Rest in Peace, Gary Coleman

Gary Coleman died today at age 42.

Yeah, Gary Coleman's life had become a train wreck over the last few years... but he made all of us laugh in the 1980s, and that should merit a nice salute.

I always remembered him as Jackie Robinson Cooper in the made for TV movie The Kid from Left Field, which to date is the only time the Padres have ever been seen winning the World Series.

In the movie, Coleman manages the Padres with the help of his dad, a former big leaguer played by the always great Robert Guillaume. If I remember correctly, he beat the Cubs in the NLCS (the film came out in 1979, 5 years before the Padres did that for real in 1984!)

And they beat the White Sox in the World Series on a walk off pinch hit homer by Gary Collins.

I also remember Ed McMahon played the owner of the Padres... and had the strange line that he wanted to win the team's first World Series since his father owned them. Well at the time the Padres were only 10 years old... so I guess it was an alternate baseball universe.

Either way, it was a baseball movie I dug as a kid and that's all that matters.

Hats off to you Gary Coleman. You looked good in those Taco Bell Padres unis.

Daisuke Matsuzaka is Japanese for Derek Lowe

One game Daisuke Matsusaka is coughing up 5 runs in the first to the Yankees… next thing you know he’s throwing a no hitter into the 8th inning in Philadelphia… next start he can’t get out of the 5th against the Royals.

Isn’t that a microcosm of the Dice-K era in Boston?
Every time you say “I think Dice-K is going to pitch like an ace now” he wets the bed.
Every time you say “Oh man, it was a huge mistake bringing him here” he throws a great game.

Sound familiar?

That was Derek Lowe to a T!

Remember how he blossomed and became a great reliever for one season in 2000? We all thought “Holy Cats! We’ve got a classic shut them down closer!”

Then the next year he was so bad he nearly torpedoed the season all by himself.

Then the next year, 2002, he threw a no hitter in April, became a 20 game winner and nearly won the Cy Young Award.

Then his ERA jumped nearly 2 runs the next year. Man you can’t rely on him in the big game.

But he came out of the bullpen and shut down the A’s in that amazing Division Series. He’s back!

Then he lost 2 starts against the Yankees in the ALCS. He’s done.

Then 2004 he was so awful that his ERA was over 5 and he wasn’t even in the post season rotation. He sucks. He’s a mop up man.





Then he won all three clinching games in the 2004 playoffs, including 6 innings of 1 hit ball in the Bronx to win the pennant and 7 shutout innings in St. Louis to win the World Series.

He left perfectly. He left with everyone remembering him as a playoff hero. He got the wild standing ovation during the ring ceremony in 2005 even though he had split for the Dodgers.

It’s like people remembering the Belushi/Chevy years of SNL. They only remember the good parts… not the many unwatchable episodes.

And so it is with Dice-K.

We’ve got the next great pitcher in baseball!

Oooo. He’s not that good. He might suck.

Oh my God! He clinched the pennant! And he got 2 RBI in the World Series and won his game!

Holy Cow he’s an 18 game winner and nearly threw a no hitter in the ALCS against the Rays!

Oh man, he blew his arm out pitching in that stupid World Baseball Classic.

He stinks, he let up 5 runs in the first.

Holy Crap! He’s throwing a no hitter! He’s awesome again! Who needs Beckett?

He’s walking the Royals with the bases loaded… why did we sign this guy?



Going up and down that fast will usually give a guy the bends!

Rooting for these guys was kind of like yelling “No Whammys!” while playing Press Your Luck. There’s no rhyme nor reason and you are either going to be thrilled or incensed.

Let’s hope Dice-K has another string of post season luck in him.
There’s only 14 more years left on his contract.

Met fans... please don't get too excited

Yes, I know the Mets just swept Philadelphia.

That's always a cool thing.

I know the Mets are only 2 back and look like world beaters right now. I beg of you, Met fans... don't get too excited.

Seriously, it isn't going to end well.

And in fact I think the two nice runs the Mets went on this year will in the end hurt the team... because they NEED to make a big move like dealing Santana when his value is at its best, and they won't do that when they think they are a contender!!

Just enjoy this fluke and don't start making October plans...

UNLESS...

There was one factor in today's game the team should take into account.

Once again my rocker friend Jaime Fallon was in attendance... and as I wrote before, when she shows up, the Mets win.

It hasn't failed yet.

The Mets should just give her a season pass, and then get ready for October ball.

(Seriously, Jaime's attendance is the only reason I can think of for the Mets good fortue.)

Of COURSE the Royals would be too tough to beat!

The Red Sox stare down the Yankees, Twins, Phillies and Rays and walk away with an 8-2 record.

The defending World Champs... the reigning champs and current leader in the central... the best team in the AL... the best team in baseball... the Red Sox beat them to an .800 winning percentage.

