One thing that has remained consistent this season is the dominance of Miguel Cabrera. By Cbl62, via Wikimedia Commons

Back in January, about three months prior to the start of the 2013 Major League Baseball season, I wrote an article claiming my predictions for the upcoming season. Now that the All Star Game is upon us, that means the season is a little over halfway finished and my perception of the teams and players has changed over the course of the year from what it was before the season even started. So here are my updated predictions on what will transpire over the next few months of the season:

But first, here are my pre-season predictions:

Teams I picked to win their divisions:

AL East: New York Yankees

AL Central: Detroit Tigers

AL West: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

NL East: Philadelphia Phillies

NL Central: Cincinnati Reds

NL West: Los Angeles Dodgers

Wild Card Teams:

American League: Baltimore Orioles and Oakland A’s

National League: San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals

CY Young winners:

American League: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners

National League: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

MVP:

American League: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

National League: Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers

Best record in each League:

American League: Detroit Tigers

National League: Cincinnati Reds

Manager of the Year:

American League: Jim Leyland, Detroit Tigers

National League: Don Mattingly, Los Angeles Dodgers

Moneyball will finally find a World Series ring in 2013. By Leaders Event from London, United Kingdom, via Wikimedia Commons

Updated Predictions (Stats are up to the All Star break):

Teams I picked to win their divisions:

AL East: Boston Red Sox

AL Central: Detroit Tigers

AL West: Oakland A’s

NL East: Atlanta Braves

NL Central: Pittsburgh Pirates

NL West: Arizona Diamondbacks

Wild Card Teams:

American League: Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers

National League: St Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds

CY Young winners:

American League: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners (10-4, 2.53 ERA, 140 Strikeouts, 1.10 WHIP)

National League: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (8-6, 1.98 ERA, 139 Strikeouts, 0.91 WHIP)

MVP:

American League: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (.365, 30 HR, 95 RBI, .458 OBP)

National League: Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks (.313, 21 HR, 77 RBI, .395 OBP)

Best record in each League:

American League: Oakland A’s

National League: Pittsburgh Pirates

Manager of the Year:

American League: John Farrell, Boston Red Sox

National League: Clint Hurdle, Pittsburgh Pirates

I’m usually pretty stubborn about my predictions, but I will admit that I have changed some of mine from the preseason. I was totally off about both the Dodgers and Angels, even though both can still make some sort of run at the playoffs — especially the Dodgers.

Staying in the National League West, Paul Goldschmidt is my new pick for National League MVP. Many people view Yadier Molina as the favorite but I think otherwise. Goldschmidt has better numbers than Molina in every category other than batting average and he isn’t that far behind him in that.

Before the season started, I said that the Angels would meet up with the Dodgers in the World Series creating a “Freeway” World Series, but the Angels have woefully underperformed and I have changed my World Series prediction on its head. I predict that the Arizona Diamondbacks and Oakland A’s will be the final two teams standing.

Let that sink in for a second and actually consider this scenario. Both of these teams are good enough to make it. I don’t have a winner from these two teams because in my mind, they are evenly matched. Since the American League won the All-Star Game and has home field advantage, I’ll go ahead and pick Moneyball to finally come through in the postseason.

Chris Davis has had a break-out year this season. By Keith Allison on Flickr, via Wikimedia Commons

It’s about that time again, time for the Major League Baseball All-Star game.

Most professional all-star games aren’t as competitive as the real deal, but generally thats not the case for the MLB’s version of the game. This game actually matters because the winning league earns home-field advantage in the World Series. I, like a lot of fans, disagree with this rule because like any other sport, home field advantage should be based off of record not which league played better in the All Star Game. If that were the case, the Western Conference in the NBA would have had home court advantage six times out of the past ten years. This rule needs to be changed but I don’t see it being changed anytime soon. But for what is it, it makes the game that much more compelling to watch and root on your own teams league.

And if the game is going to decide who gets World Series home field advantage, it is certainly wrong that the fans vote the starting players into the game. It should be based off the best players from each position that get to play in the game not off of bias fan voting. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy putting in my own votes every year but, to be honest, I usually vote for my team’s players who I know will never make the cut.

