Little League = Little Extremes

Last week, one of the biggest sporting events in the state of Pennsylvania began and will be ending on Sunday. I'm talking about the Little League World Series. People from all around the country to see teams from different regions of the United States and all around the world play.

During the month of August, there is usually a surefire TV program to put on when there is absolutely nothing else on television: The Little League World Series. These eleven and twelve-year old boys enter the grand stage through their hard work and determination. They're still young enough for tears when there's a loss, but truth be told, when you see these kids make incredible plays, they're going to make you feel old and flabby and make you ask what you're currently doing with your life.

Before I begin, there might be a few things that you may not even realize if you haven't been a part of Little League yourself or don't watch nearly as much ESPN coverage as the next person. The Little League World Series not only covers a division of 11 and 12 year olds, but there are other divisions that play throughout the month: the Junior League (12-15), Senior League (13-17), and Big League (17-18). Obviously, these games are very rarely televised, and the younger boys get the spotlight, as their division is mainly referred to as the "Major Division." Also, these different divisions aren't usually played at Williamsport, Pennsylvania. There is usually a host team that is a part in the pool play and the competition goes from there.

However, with what you do see...

These kids are insane. These plays...my goodness.

One thing that was brought to my attention this past week was how some of the boys that are in little league are growing in size. One twelve-year old boy was--get this--6'2" and 200 lbs. The first thing that happened to me was that my jaw dropped and my eyeballs fell into my mouth. The second thing that happened was I vigorously shook my head because his nickname was "Swag Daddy." I digress. These boys are getting much, much bigger and ferocious-looking. From my standpoint, when I'm twice their age and they're twice my size, I become severely intimidated and will ask what the parents are feeding them.

I saw this and my brain darn-near exploded.

Could you imagine how much more these kids are going to grow before they turn 21? You almost hope that these kids don't get joint problems later on in their teenage years.

If you thought the size thing was relatively scary, there have been issues in the past when it came to the ages of the boys. The most infamous case was one of Danny Almonte, who helped lead his team from the Bronx to a third-place finish in 2001. What we didn't find out until a few weeks later was that the pitcher was actually 14 years old, as opposed to the maximum age of 12. Since the team was not involved in the final, the inevitable opening of the can of worms did not happen. The issue received a load of media attention, and lucky for Almonte, he has slipped out of the media eye since then.

Everything about this event is wonderful to examine. For instance, the umpires and concessions staff that are present at each game are there as volunteers and are doing everything without pay. That's right, the umpires you see are not getting paid for transportation and their services. They're doing it because they love to do what they do. How cool is that? This is a grand stage not only for the boys, but for the umpires' and volunteers' love of the game.

The competition used to be done in pool play format, but it is now held in a double-elimination style held between the United States teams and the International teams. When teams are eliminated, consolation games are played between US teams and international against each other. It's a good way to go out if the boys don't make it far.
When the kids aren't competing, they have a common hall where all of the kids can hang out and play games like foosball and ping-pong. There is no hostility among anyone, and everyone develops a strong relationship on and off the field. That is awesome. Even when the games get tight and tough [if you watched the Washington/Connecticut game Friday afternoon, you'll know exactly what I mean] sportsmanship is still present during and after the games.

Some of the things you will notice is how there is a recommendation for safety in the Little League World Series. The first one that should be mentioned is the sliding policy. Head-first sliding is not permitted in the Little League World Series. For example, during a game between Japan and Czech Republic, a boy playing for the Czech Republic was trying to slide into home to beat the throw and started going in head-first, but somehow spun himself around and looked like a windmill so his feet could slide into the plate first. Another rule that is practiced is the pitch counts that are enforced during the Series. A certain set of days are required to rest if a pitcher exceeds a certain amount of pitches. The maximum amount of pitches that a boy can throw is 85 or until the at-bat is finished after the 85 pitches. They're not in the major leagues yet, so that's very reasonable.
One last rule is that every boy on the roster has to be involved in the game in some way, whether it's hitting, pinch running, or playing the field. That is something that is special in my eyes, because I can remember sitting the bench in an important game and wanting to be a part of something special; I wouldn't want to see that for these boys that have come a long way from where they had originally began. One thing you may find interesting is that plays can be reviewed just as in Major League Baseball.

There is always the fuss over Little League when it comes to boys. Do they have anything when it has to do with the girls? Absolutely! There is the Little League World Series for softball, and they have almost the same format. The series for them is played earlier on in the month and isn't as largely televised as the boys' Major Division, but it exists and is slowly gaining more exposure on sports stations like ESPN. You may also witness a rare case in which you will see a girl or two play along with the boys each year. Yes, it is possible. In years past, I have seen a few girls play on the Japanese team and they did fairly well. This year, we saw a girl play for the Czech Republic, and she beat out many boys to make the team, including her own twin brother. Insane, right? She didn't play half bad, either.

Not all boys who have played Little League have continued on to play baseball after this, but many of them have become successful in their own rights, such as becoming doctors, actors, lawyers, and even MLB players--Todd Frazier of the Cincinnati Reds was a part of the 1998 Toms River, New Jersey team that won the championship, and he was the starting pitcher in the final against Japan. This league has taught boys discipline and shown them what hard work and determination leads to. These experiences are taken wherever they go later on in life, and it leaves an indelible impression on their character and their outlook on life.

The Little League World Series is something I always look forward to when it comes on television in the month of August. While it may seem silly to some, the love of the sport and the sportsmanship that is presented by these younger boys is wonderful to watch considering how most athletes are portrayed and displayed in major league sports in the United States. It's a breath of fresh air to see a sporting event that isn't poisoned by controversies and financial issues.

It's all about the kids. That's what makes this great.

--AZ

Limitless

What I am writing about today may not be considered a sport to many of you readers. It may be considered an art or a hobby or a skill. However, what some critics deem as "crazy" is incredibly fascinating and a testament to how impressive the human body can be. This is a sport. It is a sport of mind and of physical fitness.