So naturally they come home to play the Royals, a team on pace to lose 96 games... and can't score a run off of their bullpen.

There's a lot to say about Daisuke Matsusaka's grotesque outing, but that will be in another post.

For now, let's just say my teeth are grinding.

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 16

April 4 - 9-7 win against Yankees (On Opening Night, the Red Sox overcome a 5-1 Yankee lead with a game tying HR by Pedroia and a go ahead passed ball.)
April 10 - 8-3 win against Kansas City (Beckett out pitches Zack Greinke and nearly gets decapitated by a line drive.)
April 14 - 6-3 win in Minnesota. (Okajima gets Morneau to pop up with the bases loaded in the 7th and Papelbon wiggled out of a 9th inning jam.)
April 20 - 7-6 win against Texas. (Darnell McDonald introduces himself to Boston with an 8th inning game tying homer and a walk off hit in the 9th.)
April 21 - 8-7 win against Texas. (The Red Sox were down 4-0 early only to win it on Youk's 2 out 11th inning double.)
April 23 - 4-3 win against Baltimore. (The Sox blow a 3-0 lead but win it on Adrian Beltre's bases loaded walk.)

April 24 - 7-6 win against Baltimore. (The Red Sox score 6 in the 7th and hold off a late Baltimore comeback attempt.)
April 26 - 13-12 win at Toronto. (The Sox blow an early 5-0 lead but hang on for dear life in a slugfest.)
April 27 - 2-1 win at Toronto. (Buchholz holds the Jays down for 8 but it takes a bases loaded walk in the 8th to go ahead.)
April 28 - 2-0 win at Toronto. (Daniel Bard wiggles out of trouble in the 8th to help Lester shut down the Blue Jays and finish the sweep.)
May 4 - 5-1 win against the Angels. (Juan Rivera misplays Jeremy Hermedia's 2 out flyball into a 3 run game winning double)
May 5 - 3-1 win against the Angels. (Papi and Beltre homer and the Sox hang on despite squandering many potential rallies.)
May 6 - 11-6 win against the Angels. (Dice-K puts the Red Sox in a 4-0 hole before they even bat. The Sox bats respond.)
May 10 - 7-6 win against the Blue Jays. (Sox blow an early 2-0 lead, take advantage of some errors and hang on.)
May 18 - 7-5 win in New York. (Sox climb back from a 5-1 hole. A day after hitting a walk off homer, Marcus Thames drops a fly ball to start the winning rally for the Sox.)
May 25 - 2-0 win in Tampa. (Big Papi supplies all the offense as Papelbon wiggles out of a 9th inning jam.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 14

April 6 - 6-4 loss against the Yankees. (Scutaro's error leads to the winning run.)
April 7 - 3-1 loss against the Yankees. (Sox leave the winning run on in the 9th only to lose on Granderson's 10th inning homer)
April 9 - 4-3 loss in Kansas City. (Bard coughs up the lead, denying Wakefield a win.)
April 17 - 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay. (The Sox can't score with the bases loaded and nobody out in the 11th... lost it in the 12th.)
April 17 - 6-5 loss to Tampa Bay. (The Red Sox comeback falls a run short, leaving two on in the 8th)
April 25 - 7-6 loss to Baltimore. (The Sox blow a 4-1 lead, leave the winning run on second in the 9th, let up 3 in the 10th and could only score 2 in the bottom of the 10th)
April 30 - 5-4 loss in Baltimore. (Tejada ties the game with a 2 out 8th inning homer and wins it with a bloop in the 10th)
May 1 - 12-9 loss in Baltimore. (Dice-K and Wakes get pounded, wasting 2 homers from Ortiz and an early 4-1 lead.)
May 2 - 3-2 loss in Baltimore. (Varitek is thrown at home trying to score with 2 outs in the 8th. Sox get swept in the 10th.
May 12 - 3-2 loss against the Blue Jays. (The Sox rally in the 9th comes up a run short and Kevin Gregg gets an ugly save.)
May 15 - 7-6 loss in Detroit. (The Sox blow a 6-1 lead and lose it on a 2 out bases loaded walk in the 12th.)
May 17 - 11-9 loss in New York. (The Sox come all the way back from a 5-0 first inning hole to take a 9-7 lead in the 9th... but Papelbon lets up a 2 run game tying shot to A-Rod and a 2 run walk off shot to Marcus Thames.)
May 21 - 5-1 loss in Philadelphia. (Big Papi's bid for a game tying 9th inning grand slam is caught at the warning track.)
May 27 - 4-3 loss to Kansas City. (Dice-K walks the go ahead run in and lets another score on a wild pitch as the Royals no name bullpen shut down the Hot Sox.)

Back down to +2.
I don't want to hear about let downs... I want to see a series win starting TOMORROW!

