MLB

One old baseball adage states, "Speed slows down the game," a quote likely coming from Casey Stengel or Yogi Berra.

On the surface, this statement makes no sense. But when you dig deeper, you gauge that when fast players get on base, the entire game changes. From throwing over to first base, to the pitcher stepping off the rubber, a once ncrisp moving game can get stalled as the pitcher and defense woorries about the speedy runner.

Funny thing is that the runner by himself can't hurt the pitcher, unless he steals second, third and home.

Nothing like the popularity contest known as All Star Game voting to drive an attentive fan crazy.

The All Star game is meant to be for the fans, so logically, the fans should get the right to choose who they get to see in the game. As a result, many times a "fan favorite" makes the game despite lackluster performance, thanks to the fan vote.

While the differences between good and bad have become more clear as the years have gone on, there are still plenty of whoppers on the ballot.

Valdez has likely played his last game as a Phillie.


With Jimmy Rollins slated to make his return to the lineup, someone will have to face the axe in order to make room on the roster.

Jeff Francis & Armando Galarraga made successful 2010 debuts.  Chad Billingsley was stellar.  Carlos Lee & Corey Hart are showing signs of turning things around.  Let’s look at these stories and all the rest from yesterday’s games:

THE MEAT OF THE ORDER

Every week there are three things I deem to be really important. It's kind of like the "meat" of my lineup. This week, there is only two because my DH is on the disabled list.

1. Trey Hillman Fired

I’m a little shocked that the Kansas City Royals decided to pull the trigger on firing Trey Hillman this early. Not so much because I believed the vote of confidence that Drayton Moore cast in favor of Hillman, though.

ATLANTA—Things have gotten so bad for the Mets that their general manager has decided to watch them in person on the road.

After yesterday's 10-8 loss to the Marlins, it was announced that GM Omar Minaya was making the flight to Atlanta to watch his team play.

When a GM of a team heads on the road to see his team, it means one of two things: Either he wants to give his team a vote of confidence, or he's all set to fire his manager if the team continues to lose.

Week Seven didn't have any perfect games or A-Rod controversies, but it did feature a new unlikely first place team. The Cincinnati Reds are in the first place after taking two-of-three from St. Louis. A team that ranks 11th in the N.L. in batting average and 13th in ERA is some how getting it done.

The Rays and Phillies keep rolling, while the Royals win the office pool for first team to hit the panic button by firing their manager. Surely there will be more to come...who's next?

David Ortiz may be starting to turn a corner, as he's hit safely in his last six games and driven in 11 runs over his last nine.

His performance took fans back to 2007. In his first appearance since September 2008, Jeff Francis dominated a powerful Washington Nationals lineup, helping the Rockies to a 2-1 win at Coors Field on Sunday.

Just chill, Giants—we got this.

After sweeping aside the San Francisco Giants in a three-game series, the San Diego Padres had the favor returned to them by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The sweep put the Dodgers just two games back of the Friars for first place, and San Diego now sits just a half-game ahead of the Giants.

For the Dodgers, it marked their seventh win in a row and ninth in their last 10 games. The Dodgers finished the road trip a perfect 6-0, having swept the struggling Arizona Diamondbacks before arriving in San Diego.