Baseball
Baseball is the all American game that has been played for the last one hundred and fifty years or so. The first recorded game with rules was played on June 19, 1846 in Hoboken, New Jersey.
It has erupted into a wide spread activity for many people all over the world but it is especially popular in the United States. Some equipment that is used are; ball, bat, glove, helmet, batting glove, cleats, cap, and other protective gear that some people choose to wear in addition to their uniforms.
It is played with nine defensive players on the field.
Heading into a big mid-August series with the Reds, the St. Louis Cardinals were sitting two games back of Cincinnati, a team that has been surpassing expectations all season long. Despite having more star power and far superior starting pitching, the Cardinals have had only brief stints atop the division and have constantly jockeyed back and forth with the relentless Cincinnati ballclub. But the Cardinals answered the call in a big way recently by sweeping the Reds in Cincinnati, making a clear statement to the rest of the division and league.
Here are some starting pitchers that haven't quite gotten the credit that they deserve this season. (Note: All statistics are as of Aug. 10.)
Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals: Wainwright probably sells a ton of MLB tickets in St. Louis, but the rest of the league is likely sleeping on him a bit. One could argue that he's been the best and most consistent pitcher in the bigs this season. His 2.07 ERA speaks for itself, as he's developed into one of the more reliable starting pitchers in either league.
Here are some players that could be solid pickups if available in your fantasy baseball league as of Aug. 9:
Brett Anderson, Starting Pitcher, Oakland Athletics: Anderson came into the 2010 season with big expectations. He fared very well in 2009 after being called up and was a popular fantasy sleeper for 2010, but injuries have prevented him from being much of a factor. He's now healthy and looked sharp against the Royals, holding Kansas City to just three hits over seven innings.
After picking up Roy Oswalt at the trade deadline, the Philadelphia Phillies are gearing up for the division race with the Atlanta Braves, who continue to play well as the Phillies look to make their push. Here's a look at what both teams need to do to win the division.
Atlanta Braves:
Sitting at a solid 18 games above .500 on Aug. 11, the Braves have been one of the biggest surprises in the league in a season full of them.
Avalon, NJ -- With just three weeks remaining, Lisa Dergan Podsednik may be on the verge of defeating Heidi DeRosa as Baseball's Hottest Wife, according to the popular contest sponsored annually by Fantasy Baseball Dugout.
Dergan Podsednik is the recently turned 40-year-old wife of Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Scott Podsednik, 34. Ms. Podsednik is a former Playboy Playmate and was Miss July 1998. Lisa is also a sports announcer for Fox Sports and was the St. Pauli Girl in 2003.
With a fourth consecutive victory on Aug., the San Francisco Giants have pulled within one game of first place in the National League West. Winners of 21 out of their last 26 games, the Giants are becoming a sneaky contender for the National League pennant. Now that this club has found their offense, they could be a legitimate pick to represent the N.L. in the World Series in 2010.
Coming into this season, it was the San Francisco pitching staff that sold San Francisco Giants tickets.
For a good part of the last decade, the Tampa Bay Rays resided in the cellar of the American League East; that is, until 2008 when the Rays came seemingly out of nowhere to win the division and reach the World Series. The Rays came back down to Earth a bit last season but have looked like the best team in baseball so far this year. Through 22 games, Tampa sits atop the A.L. East with a cozy 17-5 record, 2.5 games up on divisional powerhouse New York. But the question is whether the Rays are simply off to a good start, or are they for real?
The major leagues in 2010 are suddenly packed with talented pitchers who have broken out in a big way. With baseball seemingly entering into a pitcher-dominated era, the future is certainly bright for a whole group of young hurlers. Here are the starting pitchers who have really emerged as potential superstars, with some already well on their way (note: All stats as of Aug. 5).
David Price, Tampa Bay Rays: Outside of Cliff Lee, David Price has been the most dominant pitcher in the American League.
Even though the pitchers have mostly had their way this season, with home run totals as low as they have been in many years, there still have been quite a few hitters who have stepped up into the spotlight. Let's take a look at the biggest breakout hitters of the 2010 season (note: stats as of Aug. 5).
Delmon Young, Left Field, Minnesota Twins:
If you're wondering why the Twins are still in the divisional race with Joe Mauer having a subpar season and Justin Morneau missing a chunk of time in the middle of the season, Delmon Young is the answer.
