I love the home run derby (as with most things baseball). It’s a contest of power that proves nothing, but it puts on a great show for the fans. Fans want to be able to debate all of the nuances of the game and again, while the home run derby proves nothing, it provides fodder for such debates.

Honestly, I’ve always felt there should be a running race around the bases as well. I want to know who the fastest man in the game is and I know I wouldn’t be alone there.

This season, just for the heck of it, I’m going to attempt to handicap the Home Run Derby. I may fail miserably but I’m pretty sure I’ve got it down pat.

Josh Hamilton, CF-L, TEX: 4-1
Chase Utley, 2B-L, PHI: 6-1
Ryan Braun, LF-R, MIL: 7-1
Justin Morneau, 1B-L, MIN: 12-1
Dan Uggla, 2B-R, FLA: 15-1
Grady Sizemore, CF-L, CLE: 16-1
Lance Berkman, 1B-B, HOU: 25-1
Evan Longoria, 3B-R, TB: 40-1

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Technorati Tags: All-Star Game, baseball, Chase Utley, Dan Uggla, Evan Longoria, Grady Sizemore, Josh Hamilton, Justin Morneau, Lance Berkman, Ryan Braun

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The Chicago Cubs pulled off one heck of a trade, acquiring Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin from the Oakland A’s and in doing so have made themselves a very, very scary team. I’m calling it now: the Chicago Cubs are going to win the World Series.

Harden is in the last season of a four-year $9 million extension he signed, but has a $7 million club option for 2009 which the Cubs would be foolish not to pick up provided Harden still has all of his limbs attached to his body. Harden has pitched well this season for the A’s with a 2.34 ERA in 77 innings striking out 92 and walking 31. He will step in and give the Cubs that second tough pitcher behind Carlos Zambrano, which is a good thing because Zambrano is an excitable guy and I’ve wondered this season how he would hold up as the “ace” in a short playoff series.

Gaudin is the back-up plan for the Cubs if Harden were to go down with an injury this season. Gaudin is a solid replacement pitching 62.2 innings with a 3.59 ERA striking out 44 and walking 17 before coming to the Cubs. For this season, he is every bit as good a replacement as Sean Gallagher, who is probably the best player the A’s received in the trade and Gallagher was in the Cubs bullpen prior to the trade.

This trade not only gives the Cubs a strong presence at the top of their rotation, it gives them some depth as well. The best team in the National League got better. Now, if they can stop starting Reed Johnson and accept Felix Pie as a part of their present and future, then they’d really be scary.

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Technorati Tags: baseball, Carlos Zambrano, Chad Gaudin, Chicago Cubs, Felix Pie, Reed Johnson, Rich Harden, Sean Gallagher, Trade, World Series

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Well, I’m back and hopefully for good. I’ve missed covering some good stuff including the All-Star selections, Michel Inoa and two pretty hefty trades that went down in the NL Central, so there’s a lot to catch up on.

Today, I want to ease back into writing by saying a few words on the All-Star game, the midsummer classic. I love the All-Star Game - who doesn’t? - but one of the things I find hilarious is how every season, fans and sports analysts work themselves into a fit over specific selections. I view it like I view MVP and gold glove selections - when doesn’t something get screwed up?

The fans did alright this season. Sure Kosuke Fukudome had both Cubs fans AND the Japanese behind him so he was going to make it regardless of hitting only 7 homeruns. And when the players selected Jason Varitek over AJ Pierzynski it really is because no one likes AJ. It’s a popularity contest.

I really wish the fans would start voting in the best players, not just those having the best seasons, but voting in Lance Berkman over Albert Pujols is a minor gripe.

I believe the National League is going to win it all this season. It’s a totally meaningless prediction to make but I just feel that between the American League’s lack of a good first baseman, second baseman and shortstop (I’m sure Derek Jeter will do just fine in the game, but he’s been looking old this season), the National League looks mighty in comparison. Not to mention, if the pitching match-up winds up Tim Lincecum vs. Justin Duchscherer, game over American League.

Hey, but between Jose Nathan, Mariano Rivera, Jonathan Papelbon and Francisco Rodriguez in the AL bullpen, they’ll have the sixth through ninth locked up. In what order does Terry Francona pitch those guys? I guess I’d go Nathan in the sixth, K-Rod seventh, Papelbon eighth and Rivera ninth (out of respect) but will Papelbon get disgruntled if he’s made to take a backseat by his own manager? Ooooo storylines.

Anyways, the National League will win the All-Star game and that actually does matter because the Cubs are looking very scary and should they make it to the World Series (should, Cubs fans!), home field advantage could be huge.

More on the Cubs and Rich Harden tomorrow.

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Technorati Tags: A.J. Pierzynski, Albert Pujols, All-Star Game, American League, baseball, Derek Jeter, Francisco Rodriguez, Fukudome, Jason Varitek, Jonathan Papelbon, K-Rod, Kosuke Fukudome, Lance Berkman, Mariano Rivera, MLB, National League, Rich Harden, Tim Lincecum, World Series

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