Breaking Down the AL All-Star Voting Totals

1B: Prince Fielder leads Paul Konerko by about 250,000 votes. It's been somewhat of a down year for American League first baseman, and even in a down year by his standards power-wise, Prince leads the voting. Konerko is hitting over twenty points higher, but has eleven fewer RBIs. Both will make the squad anyway.

2B: The fact that Mitch Moreland is fourth is the 1B voting makes me believe Texas is stuffing the ballot box somewhat. Ian Kinsler is a fan favorite, but having a far less productive season than Robinson Cano, yet he leads, even if only by 15,000 votes. Cano is hitting .307/.371/.579/.950 while Kinsler is at .279/.340/.458/.798. You have to hand in to the Rangers' fan base for outvoting the Yankee supporters.

3B: Texas' offensive juggernaut is going to feature multiple all-stars. Adrian Beltre is hitting the lights out, playing stellar defense, and simply outperforming Miguel Cabrera. And it shows in the vote.

SS: Derek Jeter leads Elvis Andrus by well over a million votes. Only Josh Hamilton has more votes than the captain. Jeter's hit just .240 in June, but has already done enough to start yet another ASG.

C: Hitting just .242, Mike Napoli will get the starting nod. The NL has three catchers outhitting him, but being in the Rangers' lineup and 12 HR and 30 RBI are enough.

DH: David Ortiz leads Michael Young by half a million votes. He's hitting .309/.399/.628 with 21 home runs and leads the American League in OPS and runs scored, while ranking second in slugging percentage and total bases.Well deserved.

OF: Josh Hamilton has over five million votes. Curtis Granderson is a distant second, over two and a half million behind. Jose Bautista and Adam Jones are battling for the third and final starting spot. Following are a bunch of large market guys having completely average seasons, by any standards. Many of the better outfielders seem to be in the NL this season.

Breaking Down the NL All-Star Voting Totals

National League:

1B: Joey Votto leads by a landslide. The fact that he is batting .353/.478/.643 makes him the easy choice, especially because the NL has a lack of productiveness out of the first base position this season.

2B: This one is a question mark. Dan Uggla leads Brandon Phillips by over 700,000 votes. The only edge Uggla has over Phillips is one more home run (eleven to ten). Uggla has committed four times as many errors as Phillips (eight to two). While Brandon Phillips is hitting a respectable .289, Uggla is sitting at .232, which would have to be one of the lowest batting averages for an all-star the game has ever seen.

3B: David Wright leads Pablo Sandoval by a few hundred thousand votes. Batting .357 makes that well deserved on its own.

SS: Rafael Furcal and Troy Tulowitzki are in a close race, with Furcal leading. With Tulo not going to be be off the DL for the Midsummer Classic, the nod will likely go to Furcal. I have no problem with Furcal instead of Starlin Castro, as Castro's defense has been inconsistent, and his overall offensive stats are not even with Furcal's.

C: Backstop is currently the NL voting's biggest mistake so far. 

Player A: .300/.366/.483/.850
Player B: .364/.428/.591/1.019
Player C: .316/.367/.518/.885

Player A is leading Player C by almost 200,000 votes and Player B by almost 700,000. If you follow baseball intently you probably know who these three are. While Carlos Ruiz (B) is leading all of Major League Baseball in hitting, Buster Posey (A) is in line to start the All-Star Game. Yadier Molina (C) is also having a better year than Posey. Both Ruiz and Molina are far better defensively than the young phenom, but in this voting none of that seems to matter.

OF: Matt Kemp leads all outfielders, and while he is currently on the DL, he aspires to return to play in the ASG. Carlos Beltran is in a deserving second, replacing Albert Pujols with 20 HR and 59 RBI to go along with a .312 average. Melky Cabrera and his .351 average have surpassed Ryan Braun for third. If not for the steroid allegation, Braun's popularity probably would have had him leading this vote. Following these four are Andre Ethier, Matt Holliday, Hunter Pence, Michael Bourn, Angel Pagan, Andrew McCutchen, Carlos Gonzalez, and Jason Heyward. A few of these guys will be snubbed, as many are having similarly terrific seasons. It appears the Giants are stuffing the ballots somewhat, as Pagan has no business being on this list. Heyward is a stretch as well. To put them in order, I'd go:

Beltran, McCutchen, Bourn, Cabrera, Kemp, Gonzalez, Braun. The rest shouldn't make the roster.

