Baseball

In a stunning turn of events, the New York Yankees are reportedly "very close" to signing highly sought-after left-handed pitcher Barack Obama to a multi-year contract.

Pending a team physical, Obama is expected to join the team following the All-Star break.

It is currently unknown whether he will assume the starting role once held by Chien-Ming Wang—who has been on the disabled list since July 5 with a strained right shoulder—or push the struggling Joba Chamberlain back into the bullpen.

The St. Louis Cardinals should trade for Corey Patterson.

Maybe I'm a moron.

Maybe I'm a thinker.

Either way, sometimes crazy ideas work. 

I know I'll get fried for this. You're probably thinking, "If he's not good enough for Washington, he's really not good enough for St. Louis. What does this guy know?"

Over the past few days, I have read in newspapers and listened on NY sports radio as commentators discuss the idea of taking Vernon Wells' absurd contract as the springboard to land Roy Halladay in the Bronx.

Most people like to pick their American and National League All-Star snubs immediately following the announcement of the rosters. I, on the other hand, prefer to wait until the day of the game to pick mine.

Take for instance, Carlos Pena of the Rays. Many people picked him as someone who should have made the team, but didn't. But...he did! As a replacement for Dustin Pedroia. So while some players didn't make the team originally, there are always methods of being included.

So, here are my All-Star snubs who actually did NOT make the team.

The Yankees need to rummage in their closet and find what does not fit in their life anymore and eject it...that old pair of shoes...that worn out coat...

And some pitchers and postion players who have outgrown their use.

When the baseball starts back up tomorrow, there are going to be all kinds of storylines to follow.

Can Albert Pujols win the first Triple Crown since 1967?

Will the trading of Roy Halladay change the landscape of the National League pennant race?

The second half of the 2009 season for the Baltimore Orioles isn’t necessarily about wins and losses, but it is about changing a negative aura that has been more than a decade in the making.

Baltimore has posted a winning mark in the second half of the season only three times since 1998 and not since 2004.

But the struggles have gone beyond just registering losing seasons. Almost every year, the Orioles have sleep walked through the last two months of the season.   

I like to do this thing every year called the MLB Non-Star team.

And it seems as if every year, my criteria and make-up for the team changes slightly.

There remains one constant, though.

Pick players who didn't make the All-Star team.

In this case, I'm picking players who didn't make my own All-Star team.