Monte Irvin and #20

Yesterday the Giants announced that they were retiring Monte Irvin's #20. And thankfully, Monte is still alive and will be at the ceremony.

Chances are Monte Irvin’s number retirement in San Francisco will get some nice applause at AT&T Park and some heartfelt commentary from baseball experts and most baseball fans will have no clue who he is.

He never played a day as a member of the San Francisco Giants, so you can forgive their fans if they don't get worked up when #20 gets retired.

But if things had played out a little differently, #20 would already have been retired all over baseball.

No less of an authority than Cool Papa Bell thought that Monte Irvin was going to be the player to break the color barrier.

He certainly was a more established professional baseball player than Jackie Robinson was. As an outfielder for the Newark Eagles in the Negro Leagues, he was a five time All Star and batted over .400 in 1940. He also was the MVP of the Mexican League in 1942.

Like Robinson, Irvin was talented at many sports. He was a champion javelin thrower as well as a star on the Lincoln University football team. Like Robinson, Irvin had served in the military during the Second World War and was a married family man.

When Branch Rickey was looking for the right candidate to break the color barrier, he wanted more than a good ballplayer.

He wanted an upstanding human being and one who would be willing to take the punishment and respond not with their fists but with their play.

And oh yeah, he also wanted to make A LOT of money!

Irvin fit all the qualifications... solid player, family man, college educated, military service and a person of strong character.

And supposedly Rickey approached Irvin to be part of his great experiment. Legend has it that Irvin didn't think he was ready to play at the Major League level so soon after leaving the service.

Rickey went with Robinson and Irvin would eventually join the Giants. Irvin led the National League in RBIs in 1951 when the Giants would over take the Dodgers behind Bobby Thomson's homer. He was also an All Star in 1952 and helped the Giants win the 1954 World Series, the last one the team has won to date.

He worked for the Mets and the Commissioners office after his retirement and became a member of the Hall of Fame in 1973, a year after Jackie Robinson's untimely death.

But imagine if he had said yes to Rickey.

Maybe it would have been Monte Irvin whose legacy we celebrate in breaking the color barrier.

Maybe school children would be taught to marvel at the dignity, talent and bravery of the great Monte Irvin.

And chances are Jackie Robinson, not given the directive by Branch Rickey to curb his well known hot temper, may not have lasted long. Perhaps Jackie would be known as a former UCLA football star who briefly played in the majors.

Maybe Jackie would have joined his former UCLA football teammates Woody Strode and Kenny Washington as racial pioneers in the NFL.

People might say something like "What Monte Irvin was to baseball, Jackie Robinson was to the National Football League."


And maybe in 1997, on the 50th anniversary of the color barrier being broken, Bud Selig and Bill Clinton would have retired #20 all over baseball instead of #42.

We'll never know. But what we DO know is Monte Irvin deserves to have #20 retired.
And if you are at that game... stand up and applaud.

He had All Star stuff and the heart of a pioneer.

For now, the Cy Young race in the National League is much clearer

About a month ago, I had listed 12 potential Cy Young candidates in the National League as the award seemed like it was going to be loaded with possible winners.

It is a lot less cluttered now.

11 of the 12 pitchers have had a bump or two in the road since then. Even two of the three top contenders are coming off of a loss now. Roy Halladay was hit hard by the Red Sox over the weekend and last night Tim Lincecum was handed his first loss of the season.

And Ubaldo Jimenez keeps on dominating. His numbers are sickening at around the 1/3 mark of the season.

How good are they? Good enough to remove the "in Coors" qualifier to them. They would be good in ANY ballpark.

You like wins? He's got 9 of them.
You like win percentage? His winning percentage is .900! (His lone loss came in a 7 inning, 2 hit, 1 run, 1 walk effort in Dodger Stadium on May 9th.)
You like an innings eater? He averages more than 7 innings a start!
You like a dominating start? He threw the Rockies' first ever no hitter and in half of his starts, he's let up zero runs.

You like ERA? His is 0.88. Plus his Coors Field ERA is 1.29!

He has the lowest ERA+, the lowest WHIP, the lowest batting average against, the lowest hits per nine innings ratio, the fewest homers per 9 innings...

And those are just the categories he LEADS in.

There's about 2/3 of the season left and Halladay, Wainwright, Lincecum or someone else could dominate and win the prize.

But as of this posting, Jimenez has the lead.

19-4

On the surface, not much has changed.

The Rays still have the best record in baseball.

The Red Sox still trail both the Rays and the Yankees (although they leap frogged Toronto into third place.)

And yet a lot has changed.

They looked like a dead from the neck up team in Detroit a few weekends ago and started a 10 game stretch against the Yankees, Twins, Phillies and Rays. And only the two games against Minnesota were at home.

It was a stretch that essentially could have buried the Red Sox.
And it began with a "Oh boy, I guess the season IS over" Papelbon meltdown in the Bronx.