Here are my starting nine players from each league that should be in the starting lineups for this year’s All Star game next month and some of their stats (as current as June 24th, 12:03am):

American League:

Catcher: Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins (.330, 8 HR, 25 RBI)

First Base: Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles (.336, 27 HR, 70 RBI)

Second Base: Robinson Cano, New York Yankees (.276, 16 HR, 45 RBI)

Shortstop: J.J. Hardy, Baltimore Orioles (.267, 15 HR, 44 RBI)

Third Base: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (.370, 20 HR, 75 RBI)

Designated Hitter: David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox (.316, 16 HR, 55 RBI)

Outfielders:

Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles (.298, 15 HR, 55 RBI)

Mike Trout, Anaheim (not Los Angeles) Angels (.306, 12 HR, 46 RBI)

Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays (.254, 16 HR, 42 RBI)

Starting Pitcher: Clay Buchholz, Boston Red Sox (9-0, 1.71 ERA, 81 K)

National League:

Catcher: Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals (.353, 5 HR, 41 RBI)

First Base: Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks (.306, 19 HR, 65 RBI)

Second Base: Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds (.265, 11 HR, 60 RBI)

Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers (.358, 4 HR, 10 RBI)*

Third Base: David Wright, New York Mets (.309, 12 HR, 41 RBI)

Outfielders:

Carlos Beltran, St. Louis Cardinals (.305, 17 HR, 46 RBI)

Justin Upton, Atlanta Braves (.240, 15 HR, 34 RBI)

Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies (.3004, 21 HR, 57 RBI)*

Starting Pitcher: Matt Harvey, New York Mets (7-1, 2.05 ERA, 121 K)

*Because of injuries to Troy Tulowitzki and Bryce Harper

I decided during the second inning of the Reds-Cubs game on Friday night, after my second Skyline Coney, that I needed to focus less on the game and more on the park and fans. Whose jerseys are the fans wearing these days and why?

In Cincinnati, the usual suspects were in-place. Joey Votto dominated. There was probably a ratio of one Votto jersey for every other jersey in the park combined. Brandon Phillips, Aroldis Chapman and Jay Bruce had the second most. Zack Cozart seems to be the up-and-comer with jerseys in G.A.B.

The elusive Sabo. Definitely the best jersey I caught on the night.

For old-timers, I caught quite a few Bench’s, Roses and Larkins. Dodger-hater Joe Morgan was a popular choice. I even came across a Paul O’Neill and, the jackpot, Chris Sabo.

Since there were quite a few Cubs fans at the divisional matchup, there were lots of blue jerseys to be found as well. Popular were Ryne Sandberg and Ron Santo. Despite how much of a disappointment he is, there were also several Alfonso Soriano jerseys too. With the up-and-coming Anthony Rizzo and Bryan LaHair, I don’t expect to see many Soriano jerseys in the future.

Along with the Sabo, my favorite jersey of the night was a Rowengartner. Do you know who Henry Rowengartner was? He was the 12 year-old in the movie, Rookie of the Year. He broke his arm and somehow came back throwing in the high-90’s.

I even saw a Lou Gherig and, for good measure, an Andrew McCutchen.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnmBXXVzAG4

It definitely was a splendid evening in Cincinnati. With a first-place team and a full ballpark, the Reds have a lot to be happy about. Their fans didn’t disappoint.

According to one fan, this is the face of pure evil. Overheard at the ballpark: “I don’t trust anyone with a head that big made out of a baseball and a mustache like that. He can’t be up to any good…”

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He was a 13-time All Star, the 1999 National League Most Valuable Player, and two-time World Series Champion. From the late 80’s through the end of his career, Larkin was a franchise cornerstone and one of the top 10-15 players in the league.

My beef is this: what was there to think about over the past three years? Larkin retired in 2004 and was on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2010. He didn’t make the cut, receiving only slightly over 50 percent of votes his first year on the ballot.

In 2011, he was on the ballot again. While his percentage rose into the 60’s, he still wasn’t at the 75 percent he needed to get in.

This year, however, something changed. Larkin’s statistics didn’t. His 2,340 career hits were still on the board. His .295 batting average still sparkled.

I know some writers like to keep the title of “First Ballot Hall of Famer” for guys who are special — Gwynn and Ripken, for example.

Even using this argument, there is no way that more than 25 percent of writers should have failed to vote for Larkin the second time around. If they are going to split the Hall of Fame up in their minds into more than two categories (“First Ballot” and “Other”), then why have a Hall of Fame at all?

If those “categories” are important enough to Hall of Fame voters, why have everyone’s bust in the same room? Why not include a list of players who, for instance, made 5 or more All-Star teams and then rank them on a relative 1-10 scale. This way, we would know who the best of the best was… .

