The Daily Grind

-I guess I better respond to Pratt's post. I do believe that the Sox should make a deal for Sabathia, not because they need the starting pitching as much as other clubs (Cubs, Phillies, Yankees, to name a few), but because it would make them without a doubt the best team in the American League. Clay Buchholz is a stud prospect, but he is not with the major league club now. I make the deal, but I can understand why the Red Sox wouldn't. I had read plenty of blurbs over the last few years, where scouts from clubs all over baseball have said that Masterson and Justin Bowden may be as good if not better prospects than Buchholz.

-The Tigers went 18-8 in June. An amazing feat that has brought them over .500 for the first time this year. I said earlier this month that they were working their way back into the conversation in the AL Central. But, that's where they are now: back in the conversation, they are not in Minnesota or Chicago's class yet. If only because they've gone on this tear against NL opponents they won't have the pleasure of seeing the rest of the way.

-Meanwhile, Minnesota only has a +9 run differential and they are 8 games over .500 at 45-37. Ron Gardenhire, in my mind, has no serious competition for AL Manager of the Year. The Twins went 12-2 in interleague play from June 11th to June 29th. Kevin Slowey has been lights out, not allowing an earned run in his last two starts, and only three over his last four starts. Either Slowey or Scott Baker will have to step up for this club, and be an ace, because Opening Day starter Livian Hernandez is the luckiest 8-5 in the league, he of the 5.22 ERA and 1.60 WHIP.

-Patriots DB/ST Willie Andrews has been arrested yet again for allegedly pointing a gun at his girlfriend. It's a shame, he was a solid contributor on specials teams, making spectacular open-field tackles. He had an opportunity this season maybe to return kicks, and maybe eventually get on the field during defensive reps, a la Tully Banta Cain a few years back.

-Our good friend Padraig Shea had an interesting op-ed piece in The Boston Globe today, concerning the Rays-Red Sox brawl, its representation of bench-clearing brawl behavior in baseball, and its similarities to gang warfare in American inner-cities. Check out the article. If the URL goes blank, make a comment, and I'll post the text. Shea basically advocated for baseball teams designating veteran players as "interrupters [who could] act as liaisons between feuding clubs to prevent the next day's starters from renewing ill will." He went on to discuss the NBA's policy of not allowing players on the benches onto the court under any circumstances. I agree MLB should create a rule similar to the NBA's, suspending players not on the field from going onto the field from the dugout or the bullpen. But, the "interrupters" idea seems a bit excessive, and unrealistic. Perhaps more could be done by players' union representatives from the respective clubs, but it would probably be informal. Besides, often retialatory strikes are called for by GM's or managers, not the players themselves.

-What's the bigger individual surprise in baseball: Mike Mussina (10-5, 3.90 ERA) or Dioner Navarro (.317 BA)?

-Sam Presti has apparently gotten off to a rough start as GM of the Seattle Supersonics. Over the last two years, the Sonics have had six second-round picks, and have netted Devon Hardin, "half of DJ White," and "Jeff Green's arm." The two second rounders last year ended up being Carl Landry and Glen Davis, two nice players. I don't want to steal the argument made by my friend Peter Nussbaum over at supersonicsoul.com. Check out the site for more. The pressure isn't on Presti yet, because the team isn't expected to be good, but perhaps he is getting too much credit for lucking into Durant via the lottery, and making an easy dump deal in acquiring Jeff Green for Ray Allen. Nussbaum is rightfully peeved about Presti moving Szczerbiak and Delonte West for Ira Newble and Donyell Marshall. When the West-Szczerbiak platter, and this year's fourth pick (Russell Westbrook), could have netted the Sonics either O.J. Mayo and Kevin Love. Check it out, its a great read, and an important read because the majority of sports media outlets seems concerned with the Sonics' relocation situation. And in the process giving Presti a pass as the GM of a very important rebuilding process.

-I'll be doing a liveblog for the finale of the Rays-Red Sox series, Wednesday night, 7:10pm...

Miscellaneous Video of the Day:
Battle of the Batmans
Very cool stuff. All of the four Batmans since 1989 spliced together in a tidy clip. Yeah, I'm pumped for the new movie.

Old School Rap Video of the Day:
Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz- Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)
A guilty pleasure old-school pick today. Question: Do New York people enjoy this song more than people from places elsewhere? Does it instill them with a sense of hometown pride? Or do they hate it like I hate "Shippin' Out to Boston" by Dropkick Murphys?