Kuzul

Fresh on the heels of the announcement that The Wiggles are coming to Chase Field, the Arizona Diamondbacks announced their second post-game concert.

I have to admit I am a lot more excited about this one than I was the first.

The Arizona Diamondbacks announced there would be a concert featuring Hall & Oates after the Los Angeles Dodgers/Arizona Diamondbacks game to kick off the Fourth of July Weekend.

This is an exciting announcement for anyone who grew up in the 1980’s or who has a parent who seems to be stuck in the 1980’s.

From 1980-1985, the duo of Daryl Hall and John Oates dominated the music scene.

They put together a string of songs and albums that remained at the top of the charts in sales and play. Songs include such classics as “Rich Girl,” “Kiss on my List,” “Private Eyes,” “I Can’t Go For That,” and “Maneater.”

The concert begins a series of three days where the Diamondbacks are celebrating the Independence Day holiday.

Friday games typically end with a post-game fireworks show. But for this series, the fireworks will move to Saturday and will be expanded to become the Valley’s largest Independence Day fireworks show.

The All-American Weekend is sponsored by the Arizona Milk Producers and will be a series not to be missed.

The only thing that might have made this even more spectacular would have been if the Diamondbacks had scheduled 1980’s night on July 2.

I guess that may have been too much as we surely would have depleted the ozone layer with the fans using that much hair spray in one day.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

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The Arizona Immigration Law is undoubtedly stirring a lot of emotions.  If you have not heard of it, then feel free to go back to sleep. Your government will take care of you—that’s a promise—well, from them.

In 2011, Major League Baseball’s All-Star game is scheduled for Arizona.

This has people in a tizzy, calling for the MLB to move it, cancel it, have all the players wear pink berets instead of ball caps, hold special ceremonies honoring the vast number of Hispanic ball players, etc.

None of that will happen.  Especially the pink berets—that was just made up. 

In fact, it would not be at all surprising to see MLB’s commissioner, Bud Selig, fine players who boycott the game on the grounds that the law is unjust.

If the Arizona Diamondbacks had a non-sponsored baseball stadium like, for example, Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park, the commissioner would relocate the game in half of a hiccup.

Even if it were corporately sponsored by, say, Target—like Minnesota’s new stadium, it is fairly likely that Mr. Selig would move the game.

So why won’t the 2011 MLB All-Star Game be moved from Arizona?  Simple two-word answer: Chase Field.

It may as well be called JP Morgan Chase Field.  The Chase Manhattan Corporation merged with JP Morgan & Co. in the year 2000, forming the third largest financial institution in America.

It is known as one of the “Big Four” banks in the United States—along with Bank of America, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo.

For all the power and money that Major League Baseball is worth, comparing the wealth of MLB to JP Morgan Chase & Co. is sort of like trying to buy a new car with couch change.   

Major League Baseball and Selig are way too smart to even entertain or suggest moving the game for fear of repercussions that would assuredly arise if they went against the will of any of the “Big Four.”

The entire situation has been called a political issue—not true.

It’s an economic issue.

Take the 2008 Presidential campaign, for example.  The investment firm Goldman Sachs was the largest contributor to the Presidential campaign of Barack Obama.

And, get this; Goldman Sachs was also the largest contributor to John McCain’s run for office—talk about hedging your bets.

What does Goldman Sachs have to do with the “Big Four?”  They act as the conduit so Bank of America, Citibank, JP Morgan Chase, and Wells Fargo can keep their hands clean.

It is a common misconception that politicians actually run this country.  While they do wield power, big decisions come down to money and the “Big Four”—a pickle in which Major League Baseball finds itself concerning the 2011 All-Star Game. 

Selig knows that to move the game from Arizona’s Chase Field would infuriate JP Morgan Chase—and JP Morgan Chase has the power to bankrupt baseball faster than the speediest typist in the world can put “qwerty” on their screen.

