Prior to hearing Brutus’ rousing speech about the validity of Julius Caesar’s murder in the Roman Capitol, a plebeian suggests that Rome should “Give him [Brutus] a statue with his ancestors!” Those familiar with Shakespeare’s play know that this venerable request comes much too eagerly following the morally ambiguous murder of Caesar. Two acts later Marc Antony laments on the good intentions of Brutus, who lay dead after his own suicide.

Great intentions – poor decisions.

Good thing the commons avoided that awkward moment of returning to Rome with a massive reminder of Brutus’ misguided judgment awaiting them.

That awkward moment, however, has not escaped some famous athletes and institutions this past year. Usually a professional athlete’s consecration of his or her accolades comes in the form of a bust for the Hall of Fame. Such an honor only comes after the athlete’s career has concluded and sometimes, an athlete’s choices play a role (see Pete Rose and Mark McGwire).

Nowadays sports fans can find statues outside most arenas and on campuses all around the country, many for players and coaches not yet retired but indeed still very active.

Surely before this year the national consensus on Joe Paterno, former Penn State head football coach, was that he’d be immortalized as one of the most morally upstanding coaches in all of sports. Not only a coach, but a “humanitarian” as his statue outside Beaver Stadium states. For some, that has changed.

No matter which side one’s opinion may fall, it is hard to dispute that Paterno’s legacy has been altered by the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse allegations. That statue, once thought to be for a man who would retire with the utmost respect of all sports fans, now serves as a symbol of hypocrisy to others.

© 2011 Tornoe Ink – Rob Tornoe. All Rights Reserved. http://robtornoe.com/2011/11/paterno-statue/

The issue is not to question or forget the many honorable acts a coach like Joe Paterno has done for many student-athletes, but to question the premature consecration of those who can still reveal flaws. Damaging, consequential flaws. Or maybe not even flaws, but rather just make a mistake. A mistake that seems to outweigh all other great decisions.

Much like Brutus’ case in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, statues can serve as a means to express loyalty while a person is still serving. It’s always unsettling when a deserving athlete has to be posthumously inducted into a Hall of Fame (see Ron Santo and Dennis Johnson). And, just as in Brutus’ case, how awkward would it be to erect a god-like statue when that loyalty is not reciprocated.

Look no further than St. Louis. After winning his second World Series title with the Cardinals this past season, Albert Pujols entered free-agency as the most coveted player in years. Nine time all-star; three time NL MVP; a legitimate threat to break the all-time homerun record; a guaranteed first ballot hall of famer. All for a player barely in his thirties. And all for a player who has done it in one uniform.

An anonymous donor from the St. Louis community decided it would be best to show St. Louis’ loyalty to Pujols by paying for a 10-foot bronze statue to sit outside Pujols’ restaurant. Ironically, the statue was unveiled after the 2011 season.

A security guard protects the Albert Pujols statue outside the Pujols 5 restaurant in St. Louis. (Photo: Robert Cohen/St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Pujols ultimately signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim leaving some fans in St. Louis feeling betrayed. As if the statue won’t be a hurtful reminder of what a record-breaking career could have been in a St. Louis Cardinals uniform, just think of this Cardinal fans: What hat will Pujols decide to don upon his bust’s consecration into the Hall of Fame? Was this a mistake on Pujols’ part? Should his loyalty to the Cardinals have outweighed his business decision?

Regardless, Pujols’ decision makes it all the more awkward for Cardinal fans to revel at a 10-foot bronze mammoth that they some no longer, well, feel loyalty towards anymore.

Paterno and Pujols certainly aren’t hardened criminals or oppressive dictators who deserve their statues to be torn from its supports like Saddam Hussein’s in Iraq. It’s not that their flaws or mistakes (if you even consider them such) should result in some kind of sacrilege of what their statues should represent from their careers.

In fact, try to find two sports figures more philanthropic than these two. It’d be difficult to do. Mistakes? I think we all know Paterno would do things differently. Flawed? Some might now think so about Pujols. But both also certainly have a litany of great choices and benevolence beyond what any would expect.

