Offensive Play of the First Half: Denard Span (Twins), Three Triples in One Game, June 30

Denard Span of the Minnesota Twins hit three triples in one game. This feat tied a Major League record that hadn’t been accomplished since 2002 by Rafael Furcal, then of the Atlanta Braves. A triple is the hardest hit in baseball. Besides needing to have speed and great base running skills, a player needs to hit the ball in the right spot, and/or have it take a bad hop or two. Even though there have been many 3 home run games this year, to accomplish three triples in a single game is just incredible.

Defensive Play of the First Half: Mark Buehrle (White Sox), Between the Legs Flip, April 5

Mark Buehrle, the 2009 American League Gold Glove pitcher, made what could possibly go down as the play of the year on opening day. To try to explain the play in words would not do it justice. A ground ball was deflected off of Buehrle’s foot and went into foul territory on the first base side. Buehrle, sticking with the ball the whole time, ran over to it and in one motion flipped the ball between his legs to first baseman Paul Konerko, who caught the ball barehanded to get Indians catcher Lou Marson. If you have not seen this play yet, look it up. You will not be disappointed.

Pitching Performance of the First Half: Armando Galarraga (Tigers), Near Perfect Game, June 2

There have been four no hitters this season; two of which were perfect games. Tigers starting pitcher Armando Galarraga was robbed of Major League Baseball’s third perfect game of the season by umpire Jim Joyce. Joyce, a respected umpire for many years by the MLB Players Association, blew a call at first base with two outs in the ninth inning. Galarraga would retire the next batter, completing the shutout. A sign held by fans at the Tiger’s next game described the game by simply stating “28 UP, 28 DOWN.” Even though it wasn’t a true perfect game, in reality, it can be viewed as one out better. Joyce would later admit to blowing the call and the events that would follow with Joyce and Galarraga were truly touching, proving that we are all human, and how we handle our mistakes can be more important than the mistakes themselves.

Emotional Story of the Year: John McDonald (Blue Jays), Home Run in First AB After Father’s Passing, June 20 (Father’s Day)

I’m sure most people expect to see a follow up to the Jim Joyce and Armando Galarraga story here, but I give the nod to John McDonald. McDonald, a utility player for the Toronto Blue Jays, came to bat in the ninth inning on Father’s Day with a heavy heart. In his first at bat back from bereavement leave after his father passed away due to liver cancer, McDonald smacked a pinch hit two run home run over the left field wall. The home run did not win the game for the Blue Jays, but the feeling that you get watching this event is truly special. Anyone that has ever played catch or watched a ball game with their father had to feel goose bumps as they watched McDonald round the bases and point to the sky as he crossed home plate. I still get chills watching the replay of the home run as I think back to playing catch with my Dad when I was younger or calling each other during games as recently as Roy Halladay’s perfect game this season.

So that wraps up my four top moments from the first half of the 2010 season. Will these remain my top picks at the end of the season? Only time will tell. When Mark Buehrle made that sensational play on opening day, I said that was going to be the top play of the year. In my opinion, that still stands true. But with more than two months still to play, anything can happen, and it probably will.

Let’s start this midseason review by looking at the division standings:

American League East

1. New York Yankees
2. Tampa Bay Rays (Wild Card)
3. Boston Red Sox
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles

The top three teams are just as I predicted with the Rays leading the Wild Card right now. The Blue Jays are doing better than expected and the Orioles continue to falter in arguably the toughest division in the Majors.

American League Central

1. Chicago White Sox
2. Detroit Tigers
3. Minnesota Twins
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Cleveland Indians

The Central Division looks exactly as I had predicted it at the beginning of the season. The White Sox have been on a tear as of late, winning 25 of their last 30 games played. This could be the division race to watch at the end of the season as it has been in recent years.

American League West

1. Texas Rangers
2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
3. Oakland Athletics
4. Seattle Mariners

I predicted at the beginning of the year that this would be the year the Angels get bumped out of first. What I didn’t predict, however, was the Rangers being the team on top. The Mariners are the biggest surprise at the bottom of the division. Ken Griffey Jr. did not produce up to his ability off the bench, leading to his retirement. Cliff Lee started the season on the disabled list and was traded to Texas for rookie standout Justin Smoak and other prospects, as the Mariners all but gave up on this season and look to the future.

National League East

1. Atlanta Braves
2. New York Mets
3. Philadelphia Phillies
4. Florida Marlins
5. Washington Nationals

The Braves are on top in the East during Bobby Cox’s last year managing the team. The Mets have been healthy and playing like it, whereas the Phillies have been hurt and playing like it. This race should heat up as the Phillies get healthy and start putting more wins on the board like they did by sweeping the Central leading Reds in a four game series to end their first half. The Nationals brought Stephen Strasburg up and he has pitched pretty well. Unfortunately, he is playing for the last place Nationals who are not giving him much run support.