There has bound to be one point in time in which you, the reader, have seen a commercial or a television spot in which an individual is jumping off of buildings, swinging on rafters, and doing crazy stunts that only a monkey was originally thought to have been able to pull off. When the practice was introduced to mainstream media outlets in the late 1990's-early 2000's, the term was called "freerunning," and art that grew in popularity in Europe and several regions in the United States. However, this term has been outrun over the past decade by the term "Parkour," the name of the main art developed in France. The art has a deep history, and the tactics used in this art have given a new leg to people interested in major sports and athletics such as martial arts and gymnastics.

Inspired by military training tactics from pre-World War I, the art was developed and crafted by a man named David Belle, who heard of stories of survival and skill from his grandfather. Since he was described as not being very good at popular sports or academics, he took his grandfather's stories and put them into action on his own. He trained and practiced different skills such as running, jumping, and climbing on various obstacle courses created. As time passed, friends and some family members gained interest in his activities, and they all began training together. Since the 1990's their acrobatics and daredevil-like antics have attracted fitness gurus and other athletic enthusiasts alike for their physical control and complete concentration over their actions.

Photo from Huffington Post
(Article Link Here)

This stuff is impressive.

While not officially recognized as a sport, it has easily become an extreme hobby in the same vein as surfing and rock climbing. Many freerunners have been featured on television such as the Japanese television show SASUKE (a.k.a. Ninja Warrior) displaying their extreme feats and have made a name for themselves. This activity isn't for the faint of heart nor is it really built for those stupid people who do stupid stuff and are featured on silly reality television shows. It isn't something where you are sitting on the couch on a Saturday afternoon and you say: "I'm bored. I'm gonna go vault over a few things on the street." It was created as an art and should rightfully be treated as one. The practitioners of parkour and freerunning have been training and practicing for a very long time and trust their bodies enough to perform stunts and push themselves to the limit. It is a discipline that is taken very seriously and could segue into the world of sports quite nicely. For example, it could be a great asset to learn if one is in competitive gymnastics. For example, training in events such as pommel horse and uneven parallel bars could be improved upon through training in parkour. When you think about it, vaulting could also fall into that training category as well.

It's a strong argument, yes?

With the increase in popularity, could this art be used as a tool to improve the ability of Olympic gymnasts?

It's possible.

Based on research, a number of training facilities around the country that teach gymnastics also teach parkour/freerunning as well. Since both require coordination and focus, it is a great marriage of acrobatics. Parkour could not be considered an Olympic sport in itself like other arts such as judo and taekwon-do since it isn't a standalone practice that can be used for competitive display. The art could be more or less seen as an art of enrichment and advancement in skill, almost like yoga. That is more than enough to help athletes with agility, body control, and even muscle toning if you want to get more technical.

Although I have mentioned these points, I haven't been able to pinpoint any major Olympic gymnasts who have used parkour in their training regimen. However, a former British gymnast is a heavy practitioner of the art. Although Damien Walters is no longer an Olympic gymnast, his skills have been shown on YouTube and through his work as a stuntman in films. You could even say that his career in gymnastics has evolved and shaped the career that he has immersed himself in now.

I've said previously that this is an art of enrichment similar to martial arts and yoga. It is a more extreme and physical form, and it requires a great deal of discipline and self-trust. As athletic as some people are, some might not be so trusting of themselves if they had to jump from a higher-than-usual distance and be able to balance body weight and roll out the impact correctly. I bet if I did it a few times I would get it, but I would also be dumb enough to screw up the first time and roll on my ankle. Again, there's a lot of focus and trust involved with the art and it should be taken as seriously as any other practice like in sports.

I'm completely fascinated with the art of parkour. The human body can do incredible things, and this is a testament to that. When I refer to it as a sport, it is a sport of the mind.  I don't ever believe that Belle intended this to be something competitive; it was created for people who may not be as coordinated to do sports but it exists for people to be more in-touch with their bodies and push their limits to the maximum. Theorists claim that the key to true happiness can be reached by being one with your body and finding it's true potential. Trusting yourself to do extreme feats could be a huge start to that.

--AZ

Violent (R)Evolution

After Emile Griffith's death on July 23, I researched him and the controversial fight between him and Cuban welterweight Benny Paret. It made me think of the concept of violence in sports and how it has evolved into something that is so common that people don't give it a second thought anymore.

Unless you live under a rock--then again, if you did you couldn't read this post; I digress--then you should know that to some capacity, every mainstream sport is a physical one and that there are a lot of risks and dangers in being an amateur or professional athlete. Freak injuries could occur, lives could be affected forever, and you could even risk your own life. For example, March 24, 1962 is a very infamous date in the world of boxing. On that day at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the Welterweight title was on the line in Paret-Griffith III. The fight was so well-hyped that it also received a national broadcast on ABC. The first eleven rounds of the fight were back-and-forth, filled with excitement and edge-of-your-seat action. However, the twelfth round is what would cast a dark shadow over the sport for an amount of time.

Screen capture from YouTube.com
You would think that seeing his head rock back and forth would have resulted in the fight being called sooner.

During the twelfth round, Emile Griffith opened the round with a flurry of punches, sending Benny Paret into a corner where he had difficulty in holding his guard. Within a twenty-second period, Griffith landed nearly thirty punches on Paret, and referee Ruby Goldstein stopped the fight. As he did so, Paret slowly slid down the corner of the ring and fell unconscious. The pomp and circumstance went on after this initial scene, as many spectators and analysts believed that Paret had collapsed of exhaustion. However, the next scene a few minutes later was an indicator as to how serious the matter was. During the post-fight interview, Paret was seen being stretchered out of the ring while medics checked on him. Obviously startled, Griffith had hoped that his opponent would be okay. Paret later slipped into a coma and died from his injuries ten days later on April 4.

After the fight, fingers were looking to point at a culprit to blame Paret's death. Some believed that it was Griffith, who had retaliated after Paret called him a "maricón," a Spanish gay slur (Griffith was identified as bisexual), during the pre-fight weigh-in. Others had placed the blame on referee Ruby Goldstein, in which they thought he took entirely too long to call the fight after the onslaught of punches brought on by Griffith. Both men have later expressed their guilt and their sorrow over the tragedy that happened that day, and both careers were never truly the same afterward.

