Video of the Day (7/5)

The true champion of the hot dog eating contest.

Sports News of the Day (7/4)

MLB: For anyone who has not seen the All-Star Starters list; here they are:

National League: Catcher-Brian McCann (ATL Braves), First Base-Prince Fielder (Milwaukee Brewers), Second Base- Rickie Weeks (Milwaukee Brewers), Third Base- Placido Polanco (Philadelphia Phillies), Shortstop-Jose Reyes (New York Mets),  Outfield- Ryan Bruan (Milwaukee Brewers), Lance Berkman (St. Louis Cardinals), Matt Kemp (Los Angeles Dodgers)

American League: Catcher-Alex Avila (Detroit Tigers), First Base-Adrian Gonzalez (Boston Red Sox), Second Base-Robinson Cano (New York Yankees), Third Base-Alex Rodriguez (New York Yankees), Shortstop-Derek Jeter (New York Yankees), Outfield: Jose Bautista (Toronto Blue Jays), Curtis Granderson (New York Yankees), Josh Hamilton (Texas Rangers), Designated Hitter- David Ortiz (Boston Red Sox)
Pitchers and Reserves will be listed tomorrow.

The number one pick of the 2010 MLB Draft, 18 year-old Bryce Harper, has been promoted to the Washington National's Double A Team, the Harrisburg Senators. For the Single A Hagerstown Suns, Harper hit 14 home runs, 46 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, with a stellar batting average of .318. I do not expect to see Harper in a Washington Nationals uniform this year, but I would be shocked if he was not in Syracuse to play for the Chiefs in Triple A by the end of the year.
  
 The Cincinnati Reds took a loss against the St. Louis Cardinals 1-0 today at Busch Stadium in St. Louis in the first of a three game series.
  Rookie Mark Hamilton, was brought in the eighth inning to pinch hit for Cardinals' pitcher Chris Carpenter and hit an in-field single that brought in the only run of the game.
   Colby Rasmus went 2-3 for St. Louis, while Matt Holiday went 0-2. First baseman Albert Pujols could possibly return to the Cardinals' line-up come Tuesday night.
   The Reds' Joey Votto went 3-4, while Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce went a combined 0-8. Bruce has been on a slump recently, and needs to pick up his play for the Reds to be successful.
  Carpenter (4-7) took the win for St. Louis; pitching eight innings, giving up six hits while striking out three. Fernando Salas recorded his 15th save of the year.
   Johnny Cueto (5-3) took the loss for Cincinnati; pitching eight innings, giving up one run off six hits.
   Game two of this series is at 7:15 PM tomorrow night at Busch Stadium with the pitching match-up expected to be Edinson Volquez (CIN, 5-3) vs Jaime Garcia (STL, 7-3).

Hot Dog News: Joey Chestnut won the Nathan's Hot Dog Contest at Coney Island in New York City, New York, for the fifth time. Chestnut ate 62 hot dogs, however, the bigger news was that Takeru Kobayashi, who did not participate this year due to contract issues, broke the world record Chestnut once had by eating 69 hot dogs in another part of New York City.

Top 5 Players in the MLB (Part 6)

Sorry we're put back a day on this series, did not have time to do both this and a big UFC 132 review.
  So in today's part of the top five players in each MLB position, it is time to look at the "general" of the infield; the shortstop.

Jeter

5. Derek Jeter (New York Yankees)- Jeter is obviously one of the best shortstops in ever in the game of baseball. He has not had less than 150 hits in any full season of his 17 year career, he is only six hits away from joining the 3,000 hit club, and has a career batting averaging of .383. The fact that he has those numbers automatically puts him on this list, but it helps that he is having another stellar season. Jeter has 68 hits, two home runs, 20 RBIs and a batting average of .260. He still has some speed too, with seven stolen bases and has a low strkeout total of just 31. Jeter is considered to be on the best defensive shortstops in the game, and his 2011 season has proven no different. He currently has 60 put-outs, 143 assists, and just four errors. Jeter also has an outstanding fielding percentage of .974. He is expected to return to the Yankee lineup today, after being put on the 15 day DL due to a calf strain injury that occurred in mid June.

Cabrera

4. Asdrubal Cabrera (Cleveland Indians)- A breakout 2011 season so far by Cabrera puts himself on this lift. This kid has come out of no where and has dazzled baseball fans with both his hitting and fielding. He is third in all of shortstops with 100 hits (22 being doubles), and could possibly have 200 this year. Cabrera is also tied for second among all shortstops with 14 home runs. He has a respectable .294 average, and I would not be surprised to see that average come up to possibly .310 by the end of the year. I also like that he shows some speed with 12 stolen bases. Cabrera is also a stud when it comes to fielding. His behind the back toss against the White Sox in May that led to a double play has to be the MLB play of the year. He has 120 putouts, 218 assets, and a solid fielding percentage of .985. Cabrera also has just five errors. Asdrubal Cabrera is one of the key reasons why the Indians have found so much success this year, and in my opinion, is the best shortstop in the American League.

Castro

3. Starlin Castro (Chicago Cubs)- Castro is the best player to come to the Windy City since Sammy Sosa; yes he is that good and I certainly expect him to be the face of the Cubs for a very long time. He had an amazing rookie year in 2010 and his 2011 season in no different. Castro is second among all shortstops with 110 hits, he is only 29 hits shy of how many hits he had last year (139). Although Castro is not a power-hitting shortstop (three home runs this year), he easily makes up for it with his .307 batting average. With his 38 RBIs, he is just three away from his entire season total as of last year (41). I would like Castro to try to draw more walks (16 this year) so he could be on base more, and if he does, expect to see him steal more bases than the ten he has so far into the season. Castro's hitting is a lot better than his fielding, but his defense is still above average. He has 145 put-outs, 230 assists, and a fielding percentage of .959. This percentage would be a lot higher if it was not for Castro's disgusting number of 16 errors. Since Castro's debut in May of 2010 where he had six RBIs against the Cincinnati Reds, he has been the it factor for the Cubs, and expect him to continue to be that it factor for many seasons.

Tulowitzki

2. Troy Tulowitzki (Colorado Rockies)- Tulowitzki is a rare shortstop with power hitting capability, along with great fielding. He has proved that frequently throughout his career, and is still doing it during the 2011 season. Tulowitzki leads all shortstops with 17 home runs and if he continues to hit the long ball, he could possibly have 35 home runs, which would be a career high. He also has 88 hits (18 doubles) with a batting average of .271. I expect to see that number increase to around .295 around the end of the season. Tulowitzki is also on pace for a 100 RBI season, with 57 RBIs currently. A number I love of his is that he has 32 strikeouts and 32 walks. This just shows he is extremely disciplined at the plate, and is always a tough out. Tulowitzki is also a defensive monster who is the best shortstop in the game defensively. He has 169 putouts (first among all shortstops) and 266 assists (second among all shortstops) and an outstanding fielding percentage of .991. That number is as close as it can get to perfection. He also has just four errors, and I do not expect him to have over ten by the end of the season. Tulowitzki is every manger's dream when it comes to the shortstop position in the fact that he can flat out hit and field with ease, he could have definitely been number one on this list.

