The MLB Postseason Is Starting!

The 2010 MLB Postseason is starting!

The Matchups are:
Minnesota Twins vs New York Yankees
San Francisco Giants vs Atlanta Braves
Cincinatti Reds vs Philadelphia Phillies
Texas Rangers vs Tampa Bay Rays

My postseason choice for the World Series is the same as it was back in April. The Phillies and Yankees will rematch for the third straight year.


My Postseason picks:
Yankees Sweep Twins
Phillies Sweep Reds
Rangers over Rays in Four
Braves over Giants in Five

Phillies Win NL East Again

Philadelphia's Roy Halladay nailed down the Phillies fourth consecutive National League East title Monday with a standout performance against Washington.

My Thoughts On Baseball At The Moment

My thoughts on Baseball at the moment can be summed up into one sentence.

"You Have The Phillies, and then you have the rest of the National League. Then you have the Yankees, and then you have the rest of Baseball."

Your Divisonal Previews are coming soon!

Phillies Return To The World Series!

Jayson Werth homered twice in the series-clinching win for the defending World Series champs.


ESPN's Baseball Tonight breaks down the Phillies victory and looks at a possible World Series matchup.


The overwhelming feeling among Phillies fans right now seems to be: "Bring On The Yankees!" That would be the definition of a "Slugfest Series" right there.

The Yankees can clinch their way to the World Series tonight on Fox!

MLB Preview: NL East

The Mets have a new Ballpark and New Closer. Will they finally win end the pain of two consecutive seasons out of the playoffs?

The NL East was very familiar in 2008. The Phillies repeated as division champions, the Mets repeated their chokejob. Hanley Ramirez continued to become a great young star, and the Washington Nationals were the place where Ryan Zimmerman continued his development.
NEW YORK METS
The biggest Achilles heel for the New York Mets last season was the fact that their bullpen could not hold any leads, helping the Mets lose the division for the second straight season. The Mets have finally decided they have had enough. They went out and signed record setting closer Francisco Rodriguez to contract, and then traded for J.J Putz from Seattle to become New York's new Setup man. The key for the Mets will be: How tired are they of choking away the division for the last two seasons? I think we will see guys like David Wright, Carlos Delgado, and Carlos Beltran with fire in their eyes this season.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS

The Washington Nationals now have a 40 homer guy in the capitol city, as they have signed slugger Adam Dunn to a contract. Dunn is a big time power hitter, don't let his many strikeouts bother you. Their rotation may be headlined by the former Baltimore Orioles Ace Daniel Caberera. Two former Marlins are now in DC, outfielder Josh Willingham and pitcher Scott Olsen. The Nationals seem ready to let Joel Hanrahan take over the closer duties. This team seems ready to take the cellar, but Adam Dunn could be the team's saving grace.
FLORIDA MARLINS

The Florida Marlins are ready to revolve around shortstop phenom Hanley Ramirez. The Marlins are going through a growth spurt. The Marlins will have to sort out their mess of an infield? Will Dan Uggla stay at second? Who plays third base? Ditto with the void the Marlins have at first base. If the Marlins are able to answer these questions, they may place fourth in the division, behind Washington.
PHILLADELPHIA PHILLIES

The Phillies are coming off an amazing season. Nobody picked them to win the division, to beat Milwaukee in the NLDS (or the Dodgers in the NLCS), or to beat the Rays in the World Series. Sure enough, they did all that. The Phillies are going to defend their title on Opening Night against their division rival Atlanta Braves. Cole Hamels developed into the premier pitcher before our very eyes this season. Let's not forget about players like Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard. The Phillies biggest pitching strength last season was Brad Lidge, as he was 48 out of 48 in save chances in 2008. Could he do it again? The Phillies are prepared to defend their NL east crown, as they will play the Atlanta Braves Opening Night, the team that had a stronghold on the NL East for the past 14 seasons.
Speaking Of Those Atlanta Braves:
ATLANTA BRAVES

The Atlanta Braves used to be the model for the rest of the NL East to imitate and envy. Times have changed. The Braves are trying to recapture their glory years, as they signed sinkerballer Derek Lowe. They may have missed out on A.J. Burnett and Jake Peavy (along with longtime Braves Pitcher John Smoltz), but they are ready to let top prospects Tommy Hanson and Jo-Jo Reyes compete for the rotation. Jeff Francoeur will have to get back to his 2005 form, as they will be a make or break season for him. Chipper Jones turns 37 this season, could he have another great season left in him? The Braves may have lost an answer to their Left Fielder question when Ken Griffey Jr. returned home to the Seattle Mariners, but Jordan Schafer will hit the Big leagues very soon.


