self-promotion. But those two incidents were nothing compared to what would transpire next. Ladies and gentleman, say hello to our newest sports scandal: Dunkgate.

This past week at LeBron James' basketball camp in Akron, Ohio, King James reached a new low. During a pickup game, Xavier University guard Jordan Crawford finished off a fastbreak by dunking over none other than the King himself. It was a reportedly electrifying moment, undoubtedly the most exciting moment of Crawford's life. Yet don't expect to see any footage of the dunk any time soon, as Nike, apparently at the behest of James, immediately confiscated all evidence of the dunk. After all, LeBron James takes major pride in being the best player in the NBA, and there is no way in hell he was about to let the world see him get dunked on by an unknown college player. What LeBron failed to realize is that by confiscating the tapes, he only makes himself look even worse. By denying the world a chance to see the dunk, LeBron comes across as egotistical, overly self-conscious, and terribly insecure. If LeBron had laughed the incident off and released the video of Crawford's dunk, nobody would have made anything of it. Sure, it would been a great moment for Jordan Crawford and a moment of mild humiliation for LeBron, but the incident would be quickly forgotten. Now, thanks to LeBron's shocking insecurity, Crawford's dunk has got the world talking, and LeBron's lack of maturity is at the forefront of sports discussion.

Okay, maybe I'm being a little too harsh. After all, I still love LeBron. He is the best player in basketball, and I still think he is more mature than he has shown over the past couple of weeks. However, as the offseason progresses, LeBron continues to test my patience. His obsession with reaching global icon status is causing him to make decisions that are counterproductive and downright stupid. LeBron is still the King, but if this unfortunate behavior persists, he will no longer be worthy of the title of royalty.

Random Observations: Baseball Edition

The All-Star Break is fast approaching, and there are plenty of storylines to watch in Major League Baseball. So in the words of the great San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Scott Ostler, here are my deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots on our national past time:

---Manny is back, and so is his temper. Ramirez nearly got himself tossed in San Diego on Saturday after screaming at umpire Sam Holbrook after a close call at first base, and yesterday in New York he did get himself ejected after he threw his elbow bad toward home plate umpire John Hirschbeck. In the case of the Hirschbeck incident, Manny had a right to be upset at the call. But his explosions of anger have been laughably lame. Manny is clearly trying way too hard to prove that he really cares.

---After losing to the hated blue 8-0, can the government bail out the Mets?

---Jerry Manuel's team has looked sloppier than a Carl's Jr. double cheeseburger in the field this season. Somebody needs to tell the Mets that they are in the midst of an important baseball season and are not supposed to be filming footage for a blooper reel.

---Vote for Pablo! Vote for Pablo! Vote for Pablo!

---Pablo Sandoval sure has an awesome sense of timing. A day after being named a candidate in the All-Star Final Vote, Sandoval belted his first career grand slam at AT&T Park to help lead the Giants to victory over the Marlins. You gotta love the Kung Fu Panda!

---Randy J0hnson was placed on the disabled list this week after suffering a shoulder sprain in Sunday's start against the Astros. Hopefully, the Big Unit will make a speedy recovery back into the San Francisco rotation, as he is a very important part of the Giants pitching staff. However, I'm not that worried. It doesn't appear to be a severe injury, and my Giants have more than enough pitching to continue to win games. Everybody knows about Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, but here's another name to remember: Ryan Sadowski. The Big Sadowski is 2-0 with a 0.00 E.R.A. in his first two stars in the major leagues. He goes again today as the Giants look to sweep away the Marlins. Go Giants!

---The beauty of baseball is that teams have a chance to redeem themselves immediately in the aftermath of a painful loss. Case in point: The Cincinnati Reds. After getting embarrassed by the Phillies 22-1 on Monday night, Dusty Baker's team bounced right back the next day and beat the Phillies.

---Call me crazy, but I would much rather lose 22-1 than lose 4-3 on a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth. Blown saves are much harder to swallow than blowouts.

