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Armadillo: Friday's six-pack
-- If you do nothing else today, go to ESPN.com and listen to Craig Sager's speech at the ESPYs. Courageous and inspirational; Sager is one tough dude.
-- If you ever see film of Hank Aaron's 715th homer, in 1974, the guy standing at home plate with a microphone is a much younger Craig Sager.
-- Red Sox landed P Drew Pomeranz from San Diego for Anderson Espinoza, who is having an average year in Class A Ball but is a highly touted prospect and only 18.
-- Chris Spielman moves from ESPN to FOX, will work with Dick Stockton on NFL games this fall. Spielman is really good; FOX makes good move.
-- According to Chris Fallica of ESPN, since WWII, five players have had 3+ shot lead after first round of British Open. Phil Mickelson is the 6th. None of the five won tourney or shot second round in 60s.
-- NBA Summer League makes this week tolerable, with no baseballl until today.
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Armadillo: Friday's List of 13: Things I'm looking for in rest of baseball season
13) First things will be the trading that happens between now and the August 1 trade deadline. Who buys? Who sells? With two Wild Cards in each league now, teams are more reluctant to throw in the towel on a season.
12) After the dust has cleared from whatever trades happen, what minor leaguers will get the call to the majors, as struggling teams look to the future?
11) Cubs are 6-15 in their last 21 games; was it just a slump or are wheels coming off? Can they hold off the Pirates and Cardinals?
10) Would the Angels consider trading Mike Trout? Their farm system isn't very good, so the only way to replensih their talent level could be to deal their best plsyer. Angels are woefully short on pitching.
9) Kershaw/Greinke both make roughly $1M per start, if they made all their starts this year, but they're both on the DL now; Dodgers are going to need Kershaw back in the rotation if they're going to make the playoffs.
8) Arizona's season is a debacle, an expensive debacle. They've already sold Ziegler to the Red Sox, will they make more deals? D'backs need to decide on which position guys they want to stick with, then deal for a pitcher or three.
7) Will the defending champ Royals make a run at first-place Cleveland, or will 2016 continue to be a magical year on Lake Erie?
6) Can the Orioles sustain their first-half success despite its substandard rotation? Baltimore is in bottom five in both IP, ERA for its starting pitchers.
5) Will Bronx Bombers sell their quality relievers or will they hang in there and try to get back in the Wild Card race? If I was a season ticket holder and they sold assets to slash their payroll, I'd ask for a damn refund- their tickets are exorbitant.
4) When I was 14, I met Dusty Baker when he was playing for the Braves, he was so nice to me for no reason, so I always, always root for him (except against the A's). It will make me smile if the Nationals make the playoffs.
3) What about the Mets' pitchers? Can they get healthy? Their healthiest pitcher is a 43-year old fat guy. Go figure.
2) Can Giancarlo Stanton build on his HR Derby showing to have a solid second half and lead the Marlins into the playoffs?
1) Houston Astros got hot before the break, while Texas stumbled; Rangers are said to be looking to make a lot of deals to strengthen their team. Astros have young Bregman to bring up from the minors and bolster their infield. Should be interesting.
-- If you do nothing else today, go to ESPN.com and listen to Craig Sager's speech at the ESPYs. Courageous and inspirational; Sager is one tough dude.
-- If you ever see film of Hank Aaron's 715th homer, in 1974, the guy standing at home plate with a microphone is a much younger Craig Sager.
-- Red Sox landed P Drew Pomeranz from San Diego for Anderson Espinoza, who is having an average year in Class A Ball but is a highly touted prospect and only 18.
-- Chris Spielman moves from ESPN to FOX, will work with Dick Stockton on NFL games this fall. Spielman is really good; FOX makes good move.
-- According to Chris Fallica of ESPN, since WWII, five players have had 3+ shot lead after first round of British Open. Phil Mickelson is the 6th. None of the five won tourney or shot second round in 60s.
-- NBA Summer League makes this week tolerable, with no baseballl until today.
**********
Armadillo: Friday's List of 13: Things I'm looking for in rest of baseball season
13) First things will be the trading that happens between now and the August 1 trade deadline. Who buys? Who sells? With two Wild Cards in each league now, teams are more reluctant to throw in the towel on a season.
12) After the dust has cleared from whatever trades happen, what minor leaguers will get the call to the majors, as struggling teams look to the future?
11) Cubs are 6-15 in their last 21 games; was it just a slump or are wheels coming off? Can they hold off the Pirates and Cardinals?
10) Would the Angels consider trading Mike Trout? Their farm system isn't very good, so the only way to replensih their talent level could be to deal their best plsyer. Angels are woefully short on pitching.
9) Kershaw/Greinke both make roughly $1M per start, if they made all their starts this year, but they're both on the DL now; Dodgers are going to need Kershaw back in the rotation if they're going to make the playoffs.
8) Arizona's season is a debacle, an expensive debacle. They've already sold Ziegler to the Red Sox, will they make more deals? D'backs need to decide on which position guys they want to stick with, then deal for a pitcher or three.
7) Will the defending champ Royals make a run at first-place Cleveland, or will 2016 continue to be a magical year on Lake Erie?
6) Can the Orioles sustain their first-half success despite its substandard rotation? Baltimore is in bottom five in both IP, ERA for its starting pitchers.
5) Will Bronx Bombers sell their quality relievers or will they hang in there and try to get back in the Wild Card race? If I was a season ticket holder and they sold assets to slash their payroll, I'd ask for a damn refund- their tickets are exorbitant.
4) When I was 14, I met Dusty Baker when he was playing for the Braves, he was so nice to me for no reason, so I always, always root for him (except against the A's). It will make me smile if the Nationals make the playoffs.
3) What about the Mets' pitchers? Can they get healthy? Their healthiest pitcher is a 43-year old fat guy. Go figure.
2) Can Giancarlo Stanton build on his HR Derby showing to have a solid second half and lead the Marlins into the playoffs?
1) Houston Astros got hot before the break, while Texas stumbled; Rangers are said to be looking to make a lot of deals to strengthen their team. Astros have young Bregman to bring up from the minors and bolster their infield. Should be interesting.
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