Reyes

1. Jose Reyes (New York Mets)- Reyes is on pace to have not only the best season in his career, but in all of baseball. In a contract year where performance matters most, Reyes is doing nothing but performing. He has 124 hits (22 doubles and 15 triples) and could easily have over 210 by the end of the year. For a player to have over 120 hits before the week of all-star break is insane and Reyes has done just that. He has never been a power hitter, so his three home runs are a respectable number and so is his RBI total (32), but what really stands out to me is his batting average of .354. This average leads all of baseball, and rightfully should. I do not expect him to bat .400 by the end of the season, but I would not be at all surprised if it hovered around .375. Another stat that stands out is his 30 stolen bases. Reyes has always had speed and is the fastest in the game, but the fact that he continues to steal bases as his career progresses is amazing, and he could have maybe 75 stolen bases by the time season is over. Even more great, is that he has more walks (27) than strikeouts (26), Reyes is just an offensive stud who is effective in so many ways. He is also an above decent defensive shortstop with 116 put-outs, 222 assists, and a fielding percentage of .971. Yes he has ten errors, but with the season he is having, I am not going to question his defensive ability. Reyes is currently not only the best shortstop in baseball, but the best player in the MLB, and is my pick for the 2011 NL MVP award.

Video of the Day (7/4)

Happy Fourth of July everyone! Love this part of the Sandlot and it is perfect for this holiday.

UFC 132 Analysis

UFC 132, held last night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, was a perfect event for the Fourth of July Weekend. It simply caused great fireworks from start to finish. In my opinion, it was easily one of the best fight cards of the year.
After each event, the question is what happens to next to a fighter and that is exactly what we will talk about now regarding a specific few.

Guillard

Melvin Guillard (MMA 29-8-2, UFC 10-4)- After a stellar knockout of Shane Roller, Guillard is currently on a five fight win streak in the UFC. Usually that would give any fighter a title shot, but besides Roller and Evan Dunham, the other wins on his steak are not very note-worthy. This win against Roller just means that Guillard needs a big fight to prove that he really is a first class lightweight. Two fights come to mind next when I think of Guillard's future. The first would be against a main event winner on this card in Dennis Siver who Guillard previously knocked out in 2008. The way Guillard talked about Siver in the post-fight conference where he requested a rematch is just asking for this fight to happen. However, I think the better fight would be against Anthony "Showtime" Pettis. Pettis is coming off a loss to Clay Guida, that cost him a shot at the UFC Lightweight title, and an opponent like Guillard would be perfect for him. Both are extremely flashy and talented, which makes a great fight. If Guillard were to win that, he would for sure be a first class lightweight in the UFC.

Condit

Carlos Condit (MMA 27-5, UFC 4-1)- With his electrifying knockout of Dong Hyun Kim on the main card, Condit now has a four fight winning streak in the UFC. Condit, who has another solid win over welterweight contender Dan Hardy, deserves a welterweight title shot but due to Georges St. Pierre being already booked to fight Nick Diaz in late 2011, it will not happen just yet. Condit does not want to wait either and wants to fight one more time before the year ends. Other notable welterweight fighters Matt Hughes, Diego Sanchez, and Jake Shields are all booked so that leaves one option; Jon Fitch. Fitch was suppose to fight BJ Penn on this card to serve as a rematch for their February battle that ended in a draw, but Fitch pulled out due to injury. So the best option would be let Penn go back to lightweight, have Fitch heal and then fight Condit. Fitch has always believed that he gets screwed over when it comes to title shots, so give him the next worthy opponent (Condit) and see what happens. I would love to see Condit prove that he is worthy to one day fight GSP.

Bader

Ryan Bader (MMA 12-2, UFC 5-2)- The favorite going into a fight with legend Tito Ortiz, Bader left the fight stunned and disappointed when he tapped while in a guillotine choke. This is the second fight he lost in a row due to this choke. With the loss, Bader is now out of the light heavyweight top five, but is still a rising fighter who shows lots of promise. The best thing for Bader to do next would be to fight Matt Hamill, who just lost at UFC 130 to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Bader needs a win, to get his career back on track, and Hamill would be just the fighter to accomplish that.

Ortiz

Tito Ortiz (MMA 16-8-1, UFC 15-8-1)- Ortiz just shook up the light heavyweight division big time with his shocking win over Bader. This was expected to be the fight where Ortiz gets beat up again, and where he finally gives up on his career, but Ortiz proved to all of us that he still has it. This was simply amazing to watch. The win against Bader was the first in over five years, and is most likely is last run at the title. Can he do it? Can he beat the odds again? I have no idea how far the run will go, but the fact that Ortiz is truly healthy, and is completely focused on his career means this run could go on for a while. When I watched Ortiz's arm being raised in the air for victory, instantly one possible fight popped in my head: Ortiz-Griffin 3. The previous fights between Ortiz and Forrest Griffin both ended in split decisions with Ortiz winning the first, and Forrest winning the last in November of 2009. If Griffin was to lose at UFC 134 against Shogun Rua, I guarantee Ortiz-Griffin 3 would happen again, because of how close the previous fights were and how big this fight could be. Ortiz was the Cinderella of UFC 132, now it is time just see when the couch turns back to a pumpkin.

Dennis Siver (MMA 19-7, UFC 8-4)- See Melvin Guillard

Silva

Wanderlei Silva (MMA 33-11-1, UFC 2-4) Silva being knocked out against Chris Leben, is really sad. It is terrible to see a legend get knocked out, but it also shows that Silva needs to retire. He needs to realize that he needs to quit now before his career becomes tarnished even more, but knowing Silva that wont happen. In fact, he already has his next fight planned out against Chael SonnenWanderlei and Sonnen have talked smack for months now, and this fight is both what these men want. If Silva could not beat Leben, I do not know how in the world he thinks he could beat Sonnen, but hopefully another lost would help Silva realize that the great career he has had finally needs to come to an end.

Leben

Chris Leben (MMA 26-7, UFC 12-6)- After an amazing knockout of Silva, Leben now makes up for disappointing loss to Brain Stann in January. Leben is no where near a title shot yet, but I do consider him to be a top middleweight because Leben is really good and has incredible knockout power. The next fight I see Leben partaking in would be against the winner of the UFC 133 fight between Victor Belfort and Yoshihiro Akiyama. The winner of this fight could be in the title picture which means they should take on Leben next to see what happens. I would love to see Leben take on Belfort because of the credibility Belfort has and a win against him would show Leben does deserve a title shot, but I would also love to see him fight Akiyama again which was one of the best fights of 2010, where Leben came out on top. If either of these fights would happen, many fight fans would be happy.

