All World All Sports Blog

Check out "All World All Sports"

-Digger's Daily-

Who's the best of 2010? Candidates for baseball's end of season awards are plentiful. Some early season odds on favorites have hit rough patches. In some cases, their names were added to an ever growing list of injuries. There's plenty of season to go. Here's my short list of current candidates and players to keep an eye on.

MVP
AL
1- Josh Hamilton (Tex)
2- Adrian Beltre (Bos)
3- Delmon Young (Min)
4- Paul Konerko (CWS)

Not too long ago this list would have read: Robinson Cano (NYY), Justin Morneau (Min), Miguel Cabrera (Det). Cano and Cabrera might bounce back from their early August slumps. It's Hamilton's award to win or lose as of now.

NL
1- Albert Pujols (StL)
2- Carlos Gonzalez (Col)
3- Joey Votto (Cin)
4- Aubrey Huff (SF)
5- Martin Prado (Atl)

Odds on favorite Pujols mini-slump is over and is a putting together a triple crown type season. Carlos Gonzalez has emerged a future star. Votto and Huff don't get much attention but have put together strong seasons. Prado was leading the league in hitting before derailed by injury.

CY YOUNG
AL
1- David Price (TB)
2- Cliff Lee (Sea/Tex)
3- CC Sabathia (NYY)
4- Clay Buchholz (Bos)
5- Trevor Cahill (Oak)
6- Carl Pavano (Min)

AL Cy Young is a wide open contest. This list fluctuates from day to day. Others to keep an eye on: Jon Lester (Bos), Andy Pettitte (NYY, injury may end his bid), John Danks (CWS), Jared Weaver (LAA). Felix Hernandez (Sea) can't get any run support for his stellar performances. It's a battle to game 162.

NL
1- Adam Wainwright (StL)
2- Ubaldo Jiminez (Col)
3- Roy Halladay (Phi)
4- Mat Latos (SD)
5- Tim Hudson (Atl)
6- Josh Johnson (Fla)

Jiminez was the early favorite after blowing away hitters in April & May. Halladay and Wainwright have been hotter of late. Hudson has been Atlanta's top hurler.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
AL
1- Austin Jackson (Det)
2- Brennan Boesch (Det)

NL
1- Jaime Garcia (StL)
2- Gaby Sanchez (Fla)
3- Jason Heyward (Atl)

MANAGER
AL
1- Ron Washington (Tex)
2- Ron Gardenhire (Min)
3- Terry Francona (Bos)
4- Ozzie Guillen (CWS)
5- Joe Girardi (NYY)

NL
1- Bud Black (SD)
2- Bobby Cox (Atl)
3- Bruce Bochy (SF)
4- Dusty Baker (Cin)
5- Charlie Manuel (Phi)

Manager races will probably be determined by hottest finishes. Gardenhire & Francona have dealt with a roster full of injuries and kept their teams in the playoff picture. Bobby Cox is doing a masterful job in his final season.

Hot days of summer baseball are here. Don't miss any action.

(www.allworldallsports.com)

Visit "All World All Sports"

-Digger's Daily-

How much is enough? It's obvious the media, from sportswriter's to main streamers, will be dogging Tiger Woods for a long time. The one time golf superstar-legend-greatest ever ball striker has a few stone throwers.

Is it because of past actions with strippers and whore's? Because he potentially placed his family in peril? Is the press ticked off because they weren't invited to his VIP parties? Or, simply because Tiger hasn't won a tournament?

Stardom is not easy. One day your sitting on top of the world. Then, at the flip of a switch, it might feel like the world is sitting on you. Journalistic malpractice at its' finest. One can easily become frustrated watching the press climb all over celebrities while letting a sitting President lie, cheat, swindle, double talk and bamboozle a nation leaving a slimy trail for all "investigative" types to follow. Investigative journalism is non-existent. Unless, you want to know where Brad & Angelina are vacationing or what Snookie is up to.

Tiger's paid heavily for his actions emotionally and financially. All sorts of polls came out after Tiger's worst round as a pro at the Bridgestone Invitational. Maybe all Woods needs to do to get everyone off his back is to have one exceptional day. So many questions of "Is he done?" "Will Tiger retire winning the most ever majors?" "Can Tiger ever win again?" "Should Tiger be left out of Ryder Cup action?" I guess it's anything to sell a newspaper and it shows which is probably why print publications are way down. They'll never learn. People want news, not soap operas.

Check out "All World All Sports"

-Digger's Daily-

New York Knicks and former failed team President and Head Coach Isiah Thomas have been reunited. The Knicks have hired Florida International coach Thomas as a consultant. This has raised all sorts of red flags. At some point in the not too distant future expect NBA Commissioner Stern to strike down this agreement.

