The 2008 season is halfway over, and there are plenty of stories to follow: the Rays’ newfound success, Josh Hamilton the hitting machine, and Chipper’s quest for .400 have all kept baseball fans watching ESPN and reading the sports section 24-7. The following are the ones on my mind.
Grandy’s the Man
Though I have no allegiance to the city of Detroit or the Tigers, Curtis Granderson has become one of my favorite players. Not only is he an incredible athlete, he is also a cool person and a great role model to kids. In his spare time, he takes the time to share what’s on his mind with his fans on his espn.com blog. He’s such an exciting player to watch – whether he is stretching a double into a triple, chasing down a fly ball in the gap, or laying out to make a diving catch, Curtis Granderson so clearly loves baseball. He appreciates having the opportunity to play the game he loves for a living. I’m looking forward to visiting Comerica Park next week and seeing Granderson do what he does best in his home park.
Sunday Bloody Sunday
If the Orioles are going to end their 10-year streak of fourth-place finishes, they’re going to have to learn how to win on Sundays, or learn to control the weather on Sundays so that they can arrange to be rained out every time. After this past Sunday’s extra-inning loss to the Nationals, the Birds are 1-12 on Sundays and have lost 12 straight Sunday games. Talk about a bad day.
Rays are the Real Deal
Still think the Rays are a fluke? Think again. Matt Garza threw a one-hitter against the Marlins last week, and he’s not even the team’s best pitcher – Tampa Bay’s ace is southpaw Scott Kazmir, who is sporting a 2.63 E.R.A.
In case you missed it
Angels pitchers Jered Weaver and Jose Arredondo threw an unofficial combined no-hitter against the Dodgers last Saturday. Why was it unofficial? Because the Angels were on the road and were losing 1-0 after they batted in the top of the ninth, the game ended before they had a chance to toss nine innings – the minimum needed for a no-hitter to be considered official by MLB.
A short recess
Because of my trip (see post on 6/6 for more details), I will not be able to post two weeks from today but I hope to take detailed notes of every ballpark I visit and write about them when I return. Check back in on August 1.
Keywords: Angels, Curtis Granderson, Midseason Report, Orioles, Rays, Sunday, Unofficial No-hit Loss