Cruz

Faber

Dominick Cruz (MMA 18-1, UFC 1-0) & Urijah Faber (MMA 25-5, UFC 1-1)- I figured I should put the main event fighters together because of what I think should happen next, but I will explain that in a minute. Last night's fight between Cruz and Faber was magnificent, it was easily fight of the night, although I did not like the outcome of Cruz winning by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 48-47) to retain his UFC Bantamweight Title. The fight was extremely close and very exciting. Both men did damage, and I thought Faber had it won with some of the knockdowns he had, however he could not finish. I had the fight at 48-47 for Cruz (Three rounds to two), so I was really surprised that some idiot had the fight at 50-45, Cruz did not win all five rounds in my opinion. Because of how close I and many others thought this fight was, and more importantly how exciting this fight was, I think the best thing to do would be to have an immediate rematch. I still think Faber is the better fighter and he deserves the chance to show it one more time against Cruz. Its not like he does not deserve because he put on a great performance that could have won the fight, however Cruz's standup was just too solid. I think this would be best for the Bantamweight division, but I also heard that Brian Bowles could be next in line. Guess we will just have to wait and see.

Video of the Day (7/3)

Have to give a shout out to Chris Leben for an amazing knockout on Wanderlei Silva, thus he deserves to be in the spotlight for today's video of the day.

Sports News of the Day (7/2)

Tennis: Petra Kvitova (8) defeats Maria Sharapova (5) (6-3, 6-4) to win the Ladies' Single Title at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All-England Club in London, England. The gentlemen's final between Rafael Nadal (1) vs Novak Djokovic (2) will take place tomorrow.

MLB: The Cleveland Indians' success against the Cincinnati Reds this season continued Saturday with a 3-1 win at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
   Michael Brantley hit a three run homer off Reds' pitcher Homer Bailey in the third inning to give the Indians the win.
Reigning NL MVP Joey Votto hit his twelfth home run of the year for Cincinnati.
   Frank Hermann (1-0) took the win for Cleveland, pitching three innings, giving up one hit, while striking out two.
   Homer Bailey (3-3) took the loss for the Reds, pitching seven innings, giving up three runs off eight hits, while striking out seven.
   The final game of this inter-league series takes place tomorrow at 1:10 PM in Cincinnati with the pitching matchup slated to be Mitch Talbot (2-4, CLE) vs Mike Leake (7-4, CIN)

MMA: UFC 132 Took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Notable Results: Lightweight: Rafael Dos Anjos defeats George Sotiropoulos via KO in Rd 1.
Lightweight: Mevlin Guillard defeats Shane Roller via KO in Rd 1.
Welterweight: Carlos Condit defeats Dong Hyun Kim via TKO in Rd 1.
Light Heavyweight: Tito Ortiz defeats Ryan Bader via submission in Rd 1.
Lightweight: Dennis Siver defeats Matt Wiman via decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Middleweight: Chris Leben defeats Wanderlei Silva via KO in Rd 1.
Bantamweight Championship: Champion Dominick Cruz defeats Urijah Faber via decision (50-45, 49-46, 48-47)
Analysis will be provided tomorrow on the fight card.
Boxing: Wladimir Klitschko defeats David Haye at Imtech Arena in Hamburg, Germany. Klitschko is now the WBA, IBO, IBF, WBO, and Ring Heavyweight Champion. The heavyweight division is still not fully unified as the WBC Championship is held by Vitali Klitschko, yes Wladimir's brother. So the only possible fight left in the heavyweight division that actually matters is between Wladimir and Vitali. What a fight that would be.

Top 5 Players in the MLB (Part 5)

For part five of this preview, it is time to look at my opinion of who the top five third basemen in Major League Baseball are.

Ramirez

5. Aramis Ramirez (Chicago Cubs)- After two somewhat disappointing years, Ramirez is putting his career back on track due to the success he has had in the 2011 season. He has 88 hits (20 being doubles) with 11 home runs and 42 RBIs. He is batting a solid .295. If Ramirez struck out a little less (39 in total), that batting average could be even higher. Ramirez is also having one of his best years defensively. He has 30 put-outs, 129 assists, and a fielding percentage of .956. He has just five errors. These numbers almost already surpass his entire season numbers from the 2010 season. Ramirez has not only put his career back on a positive note, but can now be considered once again to be one of the best third baseman in the game.

Beltre

4. Arian Beltre (Texas Rangers)- Beltre is in the same boat as Ramirez, ever since 2004 he has had average seasons, but if Beltre's number stay strong, he will easily have his best season in the last seven years. He leads all third basemen with 14 home runs and 61 RBIs. Beltre also has a respectable average of .265 and is in the top half of all third basemen when it comes to having the fewest strikeouts (30). He leads all third basemen defensively in put-outs (69) and also has 157 assists, and a fielding percentage of .954. If Beltre has less errors than he did in the first part of the season (11), he could be even a better defensive third baseman.

Wright

3. David Wright (New York Mets)- This is probably a surprise to most, because Wright has not played much this season due to a stress fracture in his back and since because his name has come up frequently when discussing trade talks. Although both of these have affected his 2011 season, David Wright is still one of the best third baseman in the game. The four time all-star has 33 hits (8 doubles) in 39 games, 18 RBIs, and six home-runs. He is currently batting .226. Although these numbers are not great, for the situation Wright is in, they are respectable. Even with a frightening 43 strikeouts, which means he averages a little more than a strikeout a game. Wright's defensive side of the game is currently a whole lot better than his hitting, and when his hitting is on, Wright is a very very good player. He has 32 put-outs, 56 assists, and just three errors. Wright also has a fielding percentage of .957. If Wright can stay healthy through these back issues, and have his numbers look a little more productive, Wright can easily pick up and continue the great career he has.

Longoria

2. Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay Rays)- Even though Longoria has missed 27 games in the first half of the season (81 games in first half) due to oblique issues, Longoria still is having a productive season in an extremely successful career. He currently has 48 hits (15 doubles), ten home runs and 37 RBIs. Also has a solid batting average of .250. Longoria has found some success defensively as well. He has 49 put-outs and 89 assists. Longoria has a fielding percentage of .953. The only aspect I would Longoria to improve on his amount of errors (6). If that happened his fielding percentage could be some where in the .96. Longoria's injury definitely hurt him, but if he had a great second part to the season, his 2011 numbers will be right where they should be.

Rodriguez

1. Alex Rodriguez (New York Yankees)- Each season, A-Rod plays just down-right good and the 2011 season is no different for this "future hall of famer". He is having a great season in both aspects of the game. He has 84 hits (19 being doubles), with 13 home runs. This season however, could be the first since 1995 where A-Rod does not hit more than 30 home runs, but I expect him to do so. He has 52 RBIs and even a batting average of .301. Rodriguez has 61 strikeouts, which means he is on pace to strikeout over 100 times, but the fact that A-Rod is still playing well through that is great. He has an awesome fielding percentage of .977, along with 38 put-outs, 133 assists, and just four errors. A-Rod has been the most consistent third baseman this year, but importantly the best. He is my prediction to start third base for the AL in the all-star game.

Sports News of the Day (7/1)

Quick recap of the world of sports from Friday.

