Midseason of baseball

[cbbama99]

Well, the all star game is Tuesday, the unofficial halfway point of the baseball season. Season has been fascinating so far. Both of my teams have done pretty well so far, with the Braves leading the NL East and the O's 5.5 back of Boston in the AL East; Chris Davis is hitting everything in sight; and the Pirates are only a game back in the NL Central.

For you baseball guys out there, what do you think thus far? Hey Hannibal, looks like the Bums are making a run out West after a slow start.

[pmull]

I have been a Red Sox fan since I was a kid. They have looked rock solid in the first half of the season. They are 4.5 up on the Rays, 5.5 on the O's and 6.5 on the Yanks. I hate the Yankees.

I am not a Braves fan but have noticed they have been hit with the injury bug.

[cbbama99]

I have been a Red Sox fan since I was a kid. They have looked rock solid in the first half of the season. They are 4.5 up on the Rays, 5.5 on the O's and 6.5 on the Yanks. I hate the Yankees.

I am not a Braves fan but have noticed they have been hit with the injury bug.

Sox starting pitching has looked strong so far, and that lineup is a beast. And believe me, you and I share a mutual hate for the Stankees.

[Hannibal Lecter, MD]

The Dodgers have made a good run, but they'd buried themselves so deep.  We've gotten back to .500, which I thought we had to do by the break to have a chance in the 2nd half.  They've got the players if they can stay healthy, but we haven't had any luck with that the first half.

I like this Orioles team.  I've enjoyed watching them on the occasions I've had a chance to.  I'm a fan of Buck Showalter for one, and that Machado kid is going to be a big star.  I like them over the Sox if Bucholtz continues having health issues the second half, but then the Rays are solid too.  Joe Madden is another of my favorite managers.  You guys just have a brutal division.

I honestly don't think much of this Braves team.  They're over reliant on the HR, and don't play very good traditional baseball at all.

I've never liked the Braves, but I always thought they were dangerous under Bobby Cox.  I don't think they're going anywhere this year, even if they make the playoffs.  Big downgrade at manager when Fredi took over.

[pmull]

The Dodgers have made a good run, but they'd buried themselves so deep.  We've gotten back to .500, which I thought we had to do by the break to have a chance in the 2nd half.  They've got the players if they can stay healthy, but we haven't had any luck with that the first half.

I like this Orioles team.  I've enjoyed watching them on the occasions I've had a chance to.  I'm a fan of Buck Showalter for one, and that Machado kid is going to be a big star.  I like them over the Sox if Bucholtz continues having health issues the second half, but then the Rays are solid too.  Joe Madden is another of my favorite managers.  You guys just have a brutal division.

I honestly don't think much of this Braves team.  They're over reliant on the HR, and don't play very good traditional baseball at all.

I've never liked the Braves, but I always thought they were dangerous under Bobby Cox.  I don't think they're going anywhere this year, even if they make the playoffs.  Big downgrade at manager when Fredi took over.

In some ways I am a traditional baseball fan. However, I like inter-league play and the DH. The American League East is brutal that is why I like the wild card.

[Marshal Dillon]

I have been a Red Sox fan since I was a kid. They have looked rock solid in the first half of the season. They are 4.5 up on the Rays, 5.5 on the O's and 6.5 on the Yanks. I hate the Yankees.

I am not a Braves fan but have noticed they have been hit with the injury bug.

You have nailed it perfectly. The Braves have taken big hits in starting & relief pitching. Plus, one of the starting 8 is seemingly always hurt, like Heyward or Schafer, Upton, Gaddis, McCann, etc.

 

[ricky023]

I am surprised the O's are so far back. I know last year don't mean anything but I really was looking for the Hot Shot team this year. Right we kind of look like the Braves of old. When pitching is on no runs from the bats. When the bats are hot, pitching falters. Injuries of course plays a big role in MLB as we all know. If we get rested up I think there will be even better play in the 2nd half of the season. There are runs that have to be made. I tip my hat to the Red Sox because last 2 years they were in disarray, now all of a sudden they whipping every thing in the league. Now we shall see. RTR!

[Jamos]

I like the Braves and you guys are dead on with the annual injury bug for the Braves. Back in my earlier years, I don't remember players getting injured as they do in todays baseball. It's not just the Braves though, there seems to be a steady flow of players going on the injury list.

[cbbama99]

Yeah, I like this team, too, Doc. They can hit with anyone in the league, and the defense and bullpen are outstanding. My concern is starting pitching. We just got Chen back, and he looked good in his first start. Gonzalez and Tillman are fairly solid, but Hammel is a train wreck. His ERA at home is over 6.

[Hannibal Lecter, MD]

I like the Braves and you guys are dead on with the annual injury bug for the Braves. Back in my earlier years, I don't remember players getting injured as they do in todays baseball. It's not just the Braves though, there seems to be a steady flow of players going on the injury list.

It's amazing to me that there are so many muscle pulls in baseball.  I think it's managers not stressing flexibility conditioning enough and empowering the training staff to get the guys to the right level of prep.  One of my friends (big Braves fan) was complaining a few weeks ago that he went to a game and the Braves players were "popping" their pregame stretches like a middle school PE class and the training staff was doing nothing about it.

[Hannibal Lecter, MD]

Yeah, I like this team, too, Doc. They can hit with anyone in the league, and the defense and bullpen are outstanding. My concern is starting pitching. We just got Chen back, and he looked good in his first start. Gonzalez and Tillman are fairly solid, but Hammel is a train wreck. His ERA at home is over 6.

You think the club is ready to go spend some money to get a guy or two before the trade deadline to make a run?

BTW, talking about the Braves and people who are in good position to make runs in the 2nd half.  I was really leaning towards the Nationals pulling that division out until I saw this unreal tweet from ESPN's Buster Posey:

"Atlanta only three games in the second half outside of the Eastern and Central time zones--and only 16 total vs. teams w/ records over .500."

[cbbama99]

Yeah, I like this team, too, Doc. They can hit with anyone in the league, and the defense and bullpen are outstanding. My concern is starting pitching. We just got Chen back, and he looked good in his first start. Gonzalez and Tillman are fairly solid, but Hammel is a train wreck. His ERA at home is over 6.

You think the club is ready to go spend some money to get a guy or two before the trade deadline to make a run?

BTW, talking about the Braves and people who are in good position to make runs in the 2nd half.  I was really leaning towards the Nationals pulling that division out until I saw this unreal tweet from ESPN's Buster Posey:

"Atlanta only three games in the second half outside of the Eastern and Central time zones--and only 16 total vs. teams w/ records over .500."

Not really sure yet. Matt Garza is a name that keeps getting bandied about, but the problem there is that the Cubs want some of our best prospects, and I don't think GM Dan Duquette is about to do that (especially since Garza is an unrestricted FA at the end of the season). They did make a move about a week ago to get Scott Feldman from the Cubs for two subpar bullpen guys. Feldman was solid in his first start, but was knocked around by the Rangers the other night. I still think the front office might make another move to shore up that staff, but it is going to be all about what we are willing to give up.

[Hannibal Lecter, MD]

No undefeated pitcher at the break as Scherzer fell to the Rangers tonight.

[cbbama99]

Lincecum throws first no hitter of his career, blanking Padres. Kid threw 148 pitches and issued 4 walks. (Sorry HL, I know he is a Giant.)

[Jamos]

When he's on, he's as tough as there is. He had some good help from his teammates too.

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