There is one unlikely scenario that would make a move from Arizona possible: if the faltering bank were allowed to go bankrupt itself, like Houston’s former Enron Stadium.

But Enron was an energy corporation, whereas the “Big Four” are financial institutions—the heart and soul of what keeps this country running, albeit on life support.

Given Washington’s propensity to lend the “Big Four” trillions of dollars makes it even more unlikely. 

There is a lot that could happen in this country over the next year and two months. 

The “Big Four” could all go bankrupt.

However, if that were to happen, it is unlikely that baseball would exist as we know it today. 

Baseball fans would probably be looking at John Rocker coming out of retirement and named the starting pitcher, possibly the only pitcher, on the National League’s staff.

Long story short: Don’t mess with the “Big Four.”

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For those of you who’ve been living in a cave for the last few weeks, some crazy stuff is going on in Arizona.

A new state law requires police officers to check for immigration papers whenever they spot someone who “looks illegal.” Another new policy forbids people with accents from teaching English—I’m betting that won’t be enforced against Brooklyn inflections or Texas drawls—and bans ethnic studies in schools—because God forbid the victims of racial profiling should realize that they are an “oppressed minority.”

That’s why Major League Baseball must move the 2011 All-Star Game out of Phoenix.

We all have our own opinions, and I’m sure I’ll hear lots of them in the comments section. I’m guessing a fair number of people will chide me for mixing partisan politics with unifying, unbiased sport.

But that’s wrong. It’s not just that these laws are unjust; it is that they go against the principles for which the game stands.

You see, baseball does have an ideology. Embedded deep within the game’s traditions is the spirit of integration and harmony between people of all nations and colors, and Arizona’s actions are in direct conflict with this mentality.

Baseball knows no race or nationality. From Caracas to Johannesberg to Seoul, the game and its players are esteemed and idolized. Even Cuba begged the U.S. government to let its team travel to America for the World Baseball Classic.

Baseball doesn’t divide, it unites. In the Civil War, Union and Confederate troops would call ceasefires to play scrimmages (gives new meaning to the phrase “do or die”). And when President Bush wanted to send a symbol of patriotism after 9/11, he didn’t kick the first field goal at a Redskins game or shoot a ceremonial three-pointer before a Wizards game.

That’s why implicitly endorsing the state’s actions—as would be the case if Major League Baseball descends upon Phoenix for a week—is wrong.

This is a sport that looks to Civil Rights icon Jackie Robinson as the most revered player in its history. How would Robinson have felt about Major League Baseball being passive in this instance? In the words of Desmond Tutu, “If you are neutral in situations of injust, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

A quarter of MLB players are Hispanic. Albert Pujols and Felix Hernandez would have to be sure to bring their papers when they head to the Copper State, because they “look illegal.”

And why stop there? If, as the bill’s supporters claim, this isn’t about racial profiling, you’d better remember that immigrants don’t just come from the south. Ichiro, I’m going to need to see some ID.

Am I the only one who has a problem with this?

A 100-mph fastball is intimidating in any language, and a monster home run draws oohs and aahs from people of any culture. Why would Bud Selig & Co. even consider hosting the game’s brightest night from a place where such heterogeneous behavior is legally discouraged?

This is baseball’s chance to stand up for what it believes in. Because it’s not just the national pastime, it’s the international pastime.

In closing, I would like to ask those who differ from me ideologically to read up on the Mexican-American War. They’re stealing our jobs? How do you think we got Arizona?

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Game No. 24 on the Fantasy Baseball Insiders Tonight trail featured a four-hit, two-homer game from an unsuspecting second baseman, and a rough outing from a usually dominant starter.

Game No. 24: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Atlanta Braves

• Dan Haren was tagged for seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and three walks in four and one-third innings Sunday, marking the fourth time he’s given up four runs or more in a start this season. After nine starts, the 29-year-old has an uncharacteristic 4.83 ERA and 1.37 WHIP.