National League Central

1. Cincinnati Reds
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Milwaukee Brewers
4. Chicago Cubs
5. Houston Astros
6. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Reds came out of nowhere this year and hold the top spot in the Central. Can Dusty Baker’s club hang on to the top spot as the Cardinals breathe down their neck? The rest of the division does not seem to be too big of a threat for the two teams on the top. The Cubs have internal problems with their players. Pitcher Carlos Zambrano went from being a starter to a reliever and back to a starter before blowing up on his teammates during one of his starts, leading to his indefinite suspension from the team. The Astros and Pirates still sit at the bottom of the division. Houston pitcher Roy Oswalt will be a big trade target as the deadline approaches.

National League West

1. San Diego Padres
2. Colorado Rockies (Wild Card*)
3. Los Angeles Dodgers (Wild Card*)
4. San Francisco Giants
5. Arizona Diamondbacks

The NL West may have the biggest surprise of the season with the San Diego Padres leading the division. The biggest question will be whether or not the Padres can hold on to their lead. The Rockies and Dodgers are tied for the Wild Card lead and the Giants are still very much in the race. The Diamondbacks aren’t doing much at the bottom of the division. Look for pitcher Dan Haren to be on the move by the trade deadline.

Now for the midseason awards:

AL MVP:

JC’s preseason pick: Evan Longoria (Rays)

JC’s midseason pick: Miguel Cabrera (Tigers) – Cabrera has been on a tear belting 22 home runs and 77 RBI’s while batting .346. If he keeps this pace up, he will take home the honor at the end of the season.

AL Cy Young:

JC’s preseason pick: Justin Verlander (Tigers)

JC’s midseason pick: David Price (Rays) – Price has a record of 12-4 with a 2.42 ERA and 100 strikeouts at the half. The hard throwing lefty is sure to pick up plenty of more wins in the second half with the Rays playing as well as they have been this year.

AL Rookie of the Year:

JC’s preseason pick: Brian Matusz (Orioles)

JC’s midseason pick: Brennan Boesch (Tigers) – Boesch was the American League Rookie of the Month in May and June. He is hitting .342 with 12 home runs and 49 runs batted in.

AL Manager of Year:

JC’s preseason pick: Don Wakamatsu (Mariners)

JC’s midseason pick: Ron Washington (Rangers) – Washington has his Texas Rangers on top of the American League West by 4.5 games at the break. Add newly acquired Cliff Lee to the team, and a trip to the postseason for the first time since 1999 is very possible.

AL Come Back Player of the Year:

JC’s preseason pick: Dontrelle Willis (Tigers)

JC’s midseason pick: Vladimir Guerrero (Rangers) – Vlad only played in 100 games last year with the Angels due to knee and hamstring injuries. He hit .295 but only belted out 15 home runs and 50 RBI’s. This year, he signed with the Rangers and has come back with a vengeance; hitting .319 with 20 homers and 75 RBI’s at the half.

NL MVP:

JC’s preseason pick: Ryan Braun (Brewers)

JC’s midseason pick: Ubaldo Jimenez (Rockies) – First off, I hate to give the MVP Award to a pitcher as they have the Cy Young Award. But Ubaldo Jimenez has been more valuable to his team than any other player so far this year with 15 wins before the All-Star break. If the Rockies make the post season and Jimenez stays on this pace, than he will deserve to be the first NL pitcher to win the MVP since Bob Gibson in 1968.

NL Cy Young:

JC’s preseason pick: Roy Halladay (Phillies)

JC’s midseason pick: Ubaldo Jimenez (Rockies) – In what is going to be the toughest award to hand out this year, Jimenez has arguably been the most dominant so far. With a record of 15-1 and an ERA that just recently went over 2 (2.20) and 113 strikeouts, Jimenez has the Rockies within striking distance of the NL West and tied atop the Wild Card standings. Josh Johnson, Adam Wainwright, and Roy Halladay are all going to get consideration for this award at the end of the year, but it will come down to which pitcher’s team helps him finish the season out on top.

NL Rookie of the Year:

JC’s preseason pick: Jayson Heyward (Braves)

JC’s midseason pick: Jayson Heyward (Braves) – Heyward has spent some time on the disabled list because he injured his thumb, but looks to be back soon. He has 11 home runs and 45 RBI’s and looks to contribute more to the first place Braves.

NL Manager of the Year:

JC’s preseason pick: Bobby Cox (Braves)

JC’s midseason pick: Bud Black (Padres) – Bud Black gets my vote here because the Padres were picked by nearly everyone to be in last place and start trading away all of their remaining talent to rebuild for the future. Instead, the Padres sit on top of the NL West with one of the best bullpens in the league.

NL Come Back Player of the Year:

JC’s preseason pick: David Wright (Mets)

JC’s midseason pick: David Wright (Mets) – Wright spent time on the disabled list last year after getting nailed in the head by a pitch and never really came back the same. This year, David has come back to hit 14 homers, 65 runs batted in and a .314 average at the break.