No, the issue lies with why society feels the need to prematurely idolize sports figures. We know great players and coaches will eventually receive their due respect in some form (retired jersey, Hall of Fame bust), but to erect a statue of a man not yet completed with his career seems selfish and misguided.

Man is not flawless; for that reason, a statue should try to sanctify the closest form of ethics and performance in mankind. Much like religions and nations do for their pioneers and vanguards.

If St. Louis values unbridled loyalty, perhaps retiring Pujols’ jersey number or putting his name in the stands would have sufficed after his retirement from baseball.

Perhaps if Penn State had waited to honor their beloved coach upon his retirement, they would have been content with the library bearing Paterno’s name and maybe added it inside the stadium as well.

A statue after all is an artist’s rendition of a person in his or her absolute perfection, whether it be as a coach, player, president, or activist. The only problem is that man is not perfect and may simply give fodder to those who wish to only focus on flaws rather than endearing qualities.

Ultimately, it would be wise to wait and choose more carefully. Allow each and every man to complete his athletic journey and then decide if he is worthy of such a sacred, prestigious sculpture.

By Aaron M Smith

****Remember, try this without research. Release your inner James Joyce and show us your stream of consciousness as you decipher the answer. Add to that the teachings of Myagi: patience. If you don’t get the answer right away, give your brain a chance to work if for no other reason than to stay in the discussion. You may not have THE answer, but you might prompt another reader by asking the right question.

I bet you expected this to be about baseball didn’t you? Since this is the week that my sport is celebrating its final tournament of the season, we decided to throw a “curveball” with this week’s WAI. But it is interesting that you bring up baseball. Growing up,  I was a fine baseball player – good enough to even get a tryout with a National League team. People might think I was crazy, but I decided to skip the tryout. Guess what ? I won my first tournament that very weekend – not a bad decision if I do say so myself.

The idea of sports was all foreign to my family. My father was a blacksmith, and I was the only one of my gender amongst 5 children. Sports, let alone golf were not exactly at the forefront for my family’s way of life. Initially, I got a job at a local country club to help with the family bills. When I wasn’t working as a caddy, I decided to work on my own golf game. Eventually, I became good enough to enter tournaments and at the age of 19, I made my professional debut.

Ironically, it was at an exhibition at another local country club that I started to make a name for myself and at the same time, helped put that golf course on the map as well.  A little ironic if I do say so myself.  Many people, fellow colleagues included, attribute my personality to raising the popularity of the game. In fact, I am credited with helping to increase the “purse” of tournaments, something today’s golfers can thank me for.  More money always worked for me since I had expensive taste when it came to clothes.

All in all, you can say I had a great career, even though I was more interested in stopping to smell the roses. I was the first golfer from my country to win an “Open”; which didn’t go over well with the local golf fans there.  In fact, I decided to win it a couple more times just to rub salt in the wounds. My success rate at the majors was staggering; I won an impressive 20% of the majors I entered. The  proverbial “grand slam” wasn’t actually a four bagger in my time.  It was more like an Earl Weaver special if we are still using baseball terms. I have been depicted in several movies, including the movie that starred the guy whose parents didn’t seem to understand him. Later,  I was inducted into the Hall of Fame, but unfortunately, I wasn’t there to see it.

Who am I ?? As a bonus, can you name the course I helped make famous??

I challenge you, loyal readers, to view the picture below and provide a captivating caption that will cause “the shores a-crowding” with “people all exulting.” Should you provide the wittiest of captions, for you the flag will be flung and the bugles will trill.

This week we have a few members of the Chicago White Sox taking a nice stroll before the game:

Photo: Rick Osentoski/US Presswire courtesy of SI.com

You’ve got the context, now make like the father of free verse and create the best caption you can in the comments below.

Tip your cap Ellsbury, you deserve it. Great season that includes many firsts, like hitting a HR to left field.

By Kyle Soppe

Jacoby Ellsbury is having a magnificent year, due to his new approach at the plate as well health. He homered to left field Wednesday night against the Yankees, clearing the Green Monster. His 44^thcareer homer was his first one hit to left field.

