The Umpire is Always Right..

My college coach had two rules when we were playing games; rule number 1: the umpire is always right, and rule number 2: when in doubt, revert back to rule number 1.

Tuesday night the Braves and Pirates got tangled up in, quite possibly, the best game of the year so far, in the major leagues. Each team put up three runs by the end of the third inning, and then the stalemate began. By the end of the second game, yes second game, they played 19 innings, there was still a 3-3 tie.  Finally, in the bottom of the 19^th inning the Braves put together a scoring threat after almost seven hours of play.

This is where it get’s juicy. The Braves had Julio Lugo on third with less than two outs and Lugo tried to score on a ground ball to third. The throw came home, the catcher got the ball three steps before Lugo made it home, clearly he was going to be out, and this game was going to continue on into the morning. But, no. Umpire Jerry Meals didn’t see it that way. Michael McKenry swiped the tag across Lugo and was stunned when Meals waved his arms saying safe.

The Braves were joyous for pulling out the marathon win, and the Pirates were distraught, bewildered, befuddled. This picture clearly shows the tag was made on Lugo’s shin. But watching the replay in real time there is enough doubt that could have overcame Meals to make the safe call, albeit diminutive. Of course the internet world blew up, this was just another example of why baseball needs replay, Meals should be fired, blah, blah, blah.

Bloggers went goo-goo over this blown call. ESPN blogger DavidSchoenfield  said it was the saddest call he’s everseen. Darren Rovell, sports business guru, tweeted that baseball needs bases that light up green for safe and red for out. Cries for replay littered the Twitter feeds.

I, in no way, shape, or form, will ever argue for having instant replay in baseball. The umpires are HUMAN! And to Meals’ credit he cameout after the game and said, “"I saw the tag, but he looked like he oléd him and I called him safe for that," Meals said. "I looked at the replays and it appeared he might have got him on the shin area. I'm guessing he might have got him, but when I was out there when it happened I didn't see a tag.” Admitting that the replay showed a tag, but it was what he said after this that is striking to me, “"I just saw the glove sweep up. I didn't see the glove hit his leg."

You can blame Meals all you want for having to make a bang-bang call on the fly. It is easy to watch a slow motion replay and say that was easy. But the problem I have with all of this is that the Pirates catcher, Michael McKenry, was out of position and didn’t even use proper technique! Look at the picture! Why is McKenry 3 feet in front of home plate and making a sweep tag? All he has to do is catch the ball and sit on the plate and Lugo is out. The throw was a good throw, and using a sweep tag created enough doubt in the umpire’s mind to think the runner wasn’t tagged. The runner has to touch home plate, why the catcher strayed so far away from there is what I do not understand.  

Another disclaimer: I am not putting all of the blame on the catcher, being a former baseball player I know how it gets when you’re in a pressure situation where the game is on the line. I am just simply playing devil’s advocate with those out there who think that the umpire cost the Pirates the game. Sure this play happened to end the game, but the game was decided long before this play. No mention of the fact that the Pirates left 16 runners stranded on base, or left a runner on third with one out in the tenth. And those are just a few examples. After six hours and thirty-nine minutes of baseball it’s no wonder the umpire made a lapse in judgment, it was past his bedtime!

Lost in all of this is the amazing performance that the bullpens made. Both bullpens combined for 26 scoreless innings. The Braves tied the game in the bottom of the 3^rd inning and that was the last either team scored until the 19^th! This is the reason I love baseball, there is no time limit, mistakes are magnified in close games, and all umpires are different. The beauty of baseball is that no umpire has the same strike zone; the beauty is in the unwritten rules: tie goes to the runner, if he throws it on 2-2 he’ll throw it on 3-2, never make the 1^st or 3^rd outs at third base. The intricacies of the game are what makes it great. Taking away the human element of the umpires would degrade the game to the point where it would feel like you were watching a video game.

The funny part about the replay discussion in baseball is that it only rears its ugly head about two or three times a year. Meaning, 97% of the time the umpires are pretty darn good! And players understand, more so than the fans, that for every one call that gets missed there are 100 calls they get right. The reason players learn to deal with bad calls and move on is because of the golden rule of baseball, something you learn, or should learn at least, at a very young age. The umpire is always right!

Stalemate

 

Just when you thought you could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Right when we all let out a deep sigh of relief. We woke up and realized, nothing had changed, and are left wondering what is really going on?

Thursday night around 7:30 it was breaking news, Friday morning around 7:30 it was back to the same old routine for the past 4 months. Breaking News: The NFL is still locked out!

