So You Wanna Hit

Mr. May 300 Million Dollar Man ?

2012-05-08T23:40:00.001-07:00

Josh Hamilton last at bat Monday night against the Orioles, produce a Home Run, he continue to destroy everything that came his way on Tuesday as well, going 5 for 5, 18 total bases, 4 Home Runs which tied a Major League Record and a double, with 8 RBI'S, given Him 5 HR'S in his last six at bats, the last person I remember doing that was Reggie Jackson with the New York Yankees playing against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1977 World Series Mr. October, I guess we can start calling Hamilton Mr. May, may I see that 300 Million dollar Contract next year. Considering the doubts about him possibly relapsing to whatever due to pressure that he will be a Free Agent next year, If I was the Owner, I may not want to wait to the end of the season to try to sign him, it's a good possibility that he will be the first 300 Million Dollar Major League Baseball Player next Season.

Josh Hamilton hits 4 home runs for Texas Rangers vs Baltimore Orioles - MLB News | FOX Sports on MSN

2012-05-08T22:43:00.000-07:00

Josh Hamilton hits 4 home runs for Texas Rangers vs Baltimore Orioles - MLB News | FOX Sports on MSN:

'via Blog this'

BRAUN WINS APPEAL

2012-02-23T18:39:00.000-08:00

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun thanked teammates and fans who did not "rush to judgment" on his alleged doping.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Outfielder Ryan Braun's victory is first successful appeal of drug policy
National League MVP exults over 2-1 ruling on testosterone finding
Major League Baseball "vehemently disagrees" with decision

(CNN) -- A baseball arbitration board has thrown out the 50-game suspension handed down to Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun after the 2011 National League MVP challenged the results of a December drug test.

Thursday's decision marks the first successful appeal of a suspension under Major League Baseball's anti-drug policy. Braun hailed it as "the the first step in restoring my good name and reputation," but Major League Baseball said it "vehemently disagrees" with Thursday's decision.

The 28-year-old Braun led the Brewers to its first division title in three decades with a .332 batting average, 33 home runs and 111 runs batted in during the 2011 season. But he was slapped with the suspension in December after a drug test that the sports network ESPN, citing unidentified sources, said showed high levels of testosterone.

Braun said there were "highly unusual circumstances" that would show his innocence. The arbitration panel apparently agreed, voting 2-1 to overturn the suspension, according to the MLB Players Association.

In a brief statement, the players' union said the result would not be made public normally -- but all parties agreed to release the decision "given the particulars of this case."

With baseball teams heading for spring training, Braun said in a written statement that he was "very pleased and relieved by today's decision."

"I have been an open book, willing to share details from every aspect of my life as part of this investigation, because I have nothing to hide. I have passed over 25 drug tests in my career, including at least three in the past year," he said. He thanked the Brewers, fellow players and fans "who stuck by me and did not rush to judgment."

"This is not just about one person, but about all current and future players, and thankfully, today the process worked," Braun said.

MLB said drug testing is "essential to the integrity of our game," and that league officials "will exhaust all avenues in pursuit of the appropriate discipline" when a player tests positive for banned substances.

A third-party review is part of the process, Rob Manfred, MLB's executive vice president for labor relations, said in a statement on the Braun decision, and the leagues "have always respected that process."

However, he added, "Major League Baseball vehemently disagrees with the decision rendered today" by the panel, led by arbitrator Shyam Das.

CNN's David Close contributed to this report.

Little League World Series Hitting Leaders 2011

2011-08-26T18:17:00.000-07:00

Top Hitter's Over .400 LLWS

Going into the final final weekend for LLWS 2011, here are your top hitters over .400

Hernandez, Y. playing for the Latin American Team continues to show hitting skills leading

the series with a batting average .667 and 5 extra base hits in 12 in bats and he also has

a total of 8 rbi's second in that category Arnett, L. playing for South Eastern Team is

leading all U.S. Teams with a .600 average and has 3 doubles,

Suzuki, Y leads all hitters above .400 with 3 home runs and 10 rbi's.

AVG - Must have a minimum of 2.7 plate appearances per team game.