AL will be done tomorrow.

Resurgence

In no way am I going to attempt to justify the 5-year, $82.5 million contract Yankees GM Brian Cashman handed A.J. Burnett in December of 2008.

Prior to his Yankees signing, Burnett was simply a slightly above average pitcher. In the 2008 season with Toronto he posted a 4.07 ERA, which, while inflated by pitching in the AL East, is hardly worthy of that type of commitment.

It simply didn't make sense why the Yankees and their fans expected him to be their messiah. That being said, he drastically underachieved.

His first season with the Yankees went generally the same as his final one with Toronto: his ERA rose 0.03 points and he had 13 wins. That seemed to be a realistic projection of what he would offer for the coming four years of his massive deal, production not worth his salary.

Of course, he would go on to implode the two years after as we all know. He scuffled with Jorge Posada (as quite a few others have), prompting the Yankees to appoint Francisco Cervelli and soft-swinging Jose Molina as his personal catchers. While the results were slightly better, Burnett's battery mates weren't the ones that could control the fact that his curveball bounced two feet in front of home plate.

Burnett simply could not handle the pressure of pitching in the Big Apple. Like many other athletes that fizzle there, as well as in cities like Boston and Philadelphia, the stress was too great - particularly for a guy as emotional as A.J. Burnett. His always stuff was still there, but the correct mindset wasn't.  Being traded to the Pirates for a pair of prospects was the best thing that could have happened to him.

Fouling a ball off of his face just before the season wasn't as big a deal away from New York.

Not only is he now pitching in a smaller market with less pressure and more forgiving fans, but the NL Central lineups he faces do not consist of Ellsbury, Pedroia, Gonzalez, Ortiz, Youkilis (all healthy and hitting), ever. Pittsburgh is a place where he can relax and take on a new role of being a leader.

Burnett's leadership is paying dividends with the young Pirates staff, particularity concerning James McDonald, a guy largely unknown is his first four years in the show. Under Burnett's tutelage, the 27-year-old is dazzling fans with a 2.19 ERA and 6-3 record.

And once again, Burnett is making the most of his every fifth day as well: after six innings of two-hit ball against the Tigers earlier tonight, he sits at 8-2 with a 3.24 ERA (which would be the lowest of his career). He's won his last seven starts.

Along with Andrew McCutchen, McDonald, and the the finally emerging Pedro Alvarez, Burnett has become an instrumental part of a scrappy Pirates club that in finally convincing fans at PNC Park to believe. When they tossed in a few prospects to land Burnett, the front office was probably not expecting this magnitude of a reward.

Frustration with the Media (ESPN) - Part 2

Continued from Part 1.

ESPN has a blog called the "Heat Index," which shows they are not even trying to hide the fact that they play favorites to the larger markets that have a bandwagon fan base across the country. When the Indiana Pacers beat the Heat in one of their first round matchups, the headlines were not "Pacers win" but rather "Heat fall." The Pacers were still ignored, and all of the featured articles were how the Heat could improve for the next game, etc., as opposed to anything to do with the Pacers' success. This is just a general example; the network uses this technique when it comes to any of their large market lovers.

MLB closer Heath Bell picked up on ESPN's team favoritism as well, as I'm sure many others have, saying, "I truly believe ESPN only cares about promoting the Red Sox, Yankees and Mets--and nobody else. That's why I like the MLB Network, because they promote everybody. I'm really turned off by ESPN and Baseball Tonight. When Jake Peavy threw 8⅓ innings on Saturday, they showed one pitch in the third inning and that was it. It's all about the Red Sox, Yankees and Mets."