On the other hand, the one major blip on the Paret radar was the period between his last fight and the previous was three months. Three months. Not to mention that Paret was completely destroyed in the previous fight and didn't have the motivation for the next fight. This was also his fourth fight within a whole year. You don't see anything like that today. A grown man today would cry if he had to fight that much. You couldn't blame him though, considering that money was tight in his family, and this was going to be his last fight considering his recent downturn.
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Have we learned from this event? Has it made us more aware of the dangers of ultra-physical sports and events such as boxing and MMA?
I don't think so. Not in the eyes of spectators.

However, it has affected the awareness of serious (and fatal) injuries that can occur during an event.
Sure, we can't put pads on every single little thing that our bodies have, but we should also learn that bodies need to heal. We need to make money and perform at our peak, but when lives are on the line, is it truly worth it? Some athletes don't think that way. There's the mentality of "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" that exists in society, whether its in a mental form, emotional form, or in this case, a more physical form. One thing that has differed from that time period is the enforcement of strong official rulings and the advances and drive to achieve peak physical health and fitness. I'm not saying that the men from fifty years ago were not in good shape--they totally were compared to the average male--but there have been advances in sports science that have given athletes the opportunity to use equipment to better attain their physical needs. Also, the cases of official rulings through board members and trainers enforce the policies of the sport, such as whether an athlete can be "cleared" to do any kind of physical activity. If you would like to throw drug testing in this category, you can do that as well. They're also there for that reason.

Certain sports aren't for the faint of heart, like boxing or MMA, but we as a society have become so desensitized to the near-glorified violence shown today that the main issue at hand is blurred. In other words, what should be an issue isn't seen to be an issue at all by today's standards! When Paret-Griffith III occurred over 50 years ago, seeing a man injured to the point where he later died of his injuries a week and a half later was shocking by the standards of that day. Plus, this was also broadcast on live television. That was a big deal back in the day, and seeing a scene like this almost put the practice to shame. While it would still be shocking in today's society, I don't think it would actually have a strong chance of occurring thanks to the reasons I had mentioned above. Also, there are the graces of the seven-second delay that occurs in most television broadcasts in case if something horrifying occurs. Sometimes the censors do not catch something soon enough, but when a death occurs, heavy discretionary measures are weighed.
[Note: There are several media examples of this that I choose not to get into since this is not a news-themed blog.]

Going back to the "issue that isn't an issue" at hand, more of these sports are being televised nationwide and more spectators have access to the sport than ever before. What used to be the case many years ago was that you either had to be there to experience the full effect or you had to listen to the radio to find out what happened. The announcers could add the emotional effect and paint a good enough mental image for you to know what was going on, and something like that doesn't have a humongous effect on a certain audience since that particular audience isn't seeing the real violence. Do we know where we're going with this? Yes. I'm talking about the children. Today, cable television is all the rage, and children now have the ability to see these events happening either in real-time or in recorded form. While it is up to the parents to decide whether their children are mature enough to understand what is going on, the desensitization of violence in sports begins at a young age. I could be overdoing the analysis on this because I am not a parent myself, but there were certain things that I was not allowed to watch as a young person, and since I'm not in that role yet it's hard to measure standards. In retrospect, I don't think my Dad cared if I watched Friday Night Fights with him, but that's beside the point. I think there are some moral things that could be learned beforehand and children could understand things at faster rates. Not everyone my age is a murderer or has an uncontrollable temper, so something was done right.
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In conclusion, the violence revolution hasn't exactly progressed, per se, but it has become more commonplace in short bursts. We don't view men and women literally killing each other, but harsher programming has become more accessible in today's day and age. Seeing brutal punches, kicks, choke holds, and tackles don't mean as much to the human eye and brain as it once did. Seeing other people do it and seeing the pain on their face doesn't exactly translate well to immature eyes, and it could lead to people "trying things" on each other. It happens a lot with kids who watch wrestling, even when they suggest to not try what they do at home. Stuff like this could also lead to bigger and even more dangerous underground workings, but that is a concept that is too complex for even me to get into in a post like this. Heck, what goes on there may have nothing to do with violence in sports; in fact, it could just be out of stupidity for all we know.

Violence is becoming common in society, but is it for the best? It can't be stopped, though accidental death can be prevented. Violence is a key part in sports. What did they do in Rome? People getting eaten was their form of sports entertainment. However, we're not as barbaric as we once were. I'm sure we could see athleticism without a bunch of hungry lions. Can we see athleticism without showing as much brutality? In some cases, no (boxing and mixed martial arts), but in other sports it can be. Baseball, soccer, and basketball do not show as much physical brutality as other sports, and while injury still occurs, it isn't always because of a fight.

I guess if it sports violence hasn't affected one person, it might not affect another in the same way. Different strokes for different folks, I suppose.

Has the level of violence evolved in sports to you? What do you think?

--AZ

Drug Wars: The Other Side of the Tracks

This post has become a challenge. I really wanted to look at other sides of the story and see if anything else has been put out there when it comes to players' views on drug use in Major League Baseball. I also knew I was going to have a hard time sitting down and putting all of this together. When you're out of school, you tend to avoid that lifestyle as much as possible. That's okay, I've been saving myself for this. Here we go.

"Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun has been suspended for the remainder of 2013 and came clean Monday about violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, an outcome of the league's extensive investigation into a Miami wellness clinic." -- Adam McCalvy, MLB.com

The early 2000's was an edgy time in Major League Baseball. There were numerous findings that a number of professional baseball players were not playing the game fairly. While people thought that the game had been upped in cases that records were being shattered and injuries were fewer and in quick recovery, other officials didn't think the same way. Something was wrong. Very wrong. An investigation began and names from the likes of Roger Clemens to Jason Giambi were being thrown around as being suspicious players to have been growing in numbers as well as growing in size. During this period, suspensions and fines were thrown around the league and to its alumni, but records were never reset, and some of these men are still eligible to be inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.