My Division Projections:
1. NEW YORK METS
They have to be tired of choking their season away, right?
2. Philladelphia Phillies
They are the defending World Series Champions, but I think they are poised for a dropoff. Not from Ryan Howard, of course.
3. Atlanta Braves
The Braves have some good young players who will make it on the Braves this season. They are still only the third best team in the NL East.
4. Washington Nationals
Could Adam Dunn make all the difference between fourth and last place?
5. Florida Marlins
The only thing certain for them is that Hanley Ramirez will play Shortstop this season.

In the next MLB Preview, we will look at the NL West. Does San Francisco now have a Super rotation? Are the Dodgers in trouble if they lose Manny Ramirez? Find out in the next MLB Preview!

Buster Olney Talks Ken Macha & Offseason Moves

Buster Olney talks about Milwaukee's decision to hire Ken Macha as its manager.


Buster Olney discusses Rays and Phillies offseason moves, free-agent market and the trade market for pitcher Jake Peavy.

Phillies Win 2008 World Series!

The Philadelphia Phillies won their first World Series title since 1980 Wednesday night. The Phils topped the Rays 4-3 in game 5. Philadelphia won the series four games to one.


Check Out the reaction from Phillies Broadcast team Harry Kalas and Chris Wheeler after the Brad Lidge strikeout.


The Phillies made all the right moves in this series. Click on the video for more info.


The Philadelphia Phillies won their first world series title in 28 years, sending fans out into the streets of Philadelphia. The celebration will continue when a parade takes place on Friday.


Harry Kalas sings "High Hopes" after the Phillies win the 2008 World Series.

"See Ya, Son Todd!" A Hillarious dig by Harry at his son Todd, a Rays broadcaster.

Shane Victorino, Brad Lidge, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins talk about a World Series Victory.


Cole Hamels talks about being named the 2008 World Series MVP.


The Two Managers Talk After Game Five.


Fernando Vina looks at the Phillies' Game 5 win.


Do You know who was happiest when the Phillies won the World Series last night? Mitch Williams, who gave up the walkoff homerun to Joe Carter in the 1993 World Series. The emotions he feels right now must be like how Bill Buckner felt after the Boston Red Sox finally won the World Series in 2004.

Mitch Williams talks about Philadelphia's World Series victory and Joe Carter's home run.


Baseball Tonight Looks Back At The World Series.

Congratulations to the Phillies on their World Series Championship.

Bud Selig On The World Series Weather Issues

Bud Selig talks with SportsCenter about the decision to delay game five.

Phillies Hit 3 Homers in Game Three Win

Ryan Howard ended his home run drought and the Phillies clubbed three solo homers in a 5-4, game three win over Tampa Bay. Philadelphia leads the World Series two games to one.

Carlos Ruiz hit a ball to third baseman Evan Longoria, who fielded the ball barehanded and threw wildly past catcher Dioner Navarro, allowing Bruntlett to score on the first walk-off infield single in World Series history.
The Phillies win a 5-4 thriller, and lead the series 2-1.

BBTN Wraps Up Game 3 And Previews Game 4 Of The World Series

Game Four is tonight on Fox. Joe Blanton will be opposed by Andy Sonnsastine.

Baseball's Final Four Set

Buster Olney previews the ALCS and the NLCS.


Jerry Crasnick breaks down Rays vs. Red Sox, Dodgers vs. Phillies.


I will put my analysis up tommorow.

The NLCS starts Thursday, October 9th On Fox.

The ALCS starts Friday, October 10th on TBS.

Three Days Into Baseball Season...

Here's What I've Observed...
KANSAS CITY SWEEPS DETROIT
There is optimism in Kansas City, especially after the upstart Royals swept their much hyped division rival Detroit Tigers. This was Kansas City's first opening sweep since 2003. Kansas City fought to come back in Game one as they beat Detroit 5 to 4 in eleven innings. In the second game, Kansas City Starter Brian Bannister held Detroit to just three hits as Kansas City beat Detroit 4 to nothing. In the final game, Zack Grienke had a great pitching performance. Grienke allowed one run in seven innings of work.