Despite his early struggles, there’s reason to buy low on the Diamondbacks’ ace. Haren’s strikeouts are actually up (9.35 K/9 this year, 7.68 career), though his walks are up just a bit as well (2.26 BB/9 in ‘10, 1.99 career). His current BABIP (.357) is the 15th highest among starters, and Haren’s left on-base rate (66.9 percent) is well below his career mark of 73.1 percent.

Perhaps most encouraging is Haren’s o-swing rate , which calculates the percentage of pitches an opposing batter swings at outside of the strike zone. Haren leads the league in this category , coaxing foolish swings on 36.2 percent of his pitches outside of the zone. Bottom line: His stuff is still among the nastiest in baseball.

• Tim Hudson opposed Haren on Sunday, pitching eight sparkling innings while allowing just one run on three hits and one walk. Through eight starts, Hudson boasts an impressive 4-1 record with a 2.41 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. His .224 BABIP, 84.8 percent LOB rate, and 4.38 xFIP, however, suggest the 34-year-old Tommy John survivor is an excellent sell-high option.

•Batting leadoff for the Braves, Martin Prado went 4-for-6 on Sunday with two runs, two homers, and three RBI. Prado’s pace has slowed a bit after a hot April (in which he hit .356), but the 26-year-old second baseman maintains a .323 batting average and has at least two hits in five of his last seven games. Capable of batting .300 with 15 homers and 90 runs, Prado is pushing for a top-10 spot among players at his position.

Other notes from around the league:

Hitters

Hitter of the day: Martin Prado (4-for-6, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI)

• Jose Bautista continues to rake it in, as he went 1-for-2 with a walk, two runs, and a solo homer on Sunday. The 29-year-old is batting .288 with six homers and 13 RBI in in 15 games this month. His season average (.241), however, puts a cap on his potential value.

The former Oriole, Devil Ray, Royal, and Pirate has never topped 16 homers in a single season, but already has 10 through 39 games, thanks to a FB rate and HR/FB rate well above his career averages. The plethora of long balls explains his low BABIP , suggesting the power will subside as this number evens out.

• Chris Coghlan whacked a three-run pinch-hit homer on Sunday, his second in three games. The struggling left fielder now has a hit in nine of his last 11 games, raising his batting average from .183 to .214 during that span. As Coghlan’s low BABIP evens out, his strikeouts should decline and the reigning N.L. Rookie of the Year will be on his way to living up to his .300 average, double-digit steals, and homers hype.

• Scott Rolen hasn’t topped 20 homers in a season since 2006, but appears to be well on his away after hitting his seventh in 33 games on Sunday. His current HR/FB rate of 17.1 percent, however, is unsustainable given his career mark of 11.2 percent. He’s worth an add in 14-team leagues given his home ballpark and the lineup he’s in, but is almost certain to hit the DL at some point this season.

• Russell Branyan went 1-for-4 with a homer on Sunday, his fourth in five games. His game is no secret—bunches of homers with a gut-wrenching average. If your team can withstand the ladder, he’s worth a look.

• Luke Scott went 3-for-4 with a solo homer on Sunday, as he continues to be one of the hottest hitters in baseball since the end of April. In 10 games this month, the 31-year-old is batting .333 with five homers and 10 RBI. His average should continue to rise with his low BABIP , but will eventually top out in the .260 range. He’s worth owning in all formats, at least until he cools off. 

Pitchers

Pitcher of the day: Joel Pineiro (W, CG, 4 H, 0 ER, BB, 5 K)

• Joel Pineiro threw a complete game shutout against the Athletics on Sunday, yielding just four hits and a walk. Excluding his two horrific starts against New York and Detroit, the 31-year-old owns a 1.29 ERA in 41 and two-thirds innings. Despite this, he’s owned in only one-third of Yahoo! leagues. If the Angels’ starter is available in yours, he’s worth the add.