Back in late January, there was a monumental finding that shook the baseball world again, and this time, things would be cracked down even harder. A drug clinic in Florida named Biogenesis of America had been targeted by sporting officials, claiming that they were selling supplements that contained performance-enhancing drugs (PED's) among other illegal substances that are banned in MLB. Four players--Ryan Braun (mentioned above), Nelson Cruz, Melky Cabrera, and Alex Rodriguez--were considered main links to the Biogenesis clinic. Although the business is no longer functioning, MLB sued a number of personnel from the company in March claiming that they had provided banned substances to players. Weeks later, ESPN broke that as many as 30 players' records were under investigation, and particular MLB staff were checking whether these athletes had been provided illegal drugs or had any other link to Biogenesis. As it stands, investigations are still being performed, and while the baseball season is officially in the second half, fans and followers are wondering when the gavel will come down on the case.

Since then, questions have stemmed from the timing of these investigations and news breaks, such as why they are waiting until after the All-Star Break to announce definite suspensions, and how did this get so bad and so immense so quickly. With all of the fuss over illegal substances in baseball looming over the heads of the athletes, why are athletes still taking these drugs and thinking they can get away with it? Theories of this span of time include the revenue and ratings of programming such as the Home Run Derby (which didn't seem affected either way) and the MLB All-Star Game and people's opinions over MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, his handling of his job, and his imminent departure from his position.

People who are fans of teams who have no players involved with the scandal are standing back and awaiting these hearings with curiosity and "I'm not surprised" remarks, while there are fans who follow and admire these players asking "Why?" and are expecting disappointment and disgust.
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Any drug that promotes growth, strength, or affect of hormones is considered an illegal substance. Some of these illegal substances can even be found in the smallest of doses in prescribed medications or in various muscle treatments. This means those little steroid packs too, ladies and gentlemen. It shows up in your urine, and it's a small amount of PED's. No player can have anything that affects physical performance in the system at any time. An example of this was when Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz was suspended by Major League Baseball for use of illegal substances found in Adderall, a stimulant most commonly used for people suffering from ADHD or narcolepsy.

While the investigations are ongoing and people are placing questionable players under the microscope, professional ballplayers from all around the world are letting their opinions known on the scandal, as well as their views of certain kinds of drug use in sports. While some praise the system, others question it, stating that it shouldn't be as harsh, and that these drugs are needed when it is a strenuous atmosphere.

In praising the system, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee stated: "I think this is just proving that the system works ... You’re not getting away with it anymore. It’s not like it’s a lingering issue. It’s proven that we’ve taken care of the issue," and he even stated that he's glad he wasn't a pitcher in the 1990's when the PED was in full-swing and flying under the radar (philly.com).

While pitchers like Lee are supporting the system, others are somewhat against it, stating that not all PED's are bad, and some may actually be useful in the rehabilitation process. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitcher Ryan Madson, currently recovering from Tommy John surgery, would like to see a change in the system, believing that there are no harsh side-effects in the use of human growth hormone (HGH). HGH is currently banned by Major League Baseball. In an MLB.com article, he says: "But I will still believe, even if I get healthy without that, that it should be legal, in the right dosage, under supervision, with doctors, for the only purposes to help heal and get players back in the Major Leagues ... I think it would be good for the game; I think it would be good for the fans" (MLB.com). 

From another perspective, substances such as HGH and other performance-enhancers still exist because of the length of the season in a particular period of time, the finances that come with the sport, and the extreme competition of the game. Former Colorado Rockies outfielder Ryan Spilborghs, who is currently playing for the Seibu Lions of the Nippon Professional League in Japan, wrote a lengthy blog post about the Biogenesis scandal, his insights on particular drugs such as Adderall, and why he himself never desired to experiment with PED's. In a nutshell, he writes: "...I am not condoning the use of anything, but merely pointing out that some of the events and sports we’ve created (MLB, NFL, NBA) are pushing athletes too far without giving enough proper rest to allow them to recover. Again why are seasons so long? Money! Because sponsors, cities, owners and networks all make money ... When the risk so far outweighs the reward, it’s no longer a serious issue, even if the punishment doesn’t quite fit the crime" (blogs.denverpost.com). 
[NOTE: I highly recommend reading this article. Do it when you're done here. You won't be disappointed.]
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Only time will tell when the harsh penalties will be thrown down on baseball players accused of illegal substance use. Yes, it is obvious that the MLB season is extremely strenuous, and there are numerous factors as to why money is very important in a game like this. There are also players out there with a clean conscience that are grateful for their skills, and would like to not only play fairly, but play because they enjoy it and know they can make a living off of what they can do. There are players that disagree with this philosophy, but that's life. People will try to make the most of it in any way possible, and if they're caught cheating, the damage has already been done.

The Biogenesis scandal, in my opinion, is being handled extremely well by Major League Baseball, and it has taken me a while to accept that it's going to take longer than most people would wish to make sure that the final verdicts are handled and determined as effectively as possible. When this is a large-scale investigation, there certainly isn't any cutting corners in the matter. Of course, the purist in me thinks that a scandal like this is dirtying the game and exposing it for having underground practices that have destroyed reputations and records, but you will see an equivalent like that in any kind of business you will encounter (hopefully not, but just stranger things happen). In the meantime, analysts and fans alike are on the edge of their seats looking to see how the game will change from this point forward. It's a tough time for the front offices of Major League Baseball, and the next couple of weeks will either make this sports organization higher above the rest or make it look like a big joke that waited entirely too long and didn't do enough for the players or their audiences.

--AZ

The MLB Midseason Slant for 2013 - Uphill or Downhill?

It's Slant season, ladies and gentlemen. Let's roll.

There has been a massive movement in Major League Baseball this year. The Houston Astros are in the AL West now, big-name players such as Mariano Rivera have announced their retirement, and up-and-comers like Yasiel Puig have been making headlines around the country just as men like Mike Trout and Bryce Harper last year. Also, there has also been a lot of controversy surrounding the league when it comes to the Biogenesis scandal (more on that in the next post!!). With these things mentioned, it has been a year full of uphill struggles and downhill triumphs for many teams. Which ten teams will survive and make it to October? It's anyone's guess at this point...