The gentlemen's final for the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All-England Club in London, England, is set. The final will take place on Sunday.
Match Results: Rafael Nadal (1) defeats Andy Murray (4) (5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4) Novak Djokovic (2) defeats Jo-Wilfried Tosonga (12) (7-6 (7-4), 6-2, 6-7 (9-11), 6-3)
Sunday's Final: Rafael Nadal (1) vs Novak Djokovic (2)
Ladies' Saturday Final: Maria Sharapova (5) vs Petra Kvitova (8)

NASCAR: Joey Logano wins the Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona Speedway in the Nationwide Series. Other notable finishes: Kyle Busch-4, Elliott Sadler-8, Danica Patrick-10, Steve Wallace-11, Tony Stewart-13, Carl Edwards-14, Jamie McMurray-16, Kevin Harvick-18, Trevor Bayne-22, Clint Bowyer-34

MLB: The Cleveland Indians took it to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday; winning the first game of this inter-league battle 8-1 at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
   Cleveland went yard three times by former Reds player Orlando Cabrera (14), Carlos Santana (12) and Grady Sizemore (8) to help get the big win of this first of three game series.
    For Cincinnati, Brandon Phillips went 3-4, with his eighth homer of the year.
    Jay Bruce and Joey Votto went a combined 0-7.
    Justin Masterson (6-6) took the win for the Tribe, pitching eight innings, giving up one run off four hits, while striking out five.
    Bronson Arroyo (7-7) took the loss; pitching 4.2 innings, giving up 8 runs off nine hits, while striking out two.
   Game two of this series takes place in Cincinnati today at 4:10 PM with the pitching matchup being Homer Bailey (3-2, CIN) against Fausto Carmona (4-10, CLE)

  

Video of the Day (7/2)

One final Terry Tate video.

Top 5 Players in the MLB (Part 4)

For the next part of my ranking the top players for each position in the MLB, it is time list the top five second basemen.

Utley

  5. Chase Utley (Philadelphia Phillies)- It was really hard for me not to put Ben Zobrist in this spot, but based on previous year performances, I had to give this to Utley. Although he has had to deal with a patellar tendinitis in his right knee for the last year and off (which has caused his numbers to drop off), Utley is still one of the best in the game. He is currently batting a .287 with 16 RBIs, and three home runs. Utley has 35 hits (six doubles, three triples) in 33 games, which means he is averaging a little more than a hit a game, which is awesome. I also like that he has more walks (15) than strikeouts (13). This means he will always be a tough out to make. I also like that Utley has six stolen bases which means he can still run even with fighting the pain in his knee. He is also strong defensively, having 68 put-outs, 88 assists, and a fielding percentage of .987. If Utley's knee heals soon, not only does his number skyrocket up, but the Phillies become more of a threat as the playoffs approach us.

Phillips

4. Brandon Phillips (Cincinnati Reds)- Phillips is having an all-star caliber year in both aspects of the game. If his numbers stay strong throughout the season, he will easily have the best season of his career. Phillips is batting a stellar .297. Do not be surprised if his average is up to .300 by the end of the year. He also has 95 hits (19 doubles), six home runs, and 43 RBIs. Phillips has also only struck out 33 times which is in the top half for all second basemen. Some of the defensive plays Phillips makes are just extraordinary, he is easily one of the best defensive players in all of baseball. He has 158 put-outs, 211 assists, just two errors, along with a fielding percentage of .995. Cincinnati needs a player who can be depended on day in and day out whose name is not Joey Votto, and a player like Brandon Phillips can be just that.

Pedroia

3. Dustin Pedroia (Boston Red Sox) After a short season in 2010 where Pedroia dealt with a broken foot, the 2008 AL MVP is putting his career back on track.  He has 82 hits (16 being doubles) with a batting average of .271. Pedroia also has seven home runs with 35 RBIs. He has never had a strong RBI number in his career, and surprisingly has never gotten over 100, it would be really nice for the Red Sox if Pedroia could increase that RBI total. What I really like about his offensive skills is that he is willing to steal bases. Pedroia is tied for most steals (15) out of all the second basemen in the lead. This stat shows that he does whatever it takes to lead his team to victory. Pedroia is also a talented defensive second baseman, with 129 put-outs, 215 assists, and a fielding percentage of .989. If Pedroia can contribute more when it comes to RBIs, the Red Sox have the AL East in the bag.

Weeks

2. Rickie Weeks (Milwaukee Brewers)- The 2003 second pick in the MLB Draft is finally living up to the hype he had coming into the majors. After a career best season in 2010, Weeks is having an all-star season in 2011. He has a batting average of .282, expect that to be over .300 by the end of the year, along with 93 hits (20 of those being doubles). Weeks has 14 home runs, but with a low RBI total of 33. He had 83 RBIs last season, so he has to pick that number up for sure. Weeks also has a sickening 78 strikeouts. No player this good should ever strike out that much. Defensively, Weeks is not bad, but not great. He is just good; having 124 put-outs, 213 assists, and a fielding percentage of .977. Weeks has 8 errors, which needs to be improved upon as well. Weeks is a very talented second baseman, but he can get better and if he does in the second part of the season, by the end of year he could easily be the best second baseman.

Cano

1. Robinson Cano (New York Yankees)- Cano is having another monster year in an amazing career. It is easy to say that he might be one of the most underrated Yankees who truly deserves the whole New York spotlight based on his performances because he certainly deserves it. Cano has 90 hits (18 being doubles) and 52 RBIs. These are both the highest among all second basemen. He also has 14 home runs along with a respectable batting average of .292. Cano has 43 strikeouts which is one of the best among all second basemen and make him even more of an offensive threat. Cano is playing really well defensively, with 187 put-outs, 226 assists, and a fielding percentage of .986. Cano is the best second baseman in all of baseball and if his numbers stay strong throughout the rest of his career, that could easily stay that way.