• Jake Westbrook picked up his second consecutive win on Sunday, tossing a complete game against Baltimore while allowing just one run. The 32-year-old scattered nine hits and walked only one, while fanning eight.

Westbrook missed most of 2008 and all of 2009 following Tommy John surgery, but appears to be working his way back to fantasy relevance. Through eight starts this year, he has a 4.13 xFIP . Like most Tommy John survivors, his control will come with time, meaning his current walk rate of 3.88 could drop closer to his career mark of 2.80, making him usable in fantasy leagues once again.

• Cliff Lee dazzled the Rays on Sunday, allowing two runs on five hits in eight innings. He also fanned 10. Seattle’s stagnant offense, however, stuck Lee with the tough-luck loss. Through four starts (30 and one-third innings) this season, the 31-year-old southpaw owns a stellar 2.08 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and a ridiculous 25/1 K/BB ratio.

Relievers

• Manuel Corpas picked up his second save in as many days against the Nationals on Sunday. Despite his struggles earlier this month, Corpas is the ninth-inning favorite for the next few weeks until Huston Street returns from the DL.

• J.C. Romero worked a perfect ninth to record his first save of the season for the Phillies on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. The reigning N.L. Champs rested Contreras after pitching two consecutive days, but he (not Romero) remains the favorite for save until further notice.

Original Article: FANTASY BASEBALL INSIDERS

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Fantasy Baseball Insiders Tonight updates

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The D’Backs released relief pitcher Bob Howry after acquiring Saul Rivera, for cash considerations, from the Indians.

Howry finished the ’09 season strong, but was horrendous in his first 14 appearances this year. He posted a 10.67 ERA in 14.1 innings of work. Howry surrendered 18 hits, six HRs and six walks while recording just six Ks. It doesn’t get much worse than that.

Howry turns 37 in August. His career might be over. Because he was effective at the end of last season, Howry can continue to play if he’s willing to prove himself in AAA.

The Rattlers are on the hook for the lion’s share of his $2.25 million 2010 salary.

Rivera appears to be a slight upgrade. He had two fairly decent seasons as a middle reliever for the Nationals in 2007 and 2008, but pitched poorly in 2009. He began this season at AAA Columbus. 

While there, Rivera posted a spectacular 0.53 ERA in 17 innings of work; although his ratios aren’t as impressive as his ERA.

Rivera is no youngster either, he’s 32, which likely explains why the Indians gave him up solely for cash considerations.

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For the fifth consecutive night Arizona Diamondbacks fans sat helplessly and watched as their team dropped yet another baseball game to the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers.

It is not just that the Diamondbacks are losing; it is the way they are losing that has fans up in arms. Last night was the latest example of the struggles this team has faced this year.

Arizona’s offense continued its struggles getting just four hits and no runs over the first six innings. During this same period the Dodgers would score three runs on nine hits.

After the first Dodger run scored, the fans let out a collective groan knowing the Diamondbacks likely would not be able to overcome even a single run deficit. That outlook changed when Arizona pieced together four hits and scratched out three runs to get to within one.

All of the excitement quickly dissipated when the game was turned over to the Diamondbacks bullpen. By the time the last out was recorded in the eighth inning, the Dodgers had sent 12 men to the plate and scored seven runs. The beating was not over as the Dodgers would tack on another two runs in the ninth on their way to a 13-3 win.

The bullpen struggles are nothing new, it has been occurring all season.

Diamondbacks coaches and front office executives continually preach patience and explain at great lengths that the season is 162 games long and we are just 34 games into the season.

I can understand that argument and I can appreciate their loyalty to their pitching staff but if 2009 taught us anything it was that a downward and negative trend can snowball quickly with a young team—sooner or later the losses can add up to an insurmountable uphill battle.

During his post game remarks, Diamondbacks manager AJ Hinch was inevitably asked about the struggling bullpen. Clearly this latest episode was even more than Hinch could bear. His tone was short and he began questioning whether the current personnel were capable of overcoming their difficulties.