Player	Team	P	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	HBP	SO	SB	CS	DP	E
Hernandez, Y	LA	IF	.667	4	12	5	8	3	0	2	8	3	0	0	1	0	0	0
Wu, Y	AP	OF	.625	3	8	3	5	3	0	0	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Arnett, L	SE	P	.600	4	15	4	9	3	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
Yang, C	AP	SS	.556	3	9	4	5	1	0	0	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	3
Tseng, C	AP	3B	.545	3	11	3	6	1	0	0	1	1	0	2	0	1	0	1
Garbrick, A	MA	2B	.538	5	13	3	7	2	0	0	3	2	1	2	0	0	0	0
Danner, H	WST	P	.500	4	14	3	7	1	1	1	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Atkinson, N	CAN	P	.455	4	11	4	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0
McKenzie, C	NW	P	.444	3	9	0	4	2	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
McGriff, H	MW	SS	.444	3	9	2	4	1	0	1	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	0
Beachy, T	MEA	P	.444	3	9	1	4	2	0	0	2	0	1	0	1	0	0	0
McLarty, G	GL	P	.429	3	7	2	3	0	0	2	3	2	0	4	0	0	0	0
Suzuki, Y	JPN	P	.429	5	14	6	6	1	1	3	10	2	1	1	0	0	0	0
Odom, T	SE	1B	.417	4	12	2	5	0	0	0	1	3	0	4	0	0	1	0
Burnette, A	SE	CF	.417	4	12	3	5	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	0
Falls, T	MA	SS	.417	5	12	4	5	0	0	0	0	2	1	5	0	0	0	0
Pan, Y	CAN	P	.417	4	12	3	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	2
Jacobo, J	MEX	P	.400	3	10	4	4	1	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	1
Miller, B	MA	1B	.400	5	15	4	6	0	0	1	2	1	0	4	0	0	0	0
Pop, A	CAR	2B	.400	3	5	1	2	1	0	0	2	4	0	0	0	0	0	1

Little League World Series 2011 Final Round Hitting Leaders

2011-08-18T21:32:00.000-07:00

After the first game going into the Grand Finale of the Little League World Series 2011, Logan Arnett of the Southeast Team is batting 1.000 after going 3 for 3 and is tied with Mitshiro Uchida who is batting .750 playing for always one of final playing teams, Japan. Five ballplayers are also tied with a total of two a piece.
http://www.baseballfactory.com/LLWS/Southeast/Logan_Arnett

http://www.baseballfactory.com/LLWS/Japan/Mitsuhiro_Uchid

Also playing for Japan Yoshiki Suzuki is leading with 4 rbi's and the 1 home-run, followed by his teammate again Mitshiro Uchida with 3 rbi's, there are three other ballplayers tied with two a piece. Midwest Team Erik Petry is the home-run leader so far after hitting two in his first game. Watch how the Little League leaders do it, follow their links and the learn how to play the champion way.

http://www.baseballfactory.com/LLWS/Japan/Yoshiki_Suzuki
http://www.baseballfactory.com/LLWS/MidWest/Erik_Petry

Alex Rodriguez - Private Hitting Lesson - NEW!

2011-08-17T17:27:00.000-07:00

Come From Behind Kings Keep Streak Alive

2011-08-17T08:10:00.000-07:00

PHILADELPHIA (AP)

Roy Halladay is normally his own best closer.

Halladay, the 2010 NL Cy Young Award winner, just couldn't escape trouble in the ninth inning against streaking Arizona.

Lyle Overbay quickly found his place as Arizona's latest late-inning star, lining a two-RBI double off Halladay in the ninth to lift the Diamondbacks to a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.

Halladay (15-5) had retired 12 straight batters into the ninth. Halladay, trying to become the NL's first 16-game winner, allowed consecutive singles to open the inning. Overbay hit a one-out double to right that silenced the crowd and helped Arizona win the opener of this three-game series between NL division leaders.

Overbay knocked in all three runs as Arizona won its seventh straight game. The Diamondbacks are leading the National League with 35 come from behind wins and now have a 3 1/2 lead over the San Francisco Giants and have a good chance this year to make the playoffs for the first time since 2007, after finishing in fifth place the last to seasons, now under the leadership and fire of Kirk Gibson the Diamondbacks are the biggest surprise team in Major League Baseball this year.

Thome Homer's Twice, Become Eight Player To Reach 600

2011-08-15T19:17:00.000-07:00

When most player's normally go through a multiple number at bats while sitting on their next hit or home run to become a milestone, Jim Thome waste no time becoming the eight Major League Player in history to hit number 600, after hitting number 599 earlier in the name, they were already talking about who would be the next pitcher to benefit from giving up number 600, F.Liriano of the Detroit Tiger's not only gave up 599, he'll now also be in the record books for giving up the 600 as well.

