Now Warming Up…MLB

Let's start with the Opener.

***MLB continues to try to make its annual All-Star game relevant and engaging over the past few years by making the winning league the home team in the upcoming World Series. And, the decision to have players wear their actual team jerseys, instead of marketing yet another one, is a solid one.  However, with the senior circuit winning on a “swing-off” is most disappointing.  First, it just sounds like a contest for toddlers at the local playground.  And, should any baseball game be decided by some weird home run contest?  I understand the league wants to protect the players from overuse and injury, but if they want to make the mid-season game a true classic, it has to be a real baseball game. Both the AL and NL had a surplus of pitchers to handle extra innings, even if they wanted to start with a runner on second base, which fans have now come to expect (yawn). What do you think?

Now to the Set Up Man.

***With a 55-41 record, how many fans saw the Blue Jays of Toronto coming out of the All-Star break in first place in the American League East?  They have a two-game lead over the second-place Yankees, but only have a +17 run differential, with New York sitting with +111. Timely hitting and winning close games have been the winning formula for Toronto, but can they hang on?  The AL East has the top four teams separated by only 5.5 games, with Boston winning 10 games prior to the break.  I’m sticking with my pre-season pick of the Red Sox to win the division, but it truly can be the Jays, Rays, or Yanks.  This is pure baseball fun!

Now the Closer.

***The trade deadline is Thursday, July 31st, and it looks like the market should be robust.  Truly, any team in the AL Central not located in Detroit should be looking to unload some pieces. Arizona may trade some expiring contracts after their season seemingly fell apart simultaneously to the injury to Corbin Burnes.  All the contenders will look to upgrade somehow, I suspect, with again, the Tigers with the best record in the league sitting as comfortably as any team in MLB.  The next few weeks should be interesting.

"Being traded is like celebrating your 100th birthday. It might not be the happiest occasion in the world, but consider the alternative?"- Joe Garagiola