So there you have JC’s 2010 Midseason Awards. The first half of the year was great and the second half promises to be even better. Be on the lookout for some great trades near the deadline and watch as the pennant races heat up. Which teams will end up on top? Will any of the players mentioned above still be in the running for these awards at the end of the season? Sit back, relax and enjoy Major League Baseball’s second half. It can only get better from here.

Welcome back to “JC’s Weekly Pitch.” Major League Baseball starts the 2010 season this week with some highly anticipated games across the nation. We have the always intriguing Red Sox vs. Yankees series kicking the season off at Fenway Park. The 2009  National League Champions head to Washington to take on a Nationals team that may surprise some people this year. President Barack Obama will throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the National League season. The Chicago Cubs will travel to Atlanta to play the Braves in manager Bobby Cox’s last season.

As I do every year, I have made some predictions for this season. I will share them with you and add some reasoning behind my madness. At the end of the season, I will revisit this to see just how right or wrong, usually wrong, I was. Enjoy and feel free to add some feedback.

American League East

1. New York Yankees
2. Tampa Bay Rays (Wild Card)
3. Boston Red Sox
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Toronto Blue Jays

The East Division has been a tough division in the American League for years now. With the power house teams like the Yankees and Red Sox at the top every year, and a surprise Rays team that went all the way to the World Series in 2008. The Yankees are coming off a World Championship last year and the Red Sox solidified their defense this offseason. I’m looking for the young, talented Rays to sneak into second place ahead of Boston this year and take the Wild Card. As for the bottom of the division, I see the Orioles start slowly improving and finally getting out of the last place spot that has haunted them for years. Unfortunately, that leaves the rebuilding Blue Jays to fill that spot.

American League Central

1. Chicago White Sox
2. Detroit Tigers
3. Minnesota Twins
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Cleveland Indians

The Central Division continues to improve, with the exception of Cleveland at the moment, and could come down to the last weeks of the season. The White Sox have the best rotation of the division in my opinion and a solid outfield. The Tigers have some pop in their offense and Justin Verlander is a great ace for their pitching rotation, but I don’t think they have enough to take the division. I have the Twins finishing third only because I don’t think their pitching can take them to the top this year. The Royals continue to improve every year and they could surprise everyone with a possible third place finish, but I’ll play it safe with them in fourth. The Indians, like the Blue Jays, are rebuilding and will finish in last. Where’s Rick Vaughn when you need him?

American League West

1. Seattle Mariners
2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
3. Texas Rangers
4. Oakland Athletics

It looks as if this could be the year that the Angels could be dethroned. Seattle has possibly the best 1-2 punch with Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez leading their pitching rotation. The Angels lost too many key players like Vladimir Guerrero, John Lackey and Chone Figgins. They still have a decent team, however, and could make the West race a good one. I have the Rangers finishing third since the A’s are yet another team in the rebuilding stage.

National League East

1. Philadelphia Phillies
2. Atlanta Braves (Wild Card)
3. Florida Marlins
4. Washington Nationals
5. New York Mets

Like the AL East, the NL East is arguably the toughest division in the National League. The Phillies have proven to be the team to beat with their dominant pitching and powerful lineup. The addition of Roy Halladay makes up for the loss of Cliff Lee and should take the Phillies to a third consecutive National League title. A lot will depend on how well Cole Hamels and Brad Lidge bounce back from their 2009 seasons. The Braves are playing for Bobby Cox as this is his last season managing. I see a Wild Card berth and a strong fight in the division. The rest of the division will fall in place with the Marlins taking the third spot and the Nationals moving up this year as they have made some decent moves to rebuild their team. The Mets will fall to the bottom of the division as they have been plagued by injuries and haven’t been able to put much together to build any momentum in the past few seasons.

National League Central

1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Chicago Cubs
3. Milwaukee Brewers
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Houston Astros
6. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Cardinals seem to be the favorite in the Central Division again this year with Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday leading the way on offense and Chris Carpenter leading the starting rotation. I have the Cubs finishing second if their pitching lives up to their potential. Milwaukee takes third in my opinion due to their lack of pitching. Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder can only take the team so far. I have Cincinnati at fourth and Houston finishing last.

National League West

1. Colorado Rockies
2. San Francisco Giants
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
4. Arizona Diamondbacks
5. San Diego Padres

The NL West has gotten a little more competitive over the past few years. The Rockies have been impressive in the past few years and I see them atop this division when all is said and done. I like the Giants’ 1-2 punch of Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain but their offense needs a little pop added to it to take them to the top. The Dodgers will put up a fight, but I see them finishing in third after a decent three team race. The Diamondbacks and Padres will bring up the bottom of the division.

All-Star Game:

National League defeats American League – The National League is due for a win and this year’s game in Anaheim may finally bring that win. It’s time to bring home field advantage to the National League for the first time since the All-Star Game decided it.

ALDS:

New York Yankees defeat Seattle Mariners in 4 games.

Tampa Bay Rays defeat Chicago White Sox in 5 games.