---Great news for Cubs fans: Derrek Lee appears to be the Derrek Lee of old. The slugging first baseman is once again putting up huge numbers, keeping the Cubs in the hunt in the wide-open NL Central.

---Ryan Braun, just keep quiet. The Brewers' All-Star left fielder created quite a stir this week as he publicly criticized his team's pitching staff. This angered GM Doug Melvin, and was a major distraction for the slumping Brewers. Does Braun have a right to be frustrated? Absolutely. But expressing his frustration in such a blatantly public manner is simply classless.

---Chien-Ming Wang is injured. Yankees fans are celebrating.

---Sorry, but Wang has been god-awful on the mound this year. If I were a Yankees fan, I wouldn't be too worried about Wang's injury.

---If I were the Boston Red Sox, I'd be a little concerned about their slim margin over the Yankees. The Red Sox have dominated the Yankees in head-to-head contests this season, winning all eight games against their ancient rivals, yet they only have a one game division lead over New York. The Red Sox should be worried, and the Yankees should be thanking their lucky stars.

---Kudos to the Red Sox fans for giving Nomar Garciaparra a well-deserved standing ovation in Nomar's long-awaited return to Fenway Park. It's been six years since Garciaparra donned a Red Sox uniform, and in that time he has played with the Cubs, Dodgers, and now the A's, but he will forever be remembered as one of the all-time great shortstops in Red Sox history. Sox fans, a passionate and knowledgeable lot, should be applauded for giving Nomar such a classy and gracious welcome.

---Garciaparra came up with Boston in the era of great shortstops, competing with Derek Jeter in New York, Alex Rodriguez in Texas, Miguel Tejada in Oakland, and Omar Vizquel in Cleveland. In a group that impressive, it is easy to get overshadowed, but Garciaparra was every bit as good as his counterparts. In the wake of two Red Sox World Series championships since Nomar's departure, many forget that Garciaparra was once the face of Boston sports.

---Rumor has it that the Toronto Blue Jays are looking to trade Roy Halladay. Halladay, one of the very best pitchers in the game, would be a great fit on anybody's team. On "ESPN First Take" this morning, Skip Bayless suggested that Halladay may be traded to either the Yankees or Red Sox. If GM J.P. Ricciardi does indeed send Hallday to Boston or New York, it would be one of the dumbest front-office decisions in baseball history. Halladay would make the Yankees or Red Sox the instant favorites to win the World Series, and Ricciardi would be crazy to assist his division rivals in such a big way.

Federer, Roddick, Sandoval, and random observations on the wonderful world of sports

In the words of the great San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Scott Ostler, here are my deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots:

---I need a nap. After watching every shot of the exhilarating Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick, a final that featured a fifth set with a staggering thirty games, I am exhausted. Sunday's epic battle at the All-England Club was every bit as good as last year's classic final between Federer and Rafael Nadal, and with his win, Federer surpassed Pete Sampras on the all-time list, winning his fifteenth grand slam title.

---With tennis greats Sampras, Bjorn Borg, Rod Laver, and Manolo Santana watching from the stands, Federer persevered in an incredible display of endurance. Comparing players from different eras is always difficult, especially in tennis, a game in which one's game changes depending on the surface. But on Sunday, Federer strengthened his argument for being the greatest player of all-time. Federer's sixth Wimbledon championship is his most impressive. Andy Roddick was at the top of his game, yet Federer still managed to battle his way to victory. What a spectacular champion.

---Those who say that there are no such things as moral victories may have to reconsider after witnessing the play of Andy Roddick on Sunday. Roddick played a phenomenal match, unleashing one of the most efficient, dominating service performances I have ever seen. This defeat is undoubtedly the most heartbreaking of his career, but Roddick grew as a player on Sunday. His time as a Wimbledon champion will soon come, and Roddick will be a top contender at next month's U.S. Open.