UFC 132 Preview

UFC's traditional Fourth of July Weekend card takes place this weekend as UFC 132: Cruz vs Faber is tomorrow night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event is for the UFC Bantamweight championship between rivals Dominick Cruz (Champion) vs Urijah Faber.
   Besides the main event of the night, there are still a few fights that catch the eye and are worth talking about.
Tito Ortiz (MMA 15-8-1, UFC 14-8-1) takes on Ryan Bader (MMA 12-1, UFC 5-1) in a light heavyweight battle.
   Ortiz (36), who is on a three fight losing streak, is heading toward the end of an outstanding UFC career. He defended his UFC Light Heavyweight title five times after defeating Wanderlei Silva for the title in April of 2000, until losing the belt in September of 2003 to UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture. Ortiz has other notable wins over former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin, Ken Shamrock, and Victor Belfort. He is a fighter known specifically for his wrestling, but the power to win a fight via stand-up as well.
   Bader (28) is one of the rising talents of the light heavyweight division. He has solid wins over Keith Jardine and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. His last fight was in February where he was submitted by now the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. Bader is also known for his wrestling ability and was an All-American while at Arizona State University.
 Prediction: Both Bader and Ortiz have the same fighting styles, so expect lots of boxing with takedown opportunities for ground and pound. Although Ortiz has the experience and a better fighting resume, I have to give this fight to Bader because of youth and wrestling ability.
  Bader wins in the 3rd round via TKO.
   The co-main event looks to be very exciting when Chris Leben (MMA 25-7, UFC 11-6) takes on Wanderlei Silva (MMA 33-10-1, UFC  2-3) in a middleweight bout.
   Leben has wanted this fight for over a year now, and he finally gets his wish. He is a very versatile fighter, who can win on the ground or standing up, but he is best known for his knockout power. Leben has notable wins over Patrick Cote, Jorge Santiago, Yoshihiro Akiyama, and Mike Swick. In January, Leben's quest for a UFC Middleweight Title shot was pushed back when he lost via TKO to American war hero Brian Stann.
   Although his UFC record does not show it, Silva is considered to be one of the best fighters have all time. He has wins over Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Dan Henderson, and Michael Bisping. However, due to knee surgery in July of 2010 Silva has not fought since February of 2010 against Bisping. He has lethal hands that can knockout any opponent, but the fact that Silva's recent performances have been a concern.
Prediction: "Fight of the Night" candidate for sure. Both fighters have stellar knockout power, so try not to blink while watching this fight; anything can happen. Silva will have some ring rust going into this and I still have concerns about the knee, so I gotta give this fight to Leben.
  Leben wins in the second round via KO.
   The UFC Bantamweight Championship between Champion Dominick Cruz (MMA 17-1, UFC 0-0-) vs Urijah Faber (MMA 25-4, UFC 1-0) will definitely bring the most fireworks of the night.
   Cruz, who is ranked number sixth in the pound-for-pound, is a boxer/wrestler who wins most of his fights via decision. This shows he has great stamina and that he knows how to win in tough situations. He has great wins over Brian Bowles and Joseph Benavidez in his career. His one loss came From Faber previously. He defended his WEC Bantamweight title twice before the WEC merged with the UFC.
   Faber "The Californian Kid" is considered to one of the faces of the UFC and in MMA in general. Known for his college wrestling background and kickboxing, Faber has notable wins over Jens Pulver, Eddie Wineland, and Takeya Mizugaki. He can go the distance in a fight if needed, and is an excellent submission fighter.
  Prediction: This fight could go the distance, because both fighters are the energy to do it, however, I think due to Faber's experience and submission capability, at the end of the night, Urijah Faber will be the new UFC Bantamweight Champion of the world.
Faber wins in the fourth round via submission.

Video of the Day (7/1)

Terry Tate Videos never disappoint.

Sports News of the Day (6/29)

Tennis: The Ladies' final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships is set after the semi-finals were played at the All-England Club today in London England.
Match Results: Maria Sharapova (5) defeats Sabine Lisicki (6-4, 6-3), Petra Kvitova (8) defeats Victoria Azarenka (4) (6-1, 3-6, 6-2)
Men's semi final action will be played tomorrow.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (12) vs Novak Djokovic (2)
Rafael Nadal (1) vs Andy Murray (4)
MLB News:  The New York Yankees shut-out the Milwaukee Brewers; 5-0.
Mark Teixeira (1-4) hit his 25th home-run of the year.
CC Sabathia (11-4) took the win; pitching 7.2 innings, giving up six hits, while striking out 13.
    The Detroit Tigers took a win against the New York Mets; 5-2.
    Even though the Mets' Carlos Beltran (1-4, 12) and Daniel Murphy (2-4, 5) both homered, and Jose Reyes (2-3) doubled; Tigers' pitcher Justin Verlander (11-3) was able to earn the win. He pitched 7 innings, giving up one run off seven hits, while striking out six.
   The Cincinnati Reds (42-40) begin its last inter-league series of the year hosting the Cleveland Indians (42-37) in a three game series starting at 7:10 PM Friday at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
  The pitching matchup is expected to be Bronson Arroyo (7-6, CIN) vs Justin Masterson (5-6, CLE).
   NBA News: Starting at midnight, the NBA Lockout officially beings as the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the owners and players will expire. No one knows when they will come to terms on the CBA and its been rumored that the disagreements between the two sides are so bad that 1. Only a 50 game season could be played next year or 2. A season might not even happen. Lets hope neither does, because I need my full 82 game season of NBA Basketball next year!
  MMA News: Strikeforce has offically released heavyweight fighter Brett Rogers (MMA 11-3, SF 2-3). Rogers was arrested on Wednesday for alleged assault of his wife. A great stand-up fighter will killer knock-out power, Rogers is most known for being knocked out by Fedor Emelianenko in November of 2009 on CBS.
  

Top 5 players in the MLB (Part 3)

Today's ranking of the Major League Baseball's best will probably be just as difficult as yesterday's, if not harder. The first base position of baseball is stacked with talent and there are many possible candidates for this list.

5. Paul Konerko (Chicago White Sox)/Joey Votto (Cincinnati Reds)- Deciding between these two players was like debating to eat either a red or pink Starburst; it was just too tough to pick one of these players because both are great and deserve this recognition.

Konerko

   Konerko is on pace to have another stellar season. Currently, he has 94 hits, 61 RBIs, with an outstanding batting average of .322. If he continues to bat the way he has, Kornerko would have his highest batting average he has had in his career. He also has 21 home runs this year, and if he could at least match that total in the second part of the season, he would beat his 2004 best when he hit 41 homers.  I also like the fact that he has only struck out 47 times this season along with 35 walks. This shows he is a very disciplined hitter. Konerko is also having a nice year defensively with 608 putouts, 37 assists, and has a fielding percentage of .995. Konerko has been a monster in both aspects of the game which makes it too hard not to put him on this list.

Votto

  Votto is having a respectable season following his 2010 NL MVP season. He has 95 hits (18 of those being doubles and even two triples) with a batting average of .319. Other positives of his offensive season has been that he has stolen six bases, which is the second best for an MLB first baseman this season, along with 62 walks, which leads all first basemen. The fact that Votto can get on base whether its via a hit or a walk makes him extremely deadly. However, some of his offensive numbers have been disappointing. Last year, Votto hit 37 home runs with 113 RBIs, this year Votto only has 11 home runs with 50 RBIs. Votto has to get that home run total up and his strikeout total down (65) for the Reds to be more of a threat in the NL Central and he has to bring in more runs because Cincinnati is depending on it. Defensively, Votto has been a stud. He has 759 put-outs, along with 85 assists (leads all first basemen) and a fielding percentage of .997. Votto is a great all-around first basemen, but if he improves his numbers, he could be in the top three of this list at the end of the year.

