Deadline Edition 2012: Winners and Losers

Andrew McCutchen and the Pirates have had a
lot to celebrate this season.   Making key moves at the
deadline without trading key pieces of their present
and future makes them the deadline's biggest winner.

Winners

1. Pittsburgh Pirates

How They Made Good:

Pittsburgh is the biggest winner this year is two things.  First, they are in a position to buy.  Lastly, they made moves that while tasking minor risks.  Bonus points for not parting with Starling Marte, Jameson Tallion or Gerrit Cole.  They will also have a Top-10 draft pick next season for failing to sign Stanford's Mark Appel.

The Loot:

1. SP Wandy Rodriguez (from Houston) - Last week when I said that this July is an arms race, the Bucs already had their arm in Wandy.  The price was two mid-level prospects in Rudy Owens and Robbie Grossman and a fringe prospect in Colton Cain.  

2. OF Travis Snider (from Toronto) - They traded a good reliever for this man.  Brad Lincoln has been an asset up to this point for the Bucs, but Pittsburgh is surprisingly loaded with relief arms this season.  Snider can reward their faith in his once hyped talent by putting up some good offensive numbers down the stretch.

3. 1B Gaby Sanchez/P Kyle Kaminska (from Miami) - Giving up a player like Gorkys Hernandez makes this a low risk deal.  Gaby Sanchez has 25 HR 100 RBI talent.  A change of scenery may help the former NL rookie of the year candidate.  Naperville Central grad Kyle Kaminska was also added to this deal for some apparent reason.  Don't worry about him making any real impact in the big leagues.  Ever.

4. RP Chad Qualls (from New York Yankees) - The Pirates dealt Casey McGehee to the Bombers for another struggling pitcher.  Well if A.J. Burnett is any indication of what happens when struggling Yankee arms go to Pittsburgh, the Lincoln-Snider swap is a no-risk venture

Prognosis: 

They will win the NL wild card and face the Atlanta Braves on National Television in Georgia.  Where have I heard this one before?

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

How They Made Good:

They bought hard and they picked up two very marketable players.

The Loot:

1. 3B Hanley Ramirez (from Miami) - Don't get it twisted, Hanley Ramirez is still a superstar.  Don Mattingly will get the best out of this kid and the front office will not fire him for it.  

2. OF Shane Victorino (from Philadelphia) - The Flyin' Hawaiian brings his playoff experience to round out an outfield that already include two other bona fide studs in Matt Kemp and Andre Ethief

3. RP Brandon League (from Seattle) - This is the trade that made me salivate.  If you read this blog or talk to me about baseball, you know I'm a fan of a quality bullpen.  The Dodgers have had a solid bullpen this year and the addition of Mariner reclamation project Brandon League puts this team over the top. 

Prognosis:

They will pull away from a dogfight of a division race in mid-September.  I remarked in March when I wrote my (incomplete) MLB preview series, the Dodgers are a team that may just surprise a few people and not to be shocked if they make a title run.  I still wouldn't be surprised if LA wins the whole damn thing.

3. Chicago White Sox

How They Made Good:

They filled the gaps in their roster and accounted for the loss of John Danks for the season.  This year also makes the Sox look better in previous Trade Deadlines and offseasons.  Adam Dunn, Jake Peavy and Alex Rios have been three big contributors to the success of the Sox.  Oh, and don't forget about Youk.

The Loot:  

1. Kevin Youkilis (from Boston) - Bobby Valentine was responsible for the shockingly good deal the White Sox got for Youk.  For Zach Stewart and Brent Lillibridge, Los Medias Blancas picked up a rejuvenated stud with a chip on his shoulder.

2. Francisco Liriano (from Minnesota) - For a marginal price, the Sox got a live arm that has once no-hit them.  Liriano has had tough luck this season.  However, he pitched very well against his former team last night.  If he can continue to pitch like he has, Liriano will round out a solid to rotation nicely.  Fun fact: The Liriano deal was the first that the Twins and White Sox have made since 1986.

Prognosis:

The White Sox will outlast Detroit in what will be one of three division dogfights down the stretch.  The question for whatever team wins this division is if they can do anything in the playoffs. 

4. Texas Rangers

How They Made Good:

The Rangers picked up an arm to match Anaheim's acquisition of Zack Grienke.