---Congratulations to your 2009 Women's Wimbledon Champion Serena Williams. Williams finally found a way a way to beat her big sister, adding another chapter to the always intriguing Venus-Serena rivalry.

---Let's hope that following three straight years of electrifying excitement at Wimbledon, tennis will receive the attention that it so richly deserves here in the United States.

---The 2009 MLB All-Star Lineups were announced on Sunday, and the fans got it mostly right. There were, however, some notable snubs. I love Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton, and being in Yankee Stadium last year when Hamilton belted 26 gargantuan big flys in the Home Run Derby is to this day one of the greatest experiences I have ever had as a sports fan. However, the tattooed slugger does not deserve to be an All-Star starter this season. Hamilton has been plagued with injury this season, batting a weak .240 with 6 home runs in only 35 games. Call me crazy, but I think a guy has to play on a consistent basis in order to be an All-Star starter.

---On the National League side of things, I think the fans got it wrong in their selection of Mets third baseman David Wright to be the starter. Wright is a tremendous player, batting an impressive .326 with 42 RBI through 80 games. But there is another third baseman with even greater credentials, and that player is the Giants' Pablo Sandoval. Granted, I'm extremely biased, but let's just look at the numbers. Wright is batting .326; Sandoval is batting .333. Wright has 42 RBI; Sandoval has 44. Wright is having a down year when it comes to power with 4 home runs; Sandoval has 12 homers. The Mets are struggling, while the Giants are in the thick of the playoff race, thanks in large part to Sandoval's play. In this case, the numbers don't lie. Pablo Sandoval deserves to be an All-Star!

---Fortunately, Sandoval still has a chance to make the trip to St. Louis for the Midsummer Classic, as he is one of five NL candidates in Major League Baseball's Final Vote, alongside Matt Kemp of the Dodgers, Shane Victorino of the Phillies, Cristian Guzman of the Nationals, and Mark Reynolds of the Diamondbacks. Make the right choice, America. Vote for Kung Fu Panda!

---Sandoval isn't the only Giant that got snubbed. Closer Brian Wilson deserves a spot on the all-star roster as well.

---However, I'm thrilled that Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain made the All-Star team. They are the leaders of the best pitching staff in baseball, and I'd be ecstatic if either one started the All-Star Game. Go Giants!

---The free agency portion of the NBA offseason continues to have a lot of activity. In the last couple of days, Hedo Turkoglu chose Toronto over Portland and signed with the Raptors, Rasheed Wallace agreed to sign with the Celtics, and Jason Kidd vowed to re-sign with the Mavericks.

---Sheed to Boston is great news for the Celtics, giving Doc River's team an outstanding perimeter shooter and fierce competitor. In the wide-open Eastern Conference, Boston has as good a shot as anybody next season. On the other hand, the loss of Hedo to the Raptors is terrible news for the Orlando Magic. The acquisition of Vince Carter does not make up for the loss of one of the game's best clutch performers. Turkoglu was Stan Van Gundy's go-to guy at the end of games, and he was a big reason why the Magic won the East. The Toronto Raptors should be thanking their lucky stars that the Magic were dumb enough to let Turkoglu slip away.

---On the same day that Roger Federer won at Wimbledon, his good buddy Tiger Woods won his very own tournament in Bethesda, Maryland, holding off challengers Anthony Kim and Hunter Mahan. It was a great win for Tiger, and hopefully he'll carry some momentum to next month's British Open at Turnberry.

---I'll end on a very sad note: Steve McNair, the three-time pro-bowl quarterback for the Houston Oilers, Tennessee Titans, and Baltimore Ravens, passed away at the age of 36 after he was shot multiple times in what was an apparent homicide. Air McNair was a gritty, supremely talented football player who personified toughness and leadership. He will be sorely missed.

Manny, Artest, Venus and Serena, and random observations on the wonderful world of sports

In the words of the great San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Scott Ostler, here are my deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots:

---Back from a week-long vacation in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and there were several sports-related elements to my trip.

