Summer Blog Time

Now that I have escaped the four walls of the office, I am safely trapped in the four walls of home base.

As it still unbeliveably stinking hot ( 35  ) outside, if I decide to cut the grass, it will be at 3 am.

In the meantime, the baseballsecond season continues to find momentum.  The Yankees were stymied in Oakland, while Rays and O's fumble along at .500 and th home squad tossed the Sox around like laundry day.

Over in the AL Central, the Tigers usurped the White Sox, and are now at th top of the heap andlooking every bit the Central powerhouse they were predicted to be. Who cares about the other 3 teams, they are non factors, unless the Indians again decide to send their top 2 prospects for p[itching help.

The West is getting close again, thanks to Rangers losing pitchers like they are at the Alamo, and the Angels almsot have their entire act together ( excluding Santana ), and the A's young rotation is sending a message that pitching wins, even if you do not have an experienced ace. Bo Brett Anderson, no Braden, an injured McCarthy.  Billy Beane is a freakin genius. Now they should make Moneyball, no stars, low budget, except for the Cuban kid, no one making more than a buck eighty.

It is those over achieving A's whop waltx into town to play the big bats of the Blue Jays, having now held down the final wild card slot. Does anyone think they will hold it ? Not me, of course I am stil waiting for the Orioles to collapse, and there is still time for the Birds to have their wings clipped, but give them full marks.

Each team still alive in the race still needs pitching. Those that have it, stay afloat, those without it, will dream of next year, again.

So we ease towardsthe end of July, one thing is certain, that nothing is certain. Many teams still foster a belief that they are in a race for a post season spot, teams that for decades have been also rans, the Pirates, the Orioles, the Athletics, the Nationals. But you n=know what those teams have in common ?  Al 4 have better pitching, and are looking to bolster it, to stay in contention one more week, one more series, gt injured players back, make a run, make September games mean something.

The search for help will come to an abrupt end on August 1st.  But that won't stop teams from believing that this year could still be their year.

This second wild card team in each league has done one thing, it has cost team more money, to chase more money. Young players dealt for expensive fill ins, it always costs when you try and win. It always does.