The Loot:
1. Ryan Dempster (from Chicago Cubs) - Dempster gives the Rangers an arm to account for injured and ineffective pitchers.  It also keeps pace with the Angels who picked up Zack Grienke, while reminding us why they have Los Angeles in their official name.  That is crucial cause the Rangers appear the most unstable than they have since 2010.  Dempster's clubhouse-friendly attitude will benefit the Rangers greatly.

2. Geovany Soto (from Chicago Cubs) - This gives the Rangers a better option than Yorvit Torrealba.  Let's face it, Mike Napoli is a slugger as opposed to an everyday catcher.  When Napoli is DH'ing or playing First Base, Soto is not the worst person you can use behind the backstop.

Prognosis:
Anaheim will take the division lead, Oakland may take the division lead at some point and Texas will finish with it.  The Rangers will lose their third consecutive World Series.  Can you say Buffalo Bills?

5. Kansas City Royals

How They Made Good:
By not touching their jaw-dropping stockpile of young talent.

The Loot: 
1. Donnie Joseph/J.C. Sulbaran (from Cincinnati) - This was a result of trading Jonathan Broxton.  Any return you get on a reclamation project is a good thing.  Joseph has real major league potential.  He is a late bloomer, having started this season at AA Pensacola at age 24.  I will point out that Pensacola's team is named the Blue Wahoos.  I find that very funny.

Prognosis:
4th Place.  Their record is bad enough now that the fans cannot even blame their early 12 game losing street.  They will be the envy of baseball in 3 calendar years.

Honorable Mention: Giants, Cardinals, Angels, Tigers

Losers

1. Miami Marlins

How They Lost

-They are the biggest losers because they bought and their ship sunk.  Since acquiring Carlos Lee, the Marlins have shipped off five major leaguers for prospects.  If Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob Turner pan out, that will take a little bit of the sting out of this season.

2. Cleveland Indians

How They Lost

-They were only window shopping.  The Tribe neither bought nor sold.  While the White Sox and Tigers picked up key pieces and upped the ante in the AL Central, the Indian stood pat.  As of 2:12 PM on August 1st, they are 6 games out of first place.  That is do-able.  It would help if they would have acquired some pitching.  They picked up Lars Anderson and Brent Lillibridge from the Red Sox.  Lars Anderson is essentially a Matt LaPorta that was never traded for C.C. Sabathia.  Brent Lillibridge is the ham sandwich that the Red Sox got for Kevin Youkilis.  

3. Boston Red Sox

How They Lost

-Bobby Valentine.  The Red Sox have been getting ripped off in trades since the winter (i.e. Josh Reddick and Kevin Youkilis didn't net a good return).  Since most of my readership is college kids, I might as well just tell you guys that the Boston Red Sox were fucked in the street, figuratively speaking.

4. Milwaukee Brewers

How They Lost

-With the Brewers selling this deadline, their run as a relatively stable NL Central team is over.  They now find them self in the state that they were in 2003 when they finished 68-94.  Ryan Braun stars as Richie Sexon.  Co-starring is Yovani Gallardo as Ben Sheets.  Fun Fact: Rickie Weeks was a September call-up that season.

5. Minnesota Twins

How They Lost

-Josh Willingham, Justin Morneau, Matt Capps and Denard Span are all Twins.  Meanwhile, their farm system is a shell of what it used to be and that is even more detrimental in a small market.  

Dishonorable Mention: Phillies, Mets, Diamondbacks

The Jury Is Still Out On...

The Chicago Cubs 

In the last month and a half, the Cubs called up first basemen Anthony Rizzo.  Rizzo has a bat that makes him worthy of more than the 71 Overall rating he currently fields in MLB 2K12.  It's also a bat the Cubs can turn into a cornerstone of their lineup.  

The Cubs made three major deals that furthered the stripping of the team that made playoff runs in 2007 and 2008.  Those deals sent Ryan Dempster and Geovany Soto to Texas as well as sending Reed Johnson and Paul Maholm to Atlanta.  The Cubbies picked up Jaye Chapman, Arodys Vizcaino, Kyle Hendricks, Jacob Brigham and Christian Villanueva.  

Chapman and Vizcaino are two near-major league arms the Cubs picked up in the deal that sent Maholm and Johnson to the Braves.  The early prognosis is that the Braves overpaid for the two, which will further facilitate the rebuilding of the Cubs.  