Thomas' tenure in New York was a shipwreck. Thomas on and off court publicity was mostly negative highlighted by a sexual harassment suit levied against the former team prez costing his employers over $11 million.

So what makes Isiah's signing bad? The very fact he's a college coach signed by New York to help evaluate talent. There's a big conflict of interest here. First off, he has two employers with conflicting interests. Second, it's a violation of NBA policy which prevents team officials from having contact with players who aren't yet eligible for the draft. There's a clear and present danger by the Knicks/Thomas agreement. Thomas will be in a position of having contact with players (every team member plus future recruits). Young teenage players could easily be pressured into making decisions they normally wouldn't do. What about agents undue influence of cash and perks which often leads to severe sanctions against universities and suspension of players? This deal is rigged to fail.

I'm not sure how or why the Knicks would even entertain entering into any new relationship with Thomas? Aren't the Knicks supposed to be heading in a new direction? Building a new future? New President? New coach? He was an embarrassment to the team and ownership. I believe in second chances but this is a little absurd. Especially, when violating league rules. It'll be a shocker if this deal survives Commissioner Stern's review.

We seem to be living in an era where history is often ignored and repeated.

Check out "All World All Sports"

-Digger's Daily-

Look out, here come the Baltimore Orioles. New manager Buck Showalter has his O's flying high winning 6 of 7 since he took over for a very ineffective David Trombley (187-283). Buck's club has quickly become a spoiler favorite beating up on AL playoff hopeful Angels and White Sox. This is a relatively young team suddenly believing they can win. Look out unsuspecting foes.

Random thoughts leads to wondering which Major League manager has done the best job so far in 2010. There's no clear cut winner but a few certainly stand out above the rest.
- Bobby Cox has his team where no one thought they'd be... in 1st place. Hitters and pitchers performing in most key situations while Bobby's substitutions keep coming through. It's been a complete team effort so far from the players to coaches right on up to front office. Philadelphia became much stronger with two big pitching guns (Halladay & Oswalt) so look for the fiercy Cox to keep Atlanta focused and motivated.
- Dusty Baker's Reds are clinging to a slim lead over the Cardinals. He's getting the most from his players but everyone knows this pitching staff is about to break down. Or, is it?
- Buddy Black has made Padres players believers. SD's pitching staff is nothing short of sensational from starters to relievers. Lineup had centered around Gonzalez with little but timely production from all others. Padres stunned many by making deadline deal trades for Ludwick and Tejada proving they're focused on winning now.
- Terry Francona continues to deal with crippling injuries. Boston is lurking in the playoff picture when most teams would have imploded. Martinez, Beckett, Pedroia, Lowell, Youkilis, Cameron and Varitek have all missed considerable time. Rookie fill-ins and aggressive play has kept the Sox from fading in the standings. 2010 might be one of Francona's best managing seasons.
- Ron Gardenhire's in the same boat as Francona. Multiple players lost to multiple injuries. Nathan, Morneau, Thome, Mauer, Hudson etc. It's been the walking wounded. RG has kept Minnesota close. Don't be surprised if AL Central goes down to the wire once again.
- Cito Gaston is being over looked because his team is in 4th place. I guess it goes with the territory. Don't turn your back on Toronto (59-52). They're 10 behind division leading New York and 8.5 behind wild card leading Tampa. Lineup crushing long balls at will except for slumping 2B Hill. If Hill's bat comes alive then these guys might start creeping closer. Either way, Gaston has been making all the right moves.

Is it time to turn on the Triple Crown watch? There hasn't been much of a challenge by anyone to pull off a triple crown feat in many years. Here comes Albert Pujols. Pujols has emerged from a mid-season mini-slump and is tearing it up at a fevered pace. He's begun August smashing 4 home runs, 10 RBI at a .481 clip. His season totals are .313 (5th), 28 HR (2nd) & 83 RBI (1st). If ever there was a player to pull it off it's Albert Pujols. Just in case you haven't already figured it out a baseball triple crown is when a player leads his lead in all three categories of HR, RBI & BA. Something tells me NL MVP to be Pujols will do it... especially if he continues on an August power surge.

Cubs hot headed Carlos Zambrano is back starting games for the beleaguered Cubbies. Poor Lou Piniella. This is no way to retire as Chicago is on a collision course for 90 losses. Cubs have been terrible all season. The good news is whoever steps in next does have a talented crew and you can bet on plenty of off season moves. Who will manage next is the million dollar question. Joe Girardi is from the area and refused to feed into any rumors via New York media. Perhaps someone from within the organization? Or, another big name? Too many "what if's" in Cubs heart breaking history.

(www.allworldallsports.com)