Ratings, ratings, ratings. That what drives ESPN. The rather frustrating part to many sports fans is the fact that they succeed with their act. Whether people love or hate LeBron James, ESPN knows "reporting" every single one of his brainless comments will generate traffic, because people will see James' name and automatically be drawn to the article.

Of course, some athletes are shoved down our throats anyway, even if they aren't a top player like James. At first people thought the Danica Patrick story was something worthy of excitement, until they realized she is a terrible driver with a huge ego who will probably never win a NASCAR race. But articles on her still get comments, mainly criticizing her like I just did. But to ESPN, what does it matter? She ups their ratings.

More on this topic soon.

Frustration with the Media (ESPN) - Part 1

When I was little, I used to adore ESPN. I'd stay up late on weekend nights watching essentially the same SportsCenter over and over. Scott Van Pelt, Neil Everett and others cracked me up (in fact, they still do, but now they never seem to be on for some reason). The network could do no wrong in my eyes; only reporting sports in a fun, casual way.

Sad to say, that's far from true.

Here's the bottom line: they care only about ratings, and not the quality of their content. They only focus on big markets and express a love affair toward the "superstar" athletes.

Here's their list:

Athletes - Tim Tebow, Brett Favre, LeBron James, Tom Brady,  Danica Patrick, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Tiger Woods, Dwyane Wade, Blake Griffin, Michael Vick

Teams - Miami Heat, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Jets, Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina Tar Heels, and the entire SEC football conference.

Much more on this topic coming soon.

Just Like Old Times

Let me start off by saying I couldn't be happier for Andre Iguodala. For those of you outside of the Philadelphia area, Andre has been one of the most underappreciated athletes I have ever seen. I've written a post in the past explaining the situation. For Dre to sink two clutch free throws after struggling all season from the line to cap off a productive series, one in which he led his team past the Bulls (and completely neutralized down Luol Deng), just makes me so proud of him as one of his biggest fans.

Enough with the gushing for Andre, though. The Sixers have moved on to Boston, and split a pair at the Boston Garden. The series is now headed to Philly, and the Celtics are considerably weaker on the road.

I am a diehard Sixers fan, but that does not factor into my picking them to win in six (I am willing to face the music if they run into a full strength Miami). Here's why:

Iguodala has been able to take Paul Pierce completely out of his rhythm, and Boston needs him if they want to win the series. Having the Paul Pierce of five years ago might have made the difference in the series, because right now, he simply can't get by the more athletic Iguodala.

Spencer Hawes is not enough of an athlete to handle a rejuvenated Kevin Garnett down low. That's what makes Lavoy Allen's emergence so crucial. He's given KG all he can handle down the paint, and is averaging 11 points and 7 boards through the first two games. In last night's one point Philadelphia win, he posted a +21 +/- rating in 30 minutes (meaning when he was in the game, the Sixers outscored the Celtics by 21 points). A rookie who was ranked the worst player in the NBA by ESPN before the season, Allen is showing signs he can have a productive career. His coach believes it too, comparing him to Indiana's David West...

This has been repeated time and time again, but Philly's ability to run against Boston's age has really worked to their advantage. A lousy half court-team, the 76ers must hit the jets off of steals and defensive boards, because Boston's defense can stifle them in the slower-paced game.

Evan Turner is doing more than making the occasional spectacular play. During these playoffs, he's shown he can be a 16-8-5 type guy for a long time. Much improvement from the bust status he had begun to acquire during his rookie season.

Even if my Sixers fail to win this series, though, it's still reassuring to see these two feisty old rivals get back at it like they've done throughout their storied histories. Knowing my team is on the upswing will suffice for now, but this 76er team certainly has aspirations of ousting their northern foe, and whoever comes next.

How to Improve the Mavs

It has been a tumultuous fallout in Dallas: NBA champions to being swept in the first round at the hands of the Thunder. With an aging roster and this current roster's championship window essentially closed, an overhaul will need to take place if Dirk Nowitzki's crew will make it back to last season's stage. Here's three suggestions.

1) Let Jason Terry and Jason Kidd walk (and consider O.J. Mayo and Deron Williams).

