Must See Sports – Third Week of July 2012

Last week's advantage/disadvantage record: 1-2
Must See Sports 2012 record (excluding series): 51-31
Advantage/disadvantage record in series, 2012: 3-3 

Less than three weeks until NFL preseason football is back! That's a good thing because clearly my MLB analysis is off. It sure was last week!


Thursday, July 19

MLB

Chicago White Sox at Boston Red Sox
White Sox – Jose Quintana (4-1, 2.60 ERA) vs Red Sox – Clay Buchholz (8-3, 5.54 ERA)

Buchholz appears to have settled down after a very rough April and May. His loss to the Rays on Saturday snapped a string of four consecutive wins. The Red Sox are going to need him back to his "A" game is the BoSox are to keep pace in the extraordinarily tight American League Wild Card race.

The Red Sox will have to host the White Sox without the services of their most valuable player, designated hitter David Ortiz (.316, 23 HR, 58 RBI). That is news to the ears of Quintana and the White Sox. Quintana was not in the White Sox's starting pitching rotation on Opening Day, but he has been a pleasant insertion. The White Sox have won five of the last six games in which Quintana has started.

Another pleasant addition in the Southside is third baseman Kevin Youkilis (.260, 8 HR, 32 RBI), the long time Red Sox's stand out and fan favorite. Youk has reached base in all 13 games he has played in during July, hitting .362 for the month. He lit the Red Sox up for a home run and three RBIs on Tuesday. Chicago could use more of the same in their attempt to split the series.

Advantage: White Sox

Youkilis was traded to the White Sox after spending his entire career in Boston. You think he didn't savor this home run against the Red Sox? 1

Friday, July 20

MLB

Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals
Braves – Tommy Hanson (10-5, 4.02 ERA, 98 Ks) vs Stephen Strasburg (10-4, 2.66 ERA, 135 Ks)

Hanson has only lost one decision since May while young Strasburg has dropped three consecutive decisions in his three starts prior to his win over the Miami Marlins on Sunday. This series is critical for the Braves, who are four games back of the first place Nationals in the National League East.

The Nationals pitching, overall, has continued to be excellent. The Braves appear to be finding their groove after an uncharacteristically pedestrian start to the season. In this particular game, I like the Nationals because they live by their power game and Hanson has had a penchant for serving up the long ball this year. On the other hand Atlanta's bullpen has be consistent and tough all season. Hanson could have a short outing tomorrow night.

Advantages: Game - Nationals, Series - Nationals 


Saturday, July 21

PGA

The Open Championship – Third Round

The British Open will feature all of golf's biggest stars like Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, and Tiger Woods. All eyes are going to be on Woods, who has not won a major tournament since 2008. However, Woods has two PGA tour wins this year, most recently at the AT&T National tournament earlier this month. Woods looks like he may be "back", but only a major tournament win will permanently silence the whispers about whther or not Tiger will ever "really" regain his mojo.


Sunday, July 22


PGA

The Open Championship – Final Round

Woods will be the featured story at the Open Championship. 2 

MLB

Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Mets
Dodgers – Chris Capuano (9-5, 2.75 ERA, 103Ks) vs Mets – Miguel Batista (1-2, 4.33 ERA)

Both of these teams are slumping at a bad time. The Dodgers have dropped seven of their last 10 while the Mets have lost six straight. L.A. has cause for optimism, however, as centerfielder Matt Kemp (.354, 13 HR, 31 RBI) recently returned to the lineup after a month and a half absence due to injury.

Mets Fan, on the other hand, must have the "oh God no," feeling of deja vu from 2007 and 2008, when the second half of their seasons were so disastrous that the team went from being virtually certain to reach the post season to watching the playoffs at home. As I suggested earlier this month, the Mets greatest potential for their undoing has been their relief pitchers. During the month of July, the only relief they have offered manager Terry Collins is when they don't need to enter the game for very long.

Advantages: Game - Dodgers, Series - Dodgers

Kemp's return to the Dodger's lineup could not come soon enough. 4

Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Angels
Rangers – Matt Harrison (12-4, 2.87 ERA) vs Angels – Dan Haren (6-8, 4.86 ERA)

This is probably the marquee series of the week. The Angels had an opportunity to close some ground on the first place, two-time defending American League champion Rangers. The Rangers have played .500 ball during their last 10 games and their bats have gone somewhat limp in July.

Unfortunately for Halos Fan, the Angels gained no ground, also going 5-5 over their last 10 games. Their bats have been red hot, especially their young sensation Mike Trout (.353, 13 HR, 44 RBI), who has reached base in all 14 of the Angels' games in July. The pitching has failed to deliver timely outs and reliever Scott Downs (1-1, 1.44 ERA, 8 SV), who had an 0.30 ERA before last Friday, went from hero to zero by single handedly coughing up the Angels series opener against the Yankees last Friday.

Haren has been hit-or miss all year, but he is returning from the disabled list after suffering lower back problems. Perhaps the rest is what he needed. I wouldn't count on it against the Rangers.

Advantages: Game - Rangers, Series - Rangers 

Rest was what the doctor ordered for Haren. Can it help turn his game around? 3  

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1) Image from www.greenwichtime.com
2, 3) Images from www.zimbio.com
4) Image from www.truebluela.com