Their record, including the Papelbon bed wetting, over those 10 games?

8-2.

They faced some of the best teams in the game and out hit them (they scored 5 or more runs 7 times in that stretch) and out pitched them.

In their current 5 game winning streak, the average Red Sox start has been roughly 7 innings and 1 earned run... against the best team in the NL and the AL.

Not much has changed except the Red Sox outscored the best team in baseball 19-4 on their own turf.

Notice has been served.

The Red Sox are waking up... you should have buried them when you had the chance!

Really America?

Two straight years you had a chance to vote for an original, dynamic and truly talented American Idol... and two straight years you pick a boring white guy who didn't do a single memorable performance?

Seriously! Name your favorite Lee performance! The one that made you think MAN! I am looking at a star here!

You can't do it... because he NEVER HAD ONE!

I thought Kris Allen was bad last year, but he is Mick Jagger compared to this Lee Bozo.


OK, Adam Lambert lost because... well... he was a gay guy and it still isn't OK to be a gay guy in America.

But what was everyone's problem with Crystal?

What she has tattoos?
She is a single mom?

It's a travesty. And we as Americans will miss out on seeing Crystal be an awkward pitch woman for Ford.

Is it the teenage girl factor? I doubt it. Is Lee even cute?

This year's American Idol season was a mess for one reason that was as clear as day this evening:

The lack of Paula.

I've been saying that all year to my friends who watch it. They say "it's not as good this year."

And since the auditions I've been saying "They are going to miss Paula."
Yeah, she's nuts and probably on something... but that was one of the things that made the show fun. Plus you needed her loving EVERYTHING to Simon's hating everything. That way when you watch the show and Paula didn't like it, you thought "Wow... they didn't even get HER vote."

She was smart. She got out first and lo and behold the show got on its waterskis and are heading for the ramp with that shark waiting for them on the season where she left.

So next season... No Paula... No Simon... No chance that the best will win.

Guess what? No Sully.

Don't believe me? Hey, I used to be an Apprentice addict... then they switched to celebrities and I haven't watched an episode of the show in 4 years.

OK folks, back to baseball, but not before we all take a look at the tortuous clip of the dull as ditchwater winner of American Idol warbling with Chicago.

ENJOY AMERICA! You broke it, you bought it!

Dominican Dandies!

I know I shouldn't blog about a game before it is over... but MAN this Sox team is on fire.

Beltre has 2 homers?

Papi has another one?

A shaky Lackey performance (which has become too common for my liking) could be buoyed by our left/right Dominican Power source! Does that sound familiar?

Oooooh boy. I'm starting to get excited about the Sox again!

Go for the sweep boys!

Remember when the Diamondbacks were putting together a dynasty?

May 18, 2008 technically wasn't THAT long ago!

It was a little more than 2 years before I started typing this post.
But the Diamondbacks and their fans, it must seem like an eternity has passed since then.

On that day, the Diamondbacks beat Detroit in an interleague game. Blast from the past Randy Johnson threw 7 shutout innings and Arizona won 4-0.

The Diamondbacks improved to 28-16 and were in first place and looked like manager Bob Melvin and company had put together a contender not just for 2008, but for well into the next decade. This wasn't a quick grab for a World Series title like in 2001 that nearly bankrupted the team. This was a smart rebuilding.

The D'Backs were coming off a surprise NLCS appearance in 2007 where their 90-72 record was the best in the National League.

Their team was LOADED with young talent like Conor Jackson, Chris Young, Mark Reynolds, Brandon Webb, Danny Haren, Stephen Drew, Justin Upton and Chad Tracy... all of whom were under 30 and had some playoff experience.

And on that day in 2008, the Diamondbacks were 5 1/2 games up with the best record in baseball. They were on pace to win 103 games.

Arizona was poised to take over baseball.
I started thinking that Arizona could be the next great baseball fan base.

What has happened since May 18, 2008?

They went 54-64 the rest of the way, barely finishing above .500.

From May 19, 2008 to last night's 3-2 loss against Colorado, the Snakes are 144-182.

If they lose to Ubaldo Jimenez (a distinct possibility) they will be nearly 40 games UNDER .500 since that win.

The manager is gone, replaced by A.J. Hinch, who isn't faring much better.

Sure it hurts when you lose Webb, the team's Cy Young contender.
It hurts that Chad Tracy, Conor Jackson and Chris Young all flopped as badly as they did in 2009.

And it sure doesn't help that their bullpen has been a house of horrors this year.

The Diamondbacks are now floundering in the basement of the NL West... the only team NOT contending. They finished in the cellar last year as well as they look like perennial cellar dwellers just as it seemed like they were on the verge of becoming a powerhouse.

Who knows?
Maybe they'll get good as quickly as they got bad!

