Peering Through the First-Half Windshield To the Second Half

Well, that was quite a ride from April through half of July. A record home run pace, a record strikeout pace, some unbelievable performances by individuals and teams, even a classic All-Star contest. Let's take a look at what the next 75 games portend.

Biggest Surprise, Team Edition -- Chicago Cubs, no question. We were all penciling them in for dynasty status and here they are laying an egg in year Champ+1. They returned essentially the same team, traded a spare part for a proven closer, added Kyle Schwarber for a full season and they're on pace for 24 fewer wins.

Biggest Surprise, Dude Edition -- So many to choose from, but since I knew nothing of Yank Aaron before the season, Mr. Judge would be the answer. Lifetime .223 hitter Justin Smoak gets the nod among veterans.

Second Half Come-upance Award, Team Edition -- The Brewers and Rockies have to be thinking playoffs right now, so if either fails to earn a slot, they "win" this particular recognition. Unless, of course, someone like Boston or Cleveland topples in the second half. That would be catastrophic and outweigh any pretender's fall. But it's also about as likely as real health care reform.

Biggest End of Season Laugh Based on His All-Star Status -- When Kris Bryant's name starts showing up on MVP ballots at season's end, we'll be scratching our heads about how he was passed up for an All-Star berth. We'll see how long Zack Cozart's bonafides are All-Star worthy, particularly considering his new donkey-caring responsibilities.

Aaron Judge's Final Homer Total (now at 30) -- 48

Cody Bellinger's Final Homer Total (now at 24) -- 35

Avisail Garcia's Final Batting Average (now at .310) -- .284, the exact midpoint between his lifetime average prior to now and his first half average.

2017 World Series Matchup -- The AL and NL playoff teams that win the two (or three) tossup series necessary for the pennant. Bet against the Padres and A's.

Best (Plausible) 2017 World Series Matchup -- Too many to name, like Cubs-Red Sox, Cubs-Indians repeat, Nationals/Dodgers-Red Sox/Indians (Scherzer/Kershaw-Sale/Kluber), Diamondbacks-Rays (no weather issues), and so on. No matter how compelling the match-up, none involving the Yankees is aesthetically pleasing, just because.

Worst (Plausible) 2017 World Series Matchup -- Rockies-Indians would be baseball's first Ice Bowl series. 

Most Impactful Second-Half Addition -- Easiest question ever. Mike Trout to Angels. 

Most Impactful Second-Half Acquisition, wise guy -- White Sox' Jose Quintana, wherever he goes, because he has two years left on his contract.

Dumbest Second Half Controversy -- Wasn't it amazing how little debate there was about Erick Aybar's attempt to bunt in the 8th inning of Justin Verlander's no-hitter? The score was 3-0, so the baserunner mattered. Verlander did piss and moan about Unwritten Rule 6.A., subsection L, but there has been relatively little public chatter about it. 

Perhaps that's because the bunt got Aybar aboard on an error, the no-no dissolved that inning and the Angels tallied twice to force Verlander out and send the game to extras. Perhaps it's because the sporting public hasn't read the Unwritten Rulebook and doesn't give a rat's ass about it. Perhaps we're all coming to our senses. The evidence doesn't support that last one.

You might have noticed that all this is an obfuscation, that I have evaded the subject at hand. I don't do "dumbest." There's too much of that in America today. If you're intent on learning more about "dumbest," check out Twitter.

Is the All-Star Game better or worse now that it doesn't count again? --  That all depends: can you handle an ASG tie? Because avoiding the "travesty" of the 2002 tie was the only reason to shoehorn some phony gravity into it. Instead, you saw a 2017 version that was fun, carefree and absent the hypocrisy of previous editions. Score one for Rob Manfred. 

Highest Floor Award -- Literally, the team in Denver, of course. But figuratively, the Dodgers and Nationals have to make the World Series to consider 2017 a success.  The Cubs have their flag, the Astros have next year, Boston has the Patriots and Cleveland's just happy to have a team that doesn't suck.

Lowest Ceiling Award -- At this point, the Phillies have to be hoping just to trip on their own shoelaces a little less in August and September. Improvement among the youngsters irrespective of your final record is not exactly pennant aspirations.