Let's take a look and see how they're looking after almost 100 games played!

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE!

2013 MIDSEASON SLANT

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Eastern Division

Overview: If you look strictly at statistics, this looks like one of the streakier divisions in the whole league. Most teams here have either been plagued with injuries or have hopes of passing the torch to younger players. Some of these transitions haven't been the absolute best. Could this be a sleeper division in the second half? If the rivalries are hot, then definitely yes.

Atlanta Braves (54-41) - After an extremely explosive April, these guys have somewhat stalled and played .500 ball since then. Guys like the Upton brothers, who were extremely hyped in the offseason, have been under-performing and clutch hits have been hard to come by. However, the pitching staff is one of the best in the NL, and efforts from hitters like Freddie Freeman (fresh to the DL) have been picking up the pace. Health and a change of pace is needed for a playoff push.

Washington Nationals (48-47) - If this team scores more than two runs in a game, they have a good chance of winning. That isn't the best sign at all. That line should tell you that the hitting is poor; they have the second-lowest team AVG in the National League, and the only way they have been staying in close games is through strong pitching in their bullpen. Sure, Ian Desmond, Jayson Werth, and Ryan Zimmerman have been doing rather well, but in order for this team to go back to the playoffs, it has to be a team effort in offense.

Philadelphia Phillies (48-48) - Afflicted with the chronic injury bug and a flimsy bullpen, it's hard to ride on any kind of winning streak in Philadelphia. Although it's good to see guys like Chase Utley, Domonic Brown, and Cliff Lee in good form, injuries to guys like Roy Halladay and a struggling Ryan Howard have shown that this team is aging as is desperate for a fountain of youth/production. Did I mention their bullpen is shaky and their starters have to go deep into games to prevent any kind of riots in Philadelphia? I sort of did? Oh.

New York Mets (41-50) - Here we have an average team that is still working through injuries and looking to make more big players alongside David Wright. You can tell of the youth and green eyes when you see their amount of team strikeouts (walks are okay too). While they are holding their own and playing the spoiler when they can, a quick shot of health and good vibes for a weakened staff could be the cure. While they can't win the division, they can win as spoilers and ruin dreams along the way.

Miami Marlins (35-58) - It's bad enough that they have to tarp off the second tier of the ballpark. This team doesn't hit very well at all (one of the lowest team AVG in the ML), and inconsistent lineups are proof that whatever they've tried over their 93 games played hasn't worked well at all. Their bullpen isn't the most consistent thing either; and most games where there is a lead early on is lost. Double-edged swords aren't always pretty at all.


Central Division

Overview: This division is always known for their pushing and shoving in the top three spots in the division. They are failing to disappoint here thus far. Pitching has been stellar as usual, and the bats are still fresh. This is what I love to see. You're always guaranteed a strong game during each NL Central matchup, bar none.

St. Louis Cardinals (57-36) - This, ladies and gentlemen, is the most disciplined hitting staff that the National League has to offer. Not just that, but it also has one of the stronger rotations you'll see in the league. The baseball gods have been good to them thus far, so it would be best not to jinx them. With so many major contributors to mention, we could see a team that's a total threat to take the National League pennant this October. What else can I say?

Pittsburgh Pirates (56-37) - From someone who lives on the other side of the state and constantly sees them in their woes by September, this is incredibly refreshing to see. Their pitching staff is jam-packed with talent this time around (Grilli Cheese, anyone?), but the Pirates' hitting crew is a slippery slope at times. Striking out a lot can be a problem here. This year, they have the honor of being the first team to win 50 games in the Majors. Are we looking to break a curse of 20-straight losing seasons? Please, I think that would be nice to see.

Cincinnati Reds (53-42) - Dusty Baker's squad is never a bore to watch. Outfielders Shin Soo Choo and Jay Bruce are like judge and jury, and Joey Votto is putting up excellent numbers again at the plate and at first base. The starting rotation looks a sharp as it should, and Aroldis Chapman is a fiery closer.  Things could get interesting with this team. Although the injury bug could start affecting them, they've been on fire in the second half in years' past, and they could burn their way through that possible issue.

Chicago Cubs (42-51) - Okay, they've been worse at this point. In fact, they're not looking all that bad. Although the looming rumor that starter Matt Garza is out is spreading, this should hopefully light a fire under the rest of the team to start dealing or they have to sell to contenders. Although they aren't doing a terrible job, injuries and streakiness has dealt a strong blow to the core of the team. You really have to be "Committed" to stick with this team. It hasn't been pretty at times.

Milwaukee Brewers (38-56) - There has been a lot of proof that things haven't been clicking on all cylinders for the Brew Crew. Their hitting crew is anything but patient, but they're consistent, and it shows in their lack of walks and strikeouts. Unfortunately, you can't say the same thing about the pitching when it comes to consistency. Being near the bottom of the barrel in ERA, the team's offense has had to battle in high-scoring games, and that can take quite a toll on the team. It's going to take a lot of willpower to be contenders again. Maybe not this year, but next year. Can they spoil? Abso-flippin-lutely.


Western Division

Overview: We've seen a lot of flip-flops in positioning and records in this division so far. Fireworks from debuting pitchers, hitters, and fielders have been the major drive, but the Win-Loss column really hasn't been evident of these bursts of star power. While Interleague play has a chance to dampen this division a little further, August is the key month for these five teams. Nobody's really out of it here.

Arizona Diamondbacks (50-45) - Arizona has had a lot of scientific experiments done on their pitching staff, and once there's a sign of life and health there and in their lineup, these guys could be ridiculously scary in the coming weeks. If Patrick Corbin and Paul Goldschmidt isn't enough proof for you that it's possible to make hitting and pitching contagious, it will be soon. Is the second half theirs? They have to want it badly, otherwise it'll be an uphill struggle for them.

Los Angeles Dodgers (47-47) - Deemed "Yankees West" due to their exorbitant payroll this season, it almost looks like some financial decisions have blown up in the face of the front office. After losing guys like Chad Billingsley to the dreaded Tommy John surgery and seeing big-name acquisitions like Hanley Ramirez falter to injury early in the season, things looked bleak. However, win streaks and the "ManBearPuig phenomenon" has brought them out of the basement and into contention in the NL West. Good vibes are coming from this team.