NLDS:

Philadelphia Phillies defeat Colorado Rockies in 4 games.

St. Louis Cardinals defeat Atlanta Braves in 3 games.

ALCS:

New York Yankees defeat Tampa Bay Rays in 6 games.

NLCS:

Philadelphia Phillies defeat St. Louis Cardinals in 7 games.

World Series:

Philadelphia Phillies defeat New York Yankees in 6 games.

These series will all be determined by the final records of the teams. I’m going with a World Series rematch from last year with a home win for the Phillies.

AL MVP:

Evan Longoria (Rays) – Longoria gets my vote if he continues to play as he has in his short career. Leading the Rays to a respectable finish and possible playoff berth will seal the deal.

AL Cy Young:

Justin Verlander (Tigers) – I’m going with Verlander over Cliff Lee or Felix Hernandez because he has a better lineup getting him more wins. CC Sabathia also has a shot, but I’m sticking with Verlander.

AL Rookie of the Year:

Brian Matusz (Orioles) – With a lot of teams rebuilding, there could be a lot of rookies being brought up throughout the year. I’m going with Matusz as it looks like he will be starting with the Orioles from the beginning of the year.

AL Manager of Year:

Don Wakamatsu (Mariners) – Look for a playoff berth to help Wakamatsu win this as the Mariners become a contender.

AL Come Back Player of the Year:

Dontrelle Willis (Tigers) – After a strong Spring Training, Willis made the Tigers team and if he can return to his dominance from his Marlins days, that rotation will only get better, leading to Willis’s award.

NL MVP:

Ryan Braun (Brewers) – Braun can put up the numbers to be considered in the MVP race. His only downfall is that he plays on a team that probably won’t make the playoffs.

NL Cy Young:

Roy Halladay (Phillies) – Probably everyone’s favorite this year, Halladay is one of the most dominant pitchers today, and now he is on a team that will get him more wins with their offense.

NL Rookie of the Year:

Jayson Heyward (Braves) – Heyward will be starting in the outfield for the Braves and looks to be a promising star.

NL Manager of the Year:

Bobby Cox (Braves) – If the Braves can make it into the playoffs, look for Cox to get this award in his final year as a manager. This may be more out of respect for his career, but Cox will deserve it. Charlie Manuel is another possibility if the Phillies can return to the World Series for a third straight year.

NL Come Back Player of the Year:

David Wright (Mets) – After an injury shortened Wright’s season last year, look for David to return to his dominant form and be the only glimmer of hope for a weak Mets team.

So there you have it, JC’s 2010 predictions. Have fun looking these over and feel free to chime in. The best part of the season is the fact that anything can happen and probably will. We’ll revisit this at the end of the year to see how well I did. Enjoy and remember – baseball is back!

                The Philadelphia Phillies enter the series with a commanding lead in the National League East with a record of 69-49. They are 6.5 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves and Florida Marlins. Everything seems to be falling in place for the Phil’s as their big bats are heating up, and their pitching has vastly improved since the arrival of Cliff Lee. The Mets, on the other hand, are 14.5 games out with a record of 56-65. The Mets have been plagued with injuries all season and are all but out of the playoff race. Or are they? That may be determined after this series.

                14.5 games cannot be made up in a four game series. However, a sweep could bring the Mets within 10.5 games. 10.5 games is still a large deficit to overcome but not impossible. The Phillies have come back late in the past two seasons to win the Eastern Division Title. The comeback has to start somewhere. Perhaps a comeback win with a walk-off hit like the Phillies did to the Mets in a game in 2007 that changed the whole complexion of the playoff race that year. Perhaps a big series win could also change the race. One series can change both teams’ momentums depending on the outcome.  

                If the Mets were to sweep the Phillies in this four game series, it would do more then cut their Division lead down four games. It could completely change the Phillies’ mindset for the rest of the season. The two teams will also meet for another four game series in September. That series will be played in Philadelphia. That’s eight games down the stretch that could go either way. The Phillies lead the season series 6-4 right now, but eight games can change that. Both teams also have tough schedules coming up. Those schedules include teams going for Division or Wild Card berths. Both teams also play the lowly Washington Nationals, a team with no chance of making the playoffs. They have been playing better as of late and play tough down the stretch and would love to be a spoiler team to build some team confidence and respect.  

                You may think to yourself, what are the Mets playing for? Yes, they are 14.5 games out and a long shot to come back. Yes, they have suffered some injuries this year and lost key players such as shortstop Jose Reyes, first baseman Carlos Delgado and third baseman David Wright who may not return this season. So what’s left? Revenge. The Phillies have won the last two Division Championships by overcoming and defeating the Mets. The Mets would love to knock the Phillies down in the division, even if they are not the ones to win it. Ask any Mets fan. If the Mets aren’t the ones to win the Eastern Division, then they want it to be anyone besides Philadelphia.