Andruw Jones did his part to prolong the Yanks/Sox game on Thursday night. Not a typically patient hitter, Jones saw 36 pitches in his 4 at bats. On the season, he averages 4.2 pitches per at bat this year, so this type of game was unexpected, as it would typically take Jones 8 or 9 at bats to see 36 pitches.

Craig Kimbrel gets my vote for NL rookie of the year, and is a big reason why I like Atlanta in the playoffs. He set the rookie record for saves when he recorded save number 41 earlier this week. He is 42/47 in save opportunities and has been effective all season. The Braves fireballer has the highest k/9 (14.66) of any rookie reliever of all time. He leads all of baseball in saves, and if he can hold on, he would become the first rookie to ever do so.

Ivan Nova managed to shake off any sort of Splinter curse, and has continued his winning ways. He has won all 8 of his last 8 starts, most consecutive victories by a Yanks rookie since Marius Russo in 1939, who also won 8 straight.

Justin Verlander continues to rewrite the Detroit record books. He is the first Tiger with 21 wins since Jack Morris in 1986. Still not going to win the MVP.

Zach Greinke (10.67) and Brandon Morrow (10.41) rank as the top 2 pitchers when it comes to strikeouts per 9 innings this year. They both have an ERA over 4, and their combined ERA (8.78) is by far the highest of all time for the 2 leaders in k/9.

Juan Pierre leads the league in CS this year with 13. His 25 successful steals the lowest number of steals by the league leader in CS’s in a year over the last 11 years. For context, Pierre led the league in CS’s last year, but he stole 68 bases.

Carlos Quentin is on the DL this season and with his White Sox not going much of anywhere, it is yet to be determined how much more action he will see this season. If he plays less than 13 more games, he will be the first player to lead the league in HBP while playing less than 130 games since Fernando Vina in 2000.

Casey Kotchman leads the league in fielding percentage, at a remarkable .999. He Now a member of the Rays, he has only committed 4 errors … in the last 4 seasons put together. He has lead the league in fielding percentage every one of those years.

Tim Lincecum has struck out 200 batters for a 4th straight season. A remarkable feat that has only been done by 2 other Giant pitchers ever. If he remains healthy, safe money would have him going for the 5th straight next year.

I am advancing to the finals in my fantasy baseball league. Not that that is of general interest, but I figured that the name of the league deserved a mention: “Bring back the Expo’s”. Not sure if you’ll be allowed to view it, but here’s the link if you think I’m bluffing. http://games.espn.go.com/flb/leagueoffice?leagueId=192809&teamId=7&seasonId=2011

****Remember, try this without research. Release your inner Jim Joyce and show us your stream of consciousness as you decipher the answer. Add to that the teachings of Myagi: patience. If you don’t get the answer right away, give your brain a chance to work if for no other reason than to stay in the discussion. You may not have THE answer, but you might prompt another reader by asking the right question.

By Chas

I was involved in one of the most famous trades in baseball history. It was a one-for-one trade, me-for-him, no one else involved. Unfortunately, I was traded for a player who was extremely popular, and, in retrospect, my new team got the short end of the deal.

At the time of the trade, I was 29 years old and coming off the third top ten MVP finish of my career, and perhaps my best year of all of them. My counterpart was almost three years younger and had just finished in the top five in MVP voting for the second consecutive year.

Fans in my new city weren’t happy with the trade, to which my new GM replied, “What’s all the fuss about? All I did was trade hamburger for steak.” That didn’t turn out to be the case. I was traded away again a year later.

To put the one-sidedness of the trade in perspective, using one of those newfangled stats, I produced a total of 5 wins above replacement (WAR) for the remainder of my career. My counterpart: 27.5 WAR.

Fans of that Great Lakes region team still cite the trade as the primary reason for their futility in the years since. Not to be outdone by that team in New England, they even call it a curse.