The Cubs picked up Kyle Hendricks and Christian Villanueva for Ryan Dempster.  Hendricks is a 22-year old arm bouncing between High A and Double A.  Hendricks's teammate, Villanueva was hitting the ball nicely at High A Myrtle Beach before the trade.  Both should be major leaguers before the end of 2013.  I would call this a toss up, but the Cubs got 2 potential major leaguers for a 35-year old pitcher that got his second wind.  That's a victory.

The Cubbies also acquired minor league pitcher Jacob Brigham in the deal for Soto.  That deal took a 4.3 million dollar contract off their books. 

The Cubs have traded in four major leaguers for potential pieces for their next run.  Why is the jury still out on them?  Well the jury is still out on every team.  The jury will be out for every move Theo makes until the Cubs succeed or fail.  

The good news for Theo that if he wins 2 titles on the North Side and leaves the club in shambles, he will be somewhere between a hero and a god in Chicago.   

Forever.

This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race.

Zack Grienke leads a trade deadline
class loaded with starting pitchers.

Here we are again.  It's the end of July.  With only a handful of days left for non-waiver trades, the contending teams are trying to make moves.  The difference this year is that there are more teams contending.  10 playoff spots are up for grabs and more than half of the Major League's teams can identify themselves as contenders.  That being said, some important moves have been made in the last week and I am going to properly assess the direction the teams in this league are at as of Thursday, July 26th.  

AL Central: 

This is a three team race at the moment.  The Twins are the biggest sellers in this division.  All signs indicate that they will trade Francisco Liriano.  However, Liriano did not do the Twins any favors in the department of trade value this week.  Justin Morneau, Denard Span and Josh Willingham are all on the block but the Twinkies are said to have too high of an asking price.  The Giants have been cited as a potential team involved in the Liriano and Willingham sweepstakes. As for the Royals, 2012 is not their time.  They are still sitting on the gold mine of young talent that I have been waiting to come to fruition since 2008.  They should not touch that gold mine.  I have heard rumors that the Royals have a shot to land Josh Johnson of the Miami Marlins.  The Marlins are asking for a Teixiera-eque package for Johnson and the Royals have that and then some.  However, there is no point in trading for an injury-prone ace in a lost season.

The Tigers, White Sox and Indians are competing for the AL Central.  The Indians just took a series from the Tigers and still have life.  What the Indians haven't done was make a significant move.  Never mind, they picked up Brent Lillibridge.  

On a serious note, the White Sox picked up Kevin Youkilis and Brett Myers.  Humber is back from the DL and John Danks may be coming back in the next couple of months.  The Tigers traded a highly touted pitching prospect in Jacob Turner because they wanted to win the World Series in 2012.  Not the American League Central.  The World Series.

The Indians picked up J.C. Romero and Brent Lillibridge.  If that is what they are content with, they will not be in this division come August 15th.

Projected Finish

1. White Sox

2. Tigers (Wild Card)

3. Indians

4. Royals

5. Twins

AL East:

The Yankees picked up Ichiro and lost A-Rod.  it's no secret, however, that they have this division by the throat.  Tampa Bay picked up Ryan Roberts and Designated Hideki Matsui for assignment this week.  They are also looking to potentially move Wade Davis.  Davis can start in most major league rotations.  Tampa's staff is just ripe with quality arms.  They are the only team in the AL East that I feel has what it takes to make a complete run at the Wild Card or even the Yankees.  The Blue Jays are the only other team who seems to be serious about making moves.  I can see them rustling up a package for Josh Johnson if the Marlins find what they want growing on Toronto's farm.   

The Orioles and Red Sox need arms.  I am wholeheartedly encouraging the Red Sox to sell and rebuild.  They Sawx are due for a facelift and an excuse to can Bobby Valentine.  They owe their fans more than trotting out the Daniel Navas and Pedro Ciriacos of the world in the long run.  The Orioles and Blue Jays have Ryan Dempster, Wade Davis, Zack Grienke, Matt Garza, Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco and Randy Wolf to worry about at the moment.  If either of those teams pick up two of those arms, look out.