                Philadelphia cannot go into this series overconfident. This series will not change the standings once it is over. No matter the outcome, the Phillies will still be in first place Monday night. That lead can change for the better or the worse. It is up to them to keep their hot streak of power hitting and solid starting pitching going strong during this series and down the stretch. The Phillies will start Cole Hamels tonight. Hamels has not pitched like an ace all year, posting a 7-7 record and 4.69 ERA. The Mets will counter with Mike Pelfrey who has an 8-8 record with a 4.75 ERA. The first win is crucial. Hamels needs to get on track to help carry the Phil’s down the stretch.

                Perhaps the most interesting matchup of this series will take place Sunday when Pedro Martinez returns to New York, this time as an opponent, for the first time since signing with the Phillies late this season. Pedro is still trying to show everyone that the Phillies made the right decision to sign him this season. His last start was interrupted by a rain delay and Pedro only pitched three innings. The Phillies will also have rookie standout J.A. Happ pitching Saturday, and last year’s A.L. Cy Young winner Cliff Lee is slated to pitch on Monday. Lee has been an innings eater since coming to the Phillies at the trade deadline, with two complete games in four starts, all of which have been quality starts.

                The Phillies will miss Johan Santana in this series. Santana has been the Mets best pitcher. He is 13-9 this season with a 3.13 ERA and 146 strikeouts. The Mets will miss Joe Blanton, who has had decent success against the Mets in his career. In four games, he is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA and 16 strikeouts.

                So here it is. Tonight starts the four game series everyone was geared up for earlier this year. Now, it seems less important. But one thing is sure, this series is more important than the numbers show. This series can be a make or break for the Eastern Division race. The Phillies will be in first place once the series is over, but will they be able to maintain first place in the long run after this series. We will know more once this series is under way tonight.

                Jim Clancy is a lifelong baseball fan, following the Philadelphia Phillies since he can remember. Clancy played baseball all his life, earning four varsity letters as an infielder, catcher and pitcher. Clancy is now a full time Firefighter/EMT and continues to follow baseball on all levels. He is the writer of JC’s weekly pitch and can be contacted at jclancy@javbaseball.com.

The five players that Francona has to cycle through are Martinez, Kevin Youkilis, Mike Lowell, Jason Varitek and David Ortiz. Varitek is the catcher; Lowell plays the hot corner over at third base; Youkilis can play first and third; and Martinez can catch and play first base. Since the Red Sox are an American League team, they have the option to have one of the players be the designated hitter. However, that’s where David Ortiz falls in the lineup. So let’s break these guys down to show what Francona is dealing with.

Jason Varitek is the team captain. He is batting .222 with 13 home runs and 45 RBI’s this season. While his offensive production may not be as high as the other members of the team, his defensive and leadership skills cannot be overlooked. Catchers go through a tough, rigorous career. Their main job is to call the games and know all of the pitchers on their team. Add some home runs and RBI’s to that and you have a quality catcher for any team.

Mike Lowell is a veteran third baseman that is a true team player. He proved that earlier this week when he was asked to sit the bench so the other players could get in the lineup. Most everyday starters that are used to starting everyday may not take to the off day very easily. What did Lowell do on his day off? He came off the bench after Youkilis was ejected from the game and hit two home runs and had three RBI’s and runs each. Lowell is a stand up guy who carries a .299 average with 14 home runs and 59 RBI’s this season.

Kevin Youkilis, weird batting stance and all, is probably Francona’s most versatile player. Originally a third baseman, Youkilis plays mostly first base right now. He is solid both defensively and offensively. Youk (pronounced yuke), as he is known to the Beantown fans, won a Gold Glove at first base last year. He is batting .311 with 20 home runs and 66 RBI’s this season. Youkilis has played first and third this year as well as DH and even left field. The Gold Glover did not look like such a defensive star in the outfield his last time out and that option may not be happening again anytime soon.

Victor Martinez was acquired from the Indians for pitcher Justin Masterson and minor league prospects. Martinez can catch and play first base. Like the others, Martinez can also act as the team’s designated hitter. That may seem like the better option considering Ortiz’s low batting average this year. Martinez is hitting .283 with 17 home runs and 75 RBI’s this season, between Cleveland and Boston.

David Ortiz has not put up numbers this year that the Red Sox “Nation” is used to. Big Papi is batting .215 with 15 home runs and 62 RBI’s this year. He has 304 career home runs. Ortiz pretty much has the DH role locked up when he is in the lineup because the other players are far better defensively than he is. Ortiz has struggled this year, perhaps making the Red Sox go after the slugging Martinez at the trade deadline. Ortiz is also the latest name to be leaked out along with former teammate Manny Ramirez as having used performance enhancing drugs. This is just a distraction that cannot help a slumping player get on track.

So there is Terry Francona’s dilemma, five great players and only four positions for them to play. If you go by their stats, any four of these players would make a lineup look dangerous. When the odd man out can come off the bench at any time in the game, the lineup becomes that much better. When the players can take their occasional days off knowing it is because everyone is producing, it can turn into a friendly competition to compete better. Pitchers often do this as they try to outperform each other, making the starting rotation or the bullpen better. If this Red Sox lineup produces like they are capable of, I predict they will be in the postseason yet again this year.

