A.J. Pierzynski and Nomar Garciaparra won the fan balloting for the final two All-Star spots.  Garciaparra, with over 4 million votes, finished ahead of Chris Capuano to get the NL’s 32^nd spot while Pierzynski garnered over 3.6 million votes to nudge out (a more deserving) Francisco Liriano.  Garciaparra is only the second position player from the NL West to be selected (Matt Holliday is the other) while Pierzynski becomes the 7^th White Sox chosen, though just the first to be picked by the fans.

 

Saying he is happy in Washington, happy with the new ownership and happy in left field, Alfonso Soriano did an abrupt 180 on Thursday and declared that he wants to stay with the Nationals, not only for this season, but for many years to come and play in the new ballpark scheduled to open in 2008.  Though president Stan Kasten welcomed the news, Soriano is nevertheless expected to be among the most highly sought after players as the trade deadline approaches, and the Nationals’ new owners focus on rebuilding the team’s long depleted minor league system. 

 

The Mets on Thursday placed Pedro Martinez on the DL retroactive to June 29 with pain in his hip.  The All-Star pitcher revealed last week that he’d had a cortisone shot in his troublesome hip after allowing 8 runs (6 earned) on 7 hits in 3 innings versus Boston on June 28 and the Sox made the move so they could carry an extra pitcher as they play four games this weekend against the Marlins, including a doubleheader on Saturday.  Henry Owens was recalled to take his roster spot but the Mets will likely make several moves over the weekend, the most visible of which will be recalling the highly touted Mike Pelfrey to make his major league debut for New York in the doubleheader.

 

Eric Gagne may need back surgery, further curtailing his 2006 season.  The Dodgers’ injured closer had been admitted to hospital on Wednesday for back pain unrelated to baseball activity.  An MRI showed two herniated disks and he was given a nerve block and an epidural injection.  He remained hospitalized late Thursday. How he reacts to the injections will determine whether he will need surgery.

 

DN&N will be keeping our thoughts with Japanese baseball legend, and personal favorite, Sadaharu Oh who will undergo surgery, likely next week, to remove a non-life threatening stomach tumor.  The 66-year-old Oh, manager of the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, has taken a leave of absence from the team, but hopes to be able to return later in the fall.  The Hawks are one game out of first in the Pacific League.

 

…and Notes

 

Jason Giambi’s 26^th HR ignited the Yankee offense to a 10-4 win over the Indians on Thursday, helping Randy Johnson (10-7) to earn the 273^rd win of his major league career, which ties him with Red Ruffing for 31^st on the all-time list.  Next up on the list, at number 30, is Jim Kaat with 283 career wins.

 

Todd Hollandsworth has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games overall (16 for 42, .381), including 12 hits in his last 24 at bats with 2 HR and 10 RBI. 

 

Coco Crisp has 1 hit in his last 25 AB (.040), the one hit being a bunt single.

 

Since May 22, a span of 37 games, Carl Crawford is batting .387 (61 for 158) with 12 HR and 29 RBI.

 

Before homering on Thursday night in the A’s 7-5 over Los Angeles, Nick Swisher had had just 1 hit in his last 33 AB (.030) since hitting two HR in Colorado on June 21.

 

Ian Kinsler has 13 hits in his last 25 AB (.520), hitting safely in 7 straight.

 

Albert Pujols is 10 for 24 (.417) with 2 HR and 6 RBI in July.

 

Andy Phillips is 2 for 25 in July (.080). 

 

Ryan Zimmerman is 16 for his last 36 (.444) with 2 HR and 11 RBI during his current 9-game hitting streak, including his second walk-off hit in three days in Thursday’s 8-7 win over the slumping Marlins (1-5 in July).

 

Jamey Wright is 0-5 with a 6.70 ERA in his last 8 starts (35 ER on 61 H in 47 IP). 

 

Kansas City has won 3 in a row and is 13-7 in its last 20 games.

 

The Longest Streak Pt Ia – Frank Thomas put a Big Hurt on the Angels, ending the Halos’ five-game winning streak with a two-out, two-run walk-off home run Thursday night in Oakland.  The blast was his 19^th of the season and the 467^th of his HOF career.  Orlando Cabrera had two hits in the loss to extend his streak of reaching base safely to 63 consecutive games.  

 

The Longest Streak Pt Ib – Chris Capuano, meanwhile, shut out the Cubs 2-0 on 6 hits, denying Greg Maddux the 326^th win of his HOF career, and giving Milwaukee the major leagues’ longest current win streak at 4 straight.  With the win, the Brewers (44-43) moved to within 2.5 games of the first place Cardinals, while Maddux with the loss, dropped to 7-9 on the year.  Against Chicago this year, Capuano has not allowed a run in 26 innings over three starts while giving up just 18 hits and 2 walks and striking out 16. 

 

The Longest Streak Pt II – A day after watching their bullpen blow two extra-inning leads, the Reds shook things up by demoting Brian Shackelford – who aside from his 7.71 ERA was also charged with third degree sexual assault following Wednesday’s game – and trading minor leaguer Travis Chick to Seattle for Everyday Eddie Guardado.  The Reds then went out and watched Atlanta put four up on the board in the first against Joe Mays before battling back with a five-run ninth that featured a game tying 3-run pinch-hit home run by Javier Valentin.  A Jeff Francoeur single off of closer Todd Coffey in the 10^th, however, brought home the game winning run and sent Cincy to its 6^th straight loss, the longest current losing streak in the majors.  The pinch-hit homer by Valentin was the Reds major league best 7^th of the year.