Arguments about relative placement of Hall of Fame baseball players are the ravings of insane baseball nerds — guys who think that voting Larkin into the HOF on the first ballot is somehow an affront to “First Ballot” guys like Ripken or Jeter.

————

Someday I’ll go to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Probably. When I do, I’ll walk through the rooms there and look at the memorabilia and the busts of the greatest players. I’ll see Larkin’s and I’ll see Ripken’s. In my heart, I’ll know that Ripken was better. HOWEVER, the last thing on my mind will be whether Larkin or Ripken got into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot. So let me make this point – Hall of Fame voters: Stop it. I don’t know who votes and who doesn’t for the Hall of Fame. Let me repeat that.

Hall of Fame Voters: I do not know/care to know who you are. You have forgotten more about baseball than I’ll ever know, but by trivializing “when” a player gets into the Hall of Fame, you are demeaning careers that need to be honored.

A Hall of Fame player is a Hall of Fame player. Stop making the story about “when” they get in. There is no defense for Larkin not getting in last season and getting in this season. None.

—————-

And for Larkin’s co-inductee, Ron Santo, your delay has caused a man to miss his chance to be appropriately recognized. I happen to think that if you can’t make a decision about a player after one year, then maybe that player is not someone who should go into the Hall of Fame.

Santo was on the ballot for 15 years and never received more than half of the votes, not to mention the 75 percent you need to be elected. He remained a prominent public figure and people generally liked him, but that did not mean that the success of his baseball playing career, which was very good, changed one bit.

Congratulations to Ron Santo, his family etc… but again his induction makes the point, I think, that if you don’t know whether someone is a Hall of Fame player, they just aren’t. Sorry.

Ricky Lake might have lost an abundance of weight but the scale of asinine blabber blubber spilling to the earth is larger than Fat Albert and his robust “hey hey hey”.

Hey hey hey Buster O, next time you spy on A-Rod with binoculars, you mind wearing a pair of pants? It’s freaking out the children and his mother is hyperventilating in fear.

This time the possessive oriented media has chosen to turn their attention from Joey Votto’s sexual orientation, and toward his immediate future.

Sound appealing? Sure.

Anytime a former NL MVP is being “shopped,” there’s a ton to talk about. The first question being…where?

That would be tons of fun this offseason. Where on God’s green earth would the Reds superstar land?

That is, if the media reports weren’t spun by groups of feigning sports dorks and fast food gossip junkies.

While Reds GM Walt Jocketty continues to lambaste the media for their inherent need to overreact and spin whatever small whisper they can, league-wide leaders like Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports continue the garbage.

Earlier this week, Rosenthal reported the Reds don’t have to act now but can wait for Pujols and Fielder
to land contracts in order to gauge the star first baseman’s worth.

Worth? Why are we talking about trade worth?

Walt Jocketty set the record straight with Reds beat writer Mark Sheldon. His strong words diminished any fear Reds fans may have in regards to their franchise’s future.

“We haven’t talked about it. I wish that people would stop writing it,” Jocketty said Monday. “Why would we trade one of the best players in the game? We’re trying to win.”

No trade means no trade, and here I am writing about it.

But don’t add me to the impish idiots condoning their intellectual filth. Let me set the record straight: the topic of a Joey Votto trade is as irrelevant as a pair of L.A. Gear high tops.

Owed 25 million dollars over the next two years commits the star to the ownership in Cincinnati.

His absence in speaking out against current opines of his presumed navigation elsewhere, proves the man is less concerned with the media and more so, with his play.

His birth into a perennial all-star first baseman, MVP and league-wide giant was conceived in Cincinnati. Isn’t there some sort of franchise commitment? I think so.

With an intelligent manager in Dusty Baker, the Reds and Votto are just one or two hitters away from returning to postseason play.

This is not to deny the man may seek employment elsewhere in a couple of years. But until then can we just pay attention to the 2011 World Series? The NFL? NBA Lockout? Emma Stone?

Ranting to the world is another. Recently amidst the buzz of political push and pull, budget head and conservative Paul Ryan, Tweedle Dee’d in a speech about poor people.

The Governor said the budget cuts are meant “to ensure that America’s safety net does not become a hammock that lulls able-bodied citizens (the poor) into lives of complacency and dependency.”

Really Mr. Ryan,  a hammock? Last I checked the lower income elderly might need an occasional doctors visit. Or children under five in the inner-city just might benefit from the language programs of First Five.

Hammock? Wrap it in a bit of Christmas tinsel while you’re at it. It is not as if life might be difficult living on a food stamp allotment of 4.46$ daily, per individual.