The Philadelphia Phillies lost their voice earlier this year on April  13^th when Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas passed away suddenly in the booth just prior to a game against the Washington Nationals at the age of 73. Harry Kalas was one of those announcers that you wanted to listen to while watching a game. Whether on television or the radio, Kalas’s voice and calls made him into the legend that he became. Fortunately for Kalas, the Phillies fans loved him and appreciated him when he was still with us. That love has continued on after his passing. The Phillies will induct Kalas into their Wall of Fame tonight, Friday August 7^th. Kalas will join other great names such as Steve Carlton, Greg Lusinski, the late Paul Owens and Michael Jack Schmidt. Mike Schmidt became a household name due to his playing ability. Michael Jack Schmidt became a house hold name because of Harry Kalas.

Harry Kalas is already a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He earned the Ford C. Frick Award in 2002 and was inducted into the broadcaster’s wing. In June of this year, Kalas became the 14^th member of the National Radio Hall of Fame, joining other greats like Bob Ueker, Vin Scully and Harry Caray. Kalas earned all of these honors by being the best at what he did. He loved the game of baseball, and the players and fans all loved him back. He called the games with such passion. He would let you know when good things were happening. He would also let you know when the bad things were happening too, which the Phillies fans got accustomed to in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. He called some of the Phillies greatest home runs with his signature “Outta Here” call. Watch Mike Schmidt’s 500^th home run or Jim Thome’s 400^th home run and you will hear Harry. He was also fortunate enough to call the Phillies two World Series Championships. His calls of Tug McGraw and Brad Lidge’s final outs in the 1980 and 2008 World Series games are so memorable that the calls are just as enjoyable as the actual actions on the field.

A true legend in Philadelphia, Kalas will be enshrined to the Phillies Wall of Fame by fellow broadcaster Larry Anderson. Anderson, who pitched for the Phillies from 1983-1986 and 1993-1994, has been broadcasting for the Phillies since the 1998 season. Anderson, who is the color commentator on the radio, may be the most underrated broadcaster in the game. Now, he has the honor and privilege of enshrining his friend and mentor to the Wall of Fame. Kalas will surely be watching from above with another former Phillies great, Richie Ashburn. Kalas and Ashburn were one of the greatest play-by-play duos to call any game. Ashburn, who passed away in September of 1997, is also a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Phillies Wall of Fame. It is only fitting that Kalas and Ashburn are both honored in all of the same ways.

Harry did the little things that kept people interested in the Phillies, baseball and eventually himself. His home run calls, his singing of “High Hopes” after the Phillies World Series win in 2008, his “Michael Jack Schmidt” call and even just the way he pronounced Chi-caw-go. There was and is no other like him. He is missed by many baseball fans and will always be a part of the game. If you get a chance to visit Citizen’s Bank Park, be sure to check out the Wall of Fame. Pay your respects to players that have given us their blood, sweat and tears. And make sure you pay your respects to Harry Kalas, the voice that kept you interested in the game while watching on TV or listening on the radio. If you think anyone can do it, look back at some of the awful teams that the Phillies had in the 80’s, 90’s, and early 2000’s and see how Harry kept everyone interested. Remember that he called the first and last games of Veteran’s Stadium, the first game at Citizen’s Bank Park, two World Series championship teams and much more. His voice will live on forever in the hearts of those that listened to him, and hopefully his memories will be passed on to the new fans of the game for many more years to come.

The St. Louis Cardinals and the Oakland Athletics have made the first blockbuster trade of the 2009 season. The Cardinals received three-time All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday from the Athletics for three minor league prospects. In addition to Matt Holliday, the Cardinals also received $1.5 million. This appears to be a win-win situation, as both clubs look to make the best of this trade. The Cardinals are getting a deal that is going to help them now, whereas the Athletics are getting a deal that will set them up for the future.

St. Louis is getting a star outfielder. Matt Holliday is more than just a three time All-Star. He is a three time Silver Slugger and a runner up to the 2007 National League MVP award. Before joining the Cardinals, Holliday was a career .315 hitter, with two 30+ home run seasons. Holliday is a much better player than his numbers show with the Athletics this season. In his first series with the Cardinals, Matt went 7 for 11 with 3 RBI’s against the defending World Champion Philadelphia Phillies. Matt opted against driving from New York, where the Athletics were set to open a series against the Yankees, to Philadelphia and instead, he took a train with his wife. Matt arrived early enough that Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was able to pencil him in the starting lineup. That would prove to be helpful as Matt went 4 for 5 with a double, a stolen base and one RBI in the Cardinal’s win. Matt proved that he wanted to play for his new team by arriving at the field early instead of showing up late and only being available as a pinch hitter.