Here is what we do know: The owners voted 31-0 (the Raiders were the only ones to abstain from voting, and then everyone remembered that Al Davis owns the team and wasn’t really surprised) in favor of a 10-year collective bargaining agreement. Included in this new CBA is new revenue sharing models, a new salary cap and salary floor to help make the playing field even, a rookie pay-scale, and new rules on veterans eligible for free agency. Seems great, let’s get this signed and the players back on the field! Wrong, the players needed to have a majority vote in favor of the CBA and then reinstate the dissolved players’ union in order for this to take effect, and well last night; the players were not seeing eye to eye with the owners.

Here is where the media is leading us astray. This is all nonsense! The real story is the owners got together and voted on this before the players so that the players now look like the bad guys. When in reality in this deal, the players are getting a smaller percentage of the revenue (46-48%) and are being forced to explain why they did not vote. ESPN’s Chris Mortensonreported that many unnamed players association representatives are not happy with the new agreement, while some owners felt like there was an agreement on both sides about the deal.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said in his press conference this is about getting football back, that is what everyone wants. Well excuse me Mr. Commish, but clearly that is not the case. If it were the case, then there wouldn’t be a “one side votes then the other side votes” atmosphere. If everyone was thinking about the best interests of football, and the people who help put money in the owners’ and players’ pockets, the fans, then there wouldn’t be the bickering, and banter from the two sides. If they really wanted football back a deal would have been done four months ago when the last CBA expired. These two sides don’t care if football is back; they just want to guarantee they are getting more of the pie.

One of my favorite quotes came from Carolina Panthers ownerJerry Richardson who said, “We believe we had a handshake agreement with the players.” This is almost laughable. It is certainly hard to shake hands from over 800 miles away. The owners are in Atlanta meeting while the players are in Washington DC. How can you have a handshake agreement if the two sides aren’t even meeting in the same place? You can’t shake hands on a conference call. To say there is a handshake agreement when you haven’t shook a hand is a bold faced lie Mr. Richardson.

What the two sides still cannot agree on is how to split up the $4 Billion in TV revenue insurance that the owners were withholding from the players. That must be rough; I can’t imagine how hard it could be to split up 4 billion dollars. Is this a joke? This is where all of the fans get fed up, 4 billion dollars? Really? And they are arguing over who gets what percentage. It is almost embarrassing, actually. You could give every citizen in America a million dollars and you would still have over three-and-a-half billion dollars left. If they cannot figure out what to do with 4 billion dollars, here is a novel idea: how about we give half of it to charities across the United States, and give the other half to America’s schools so that kids no longer have to pay to play high school sports, or worry about their sports getting cut because of lack of funding. This is the part of it all that I cannot forgive; these two sides are fighting and complaining over how to split 4 billion dollars, while we are in the midst of an economic recession. I feel no sympathy towards either side at this point.

The “story” that the media has been hand feeding us is an absolute joke. I wish the media would just quit talking about it. There is no NFL right now, until there is a signed agreement, just don’t talk about it. Pretend like it’s not there and then maybe they (the owners and players) will get the point and really try to figure this out. If they really wanted to get something done, they would get together in the same room, and not come out until the deal is done. The problem is these guys do not really care about football; it is just a bunch of rich people arguing over how to get richer.

I have tried to stay away from talking about the NFL lockout because there is no point to talking about it if there is no season, but this was the last straw. The fact that these two sides would throw their fans under the bus even when the NFL was at the pinnacle of its popularity is appalling. The Commissioner should have made both sides come together in his office like a principal and forced them to figure out a deal, instead he is running around like a puppet trying to tell us that everyone wants football back, when the reality is, we are no further along than four months ago when this thing all started. 

It’s All in the Eye of the Tiger

Earlier this week Tiger Woods decided to cut ties with his long time caddie Stevie Williams. Shocking? Eh, not really. What was more shocking was the fact that it was announced on Tiger’s website. And to add another twist, apparently, both parties knew of this for weeks but decided not to leak it until after the British Open. After the stories of affairs, and eventual divorce between Tiger and Elin it never seemed as if the golfer and caddie were on the same page when Tiger returned to golf.

Why isn’t this move very surprising? Well, for one Williams hasn’t been working. He has worked this year’s Major Championships, caddying for Adam Scott, but other than that he has been out of work. And the fact that the two never really got that old chemistry back that they had before Thanksgiving 2010. But to me, this is the last step in turning over a completely new leaf, while some argue that Williams was Woods' last line of security, I would argue that this marks the beginning of a completely new slate.