At a minimum, the roles in the bullpen are in a state of flux with no one guaranteed a spot. This is a challenging time to be making wholesale changes to the ‘pen but the team appears to be ready to begin reconstruction.

General Manager Josh Byrnes warned that the team would not make trades just for the sake of doing so but did appear to be open to a multitude of changes and suggested that nothing is off-limits (including the possibility of moving a starting pitcher to the beleaguered bullpen).

In the words of Byrnes, “that would be the equivalent of robbing Peter to pay Paul” so maybe extreme changes might not be warranted at the present time but could be revisited if or when Brandon Webb and Kris Benson return to action.

For now the fans need to develop thick skin and hang in there. The boos will continue to flow through Chase Field whenever a pitching change occurs and the Diamondbacks will keep searching for an end to this losing streak.

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The past two games for the Arizona bullpen? 6 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball. Yes, I know. It is an amazing feat. One might actually think that a corner has been turned, that things will improve.

This is, indeed, possible, but before there are parties and wagers about how the season is turning around (I doubt people are doing that yet, but still relax), take a deep breath and look at the reality. The bullpen just did that against the Astros, a pathetic excuse for a major league team at the moment.

How bad are the ‘Stros? Offensively, they are terrible. In 26 games, the team has scored a total of only 73 runs, an average of less than three per game. They have hit only nine home runs as a team (remember that BOTH Mark Reynolds and Kelly Johnson have hit as many individually).

They only mustered one run against D’backs’ starter Cesar Valdez in five innings, a pitcher that, previous to Saturday when it was announced that he would start, I had never even heard of.

I was encouraged by the quality of pitches that I saw both Chad Qualls and Juan Gutierrez throw, but Gutierrez was also aided by a generous strike zone that caused both Hunter Pence and Lance Berkman to argue with the umpire after being punched out by Gutierrez.

Basically, I am happy that the bullpen had success, but I am also a long way from declaring that the problems are over. As fans, we should expect the bullpen to do its job (regardless of how bad things are, that is still the expectation we have), but based on what we have seen so far this season we shouldn’t expect to actually see it.

I hope I am wrong, but I just can’t see it happening. What do you think? Were you encouraged? Do you think it is the start of a new trend? Leave your comments.

You can follow me, the (Happily) Trapped Fan , for my posts and other random thoughts that come up in my trapped life on Twitter.

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Anytime sports and politics mix, things get a little sticky. We want sports to be pure and offer a sanctimonious escape in the form of entertainment. We also want sports to use its national platform to encourage positive change in our country and countries beyond our borders. Both are achievable, presumably, but we can rarely have it both ways.

Asking Bud Selig, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, to single-handedly change the new immigration law in Arizona is asking too much.

Senate Bill 1070 likely won’t be in effect until August at the earliest, but Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona, who signed America’s toughest immigration law to date, has felt instant backlash.

The bill makes it a crime to be in Arizona illegally, but the public ire stems from the process, or lack thereof, that authorities are instructed to take to determine who is legal and illegal.

Basically if you look illegal, then prepare to be asked to show documentation proving you are in the U.S. legally.

Opponents of the new law have already raised concerns regarding racial profiling. Multiple lawsuits have been filed, declaring the bill unconstitutional. More will follow.

At best, the new law is incredibly offensive. I’m assuming that police aren’t going to stop two white Europeans and ask them for paperwork. At worst, well, that’s a political bag of worms.

Almost 30 percent of Arizona’s residents are Hispanic, and it is clear that Gov. Brewer is one of many who want to make sure people aren’t fleeing Mexico and coming into the state while bypassing the traditional immigration process.

That is where the fire alarm goes off in baseball. More than a quarter of the players on MLB rosters are Latin. Many of them travel through Phoenix to play the Arizona Diamondbacks every year. More convene in Arizona every February and March for spring training.