Colorado Rockies (46-50) - Right now, this is one of the best-looking teams as far as hitting goes. CarGo, Michael Cuddyer, and Troy Tulowitzki are taking their smart hitting to the next level and keeping the opposition at bay. Wait a second, they're four under .500. Why is that? Oh, that's right. The bullpen and lower-tier starters are almost the pits in the National League. A beefier bullpen should be in high order for these guys; otherwise, this is going to be a rough second half.

San Francisco (43-51) - Remember October? I do. It seemed so long ago. The starting rotation has never looked so shaky. Aside from Madison Bumgarner and Tim Lincecum's no-hitter this past weekend, things haven't looked strong at all. The hitting staff isn't terrible at all--if you look at the roster, just about everyone's a hitter (Hello, Buster Posey and Hunter Pence), but the pitching staff goes into such a hole at times that it's tough to come back. This second half could get ugly if the rotation and the bullpen doesn't wise up.

San Diego (42-54) - The pitching staff is like...messed up. While there are some bright spots like Jason Marquis, I see guys like Huston Street and scratch my head a lot. When Carlos Quentin doesn't have a hot temper, he doesn't a relatively good job at the plate. Things don't click very well with the team. Curse? We can't make that the cause of all the problems. The front office might have to make some personnel changes. Things don't look like they're getting much better, and the leadership could be the root of that.



AMERICAN LEAGUE

Eastern Division

Overview: This is the scariest-looking division I have written about in my three years of doing this. While not every team is over .500 here, they have the talent and the ability to burn out their opponents and make a statement. It would be rather sad to see this trend burn out within the next few weeks, which it totally could after the All-Star Break (among other controversy).

Boston Red Sox (58-39) - Ouch. If you want to top the AL East, you definitely have to have the best record in baseball. Check. Devastating hitters in the middle of the order? Check. Strong pitching not just in the rotation, but also in the bullpen? Check! The BoSox have been blessed with good fortune thus far in the season, and it could only be smooth sailing if they keep the opposition on their toes. Gotta stay #BostonStrong, right?

Tampa Bay Rays (55-41) - The pitching from the Rays makes quick work of the opposition, and that's nothing new from these guys. What is new is seeing some unsung heroes stepping in on offense and picking up when bigger names like James Loney and Evan Longoria can't pick up the pace. They certainly can make a good run for the playoffs. Heck, even the Wild Card. The sky's the limit for these guys.

Baltimore Orioles (53-43) - I could just put "Chris Davis leads the majors with 37 home runs" and that could be enough for this, but I won't go that route. The hitting is rather all-or-nothing, and the pitching doesn't always come through, but when they do, they certainly do. While they're fun to watch right now, they need to be extra careful. The act might not last very long.

New York Yankees (51-44) - Well, this is awkward. Although they're doing better in wins and losses than half of the teams in the National League (It's totally true), they're in fourth place in this monster of a division. Why? Don't know. Just happened to be that way. While age has been graceful to guys like Raul Ibanez and Mariano Rivera, it hasn't been to guys like Derek Jeter and A-Rod, who have still been waiting to see the light of day. Are we seeing a changing of the guard here?

Toronto Blue Jays (45-49) - On paper, these guys looked like they were going to contend before the season started. Things have been rocky, but so far, they are holding their own. They just look rotten because of the division they're in. R.A. Dickey hasn't had the strongest of stuff since his Cy Young win, and Mark Buerhle hasn't looks as hot as he has in years past. It doesn't always help either that the offense doesn't kick in when they should. Teamwork is going to be key here from here on out.


Central Division

Overview: Please don't ask me why I have such a hard time getting around to writing about you teams. I swear, I have nothing against you, but there are so many wheels falling off from weird areas and you guys are so weirdly streaky and stuff. Do I get points for trying?

Detroit Tigers (52-42) - Here we see the Tigers in their habitat, where Max Scherzer is 13-1 and Miguel Cabrera has a .365 batting average. Let's not forget the other guys...they've had as much of a hand in this as the guys I have already mentioned. This team is well-disciplined, and they're looking to return back to the Fall Classic as they did last year. However, I'd like to mention that they wanna win it this time. Gotta keep going.

Cleveland Indians (51-44) - We have a well-rounded team right here, and that's incredibly nice to see after numerous struggles we've seen in the past. The rotation looks spiffy, and the offense is good as a unit. This is a good example of a team that feeds off of each other's successes. While I'd like to see them as a Wild Card contender, the AL East could make that tough, so these guys will have to use their super-friends powers and make that extra push in the coming weeks. Just don't sign Charlie Sheen or Wesley Snipes, that's all.

Kansas City Royals (43-49) - These guys aren't really a home run-hitting team, but even so, their batting average is just that...average. However, it doesn't always come through when the pitching has been supportive. Then again, isn't that usually the case? There isn't enough back-scratching on this team, but you can't blame them due to injuries and other forms of scratching when it comes to lineups. There is a chance for these guys, and a good second half of health could give deliver problems for their AL Central opponents.

Minnesota Twins (39-53) - When you see this record and some of the statistics put up by this team, you can tell that the only thing that is driving this team is the star-power that they have, and those guys like Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau can't always save the team. The starting rotation is extremely weak, and injuries to these guys isn't making matters any better. I think it's time to start playing the end music to The Incredible Hulk.

Chicago White Sox (37-55) - Statistically, these guys are in the middle of the pack in most hitting and pitching categories; why are they so far into the basement? You could blame injuries, you could blame lousy management, and you can even blame their errant fielding. Errors and simple mistakes cost games, and that is evident in where they're standing right now. To try to make a good run in the second half, it's time for the ChiSox to go back to basics and remember how the heck they made it to the majors.


Western Division

Overview: Ladies and gentlemen, your OCD has now been regulated. There are now five teams on the AL West. Anyway, there's a lot of unknowns on this side, but there is also a lot of star-power in tow. Problem is, these two things I mentioned are oil and water here, meaning that there are unknowns in abundance on one squad, and too many stars on another. This could lead to problems, but for now, things are rather tranquil on that front.