And let’s face it, golf needs Tiger. But, not just Tiger, the Tiger that pumped his fist, the Tiger that chased his putts into the hole knowing they were good, the Tiger that made PGA events the hottest tickets around. And he has shown us glimpses of that this year, albeit shortened by injuries, but at the Masters firing a 30 on the front nine to climb into contention, and his performance at the Ryder Cup. He just needs to get healthy, because let’s face it, you can’t ask a lame horse to win the Kentucky Derby.

Most people probably figure it’s golf, you don’t need to be that healthy, and those are the people that are riding around in the golf carts once every couple of weeks. I can only imagine what walking 18 holes (7,000+ yards) for four straight days must feel like on your legs. Then throw in the fact that your knee and heel is bothering you that would make it difficult to golf I would suspect.

Tiger needs to come back healthy, and get back to the old “Tiger style” of golf that he used to absolutely dominate golf courses. I agree 100% with what Bubba Watson said earlier this year about Tiger over analyzing his swing when he was quoted saying, “Tiger’s swing is so mental". He’s exactly right!

I remember when Tiger Woods went out there, hit the ball straight as an arrow, and made some of the world’s hardest courses look like putt-putt courses. Now, he’s changed swing coaches, he’s switched putters, he’s worried about shaping his shots more, blah blah blah. What happened to the Tiger that went out and gripped it and ripped it? The Tiger that hit the stinger’s about 6 feet off the ground right down the middle? The Tiger that would crouch down, put his hands around the brim of his cap, and get that “Tigervision” where you just knew he was going to make this putt? That is the Tiger that I want back; that golf needs back!

Anyone who doesn’t think he’s still one of the best golfer’s in the world is crazy. We were all just spoiled by his dominance for the last decade+. He needs to be healthy, he needs to come back with that enthusiasm and moxy he used to play with, and he needs to win! And once he does that we will get to sit back and enjoy one of the greatest ever, go against the up and coming greatest to be in McIlroy. Then we all win.

The View from Out Here....Weekend Observations

Here are some of my observations from the weekend of 7/15-7/17

·       Funny how the US Women’s National Team invited President Obama to watch them play for the women’s world cup in Germany  and they got a tweet apology back. Hmm..guess Michelle and the kids must have been using AF1.

·       Why on earth would you want to live in the UK? Thethird round of the British open featured driving rain, mid sixties temps, andwinds of 25-30mph, and it’s mid-July! Kudos to Darren Clarke for emerging from the elements during that 3^rd round to go on and win the Claret Jug on Sunday. He had the quote of the day after his 3^rd round stating he was going to go “stuff his face, and try not to drink to much.”  But hey, at least you could say you live in a town called Sandwich!

·       So far my pick for race of the year goes to Saturday’s $750,000 Delaware Handicap. Great stretch duel between KY Oaks winner Blind Luck, and rival Havre de Grace.

·       I hope the NCAA and Conferences start using pencil for their record books, because it seems every day somebody new vacates wins/championships. Georgia Tech is the newest member on the list vacating its 2009 ACC Championship in football over $312.

·       I am sold on the Pittsburgh Pirates as legitimate NL Central contenders. Huge series starts today with division rival and pre-season NL Central favorite Cincinnati Reds.

 

·       The NFL appears to be coming out of hibernation. Apparently some last minute “minor” issues need to be nailed down. Really? Last minute minor issues? This has been going on for over 3 months, what could have possibly popped up that these guys weren’t expecting?

Winner of the weekend:

Darren Clarke – the Northern Ireland native won his first Major in his own backyard, and then celebrated at the press conference the only way a Irishman knows how! Brilliant!

Loser of the Weekend:

Has to be the US Women’s National Team. To come up short after all of the dramatics has to sting. The fact that they played, probably, their best all around matchof the tournament and still lost, stings even more.

Solo Road to Redemption

There are only a few events that captivate its audience no matter what the sport is. The Olympics, and the World Cup are the first two that come to my mind. And, in this case, the Women's World Cup. I don't know what it is, there's just something about the patriotism, and the unifying passion of watching your countries' best take on the world's best. It's that goose bump feeling you get when there is no one left at the top, and the rest of the world has to listen to the Star Spangled Banner. That, "Yea, that is right, the best country, best government, best military, and best (insert sport here) in the world! USA!" Sure there is Red Sox Nation, and the Browns Backers, and countless other 'fandoms' around professional sports, but none compare to the 308 million fans known as America! And when the uniform says USA, we are all fans.

