Where My Dogs At?

Michael Vick, the Quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons and one of the most recognizable faces of the National Football League, has been charged with being a ringleader of an illiegal dogfighting ring. According to the 18-page indictment, the dogfighting ring executed underperforming dogs by drowning, hanging and other brutal means. It alleges that the fights offered purses as high as $26,000.

The grisly details outlined in the indictment have fueled protests and public outrage against Vick. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has banned Vick from the Falcons' training camp while the league investigates.

Michael Vick is in deep dog doodoo (no pun intnended) as one of his former associates, Tony Taylor, has now agreed to testify for the government in their case against Michael Vick. Wittnesses have put Michael at the scene of the dog executions and there may soon be more charges coming up against Michael Vick.

No Ammount of Scrambling can get Michael Vick away from the very real possibility that he may spend some time in prison. Vick had better hope that his attorney Billy Martin is as good as his track record says he is, Otherwise, Vick can kiss his NFL Career Goodbye.

MLB Trade Deadline Rapidly Approaching

The Major League Baseball Trade Deadline is rapidly approaching, and we are already seeing some suprising deals go down. The first trade Friday came as not much of a suprise as Kenny Lofton was reacquired by the Cleveland Indians for the third time in hius Major League Carrer. In return, the Indians gave the Rangers Minor League Catcher Max Ramirez.

The other trade announced on Friday was suprising. The Chicago White Sox were geting ready to unload their sinking ship of a team, but the only question was: Who was going to be traded? We have our first answer to that question as it was announced the Chicago White Sox traded Second Baseman Tadahito Iguchi to the Philladelphia Phillies for a Class A Minor League Pitcher. This trade made sense for the Phillies as this gives them a viable Second Baseman until Chase Utley is able to recover from his injury.

Who will be the next one to go? Which Teams will make moves? Which Teams will stay put? Which General Managers are going through many sleepless nights over who they are thinking about trading?

Get ready. Teams are Wheeling and Dealing in the hope that their trade will help their team win the World Series.

(Sorry for the delay in posting. I have not been able to blog regularly ever since my new bundle of joy arrived about two weeks ago, but I will still be blogging, just not at the regular rate I am accustomed to)

Carlos Zambrano becomes the first NL Pitcher with 12 Wins

Carlos Zambrano can do no wrong for the Chicago Cubs lately.

Zambrano pitched five shutout innings to become the National League's first 12-game winner, Koyie Hill drove in a career-high five runs on a pair of doubles and the surging Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants 12-1 on Wednesday.

Slugger Barry Bonds was held out of San Francisco's starting lineup for the third straight day to rest his sore legs, and it might not have mattered. Zambrano (12-7) allowed two hits and the Cubs gave him more than enough offense in their fifth win in six games since the All-Star break and 17th in 22 overall.

Matt Cain (3-11), the Giants' hard-luck right-hander, didn't allow a hit until Cliff Floyd's two-out single started Chicago's four-run fourth inning. Jacque Jones got Chicago on the board three batters later on a two-run single that glanced off first baseman Ryan Klesko's glove into shallow right field.

Hill followed Klesko with a two-run double and then doubled again in the fifth with a drive off the center-field wall to score three. Floyd also added an RBI double earlier in the five-run inning.

Zambrano improved to 7-2 in his nine starts since fighting with then-Cubs catcher Michael Barrett on June 1. He went only five innings, likely a precaution with such a big lead after he took a ball off his hand on Dave Roberts' leadoff groundout in the first.

Sean Gallagher pitched four innings of relief, allowing the Giants' only run in the ninth and picking up his first career save.

MLB All Star Game is Tonight!

Click on the video to see a promo for the MLB All Star Game.


The Major League Baseball All Star Game is Tonight. Here are the Starting Lineups for the teams tonight.

