New York Yankees Sign Kosuke Fukudome

  The New York Yankees signed Kosuke Fukudome to a 1 year, $1 million. Fukudome hit .171 in 2011 with the Chicago White Sox.

Matt Kemp Will be Activated Friday

  Friday, when the Los Angeles Dodgers resume playing, Matt Kemp will be activated. Matt Kemp has been on the DL twice this year and hasn't played since May 13th.

Toronto Blue Jays Sign Edwin Encarnacion to 3 Year, $27 Million Deal

   The Toronto Blue Jays signed Edwin Encarnacion to a 3 year, $27 million deal. Encarnacion has 23 home runs this season.

Chicago Cubs Sign First Round Pick Albert Alomora

  The Chicago Cubs signed their first round pick to a $3.9 million signing bonus. Almora was the 2012 6th overall pick and was a star at Mater Academy Charter.

MLB All Star Game Scores and MVPs Year- by- Year

Scores                                                                                                                                                                                                             

2012- National, 8-0                              

2011- National, 5-1

2010- National, 3-1

2009- American, 4-3

2008- American, 4-3, 15 innings

2007- American 5-4, 5-4

2006- American, 3-2

2005- American, 7-5

2004- American, 9-4

2003- American, 7-6

2002- Tie, 7-7, 11 innings

2001- American, 4-1

2000- American, 6-3

1999- American, 4-1

1998- American, 13-8

1997- American- 3-1

1996- National, 6-0

1995- National, 3-2

1994- National, 8-7, 10 innings

1993- American, 9-3

1992- American, 13-6

1991- American, 4-2

1990- American, 2-0

1989- American, 5-3

1988- American, 2-1

1987- National, 2-0, 13 innings

1986- American, 3-2

1985- National, 6-1

1984- National, 3-1

1983- American, 13-3

1982- National, 4-1

1981- National, 5-4

1980- National, 4-2

1979- National, 7-6

1978- National, 7-3

1977- National, 7-5

1976- National, 7-1

1975- National, 6-3

1974- National, 7-2

1973- National, 7-1

1972- National, 4-3, 10 innings

1971- American, 6-4

1970- National, 5-4, 12 innings

1969- National, 9-3

1968- National, 1-0

1967- National, 2-1, 15 innings

1966- National, 2-1, 10 innings

1965, National, 6-5

1964- National, 7-4

1963- National, 5-3

1962- American, 9-4

1962- National, 3-1

1961- Tie, 1-1, 9 innings, rain

1961- National, 5-4, 10 innings

1960- National, 6-0

1960- National, 5-3

1959- American, 5-3

1959- National, 5-4

1958- American, 4-3

1957- American, 6-5

1956- National, 7-3

1955- National, 6-5

1954- American, 11-9

1953- National, 5-1

1952- National, 3-2

1951- National, 8-3

1950- National, 4-3

1949- American, 11-7

1948- American, 5-2

1947- American, 2-1

1946- American, 12-0

1945- no game

1944- National,7-1

1943- American, 5-3

1942- Americam- 3-1

1941- American, 7-5

1940- National, 4-0

1939- American, 3-1

1938- National, 4-1

1937- American, 8-3

1936- National, 4-3

1935- American, 4-1

1934- American, 9-7

1933- American, 4-2

MVPs

2012- Melky Cabrera, SF, NL

2011- Prince Fielder, Mil, NL

2010- Brian McCann, ATL, NL

2009- Carl Crawford, TB, AL

2008- J.D. Drew, BOS, AL

2007- Ichiro Suzuki, SEA, AL

2006- Michael Young, TEX, AL

2005- Miguel Tejada, BAL, AL

2004- Alfonso Soriano, TEX, AL

2003- Garret Anderson, ANA, AL

2002- none

2001- Cal Ripken Jr., BAL, AL

2000- Derek Jeter, NYY, AL

1999- Pedro Martinez, BOS, AL

1998- Roberto Alomar, BAL, AL

1997- Sandy Alomar Jr., CLE, AL

1996- Mike Piazza, LAD, NL

1995- Jeff Conine, FLA, NL

1994- Fred McGriff, ATL, NL

1993- Kirby Puckett, MIN, AL

1992- Ken Griffey Jr., SEA, AL

1991- Cal Ripken Jr., BAL, AL

1990- Julio Franco, TEX, AL

1989- Bo Jackson, KC, AL

1988- Terry Steinbach, OAK, AL

1987- Tim Raines, MON, NL

1986- Roger Clemens, BOS, AL

1985- LaMarr Hoyt, SD, NL

1984- Gary Carter, MON, NL

1983- Fred Lynn, CAL, AL

1982- Dave Concepcion, CIN, NL

1981- Gary Carter, MON, NL

1980- Ken Griffey Sr., CIN, NL

1979- Dave Parker, PIT, NL

1978- Steve Garvey, LAD, NL

1977- Don Sutton, LAD, NL

1976- George Foster, CIN, NL

