It's Show Time Folks!

The 2008 Home Run Derby is just around the corner and we finally have our 8 confirmed participants. After a couple weeks of rumors and speculation, the list has been narrowed down to an exciting group of this year’s biggest sluggers.Chase UtleyHeight: 6-1Weight: 200Age: 29HR Total to date: 25Position: Second BaseBats: LeftDerby Experience: NoneOutlook: The Phillies 2nd baseman is a line drive hitter who has show his HR power in streaks this year. He’s had 5 streaks of 9 or more games with no homeruns and he’s currently in a downswing right now. Does that mean he could get shut out or is he about to break out?Dan UgglaHeight: 5-11Weight: 200Age: 28HR Total to date: 23Position: Second BaseBats: RightDerby Experience: NoneOutlook: Uggla has been a surprise this year, as he’s actually gotten better with the absence of Miguel Cabrera. He’s only played 3 games since injury his ankle and he hasn’t homered since June 20th, so we’ll see if he’s rusty.Lance BerkmanHeight: 6-1Weight: 220Age: 32HR Total to date: 22Position: First BaseBats: SwitchDerby Experience: 8th in 2002(1 HR), 2nd in 2004(21 HR), 6th in 2006(3 HR)Outlook: Berkman is by far the most experienced slugger in the group. This will be his 4th Home Run Derby and that will prove to be invaluable Monday when it comes time to swing for the fences.Grady SizemoreHeight: 6-2Weight: 200Age: 25HR Total to date: 23Position: Center FieldBats: LeftDerby Experience: NoneOutlook: Sizemore was sitting at just 1 HR after his first 20 games and no one thought that he’d wind up in the Derby. He’s now hit 22 HR in his last 70 games and hopes to ride that hot streak to a Home Run Derby Title.Josh HamiltonHeight: 6-4Weight: 235 Age: 27HR Total to date: 21Position: Center FieldBats: LeftDerby Experience: NoneOutlook: Hamilton is trying to recover from an 18-game homer less streak. He recently hit homeruns in back to back games and appears ready to make a serious run at the title. The right center gap being 14 feet shorter than left center gives him a very good chance to do so. Ryan BraunHeight: 6-1Weight: 201 Age: 24HR Total to date: 23Position: Left FieldBats: RightDerby Experience: NoneOutlook: Braun burst onto the scene last year with 34 HR in a shortened season. He’s trying to make a run at 50 HR this year and that’s exactly the type of power that could help him win this event.Evan LongoriaHeight: 6-2Weight: 210Age: 22HR Total to date: 16Position: Third BaseBats: RightDerby Experience: NoneOutlook: Longoria is the youngest of the Home Run Derby participants. We’re about to see if youth will be on his side or if the nerves of being in the spotlight at Yankee Stadium will prove to be too much to handle.Justin MorneauHeight: 6-4Weight: 230 Age: 27HR Total to date: 14Position: First BaseBats: LeftDerby Experience: 5th in 2007(4 HR)Outlook: Morneau is the only player other than Berkman to have Home Run Derby experience. He also has the big body needed to withstand the beating that a contest like this puts on your body.

No Love in the Big Apple?

Written by Consigliere
When the perennial doormats from the American League East shortened their name and unveiled new uniforms last November, did anyone outside of St. Petersburg even care?If you hadn’t heard that Tampa Bay dropped the “Devil” and now just goes by the “Rays”, they’ve made sure that they’re in the news enough that you know by now.Tampa Bay owns the best record in baseball and they’re on a 7-game winning streak right now. They’ve pushed their record to 9-1 over the last 10 and 17-4 over the last 21 games. That stretch has produced a 5-1 record vs. in-state rival Florida and 3 game sweeps of the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox. What makes that so impressive is that those teams are all in the playoff race.Two other impressive streaks reside in the AL Central. The Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins are both 8-2 over the past 10 games and are locked up in a battle for the division. The Sox currently lead by 1 game.The win streaks may be the story in the AL, but hot hitting was on display this week in the NL.Matt Holliday is back in form after his stint on the DL. He’s batting .444 this week with 8 Runs, 3 HR, 10 RBI and 2 SB. J.J. Hardy has been a big part of the Brewers hot streak as he’s hitting an astonishing .533 with 6 Runs, 5 Doubles, 4 HR, 8 RBI and 1 SB. Fellow shortstop Hanley Ramirez has also been on fire this week. He’s batting .406 with 7 Runs, 4 Doubles, 4 HR, 9 RBI and 1 SB.The nod for best pitching of the week swings back to the American League. Roy Halladay followed up a complete game shutout with a 7-inning gem for his 2nd win of the week. Halladay stat line for the last 2 starts reads 16 IP, 10 hits, 2 ER, 1 BB, 13 K.Gavin Floyd and Andy Sonnanstine also pitched their teams to two wins this week. Floyd went 13.1 IP, 10 hits, 3 ER, 5 BB and 16 K, while Sonnanstine went 14 IP, 10 hits, 1 ER, 2 BB and 6 K.The major news for the week is just breaking, but it will remain a discussion around baseball all week long.C.C. Sabathia is reportedly being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for at least one prospect.Sabathia…Sheets…Braun…Fielder…Hardy… Hart…Watch out for the Brew Crew!