Oakland Athletics (56-39) - Despite their massive issues with stadiums and media markets, these guys look spiffy on the field. Although they aren't the strongest-hitting team collectively, Josh Donaldson and Jed Lowrie have been leading the way for the offense, and smart, patience at-bats have been key. Did I mention that their pitching staff looks hefty too? I'm not saying that because Bartolo Colon looks like a freight train on the mound, either. These guys are earning their spot thus far; it's going to take some effort from the smaller-seeming players to get this team back to October.

Texas Rangers (54-41) - The injury bug doesn't seem like it has been a massive issue here, as their bats and their throwing arms have looked pretty consistent over the past few weeks. Yu Darvish and Derek Holland have been doing excellent out of the rotation, and clutch hitting has been in good form for the boys from Texas. Looks like these boys are winning the wars in Texas right now. They could make things interesting in the West for the rest of the season.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (44-49) - Oh, and look at this star power. People outside of the circle often laugh at this team since there are so many endorsements for their players and they're playing sub-.500 ball. Aside from Mike Trout: the Boy Wonder, a lot of these guys are either A - getting weird injuries, or B - severely underperforming. The pitching staff doesn't look so great either, but that's often because of run support. If you only have one guy in the rotation that has a winning record thus far, you have a serious problem on your hands. They're not doing badly...it's just the hitting needs to be tweaked and disciplined.

Seattle Mariners (43-52) - The hitting staff looks really bare without Ichiro, I'll tell you that much. It shows. Their team AVG is pretty low, and their plate discipline could be much better. On the other hand, we have some excellent starting pitching, and it's often enough to finish out the games...that is, if they go deep enough into those games. They need to be sellers and get some bullpen guys and some utility men. Things are looking rotten at Safeco if nothing is done.

Houston Astros (33-61) - Oh Heavens. Here we are again. Let's make a note of this, though: the Astros have the lowest payroll in the whole league. Alex Rodriguez makes more money than the team as a whole and he hasn't played a ML game this year. Anyway... Weak pitching and weak hitting are the main causes of failure here. You know it's bad when I only know about six or seven guys on the staff and most of them are injured. There isn't much else to say here but hope that they don't hit 100+ losses again this season.

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I'd like to think that this was a pretty basic analysis. I'm usually not ready for this kind of stuff when it comes around, but I love baseball. Whenever I do research and do analysis, it makes me closer to the sport and it makes me feel better about myself. Really. I'm not joking.

I'm hoping that the rest of the season fares out well for most teams. Not everyone can fix their problems and reach the playoffs, but usually one man's failure is another man's success. It's only downhill from here, you peoples.

--AZ

AZ's Slant on Sunday - Terror of Turf

I've had this topic in draft mode for well over a year and a half. I figured it was time to fully unleash on the topic after another former baseball player--former Phillies and Marlins catcher Darren Daulton--had been diagnosed with brain tumors. There is a link to his case, and it's a serious link.

When I first drafted this topic, I had just finished watching a feature of the 1980 World Series on the MLB Network. Since I'm from Philadelphia myself, I know by fact that four men who participated in that Series had fallen ill and died from brain cancer; the four men were Tug McGraw, Dan Quisenberry, John Vukovich, and [another Royal who didn't pitch in the series] Ken Brett. Now, if it was only one man who had passed away from this ailment, you would consider it to be a tragedy and go through the motions. However, I just named four men who played baseball in the same era, and both teams played in a ballpark that contained a common item: artificial turf (in this case, AstroTurf). Coincidence?

Back in the 1960's, artificial turf such as AstroTurf was all the rage. It was durable, it hardly required maintenance, and it was cheap. Many sports stadiums around the country (not just baseball) installed the artificial turf to save costs not only on grass maintenance, but on long-term care due to durability. While it had more cushion than standard grass and prevented hard-landing injuries, it handled sunlight differently and could--in many cases--burn an athlete's skin. Imagine being an outfielder and you have to make a diving catch in the middle of August.

Mordor, ladies and gentlemen.

Despite this minor setback, artificial turf was a common sight to see at many stadiums throughout the 1970's until the mid-2000's. It was a great display of technology and efficiency; however...there was a major dark side to the use of artificial turf before more advances in technology cleaned up the materials.

Do we know what this is?

This is lead.

If you know science, it doesn't take a lot of this to make a human or an animal sick. This element in a large enough amount can destroy the nervous system and cause disorders in the brain.

This could be found in AstroTurf.


Lovely, yes? As I mentioned above, this can cause massive problems in the brain. Due to great exposure of the turf, especially in different kinds of weather and other forms of activity, it isn't a coincidence that there have been numerous deaths of baseball players who have A) Played on AstroTurf at some point in their careers, and B) Had found brain tumors while in their 50's. [Note: Quisenberry, whom I mentioned above, is an exception. He succumbed to cancer at the age of 45.] The element had enough time to settle in and cause problems once certain parts of the body begin to phase out due to old age.

Aside from lead, there have also been more toxic elements found in the turf that could cause nerve and cardiovascular damage, such as zinc (in exponentially large amounts, of course), cadmium, chromium, and arsenic. Yes. Arsenic. Whenever it rains or is incredibly windy, these components can hit the lungs and settle in the body, and Heaven help you if you already have a preexisting health condition such as asthma. Drainage from the stadiums after rain could also get into the sewer system and mess with the water supply in various cities. Although an extreme scenario, it is a completely plausible one. What could be an issue on the field could bleed into a home issue, ruining residential homes and hurt common citizens. Birth defects? Lead poisoning? All could be completely possible.

With this revealed, the big question is this: Why on EARTH was this used in the first place?