Another thing that Holliday brings is post season experience. He knows how to play when it counts. He went on a tear in September 2007, leading the Colorado Rockies to their first postseason appearance and earned himself the National League Player of the Month award. He continued his hot streak in the postseason, belting 5 home runs and 10 RBI’s, and earned the National League Championship Series MVP award. Now, he is on a team with a stronger lineup and better management that is set to make playoff runs for many seasons to come.

That stronger lineup includes a dangerous outfield trio in Holliday, Ryan Ludwick and Rick Ankiel. Ludwick is batting .275 this year with 17 home runs and 63 RBI’s. Last year, Ludwick slugged 37 home runs and 113 RBI’s. Ankiel, one of Major League Baseball’s great stories, hit .264 last year with 25 home runs and 71 RBI’s. His numbers are down this year, however, as he spent most of May on the disabled list after a nasty collision against the outfield wall in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies. If you add up all three players stats from 2008, you have 87 home runs and 272 RBI’s. Add those numbers to a lineup that also showcases the dangerous Albert Pujols, and you have a team that is going to be very strong and competitive going into a pennant race come September.

As for the Athletics, they are preparing for the future. Some people will argue that prospects do not help a team right now. While that is true, they will help in the future. This season is all but lost for the Athletics, who are 17 games out of first place and are looking to finish the season in last place. Knowing that the chances of overtaking the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, or wherever they are from this season, or the Texas Rangers is a long shot, Oakland management decided to plan for the future.

That future will now include outfielder Shane Peterson, who was batting .295 with 7 home runs and 46 RBI’s between A and AA ball in the Cardinal’s minor league system. Also included is right-handed pitcher Clayton Petersen, who was 7-6 with 82 strikeouts and a 4.37 ERA in 17 games in AAA. He made one appearance with the Cardinals this year, giving up 6 runs, 2 of which were earned and recording 2 strikeouts in a three inning relief appearance. The third, and possibly biggest, part of the A’s future is third baseman Brett Wallace. Once thought to be an untouchable prospect, the Cardinals proved that no player is untouchable when the right offer comes around. Between AA and AAA, Wallace hit .288 with 11 home runs and 35 RBI’s. He is the 42^nd ranked prospect in the Major Leagues this season. Brett has a strong left-handed bat and likes to hit in the heart of the lineup.

Three prospects that will be Major League ready soon, and at a reasonable price, are a great addition to a team in a rebuilding stage. Picking up a star outfielder that plays well down the stretch in a lineup poised to make the playoffs isn’t bad either. Both teams addressed their needs well in this trade. The Cardinals needed a good bat to protect Albert Pujols, and a great bat is what they got. The Athletics needed to save some salary and build for the future after a poor first half of the season. Trading Holliday for three prospects was the best move the Athletics could make.

The bar is now set for the next few days of trading. The Cardinals proved that no one is untouchable when the right offer comes around by trading one of their “untouchable” prospects. The Athletics proved that some teams need to cut ties with their stars and plan for the future. Will the Philadelphia Phillies give up their farm system for Roy Halladay? Will the Cleveland Indians trade Cliff Lee to a contender? Will any other blockbuster deals go down before the trade deadline on July 31^st? One thing is definite; this is an exciting time of the season, especially if your team is involved with the trade talks. Only time will tell who the winners and losers are this year. So far, we have two good winners and I’m sure more are soon to follow.

The Philadelphia Phillies’ biggest surprise of the 2009 season is young left-handed pitcher J.A. Happ. During spring training, seven pitchers were fighting for five spots in the starting rotation. Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton were locks for the first four spots. The fifth spot in the Phillies’ starting rotation was a three player battle between Kyle Kendrick, Chan Ho Park and J.A. Happ. No one expected Happ to earn the spot, and no one ever expected the numbers that he would go on to put up when he eventually earned his way into the rotation. He has become a great compliment to an excellent rotation.

Who would have thought that out of the three players competing, Happ would be the one to go on and shine? Kyle Kendrick went 10-4 with a 3.87 ERA in 20 starts in 2007, his rookie year. He was a little less consistent in 2008, posting an 11-9 record with an ERA of 5.49 in 31 starts. Chan Ho Park brought a career record of 117-92 and an All-Star appearance on his resume. J.A. Happ had only made five career starts at the Major League level with a 1-1 record with 31 strikeouts in nine total appearances over the previous two seasons. Chan Ho Park would go on to win the fifth spot, Kyle Kendrick would be sent to the AAA to pitch on a regular basis, and J.A. Happ would make the Phillies’ roster as a relief pitcher, mainly used as a long reliever.

Chan Ho Park would struggle early on this season in the starting rotation. In his first six starts, Park had a 1-1 record with 22 earned runs. On top of that, Brett Myers would be lost for the season due to a torn hip labrum. J.A. Happ was given a chance to start, and he has been quietly outshining the rest of the pitchers in the Phillies’ formidable rotation. In 11 starts since taking over for Park, Happ has gone 5-0 with eight quality starts, pitching at least six innings and giving up three earned runs or less, including six in a row. That is the same amount of quality starts that ace Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer, the ageless wonder himself, each have while starting the whole season.