AMERICAN LEAGUE (Managed by Detroit Tigers Manager Jim Leyland)
Order Team Pos. Player
1.Mariners CF Ichiro Suzuki
2.Yankees SS Derek Jeter
3. Red Sox 1B David Ortiz
4.Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez
5.Angels RF Vladimir Guerrerro
6.Tigers LF Magglio Ordonez
7.Tigers C Ivan Rodriguez
8.Tigers 2B Placido Polanco
9.Athletics P Dan Haren

AMERICAN LEAGUE RESERVES
Pos. Name Team
C Víctor Martínez Indians
C Jorge Posada Yankees
1B Justin Morneau Twins
2B Brian Roberts Orioles
3B Mike Lowell Red Sox
SS Carlos Guillén Tigers
SS Michael Young Rangers
OF Carl Crawford Devil Rays
OF Torii Hunter Twins
OF Manny Ramírez Red Sox
OF Alex Ríos Blue Jays
OF Grady Sizemore Indians


NATIONAL LEAGUE (Managed by St. Louis Cardinals Manager Tony LaRussa)
Order Team Pos. Player
1. Mets SS Jose Reyes
2. Giants LF Barry Bonds
3. Mets CF Carlos Beltran
4. Reds RF Ken Griffey Jr.
5. Mets 3B David Wright
6. Brewers 1B Prince Fielder
7. Dodgers C Russell Martin
8. Phillies 2B Chase Utley
9. Padres P Jake Peavy

NATIONAL LEAGUE RESERVES
Pos. Name Team
C Brian McCann Braves
1B Derrek Lee Cubs
1B Albert Pujols Cardinals
1B Dmitri Young Nationals
2B Orlando Hudson Diamondbacks
2B Freddy Sanchez Pirates
3B Miguel Cabrera Marlins
SS J.J. Hardy Brewers
OF Matt Holliday Rockies
OF Carlos Lee Astros
OF Aaron Rowand Phillies
OF Alfonso Soriano Cubs

Oakland Athletics Ace Dan Haren has made Athletics fans forget all about Barry Zito, and he will be rewarded by becoming the Starting Pitcher for the American League.

San Diego Padres Ace Jake Peavy was bound to start an All Star Game. It was only a matter of time. Peavy is the ace of the veteran pitching staff in San Diego, and Peavy will be the Starting Pitcher for the National League.

The National League came close to beating the American League last year, only to watch Rangers SS Michael Young bring home the winning run for the American League. That's not going to happen this year. National League Wins.

The All Star Game is tonight on Fox.

2007 MLB Home Run Derby Is Tonight!

Click on the video to see Ryan Howard hit the homerun winning him the 2006 Home Run Derby and give one lucky fan a lifetime of free airline flights.


The eight competitors have been announced for tonight's Home Run Derby in San Francisco. 2006 winner Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies will attempt to defend his crown, while Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau and Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder will take their first swings at the Home Run Derby. Vladimir Guerrero of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Magglio Ordonez of the Detroit Tigers will also participate. Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals will participate in the event for the first time since 2003. Alex Rios of the Toronto Blue Jays will also participate, and Matt Holliday of the Colorado Rockies will replace Miguel Cabrera, who was going to participate, but was injured in a game on July 7.

The 2007 Home Run Derby is tonight at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Catch the Home Run Derby tonight on ESPN.

The All Star Game is tommorow night on Fox.

Cubs Defeat Pirates 7-1 in Pittsburgh

Cubs Starter Ted Lilly struck out six batters, and was one of seven different players to collect an RBI, as the Cubs posted a 7-1 win Saturday night over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

With the win, the Cubs are guaranteed an above .500 record at the All-Star break. A year ago, they were 34-54 at the midway point. The Cubs have gone 22-11 since June 3, the best record in baseball in that stretch.

Happy Independence Day!

I hope everybody had a great Independence Day yesterday. I hope everyone stayed safe with the barbecue and the fireworks. The Power Zone took a day off in honor of Independence Day. There was a lot of great sporting events yesterday, the Washington Nationals shut out the Cubs 6-0 in Washingon D.C, our Nation's Capital. But I think the best sporting event of all yesterday was the 2007 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island. Takeru Kobayashi, the defending Hot Dog eating Champion since 2001, it was rumored he may not even show up due to an arthritic jaw, but Kobayashi showed up and downed more hot dogs than he ever had before, finishing with 63 hot dogs (1 hot dog was deducted from Kobayashi's total.)but would it be enough to surpass the upstart American who placed second to Kobayashi last year, Joey Chestnut?

Click on the video to see the last five minutes of the 2007 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island.