1975- Bill Madlock, CHC, NL and Jon Matlack, NYM, NL

1974- Steve Garvey, LAD, NL

1973- Bobby Bonds, SF, NL

1972- Joe Morgan, CIN, NL

1971- Frank Robinson, BAL, AL

1970- Carl Yastrzemski, BOS, AL

1969- Willie McCovey, SF, NL

1968- Willie Mays, SF, NL

1967- Tony Perez, CIN, NL

1966- Brooks Robinson, BAL, AL

1965- Juan Marichal, SF, NL

1964- John Callison, PHI, NL

1963- Willie Mays, SF, NL

1962- Maury Wills, LAD, NL

1962- Leon Wagner, LAD, NL



 Custom Cleats in All Star Game Last Night

 
There were more custom cleats last night. They were more flashier than ever. Here is a list of players who wore custom cleats in the All Star game last night or the Home Run Derby the night before. There are also pictures of the cleats.

Pablo Sandoval

David Wright, Melky Cabrera

Bryce Harper

Prince Fielder, Jose Bautista, Carlos Beltran, Matt Kemp, Robinson Cano

Adam Jones

Wade Miley

Andrew McCutchen

Carlos Gonzalez

Jose Bautista (All Star Game)

National League Wins 2012 MLB All Star Game 8-0, Melky Cabrera Wins MVP

  The game that was predicted by many to be a very close game was a blowout 8-0 (once again,my prediction for the NL to win was correct). Melky Cabrera was the MVP and was 2-3 with a single and a 2-run home run. Here is the box score-

Zoom to see if needed.

Top 10 Greatest Moments of MLB All Star Game History

  Tonight's All Star Game will be a great one, hopefully there will be some great moments like there has been in the past. Here's my top 10 list for the greatest All Star Game Moments of all time.

10. Controversial Tie

  In 2002 the All Star Game was in Miller Park. Each team had ran out of pitchers. The crowd was loudly chanting, "Let them play!" Bud Selig had no choice but to call the game. The game ended after 11 innings and was a 7-7 tie.

9. John Kruk vs. Randy Johnson

  At Camden Yards in 1993 John Kruk walked up to the plate to face the pitcher Randy Johnson who could throw over 100 mph. The first pitch was a fastball and went way over John Kruk's head. John Kruk was super scared. Kruk stepped out of the box and swung the rest of his at-bat. He would strikeout.

 

8. Fred Lynn's Grand Slam

  In 1983, at Comiskey Park, bases were juiced, and Fred Lynn was up. His team, the American League was winning 5-1. He quickly took advantage of the opportunity and hit the first MLB All Star Game grand slam, putting the game out of reach at 9-1. 

 

 

7. Stan the Man's Walk Off Homer

  At County Stadium, in 1955, in the bottom of the 12th inning, Stan Musial was leading off the inning. The game was tied at five. Stan Musial smashed the first pitch for a walk off home run.

6. Reggie Jackson's Monster Blast

  In 1971, at Tiger Stadium, Reggie Jackson punished a ball that hit a transformer on the roof that was over 100 feet high. It was estimated that if the ball was not stopped by the roof it would have gone 530+ feet.

 

5. Pedro Dominates National League

  In 1999, at Fenway Park, Pedro Martinez had to face Barry Larkin, Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Matt Williams, and Jeff Bagwell. It went strikeout, strikeout, strikeout, strikeout, E4, and strikeout. One of the best pitching performances in MLB All Star Game history.

4. Rose and Fosse Collision

  At Riverfront Stadium, in 1970 Pete Rose slid into home to score the winning run of the game. But bulldozed catcher Ray Fosse. Ray Fosse suffered a separated shoulder and was never the same. 

 

3. Ted Williams Crushes the Eephus

  In 1946, at Fenway Park, Rip Sewell pitched Ted Williams an eephus pitch. Ted Williams crushed his second home run of the day. Ted Williams was 4-4 with 2 HR and 5 RBI that day.

2. Farewell Cal

  At Safeco Field, in 2001, Cal Ripken Jr. was marked as the starting third baseman. When he took the field Alex Rodriguez told Cal Ripken Jr. to switch with him to play shortstop. They switched and Cal played shortstop. The dramatics weren't done yet. In the third inning Cal hit a home run to give the American League a 1-0 lead. It would be his last MLB All Star Game.