Terry is the engine that makes this team go, and Kidd remains on of the best passers in the league. But both aging players require more money than they are worth at this point. Terry's role as a spurt scorer off the bench is replaceable, and Kidd has become a liability on defense and shooting the ball (36%). O.J. Mayo is a guy who needs a change of scenery, and Dallas could be a place where he could play Robin to Dirk as a Terry replacement. And I know it is far-fetched, but all signs are saying that Deron Williams wants out of Brooklyn.

2) Take a flyer on Greg Oden.

Many of you will stop reading here. But hey, why not? Centers are at a premium and Dallas doesn't have a capable starter at the position. While Brendan Haywood is a stellar defender, 5.2 ppg won't cut it for an NBA starter. Oden will be a no-risk option: they can pay him under a million at this point, and if he ever gets healthy, he could be a double-double machine. Odds are he won't, but why not try?

3) Sign Landry Fields.

This is a guy who in New York will never have a chance to break out as long as Carmelo is there. Sure, he's friends with Jeremy Lin and all, but Fields will use his head that got him into Stanford and realize there would be an opportunity in Dallas for him far greater than the one in NYC. He's a young gun who could average 15 a game.

The Madden Curse: Fake or Legit?

I'm not the superstitious type. The side of the couch I am sitting on does not effect my team's chance of winning the game in my mind.

Dallas Mavs guard Jason Terry wears the next day's opponent's team shorts to bed every night, and he is coming off an NBA championship ring. So maybe these superstitious folks are onto something.

After all, the Curse of the Billy Goat is still going strong, isn't it?

But still, these two are just by chance, right? Probably. Here's another one that really grabs some attention: the Madden Curse. Not only do some of the players have a career-worst season while gracing the cover, but some seem to have their careers entirely derailed after appearing. It simply seems like too much to be a coincidence.

The fan vote for this year's game is down to Cam Newton and Calvin Johnson. Will the winner succumb to the curse? Let's take a look at previous cover boys to see their chances.

2012: Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns RB

To earn his place on the cover, Hillis came out of nowhere to rush for over 1,100 yards. Many claimed he would be a one-year wonder, and after his cover appearance, those people seem to be right. Last year he complained about a contract, had phony injuries and only rushed for 587 yards with just 3.6 yards per carry. Cleveland let him walk and he's now behind one of the most versatile backs in the league, Jamaal Charles, in Kansas City.

Curse: 1 Success: 0

2011: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints QB

Brees played well individually, and even though the Saints got upset by Seattle in the first round after winning the Super Bowl, his stellar season warrants a pass.

Curse: 1 Success: 1

2010: Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers S, and Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals WR

Before the fan vote idea (how Hillis won), the Madden franchise considered putting on a player from each Super Bowl team. How did the two fare? Fitzgerald had his typical productive season, but Polamalu wasn't so lucky. He played just five games due to lingering knee problems, and the Steelers missed the playoffs a year after winning the Super Bowl.

Curse: 2 Success: 2

2009: Brett Favre, Packers/Jets QB

I won't get into this.

Curse: 3 Success: 2

2008: Vince Young, Tennessee Titans QB

He led the Titans to a playoff berth, but had a fallout with the fans shortly after. His career has been a mess since. He's now also hated in Philly for the "Dream Team" remark.

Curse: 4 Success: 2

2007: Shaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks RB

Alexander was the reigning MVP and a downright beast the year before the cover, rushing for 1,880 yards and 27 TDs. But then he fractured his foot, missed six games the cover season, and was never the same. He retired two years later.

Curse: 5 Success: 2

2006: Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles QB

He missed seven games due to a sports hernia, had the infamous clash with T.O., and missed the Pro Bowl for the first time in five seasons. And never went back.

Curse: 6 Success: 2

2005: Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens LB

Lewis broke his wrist his cover year, but only missed one game. It marked his first year without an interception, but he still had 146 tackles and a solid year overall.

Curse: 6 Success: 3

2004: Michael Vick, Atlanta Falcons QB

The day after the game was released, Vick broke his leg in the preseason and had to miss eleven games that season. We all know what happened after that.