I had a pretty good career, though. I knocked out over 2000 hits, and batted over .300 for my 15 years in the bigs. I was also name to 8 All-Star teams (7 of them prior to that ill-fated trade) and stuck around for 15 years on the BBWAA’s Hall of Fame ballot, peaking at just under 40% of the vote.

I even had some success in a very brief managerial career. As a rookie manager, I took over my hometown team early in the year and led them to the only World Series appearance in their history. We lost in seven games, but I took home Manager of the Year honors for my efforts.

The following season, I was fired after my team missed the playoffs, although we finished a respectable 12 games above .500.

I never managed again. Five years later, I died, just two months past my 57th birthday.

Who Am I?

Montgomery heading to the on-deck circle (Photo by F. Bertrand)

By Paul Casey Gotham

One summer collegiate wood-bat team. Two Major League Baseball draft picks. One player launching a professional career. Another player re-working a career. Both came to the Webster Yankees and got what they needed.

When Chris Bostick took advantage of a change in the New York Collegiate Baseball League’s by-laws, a unique situation was created. The Gates, New York native joined an amateur team with, among other players, Jake Montgomery. The two shared the distinction of having already heard their names called in the MLB draft.

The Oakland Athletics chose Bostick, a slick infielder, in the 44th round of the 2011 draft. Montgomery, a power-pitcher in high school,  heard his name called by the Atlanta Braves with their pick in the 32nd round of the 2009 draft.

Bostick needed time. Montgomery needed to re-invent himself.

Dave Brust and the Webster Yankees provided just that for both.

“It was my honor to coach these guys,” Brust said.

Bostick had to decide between a chance to play professional baseball and a full scholarship at St. John’s University. Prior to the 2011 season, the NYCBL required all players to be NCAA eligible which meant that all student-athletes must have played one year of college baseball and have one year of eligibility remaining. The league changed the rule to allow eligibility to drafted high school seniors.

Montgomery continued his transition from pitcher to two-way player. Sixteen months after shoulder surgery ended his prospects on the mound, the Marietta, Georgia native continued his progress with glove and bat.

Bostick joined the pinstripes on June 12th. In 36 games with Webster he hit .413 with 17 extra-base hits including five home runs and 32 RBI.

Poor weather conditions this past spring worked against Bostick and his draft spot. With his high school team, The Aquinas Little Irish, not playing from May 14th to the 29th, scouts could not get a chance to see him play.

“I thought the Cubs would draft him in the sixth to eighth round,” Aquinas head coach Mark Magliocco explained. “But 15 days of bad weather hurt his draft choice.”

“It helps to play in the south,” Bostick reflected. “They play 50-60 games. When it comes to the draft, they separate by warm-weather and cold-weather states with warm-weather going early in the draft.”

Bostick hit .510 his senior season for the Little Irish. This after hitting at a .507 clip his junior year and .490 as a sophomore when AQ when the New York State title.

“He is a gentleman,” Brust commented.  “He competes at a level that everyone hooked their wagons to.”

With a fast ball topping out over 90 mph, Montgomery led Pope high school to the Class 5A Georgia state championship.  He busted pitches down and in on batters using a 3/4 delivery to strike out 84 in 66 innings while posting a record of 10-1 with an ERA of 1.27.

Being drafted was tempting, but a scholarship to the University of Georgia caught Montgomery. His older brother played with the Bulldogs 2008 team which qualified for the College World Series. Montgomery witnessed several of those players earn hefty paydays with high draft selections.

He made his choice.  Montgomery would head to Athens in 2009. A place and team with which he had familiarity, or so he thought.

Once there, Montgomery discovered things weren’t as they appeared. He saw the business side of Division 1 baseball.

“There was more focus on the coach’s job than improving the players,” Montgomery recalled.

Disillusioned, Montgomery transferred to Young Harris – a school in North Georgia making its own transition – one from junior college to Division II athletics.

Montgomery arrived at Young Harris, but noticed something wasn’t right. His delivery had changed. Instead of releasing from 3/4, he was coming over the top. Problems continued.

“I never really felt loose all of sudden,” Montgomery explained. “Guys started hitting me.”