 

In a Pinch – Team Pinch Hitting

 

Today we’ll take a look at some of the top (and bottom) pinch hitting teams in baseball.  Since the NL uses far more pinch hitters than the AL, we’ll need to separate the two leagues to get a better idea of just who is, and who isn’t, getting it done in a pinch. 

 

In the AL, the Tigers have the best team average and on-base percentage, but it’s the White Sox who have been getting the most bang for their buck in the pinch.  Surprisingly though, even the Royals have even found their way into the top three in this category.  In the NL, the Reds, Braves and Marlins have been among the most successful. 

 

The worst pinch hitting team in the AL has been the Oakland A’s who have but one single to show for their efforts this year, while the Phillies have been the least successful NL team in accomplishing this task.  Here is a clearer look at the best and worst pinch hitting teams.

 

All Statistics through 7/5

 

American League – Batting Average        National League – Batting Average

1. Detroit Tigers - .400 (8 for 20)                 1. Florida Marlins - .288 (30 for 104)

2. Chicago White Sox - .310 (13 for 42)      2. Atlanta Braves - .281 (38 for 135)

3. Kansas City Royals - .308 (12 for 39)      3. Cincinnati Reds - .281 (32 for 114)

 

American League – Batting Average         National League – Batting Average

14. Oakland A’s - .048 (1 for 21)                  16. Philadelphia Phillies - .177 (23 for 130)

13. Baltimore Orioles - .107 (3 for 28)         15. Arizona Diamondbacks - .189 (21 for 111)

12. Texas Rangers - .125 (2 for 16)              14. Colorado Rockies - .194 (20 for 103)

 

American League – On-Base + Slugging    National League – On-Base + Slugging

1. Chicago White Sox – 1.110                       1. Cincinnati Reds - .848

2. Detroit Tigers – 1.055                                2. Florida Marlins - .832

3. Kansas City Royals - .853                          3. Atlanta Braves - .807

 

American League – On-Base + Slugging    National League – On-Base + Slugging

14. Oakland A’s - .248                                   16. Philadelphia Phillies - .513

13. Baltimore Orioles - .274                           15. New York Mets - .575

12. Texas Rangers - .301                                14. Colorado Rockies - .592

 

American League – Home Runs                  National League – Home Runs

1. Chicago White Sox – 5                              1. Cincinnati Reds – 6

2t. Los Angeles Angles – 2                            2. Atlanta Braves – 5

2t. Seattle Mariners – 2                                  3t. Washington Nationals – 4

2t. Cleveland Indians – 2                               3t. Pittsburgh Pirates – 4

                                                                       3t. San Diego Padres – 4

 

Team PAMF – Season Wrap Up – With playoff hopes long gone, team PAMF went into the final game of the season hoping to knock Civics (the team that tossed a 5-0 shutout against us earlier in the season) out of the post-season.  Despite spirited play, however, a 2-run Civics rally in the bottom of the 8^th – and extra – inning ended our season with yet another loss.  Still, despite our last place finish, I can truly say that I had the most fun I’ve had in 20 years.  It was great to get out and play again.  I highly recommend it to all!  I do hope you’ve enjoyed keeping up with Team PAMF all season long.  To wrap it up, I’ll say that I fielded all my chances flawlessly on Thursday and caught every fly ball this season that I should have.  I’m proud to say I was no embarrassment with the leather and even made a couple of plays to be proud of.  At the plate, a final 1 for 2 punctuated by a first inning walk with the bases full left me with these final numbers.

 

Hitter	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG	PA	SF	GWRBI
R. Van Zandt	10	29	5	17	2	0	0	10	19	2	0	0.586	0.594	0.655	32	1	1

 

 

On Deck – Friday’s marquee match-up comes to us from Oakland where John Lackey and Barry Zito will square off in a battle between two talented but run-support challenged pitchers.  Lackey (6-5, 3.12) sports the 4^th lowest WHIP (1.09) and the lowest BAA (.206) in the AL but has seen his teammates score just 5.19 runs per game for him (30^th out of 44 qualifiers). Zito (8-5, 3.28) has held hitters to a .235 average (6^th in the AL) yet has received just 4.35 runs per game (39^th). 

 

In the Hole – Also on tap this weekend, Roger Clemens (1-2, 2.76) looks to move past Tim Keefe on the all-time victory list on Saturday as he faces off against St. Louis’ highly touted rookie Anthony Reyes (1-3, 3.30). Also, Twins rookie phenom Francisco Liriano (9-1, 1.99) takes his impressive ERA on the road to Texas as he goes gunning for win number 10 against John Rheinecker (4-2, 3.88) and the Rangers.  Then on Sunday, Jose Contreras (9-0, 3.31) will try to make it 18 wins in a row while being opposed by Red Sox ace Curt Schilling (10-3, 3.63).  Also on Sunday, Tom Glavine (11-2, 3.43) will be going for career win number 287 against Florida and Scott Olsen (6-4, 4.17). 

 

Finally today, DN&N would like to send out wishes for the happiest of birthdays to future HOFer Zachary Van Zandt, who turns 4-years-old this Saturday.  Can’t wait to see you, buddy! 

 

I hope you all have a great weekend and hope to see you back on Monday as we recap the final weekend of play before All Star break.