Thoughts from 8,000 feet

This will be a short post since I am currently in Snowmass, Colorado for a workshop.

1. The players can never again complain about the fan voting in the all-star game. The fans have Joe Mauer as their starting catcher in the AL, the players chose the 0.218 hitting Jason Varitek. Look, Tek has had a pretty solid career, and there really aren't tons deserving backstops in the AL this year, but this is still embarrassing. Why not send Posada (its his home game) or Pudge (this could be his last one). Better yet, send someone else who deserves to go - who is not a catcher. You have 2 young catchers on the AL squad - I am sure they both wouldn't mind catching 4-5 innings each. Do you think Tek feels weird about going? " No really guys I am hitting 0.218, I don't mind a few days off......."

2. For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. This week the Brew Crew picked up CC (note the lack of '.') Sabathia and then 24 hours later the Cubs picked up Rich Harden. Wow are the Cubs desperate. They have been the best team in the NL all season long, they have a 5 game lead over the Brewers, and they made a risky reactionary move. Rich Harden is a great pitcher, the problem is he is usually on the DL. Although if I was curse by a goat, I would probably be pretty unstable as well.

3. I don't get the Indians. They are having the equivalent of the Superbowl curse, only much much worse. As Yogi said half of this game is 90% mental.


4. Here's to hoping the last 2 AL HR derby participants are Marcus Thames and Jason Giambi's mustache.

Enjoy the last weekend of the first half!