Teixeira

4. Mark Teixeira (New York Yankees)-Hopefully the "anonymous" (he's not really anonymous) Yankee commenter enjoys this one. Teixeira has had a great offensive season and if it continues, it could be his best. He has 70 hits, 62 RBIs, and a so-so batting average of .243. It would be nice if Teixeira could improve his average or at least get it to above .250. However, he has been hammering the ball with 25 home runs and leads all of the MLB in that category. This certainly makes up for that somewhat low batting average. I also like that he has walked 42 times, which is in the top-half for first basemen. Teixeira is like Votto when it comes to defense, he is very good. He has 645 put-outs, 37 assists, and a fielding percentage of .997. Teixeira is playing great, and if continues to do so, the Yankees have a chance to win the AL East.

Pujols

3. Albert Pujols (St. Louis Cardinals) Based on his entire career, he still can be considered the best player in baseball, but for this season he is not even the best first basemen. Pujols did not have a very strong start in the beginning of the season, but it picked it up tremendously until he sprained wrist on June 19 which has put him on the DL for four to six weeks. He currently has 78 hits, 17 home runs, 45 RBIs, and a batting average of .279. Pujols' home run number and RBI number are respectable, but not "Pujols" worthy numbers. If he had a better start to the season, I am sure his numbers would be great, but at the time, at least to me, they're just average. Pujols has solid defensive numbers with 622 put-outs, 82 assists, and a fielding percentage of .992, but due to his slow start in the beginning of the season, and being injury prone this year, I cannot put him any higher on this list.

Fielder

2. Prince Fielder (Miluakee Brewers)- Fielder is having a monster year offensively. He has 86 hits (19 of those doubles), 21 home runs, and 69 RBIs. If those numbers stay consitient throughout the year, Fielder will definitely have the best season of his career. Another number of his that I like is that he has more walks (52) than strikeouts (44). Who would not rather have some get on base with a walk than strike-out? that just means that Fielder is well disciplined and an electrifying offensive threat. He has 680 put-outs, 36 assists, with a fielding percentage of .994. If Fielder stays healthy (which he has done for his whole career) he will easily be a candidate for the NL MVP, and have a good chance to lead the Brewers to NL Central Championship.

Gonzalez

1. Adrian Gonzalez-(Boston Red Sox) Gonzalez has been on a terror this season. Moving to Boston was the best decision he ever could have made. He currently has 115 hits, 71 RBIs and 16 home runs which are the best offensive numbers of any first baseman If these numbers stay consitient throughout the rest of the year, this will easily be Gozalez's best season in his career. The fact that he has struck out 55 times but still has a whopping batting average of .356 is insane. This easily beats his career best .304 in 2006. Defensivly, Gonzalez has also played great; with 617 put-outs, 61 assists, and a fielding percentage of .997. Gonzalez is the best-allround first baseman in the MLB and my prediction is that he will the Red Sox to an AL East Championship. He is also my early pick to win the AL MVP Award.

Video of the Day (6/30)

And you think Ray Lewis is a bad ass linebacker...

Sports News of the Day (6/29)

Gentlemen's Quarterfinal action of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships was today at the All-England Club in London, England. Gentlemen's semi-finals will take place on Friday.
 Match Results: Andy Murrary (4) defeats Feliciano Lopez (6-3, 6-4, 6-4), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (12) defeats Roger Federer (3) (3-6, 6-7(3-7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4), Rafael Nadal (1) defeats Mardy Fish (6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4), Novak Djokovic (2) defeats Bernard Tomic (6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5)
Ladies' semi-final matches take place tomorrow.
Victoria Azarenka (4) vs Petra Kvitova (8)
Maria Sharapova (5) vs Sabine Lisicki
MLB News: The Cincinnati Reds win the series against the Tampa Bay Rays by winning the final game in the series this afternoon 4-3 at Tropicana Field in Tampa.
   Catcher Ryan Hanigan (third HR of the year; 2-3)) hit a three-run homerun in the fourth which gave the Reds a early 3-0 lead. Evan Longoria (1-4) hit a two- run double to put the Rays back in the game; 3-2; Cincy's Fred Lewis (1-4) hit an RBI single in the seventh to put the Reds up 4-2, but the deficit was put back at one when B.J. Upton (Twelfth HR of the year, 1-3) hit a solo shot in the bottom of the seventh to make score 4-3.
  The Reds' Joey Votto finished the series strong; going 2-4 and is now at 93 hits for the year.
   The Ray's designated hitter, Johnny Damon, tied Ted Williams for 71st all time in hits today, with his 1-4 performance.
   Edinson Volquez (5-3) took the win for Cincinnati; pitching 6.1 innings, giving up three runs off four hits, while striking out seven. Closer Francisco Cordero recorded his 16th save of the season.
   James Shields (8-5) took the loss, even after a solid performance for Tampa; pitching seven innings, giving up four runs off four hits, while striking out ten.
   Cincinnati (42-40) has the day off tomorrow before going back to Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati for a three game date against the interstate rival; the Cleveland Indians. The series starts on Friday night at 7:10 PM
  Tampa Bay (45-36) also has tomorrow off before hosting a three game series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The series also starts on Friday at 7:10 PM

Top 5 Players in the MLB (Part 2)

For part two of ranking the five best players in the MLB for each position (nine positions in total), it is time to rank what I think will be the toughest spot; the catcher.

Wieters

    5. Matt Wieters (Baltimore Orioles)- Wieters is one of the best all-around catchers in the game. He has respectable batting stats, with an average of .262, 62 hits, 33 RBIs and seven home runs. I like that he has only struck out 43 times in 237 at bats, which makes him fairly disciplined as a hitter. I also love the fact that he is a switch-hitter who can be successful on both sides of the plate. Wieters is one of the best defensive catchers in the game. He is tied for having the best fielding percentage for a catcher (.998) and has a solid catcher's earned run average of 3.99. Two statistics of Wieters' defense stick out to me. 1. Just 28 runners have stole a base on Wieters, he has thrown 20. Therefore, Wieters has a caught stealing percentage of 42 percent, which is outstanding and the best in the league. 2. Wieters has not allowed a ball to go past him, therefore it is extremely hard to advance a base on Wieters, this stat is just extraordinary and makes him one of the best there is.

Pierzynski

   4. A.J. Pierzynski (Chicago White Sox)- Pierzynski is having another solid season in his great career. He currently has the second highest amount of hits for a catcher (73) and is batting a decent .290. Pierzynski has 13 doubles and 25 RBIs. He has only struck out 16 times which makes him a really difficult batter to face. The only unattractive number about his batting stats is his three homers, but he has never been a power-hitter. Increasing that number however, could make him a lot more of a batting threat. Pierzynski may not have the best defensive numbers, but they are still good. He has only allowed three passed balls and has a fielding percentage of .996. I like his CERA as well which is 3.72, but there is one number of his that I do not like. 56 runners have stole a base on him, and he has only thrown out 13 runners which gives him a .188 percentage of throwing a runner out. If he increases his home run total and works on throwing runners out, Pierzysnki could be in the top three easily in this list.