The White Sox' fervent desire to trade off anything of value gives the players the rest of the season off, so that's aiming quite low too

And I suppose "try to avoid the cellar" is a pretty low bar, so here's to Oakland and San Diego.

The first half of the season set the bar high for entertainment. Let's hope the stretch run lives up to it.

Post-Mid-Season Questions Answered

You have more questions! I'm not done making up answers!

Q. Why couldn't you answer all these questions in the last post?
A. Like this one? You didn't ask it until now.

Q. Two years ago, the metrics said Jonathan Lucroy was the best framer in baseball, and one of the best ever. Today he's the worst in baseball. Can that be? Is he really worse at a skill that doesn't require much athletic activity? Or are the numbers just wrong?
A. Yes. 

Something you said is correct; we just don't know which. Research has found that Lucroy's targets are set a few inches higher now than a couple of years ago and that might affect low strike calls. 

We know that Lucroy was catching better pitchers than he is today, and that could be reducing the number of balls he gets called strikes. 

And we know that framing is a young metric that might need to be taken with a grain of salt just yet. I suspect all three are conspiring to drag him down.

The real question is, why does MLB accept a situation in which catchers routinely confuse umpires into making the wrong call? If we went to automated ball-strike calls, there would be no catcher framing. Problem solved.

Q. Who was the biggest snub of the All-Star selections?
A. They're not snubs; they're just different ways to split hairs. Of the guys left off the original team, it's a shame that there wasn't enough room for the bonanza of great NL third basemen -- Justin Turner and Kris Bryant particularly. Elvis Andrus and Xander Boegarts were also worthy of AL shortstop slots.

Alex Wood is having a great year pitching for the Dodgers. Tommy Kahnle's been superb in relief for the White Sox, though I love Terry Francona's decision to choose mostly starters for his pitching staff. They deserve most of the slots.

The good news is that with all the injury defections, everyone I named will probably end up in Miami.

As for the fan selections, I thought they did a great job. I would quibble with Zack Cozart over Corey Seager for NL shortstop only because I don't choose an All-Star based solely on half a season of work. Seager is far more likely to maintain the pace than Cozart, which is why I voted for him even if Cozart enjoys a slight edge so far in 2017.

Q. I know this isn't a baseball question, but what do you make of the controversy surrounding John McEnroe's comments about Serena Williams?
A. What controversy? McEnroe called Serena the greatest women's tennis player of all time but declined to anoint her the best without qualification because she couldn't compete on the men's tour.

McEnroe was simply stating a self-evident fact of biology. For example, the women's record for running the mile is 4:12:56. Five hundred six male high schoolers have run faster than that. There is nothing sexist about McEnroe's statement, though I would have added that in her realm, Serena is the greatest ever. She has dominated women's tennis more and for longer than any man has dominated men's tennis.

Q. What can baseball do to return the All-Star game to its former grandeur?
A. Eliminate half a century of improvements and innovations, like cable television. A more useful advance would be for old-timey baseball fans to recognize that the All-Star game will never again bring the nation to a halt.

Q. You said last time that Adrian Beltre is going to the Hall of Fame. No way. He's only made four All-Star teams.
A. Babe Ruth never made an All-Star team. We should yank him from the Hall.

All-Star teams are half-season rewards. They are meaningless when it comes to Hall resumes. In his 20-year MLB career, which is still going strong, Beltre has 91 wins against replacement (fourth all-time among third basemen), 450 home runs (third) and will secure his 3000th hit this season. He is a stellar fielder with 27 defensive WAR. Althon Sports and ESPN both rate him the eighth best hot cornerman in history. His top 10 similar players include eight HOFers and a future HOFer (Carlos Beltran). Guy is a lock.

Q. You seem to be selling the Milwaukee Brewers short. Can't they win the NL Central?
A. Sure they can; it's just highly unlikely. The race isn't always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. But that's the way to bet. The Cubs just have too much talent, and the Brewers too little pitching, for the status quo to continue for 162 games. But who knows? Stranger things have happened.

Q. The Rockies seem to be drowning and now their Wild Card lead isn't so formidable. Do they still make the playoffs?
A. If I knew that for sure I would be tanning on a Tahitian beach or camera-hunting wild nyala on an African safari right now. I'd rather start the second half with a six-game cushion than deficit, and I'd rather put my money on a team 12 games over .500 than another two under. But who knows? It would be really strange if all of today's leaders made the playoffs.