3. Carl Hubbell Strikes HOFers Out

  In 1934, at the Polo Grounds, Carl Hubbell did something very historic. He got himself into a jam and had to pitch to Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Jimmie Fox. He struck them all out. And he wasn't done the next inning he struck out Al Simmons and Joe Cronin. All five that he faced would later be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

 

 

 

2012 First Half MLB Awards

  These are my rankings for the American and National League award winners for the first half of the 2012 MLB season. 

American League

MVP

Josh Hamilton- .308 AVG (tied for 9th in AL), 27 HR (tied for 1st in AL), 75 RBI (1st in AL)

Cy Young

Jered Weaver- 10 WINS (tied for 3rd in AL), 1.96 ERA (1st in AL), 0.90 WHIP (1st in AL)

Rookie of the Year

Mike Trout- .341 AVG (1st in AL), 12 HR, 40 RBI

National League

MVP

Andrew McCutchen- .362 AVG (1st in NL), 18 HR (tied for 4th in NL), 60 RBI (tied for 3rd in NL)

Cy Young

R.A. Dickey- 12 WINS (tied for 1st in NL), 2.40 ERA (5th in NL), 0.93 WHIP (1st in NL)

Rookie of the Year

Bryan LaHair- .286 AVG, 14 HR, 30 RBI

  Atlanta Braves rookie shortstop Andrelton Simmons will miss at least one month with a broken right pinkie finger.

Prince Fielder Wins 2012 State Farm Home Run Derby

  Prince Fielder won the 2012 State Farm Home Run Derby (my prediction was right) to join Ken Griffey Jr. to be the only two players to win the Home Run Derby multiple times. Here were the results-   

Round 1

1. Jose Bautista- 11 HR

2. Carlos Beltran- 7 HR

3. Mark Trumbo- 7 HR

4. Prince Fielder- 5 HR

5. Carlos Gonzalez- 4 HR

6. Andrew McCutchen- 4 HR

7. Matt Kemp- 1 HR

8. Robinson Cano- 0 HR

 

Round 2

1. Prince Fielder- 16 HR

2. Jose Bautista- 13 HR (won swing-off with Mark Trumbo)

3. Mark Trumbo- 13 HR (lost swing-off with Jose Bautista)

4. Carlos Beltran- 12 HR

 

Round 3 (Final Round)

1. Prince Fielder- 12 HR

2. Jose Bautista- 7 HR

 

Results

Champion: Prince Fielder

      

 



Custom Baseball Cleats in MLB

  Were you wondering about the gold cleats (right) being worn by some sluggers in the Home Run Derby Monday night? These are not the only cleats that MLB players have customized. Many players in the 2011 MLB All Star Game wore blue and red customized cleats (right). Brian Wilson had his own custom cleats(right). Matt Kemp, Adam Jones, Nelson Cruz, Andrew McCutchen, Jose Reyes, Andre Ethier, Nick Swisher, Hanley Ramirez, and several others have also had custom cleats.  Adam Jones and Jason Heyward wore Jackie Robinson custom cleats (below) to honor him on Jackie Robinson Day. Custom Cleats are popular and you gotta' love em'.  

2012 State Farm Home Run Derby Predictions

  Both AL and NL Home Run Derby teams are powerhouses and it could get very close with all of the powerful hitters, however, I have a prediction for the winner. My pick is...2009 champ, Prince Fielder.  I have reasoning for picking the powerful first baseman. First of all, he has one of the most powerful swings in baseball and has the ability to easily hit the ball 500+ feet. Also, he has won the derby before so he knows what it's like and can pace himself. Here are the players participating-

American League Home Run Derby Team

Robinson Cano (Captain)

Prince Fielder

Jose Bautista

Mark Trumbo

National League Home Run Derby Team

Matt Kemp (Captain)

Carlos Beltran

Andrew McCutchen (Giancarlo Stanton's replacement)

Carlos Gonzalez

All Star Lineups Announced

  This afternoon, during the 2012 All Star Game press conference, the lineups were announced by Ron Washington and Tony La Russa the managers for the teams. Here are the lineups-

American League All Star Lineup

1. Derek Jeter, SS

2. Robinson Cano, 2B

3. Josh Hamilton, LF

4. Jose Bautista, RF

5. Prince Fielder, 1B

6. Adrian Beltre, 3B

7. David Ortiz, DH

8. Mike Napoli, C

9. Curtis Granderson, CF

National League All Star Lineup

1. Carlos Gonzalez, DH

2. Melky Cabrera, CF

3. Ryan Braun, LF

4. Joey Votto, 1B

5. Carlos Beltran, RF

6. Buster Posey, C

7. Pablo Sandoval, 3B

8. Dan Uggla, 2B

9. Rafael Furcal, SS

Prediction

I predict that the National League will win for the 3rd straight year.