Projected Finish

1. Yankees

2. Rays

3. Blue Jays

4. Orioles

5. Red Sox

AL West:

The Wild Wild West is run by the Rangers.  They will make a run at Grienke to prove their point.  They want a title.  They will win this division.  Dan Haren is back after getting roughed up on his way to the Angels.  A reliable Haren is as good as picking up an arm for the Angels.  They will pick up an arm or two if they want to.  If the Angels want to win a Wild Card spot or even have a fighting chance at winning their division, they will pick up a stud arm.  

The Oakland A's are 53-45.  That would be good enough to lead the AL Central.  If they playoffs started today, they would be in.  Here's how they win.  Pitching.  They are in the bottom ten in the league in Slugging, On Base Percentage, Batting Average and Runs Scored.  They are 8th or better in the league in ERA, Quality Starts, WHIP and BAA.  Did you watch the All-Star game?  If you did you might have watched man by the name of Ryan Cook pitch a perfect 7th inning.  He has an ERA 1.70 with 10 Saves and 11 Holds.  He was garbage last season in Arizona before getting shipped to Oakland in the Trevor Cahill trade.

Trading Craig Breslow, Andrew Bailey, Gio Gonzalez and Trevor Cahill has built this 2012 A's team.  Those trades netted Ryan Cook, Tommy Milone, Jarrod Parker and Josh Reddick.  In ripping off the Red Sox, the A's acquired Reddick who accounts for a large portion of the offensive stats that Oakland does put up.  Billy Beane's genius built a rotation that goes 5 deep of arms that register ERA's under 4.  Tommy Milone, Jarrod Parker, Bartolo Colon, Travis Blackley and A.J. Griffin.  Notice two things.  First, Bartolo Colon is still alive and pitching.  This shocks me.  Second of all, Brandon McCarthy is not included here.  However, when he hit the DL in June, McCarthy was 6-3 with a 2.54 ERA.  

Billy Beane does it again.  That's why, barring Anaheim dropping an atomic bomb, Oakland stays around long enough to win a Wild Card slot.

Projected Finish

1. Rangers

2. A's

3. Angels

4. Mariners

NL Central:

This year, the Pirates feel right.  They picked up Wandy Rodriguez from Houston, Andrew McCutchen is playing like an MVP, they bullpen has been pieced together nicely and Starling Marte is on the roster.  They take on the Reds and the Cardinals for the NL Central title.  

The Reds are in first on strength of their pitching staff.  Aroldis Chapman is a bona fide closer and Johnny Cueto is quietly having a great season.  So great that I am going to toss the phrase "Cy Young" out there.  If he keeps this up and his Reds win the NL Central, he should win the National League Cy Young.  

The Birds can hit like there is no tomorrow.  Lance Lynn has been outstanding in the rotation this year.  The Birds, however, need to make a move for an arm.  Here's what they had last season that they do not have today.  A Colby Rasmus-esque position player who is expendable and that they could dangle around the trade market to get the relief pitching that wins championships.  Believe me, if the Cardinals do not win a World Series without that trade. Scrabble, Octavio Dotel and Edwin Jackson were the secret sauce.  Currently, their bullpen is nothing after Jason Motte.

The Birds have to dangle something valuable to get arms.  Or else they will be the 2006 White Sox.  A defending champ that finishes third behind two better teams while boasting a great lineup and a popular third baseman who just so happens to be a World Series hero.  Tyler Greene can play the role of Brian Anderson.  One thing that does swing in their favor, though, is having the best run differential in baseball.

Eyes will also be on the shores of Lake Michigan north of Madison Street in Chicago.  The Cubs and the Brewers are arms dealers in the Midwest.  Matt Garza, Ryan Dempster, Zack Grienke and Randy Wolf.  They will all change colors in the next week, I would imagine.  Welcome to Grienke-Mania.  The White Sox, Rangers, Dodgers, Angels and Braves are the most likely suitors for Grienke.  I've heard the Red Sox thrown into those rumors, but my advice to the Red Sox remains the same.  Sell.  

Milwaukee is brewing up a fire sale.  