---On Wednesday I made my first-ever trip to Dodger Stadium and saw the hated blue defeat the Colorado Rockies 1-0 on a Rafael Furcal pinch-hit RBI single. I hate everything about the Dodgers, but I was impressed with the ballpark. Great location, nice stadium, but it's still no AT&T Park!

---Much to my delight, sitting next to me at the Dodger game on a beautiful Southern California afternoon was a fellow Giants fan. We talked about our shared passion for the orange and black and our shared hatred for the Dodgers. Go Giants and Beat L.A.!

---Speaking of the Dodgers, Manny Ramirez is back. Here's hoping he ruins team chemistry!

---Great article by SF Chronicle sports columnist Bruce Jenkins on his Three Dot Blog on the hypocrisy of Dodger announcer Charley Steiner and Yankee announcer Michael Kay when it comes to the steroid era. Throughout Barry Bonds' career as a Giant, Kay and Steiner criticized the great Giants broadcasters Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow for their passionate, joyous calls of Bonds' home runs. Yet Michael Kay goes crazy for every Alex Rodriguez home run and Steiner is bound to go nuts every time Manny leaves the yard. Stay classy, Mr. Kay and Mr. Steiner.


---I also had the opportunity to visit the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Sitting inside the Rose Bowl was an awesome, surreal experience. The place just oozes tradition and I could hear Keith Jackson utter the words, "the granddaddy of them all!"

---Quick note on the Staples Center: There is absolutely no evidence that the Clippers play there. No matter what Mike Dunleavy and Donald Sterling do, no matter how big of a star Blake Griffin turns out to be, the Clippers will always live in the shadow of the Lakers in Los Angeles.

---On that note, Ron Artest is headed to the Lakers. Ouch. Sadly, this is a great move by Mitch Kupchak that makes the defending champs even better. Now that he's a Laker, I will no longer root for Artest, but I'm still a big fan of his game. Artest is one of the most tenacious, passionate, and exciting players in the NBA.

---And while in Vegas, I had a pretty cool near-brush with fame with Pete Rose at Caesar's Palace. Rose was signing autographs in a baseball card store and I was standing about ten feet away from him. Not especially exciting, but it was surreal nonetheless to be standing within close proximity to one of the greatest hitters the game of baseball has ever seen.

---As we approach the MLB All-Star Break, look for two teams to start heading in opposite directions in the AL East. Joe Maddon's Tampa Bay Rays are starting to put it all together. David Price is beginning to realize his unbelievable potential on the mound, and if Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton, and Evan Longoria set the tone at the plate, the Rays will make a run at the Red Sox and Yankees. The same cannot be said of Cito Gaston's Toronto Blue Jays. If Roy Halladay stays healthy, the Jays will avoid total collapse, but it will be a familiar summer of mediocrity for J.P. Ricciardi's franchise, and they will once again finish well out of the playoff picture.

---The Wimbledon finals are set, and they will be absolutely tremendous. The Williams sisters finale will be a fiercely competitive display of intense sisterly competition, and I think this is the year that Serena finally bests Venus. On the men's side, Roger Federer seeks to further solidify his illustrious legacy with a win over Andy Roddick. But Roddick, coming off a surprising upset of Britain's own Andy Murray, looks to bring a rare Wimbledon championship to the United States. My money is on Federer, but I would love to see Roddick pull off the shocker.

---I am pulling for Roddick, but I have one request: Can he cut it out with all these childish pouts at the officials. It was entertaining at first, now it's just tired.

---What a terrible week for the Houston Rockets. First, they learn that Yao Ming could be out for all of next season. Then they lose Ron Artest to L.A. Yikes. The only bright side for Houston is the acquisition of Trevor Ariza. Ariza is a solid role player that will put up big numbers in Rick Adleman's system.

---I'll leave with a few thoughts on Michael Vick. Vick committed a heinous act, but he served his time and has shown genuine remorse. He deserves a second chance, and any NFL franchise that picks him up will acquire an excellent quarterback with awesome speed and athleticism.