He went for an MRI, and the procedure showed what he probably already knew. He had a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. Surgery was required. Rehabilitation would be lengthy. Doctors found scar tissue during the procedure that pointed to the possibility of the injury occurring during his junior year in high school. Montgomery could play baseball again, but he would not have a professional career as pitcher. He needed to re-invent himself.

After not playing competitive baseball for over a year he came to New York. In 34 regular season games with Webster, Montgomery hit .304 with five extra-base hits, 15 RBI and 17 runs scored. He helped Webster claim its first divisional title.

“He’s a very athletic kid,” Brust said. “He understands the game at a high level – at times almost too much, but that will be something he works out as he gets older.”

Bostick awaits his chance. He is on the roster of the Oakland Athletics affiliate in the rookie Arizona League. He has passed his physical and other required tests. His spot in the lineup should come any day now.

Montgomery will get s fresh start this fall. He will head to Wallace State in Alabama.  He still ranks in the top 300 for draft projections.

Two draft picks. Two journeys. One dream. Baseball.

By Paul Casey Gotham

WEBSTER, N.Y. – As the New York Collegiate Baseball League’s regular season casts a reflection in the rear-view mirror, it is time to move on to the  playoffs, and Dave Brust’s Webster Yankees will appear in the  post-season for the second time in as many years.

The 2011 NYCBL West Division Regular Season Champion Yankees take on the Geneva Red Wings for the right to play in the league championship. Game one’s first pitch of the best-of-three series is scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight at Basket Road Field.

“We are going to do what got us here,” said head coach Dave Brust. “It’s our time to enjoy playoff baseball.”

Webster won five of the eight meetings between the two teams this season with the rivals splitting four games at Webster.

“You don’t want any regrets,” Brust added. “Let’s play stress-free baseball.”

Matt Jimenez (Mercyhurst) will get his third start of the season for the home nine. He is 3-0 with an E.R.A. of 3.38. Jimenez has fanned 30 while walking eight in 32 innings of work for the summer.

Sean White (Dickinson) gets the ball for Geneva. The lefty is 3-2 in nine appearances for Dave Herbst’s Red Wings with an E.R.A. of 3.05.

Geneva defeated the Niagara Power, 6-4 in a one-game playoff to advance to the divisional championship series. Dave Saluga (Youngstown State) and Skyler Barnett (East Tennessee St.) each drove in a pair of runs, and Jeff Croteau (Bentley) held the Power to three runs over six and two-thirds for the win.

Webster fell to Allegany County in last year’s divisional semi-final. The trip to the post-season will be the third for the organization. In 2006,  the Yankees (then known as the Rochester Royals) fell in the opening round of the playoffs to the Genesee Valley Riverbats.

“Winning 30 games is a great accomplishment,” Brust commented. “Anything we can tack on is great.”

Webster will be without Chris Bostick who signed a contract with the Oakland Athletics Tuesday night. He will join the A’s affiliate in the Rookie Arizona League. Bostick is one of five former Webster Yankees now playing minor league baseball. Patrick Urckfitz (’08) in his fourth season in the Houston Astros system. Urckfitz has made 29 appearances out of the bullpen for the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Double-A Texas League. Marcus Nidiffer (’07) has 14 extra-base hits and 18 RBI for the Anaheim Angels Single-A affiliate Cedar Kernels of the Midwest League.  Both Cory Brownsten (’08) and Dan Jurik (’09) were drafted by the Atlanta Braves and are currently playing Single-A for the Braves.

Including Bostick, Webster has had six draft picks in the organization’s history.  The Chicago Cubs took Jordon Herr (’06) in the 2007 draft and Jordan Petraitis (’06) in the 2008 and 2009 drafts. The Cincinnati Reds chose Bryan Gardner in 2008 while the Braves plucked Brownsten and Jurik in 2009.