Curse: 7 Success: 3

2003: Marshall Faulk, St. Louis Rams RB

Faulk was hampered by an ankle injury all season, but still rushed for 953 yards. The cover did mark the start of his decline though, as he never did rush for 1,000 yards again after accomplishing the feat seven out of the eight years prior. He rushed for 10 TDs the next season, however, and age was becoming a factor, so a generous no decision here.

Curse: 7 Success: 3

2002: Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota Vikings QB

He had a poor season, and had it cut short after eleven games, needing knee surgery. His Vikings were sitting at 4-7 when he left.

Curse: 8 Success: 3

2001: Eddie George, Tennessee Titans RB

He had a tremendous season, but did fumble the ball crucially in the playoffs, leading to his top-seeded Titans being upset in the first round. That being said, his numbers overall warrant a pass.

Curse: 8 Success: 4

2000: Barry Sanders

Retired, by fax, a week before training camp. John Madden appeared on the cover instead. Eddie George would be the first player to appear on the cover of the video game.

So there you have it. If you are a fan of Newton or Johnson, you might want to consider voting against them in the cover vote. History has spoken.

Larry Doby: The Second Pioneer

It pays to be first.

Today is Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball, a terrific celebration in which baseball recognizes Robinson by having all of its players wear his number 42 in his honor.

I'm sure you've heard Robinson's story, and the courage and willpower he exhibited when facing constant hatred from the baseball community and beyond.

What we forget, though, is while Robinson was the first African-American in Major League history, other men had to go through essentially the same experience.

For example, if you are only a casual baseball fan, you might not have the slightest clue of who Larry Doby is.

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson made his Major League debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Eleven weeks later, on June 5, Larry Doby stepped onto the field donning a Cleveland Indians uniform. Like Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby was an African-American - the second in Major League history, and the first to play in the American League.

During the 1997 season, when Robinson's number 42 was being retired throughout baseball, and the still-living Larry Doby was being virtually ignored by the media, an editorial in Sports Illustrated pointed out that Doby had to suffer the same indignities that Robinson did, with nowhere near the media attention and implicit support.

Doby was still recognized for his play on the field though: appearing in seven All-Star games, and being selected by the Veterans Committee in 1998 into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Instrumental to Doby's success was Bill Veeck, the Indians owner who signed him in 1947. Veeck signed Doby for a second time in 1959, where he finished his playing career with the White Sox, and again in 1978, to become the second African-American manager in MLB history (with the ChiSox. Frank Robinson was the first African-American manager, in 1975.) Veeck was for Doby was what Branch Rickey was for Jackie Robinson: the man who gave him a chance.

While racial slurs were being hollered at Robinson, Doby was serenaded with hatred as well. It would have been the proper gesture by baseball to recognize Doby in a similar fashion as Jackie Robinson, but what the two of them accomplished cannot be taken away.

Time to Panic?

We're only four games into this season. A four game stretch in a 162-game MLB marathon seems like nothing during the middle of the year. But this is Opening Week. So when a fan's team starts slowly, s/he usually does what is only natural: panic.

In most cases, panicking this early is premature. But a few teams that are projected to be playing in October have exposed some gaping holes early. Let's take a look.

Atlanta Braves: 0-4 start

The days of Smoltz, Glavine, and Maddux are long gone. If Braves fans should be worried about anything, it should not be the 0-4 start, but rather the roster holes in the starting pitching. That being said, this is a ballclub I didn't see doing much more than contending for one of the wild cards.

Their start doesn't reflect that projection. The opening should be viewed no differently than a four-game losing streak in the middle of the season. The class of their division, the Phillies, are only one game better, sitting at 1-3. And guess what NL East foe is 4-0? The Mets, who we all know will likely be mathematically eliminated from contention next week.

Atlanta possesses essentially the same offense that was in playoff position heading into the final day of last season, and then of course the collapse happened.... Maybe they headed into 2012 reminiscing about that fateful night, maybe not. But with the extra wild card a season ago, they would have been in the postseason anyway.