Q. Name one player in for major regression in the second half and one who will rebound.
A. Anyone who follows baseball can compare a player's first half performance to his career norms and predict a return to them. That would mean second-half leaps for Manny Machado, Hunter Pence, Jonathan Lucroy, David Price and Carlos Gonzalez, to name a few. Conversely, it would tab Yonder Alonso, Avisail Garcia, Zack Cozart, Jason Vargas and all the rookie sensations for decline.

I don't have any insight into which guy has changed his profile and which guy is headed for a fall/rebound, though Price and Lucroy have been trending this way since last year.

Q. What changes do you expect now that the All-Star game is back to an exhibition without impact on the post-season?
A. We've already seen it: Tito named deserving starters to the AL squad, rather than loading up on relievers who are accustomed to entering games midway through. 

Q. Will Miguel Montero ever criticize his pitcher again? 
A. Maybe once. But then, never again.

Q. How good was the play Dustin Pedroia made yesterday?

A. It was a heads-up play executed brilliantly. It was a lot like Derek Jeter's play cutting off the throw to the plate and nailing Jeremy Giambi in the playoffs, but because Dustin Pedroia isn't a vessel we pour all our goodness into, it will not be lauded for generations. Nonetheless, it was every bit as fine a piece of work.

Q. Do you believe that participating in the Home Run Derby messes up players' swings? 
A. No evidence of that. Some sluggers might lose their dinger mojo following the derby, but correlation is not causation. Sluggers suffer power outages all the time.

Q. What is your favorite site for baseball analytics?
A. I read Fangraphs every day. Baseball Prospectus has become a fantasy site, of no use to me. MLB.com, SB Nation, The Ringer, The Hardball Times, 538.com and local team sites also provide lots of interesting material. Also, check out the blog Braindrizzling for brilliant insights and unequaled humility, particularly if you love Derek Jeter, Ryan Braun and Donald Trump.

Q. With the Cubs and Red Sox in the win column, which team do you think is the most overdue for a World Series?
A. Which is worse, Cleveland's last title coming 68 years ago or Houston's entire 54 years without a ring? Whichever you choose is the answer.

The Rangers are at 55 years as a franchise without a World Series title, but that includes 11 years in Washington, so that pain isn't borne by the Metroplex locals. The Padres have failed to win a championship in their 47 years as have the Brewers and Nationals if you include their time as the Pilots (one year) and Expos (35 years) respectively. Seattle has had the Mariners for 39 campaigns without even a World Series appearance. After that, you're looking at ordinary droughts of 37 years for the Pirates, 33 for the Orioles and 32 for the Tigers. The Rockies and Rays have also never won titles in their 24 and 19 seasons respectively.

Q. What is preventing the best baseball players from congregating on the same few teams the way NBA players do?
A. The Yankees were doing essentially this in the 80s and 90s. It was terrible for the game. Today, there are so many barriers to hording:
1. Teams control players for their first six seasons in the Bigs.
2. The salary cap is very punitive.
3. A team would need to sign five of the best starters and eight of the best everyday players to resemble the Golden State Warriors of horsehide.
4. The game is played in the summer, consequently, players aren't clamoring to avoid cold weather cities. Milwaukee and Toronto are probably more comfortable to play in than Dallas, Houston and Miami.
5. Baseball players aren't generally able to transcend the game the way hoopsters are. They can't be as dominant and don't play in their underwear.
6. Unlike the NBA, the season matters and the playoffs are a tossup, so assembling the best players only guarantees a post-season berth.

In short, it just isn't worth the trouble and cost, and wouldn't ensure a title.

Q. I have a bet with a friend who says a team of average players would be average. I say they would be better than average. What say you?
A. You win handily. By definition, most MLB players are below average. Above average players take the first few positions and below average players divide the remaining innings. After the first three starters, two relievers and five or six position players, the rest of an average 40-man roster is sub-median. 

An all-average roster would win, I would guess, 84-88 games.

Q. Have baseball analytics come any closer to quantifying the value of a manager?
A. I doubt it ever will. 

Q. Is it possible, with all the objective measurements, for someone to be "most under-rated" or "most over-rated?"
A. The margins are smaller, but yes. Ironically, as we do a better and better job of measuring what's on the field it's the intangibles that become more weighty in discussions of parsing player valuations. A guy like Jose Bautista might be over-rated because he galvanizes the opposition. (I don't know how true even the premise is there.) Maybe Yasiel Puig the same. A guy like Mike Napoli might be the reverse. 