There aren't too many times when soccer grabs my attention, let alone women's soccer, but I'll admit the Women's World Cup quarterfinal match between Brazil and the USA had me glued to the tube. I began as a casual watcher, keeping tabs on the game and score, and flipping back and forth between the match and Sportscenter. And then, with about twenty minutes to go in the match, it became must see tv. In a matter of minutes, with the USA Women up a goal, you had an unbelievable touch by one of the best in Brazil's Marta, then a red card in the box, a stopped PK, a truly embarrassing call by the referee, a retried PK, an equalizer, and oh by the way, the USA goes down a woman for the rest of the match? Hook, line, and sinker, I'm in! But there is a hidden story behind the whole last second comeback, and dramatic penalty kick outcome, and it's a story of redemption.

I am no soccer connoisseur, but I know most of the rules, and maybe the most impressive part of the whole situation, to me, was how well the USA kept their cool. In a moment where it would have been completely understandable for that team to lose it, just implode upon pure emotion, and let the extremely questionable calls get to them, they didn't. Instead, they got better! One reason for that might have been goalkeeper Hope Solo who shined the absolute brightest on the highest stage. Both goals that Brazil got past Solo probably shouldn't have happened, and the keeper known for letting her emotions get to her kept them in check this time, and her team fed off that, it seemed. It probably had a lot do with the fact that she stonewalled the first PK Brazil was given after the red card against the US in the box, or it could have been the fiery emotion you could see in her eye after the PK retry was given that resulted in a goal.

For as long as I can remember, US Women's Soccer had one face, Mia Hamm. The all-everything forward from UNC who is still the record holder for goals. But after she, and her generation of stars left the US was searching for someone, anyone to assume that role. And Solo has, despite being shunned by some of the same teammates just four years ago, become the new face of USA women's soccer. In the 2007 Olympics, against the same Brazil team, Solo was benched for the "last generation's" Brianna Scurry, and after losing 4-0 to Brazil that day, Solo berated her coach's decision and teammates play, and in turn exiled herself from her team. So badly they refused to practice with her, and she had to return from the Olympics alone.

She learned the hard way, but she climbed her proverbial Everest, and regained the trust of her teammates the only way she knew how, stopping shots. This time Solo got her shot at Brazil, and she proved, maybe, that she was right all along. And it was only fitting that this match ended with Solo alone, one on one with Brazil's best, to prove that she's the best.

There is still work left to be done to win the World Cup, and after Sunday's win over Brazil anything but winning the tournament would be a let down. As Solo stated after the match, "We are not here to beat Brazil in the quarterfinals. We are here to win the tournament." Two games stand between Women's team USA and immortality, but Sunday, this tale of redemption seemed to be a dish best served, well, Solo.

No Average Joe

Ok I will admit it, I am a homer. I am for all things Browns, Indians, and Cavaliers. I root for them, and I hold grudges. So I have to admit, while watching the 2010 NFL Draft, I was not all that enthralled with the Browns' selection of Florida cornerback Joe Haden with the #7 overall pick. Never mind all the "experts" analysis: "he's not fast enough, too short, not physical enough...blah blah blah," he went to FLORIDA! The university that whooped up on my Buckeyes in football and twice in basketball. I still do not drink Gatorade to this day because of that football game! And now I have to root for him?

He's only played for the Browns for a year, and only started a little over half of the games, but that is enough for me, I am sold. I am a Joe Haden fan! No matter what school he went to. The man get's it! He understand what it is that we Clevelanders crave! And because of that I can only hope the Browns find 21 more guys just like him.

I am sure you all think that I am going to go straight to his stats and wax poetically about him being a stud corner (even though I could, six picks as a rookie in a division stacked with wide receiver talent is no short feat) but it goes beyond that. Way beyond that. He doesn't just do it on the field, he does it off the field too! He has found a way to become a fan favorite after only a year, and it wasn't because he ran his mouth, nope, just his tweets!

***
It was April Fools Day this year when a 12-year old little league team found out their team sponsor was not going to sponsor the team any longer, and the season was in jeopardy. So the coach did what any reasonable person, who was coaching a bunch of 12-year old boys, would do, he tweeted! Actually, he sent a tweet to @JoeHaden23 on a whim asking to sponsor his kids' team. Now, even the coach admitted he thought nothing would come of it. That was, until, Haden tweeted him back! Haden ended up getting in touch with the coach, handed the coach cash to pay the league fees, and supply uniforms, and in the process made a bunch of 12-year old's year!