Were we that stupid, or did we just not know how dangerous this stuff was? In this case, it was a "trial and error" at the expense of athletes later on in their lives. In a post-war era, this was an: "Oh my goodness, we just made something that will pay for itself. Let's throw it out there," kind of thing. If you ever saw those 1950's reels showing the "Kitchen of the Future," you could understand why something like this was so big, regardless of what materials were being used for the product. If it worked, it worked. While it was a great invention that saved a lot of money, it wasn't exactly the safest and healthiest thing manufactured [to compare it to a current issue, think of the whole "GMO" debacle if you're a foodie]. Since we know a lot more about particular materials and the effects it has on the human body, developers are a lot more cautious as to what they use in products that require a lot of usage and durability. Many athletes have suffered for this innovation, but if it weren't for their suffering--for the lack of a more honorable term--we wouldn't realize the dangers of the artificial turf that was used from the 1960's until the late 1990's.

Although there have been great advances in science to perfect the composition of artificial turf, it is still a controversial product, as all but two MLB ballparks play on natural grass. The two fields--Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg [Tampa Bay Rays] and the Rogers' Centre in Toronto [Blue Jays]--use a turf called FieldTurf, which is more rubber-based. Other forms of turf are being derived from plastics, and while there is still some concern and controversy with the kinds of turf fibers, it is in high demand in countries that are unable to grow large amounts of grass in their climate. Most of these countries request this material for their soccer fields. This is understandable, and economically speaking, could prove to be a better resort than attempting to grow exorbitant amounts of grass and not be able to take care of it as well as other countries could.

Unfortunately, we could see more athletes that could suffer the same problem as many before them due to the terrors of turf in the near future. Whether there will be faster diagnosis and treatment for these possible cases that will develop before that time, we can't be sure of that. While we should embrace innovation and technology, there always comes a price to these things.

--AZ

For more information, these are the sources I checked out for this piece: (1, 2, 3, 4)

The Secret Life of the American Athlete

I find it absolutely fascinating when a professional athlete is charged with committing a crime and then all of these theories and so-called "fast facts" start spewing out of media outlets. Its almost as if they're saying "Let's give you more of a reason to find even more fault in this man. BOO HIM."

Unless you have been nowhere near a TV or radio as of late, you know who Aaron Hernandez is. If you're a New England Patriots fan, you're probably wondering how this all happened and whether you can get a refund on your jersey. Within the past week and a half, Hernandez's name and reputation have been flipped upside down and exploited for the country to see. Not only that, but they (as in private investigators) are also looking into his personal life, such as whether the tattoos that he owns are related to gangs or any other destructive behavior.

Photo from CBS New York

You read that right. They're going the whole nine here.

Aside from the jokes that Aaron Hernandez has now made the "NFL All-Prison Team," this case is receiving more publicity at this stage than the likes of the Michael Vick case, Ray Lewis' murder charge, Plaxico Burress' club folly, and even the O.J. Simpson case. Really. This has become more widespread of a case than the infamous White Bronco. Although there is the argument that the difference in media over nearly twenty years has caused this, the added severity of the crime and the supposed ties that are being implied is making this one of the biggest professional athlete crime cases in history.

While I'm not writing this post to pick on the media, a long stick will be used to some extent. Instead, I will be looking into a question that most sports fans refuse to ask in circles and themselves: "Can fame and fortune screw up professional sports?"

A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, I wrote about how the inception of social media blurs the line between pro athletes and the public. The perks of that may be great supply, but it's rather scary to see how some men and women still hide their personal lives from the public. That might not be a bad thing, but to still be able to wield a giant facade and hide something maniacal in a global village is an impressive, yet frightening feat. There is a long-standing thought that money and fame can ultimately change a man. Some of the most humble of men have been affected by salary directly and indirectly. [Note: When I mean indirectly, I refer to someone like "Shoeless Joe."] Because the opportunity and options are there, forbidden behaviors are easier to access and the alleged "high status" of the professional athlete gives off an air of invincibility internally and externally. When that kind of high-status is involved, one can say that danger seems to lurk at every corner. This could be why you hear more instances of possession of weapons in public settings or domestic abuse cases involving weapons. These actions can spiral out of control and the personal life soon becomes public knowledge.

You see all of those kids liking a professional athlete? Those kids are now being told by their parents that the athlete is a bad person. Everything unwinds. The athletes you may have looked up to as a child may not have been the charity-loving and encouraging person you originally thought they were. While their hearts were in the right places once upon a time, some of the actions that they have taken part in cannot be reversed. In a judgmental society, it doesn't take much to lose societal respect and it could possibly take a lifetime to gain it. You often wonder whether the athlete thinks of the consequences before the action. Oftentimes the answer is no; immediate gratification and fixes subdue any sense of punishment or loss of invincibility. Once a public trial begins, the hope may be lost, regardless of whether the athlete is found innocent or guilty.
_______________________________________

Going back to my original statement that this case is one of the biggest in modern American sports history, the expansion of technology and media knowledge is making Aaron Hernandez a household name. Because of the slough of information that is being leaked about the defendant, stories, gossip, and citizen theories are being developed at an exponential rate. For example, back when the Black Sox scandal came about, the only stuff that people knew were things they read in the newspaper or heard on the radio, and when the O.J. Simpson trial came about, there were the previously-mentioned outlets on top of television coverage in the growing age of cable news. The advent of the Internet meme and microblogging websites such as Twitter is making a complicated case easier for the younger audiences to understand. For example, microblogging is an algorithm, and the jokes of the Internet meme make what is a very expansive case almost minute and comical. It isn't necessarily a good thing, but it almost dumbs it down for a younger audience and leaves a hint of innocence and no desensitization.

Sure, when the personal life goes public, nothing is sacred anymore, but you also have to ask the ethical question of why an individual (not just an athlete) would bother to do such a heinous crime or practice to begin with. I am not the type of person to instigate on whether someone committed a crime, but it is often difficult to avoid due to the ability of society to shove something down the throat of someone avoiding all crises. Heck, even fellow athletes in other leagues have their own opinions about it, but there is the decency and common courtesy to not speak out about it; rather, these guys try their absolute best to not do that themselves. However, we cannot be the ultimate controllers of everyone's fates. The secret life of the American athlete may not be so secret anymore, but that should also mean that everyone is in check and privacy isn't so sacred anymore. Everyone might have to practice a little more morality these days.

Invincibility? This isn't a video game!

--AZ