Maybe Justin Upton will break out and the Brandon Allens and Marc Krauss's of the world can have the Diamondbacks jump back UP in the standings.

Let's check back on May 18th, 2011.

Another American Idol post

Sorry folks... I am an American Idol addict as well as a baseball nut. And I have no other public forum to make such an announcement:

Crystal Bowersox had better win!

You screwed up in the past, America.

Melinda Doolittle was clearly the best a few years ago... and she didn't make the finals.

And last year's debacle, when the dynamic Adam Lambert lost to the completely devoid of charisma Kris Allen, prompted a modest Sully Baseball rant.

So come on... Bowersox has talent, charisma and is memorable.
The appeal of Lee DeWhatever as completely eluded me. Siobhan, Big Mike or even Lilly Scott would have made this final more interesting than the MammaSox vs. Bland Nondescript White Guy match up.

Bowersox had better win. I tend to root for anything with S-O-X in its name.

Seems like old times

Another day, another Red Sox pitcher throws an outstanding game.

It's almost as if the Red Sox had a plan to revolve their team around run prevention. And oh yeah, Big Papi supplied all of the offense, which I can get used to.

Yeah, Bob Davidson's strike zone was so wide that you could hear the ghost of Eric Gregg saying "Are you kidding me?"

But the Sox survived a threat in the 9th and guess what?

They've already won the series against the best team in baseball! Winning games in Tampa? That's what the Sox USED to do! It does seem like old times.

Hmmm... is this team just playing with my head?

Not sure, but I am going to update the tally.

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 16

April 4 - 9-7 win against Yankees (On Opening Night, the Red Sox overcome a 5-1 Yankee lead with a game tying HR by Pedroia and a go ahead passed ball.)
April 10 - 8-3 win against Kansas City (Beckett out pitches Zack Greinke and nearly gets decapitated by a line drive.)
April 14 - 6-3 win in Minnesota. (Okajima gets Morneau to pop up with the bases loaded in the 7th and Papelbon wiggled out of a 9th inning jam.)
April 20 - 7-6 win against Texas. (Darnell McDonald introduces himself to Boston with an 8th inning game tying homer and a walk off hit in the 9th.)
April 21 - 8-7 win against Texas. (The Red Sox were down 4-0 early only to win it on Youk's 2 out 11th inning double.)
April 23 - 4-3 win against Baltimore. (The Sox blow a 3-0 lead but win it on Adrian Beltre's bases loaded walk.)

April 24 - 7-6 win against Baltimore. (The Red Sox score 6 in the 7th and hold off a late Baltimore comeback attempt.)
April 26 - 13-12 win at Toronto. (The Sox blow an early 5-0 lead but hang on for dear life in a slugfest.)
April 27 - 2-1 win at Toronto. (Buchholz holds the Jays down for 8 but it takes a bases loaded walk in the 8th to go ahead.)
April 28 - 2-0 win at Toronto. (Daniel Bard wiggles out of trouble in the 8th to help Lester shut down the Blue Jays and finish the sweep.)
May 4 - 5-1 win against the Angels. (Juan Rivera misplays Jeremy Hermedia's 2 out flyball into a 3 run game winning double)
May 5 - 3-1 win against the Angels. (Papi and Beltre homer and the Sox hang on despite squandering many potential rallies.)
May 6 - 11-6 win against the Angels. (Dice-K puts the Red Sox in a 4-0 hole before they even bat. The Sox bats respond.)
May 10 - 7-6 win against the Blue Jays. (Sox blow an early 2-0 lead, take advantage of some errors and hang on.)
May 18 - 7-5 win in New York. (Sox climb back from a 5-1 hole. A day after hitting a walk off homer, Marcus Thames drops a fly ball to start the winning rally for the Sox.)
May 25 - 2-0 win in Tampa. (Big Papi supplies all the offense as Papelbon wiggles out of a 9th inning jam.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 13

April 6 - 6-4 loss against the Yankees. (Scutaro's error leads to the winning run.)
April 7 - 3-1 loss against the Yankees. (Sox leave the winning run on in the 9th only to lose on Granderson's 10th inning homer)
April 9 - 4-3 loss in Kansas City. (Bard coughs up the lead, denying Wakefield a win.)
April 17 - 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay. (The Sox can't score with the bases loaded and nobody out in the 11th... lost it in the 12th.)
April 17 - 6-5 loss to Tampa Bay. (The Red Sox comeback falls a run short, leaving two on in the 8th)
April 25 - 7-6 loss to Baltimore. (The Sox blow a 4-1 lead, leave the winning run on second in the 9th, let up 3 in the 10th and could only score 2 in the bottom of the 10th)
April 30 - 5-4 loss in Baltimore. (Tejada ties the game with a 2 out 8th inning homer and wins it with a bloop in the 10th)
May 1 - 12-9 loss in Baltimore. (Dice-K and Wakes get pounded, wasting 2 homers from Ortiz and an early 4-1 lead.)
May 2 - 3-2 loss in Baltimore. (Varitek is thrown at home trying to score with 2 outs in the 8th. Sox get swept in the 10th.
May 12 - 3-2 loss against the Blue Jays. (The Sox rally in the 9th comes up a run short and Kevin Gregg gets an ugly save.)
May 15 - 7-6 loss in Detroit. (The Sox blow a 6-1 lead and lose it on a 2 out bases loaded walk in the 12th.)
May 17 - 11-9 loss in New York. (The Sox come all the way back from a 5-0 first inning hole to take a 9-7 lead in the 9th... but Papelbon lets up a 2 run game tying shot to A-Rod and a 2 run walk off shot to Marcus Thames.)
May 21 - 5-1 loss in Philadelphia. (Big Papi's bid for a game tying 9th inning grand slam is caught at the warning track.)