Haden is quoted in the article by Zac Jackson, that I linked above, saying, "I'm really fortunate to have grown up watching my father help people when he could. And now that I'm in the position to do the same, I'm always looking to do the same." I think I just heard the collective, "ahhhhhhh," as in, breath of fresh air? In today's "look at me, look at me" celebrity world, here's a kid (Haden is only 22) who get's it!

But this story goes a little further than, "Oh here ya go, here's your league fees, have a good season." No, Haden went above and beyond that. The first doubleheader of the year for the team, now named Haden Nation, Haden catches a flight, drives an hour, and makes to the kids game, sits in the dugout with the kids, and watches them win. Seriously?! Is this guy for real? YES! This wasn't scripted, that actually happened. The guy could have easily said, "Man, I just flew in, I'll catch another game." But no, he said he would be there, no matter how long of a drive it was, and he showed up!

Whether or not you are a Brown's fan, or a Haden fan, you should appreciate that, and have a new found respect for this man. But wait, there is more. And here is why he is a Cleveland fan favorite...

 ***
It was probably just a regular Tuesday early afternoon, June 21st, most people at work are looking for a way to kill 30 minutes of their day, and hop on their twitter to find a tweet from @JoeHaden23: #sushirock beachwood at 415! Lunch on me just come over and say you follow me on twitter and ill take your bill! #letgo.

I'm sure you're thinking, funny joke! Well 55 fans fell for the joke, and ended up with a free lunch! 
***

But there is more, during a Cavaliers home game, Haden showed up court-side dressed in full uniform with fan favorite Anderson Varejao wig. And was spotted at Progressive Field in an Indians uniform, pants and all!

He is exactly what the fans of Cleveland yearn for, and nothing like the "king" was. I would bet every cent to my name you would never see Haden at an Indians playoff game with a Yankees hat on...hmmmm you'd have to air a one hour special about yourself to do something like that, oh wait...


He is exactly what Cleveland has wanted, exactly what the Browns needed on the field, and the perfect example for all athletes on how to act off of it. But maybe most importantly, he is the perfect way for Cleveland fans to forget about the wounds left by the "lyin king." Here's hoping this Joe keeps his talents in Cleveland for years to come!

Major League Chance: Can MLB take advantage?

In 1994 Major League Baseball suffered not just a minor setback, the oldest professional sports league in America suffered a schism. The infamous baseball strike of 1994 was mainly focused on salary caps, and collective bargaining agreements, but the league, its commissioner, and players' association allowed the unthinkable, unforgivable, to happen. The World Series had to be cancelled. The ultimate baseball championship series, the pinnacle of baseball, never happened.

Now, here we are almost two decades later, and the MLB sits in a fortuitous position. Of the Big 3 (the three most popular professional sports in America) it is the only league that is not locked out! Here come these big words that swirl all over the media outlets these days; lock-out, collective bargaining agreement, work stoppage. But let's call it what it really is, millionaires complaining about splitting billions of dollars. But the MLB is now at the top of the heap. A perfect opportunity for the league to mend fences, and rebuild the bridges it burned 17 years ago, and gain back the popularity that it lost when we, the fans, lost the 1994 Fall Classic.

How does the MLB take advantage of this? Here's a few suggestions from a baseball junkie...