Mauer

    3. Joe Mauer (Minnestoa Twins) For many, I am sure only having Mauer third on this list is a huge surprise. The 2009 AL MVP could be higher on this list if he could be more healthy. Knee surgery after the 2010 season caused Mauer to b on the DL within weeks of the beginning of the 2011 season in April, and to not come back to the Twins until June 17. In his short season (20 games), Mauer has 15 hits, 7 RBIs and a batting average of .208. Do not let these stats fool you, Mauer is still one of the best pure hitters in the game with his unbelievable swing. He has great defensive numbers as well, allowing no passed balls, with a fielding percentage of .992. We have to remember though that those stats are only through 20 games. He has allowed 14 runners to steal a base, while catching two, which gives him a percentage of 13 percent when it comes to catching a runner stealing. If Mauer was completely healthy this season, he would easily be number 1 on this list.
 

McCann

 2. Brian McCann (Atlanta Braves)- The five time all-star just keeps getting better and better by the season. McCann is on pace to have the best season of career from a hitting perspective; currently having 83 hits, 14 doubles, 14 home runs, and 47 RBIs. He is currently batting an outstanding .314 with a nice on base percentage of .388 as well. The only number I do not like of McCann's is his 42 strikeouts. In my opinion, right now, McCann is the best hitting catcher in the game (Mauer still has not played like Mauer). McCann is also tough behind the plate. He has 46 assists, a fielding percentage of .993 and a CERA of 3.29 so far into the season. If McCann could improve his 21 percent success rare of throwing out a runner, McCann could be even better. He is like Wieters when it comes to being an all-around catcher, but better which makes him number two on my list.

Posey

1. Buster Posey (San Francisco Giants)- This pick is going to draw some complaints, I just know it, but the 2010 NL Rookie of the Year is the best catcher in baseball. Even though Posey is done for the 2011 season, from a collision by the Florida Marlins' Scott Cousins that resulted in Posey breaking his fibula, he still deserves this recognition. He is the best all-around catcher in the MLB. In his 45 games of the 2011 season, Posey had 46 hits, meaning he averaged a little more than a hit a game, had 4 home runs, 21 RBIs along with a .284 batting average. These are solid numbers for a 45 game span. Yes, he did have 30 strikeouts, which shows some lack of discipline as a hitter, but he is still a threat for any pitcher. I though Posey was great defensively as well. In 41 starts as a catcher, he had 333 put-outs, 24 assists, and a fielding percentage of .991. 27 runners advanced a base on him, but he threw out 15 as well, which gives him a 36 percent rate of throwing a runner out. These numbers are outstanding and if he did not get hurt, they would most likely be better. Posey is a superstar behind the plate or in the batter's box, which gives him an unlimited amount of opportunities for the 24 year old who in my opinion, is the best catcher in the game.

Video of the Day (6/29)

With the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup underway, thought a soccer commercial at some point was necessary, hopefully this just does not happen at a game.

Sports News of the Day (6/28)

   Ladies' Quarterfinal action of the Wimbledon Tennis Championship took place today at the All-England Club in London, England.
Match Results: Maria Sharapova (5) defeats Dominika Cibulkova (24) (6-1, 6-1), Sabine Lisicki defeats Marion Bartoli (9) (6-4, 6-7 (7-4), 6-1), Victoria Azarenka (4) defeats Tamira Paszek (6-3, 6-1), Petra Kvitova (8) defeats Tsvetana Pironkova (32) (6-3, 6-7(7-5), 6-2)
 The ladies' tournament contuines on Thursday with semi-final action.
   Gentlemen's Quarterfinal Match-ups for Tomorrow:
    Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (12) vs Roger Federer (3)
    Andy Murrary (4) vs Feliciano Lopez
    Bernard Tomic vs Novak Djokovic (2)
    Mardy Fish (10) vs Rafael Nadal (1)
MLB News: The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Boston Red Sox 5-0 at Citizens Bank Park Tuesday night.
          Not only did fans get two see two of the best teams in the MLB play, but also were entertained by an exciting pitching match-up; Cliff Lee (Philly) vs Josh Beckett (BOS).
   Lee (9-5) took the win with a typical Cliff Lee performance; throwing a complete game which resulted in a shut-out, giving up just two hits, and striking out five. Lee has given up just one run in his last 42 innings pitched. He has looked unstoppable and does not look to stop anytime soon.
   Beckett (6-3) took the loss and looked like the complete opposite of Lee. He gave up five runs in six innings, striking out one. His ERA going into the game was 1.86, and after this start is now is 2.20.
   The Cincinnati Reds had a game slip out of its hands late against the Tampa Bay Rays losing 4-3 at Tropicana Field in Tampa.
   Evan Longoria (1-4) hit his tenth homerun of the year in the bottom of the ninth off Logan Ondrusek to win the game.
   The Rays took an early lead in the fourth inning when Johnny Damon (2-4) hit his ninth homerun of the year to put Tampa up 1-0.
   Cincinnati took the lead 2-1 in the top of the eighth when Drew Stubbs (2-4) tripled, and was brought in on an Edgar Renteria (1-4) single. Joey Votto (1-3) then doubled to bring in Renteria.
   Damon then doubled for the Rays in the bottom of the inning to bring in two RBIs and put Tampa back on top 3-2.
   Jay Bruce (1-4) tied the game in the top of the ninth with a solo shot to make the game tied at three.
   Kyle Farnsworth (3-1) took the win for Tampa, while Ondrusek (3-3) was charged with the loss.
  Starting pitching for both teams looked solid.
   Cincy's Johnny Cueto pitched 7.2 innings; giving up three runs off four hits, while striking out six.
   David Price pitched 7.2 innings for Tampa; giving up two runs off six hits; while striking out 12.
  The final game of this series will take place tomorrow at 12:10 PM at Tropicana Field with the pitching match-up slated to be Edinson Volquez (4-3, CIN) vs James Shields (8-4, TB)
UFC News: A welterweight bout between Jake Shields (MMA 26-5-1, UFC 1-1) and Jake Ellenberger (MMA 25-5, UFC 4-1) will take place at UFC Fight Night 25: Battle on the Bayou on September 17, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
   Shields is coming off a loss to Georges St. Pierre for the UFC Welterweight Championship at UFC 129 in April, while Ellenberger is currently riding a four fight win streak.
   Expect this fight to be on the main card of this even as the main event or co-main event.
  
 

Top 5 players in the MLB (Part 1)

 For the next series, I think it would be fun to rate the best five players for each position in Major League Baseball.

  Remember this is just my opinion, so feel free to comment to discuss your favorites as well.
   So for the first part of the series, I'll rate the position that matters most; the pitcher.

Lee

5. Cliff Lee-Philadelphia Phillies (8-5, 2.87 ERA 114 Strikeouts) Lee is obviously the best number two pitcher in the game, and would be the ace for any other team in the MLB. The 2008 AL Cy Young Winner struck out 16 against the Braves in May and has looked dominant all season. I love his arsenal of pitches that include three types of fastballs, a circle changeup and a knuckle-curve. Lee is one of the few starting pitchers in the league who has more strikeouts than innings pitched (113).