The one guy I'd like to mention is Ender Inciarte, a terrific all-around ballplayer who does a little of everything. He's a speedy outfielder with good instincts; he sets the table and runs the bases adroitly. He's not a big power guy but pitchers can't sleep on him.  And guys seem to love playing with him. So maybe he's under-rated, though it could be that many baseball observers already knew what you just read.

And that's enough reading for you, young man or woman, as the case may be. Keep those questions coming...

Another Strong Performance By the Fans

Yet again, Major League Baseball fans acquitted themselves knowledgeably with their All-Star selections, thanks to a system that allows the most committed fans, like my own personal self, to vote 35 times, or even more if you're willing to find another computer and email address. (I was.) These dedicated voters sway the balloting towards the considered and well-reasoned and the result is that ballplayers most deserving of recognition generally receive it.

There are no criteria for All-Star selection, nor even a stated purpose. Are the selections a reward for great play or roster-building of the best team? I believe the former, and based on that, I think we can agree that it should be some combination of how well a player generally performs and how well he is performing this year. So, Andrew McCutchen is a great player who is scuffling this year and is appropriately not on the team. Bryce Harper, who might not be one of the three best NL outfielders so far this season, is appropriately starting.

Conversely, Aledmys Diaz and Trevor Story have had wonderful first halves, but without any previous exhibition of skill, we can't have confidence they will keep it up. If they do, they'll make a bid for the next Mid-Summer Classic.


AMERICAN LEAGUE
Starters
C: Salvador Perez, Royals
1B: Eric Hosmer, Royals
2B: Jose Altuve, Astros
3B: Manny Machado, Orioles
SS: Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox
OF: Mookie Betts, Red Sox
OF: Jackie Bradley Jr., Red Sox
OF: Mike Trout, Angels
DH: David Ortiz, Red Sox

Reserves
C: Stephen Vogt, Athletics
C: Matt Wieters, Orioles
1B: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
2B: Robinson Cano, Mariners
3B: Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays
SS: Francisco Lindor, Indians
SS: Eduardo Nunez, Twins
OF: Carlos Beltran, Yankees
OF: Ian Desmond, Rangers
OF: Mark Trumbo, Orioles
DH: Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays

Pitchers
RHP: Dellin Betances, Yankees
RHP: Brad Brach, Orioles
LHP: Zach Britton, Orioles
RHP: Alex Colome, Rays
RHP: Wade Davis*, Royals
RHP: Marco Estrada, Blue Jays
LHP: Cole Hamels, Rangers
RHP: Will Harris, Astros
RHP: Kelvin Herrera, Royals
RHP: Craig Kimbrel, Red Sox
LHP: Andrew Miller, Yankees
RHP: Danny Salazar, Indians
LHP: Chris Sale, White Sox
RHP: Steven Wright, Red Sox

All We Can Do Is Quibble
The fans did a fine job with the AL team. My only quibble is with Eric Hosmer over Miguel Cabrera based on the criteria just described. But Hosmer is a perfectly reasonable selection. You could also have chosen Michael Saunders or Ian Desmond instead of Mookie Betts in the outfield, and Josh Donaldson over Manny Machado at third (particularly because Machado has played more short this season) but, tomato tomahto.

The manager has a much more difficult job because he has to construct a roster, and it has to include every team. I don't think much of the backup catchers, but the pickings were slim. I would have taken Vogt as the backup to represent Oakland and left Wieters off. I don't know why Ned Yost felt it necessary to have a backup DH or include Carlos Beltran, who is having a wonderful rebirth with the stick but otherwise can't play baseball. I would have preferred to see Saunders, Ian Kinsler and George Springer in the game.

