Sports Blog

September is almost here and that means that prospects and rookies will be brought up to the big leagues for the September Call-ups. While these players have really no value on contending team, On non-contending teams they will be given plenty opportunities to prove their worth. This means that they can have some value for owners looking for a difference maker the rest of the season. Here are some guys you should keep your eye on:

Brandon Allen (1B, ARZ)
Allen has been crushing Triple-A pitching since being traded to the Diamondbacks from the White Sox for reliever Tony Pena. Pena on the other had has struggled, making the Sox kick themselves for trading away a promising player. In 145 Triple-A at-bats, Allen was batting .324 with 12 home runs, and a .641 slugging percentage. Even better he showed a good eye for a power hitter with a .8 walk-to-strikeout ratio. In September he will be fighting for a starting job next season so he is primed for a break out. Pick him up now and stash him away.

Drew Stubbs (OF, CIN)
If your looking for steals and runs, Drew Stubbs is your man. With the Reds out of contention and riddled with OF injuries, he should get regular playing time batting at the top of the line-up. He had 46 stolen bases in Triple-A so you know the speed is there. His bat though is not fully developed yet( .268 Triple-A), so don’t be too gun hoe on him yet. I’d wait and see how he plays before picking him up.

Justin Lehr (SP, CIN)
Lehr has pitched well since his call-up with a 3-1 record in August. Besides the wins his numbers aren’t really as good as his record looks only 14 strikeouts in 38.2 innings. Even worse he has walked just as many batters during that time (14 walks). Before this call-up the 32-year old Lehr was kind of a journey man minor leaguer, not someone you want to be pitching down the stretch for your fantasy team. Don’t be fooled by the wins they can’t last for too much longer. If you do own him deal him now while there is some value.

Matt LaPorta (OF/1B, CLE)
LaPorta was in the Big Leagues earlier this year before he was demoted to work on his swing. Now he’s back up getting regular playing time for the non-contending Indians. In Triple-A, LaPorta hit over .290 and hit 12 home runs in three months. If he can cut down his strikeouts and focus on making contact, he can be a force down the stretch. Pick him up and stash him away cause I see a big finish in his future.

Travis Snider (OF/DH, TOR)
Snider is probably the best prospect to own for the September run. He is a pure hitter that will get plenty of opportunity to perform the rest of the season. Last September he batted .313 and slugged .485 in the Majors, so he knows how to perform to end a season. In Triple-A he batted .337 with 14 home runs so his production has been consistent all year. Pick him up now before he breaks out!

Chris Davis (3B/1B/DH, TEX)
A pure power hitter who can play defense, the only problem is he strikes out a ton. He was sent down earlier this season because of all the strikeouts, but now he is back. He improved his patience at the plate in Triple-A, so it will be interesting to see if he can carry it over. Pick him up now cause his power is top notch.

This is how I would rank the top teams (record wise) taking into account how they have been playing recently:

1. Los Angeles Angels 63-40
The Angels won 17 of their last 20 games. They have just been tearing the cover off the ball, leading the Majors in July with a .316 team average and 185 runs scored. That is with out their two best hitters Torii Hunter and Vladimir Guerrero who have been on the DL with injuries. Looking at their line up they have 7 guys batting over .290 and if you add Hunter and Vlad it makes 9. They have been hitting so well that it has masked their starting pitching woes and overall team ERA being near the bottom of the league. Their pitching needs to improve if they want to win in the playoffs, but they have a good shot at the AL best record and home field advantage.

2. New York Yankees 63-42
The Yankees have been going good since A-Rod returned. Since July 1st they have gone 19-10, 3 loses though came at the hand of the Angels and is why they aren’t #1. They have a good chance to win the AL East and the best record overall if they keep playing this way but its going to be tough with Red Sox, who the play this week and have not beaten this season, only a half a game behind them. This weeks series with the Sox will go a long way to determine the race in the East.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers 65-40
The Dodgers still have the best record in baseball and big 7 game lead in the NL West, but their play of late has been just mediocre. Maybe being at home will help them beak out of their stale play as they return from a long road trip. This team still has everything (pitching, hitting and defense) to end the season with the best record and compete for the Championship.

4. Philadelphia Phillies 59-44
The defending champs just got better in making the trade for Cliff Lee. Now, with their pitching and heavy hitting lineup, they are strong contenders to repeat. They should also be able to cruise to the playoffs in the week NL East, something that could hurt them in the end.

5. Boston Red Sox 62-42
The Red Sox improved their lineup greatly by adding Victor Martinez. This should give them the fire power they need to battle the Yankees in the AL East. Big series this week with the Yankees as Boston tries to regain first place.