Projected Finish

1. Pirates

2. Reds

3. Cardinals

4. Cubs

5. Brewers

6. Astros

NL East:

It seems so long ago was the day the Mets were taking headlines from the struggling Yankees.  Now the Mets are more than 10 games out of first.  Props to the Metropolitans for making R.A. Dickey's knuckleball a "thing."  He now replaces Tim Wakefield as Major League Baseball's Flagship knuckleballer.  Now the Mets are between buying and selling.  They will sell something by the deadline

Miami has already sold and Philadelphia is coming to grips with their role as losers this season.  After moving Anibal Sanchez and Omar Infante, which netted them a great return, the Marlins could be looking to move several players.  Among said players are Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Carlos Lee, Gaby Sanchez and Heath Bell.  After watching The Franchise, I've grown fond of Heath throughout his trying season.  I'm sure given an opportunity in the second half, Bell will be a solid setup guy.  I would say the Yankees would pick him up, but Rafael Soriano is setting the league on fire.  

Philly may just be stubborn and eat this season up and make no deadline moves.  I have a feeling they will move Joe Blanton, Shane Victorino and/or Hunter Pence.  The Phillies have depleted their farm system in their attempt to build a dynasty.  They need to get some of it back.

All I can say about the Braves is that they are going to make a move.  Washington's kids are going to face adversity this season.  I believe that the guys in D.C. have the intestinal fortitude to win their division though.  Remember that the Nats are the best in the National League, but they can easily slip and fall in this league.

Projected Finish

1. Nationals

2. Braves (Wild Card)

3. Phillies

4. Mets 

5. Marlins.

NL West: 

Arizona has been identified as sellers.    6.5 Games out as of Friday morning and the best run differential in their division.  Sellers.  Ryan Roberts has been moved.  Justin Upton rumors have swirled.  My advice is that if you guys want to sell, go for it.  Keep Miguel Montero, Justin Upton, Paul Goldschmidt, Gerardo Parra, Trevor Cahill, David Hernandez, Wade Miley and Ian Kennedy together in Phoenix.  Dangle J.J. Putz, Jason Kubel and Aaron Hill on the trade market and try to build up your farm system.

Plan B is to find viable replacements for Stephen Drew and Chris Young, man up as a team and make a run at the playoffs.  Perhaps making a move for an arm, seeing that it is now officially open season on starting pitchers.

If Arizona wants to make a move, they must act quick.  They are in Cleveland's situation.  However, instead of adding marginal talent, they have subtracted marginal talent.  As far as I know, the Dodgers are not content with merely acquiring Randy Choate and Hanley Ramirez.  They will make another move and so will the Giants.

Speaking of LA and San Francisco, the bitter rivals will play this weekend by the bay.  The Giants are probably the only team who do not need to make a move for an arm to make the postseason.  In fact, if Tim Lincecum can return to form down the stretch, that will be the equivalent of making a move for an arm.  Having a solid core in the lineup consisting of Melky Cabrera, Pablo Sandoval and Buster Posey to complement baseball's best bullpen of the last few seasons makes San Francisco the most complete team in California.

As for the Dodgers, their lineup can carry them if they can get it together.  Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and Hanley Ramirez have the potential to get hot and carry this team down the stretch.  I have a feeling that LA will make one more move.

Projected Finish:

1. Giants

2. Dodgers

3. Diamondbacks

4. Padres

5. Rockies

In conclusion, this next week is an arms race.  There are currently 19 teams that are contending by my count.  10 of them will make the playoffs.  Where certain players, particularly starting pitchers are moved, will decide who makes it to October.

You can read this on August 3rd and 4th on Daily Shootout.  Follow Mickey White on twitter at @NorridgeMadeMe and @MickeyWhiteCCG.  Mickey White is a writer for Daily Shootout and a sophomore at the University of Missouri - Columbia.

Ichiro Traded To Yankees, Not Day's Most Important Deal.

Ichiro will try to chase a ring in the Bronx. 

Ichiro to the Yankees for two minor leaguers.  Read it here for more details.  Ichiro has played 12 seasons in Seattle and no player will wear 51 in Seattle again.  According to The Yankees Public Relations Department, Ichiro will wear #31 and he is the 6th-Japanese born Yankee.  He joins the likes of the Hidekis Irabu and Matsui.

It was starting to look like Ichiro was losing favor in Seattle so this appears to be a beneficial move for all parties involved.  This move will leave Raul Ibanez and Andruw Jones competing for at bats in the DH slot.