I've always thought there ought to be a rule that at least two-thirds of the pitchers in the All-Star game have to be starters. After all, if you eliminate middle relievers -- who are mostly failed starters -- there are twice as many rotation spots as closers/set-up men. That said, rotational excellence is at a premium in the AL this year. I would make the case for adding Aaron Sanchez of Toronto (9-1, 2.94, 3-1 K/BB ratio) in place of one of the many relievers whose bid is based on 20 innings of work.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Starters
C: Buster Posey, Giants
1B: Anthony Rizzo, Cubs
2B: Ben Zobrist, Cubs
3B: Kris Bryant, Cubs
SS: Addison Russell, Cubs
OF: Yoenis Cespedes, Mets
OF: Dexter Fowler, Cubs
OF: Bryce Harper, Nationals

Reserves
C: Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers
C: Wilson Ramos, Nationals
1B: Paul Goldschmidt, D-backs
1B: Wil Myers, Padres
2B: Daniel Murphy, Nationals
3B: Nolan Arenado, Rockies
3B: Matt Carpenter, Cardinals
SS: Corey Seager, Dodgers
OF: Adam Duvall, Reds
OF: Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies
OF: Odubel Herrera, Phillies
OF: Marcell Ozuna, Marlins

Pitchers
RHP: Jake Arrieta, Cubs
LHP: Madison Bumgarner, Giants
RHP: Johnny Cueto, Giants
RHP: Jeurys Familia, Mets
RHP: Jose Fernandez, Marlins
RHP: Kenley Jansen, Dodgers
LHP: Clayton Kershaw*, Dodgers
LHP: Jon Lester, Cubs
RHP: Mark Melancon, Pirates
RHP: A.J. Ramos, Marlins
RHP: Fernando Rodney, Marlins
RHP: Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
RHP: Noah Syndergaard, Mets
RHP: Julio Teheran, Braves

Curb Your Chicago Enthusiasm

The fans didn't reach quite the same heights with respect to the Chicago Cubs All-Star Team. Splitting hairs, not one of the Cubs infielders is the best choice at his position, and Addison Russell doesn't even belong on the All-Star team. My vote went to Paul Goldschmidt, the best first baseman in the game; batting average leader Daniel Murphy at second, whiz-kid Corey Seager at short; and two-way phenom Nolan Arendado at third. But again, the chosen player, with that one exception, is unquestionably All-Star worthy.

[Aside: Russell is the single worst selection, which is actually a compliment, because it's not egregious, but his addition crowds out both budding superstar Corey Seager from the starting team, and waiver wire reject Aledmys Diaz from the roster. Diaz is one great story that won't be told during the broadcast.]

The reserves are a sterling crew, absent Sterling -- Marte, of the Pirates. He would have made the team if the sensation that is Adam Duvall had a decent teammate. Duvall and his .287 OBP might very well become a footnote by season's end, but every team needs a representative and Terry Collins really didn't have many options there.

The pitching staff is something of a no-brainer. Six unhittable aces give the NL a clear edge in this contest.

So three cheers for the selection process and its results. The game isn't nearly as interesting, what with the homogenization of the leagues and daily inter-league play. But as a recognition of excellence, the people doing the choosing have generally demonstrated their own.

All Star Observations

The All-Star game is an exhibition but real life intrudes with every pitch.

For starters, there's Royals manager Ned Yost, exhorting his charges pre-game to play as if it mattered, because it might, as his personal testimony could attest. Last season, KC stood seven games out at the ASB, yet returned home for the seventh game of the World Series thanks to an American League victory.

Which they lost, demonstrating that even in the unlikely event that your team runs the gauntlet to the Fall Classic, and in the even more unlikely event that the series goes seven games, even then, the advantage conferred upon the home team is barely worth noting. 

The All-Star game is still a game, and ballers are still ballers. Did you notice how Bryce Harper adjusted his position in the batter's box with two strikes on him? That's one reason he has grown into his talent and now plays the part of George Washington in today's NL Mount Rushmore. In the same inning, Adam Jones, who possesses the same wealth of talent, swung at two balls down and off the plate on the way to a strikeout. That's about the only reason Jones has made a mint in the game, but won't pose for any monuments.

The introduction of elderly Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax and an aging Johnny Bench was a stirring addition to the opening ceremonies. Kudos to MLB for its promotion of the four greatest living players vote.

Lost in the years since the playing days of Aaron and Mays, who stand a head taller than anyone else who might join them in the top four, is that both were sons of the South who overcame racist hatred with aplomb and helped smash the race barrier. They are not just all-time great ballplayers; they have been great men. Let's not forget it.