Thome has played for a total of five teams during his 21 year career, unlike the last few ballplayer's to reach the mark, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa. and Alex Rodriquez all were link using steroids during the tainted era cover-up of nettle sticking, who was and who wasn't, Thome name has been never link with those accusations which make's his achievement that more remarkable.

Uggla Extends Hitting Streak As Predicted Now Have To Get By Zambrano August 12 To Break Brave's Team Record

2011-08-10T17:01:00.000-07:00

Uggla waste no time extending his hitting streak to 31 games and now join's Rico Carty at the top of Atlanta Braves Team record book, with a off day tomorrow, he'll now have to face Carlos Zambrano of the Chicago Cubs on Friday August 12, 2011.

Zambrano is currently pitching very well and doesn't give up many hits when he is on, so with the day off and his bat cooling off, this could be a tough night for him to extent the steak, especially with the possible pressure of setting the Brave's Team record, all records are made to be broken, good luck Uggla.

Uggla Become's the 55 Player To Reach 30 Game Hitting Streak

2011-08-10T14:01:00.000-07:00

Uggla extended his hitting streak to 30 games with an infield single off Clay Hensley to tie Andre Ethier for the majors' longest hitting streak of the season and the Braves beat the Florida Marlins 4-3 on Tuesday night.

Dan Uggla puts his hitting streak on the line on tonight against Anibal Sanchez of the hard throwing Righty of the Florida Marlins, Sanchez is 6-5 this year a strikeout pitcher that stays around the plate with very fell walks, being a hitter myself and hot at the plate, I would think that I had the edge.

Uggla tie the season longest strek of 30 games held by one of my home team players Andre Ethier of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ethier fell one game short of tieing the Dodger Teams record held by one of my first favorite Dodger players, the 3 dog Willie Davis, Davis was called the 3 dog because he was fast and hit a lot of triples, he played Center-field for five teams during his 19 year career.

Dodgers/Expos/Padres/Cardinals/Angels/... 1960-1979

Baseball Unwritten Rules, Don't Show Up The Opposing Team

2011-08-02T18:50:00.000-07:00

August 1, 2011

Baseball has rules. Baseball also has unwritten rules, which are often the subject of spirited debate whenever a game occurs like Sunday's between the Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers. Should a hitter ever stand at the plate to admire a home run? Is it OK to bunt for a hit when an opposing pitcher is working on a no-hitter? Can pitchers deliberately throw at batters to "send a message"?.....Fox Sports

In response to this article and being a former ballplayer is this, if you make another ballplayer look bad, be repaired move out of the way on the base paths and especially at the plate, for a pitcher to throw at another ballplayer is apart of the game, moving them off the plate and maybe sending them a message at the buttocks or another thicker part of the body, throwing at someones head is dangerous and potentially fatal and stiff penalties should be enforce, both the Tiger's and Angel's are in the pennant race and opposing teams will try to get the edge on you through your emotions and when they do you lose, losing Weaver in that game gave the Tiger's the edge, the outcome, the Angels still lost game and now they will lose Weaver for six games due to being suspended which will be very costly to the Angel's in many ways.

2011-08-02T18:20:00.001-07:00

Baseball Hitting Jackit Increases Strenght and Bat Speed

2011-08-01T20:52:00.000-07:00

Japan Little League World Series Champs 2010

2010-08-29T15:20:00.000-07:00

Japan solid pitching and defense, helps them capture their 7th Little League World Series. Both Pitchers, pitch a very strong game and going into the bottom of 5th inning holding on a one run lead, Japan Center-fielder makes an outstanding catch to rob Hawaii's batter from extra base hit that could have put the tying run in scoring position, the Second Baseman also made an nice play up the middle for the second out, going into the final inning and still down by one run, with a runner on base and the starting Pitcher reaching His pitch total limit, Hawaii's Manger had to pull their starting Pitcher, soon after that, Japan hit one of their three Home Runs to go up by three runs. Hawaii played more games in the tournament than any other team in LLWS history, facing elimination and short on pitching, Hawaii still pulled off an remarkable performance, Congratulations to both Japan and Hawaii for an outstanding Little league World Series Finale.