While the Yankees got the headlines they are accustomed to, the Tigers did the grunt work.  Detroit celebrated their charge into first place by picking up Pitcher Anibal Sanchez and Infielder Omar Infante from Miami for highly touted prospect Jacob Turner and minor leaguers.  Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski told reporters on Monday that, "It hurts.  But we're trying to win this season, and you have to give up talent to acquire talent."  Turner had been filling in for injured rookie Drew Smyly.

What this trade gives the Tigers is the same thing the White Sox have been seeking through the trade market: Depth.  The White Sox filled in the blanks.  They picked up Youkilis to fill in the blank at third base.  They picked up Brett Myers, Jesse Crain is now healthy, Gavin Floyd is now healthy and Phil Humber is now healthy.  Hell, John Danks will be back in August.  The Tigers have a rotation that consists of Verlander, Fister, Scherzer, Sanchez and Porcello.  Drew Smyly (@SmylyD) will be a reliable spot starter and long reliever when he returns from the DL.  Omar Infante, who is no Kevin Youkilis, is one of the best second basemen in baseball.  He will provide a spark to the Tigers on offense and defense in one of baseball's best lineups.

Your move Cleveland.  You buyin' or are you sellin'?

There's A Tarantula On The King's Court

From charity games to championship games,
LeBron James and Kevin Durant's battle for the best in the NBA
has unfolded in front of our eyes. [Credit: Brett Deering/AFP]

Welcome to the NBA finals.

To state the obvious, the Celtics put up a valiant fight.  They took the Heat to the edge.  The Heat had to find themselves in two elimination games to triumph.  It took LeBron's superhuman performance in Game 6 and a comeback in Game 7 to knock off this Celtics team.

The one thing we all knew about this game at the start of Saturday is that it will trigger a paradigm shift.  The popular prediction is that the original "Big Three" (as opposed to this "Big Three") will be disbanded.  With Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen looking at expiring contracts, pay cuts are necessary to keep Garnett and Allen in Boston.  Even so, are the Celtics to old to win another title?  Can the Celtics build around Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo?  Was this to them what 1988 was to the Chicago Bears?  These are all questions that will be answered in the coming months and perhaps next couple of seasons.

The Miami Heat are the potential Seventh Coalition to the Celtics.  With LeBron starring as Duke of Wellington and Dwayne Wade cast in the supporting role that is Gebhard von Blucher, the Heat will charge out of Waterloo to take on the Thunder.

Now that LeBron and Friends have triumphed over their foes in the Eastern Conference, the matchup that David Stern wants is in place.  Honestly, it is a matchup a lot of us secretly wanted.  The two best players are playing in the NBA Finals.

This is no slight to Kobe.  Kobe is the second best player that I have got to privilege to watch during his career.  The first is a player I do not feel the need to mention in an article that involves LeBron or even Kevin Durant.  However, Kobe is past his prime and I would consider LeBron and Durant better players this year.  I will even go as far as to say that LeBron is the greatest physical specimen that this game has ever seen.

However, there will always be a knock on LeBron.  One of the knocks on LeBron was and to an extent is his poor performance in the clutch.  LeBron singlehandedly won Game 6 and contributed 31 points 12 rebounds and a 30-foot jumper that Doc Rivers described as "backbreaking" in Game 7.  Well the knock on LeBron now is that he has not won a title yet.  He is what I would consider one of five "Golden Boys of Professional Sports" that was drafted in the last 10 years to a "Big Four" American sports team.  Yet, he has not won.  That will haunt him like it haunted Peyton Manning.  If LeBron wins this title, the knock on him will be that he needed "help."  People will say that the NBA is more rigged than boxing.  The Kobe fans will still dog LeBron.  The fans of a certain NBA player in the 90's will dog LeBron.

Whatever LeBron does will never be enough for a large portion of the NBA's fanbase.

Now this polarizing athlete will take his friends to play four to seven games of basketball against Kevin Durant and his friends.  With this title could easily go the title of "NBA's Best."

This will play out like a comic book.  We have a classic good guys vs. bad guys battle.  The Thunder are considered by many to be the good guys while the Heat, particularly Lebron, will play the part of the bad guys.  This is a type of series that we never got to see in the 90's or the aughts.  The two best players in the NBA are squaring off.  We never got Kobe/LeBron.  Durant/LeBron is the best Finals matchup since Bird and Magic.

Miami vs. America

Let's play basketball.