Back up to +3.

Tomorrow the Sox are playing with house money as this series is already won... and then back to Boston for four with Kansas City.

Could the Sox go into June in a playoff spot?

Filling out my All Star Ballot

It's that time of year again... time to fill out our All Star Ballots and give the power to the people.

And with that power comes the insane picks that made Jason Giambi an All Star starter despite being benched on his own team in 2004... or mediocre Red Sox second baseman Mark Loretta being voted in as a starter in 2006.

It is a wonderful theory to have fans vote in players, but often times they will either simply punch in players that play for THEIR team, players they recognize or people who have had good first halves of the season.

So the staff here at Sully Baseball decided to fill out three All Star Ballots with three different sets of Ballots. And each one will have a different criteria for why each player is getting at least one vote.

I filled them out at Dodger Stadium this weekend with a little help from my friend, the Emmy winning writer and comedian Dan Cronin.

BALLOT ONE: The Players I WANT To See Play Ballot

I believe the All Star Game should be filled with players who are having a good year and will be exciting to see. By that I mean a STAR. If the National League is throwing Tim Lincecum on the mound, I want him facing down a star American League player... not someone that an egg head with a calculator tells me has a higher VORP than the league average.

Yeah I know Derek Jeter isn't having his best season... I want to see him face Halladay, Jimenez and Santana.

Is that subjective? Sure... but it's my ballot. You don't like it, get your own.

NATIONAL LEAGUE:

Catcher - ROD BARAJAS, Mets
His 10 homers leads all big league catchers.

First Base - ALBERT PUJOLS, Cardinals
He's had a bad May, but when the season is over, he'll be in the MVP discussion.

Second Base - CHASE UTLEY, Phillies
10 homers, .307 average and a 1.016 OPS gets the nod over Dan Uggla.

Shortstop - HANLEY RAMIREZ, Marlins
Let's see some hustle out there, Hanley!

Third Base - RYAN ZIMMERMAN, Nationals
A lot of good third basemen to pick from, I'll go with Zimmerman because he's done it over a full season.

Left Fielder - RYAN BRAUN, Brewers
His .324 average, .928 OPS and 30 RBI are among the lone highlights of this Brewers season.

Center Fielder -MARLON BYRD, Cubs
A solid center fielder hitting with power and a good average. A good Cubs signing? What are the chances?

Right Fielder -JAYSON WERTH, Phillies
If Andre Ethier wasn't hurt, he'd get my vote. Heck, Ethier might win the MVP. But for now, the healthy Werth with his .327 average, 1.048 OPS and 9 homers gets the nod.

AMERICAN LEAGUE:

Cather - JOE MAUER, Twins
The defending AL MVP is earning his dough with a .346 average and a .911 OPS

First Base - JUSTIN MORNEAU, Twins
Morneau leads the AL in hitting, OPS and is only 3 homers away from the home run lead.

Second Base - ROBINSON CANO, Yankees
A .335 hitters with a .956 OPS and 9 homers, Cano is becoming the next Yankee superstar.

Shortstop - DEREK JETER, Yankees
His stats will be there when the season ends. Who would rather see? Jeter or Yuniesky Betancourt?

Third Base - EVAN LONGORIA, Rays
Calm down Yankee fans. Longoria is putting up better numbers than A-Rod. Besides, I'm starting Jeter and Cano!

Left Fielder - CARL CRAWFORD, Rays
Hitting .322 for a terrific team is a smart move on his walk year.

Center Fielder - VERNON WELLS, Blue Jays
The comeback player of the year? 11 homers already to go with a .944 OPS.

Right Fielder - ICHIRO SUZUKI, Mariners
His .352 average, second in the AL, is the lone bright spot for the Mariners this year.

Designated Hitter - VLADIMIR GUERRERO, Rangers
Think the angels could use 10 homers, a .339 average and a .927 OPS?