And, Speaking of Great Pitching...
ROOKIE PHENOM JOHNNIE CUETO STRIKES OUT TEN DIAMONDBACKS
History was made at Great American Ballpark as Johnnie Cueto became the first Reds pitcher since 1900 to strike out ten batters in his major league debut. The only hole in the armor was Justin Upton's solo homerun in the sixth inning.

Some Reds fans may think they have their own version of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood in Homer Bailey and Johnie Cueto, but I would like to caution them: You're with a manager who likes to overwork young pitchers and likes to keep them in ballgames when they have been on the mound a very long time. I would not be suprised if Bailey and Cueto got the same type of problems Prior and Wood have gotten from being overworked in the Dusty Baker Era.

KOSUKE FUKUDOME WITH AN INCREDIBLE " KONNICHIHA" TO WRIGLEY'S FAITHFUL
Kosuke Fukudome had an unbelievable debut opening day. He doubled off Ben Sheets in his first Major League At Bat. Fukudome came through huge in the ninth inning, as he hit a game tying, three run homerun to tie the game at three. Fukudome batted .1000 at the end of Opening day as he went 3-3.

Through his first three games, Fukudome is 4-8 with three RBI'S, and three of his four hits have gone for extra bases.

Kosuke's the real deal. Teams will be trying to figure him out all season long, so he may be able to keep his hot streak going for a while.

WALKS WILL KILL YOU IN EXTRA INNINGS. JUST ASK THE NATIONALS!
The Philladelphia Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals 8-7 as Jason Werth helped score the tying run on a bases loaded walk. Werth never got thrown a strike, and Philly gets an important early lesson on why it is important to be selective at the plate.

NEW YORK'S GOING OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW
Both New York teams are getting new ballparks next season. Shea Stadium, opened in 1964, will close down after this season. The "Cathedral Of Baseball" The "Big Ballpark In The Bronx" Yankee Stadium, opened in 1923, will also close down. The Mets are moving to Citi Field, while the Yankees are moving a few streets down to New Yankee Stadium. I'm sad to see both ballparks go because there have been many great players and great moments that have happened at these ballparks.

"Freak Show" Moving Elsewhere

The Freak show is over in Philadelphia.

After four mostly disappointing and injury-plagued seasons where he only showed glimpses of his feared pass rushing ability, the Eagles released defensive end Jevon Kearse on Thursday.


Kearse was in the middle of a $66 million, eight-year deal signed in 2004 that made him at the time the highest-paid defensive end in NFL history.

The three-time Pro Bowl selection failed to live up the lofty expectations set when he signed. His ineffective performance last year led to reduced playing time and finally landed him on the sideline, despite his big salary. Juqua Thomas replaced Kearse in the starting lineup.

Kearse recorded only 3 1/2 sacks in 14 games last season after missing most of the 2006 season with a knee injury. The move had been expected since the end of the season and comes a day before the NFL free-agent signing period begins.

Kearse, nicknamed "The Freak," played in 45 regular season games for the Eagles and recorded 133 tackles and 22 sacks. He was due to earn $6.46 million next season.

"We tried to work out a restructure with the Eagles and it didn't work out," Drew Rosenhaus said last week at the NFL Scouting Combine. "He had a wonderful career there."

Rosenhaus did not immediately return a message on Thursday.

The Eagles also agreed to terms on a one-year contract with safety J.R. Reed and tendered a one-year contract to restricted free agent cornerback Joselio Hanson.

If another team signs Hanson to an offer sheet, the Eagles have seven days to match that offer. If they choose not to match, the Eagles will receive a second-round draft choice as compensation.

Early in his career with Tennessee, Kearse was one of the NFL's most feared pass rushers. He had 36 sacks in his first three season and earned Rookie of the Year honors in 1999.

"I'm a freak of nature," Kearse said when he signed with the Eagles. "I do a lot of things ordinary people wouldn't be able to do. As far as performance and playing my position, I'm a freak out there."

Kearse twice earned All-Pro honors, but injuries started to catch up soon after his early success. Kearse missed 12 games with a broken bone in his left foot in 2002, sprained the same foot in 2003 and missed nearly three games.

