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As we are now approaching the half way point of their first full season, I thought it would be a good idea to check up on some of last seasons highly regarded draft picks.  Among the many 2008 Draft picks was a solid core of arms again. 

Dave Dombrowski drafted solid relievers that could be MLB ready soon to put some Neosporin and a band aide on a wounded Tiger bullpen. With that said lets take a look at some of our newest Tigers that are earning their stripes.

Since its inception the American League has dominated in season inter-league play.  Up through the 2008 season the American league had a record of 1536 wins and 1420 losses.

The American League has also dominated the All-Star game having not lost since 1996.  However, this isn't a fair measure of which league is better because a league can easily have the best group of 25-35 stars but still be the weaker league. 

After the events of the past few weeks, Mets fans are genuinely concerned about the 2009 season. Injuries have decimated the team, key players have been out for some time now, and their return is questionable at best.

Many of the doomsayers are already getting the other teams' rosters and trying to figure just how to break up the "core" players who are at fault for our lack of winning ways. I don't believe that a blow-up is necessary, but that's not the subject of this article.

We've hated him for a long time. From the time he arrived in Boston from Montreal in 1998, Pedro Martinez has been among the most prominent names on the Empire's list of public enemies.

From 1998 to 2000, he went 60-17 with a 2.25 ERA and an unearthly 11.49 strikeouts per nine innings, giving the Red Sox arguably the best pitcher in the American League. Though his numbers declined afterward, he remained a thorn in the Yankees' side and Boston's most prominent face of the rivalry for years afterward.

San Francisco Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez has a 5.43 ERA and a 1.73 Whip to go along with his 2-7 record. Many expected Sanchez to improve upon his 5.01 ERA of last year, but although some facets of his game have gotten better, the overall product has taken a turn for the worse. 

We’ve tracked Jhoulys Chacin in our Prospect Reports (click here for the latest), but as he continues to impress in the minor leagues the time has come to give him his proper respect.  After opening the season at 1-3 with a 4.87 ERA at Double-A, he’s responded by going 4-2 with a 2.41 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 55 K over his past 9 starts (56 i

Photo above from espn.com

The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled RHP James McDonald from triple-A Albuquerque and sent down RHP Travis Schlichting. 

McDonald was named the Pacific Coast League Player of the Week for Jun. 8-15. During that stretch he went 1-0 and allowed just one run in 14 innings pitched. 

He also struck out 23 hitters over those two starts for the Isotopes. 

For the season in triple-A, McDonald is 1-0 with a 3.26 ERA in six starts. 

Do yourself a favor, and hit the single page link below.

This is the eighth installment of the Cooperstown’s Best Series.  We only have one more to go after this, and then the recap showing each position’s leader.

This position has more Negro League players than most of the others.  They are Cool Papa Bell, Willard Brown, Oscar Charleston, Pete Hill, Turkey Stearnes and Cristobal Torriente.  As has been my policy, I cannot rank them on this list.

One never knows what is going to happen in a baseball game. Pennant-winning teams might struggle against cellar-dwellers, or a play that has never been seen could occur.

There are no guarantees, which is a major reason that before the first pitch, all baseball games are potentially created equal.

Gaylord Perry Against Bob Gibson

The paid attendance on Sept. 17, 1968 at Candlestick Park was 9,546.