Baseball

While playing a three game series against the Washington Nationals this weekend, the Braves faced three left-handed pitchers.

In the second and third games of the series, the Braves left Jeff Francoeur on the bench while starting Matt Diaz in right field and Garret Anderson in left field.

Despite the fact that Diaz hits much better against lefties than righties, the Braves should be using Diaz as an everyday right fielder as long as the only other option is Jeff Francoeur.

BY DOUG RUSH

For the last two years, we have heard the $64 million dollar question: Where does Joba Chamberlain belong in the Yankee pitching staff?

This is his first season as a full-time starter. He has already made 16 starts and lets see where Joba is at:

In 16 starts, 84.2 innings—which averages out to 5.2 innings per start, 74 strikeouts, 41 walks and has four wins.

So with the major league season about half way through, Joba has only won 1-4 of his starts and he also hasn't given the Yankees any major length in his starts.

While the Texas Rangers were regaining the top spot in the American League West, Rays manager Joe Madden wasn't paying much attention. Ian Kinsler, Marlon Byrd, Nelson Cruz, Kevin Millwood, and Elvis Andrus are a big part of why the Rangers are in first place. None of the five players made the All-Star team in 2009.

July is a telling month in the world of baseball. With the trade deadline coming at the end of the month, contending teams seek to shore up any potential weaknesses by dealing prospects for (usually) short-term solutions.

Every season at this time, baseball fans everywhere are frustrated with the All-Star selections. This is an annual part of the season that never changes, but snubbing Kevin Millwood is inexcusable.

Pitching in a stadium that doubles as a launching pad and an oven, Millwood has been more than good in the first half. He’s been dominating for a team that isn’t exactly used to dominating pitchers.

1. Tim Lincecum

He is the best pitcher the Giants have had since Jason Schmidt. Lincecum is 9-2 with a 2.23 ERA this season.

This Cy Young winner is on track to start the All Star Game in St. Louis. Fans love watching him strike out batter after batter and he makes all the Filipino fans in the Bay Area proud of him.

After Brian Bruney blew the hold against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night, he had yet to pitch in another game for the Yankees until yesterday. At that moment in the Tuesday night game, I said to myself that Phil Hughes should remain in the game as he cruised through a nine pitch seventh inning. But Girardi stuck to the book and here came his "eighth inning guy."

If you were to say that Yovani Gallardo is one of the best young pitchers in baseball, no one should give you a funny look or call you crazy.  If he had been healthy last season, maybe the baseball world would regard him among the elite already, but two separate knee injuries limited him to just four starts, certainly slowing his progress.

In 2009, however, he is making his case, posting the following line:

Here are a few thoughts that I had during the All-Star selection:

[11:59]

 Waiting for the All-Star selection show to start, flipping between the epic Wimbledon battle and TBS.

[12:01]

Wow. Boomer got skinnier, not skinny, just less fat. But who cares about David Wells highlights? Get to the selecting. How does Ernie Johnson have a job? Oh yeah, Daddy.

[12:03]

One thing is for sure about these Florida Marlins: They are streaky.

They were the hottest team in baseball in April. Then in May they flat-lined and fell several games behind the NL East leading Phillies. Then in June they were one of the hottest teams in baseball again.

Now the Marlins find themselves one game out first in the NL East with a bright future.

Why a bright future you ask?

Because the much-hyped Marlins pitching staff is finally living up to its expectation.