Kearse was off to fantastic start in 2006 with the Eagles, recording 3 1/2 sacks in the first two games. But he sprained multiple ligaments in his left knee during Philadelphia's overtime loss to the New York Giants in Week 2.

Kyle Kendrick Traded To Japan

Watch The Clip Below!


There are still eight months left in the 2008 season, but the rest of the 29 teams are going to need the time if they're going to top the prank the Phillies played on young Kyle Kendrick over the weekend.

The setup went like this: Manager Charlie Manuel called the 23-year-old pitcher into his office and told him he had been traded to the Yomiuri Giants for a player named "Kobayashi Iwamura." The ruse, expertly orchestrated by Brett Myers (who else?), worked so well that Kendrick was shocked into silence for most of the trick. Couldn't even stop to realize that MLB and Japanese teams never swap players.

So many things went into staging this that it's hard to pick just one favorite aspect.

Among the contenders:

• The sheer number of people who were complicit in bringing Kendrick to the verge of tears. From the team's traveling secretary to the Comcast cameraman to the PR people and writers who helped stage a fake news conference, it was a fine reminder of how much downtime there can be at spring training.

• The fake trade papers/travel arrangements. If Kendrick doesn't know not to sign anything without talking to his agent first, then I have a few business proposals I'd like to discuss with him. (If anyone else is interested most of the ideas have to do with either hot plasma TVs or slippers for housecats.)

• Manuel's weird sadist glee over the whole incident. "I would have loved to see him fly to Japan and get off the plane," the Phillies manager said afterward. "That would have been the best. As a matter of fact, I would have paid his fare." Quick show of hands: Who else is glad that Weird Ol' Chuck isn't their boss?

• How fast the prank has already spread. Kendrick's Baseball Reference page has already been bought by a sponsor who left "Good luck in Japan Kyle!" as a message. "Good luck living this down!" might have been a more appropriate tag.

• The howling Phillies clubhouse. Because it's always fun to laugh at the young'un. Did that scene remind anyone else of the Goodfellas clip where all the gangsters bust on Henry Hill after Pesci's "funny, how?" bit?

What about you?

Which part of the prank did you enjoy the most?

Cubs Bring Jon Leiber Back To Windy City

The Cubs, turning to an old friend, have signed right-hander Jon Lieber to a one-year contract, according to major-league sources.

Lieber, who turns 38 on April 2, was the last Cub to win 20 games, going 20-6 in 2001. He spent the past three seasons with the Phillies, but missed the second half of last season after suffering a ruptured tendon in his right foot.

The signing of Lieber could signal a trade of right-hander Jason Marquis or the return of righty Ryan Dempster to the bullpen.

Another possibility is that the Cubs are trying to build rotation depth in the event that they trade younger starters such as right-hander Sean Gallagher and/or lefty Sean Marshall, possibly in a deal for Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts.

Lieber will be in the Cubs' rotation, according to a source; without that understanding, he would have signed with another club. He was offered more money by other teams, but wanted to return to the Cubs.

The Cubs already appear set with five starters — Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Rich Hill, Marquis and Dempster. Marquis, who went 12-9 with a 4.60 ERA and pitched 191 2/3 innings last season, has two years and $16.25 million remaining on his contract.

Lieber was 3-6 with a 4.73 ERA last season when he suffered his foot injury on June 24. He had opened the season on the disabled list with a strained right oblique.

His last season with the Cubs was 2002, when he suffered an elbow injury that forced him to undergo elbow-ligament transplant surgery and miss the entire '03 season.

The Yankees signed Lieber to a two-year deal after the Cubs declined his option, and he made the move look good by winning 14 games in '04, tying him for the team lead. He signed a three-year contract with the Phillies following that season.

He is 129-121 lifetime with a 4.28 ERA.

THE CHICAGO CUBS HAVE WON THE NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL!

Carlos Zambrano (right) sprays Alfonso Soriano (center) with Chamagne.

Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Zambrano were the Cubs two biggest investments this season, and they paid off in a big way for the Chicaco Cubs. For the first time since 2003, THERE WILL BE OCTOBER BASEBALL AT WRIGLEY FIELD!!! THIS IS THE YEAR! Am I dreaming? Did the Cubs actually win the National League Central? I've pinched myself several times, and this is no dream. This is reality.