How will this new law affect baseball players and what can Selig do about it? That’s the big question.

William C. Rhoden wrote a column in Monday’s edition of The New York Times calling this an opportunity for Selig to “send a message” and write his own legacy.

Rhoden writes: “Selig can remind his fans, those who support the Arizona legislation and those who oppose it, that close to 30 percent of major league players were born elsewhere. That these international players help provide the strength of the game. That it is unthinkable that they should feel in any way unwelcome. This is the message Selig should convey. With his legacy on the line, it’s the swing he eventually has to take.”

I’m not taking a side on the law. It’s political, it’s laced with personal agendas, and that’s certainly not the place for me to comment and not the place for sports to overstep its boundaries. Politics are politics, sports are sports, and that’s how I generally prefer to keep them.

But I do agree with the premise of Rhoden’s column. It’s preposterous to think of a situation where Felix Hernandez can be stopped while walking to lunch and asked if he belongs in this country.

Or even worse, an unknown kid playing minor league ball. Things may be fine for the superstars and millionaires, but the 18-year-olds trying to learn a new language and adjust to a new lifestyle face different problems.

But what is there for Selig to do other than publicly express a desire to see the bill escorted to the nearest paper shredder? Bud Selig isn’t a politician. It’s not his job to fight the feds, nor should we want him to.

Selig’s job, as the commissioner of baseball, is to help protect his players. When a player signs with an organization, he has a legitimate reason to be in this country. That doesn’t take away the reality that he may be forced to carry proof in his pocket.

I’m afraid Selig’s only potential response to that is, “Sorry, fellas, it’s the world we live in.”

What else can he say? What else can he do?

Some people want Selig to move the 2011 All Star Game, which is currently scheduled for Phoenix. I’m not in favor of that, because what does it solve? Nothing, really. It only hurts the baseball fans in Arizona and the Diamondbacks. Moving the All Star Game would take millions of dollars away from the Arizona organization and the opportunity to showcase Chase Field to the masses.

It’s not the Diamonbacks’ fault they happen to play in Arizona. What do you want them to do, relocate? That’s silly.

Selig doesn’t have the authority to change the immigration law. That’s for President Obama if he wants. What Selig should be concerned with is ensuring the quality of life for Latin players in Arizona.

It will be interesting to see how this law, if it stays as currently constructed, will affect the Diamondbacks in the future in terms of signing international players and foreign-born free agents. Will Latin kids want to sign as 16-year-olds knowing their team plays in a state with this type of law in place? Will free agents require a little extra coin—call it the Arizona Tax—in order to agree to a deal with Arizona? They are legitimate questions. Questions that directly impact the baseball issue at hand.

The MLB Players Association has spoken out against the law. Selig surely has thoughts and maybe we will hear from him in the near future. As much as some may want him to force change, he is, after all, only a baseball commissioner. Taking drastic measures, like boycotting anything Arizona-related, can do more harm to the sport than good.

Selig can raise verbal hell. He can call out against the law. But after that, the only thing he can do to send a real message is pull the players off the field, and I don’t think we want to go there with this.

Sometimes it’s just the world we live in, fellas, and it’s not always fair.

Follow Teddy Mitrosilis on Twitter . You can reach him at tm4000@yahoo.com.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks faced the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field with demonstrators in favor of and against the new immigration laws signed by Jan Brewer (the governor Of Arizona).

I refuse to use this article to express an opinion unrelated to sports. What I will write about (from the heart) is the interference of politics in America’s national game from both sides of the controversial issue.

While the USA allows for peaceful demonstrations as a form of freedom of speech, doing so in front of a baseball stadium is reprehensible. People who go to sporting events of any kind go to relax and escape from the routines and tensions of everyday life.

It appears that one cannot relax in a sporting event with political demonstrations. I call on the spectators to ignore the political demonstrations from both sides of the immigration issue in front of any baseball or sporting events by saying yes in mind, heart, and soul to sports without politics.

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