What's Boxing On?

This picture will serve as a momento of boxing's lost credibility
[Credit:  Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images]

If you are one of the people who watched the events of the WBO Welterweight Title Fight in Las Vegas unfold, you may be asking the same question.

Anybody with a twitter account and a few jock friends are tweeting out how stunned they are.  Grantland's Bill Simmons has gone as far to allude that this fiasco will be a future 30 for 30.  Manifest Destiny's Tyler Greever had gone as far as to express his disgust with tweets using the hashtag "MoneyTeam" and that he would "root for [Pacquiao] against Mayweather" as a result of this debacle.

Now let me back up a bit.

Manny Pacquiao fought Timothy Bradley at the MGM Grand earlier tonight for the WBO Welterweight title.  The vast majority of viewers and analysts would agree that Pacquiao won the fight after watching the twelve rounds.

Bradley won on a split decision.

The decision has caused an outcry in the sports world.  The decision, in my eyes, appeared to be almost as obvious of a fix as the Montreal Screwjob.  We can all say that boxing is dead and that is has been dead.  However, there will most likely be a rematch.

We will all watch.  We are all whores.

More will watch the next fight and we will all watch an impending Mayweather/Pacquiao fight in the unlikely event that it ever comes to fruition.

Boxing is not dead.  If anything, you can argue that it took a chapter out of the NBA book.  Controversial decisions and borderline robbery will make us all watch and make us all talk.  We will buy merchandise and purchase pay-per-view events.  Oh, we love boxing now.

Boxing is not dead.  Boxing is no longer dying.  The sport was resuscitated tonight by a bogus decision.

If you still do not agree with me, I want you to consider this entire day.  The Belmont Stakes was ran today after I'll Have Another, the winner of Preakness and the Kentucky Derby, retired due to an injury.  LeBron James and the Miami Heat won the Eastern Conference today and will take on Kevin Durant and the Thunder.  The New Jersey Devils extended the Stanley Cup Finals.  Interleague baseball was on all day.  Maria Sharapova won the French Open to complete her career Grand Slam.  The Death Group in Euro 2012 played today.  Six pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter in the wee hours of last night.

...And we're talking about boxing.

Millwood and Friends No-Hit Dodgers

Kevin Millwood, no stranger to no-hitters, pitched the first
six innings of tonight's no-hitter in Seattle.

If you're reading this, there's a decent chance you remember the last time six pitchers were used in a no-hitter.  In June of 2003, the Yankees were no-hit by the Astros.  Roy Oswalt, Pete Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner were used.  Two months earlier, Kevin Millwood of the Philadelphia Phillies had no-hit the San Francisco Giants.

Tonight I was in attendance to watch said Phillies team take on the Baltimore Orioles in Camden yards.  Jimmy Rollins and Jim Thome were the only players in their lineup who were also in the lineup for Millwood's first no-hitter.  The Phillies Left Fielder that day was Bobby Abreu.  Abreu started in left tonight for the Dodgers as they were no-hit by a six pack of Seattle Mariners tonight in Seattle.

Kevin Millwood pitched the first six innings before leaving with a mild right groin strain.  Charlie Furbush, Stephen Pryor, Lucas Luetge, Brandon League and Tom Wilhelmsen finished the job.  In the process, Pryor recorded his first win.

The hats of all six participating pitchers, Wilhelmsen's glove,
the ball used to record the last out and the lineup
card of tonight's game courtesy of the Seattle Mariners.

Joe Torre's protege Don Mattingly joined Torre as managers who have been on the losing end of a no-hitter thrown by six pitchers.  The Yankees third baseman for that game was Robin Ventura.  He was the manager for Phil Humber's perfect game against these same Mariners two months ago.  Brian Runge was the plate umpire tonight, and for Humber's perfect game.

Kyle Seager drove in the game's only run.  His brother, Corey Seager, was selected by the Dodgers in this year's draft.


The irony in tonight's game is very clear.

The takeaway from this game is that an exciting Seattle Mariner team is getting some national media coverage.  This team is a collection of kids growing up.  There's no bold predictions to come with this.  No Royal or Cub-eque "World Series by 2015" proclamations to make.  Just a fun team with a lot of kids making some national headlines.

