Baseball

Donald Fehr did his job, whether you like it or not. 

That is because Fehr's job was to protect players in contract negotiations.

The fact is that the juicers made big money thus that is where many of the big contracts went. Thus, that money and those contract negotiations affected all players.

The reality is that the players aren't solely to blame. You can't call the players greedy without saying the same thing about the owners and Bud Selig. 

Rumors have been swirling around Kansas City Royals infielder Mark Teahen, with most of them seem to have Teahen going to the Boston Red Sox.

Teahen could fill the third base role vacated by the recently injured Mike Lowell. Kevin Youkilis has moved across the diamond to his natural position of third, with Jeff Bailey and Mark Kotsay platooning at first.

If Lowell's laid up for an extended amount of time, Teahen can play both first and third, and provide a decent bat in the lineup. And when Lowell does return from his hip injury, Teahen would be a great bat off the bench.

Last time around we checked out the American League closers (click here to view), so this week we turn to the National League (all stats given are through Saturday):

"Feel the wind and set yourself a bolder course...you'll sail the perfect line...in your time."

—Bob Seger, "In Your Time"

It should have been this year, 2009, but it's coming for Pablo Sandoval.  Sooner or later, he will get his due and the entire baseball world will realize how special this player is.  Until then, I'll do my best to hasten that day's arrival.

With that in mind...

What's the matter, Charlie Manuel?  Couldn't figure a way to get Matt Stairs and Carlos Ruiz on the team?

More struggles in Anaheim.

On July 10th, and 11th, the Yankees sent out Joba Chamberlain and Andy Pettitte to the mound to counter the Angels lineup, who were missing Torii Hunter and Vladimir Gurrerro to injuries.

Both times the Yankees stormed out of the gates fast, holding 5-1 and 4-0 leads respectively. Joba, and Pettitte were on their way to quality starts, and the Yankees' reliable bullpen was set slam the door in the late innings. However, they started to wilt, and the Angels took advantage.

After de-internetting myself for the past two weeks, I get to come back to this.

The All-Star Break looms only three days away.

Teams are assessing their standing for the second half and eagerly awaiting their opportunity for redemption (or, for some teams, more of the same) in the second half.

One team that is probably having difficulties doing the former is the Atlanta Braves.

The Braves are sitting at a decent 43-44, only (used in context here) five games back of the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Braves have gotten what they paid for with their off-season money: very consistent starting pitching.

As baseball rolls through the final weekend before the All-Star break, it is easy to see that some changes are necessary if the Twins are serious about winning the division.

Heading into play on Saturday, the Twins’ record is a pedestrian 44-43, one game over .500 and four back of the Tigers in the tough American League Central.

Billy Beane needs to take a play out of the Colorado Rockies playbook. The Rockies were playing uninspired and painfully poor baseball under manager Clint Hurdle. So, what did the Rockies management do?

The Rockies did not subscribe to Beane's theory that firing a manager during the season is a sign of weakness for a team. Instead the Rockies fired Hurdle and offered him a job in the organization, which he turned down and is now an announcer for MLB TV.