Baseball

After the emotional roller-coaster ride of the last two games against Boston, it is hard to tell just what state of mind the Baltimore Orioles will be in as they hit the road for a seven-game West Coast swing.

One thing for sure is that they can’t have a repeat of the performance displayed the last time they trekked out west a month ago.

On that trip, which followed a home stand in which the Orioles had won five of seven games, Baltimore won the first game in Seattle 1-0 on the best outing of the season for starting pitcher Rich Hill.

Those of us that were busy composing the official obituary for the postseason prospects of the St. Louis Cardinals have spent the last two games scratching our heads and eating our words. It seems pretty clear that we have severely underestimated the possible effectiveness of this baseball team.

With a chance to take three out of four games against one of the best teams in baseball, it would make sense to keep your team's hottest hitters in the lineup.

But with Giants manager Bruce Bochy throwing out his 45,699th lineup of the season on Thursday, both right-fielder Nate Schierholtz and shortstop Edgar Renteria were absent from the lineup.

To be fair, after picking up 14 hits in a six-game stretch, Schierholtz went 0-for-4 in back-to-back games heading into Thursday's series finale.

Rain delays are frequent in baseball:  it rains, the game is delayed, the rain eventually stops, and baseball resumes.

However, in the series finale between the Astros and Padres at PETCO Park, Thursday, there was a different sort of delay.

Bees were the result of the 52 minute delay.  Yes, bees...those pesky insects that sting you when they're mad.

The delay came in the top of the ninth, when bees got out of control in left field.

Play was halted, and a few sections of fans were cleared out.

July 2 has been a busy day in baseball rumors, and with the trade deadline fast approaching, more and more rumors seem to be popping up. This columnn hopes to make known a few of them.

Welcome to Rudy Dominick & Johnny Lawrence's Week 13 installment of Detroit Tigers information and analysis. 

Each Thursday, we will delve into all things Tigers. Read and digest, or skim and spit out our insightful banter.

Keep An Eye On

Robbie Weinhardt, Relief Pitcher—Erie Sea Wolves (AA)

(Season @ Single-A Lakeland)

1-0, 31.2 IP, 24 H, 30 K, 0.85 ERA.

Just look at that crowd cheering my caffeine charged anti-Dusty Baker/anti-Walt Jocketty rally held outside of my apartment as soon as I saw Willy Taveras' name in the leadoff spot on Thursday afternoon.

I apologize to my fans that I did not recognize any you.

This is a plea to Reds owner, Bob Castellini.  For the sake of the Queen City, sell me your team. 

Have you ever looked at a box score or turned on the TV to a baseball game and seen a name you never expected to see?

A name you hadn't seen in several years?

I had a moment like that just last week. I looked at a Royals box score and was flabbergasted at their starting pitcher.

"What?! Bruce Chen's still pitching?!"

Obviously, players who come back to the majors after several years away get some mainstream exposure.

I thought it would be a fun idea to look through the minor leagues and see what former major leaguers are still kicking around.

After a dropped foul ball and a questionable non-strike call helped the Cardinals snap San Francisco's three-game winning streak, the month of July didn't start off the way the men in orange and black would have preferred.

However, the 2009 Giants still lead the Wild Card race coming into the second of July. Currently, San Francisco is still 1.5 games ahead of both the Cardinals and those pesky Colorado Rockies who have seemingly rose from the dead.

With the first half of baseball quickly coming to a close, the Oakland A's are sitting 9.5 games out of first due to their anemic offensive attack. A's General Manager, Billy Beane, signed Jason Giambi, a former MVP, Orlando Cabrera, Nomar Garciaparra and traded for the NL Silver Slugger, Matt Holliday last offseason. The signings were believed to turn Oakland into a darkhorse contender.

Those signings haven't changed a thing. The A's are still dead last in batting average, on-base percentage as well as slugging percentage.