BALLOT TWO: The First Time All Star Ballot

For some players, going to the Midseason Classic is old hat. For everyone on THIS ballot, it is their first time going and a chance to finally have the title All Star attached to their name.

Some of these names surprised me that they weren't All Stars. But, according to Baseball Reference they weren't... and why would Baseball-Reference lie to me?

NATIONAL LEAGUE:

Catcher - ROD BARAJAS, Mets
Yup, he is on two of my ballots. A smart move by Omar Minaya.

First Base - JOEY VOTTO, Reds
Leads all qualifying NL first basemen in hitting and OPS and has 10 homers to boot.

Second Base - KELLY JOHNSON, Diamondbacks
How does this guy have 12 homers already? And why did the Braves give up on him?

Shortstop - STEPHEN DREW, Diamondbacks
A playoff hero in 2007, Drew is flirting with .300 as a regular.

Third Base - CASEY McGEHEE, Brewers
He leads the NL in RBI and is only one behind Miguel Cabrera for the best in baseball.

Left Fielder - JOSH WILLINGHAM, Nationals
Has some power and a flair for the dramatic. He also has a .929 OPS as well.

Center Fielder -MARLON BYRD, Cubs
Like Barajas, is on both ballots. His signing slid under the radar last off season.

Right Fielder - JASON HEYWARD, Braves
Probably the first of many All Star selections.

AMERICAN LEAGUE:

Cather - JOHN BUCK, Blue Jays
The main piece in the Carlos Beltran trade is leading AL Catchers in homers... just not with the Royals!

First Base - KENDRY MORALES, Angels
I had to double check, but Morales is indeed an All Star virgin.

Second Base - TY WIGGINTON, Orioles
Not sure what position to put him in... but his 13 homers and .960 OPS deserves a spot on the team.

Shortstop - ELVIS ANDRUS, Rangers
Think the Braves are regretting the Mark Teixera trade?

Third Base - ADRIAN BELTRE, Red Sox
Nope, Beltre has never been an All Star before. His .335 average merits a spot now.

Left Fielder - SHIN-SOO CHOO, Indians
Think the Mariners could use his left handed swing with power now? Cleveland is happy to have him.

Center Fielder - AUSTIN JACKSON, Tigers
With Granderson hurt and Jackson hitting, not a lot of people are complaining about that trade now!

Right Fielder - JOSE BAUTISTA, Blue Jays
Did you know he was currently tied with Paul Konerko for most homers in the big leagues?

Designated Hitter - JOSE GUILLEN, Royals
Surprisingly, Guillen, with his 11 homers and 31 RBI, would be a first time All Star as well.

BALLOT THREE: The Anti All Star Ballot

The final ballot I like to call my "Sanjaya Ballot." Basically I am trying to find the absolute worst combination of players. Inevitably you will see there are players on the All Star Ballot who are barely even playing. They don't have a crystal ball handy when they make up the ballots so they don't know who is going to get hurt, stink up the joint or need psychiatric treatment.

So I found what I think is the best combination of players who are either off to awful starts, are hurt or got cut from their teams... and seeing one or two of these guys get elected might prompt baseball to reconsider the whole "Let Fans Vote" thing.

NATIONAL LEAGUE:

Cather - J. R. TOWLES, Astros
He has only 9 hits all year and he is hitting .191 with no power. But he DOES have 8 RBI... a pretty good hit to RBI ratio!

First Base - JEFF CLEMENT, Pirates
The Pirates thought they were getting a solid bat from Seattle, not a .180 hitter with 6 extra base hits.

Second Base - KAZ MATSUI, Astros
Remember when he was going to be the next big Mets star? Now he is the the latest unemployed Astro.

Shortstop - TOMMY MANZELLA, Astros
Another sub .200 hitter in the Astros lineup. His OPS doesn't bust .500... and neither will the Astros!

Third Base - ARAMIS RAMIREZ, Cubs
He has a hurt thumb, which would account for the .160 average and sub .500 OPS. Another unmovable Cub.

Left Fielder - CARLOS LEE, Astros
Yup. Another Astro. $19 million should buy you better than a .196 average, 5 homers and a .325 slugging percentage.

Center Fielder - CARLOS BELTRAN, Mets
The face of the Mets hasn't played a game all year. He's not even healthy enough to not swing at an Adam Wainwright pitch.

Right Fielder - MARK DeROSA, Giants
He was supposed to bring offense and versatility to the Giants line up. Instead he brought a .194 average, no power and a trip to the DL.

AMERICAN LEAGUE:

Cather - GERALD LAIRD, Tigers
He was never an offensive powerhouse... but a .155 average? .237 slugging? Yikes!

First Base - CASEY KOTCHMAN, Mariners
He used to flirt with .300. Now he is hitting .196. But his 3 homers almost is tops with the MarinerS!