Far West Asia To Battle Far East Asia For World Series Title

2010-08-29T12:22:00.000-07:00

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP)

Hawaii's offensive punch followed Japan's stirring win in extra innings to create some high drama at the Little League World Series.
Now, the two teams will meet Sunday to decide who flies home with a World Series title.

Japan strong pitching faces the strong hitting team of Hawaii, the two teams will battle it out Sunday 8-29-10, game time 3pm Eastern time, this should be a very interesting game since Japan close-out probably the best scoring team in the Tournament.

Top Rookie Pitcher Strasburg Gets Rock In Return

2010-08-11T16:44:00.000-07:00

Returning from his first trip to the disabled list, Strasburg turned in the worst start of his sometimes-spectacular rookie season, allowing a career-high six earned runs in a career-low 4 1-3 innings Tuesday night, and his Washington Nationals lost to the Florida Marlins 8-2.

Facing the Marlins for the second time, the Fish took advantage of Strasburg coming off the disabled list, though Strasburg average around 98 miles per hour fastball, taking a couple miles off his fastball gave the Marlins the edge needed facing this Future Hall of Famer. ''Just wasn't his night,'' Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said. '''Rust' is probably a good word. He just wasn't sharp. His velocity was good.''
Welcome to MLB Strasburg, you have been initiated in the league.

The Controversy Era Of MLB Hitting

2010-08-05T11:34:00.000-07:00

Over the past quarter of a century, baseball have been plagued by the controversy steroid and PED use from MLB Players, of the many accuse less than half have admitted using something borderline or illegal regarding their performance on the field. Top stars such as Bonds, Clemens, McGwire, Sosa, Canseco were just a few of the many that were link to using steroids. The controversy: did it help, well lets see, as much as I like B. Bonds, from 1990 to 2004 Barry Bonds won a record seven MVP Awards and four in a roll from 2001 to 2004, Bonds won three MVP Awards from 1990 to 1993 then there was a seven year gap before Bonds would go on a rampage against Major League Pitching when he won his last four in a row, during that same time span A Rod won just one MVP Award, the record holder for CYoung Awards is R. Clemens with seven Awards under his belt also, R. Clemens won his first one in 1986 and last one 2004, Both Clemens and Bonds won their last Awards in 2004.

Baseball Players have been using legal and illegal PED from many many years back, this is nothing new to Baseball, it actually help baseball. MLB Players went on strike from August 12, 1994, to April 2, 1995, led to the cancellation of between 931 and 948 games overall, including the entire 1994 postseason and World Series. Their were many unhappy fans all over the world and Major League Baseball needed a major comeback of their own. During the 90's going into the Twenty First Century, batting averages, home runs risen to new levels which brought a lot of excitement back into the game. The year McGwire and Sosa were chasing the R. Maris record for most home runs in a season, I believe MLB road on that band wagon reaping the awards from all the increase in revenue and media attention it was receiving from all the excitement of two ballplayers that were chasing a record that stood for thirty seven years. So, I say this, let's not be so hard on the ballplayers of this era, I believe that if they would have tested back in the 50's and 60's for PED's, I'm sure there would be a whole lot more names in question.

A Rod Becomes Youngest To Reach 600

2010-08-04T17:07:00.000-07:00

At 35 years, 8 days, Rodriguez joined an elite club that includes Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714), Willie Mays (660), Ken Griffey Jr. (630) and Sammy Sosa (609). The next youngest was Ruth at 36 years, 196 days.

NEW YORK (AP)

Alex Rodriguez added his own memento to Monument Park, even though retirement remains years off.

After struggling to hit his 600th home run, A-Rod reached the milestone with his usual dramatic flair. He became the youngest player to attain the mighty mark and did it by driving a pitch over Yankee Stadium's center-field fence and into the area where the pinstriped greats are remembered. And remarkably, he did it exactly three years to the day after his 500th homer.

''That's amazing,'' Rodriguez said. ''To the day.''

His two-run, first-inning drive off Toronto's Shaun Marcum put New York ahead, and the Yankees coasted to a 5-1 victory over the Blue Jays on a sweltering Wednesday afternoon. The win ended the Yankees' three-game losing streak.

Rodriguez went 9 for 46 after homering on July 22, the longest stretch between Nos. 599 and 600 for any of the seven to reach the mark. He was hitless in his last 17 at-bats.

''It was a relief just to put it past me,'' he said. ''There's no question I was pressing 'cause I wanted to get it out of the way.''