The Red Wings have had nine former players drafted including Travis Ozga (New York Mets 41st round -2009 draft), Ashton Mowdy (Houston Astros 19th -2008), Kyle Bellamy (Chicago White Sox 5th-2008),  Dusty Odenbach (Kansas City Royals 8th-2009), Jeremy Kehrt (Boston Red Sox 47th-2008), Tim Crabbe (Cincinnati Reds 14th-2009), Matt Perry (Detroit Tigers 41st-2010), Will Harford (Cincinnati Reds 45th-2010) and Doug Elliott (Milwaukee Brewers 35th-2011).

By Paul Casey Gotham

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — From high school to professional baseball with one stop in between, Chris Bostick (Aquinas Institute) has done more this summer than most will do in a lifetime.

Days before he heard his name called as he walked across the stage to receive his high school diploma, the Oakland Athletics called on Bostick in the 44th round of the Major League Baseball draft.

Nearly two months later, the Gates, New York native has decided to accept the A’s offer and begin playing professional baseball.

“This is what I really wanted to do,” Bostick commented. “My parents left the decision up to me, and I feel like I am ready to play in the pros.”

Bostick hit .510 his senior season for the  Aquinas Little Irish. This after hitting at a .507 clip his junior year and .490 as a sophomore when AQ when the New York State title.

“From day one I have been telling people this kid is unbelievable,” Little Irish head coach Mark  Magliocco said.  “He played every position in the field as a freshman. He is so fluid in his movements.”

Bostick spent the past six weeks playing for the Webster Yankees of the New York Collegiate Baseball League.  He joined a club that was playing .500 baseball with a record of four wins and four losses. Webster finished their regular season Tuesday night riding a 13-game win streak to win the NYCBL West Division championship.

“It was my pleasure to coach him,” said Webster skipper, Dave Brust. “He is a gentleman, and he competes at a level that everyone hooked their wagons to.”

Bostick hit .413 for the summer with 17 extra-base hits including five home runs and 32 RBI.

Bostick leaves on Thursday to join Oakland’s rookie team in the Arizona League.

St. John’s University offered the infielder a full scholarship to attend school in the fall.

Bostick is the first MLB draft pick from Aquinas Institute since the Montreal Expos took Ken Lelek in the 1974 draft. Bostick joins four other former Webster Yankees currently playing professional baseball. Patrick Urckfitz is a member of the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Houston Astros’ system.  Marcus Nidiffer plays with the Cedar Rapids Kernels – an Anaheim Angels affiliate. Both Cory Brownsten and Dan Jurik play in the Atlanta Braves’ system.

AP Photo/Duane Burleson

By Kyle Soppe

Setting:  These 2 AL Central rivals meet up in Detroit, starting on Friday, for a 3-game series to start the second half of the 2011 MLB season. The Tigers (49-43) currently lead the division over the upstart Indians (.5 games back), followed by these White Sox (5 games back). They have met 6 times this year, with the Tigers taking 5 of them, including a 3-game sweep back in April when the teams last played in Detroit.

Plot: In a division that is routinely up in the air come September, every series is crucial. Playoff spots are limited in the AL, and it seems likely that the AL Central will only have its winner advance to postseason play. The Tigers have posted an above average record (27-19) at home, while the Sox have actually had more success on the road than US Cellular in Chicago. All Star Justin Verlander will be given the ball on Friday, giving the Tigers a tremendous edge out of the gates. The flame throwing righty has delivered everything you expect from an ace: a microscopic 2.15 era, 12 victories, and a near 5:1 strikeout to walk ratio. Another interesting stat that speaks to the confidence of Verlander is that he is yet to issue an intentional walk. He is willing to challenge any batter in any situation, believing that his best pitch can get anybody out. Surprisingly enough, it is not the Tiger pitching that has been its strong suit (other than Verlander). As a team, they rank in the bottom 5 in team era at 4.27. On the flip side, their team batting average sits at .264, which is good enough for 5th in all of baseball. They are paced by stud first baseball Miguel Cabrera and the 2 headed catching monster of Alex Avila and Victor Martinez. Brandon Boesch is another name to watch, as the left fielder has hammered 12 homers in limited action. After Verlander starts on Frday, The Tigers will go with youth followed by experience when it comes to pitching. Max Scherzer, who has been a bit inconsistent this season, will bring his deceiving 10-4 record to Comerica on Saturday. Brad Penny, a contact pitcher who may be in trouble against the free swinging the Southsiders from Chicago.