If Jason Heyward continues his struggles at the plate, however, the playoffs could elude this team...


Philadelphia Philles: 1-3 start

Philly has what Atlanta doesn't: a surefire ace. Three of them, in fact.

But through these first four games, and much of last season, no offense to help carry them. And that is worrisome.

These first four games should be a sign of things to come in Philadelphia, particularly until Chase Utley and Ryan Howard return: 3-2 and 2-1 games.

Thanks to the spectacular pitching, many of these close, low-scoring affairs will be won by the Phils. Duplicating last season's 102-win regular season? Not likely. But winning the NL East for a sixth straight season? You can still count on it.


San Francisco Giants: 1-3 start

Barry Zito just pulled them out of a ditch. Wow.

I won't even get into their past few games. Just a fluke is all. San Fran's starting pitching will be in tact for the season, despite being shelled to start. As has been the case the past few seasons, the offense will suffer. Melky Cabrera's acquisition will help....

But honestly, the optimism surrounding a fresh slated baseball season should end quickly for the Giants. Not because of the 1-3 start, but because this isn't a playoff team. And because the Diamondbacks show all the signs of a repeat. And because the Dodgers appear rejuvenated. I hope San Fran enjoyed that World Series run while it lasted.


New York Yankees: 1-3 start

No. No. No. Whatever the New York papers are saying, it is by no means time for panic, or even concern, in the Bronx.


Boston Red Sox: 1-3 start

Just like last year, on paper their star-studded roster looks fantastic. Their closer situation doesn't, but that's fixable...

No, it isn't the skill of the players that should be a cause for alarm.

It's the mindset.

Word on the street is the players are having a rough time adjusting to Bobby Valentine, and they haven't appeared to come out with any sense of urgency. If the first week of the season mattered most to one team, it's Boston. Because of how they finished. Because of Tito's departure. Because of the beer and wings in the clubhouse. Because of players throwing each other under the bus, questioning leadership, and generally feuding in the clubhouse.

They may say it's all behind them, but a nice start would certainly have been reassuring.

Prima Donna Battle

The NBA is turning itself into a joke.

The "superstars" are the main cause. And the fact that the league's paid officials treat some of them like their long-lost children.

The latest episode includes the air-headed DeMarcus Cousins, and a guy shoved down our throats: Blake Griffin.

See, basketball is supposed to be a physical game. In the days of Bill Russell and others, it was, to an extent. Nowadays, not so much. Some contact to role players goes unnoticed, but so much as blink an eyelash at a superstar; a foul is called.

Couple that with the fact that many players, particularly Griffin, routinely fake being fouled (number 2 in the video) to get calls. Now we have a problem. There's the saying, "If you don't cheat, you ain't trying," but NBA players take this to a whole new level.

Now, part of the reason that DeMarcus Cousins yesterday fouled out in eighteen minutes is because of his own play. But he was matched up with Griffin, a circumstance the NBA ensures will get you into foul trouble. After all, this is a league that rigged its dunk contest for him to win...

Following the game in which the two engaged in occasional pushing and shoving, Griffin, when asked about it by the media, said he would leave it all on the court. Probably because he got all the calls.

When Cousins was informed of Griffin's comments, he said what many other of the league's big men have probably wanted to all season: "Of course that's what Blake is going to say because he's in L.A., where actors belong."

Then, later, Cousins to Sports Illustrated: "He's babied. He's the poster child of the league. He sells tickets, but he's babied. Bottom line. The refs, the league -- period. He gets away with (everything). He taunts players. Nothing is done. He's babied."

Now, a lot of idiotic things have come out of Cousins' mouth. But his evaluation of Griffin is spot on.

And how are the rest of the league's superstars doing? I'm sure you remember: Deron Williams getting his Hall of Fame coach, Jerry Sloan, fired, only to leave the team anyway. Carmelo Anthony, after forcing his way out of Denver, coming into the season overweight and quitting on the team in New York to get the coach ousted. Dwight Howard and his ridiculous ongoing escapade...

The league is a mess.