Second Base - BRIAN ROBERTS, Orioles
The One time legit All Star wasn't producing before an abdominal injury sidelined him.

Shortstop - ADAM EVERETT, Tigers
A .197 average and .258 slugging percentage an All Star does not make.

Third Base - BRANDON WOOD, Angels
The perennial prospect is hitting .156 with an OPS of .381.

Left Fielder - MILTON BRADLEY, Mariners
To the surprise of nobody, he hasn't produced. He at least has asked for help.

Center Fielder - GRADY SIZEMORE, Indians
He's a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner. But this year he's hitting .211 with a .560 OPS, no power and languishing on the disabled list.

Right Fielder - MATT LaPORTA, Indians
The the Brewers sell the Indians a bill of goods? They certainly didn't sell them the slugger they thought they were getting.

Designated Hitter - PAT BURRELL, Rays
The Burrell in Tampa Bay experiment ended with his release after only 16 homers over a year and 2 months.



There you have it. Three ballots... three different thought processes.

Vote often. Vote insanely.
It's the American Way!

PAY ATTENTION REDS FANS

Your team is in first place in late May.

It’s still early but before you know it, it will be June… and it will be the time of year where teams that got good starts but are really mediocre are separated from the “Holy Cow, they might have a shot!” teams.

There’s a lot going in the Reds favor right now:

They won tonight against the Pirates.
They play three more against the Pirates at home and then three against the Astros.

The Reds MUST go 4-2 in those 6 games… but seeing they are playing two teams in utter freefall and disarray, a 5-1 stretch isn’t out of the question.

Meanwhile the Cardinals, who sit on top of the standings with Cincy, are off to San Diego to play the division leading Padres… then off to Wrigley to play the Cubs.

And how do the Reds and Cardinals finish the merry little month of May?
With a head to head series.

The Cardinals have a harder schedule in the build up to the Memorial Day clash and if the chips (or cards if you will) fall where they may, the Reds could FINISH May up by a couple of games, looking to pad the lead with a series win in St. Louis.

In other words, Reds fans… watch the games. Something cool might be happening.

Something positive is happening in Boston

Boston fans... I know it has been a strange night, sports wise.
Paul Pierce couldn't get a shot off and the Eastern Conference still isn't clinched.

And the Flyers moving on to the Stanley Cup Finals is a grim reminder of two things:
1. A 3-0 lead isn't safe... don't get cocky, Celtics.
2. The Bruins would be playing in the Cup Final if they didn't finish the series 0-4.

But amidst the grimness, there is something potentially wonderful brewing.

Remember how we all dusted off our old copies of "Noose Making For Dummies" after Papelbon took a Seabiscuit sized dump in the bed last Monday?

The Sox are 5-1 since... they beat Mariano Rivera one night, Roy Halladay another. They got great starts from Buchholz, Wakes, Lester and a near no hitter from Dice-K.

Ellsbury is back and Ortiz has injected some of his old life into his swing.

And have they been beating tomato cans?

Nah... just the Defending World Champions, the defending Central Champs (who are currently in first place), the best team in the National League and the team off to the best start since the 2001 Seattle Mariners.

In other words this could have been a week that could have SUNK the Red Sox.

Instead they have been pitching, hitting and putting teams away early.

And while it is too early to be lining up playoff match ups, despite all the HORRIBLE baseball that the Red Sox have forced upon us in 2010... they are currently only 2 games out of a playoff spot.

There's lots of baseball left to be played, and teams that hit and pitch well tend to do well over the long haul.

Win the series in Tampa and then there are 4 games with KC at home.

Rest of the AL... can't you hear the Sox knocking?

We interupt the baseball talk to say AAARRRRGHHH!

Couldn't Paul Pierce just heave it up with time running out in regulation?
Wasn't there someone open?

I wanted that sweep... and now we all know an 0-3 hole is NOT insurmountable.

Ask the 2004 Yankees.
Ask this year's Bruins.

I want the Celtics to win.
Why?

I am greedy.

Seriously, NOBODY was open?

BRANIAC!!!

Reid Brignac has been a top prospect for Tampa Bay for the past 4 years and is now holding his own on the big league roster.

I’ve seen his name for years and NEVER known how to pronounce it.

Then listening to tonight’s game on mlb.com and I heard Joe Castglione say his name.

It’s basically pronounced Braniac… which is awesome.

I already don’t like the Rays, but now they have a Charter Member of the Legion of Doom in their line up.

Now I am not sure if this is the original Brainiac, shrinking cities left and right including Kandor.

Or he could be the machine created by the Colu computers.

Or maybe he could be that robotic version from the Crisis on Infinite Earth years.

Or maybe the human Vril Dox.

Or he could be Brainiac 13.

All I know is the Red Sox need to be Superman in this scenario and kick his butt.

(If anyone other than my brother understood this post, e mail me at info@sullybaseball.com)