1. The Mid-Summer Classic: The 2011 season is approaching its half time. The All-Star game that, in my mind, is the best, most competitive, and most interesting All-Star event out of all professional sports. Now that the winning league of the game gets home field advantage in the World Series we get to see players show up to try and win, and not just hob knob with players and coaches from around the league. We still wont get the top starting pitchers going deep into the game, but we are getting at least the best two or three innings from the best starters in the leagues. Baby steps...
2. Home Run Derby: What can be better than watching the biggest, strongest hitters trying to hit the ball a country mile? Guys that actually can hit the ball a country mile! The home run derby event is easily the most entertaining All-Star event to watch, and as a former college baseball player who had three career home runs, I envy their seemingly effortless ability to hit the ball 450+ feet. 
3. Surprise!: Every year there always seems to be that one surprise team that gets our attention, (see 2008 Tampa Bay Rays, and 2010 San Francisco Giants) but this year there are multiple surprises around the big leagues. 
1. Cleveland Indians: Here is a team that leads the American League Central only a year after finishing the season 69-93. A hodgepodge of young up-and-comers all over the field, and some veterans who have battled injury this team might be overachieving, but they seem to have found a bona fide super star in Asdrubal Cabrera at shortstop. And their bullpen, dubbed the #BullpenMafia, has a microscopic ERA, and closer Chris Perez (@ChrisPerez54) has converted 20 of 21 save opportunities.
2. Pittsburgh Pirates: Ok, so they are not leading their division, but only a game and a half back in the National League Central, the Bucco's have never been over .500 this late in the season since the 1990's. They boasted the worst record in baseball last year (57-105) yet have positioned themselves this season to fight for a chance to play in October. An even younger mix than the team above, this team is a product of years of finishing in the cellar, and stockpiling young talent. Here's hoping Andrew McCutheon takes the All-Star snub as a chip on the shoulder and leads his team to the playoffs. 
3. St. Louis Cardinals: This would not have been a surprise when spring training started, but the fact that they lead the NL Central despite the amount of injuries (to key players, no less) is a complete surprise. When Adam Wainwright suffered a season ending elbow injury coming out of camp critics wrote them off. Then ace Chris Carpenter went down with a groin injury, and "the Machine" Albert Pujols was thought to be lost for 6-8 weeks with a wrist injury. Certain doom for the Red Birds. Their three best players all went out with injuries, but the team stayed the course and has managed to live up to their lofty pre-season expectations sitting atop the NL Central at the half-way point.
4. Arizona Diamondbacks: This team was the second worst team in the major's last year, just a notch ahead of the Pirates at 65-97. But former big leaguer Kirk Gibson has his team just two games behind the defending World Champions in San Francisco. The NL West has been notorious for low scoring and pitching, but the D'Backs are finding ways to get clutch hits, and timely pitching from a slew of promising young arms. Oh, and by the way, they are hosting this years All-Star Game. Could it be scripted any better than D'Back # Justin Upton coming up with the game winning hit to give the NL (and maybe the Desert Snakes) home field advantage in the World Series? Just sayin..
4. Division Races: The races for the playoffs are the closest they have been at the midway point in years! No team in any division has greater than a 4 game lead. 
• AL East: Fierce rivals, payroll juggernauts, and superstars galore have the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox separated by only a game and a half. This is the race that figures to only intensify mostly due to the fact that each teams roster could be an All-Star team in iteself...My Pick- Yankees
• AL Central: The upstart Indians have come back to Earth, and are now in a knock down, drag out battle for first in the central with the Detroit Tigers. With the Indians only up a game at the midway point this division figures to go to whichever team gets hot in August. In the end this could become the closest race in any division. My Pick - Indians (I know, say it...homer!)
• AL West: Last years World Series runners up, the Texas Rangers have a half game lead on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. If the Rangers had played to their abilities all year they might have a much larger lead, and don't look now but the Mariners are just hanging around only three games back. My Pick- Rangers
• NL East: This is the largest lead in any division. The Philadelphia Pitchers, I mean Phillies, have a four game lead on the Atlanta Braves. The most dominant pitching staff in baseball has been just that, and if their bullpen doesn't completely implode, I don't think this race will get much tighter. My Pick- Phillies
• NL Central: If, and it's a big IF, the Pirates can remain in contention this could become the race to watch. The Bucco's are a game and a half out of first, behind the St. Louis Cardinals. But the team to watch is only two games out in third, the Milwaukee Brewers. They have the pitching to get to October, if their pitchers return to last year's form. My Pick- Brewers
• NL West: The defending World Champs are a game and a half up on the Arizona Diamondbacks. And the Giants have the most dominant pitching staff from starters to bullpen in my mind. If their starters can get to the #Beard in the 9th, just start playing Lil Flip's "Game Over" because @BrianWilson38 is the best closer in baseball right now. My Pick- Giants

Right there are four reasons why YOU should be excited about the second half of the MLB season. For a sports fan who is sick and tired of hearing about the NFL season that currently is not on pace to take place, and the NBA looking like there may not even be a season, baseball is there to comfort you.  No lock-out, no work stoppage, just good old fashioned hard ball.

Here is MLB's chance to shine in the spotlight, appeal to the casual fan, and persuade the football junkies to come out and see a product that will be on the field in September. Which is more that can be said for the No Football League, right now.

It may not be able to make up cancelling the World Series to it's fans, but if September rolls around and the NFL is still arguing over dollars and cents, consider that a win for the MLB!