Alfonso Soriano has gone on a tear unsurpassed in Cubs history. He has 13 homers in September, matching Ernie Banks' record of 50 years ago.

His six leadoff homers in September are the most by any major leaguer in any month — and that's wasn't the end of it. The left fielder also threw Joey Votto out at the plate in the fourth inning, matching Hank Sauer's team record of 19 assists for the season.

From Soriano's emphatic opening homer, this one had a playoff atmosphere with all those blue-shirted Cubs fans giving the visitors a home-field advantage.

Nothing made Carlos Zambrano sweat. Keeping his emotions in check, the right-hander allowed six hits in seven innings and strengthened his case to start the first game of the playoffs.

In June, Zambrano was the epitome of Chicago's tumultuous start. He got into a fight with former Cubs catcher Michael Barrett in the dugout and again in the clubhouse, the low point of Chicago's slide to 8 1/2 games out.

The Cubs turned themselves around and popped some corks in the city where their volcanic manager is still revered for blowing his cork and leading the Reds to a World Series championship in 1990.

Piniella had a new look on Friday — the customary two-day stubble was gone from his face, shaved clean after that stomach-churning visit to Florida. Piniella kept his eyes on the bigger picture: That four-month comeback to win the majors' weakest division.

Piniella's top starter had a new way about him, too.

The Cubs gave Zambrano a five-year, $91.5 million contract extension on Aug. 17 despite one glaring flaw. The 26-year-old pitcher has tended to let the big games get to him, imploding in his last three opening day starts.

Could he handle the pressure this time?

He stayed as serene as those 30 cases of Korbel California champagne stored in a room off the visitors' clubhouse. Zambrano kept his cool — no arm thrusts after big outs, no muttering to himself between innings — while limiting the Reds' injury-depleted lineup to one infield single over the first three innings.

Congratulations as well to the Boston Red Sox, who have won the American League Eas Divison away from the "Evil Empire" for the first time in Seventeen years. The Red Sox beat Minnesota with the arm of Daisuke Mastuzaka. Alex Rodriguez hit his 54th homerun of the season in a loss. Look at the bright side Yankee fans. You're still going to the playoffs.

The San Diego Padres eliminated the Milwaukee Brewers from the playoffs with a 6-3 win. The Cubs may meet up with San Diego in the playoffs, bringing back eerie memories of Steve Garvey and 1984. Hopefully, we do better this time.

How about the New York Mets losing their lead in the National League East to the Philladelphia Phillies? Willie Randolph is on the hot seat in New York and may be fired if The Mets don't make the playoffs. Meanwhile, what a turnaround for the Phillies. The team that was so bad in the beginning of the year have cleaned up their act and a couple of days away from winning the National League East.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have also clinched a playoff spot, thanks to the clutch hitting of pitcher Micah Owings, who a late substitution as Brandon Webb was supposed to start for them. The D-Backs will play in October. Watch out for the young Diamond Backs. Randy Hohnson will be cjeering for the Diamondbacks as he is still trying to recover from a bad back.

October Baseball is just about set. Get ready baseball fans. It's going to be a fantastic show.

The 2007 New York Mets: One of The Biggest Chokers in Baseball History

The Mets are coming apart at the seams, and if they can't right the sinking ship, there will be no October Baseball for them.

Thank goodness for the Cubs, they are not the biggest chokers in baseball this season.

The New York Mets' lead in the NL East is gone. They might not even be in the playoffs if they can't snap out of their near historic funk.

The spiralling Mets managed just three hits off Joel Pineiro and Jason Isringhausen in a 3-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night that dropped them into a first-place tie with Philadelphia in the division.

New York has led the division alone every day since May 16.

The Mets were ahead by seven games on Sept. 12 with 17 remaining but have lost 10 of 14 overall and seven straight at home, a monumental tailspin for a team that counted on being in the playoffs.

No major-league team has failed to finish first after having at least a seven-game lead with 17 to play. But with three games remaining in the regular season - a weekend series at home against Florida - the Mets might fail to win the division or qualify as the wild card.