Baseball Top Three

Baseball Top Three will be a recurring blog on TJB's Sports Universe that chronicles three of the top stories in Major League Baseball.

1. Lou Piniella and Milton Bradley: A Battle of Two Hotheads

It has been yet another stressful season in Cubbieville, and while the 35-36 Cubs are only 3.5 games back of the Cardinals and Brewers in the NL Central, they show absolutely no sign of being able to end that notorious 100 year World Series title drought. Friday, on the South Side of Chicago in Game 1 of the Windy City showdown against the White Sox, all the frustration that had been simmering under the surface finally reached a boiling point. Following a strikeout, Milton Bradley went inside the Cubs dugout and allegedly threw his bat and batting helmet and hit the water cooler. For a player with a long history of anger outbursts, this came as no surprise. What did come as a surprise was what unfolded next. Manager Lou Piniella ordered Bradley to take a shower and go home. Player and manager then exchanged some fiery words, and Piniella ripped Bradley in the post-game press conference.

This incident will probably blow over fairly soon, but it is notable simply because of its irony. I'm not going to defend Milton Bradley----he's been a troublemaker throughout his entire career----but I think it's a little hypocritical of Piniella to condemn the kind of behavior that he himself routinely practices. Piniella is a great manager, but he has always had a reputation of being a hothead. Piniella made a mistake here. He should have simply let Bradley express his frustration. By calling him out on it, Piniella not only escalated the situation, but he also made himself look bad.

2. Can Joe Mauer hit .400?

This is the question posed in the latest edition of Sports Illustrated. Mauer, the all-star catcher for the Minnesota Twins, enters Sunday's action batting a staggering .394. He is looking to become the first .400 hitter since the great Ted Williams. Mauer certainly has the talent to make a legitimate run at this astonishing accomplishment, but I remain skeptical of his chances. In the daily grind of Major League Baseball, slumps are a frequent occurrence at the plate, and it is hard to imagine Mauer sustaining such a red-hot batting average for an entire season. The pitching in the AL Central is another factor going against Mauer. In this division, Mauer will have to face Zack Greinke, Justin Verlander, Mark Buehrle, and Cliff Lee on numerous occasions. Even a phenomenal hitter like Joe Mauer is bound to cool off a little when facing such venerable pitching.

Nonetheless, I hope he reaches this milestone. It would be an awesome feat that would put Mauer in the conversation with the likes of Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Pete Rose, Albert Pujols, and Barry Bonds.

3. Subway Mauling

The Subway Series has always been fun to watch, and the games are usually fiercely competitive. This has not been the case over the weekend. Joe Girardi's Yankees have waltzed into Citi Field and dominated eighteen innings of baseball. In the last three games between these cross-city rivals, the Yankees have outscored the Mets by a stunning 29-1. Ouch! The Bronx Bombers look to bring out the brooms tonight on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. Their strong play means that the Yankees are finally hitting their stride, especially on the offensive side of things. A-Rod seems to have found his stroke at the plate, and everybody, even youngster Francisco Cervelli, is contributing. On the flipside, this series has exposed some major problems for Jerry Manuel's Mets. Offensively, they have been just plain stagnant in this series. Even in the absence of injured stars Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, and Carlos Beltran, the Mets' inability to score runs has been surprising. But the most disappointing aspect of the Mets' play over the weekend has been their shoddy defense. Three errors for the Mets on Friday night helped the Yankees break the game wide open, and in a lineup as daunting as the Yankees have, you cannot afford to make multiple gaffes in the field. The defensive missteps on Friday night conjured memories of Luis Castillo's dropped fly ball to give the Yankees the win at Yankee Stadium a couple of weeks ago.

I am rooting for a Mets victory tonight, and a win would go a long way in bringing the Mets some much-needed confidence. After all, there is nothing worse than getting pounded by your cross-town foes.