MLB

New York Yankees brought out their brooms in the Bronx, as they swept the Houston Astros over the weekend.

The Yankees were without Arod, but you wouldn’t know it by the way the team beat-on the Astros.

Pitching Preview: Champs vs. Phillies Game 2 focuses on the game two match-up, in this 2009 World Series revival between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees .

Game 2:

It’s the 2009 World Series all over again as the Yankees host the Phillies for three games in the Bronx.

The last time the Phillies were in town, the Yankees became world champions—a feeling Yankees fans hope to relive by beating the Phillies once again.

Both line-ups are stacked with power, from Utley to Posada.

Dear SF Giants Offense,

We're writing this letter to express our deep concerns over a growing team problem: good offense.

In 2010, the Giants' offense has scored less than three runs accordingly:

April: 9/26  34 percent.
May: 11/28  39 percent.
June: 1/12  8 percent. 

The offense is currently riding an 11 game streak of scoring three runs or more.

Before we dive in, let us remind you since the departure of Barry Bonds, we have become accustomed to sluggish inconsistent limp offenses.

The poor production by the players listed below gave their fantasy owners headaches. Their names are recognizable. Their pictures likely grace one of your top baseball cards. The bench might be the right place for them to think about what they did this week to so many hopeful fantasy baseball teams.

1) OF Alfonso Soriano, Chicago Cubs

The Cubs outfielder was only 2-for-20 with a .100 AVG last week.

It’s been a terrible June for Soriano as he was only able to dredge up a lousy .162 AVG in 37 tries in the batters box.

Newer stats are moving to the mainstream—there is no question about it. The general fans are starting to understand more and more as the years pass. OPS (which is still VERY basic) is starting to become a generally recognized statistic, and we are starting to see better metrics pushed to the masses.

The more that the common sports sites push these statistics, the more the mainstream will begin to understand and accept them.

The Washington Nationals have stepped up a notch in the MLB with their performance this year after their horrible 103-loss season in 2009.

The Nats did make quite a few moves for Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham before the 2009 season, and they are now the core guys, along with Zimmerman in the lineup. They also traded for the speedster Nyjer Morgan.

With Washington making plenty of wise moves this offseason, they are off to an average start, with a 31-33 record. They are just 6 games back in the National League East. 

In an annual tradition (started last year, but two years in a row makes it annual, right?), I bring to you an interview with a Milwaukee Brewer draftee from the most recently completed Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Last year I brought you fourth-round pick Brooks Hall. That interview can be read here .

On Saturday while the Toronto Blue Jays were in the midst of an inter-league series with the Colorado Rockies, manager Cito Gaston was asked which of his players deserved All-Star consideration. Gatson told MLB.com writer Jordan Bastian that he felt Brett Cecil, Ricky Romero, Shaun Marcum, Vernon Wells and Jose Bautista were worth serious consideration. Gaston also said he hopes to see at least three selections from his squad.