Philadelphia, which beat Atlanta 6-4 on Thursday, closes the season with three games at home against Washington. San Diego, which beat Milwaukee 9-5 in the opener of a four-game series Thursday, leads the Mets, Phillies and Colorado Rockies by one game in the NL wild card standings.

The Mets are having a historic collapse. The Mets are injured, angry, and struggling. As a result, they have allowed Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard and the Philladelphia Phillies to catch up to them. This was a team that everyone expected would be back in the National League Championship Series, particularly since they have the "Thunder and Lightning" combo of Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado. Well, Beltran and Delgado have been on the Disabled List, and Jose Reyes and David Wright, as good as they are, can't pick up the slack. The Mets bullpen has also been a huge letdown for them. Last season, the Mets were pitching to use their bullpen. This season, their trying to keep their bullpen out of the game because of the number of leads the bullpen has blown for them this season.

If the Mets don't right the ship, The 2007 New York Mets will go down as the biggest chokers in baseball history. Will the Mets wake up in time of starve off the surging Phillies? Or will New York prove Jimmy Rollins correct when he said in the beginning of the year that the Phillies were the team to beat?

Cubs Win! Cubs Lead The NL Central!

Matt Murton got the call to come back from the minors less than a week ago and already he's helped the Chicago Cubs climb into first place.

Murton raced home on Brett Myers' bases-loaded wild pitch in the ninth inning Wednesday night, sending the Cubs to a 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies and lifting them to the top of the NL Central.

The Cubs, who were 8 1/2 games behind on June 23, finally overcame the Milwaukee Brewers - at least for a day. Chicago's win, coupled with the Mets' 8-5 win at Milwaukee, puts the Cubs a percentage point ahead of the Brewers.


Murton started the ninth with a sinking liner to left that defensive replacement Jayson Werth dove for but couldn't hold. Werth had come off the DL earlier in the day and just entered the game.

Murton hustled into second for a leadoff double and made third on Myers' wild pitch as Ronny Cedeno tried to bunt.

After Cedeno walked, Myers (1-3) also walked Jacque Jones intentionally to load the bases. Jason Kendall struck out, but with a 1-1 count on pinch-hitter Cliff Floyd, Myers unleashed the wild pitch that gave the Cubs the win.


Philadelphia dropped into third place, four games behind the Mets in the NL East.

MLB Trade Deadline Rapidly Approaching

The Major League Baseball Trade Deadline is rapidly approaching, and we are already seeing some suprising deals go down. The first trade Friday came as not much of a suprise as Kenny Lofton was reacquired by the Cleveland Indians for the third time in hius Major League Carrer. In return, the Indians gave the Rangers Minor League Catcher Max Ramirez.

The other trade announced on Friday was suprising. The Chicago White Sox were geting ready to unload their sinking ship of a team, but the only question was: Who was going to be traded? We have our first answer to that question as it was announced the Chicago White Sox traded Second Baseman Tadahito Iguchi to the Philladelphia Phillies for a Class A Minor League Pitcher. This trade made sense for the Phillies as this gives them a viable Second Baseman until Chase Utley is able to recover from his injury.

Who will be the next one to go? Which Teams will make moves? Which Teams will stay put? Which General Managers are going through many sleepless nights over who they are thinking about trading?

Get ready. Teams are Wheeling and Dealing in the hope that their trade will help their team win the World Series.

(Sorry for the delay in posting. I have not been able to blog regularly ever since my new bundle of joy arrived about two weeks ago, but I will still be blogging, just not at the regular rate I am accustomed to)

2007 MLB Home Run Derby Is Tonight!

Click on the video to see Ryan Howard hit the homerun winning him the 2006 Home Run Derby and give one lucky fan a lifetime of free airline flights.


The eight competitors have been announced for tonight's Home Run Derby in San Francisco. 2006 winner Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies will attempt to defend his crown, while Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau and Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder will take their first swings at the Home Run Derby. Vladimir Guerrero of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Magglio Ordonez of the Detroit Tigers will also participate. Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals will participate in the event for the first time since 2003. Alex Rios of the Toronto Blue Jays will also participate, and Matt Holliday of the Colorado Rockies will replace Miguel Cabrera, who was going to participate, but was injured in a game on July 7.

The 2007 Home Run Derby is tonight at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Catch the Home Run Derby tonight on ESPN.

The All Star Game is tommorow night on Fox.