Sooner or later, Ichiro will retire and Felix Hernandez will be the elder statesman of the Seattle Mariners.  While this transition happens, we get to watch Dustin Ackley, Jesus Montero, Justin Smoak, Kyle Seager and perhaps Carlos Triunfel grow up in front of our eyes.  We get to see a surprisingly solid bullpen that starts with Brandon League and Tom Wilhelmsen.  We get to see a team that I would personally love to see more of in October.



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NOTES:
-The Nats called up Tyler Moore, the Twins called up Chris Parmelee and the White Sox called up Jordan Danks.  I'm excited for all three, but I'm still waiting on the Royals to call up Will Myers.

-Former White Sox reliever Scott Linebrink was released by the Cardinals.  Apparently the Cards injury problems were so bad, they just had to start sending guys home.

Jason Kipnis and Other Names You Need To Know

Jason Kipnis has helped the Indians
remain competitive in 2012

Now that we are through two months of the season, I've decided to fill out my first All-Star ballot this year.  While looking up the numbers this season, I figured I should take the time out to fill you in on five guys at the plate that you need to know about.


1. Jason Kipnis - 2B Cleveland Indians
His 9 Home Runs and 34 RBI are tops for second basemen in Major League Baseball.  The Glenbrook North grad was the Tribe's top prospect going into 2011 and made his ML debut last July.  Kip has a reputation as a gamer.  He's a tough out and his effort at the plate translates to the field.

2. Kyle Seager - 3B Seattle Mariners
While all of the preseason hype surrounded Blue Jays 3rd Baseman Brett Lawrie, Seager has charged it up at the plate.  Last week he banged out four hits en route to a 21-8 victory over the Rangers.  His 32 RBI are tied for 5th among 3rd Basemen and have helped add to the young core of the Mariners once nonexistent offense.

 3. Dayan Viciedo - LF Chicago White Sox

Kyle Seager has helped put a charge in to the
Mariners offensive attack.

The Cuban import, Viciedo has finally come up to be a major contributor to this White Sox club.  He has combined a solid presence at the plate with some stellar plays in the field.  His arm is growing in reputation and his numbers at the plate are similar to those of Jay Bruce and Corey Hart.  As a person who lives in the Sox market, I can attest that the "Tank" is a 100% percent improvement in the field over Juan Pierre.

4. Lucas Duda - RF New York Mets
While he has not made the biggest splash this season, Duda is starting to have the makings of a player who can start in this league for the better part of the next decade.  His presence in the lineup has helped the Mets to the occupation of first place in June.

5. Tony Campana - CF Chicago Cubs
Camapana made his debut last May and has swiped 42 bags in 132 games since then.  All Campana is going to do is get on first base and steal second.  In 2012, he has 26 singles and 18 Stolen Bases.  His lone career Home Run was an inside the park homer last season.  Campana will be a major part of the Cubs offense, when and if Epstein can build them to compete for a pennant.




Now before I go, here's my first All-Star ballot.
American League
C - A.J. Pierzynski - White Sox .291 BA 9 HR 35 RBI
1B - Paul Konerko - White Sox .366 BA 11 HR 33 RBI
2B - Jason Kipnis - Indians .280 BA 9 HR 34 RBI
3B - Miguel Cabrera - Tigers .318 11 HR 44 RBI
SS - Derek Jeter - Yankees .336 BA 6 HR 20 RBI
OF - Josh Hamilton - Rangers .348 BA 21 HR 57 RBI
OF - Adam Jones - Orioles .315 16 HR 34 RBI
OF - Curtis Granderson - Yankees .261 17 HR 33 RBI
DH - Adam Dunn - White Sox .222 BA 17 HR 38 RBI

National League
C - Carlos Ruiz - Phillies .368 8 HR 32 RBI
1B - Joey Votto - Reds .346 9 HR 33 RBI
2B - Jose Altuve - Astros .316 3 HR 18 RBI
3B - Hanley Ramirez - Marlins .276 11 HR 37 RBI
SS - Starlin Castro - Cubs .305 4 HR 32 RBI
OF - Melky Cabrera - Giants .364 4 HR 27 RBI
OF - Carlos Gonzalez -Rockies .329 14 HR 45 RBI
OF - Andre Ethier - Dodgers .314 9 HR 46 RBI

Feel free to disagree with these picks or to suggest anybody else I should keep my eyes on.