Now we DO have an NFL again. While there will be plenty of training camp action and coverage available for your perusal through the NFL Network and ESPN’s SportsCenter, and as much as I CAN’T WAIT to insert an NFL related event into Must See Sports, NFL action, even exhibition NFL action, is not QUITE here yet!
Thursday, July 28
MLB
San Francisco Giants at Philadelphia Phillies
Tim Lincecum (8-8, 2.90 ERA) – Giants vs Kyle Kendrick (5-4, 3.45 ERA) – Phillies
Two first place teams in a rematch of last year's National League Championship Series (and a possible preview of this year's NLCS) will meet for the rubber match in this three game series. Runs have come at a premium for the Giants. Fortunately, runs come against them at a premium, too. Last night's trade by the Giants for New York Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran (.289, 15 HR, 66 RBI) could give San Francisco the spark it needs in its lineup.
Advantages: Game - Giants, Series - Giants
Friday, July 29
MLB
Pittsburgh Pirates at Philadelphia Phillies
Charlie Morton (8-5, 3.69 ERA) – Pirates vs Roy Halladay (12-4, 2.55 ERA) – Phillies
These intrastate National League rivals are playing their most meaningful series, this late in the season, in nearly 20 years. In spite of losing a 19 inning marathon against the Braves on a horrendous call, which dropped the Bucs into third place in the NL Central, the Pirates are still very much in the thick of their division race. The Phillies continue to have the best record in the National League, as they have for most of the season. I do not expect that to change by Friday.
Advantages: Game - Phillies, Series - Phillies
Saturday, July 30
MLB
Los Angeles Angels at Detroit Tigers
Dan Haren (10-6, 3.01 ERA) – Angels vs Duane Below (0-1, 4.66 ERA) – Tigers
If you blinked, you may have missed it. The Tigers finally loosened the Cleveland Indians' vice grip on frst place in the American League Central. As of this morning, they have a two game lead. The Angels have been breathing down the backs of the AL West leading Rangers for most of the season. Could this series help them close the gap?
If so, the Angels will need to solve the puzzle for handling the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera (.314, 21 HR, 67 RBI) and Jhonny Peralta (.320, 16 HR, 61 RBI). Howie Kendrick (.303, 8 HR, 34 RBI) and Torii Hunter (.235, 13 HR, 49 RBI) continue to be the pillars of strength in the Angels batting order, but the real strength on this team is in its pitching.
I am a long time proponent of the theory that solid pitching with adequate hitting beats so-so pitching and good hitting. The Halos have that advantage in this Saturday matchup in this four game series.
Advantages: Game - Angels, Series - Tigers
Sunday, July 31
NASCAR – Sprint Cup Series
Brickyard 400 from Indianapolis, Indiana by presented by Golden Corral
Jimmie Johnson (#48) is seven points back of Carl Edwards (#99) in his pursuit of a sixth consecutive Sprint Cup championship. With the likes of Kyle Busch (#18), Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (#88), and Jeff Gordon (#24) still in the running for the Cup, this race should be filled with personality and action.
Monday, August 1
MLB
Cleveland Indians at Boston Red Sox
Josh Tomlin (11-5, 4.01 ERA) – Indians vs John Lackey (8-8, 6.28 ERA) – Red Sox
Cleveland had the best record in the American League for much of the first half of the season. Until a week ago, the Tribe lead the AL Central for nearly the entire season. Neither is true today. The Red Sox are the cream of the American League and the Tigers have passed the Indians for first place in the division.
The good news for Cleveland is that John Lackey has been touched up more than an antique car at times this season. His last four starts have gone well with 4 wins and a 2.52 ERA in those starts. Conversely, Josh Tomiln has not been consistent of late. He pitched well in his last start against the Angels, albeit a loss that snapped his streak of four consecutive winning decisions, but his ERA in his three starts since the All-Star break is over 5.00.
The Sox or hot; the Tribe is not. This is not the series for the Indians to get their groove back.
Advantages: Game - Red Sox, Series - Red Sox
Wednesday, August 3
MLB
New York Yankees at Chicago White Sox
A.J. Burnett (8-8, 4.21 ERA) – Yankees vs Gavin Floyd (8-9, 4.11 ERA) – White Sox
The White Sox, in spite of some disappointed rants by Manager Ozzie Guillen, are still within striking distance of the division leading Tigers in the American League Central race. The Yankees are also within striking distance of the Red Sox in the AL East, but, of course, are comfortably ahead in the Wild Card race.
White Sox First Baseman Paul Konerko (.308, 24 HR, 74 RBI) has been Mr. Everything for the Sox of late, leading the team in batting average, home runs, RBIs. Konerko reached base in 14 of his last 15 games and 6 runs scored in his last 5 games. Even better for the White Sox is that Adam Dunn is very slowly showing signs of breaking out of his year long slump. Dunn has reached base on his own merit in six of his last seven games, with an on base percentage of .379 and hitting one home run during that stretch.
I have said it before and I'll say it again. If Adam Dunn can return to form, barring injuries, the White Sox will mount a serious challenge in the American League. The Yankees are still without the services of Alex Rodriguez (.295, 13 HR, 52 RBI) as A-rod continues to recover from knee surgery. I think the scales tip slightly to the White Sox in this game.
Advantages: Game - White Sox, Series - White Sox
Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!
To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.