The White Sox are a team that traditionally relies on swinging hard and hoping they make enough contact to score some runs. Their pitching staff lacks the big names, but the numbers don’t lie, they have been effective. They rank in the top half of the MLB with a 3.86 era and rarely beat themselves with walks. The Sox staff strikes out roughly 2.5 batters for every walk issued, a number that compares favorably with “pitching rich” teams such as the A’s and Giants. All Stars Carlos Quentin and Paul Konerko highlight the power oriented lineup, although it may be Adam Dunn who will be most responsible for a big second half. The slugger struggled mightily in his first 270 at bats with his new club, and the sooner he can put that behind him, the better this lineup will be. If you are one to trust the back of the baseball card, Dunn is due for a HUGE second half, and could prove instrumental in catching the Tigers.

Gavin Floyd gets the ball in game 1 and looks to snap out of a funk. He hasn’t recorded a victory in his last 6 starts, with an 0-4 record to go with his 6.14 era. Edwin Jackson opposes Scherzer on Saturday in a game in which I am putting the over/under for strikeouts at 16. Both pitchers throw hard and are good at putting batters away once they are ahead in the count. Look for a HR to be the difference in this game, as one of the many reckless swings figured to make contact. The inconsistent Jake Peavy will pitch the finale, and has a good chance to steal a game. The injury riddled Peavy should benefit from the rest he gained at the all star break and, when healthy, has the pitches to deliver a gem at any time. Lately control has been an issue, but if he can stay reasonably close, he will have a chance to succeed on Sunday.

Final Word: The Tigers hold a sizable lead in season OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage), .746 compared to .704. Getting on base, and then taking advantage of opportunities is key, especially against the strikeout heavy pitchers in this series

Soppe Score: I’ve got the Tigers taking 2 out of the 3 games in this series. Justin Verlander is the best pitcher in the series, and maybe in the majors right now, and the Tiger bats simply are hotter at this moment. If the power bats from Chicago turn it on, I could see them maybe winning 2 next time they play, in roughly 10 days, but not this time. Verlander on extended rest and lack of dimensions from the White Sox offense makes this Detroit’s series to lose.

By Kyle Soppe

As we enter the slowest 3 days of the baseball season, it is time to reflect on what we have seen thus far. It has been an entertaining couple of months as milestones have been reached, upper cuts thrown, and the continuing dominance of starting pitchers in this post-steroid era. Below are the top 5 odd or unique numbers from the first half of the season for each league

American League

- The largest lead in a division is a single game

- The Boston Red Sox play in the feared AL East, yet have compiled a 24-10 record inside the division as compared to a mediocre 31-25 outside of it.

- Of the 5 teams in the AL East, 4 of them have a winning record on the road. In stark contrast, the Central doesn’t have a single team with a winning road record.

- Parity is apparent in the West, as every team has won between 11 and 13 games against divisional foes.

- Staying West, it is the only division in all of baseball that has all of its teams above .500 at home.

National League

- With 4 out of 5 teams at or above .500, the NL East holds the highest winning percentage in the MLB.

- The Brewers are tied atop the Central, despite a pitiful 16-29 record on the road. An identical mark as the last place Astros.

- Speaking of the Astros, they hold the leagues worst record, by 7 games. The next worse team is Central mate, the Chicago Cubs.

- Remaining in the Central, the Reds have the best mark within the division (26-19), but are in 4th place.

- In the West, inter divisional play has been dominated by the Giants, as they are the only team that boasts a divisional record over .500.

Just some food for thought as we enter what should be a very competitive second half. Four of the 6 divisions are within a game, making every game from here and out important. last year, only 2 of the 6 division leaders at the ASB held on to win their division. With that said, over/under 2.5 teams that hold on this year? Another question I’ll float out there: why is the first “half” of the season longer than the second “half?” The Red Sox have played 90 games, and as a math major, I can assure you that is not the half way marker to 162.