Weaver

4. Jered Weaver-Los Angeles Angles (9-4, 1.97 ERA, 106 Strikeouts) Weaver has had a phenomenal season; only giving up 27 runs 123.1 innings. He also has only walked 28 batters and has given up 87 hits. Weaver was the first pitcher in the MLB this season to have a record of 6-0 (April 25) and had an ERA of 0.99 during that span. Weaver also had his career strikeouts in a game this season, striking out 15 against the Jays in April. He has a variety of pitches such as a two-seam and four-seam fastball, a changeup, a curveball, and a slider. Expect Weaver to finish better in the AL Cy Young Voting than his fifth place last year.

Halladay

3. Roy Halladay-Philielphia Phillies (10-3, 2.40 ERA, 123 Strikeouts) So far into the season, "Doc" has continued the success he has had in previous years. Halladay has walked just 16 batters this year, which is the fewest in the MLB, and just 35 runs in 127.1 innings. Halladay would be higher in this list if it was not for the 115 hits he has given up, which is  extremely high for a pitching star. In April against the Padres, Halladay struck out 14. Halladay has once again showcased his unique bag of pitches this season, with his two-seam, four-seam and cutter fastball, his knuckle-curve, and changeup. Halladay is my early pick for the 2011 NL Cy Young. (Won the award in '10 as well)

Beckett

2. Josh Beckett-Boston Red Sox (6-2, 1.86 ERA, 79 Strikeouts) It was really hard not to put Beckett at one on this list. The former World Series MVP ('03) is having an amazing season. He leads the MLB in ERA has given up the fewest amount of hits this season for a starting pitcher (55).  Beckett also has three types of fastballs, a change-up, and a curveball which has allowed him walk only 30 batters and only to give up 19 runs in 92 innings. Beckett is not one on this list, simply because he is not a strike-out pitcher, who has the second lowest strikeout number in the top of five of ESPN's pitching league leaders. If Beckett struck out a few more batters, he would certainly be number one because he deserves it. Could easily be the 2011 AL Cy Young Award winner.

Verlander

1. Justin Verlander-Detriot Tigers-(10-3, 2.38 ERA, 124 Strikeouts) Verlander has had his best season so far to date. He has only walked 27 batters, and has given up 81 hits. What has made Verlander look so good is that fact that he is a no-hitter machine. He threw a no-hitter against the Blue Jays in May and in his next start against the Royals, he had a no-hitter going into the sixth inning. On June 14, Verlander had a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians through 7.2 innings and last Sunday, Verlander struck out 14 against Arizona. Verlander has been the most exciting and consistent pitcher to watch this season and his numbers certainly show this. He has a simple pitching arsenal of a fastball, a curveball, a change-up, and a slider, and is my early pick for the 2011 AL Cy Young award.





Video of the Day (6/28)

Ali thinks he is the greatest? He has not seen the wrath of Butterbean!

Sports News of the Day (6/27)

Round of 16 action was today at the All-England Club in London, England, for the Wimbledon Tennis Championships.
   Match Results:
   Gentlemen's Singles: Andy Murrary (4) defeats Richard Gasquet (7-6(7-3), 6-3, 6-2),  Bernard Tomic defeats Xavier Malisse (6-1, 7-5, 6-4), Feliciano Lopez defeats Lukas Kubot (3-6, 6-7(7-5), 7-6(9-7), 7-5, 7-5), Novak Djokovic (2) defeats Michael Llodra (19) (6-3, 6-3, 6-3), Mardy Fish (10) defeats Thomas Berdych (6) (7-6(7-5), 6-4, 6-4), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (12) defeats David Ferrer (7) (6-3, 6-4, 7-6(7-1), Rafael Nadal (1) defeats Juan Martin del Porto (24) (7-6(8-6), 3-6, 7-6(7-4), 6-4), Roger Federer (3) defeats Mikhail Youzhny (18) (6-7(7-5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-3)
    Ladies' Singles: Maria Sharapova (5) defeats Shaui Peng (20) (6-4, 6-2), Tamira Paszek defeats Ksenia Pervak (6-2, 2-6, 6-3), Victoria Azarenka (4) defeats Nadia Petrova (6-2, 6-2), Sabine Lisicki defeats Petra Cetkovska (7-6(7-3), 6-1), Marion Bartoli (9) defeats Serena Williams (7) (6-3, 7-6(8-6), Dominika Cibulkova (24) defeats Caroline Wozniacki (1) (1-6, 7-6(7-5), 7-5), Petra Kvitova (8) defeats Yanina Wickmayer (19) (6-0, 6-2), Tsvetana Pironkova (32) defeats Venus Williams (23) (6-2, 6-3)
   Tomorrow's Ladies' Quarterfinal Match-Ups
    Sabine Lisicki vs Marion Bartoli (9)
    Dominika Cibulkova (24) vs Maria Sharapova (5)
    Petra Kvitova (8) vs Tsvetana Pironkova (32)
    Tamira Paszek vs Victoria Azarenka (4)
    Note: Gentlemen's Quarterfinals are on Wednesday
College Basketball: John Calipari has signed a contract with the University of Kentucky to coach the Wildcats through 2019. The extension is worth 36.5 million dollars. Calipari has a record of 64-12 for the two years he has been at UK and led the team to the Final Four last season. Before he went to Kentucky, Calipari coached at Memphis where he led the Tigers to the NCAA National Championship only to lose to the Kansas Jayhawks.
NFL: It was released that Cincinnati Bengals wide-receiver, Terrell Owens, recently shattered his ACL and is expected to return to football in mid-November. Owens has been selected to the Pro Bowl six times, and has 1,078 receptions, 15, 934 receiving yards, and 152 receiving touchdowns. He played eight years at San Francisco (1996-2003), two years at Philadelphia ('04-'05), three years at Dallas ('06-'08), one at Buffalo ('09), and was scheduled to play at Cincinnati for his second year during the 2011-2012 season.
MLB: The Cincinnati Reds took the first game of three against the Tampa Bay Rays 5-0 at Tropicana Field in Tampa, Florida.
   Cincinnati scored two in the first, two in the fourth, and one in the seventh.
   Jonny Gomes hit his eleventh home run of the year for the Reds, Fred Lewis went 2-4, and Brandon Phillips went 4-5 with two RBIs of his own.
   Reigning NL MVP Joey Votto went 1-5 and Jay Bruce went 1-4 with an RBI.
   For Tampa, both Matt Joyce and Ben Zobrist went 2-4.
   Third-baseman Evan Longoria,  center-fielder B.J. Upton, and designated hitter Johnny Damon went a combined 0-11.
   Mike Leake (7-4) earned the win for Cincinnati; pitching six innings, giving up four hits, while striking out three.
   Jeremy Hellickson (7-7) took the loss for the Rays; pitching six innings, giving up three runs off eight hits, while striking out nine.
   Game two of this series will be at 7:10 tomorrow night at Tropicana Field with the pitching match-up expected to be Johnny Cueto (5-2, CIN) against David Price (8-6, TB)