Now the Phillies have four front line starters in Hamels, Moyer, Blanton and Happ. A fifth starter is on the way, as the Phillies have recently signed three time Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez. Martinez brings with him a 214-99 record, a very respectable 2.91 ERA and 3117 strikeouts in his career. He also brings experience, veteran guidance for the locker room and a World Series Championship that he won with the Boston Red Sox in 2004. The down side to this move, however, is his health. Pedro spent most of the 2007 and 2008 seasons injured, and he has yet to pitch in the Majors this year. Only time will tell if Pedro can still pitch at Cy Young caliber.

While the Phillies wait to see how well Pedro can pitch this year, and while they hope that Hamels, Moyer and Blanton can find some consistency, one thing is sure right now. J.A. Happ is the best pitcher the Phillies have. He is young but pitches with the poise and confidence of a skilled veteran right now. If he maintains his composure and continues to pitch at this rate, he could be looking at a Rookie of the Year award. It may be one of the quietest Rookie of the Year campaigns in Major League Baseball, but it cannot be overlooked. When a rookie pitches as good as, if not better, than a World Series MVP and a 20+ year veteran, it is very difficult to overlook him during Rookie of the Year conversations. J.A. Happ could become the first Philadelphia Phillies pitcher to win the Rookie of the Year award since Jack Sanford won it in 1957. That is if he isn’t traded to Toronto for Roy Halladay, but that is another story.

What do the San Diego Padres, the Baltimore Orioles and the World Series have common? No, the two teams have never met in the Fall Classic, and I highly doubt that this will be the year that they actually do. However, because of each of these team’s respective All-Stars, the fate of this year’s World Series was determined. Heath Bell, the closer for the San Diego Padres, gave up a sacrifice fly to outfielder Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles in the eighth inning in this year’s Midsummer Classic. That sacrifice fly gave the American League a 4-3 lead that they would eventually win by. Now, the American League team that makes the World Series, most likely not the Orioles, will have home field advantage.

I mean no disrespect to Heath Bell or Adam Jones. Both of these players are having excellent seasons and are very deserving of being named All-Stars. The problem I have is that they are playing for teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Phillies, etc. to have home field advantage in the World Series. They should be playing to showcase their talent and to give back to the people that made them All-Stars.

One debate that comes up every year about the All-Star game is whether or not every team should send a player to the Midsummer Classic. Every team sending at least one representative to the All-Star Game is a fair rule in my opinion. No matter how bad a certain team may be, someone always stands out above the rest and deserves the recognition of being named to their league’s All-Star team. Personally, I also feel the selection process is fair. Regardless of how each player is selected to his league’s team, whether the players are voted in by the fans, the other players, the managers, or they make it as injury replacements, they are deserving players that have earned a right to show off their abilities at the Midsummer Classic.

The other debate that always seems to come up is whether or not the All-Star Game should determine home field advantage for the World Series. I, for one, am completely against the fact that the winning team earns home field advantage for one of its teams in October. The All-Star Game is supposed to recognize baseball’s great players, not put them in a fierce competition against each other. Look at the Home Run Derby. It is nothing more than a fun, laid back night with eight of the greatest power hitters swinging for the fences and having a good time. Why can’t the All-Star Game itself be the same way? The reason is what it is played for. The Home Run Derby is played for fun and bragging rights. The All-Star Game itself is played to determine home field advantage for the most important series of baseball games all year.

Something that I think is forgotten is the fact that this is the All-Star Break. It is supposed to be a break from the grueling schedule of 162 games and endless traveling that every major leaguer puts in each season. Most players will enjoy this three day break on vacation or visiting family. The All-Stars spend it at the All-Star Game’s host city. There are many festivities to take in the day before and the day of the actual game that keep the All-Stars very busy with little time to actually relax. When it comes time for the All-Star Game, it is game on. Instead of a laid back, fun filled baseball game, we get a competitive game that does not showcase every selected player. This is how the managers are forced to treat this game. They are forced to play the game like they are in the middle of a pennant race, and good players are forced to ride the bench for that “just in case” situation that may arise. Personally, I would have rather seen little-known Josh Johnson of the Florida Marlins or knuckleballer Tim Wakefield pitch this year as opposed to eight closers, three for the American League and five for the National League, pitching an inning each.

What would happen if this game didn’t count for anything? Besides losing that stupid slogan that is repeatedly used every year, I think you would continue to get a competitive game showcasing all of Major League Baseball’s greatest talents. However, you would see a lot more of the talent showcased and a lot of the guys having fun, like back in little league. So I ask that instead of making “this one count,” let’s make this one fun. Let the teams earn home field advantage on their own by winning the most games throughout the whole season instead of sending one or two of their best players to try to win it. I guess the good thing about making these games count for something is the fact that we don’t have to worry about another ridiculous tie game like we did back in 2002.