1) Image from mizashly.tumblr.com
2) Image from hardballtalk.nbcsports.com
3) Image from qri.biz
4) Image from drewliton.com
Thursday, July 28
MLB
San Francisco Giants at Philadelphia Phillies
Tim Lincecum (8-8, 2.90 ERA) – Giants vs Kyle Kendrick (5-4, 3.45 ERA) – Phillies
Two first place teams in a rematch of last year's National League Championship Series (and a possible preview of this year's NLCS) will meet for the rubber match in this three game series. Runs have come at a premium for the Giants. Fortunately, runs come against them at a premium, too. Last night's trade by the Giants for New York Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran (.289, 15 HR, 66 RBI) could give San Francisco the spark it needs in its lineup.
Advantages: Game - Giants, Series - Giants
 |
| Lincecum recorded his 1,000th career strikeout last month. Did I mention that he is only 27 years old? 1 |
Friday, July 29
MLB
Pittsburgh Pirates at Philadelphia Phillies
Charlie Morton (8-5, 3.69 ERA) – Pirates vs Roy Halladay (12-4, 2.55 ERA) – Phillies
These intrastate National League rivals are playing their most meaningful series, this late in the season, in nearly 20 years. In spite of losing a 19 inning marathon against the Braves on a horrendous call, which dropped the Bucs into third place in the NL Central, the Pirates are still very much in the thick of their division race. The Phillies continue to have the best record in the National League, as they have for most of the season. I do not expect that to change by Friday.
Advantages: Game - Phillies, Series - Phillies
 |
| After umpire Jerry Meals called Julio Lugo of the Braves safe on this play, dropping the Pirates from first to third place in an extremely tight division race, the Pirates are due some good luck. They'll need it against the Phillies. 2 |
Saturday, July 30
MLB
Los Angeles Angels at Detroit Tigers
Dan Haren (10-6, 3.01 ERA) – Angels vs Duane Below (0-1, 4.66 ERA) – Tigers
If you blinked, you may have missed it. The Tigers finally loosened the Cleveland Indians' vice grip on frst place in the American League Central. As of this morning, they have a two game lead. The Angels have been breathing down the backs of the AL West leading Rangers for most of the season. Could this series help them close the gap?
If so, the Angels will need to solve the puzzle for handling the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera (.314, 21 HR, 67 RBI) and Jhonny Peralta (.320, 16 HR, 61 RBI). Howie Kendrick (.303, 8 HR, 34 RBI) and Torii Hunter (.235, 13 HR, 49 RBI) continue to be the pillars of strength in the Angels batting order, but the real strength on this team is in its pitching.
I am a long time proponent of the theory that solid pitching with adequate hitting beats so-so pitching and good hitting. The Halos have that advantage in this Saturday matchup in this four game series.
Advantages: Game - Angels, Series - Tigers
Sunday, July 31
NASCAR – Sprint Cup Series
Brickyard 400 from Indianapolis, Indiana by presented by Golden Corral
Jimmie Johnson (#48) is seven points back of Carl Edwards (#99) in his pursuit of a sixth consecutive Sprint Cup championship. With the likes of Kyle Busch (#18), Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (#88), and Jeff Gordon (#24) still in the running for the Cup, this race should be filled with personality and action.
 |
| Does anyone else find it a little funny that NASCAR bad boy Kyle Busch has a cartoon M&M on his car? 3 |
Monday, August 1
MLB
Cleveland Indians at Boston Red Sox
Josh Tomlin (11-5, 4.01 ERA) – Indians vs John Lackey (8-8, 6.28 ERA) – Red Sox
Cleveland had the best record in the American League for much of the first half of the season. Until a week ago, the Tribe lead the AL Central for nearly the entire season. Neither is true today. The Red Sox are the cream of the American League and the Tigers have passed the Indians for first place in the division.
The good news for Cleveland is that John Lackey has been touched up more than an antique car at times this season. His last four starts have gone well with 4 wins and a 2.52 ERA in those starts. Conversely, Josh Tomiln has not been consistent of late. He pitched well in his last start against the Angels, albeit a loss that snapped his streak of four consecutive winning decisions, but his ERA in his three starts since the All-Star break is over 5.00.
The Sox or hot; the Tribe is not. This is not the series for the Indians to get their groove back.
Advantages: Game - Red Sox, Series - Red Sox
Wednesday, August 3
MLB
New York Yankees at Chicago White Sox
A.J. Burnett (8-8, 4.21 ERA) – Yankees vs Gavin Floyd (8-9, 4.11 ERA) – White Sox
The White Sox, in spite of some disappointed rants by Manager Ozzie Guillen, are still within striking distance of the division leading Tigers in the American League Central race. The Yankees are also within striking distance of the Red Sox in the AL East, but, of course, are comfortably ahead in the Wild Card race.
White Sox First Baseman Paul Konerko (.308, 24 HR, 74 RBI) has been Mr. Everything for the Sox of late, leading the team in batting average, home runs, RBIs. Konerko reached base in 14 of his last 15 games and 6 runs scored in his last 5 games. Even better for the White Sox is that Adam Dunn is very slowly showing signs of breaking out of his year long slump. Dunn has reached base on his own merit in six of his last seven games, with an on base percentage of .379 and hitting one home run during that stretch.
I have said it before and I'll say it again. If Adam Dunn can return to form, barring injuries, the White Sox will mount a serious challenge in the American League. The Yankees are still without the services of Alex Rodriguez (.295, 13 HR, 52 RBI) as A-rod continues to recover from knee surgery. I think the scales tip slightly to the White Sox in this game.
Advantages: Game - White Sox, Series - White Sox
 |
| I don't think anyone is happier that Adam Dunn is showing some signs of life than Adam Dunn. Could you imagine waking up, pouring your morning coffee, and seeing this drawn about you in the news? 4 |
Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!
To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.
1) Image from mizashly.tumblr.com
2) Image from hardballtalk.nbcsports.com
3) Image from qri.biz
4) Image from drewliton.com
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