Cubs defeat Nationals 7-2 in Washington D.C

The Chicago Cubs defeated the Washington Nationals 7-2 at RFK Stadium. The Cubs scored all seven runs in the first four innings. Ted Lilly had plenty of cushion as
Mark DeRosa knocked in three runs, while Aramis Ramirez had two RBIs. Lilly allowed one run in seven solid innings. Alfonso Soriano added two hits and one RBI in his return to RFK Stadium, where he played last saeson. With the win, the Cubs have won nine of their last 10 games and are above .500 at the season's 81-game halfway point for the first time since 2004. The Cubs are 6.5 games back of the divison leading Milwaukee Brewers.

MLB All Star Rosters Revealed

Click on the video to see a promo for the 2007 Major League Baseball All Star Game.




Here's the rosters for the All star Game, which will be on July 10th in San Francisco.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Starters

Pos Player B/T

C Ivan Rodriguez, DET R/R

1B David Ortiz, BOS L/L

2B Placido Polanco, DET R/R

3B Alex Rodriguez, NYY R/R

SS Derek Jeter, NYY R/R

OF Vladimir Guerrero, LAA R/R

OF Magglio Ordonez, DET R/R

OF Ichiro Suzuki, SEA L/R

Pitchers

Pos Player B/T

P Josh Beckett, BOS R/R

P Dan Haren, OAK R/R

P Bobby Jenks, CWS R/R

P John Lackey, LAA R/R

P Gil Meche, KC R/R

P Jonathan Papelbon, BOS R/R

P J.J. Putz, SEA R/R

P Francisco Rodriguez, LAA R/R

P C.C. Sabathia, CLE L/L

P Johan Santana, MIN L/L

P Justin Verlander, DET R/R

Reserves

Pos Player B/T

C Victor Martinez, CLE S/R

C Jorge Posada, NYY S/R

1B Justin Morneau, MIN L/R

2B Brian Roberts, BAL S/R

SS Carlos Guillen, DET S/R

SS Michael Young, TEX R/R

3B Mike Lowell, BOS R/R

OF Carl Crawford, TB L/L

OF Torii Hunter, MIN R/R

OF Manny Ramirez, BOS R/R

OF Alex Rios, TOR R/R

OF Grady Sizemore, CLE L/L

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Starters

Pos Player B/T

C Russell Martin, LAD R/R

1B Prince Fielder, MIL L/R

2B Chase Utley, PHI L/R

3B David Wright, NYM R/R

SS Jose Reyes, NYM S/R

OF Carlos Beltran, NYM S/R

OF Barry Bonds, SF L/L

OF Ken Griffey Jr, CIN L/L

Pitchers

Pos Player B/T

P Francisco Cordero, MIL R/R

P Brian Fuentes, COL L/L

P Cole Hamels, PHI L/L

P Trevor Hoffman, SD R/R

P Jake Peavy, SD R/R

P Brad Penny, LAD R/R

P Takashi Saito, LAD R/R

P Ben Sheets, MIL R/R

P John Smoltz, ATL R/R

P Jose Valverde, ARI R/R

P Billy Wagner, NYM L/L

Reserves

Pos Player B/T

C Brian McCann, ATL L/R

1B Derrek Lee, CHC R/R

1B Albert Pujols, STL R/R

1B Dmitri Young, WSH S/R

2B Orlando Hudson, ARI S/R

2B Freddy Sanchez, PIT R/R

SS J.J. Hardy, MIL R/R

3B Miguel Cabrera, FLA R/R

OF Matt Holliday, COL R/R

OF Carlos Lee, HOU R/R

OF Aaron Rowand, PHI R/R

OF Alfonso Soriano, CHC R/R

Barry Bonds got the final starting Outfield spot, surpassing Alfonso Soriano on the final day of voting. Barry gets to play in the All Star Game in front of his fans.

The All Star Game is July 10th in San Francisco.

Mike Hargrove Resigns as Mariners Manager

Mie Hargrove has resgned as Manager of the Seattle Mariners. This stunning announcement came hours before the Mariners play the Toronto Blue Jays. Even though the Mariners are the hottest team in baseball, Hargrove says his passion has begun to fade. in 1995 and 1997, Hargrove lead the Cleveland Indians to a World Series apperance. Hargrove resigned in the middle of his third season with the Mariners.