The rest of the top 10 goes as follows:

6. Texas Rangers 59-44
7. St. Louis Cardinals 58-50
8. Tampa Bay Rays 57-48
9. Detroit Tigers 54-49
10. Colorado Rockies 58-47

Honorable Mention: San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox

Image Source:  AP Photo

This week in sports blogs and news:

• 12-Year-Old Girl Throws No-Hitter against Boys in Little League - SportsByBrooks
• Madden 2010 Cover Released - MaddenNFL
• Chiefs Trade Tony Gonzalez to Falcons - Fox Sports
• Darren O’Day’s First Day as a Ranger was interesting - Larry Brown Sports
• The All-Time NBA Pretty Boys, Part Tres - The Sports Hernia
• Top 7: Overhyped Cubs Who Fizzled - Joe Sports Fan

This week on the Smarter Sports Blog we covered:

• “I wonder if Carrie will take me back?” 
• Baseball Buying Guide: How to Buy a Baseball Glove
• Top 5: MLB Early Season MVP Candidates
• NFL Drug Tests: Percy Harvin and Brandon Tate Fail Tests
• Coaching Change: Mike D’Antoni to Coach Team USA?
• Fantasy Impact: 5 Fantasy Baseball Steals
  

This week in sports blogs and news:

•  Michael Wilbon Says Kimbo Slice is a Fraud - Fanhouse
• Former Goalie Can’t Stop Hurting Himself, Shoots Self in Neck - Puck Daddy
• Women Show Their Support by getting Bikini Waxes - Deadspin
• Al Pacino Wants to Play Tommy Lasorda - Variety
• Minneapolis Radio Hosts Claims Magic Johnson Fakes AIDS - Sports By Brooks
• Top 7: LCS Moments of the Decade - Joe Sports Fan
• Book Review: Josh Hamilton Beyond Belief with Tim Keown- Larry Brown Sports
• Gregg Popovich… - The Sports Hernia

This week on the Smarter Sports Blog we covered:

• “YMCA!”
• Fantasy Football: Week 5 Fantasy Stats
• Eli Manning is a Slacker, Lives in an Automated House
• Funny Videos: Keep Your Eye on the Ball…
• Kimbo Slice’s Son Took His Father’s Loss Hard

This week in news and sports blogs around the Net:

• Dennis Rodman arrested for domestic violence - LA Times
• Book sales not going so well? Jose Canseco’s $2.5 million home foreclosed on - Fox Sports
• Chelsea soccer players celebrate and party with Jenna Jameson - The Sun
• Top 7: Overhyped Pitching Debuts - Joe Sports Fan
• Joe Buck and Tim McCarver got rides at the World Series by U.S. Marshalls - Sports by Brooks
• Karl Malone Impregnated a 13-year-old - Buffalo News
• We Should Be GMs give their April Phillies Rewind - We Should be GMs
  
• Dwayne Wade explains his relationship with Star Jones - Deuce of Davenport

And in the Smarter Sports Blog we talked about:

• “The Rangers will try anything, and anyone, for a win”
• Buffalo Guard Suspended for Term Paper Ad on Facebook
• Show Me the Money! Eagles Sue Terrell Owens for $770,000
• Peyton Manning Loses his Cool on the Sidelines
• Roger Clemens Linked to John Daly’s Ex, Paulette Dean Daly
  

Mark Teixeira must have really wanted to get out of Texas.

According to the Star-Telegram, Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks said that they had offered the first baseman an eight-year, $140 million contract, but he turned it down. The new extension would have made him the fourth highest player in the league.

OK, there are only a few explanations why Teixeira would turn down a contract of this magnitude.

1. He really wants to play for a contender. Although this is heartwarming and may be true, the Atlanta Braves aren’t necessarily a lock to make the playoffs, although they did increase their chances with the addition of him and Octavio Dotel. They are an even stronger contender now to get the Wild Card.

2. He wants more money. His agent is Scott Boras, so this one is most likely true. Boras is known for testing his players’ value on the open market and he always weasels some owner to pay up more for what a player is worth.

The Rangers were probably wise to let Teixeira go. They acquired some good young talent for the future and they don’t have to put up with a hefty new contract to a player who doesn’t deserve to get that much. Yes, he puts up 30-plus, 100 RBI a year the past few seasons, but he doesn’t stand out above the rest. He’s not even the best at his own position.

Let alone the fourth best in the majors.

Source: Star-Telegram

It was a night full of nostalgia for Sammy Sosa. 

The perennial slugger finally reached No. 600 last night when belted a home run to centerfield off Jason Marquis, becoming only the sixth player in history to join the elite club.

The ironic twist was that he did it against his former team, the Chicago Cubs, while playing on the Rangers who originally drafted him in 1989. 

Sosa played on the Cubs from 1992-2004 where he enjoyed a remarkable career, hitting 545 home runs, an MVP award and seven All-Star selections.

But after one corked bat and some steroid hoopla later, the Cubs felt it was time to let him go.

Sosa was signed to a minor league contract this year, but wasn’t guaranteed a major league roster spot. He made the team after a strong spring training and is hitting .242 with 12 home runs and 53 RBI, thus far.

Source: CBS Sportsline