I thought I was decently accurate on
those lineup predictions for Tuesday: just switch Jeter and Trout and Adam Jones and Josh Donaldson and I would've had the AL right. For the NL, I was really surprised McCutchen's leading off. Yadier getting hurt changes that whole batting order; Goldschmidt's a good hitter, but not with more raw power than Stanton--he was born to hit cleanup. He's got a long career ahead of him anyway.
I can't wait to watch him tonight in the Derby.
What a great way to end the first half--a rain-shortened loss to the Orioles. Totally representative of the lousy .500 first half. This is a team on pace for 81 wins. BUT--there's a glimmer of hope. This next homestand will determine where the Yankees are going. They'll play the Reds without Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto (though guys like Mesoraco and Todd Frazier are having great seasons,) the worst team in baseball, the Texas Rangers, who have NO pitching outside of Darvish, and the only AL East team that absolutely cannot win in NY, the Toronto Blue Jays. If the Yanks fold and die in the week and a half following the All-Star break, I'm considering it a lost season, ESPECIALLY since the Orioles go to the west coast (A's, Angels, M's.) If they can't pick up a few games and/or the division lead, see ya!
I loved the whole LeBron saga; both fanbases are happy--Clevelanders are obviously overjoyed and Miami fans can go back to being beach bums with Heat hats and Canes jerseys on. He handled it with 1000% more class this time around--can't believe it's been four years and one presidential election since "The Decision."
My favorite broadcaster in baseball? Duane Kuiper of the Giants. I listened to his calls of both grand slams by Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner yesterday and they sent chills down my spine. "ITTT ISSS OUTTAAAAA HEREEEE!" By the way, they're the first starting pitcher-catcher duo in MLB HISTORY to hit grannies in the same game.
Apparently there's this movie "Lucy" coming out where Scarlett Johansson is part of an experiment to use 100% of her brain. She's all psychic and stuff...which just sounds totally awesome.
Ugh, Friends is on TBS...excuse me while I throw up.
Neil Dwyer @neildwyer1993