Meanwhile, Tom Seaver, Greg Maddux and others had to be scratching their heads about Koufax. The Left Arm of God was almighty during the final six years of his career, winning three pitching triple crowns and three Cy Youngs, averaging 22-8, 2.19 and 286 strikeouts. But in his other six seasons he averaged 6-7, 4.10 with 114 strikeouts and more than half as many walks.

Seaver flummoxed batters from age 22 to 40, earning three Cy Youngs and six other top five finishes. His 106 career WAR is twice that of Koufax. The record is nearly identical for Maddux, whose peak was slightly higher but who tailed off more before retiring.

Bob Gibson, Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson also have strong cases against Koufax. Longevity and consistency matter: Koufax was a phenomenon, but far short of the greatest living pitcher.

The rule that every team gets an All Star representative is less popular than Congress, but its impact was minimal this year. Even the worst teams -- Milwaukee with KRod, Philly with Papelbon (or Hamels), Colorado with Arenado and Tulo, Boston with Holt (or Bogaerts), Oakland with Gray and Vogt and so on, provided legitimate candidates. 

The biggest stretch is probably Justin Upton representing the Padres, hitting .253 with 14 dingers. But Upton has a history of good play, faces a daunting ballpark for hitting and offers excellent outfield defense and 17 of 18 steals.  There's not much to complain about there.

Hearing Bryce Harper laud Mike Trout's speed burst around third was priceless. It'd be like Carlos Santana marveling at Eric Clapton's axe grinding.

If Ryan Braun can get selected to an All-Star game, it's time to drop the artifice and welcome Pete Rose back into the game; fold up the placards decrying Alex Rodriguez; and elect Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds and the rest into the Hall of Fame. Instead of bestowing such an honor on that unapologetic disgrace, the NL manager should select Braun's cynical spin doctors, handlers and script writers.

All-Star Quality All-Star Observations

Tom Seaver throws like he's nearly 70 but looks like he's not yet 50. I guess you can't nip and tuck your fastball.

Why do we feel compelled to devote so much time to crooning at baseball games? Marc Anthony sings like a girl. Neil Diamond is so over that Huey Lewis and the News laugh at him. 

(In fact, note to Baseball: You're two-for-two with Diamond, if falling flat on your face is your goal. Sweet Caroline [whoa-whoa-whoa] is older than Mariano Rivera. Get the dorky old dude off the field.)

Speaking of Rivera, that was awesome. He and Cano really showed their class at the ASB. Rivera is so genuine. Bravo to Cano for his professionalism in the face of being forced out of the game after two pitches.

Who fed Joe Buck and Tim McCarver their Wheaties? That was the single best broadcast I've heard them do. It was pitch perfect. They called it a pitchers' duel from the start. They kept up with the personnel changes and packaged them in the managers' philosophies. They wove in on-point reflections on the season so far. They captured the changing of the guard without overstating it. And they let the scene speak for itself when Rivera came out. Fox gets my All-Star vote for last night.

It's nice that the bestowers of such things picked Mariano Rivera for the MVP. Let's be honest why he won it: because there was no MVP. Only the final run scored on a hit. No one homered. The shutout required 10 pitchers.

As usual, the AP got it wrong. In its first paragraph, it credited Jose Bautista, JJ Hardy and Jason Kipnis for driving in the game's runs. Two of the three runs scored on outs. Hardy nearly hit into a double-play. The trio went one-for-four.

Am I the only person who noticed how stupid Torii Hunter looked trying to pump up the AL squad before the game?  I mean, besides his teammates? Torii, that #*!@ doesn't work in baseball.

Sal Perez got the Royals' first hit in an All-Star game since Bo Jackson in 1986. That's 27 years ago, before Perez, and about half his All-Star teammates, were born.
 
The seats directly behind home plate were two-thirds empty by the seventh inning. Those are the seats occupied -- until late in the contest -- by rich, well-connected people who don't love baseball but want to be seen. You snot-nosed, mouth-breathing toads -- either honor sporting history or stay the !@#$%^ home. Dickie from Charlotte and Paul from Oakland would've given their left testicles for those tickets.

So now the American League has home field advantage in the World Series. Isn't it great that America gets to see an extra game at the O.Co Coliseum! Just in time for them to burn down that junk pile and let the A's move to San Jose.

And finally, we still have half a season to go. It's shaping up as one for the ages. Is it Thursday yet?