I mean come on; the food stamp bar needs to be set lower. The cut off of $23,800 a year per family is far too high. We all know under two thousand a month for a family of four is a plush kingdom of high-end fortitude.

Gas is nearly 5 bucks a gallon.

A Happy Meal at McDonald’s is nearing six. Where is this figural Hammock?

Like Ryan, another heartless individual recently Tweedle Dum’d himself to fame. Ron Stiegerwald, a contributor for the Observor-Reporter.com, blamed the victim who was nearly beaten to death at Dodgers Stadium by two riled hooligans.

The basis for his argument: the man wears t-shirts and he thinks the Giants are neat.

His name is Brian Stow, a forty two year father of two from Santa Cruz. As of now Stow is still battling for his life in a Los Angeles hospital. Suffering severe brain damage, Stow has had portions of his skull removed to relieve the pressure from his brain.

To think the paramedic’s life is in danger because he roots for the Giants is surreal. But what is more surreal is that Ron Stiegerwald exists.

Atheists now have another reason to doubt the existence of God. If there was one, Stiegerwald would have been born without hands or a tongue and with a tattoo across his forehead reading: I am a crypt/I am in a gang/ I love the Giants / I hate Dodger fans.

But life isn’t fair.

For Brian Stow life has spiraled into the fringes of death, with his two children lilting like a row-boat in a sea of pain, and his wife wondering what side of fate her family will fall into.

You see, life will never be the same for the Stow family. If Brian pulls through, he’ll have to deal with the tedious monsters of learning memorization and compartmentalization all over again, and within a mightily defective brain. His wife will lose her intimate partner, as Brian battles with not only the physical part, but the psychological mess of things like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

PTSD and other psycho-social disorders lend themselves to biological imbalances, affecting things like relational and sexual intimacy. Anger stems from the inability to relate to others around you, and PTSD sufferers can find themselves with feelings of intense depression. In turn this creates the need to isolate and hide.

For Stow’s children, another form of abandonment can take place. The abandonment of having a father who is “there,” but “not there,” makes children feel unlovable. These feelings of being unlovable not only push children away from their parents, but foster various insecurities inducing addictions to alcohol, drugs, sex, spending, gambling, and many other fascinations.

Getting too real? I hope so.

And now we have to deal with verbal-garbage from a man whose need for popularity has driven him to a serious literary low. Congratulations Ron, you are now the Lindsey Lohan of sports writing.

I am sure Mr. Stiegerwald is willing to tell both of Stow’s children the reason for their father’s suffering. “Kids, he wore a Giants t-shirt and never should have done that.”

When was Baseball a sport governed by the gang banging world? To most of these backward types, a hat, jersey, or jacket is just about the look. Move to the bay area for a day and you will see plenty of kids rocking a Reds hat to match the red sneakers beneath a sagging, oversized pair of jeans.

Is it not Giants country? You would think. But this is not true anymore. In fact, this was never true. Baseball’s conception was at a grassroots level that promoted the middle-class worker. Our great pass-time has always been the crutch in which our fragmented culture leans upon.

Take World War Two for example. Most of our male professionals left the sport to take part in the war, and despite the lack of top notch talent, Americans still craved one thing: baseball. Baseball has always had that ability to pass the time, as three hours go by, hooting and hollering, eating, drinking, and everything else family and friends treasure during economical lows.

Why? This country is concocted by older cultures who valued the family more than anything. This is the reason the gangster era in the thirties and forties took off as it did. We hit the great depression, and the Italians, Mexicans, and Russians, through strong family bonds, built mini kingdoms within the greater kingdom.

Mr. Stiegerwald is badly misinformed believing every fan who wears a t-shirt, jacket, hat, do-rag, wrist band, and head band, to be some immature individual seeking out attention like a fifth grader. In fact I would argue the reason more people wear memorabilia today is because more of it is assessable to the average fan.

Is this the next phase of interrogation? The individuals who dress in anything less than Dockers, tucked in shirts, and tyes?

Even my tough-as-nails red neck father admits he’d adorn a Mickey Mantle jersey. Faulting an innocent person like Brian Stow for a senseless and heartless crime because he wears sports apparel, is similar to blaming the Jews for the Holocaust because they wore bircas.

When will we hold men and women accountable for their horrendous acts, instead of justifying it with some vapid fat tongued Stiegerwaldism?

Soon I hope; soon for the sake of Brian Stow, and the edict necessary to reshape our culture’s morally off-kilt sense of things.