A-Rod reached the milestone after a 12-game drought, connecting with a 2-0 pitch over the middle of the plate for his 17th home run of the season.

Frankie Babilonia, a 23-year-old in his second-year as a Yankee Stadium security guard, retrieved the ball and gave it to his supervisor, who had it passed on to Rodriguez. Babilonia got to the ball because another security guard in the area was on break, and he was rewarded with an autographed A-Rod bat.

Yankee's And Ray's Battle for Divison Lead

2010-07-30T22:36:00.000-07:00

Having home advantage the Florida's Tampa Bay Ray's got off to a good start by taking the first game of the series, Tampa Bay's Right-hander starter Wade Davis gave up a 2 run homer to N. Swisher, RF for the visiting Yankee's, the second batter that he face, after the home run he settled down to pitch 7 strong inning for the win and even his record to 9-9 for the season.Rigth-hander Phil Hughes for the Yankee's pitch a solid game making one mistake giving up a 3 run homer to M. Joyce, RF for the home team Ray's for the lost.

More on A Rod's 600 homer, Rodriguez (NYY - 3B) drove in three runs without hitting his 600th homer and the Yankees beat the Indians 11-4 Thursday night. Since hitting homer No. 599 on July 22, A-Rod is batting .276 with seven RBIs in seven games. (STATS - Fri. July 30, 2010), A Rod was held hit less in four at bats leaving a Tampa Bay fan still hoping for an early Christmas present, will there be fireworks this week-end in Tampa or is A Rod on hold until he get's back to New York, the wait continues.

A Rod Joins 600 club

2010-07-29T13:24:00.000-07:00

A Rod Hits Milestone Home Run, Joins The 600 Club

Facing rookie right-hander Mitch Talbot (8-9, 4.08 ERA), A Rod has his best chance in the series to reach the elite 600 club, Talbot is very consistent around the plate and will not be afraid to pitch to A Rod tonite giving A Rod a chance to become the 7th player in MLB history to reach that mark, he will blast that shot in his second at bat, hitting it deep into left centerfield.

For sure this week end some lucky Cleveland fan sitting in left field will leave at lease an half a million dollars richer. Here is a list of the current members that has reach that level, remarkably out of the six members there, only three are in the the hall of fame, with Griffey having the next best chance to be elected into the hall, both Sosa and Bonds for sure will not be in the Hall of Fame before A Rod, if they ever get in.

With only six current members throughout history the 600 Home Run Club is home to baseball's most powerful sluggers. Only Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714), Willie Mays (660), and Sammy Sosa (609) and Ken Griffey, Jr. (606+) have achieved this remarkable feat.

Bats Still Can't Get A Break, Divison Leader Braves Shut Out By 4 Relievers

2010-07-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

With the way pitching is going this year, teams are looking to squeeze in a break in the series, top pitching prospect Strasburg had to take the day off because of shoulder inflammation, giving Atlanta a break to start the series, division leader Atlanta Braves still got shot down by the Nationals reliever Miquel Batista for his first win of the season, Batista combined with three releivers to shut out the Division leading Braves, again pitchers taking away advantage.Hot streaking Phillies was the the only team to take advantage of the Braves lost, The two-time NL champion Phillies moved within 3 1/2 games of East-leading Atlanta, cutting the deficit in half over the last five days. They've won nine in a row at home, their longest since winning 16 straight at Veterans Stadium in 1991. Starter Cole Hamels allowed three runs and six hits, striking out eight. It was his shortest outing since lasting four innings against Toronto on June 26. The 2008 World Series MVP finished the month with a 2.16 ERA in six starts, but only got one win. Ryan Howard hit a tiebreaking two-run homer, Jayson Werth and Cody Ransom also connected, and Philadelphia beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-5 for a season-high sixth straight win Tuesday night.

Pitchers Shutting Down Hitters

2010-07-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

Pitchers With Most No-Hitters Broken Up in 7th Inning Or Later, Nolan Ryan has 24 games pitch like this, the next pitcher in line Randy Johnson has 11, there has been 266 no-hitters thrown in Major League history, here is a break down of no-hitters thrown since 1961.

Summary

2010 5 no-hitters #6/2—Armando Galarraga, Detroit vs. Cleveland, Jason Donald (2 out-1 hit total)
6/13—Ted Lilly, Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox, Juan Pierre (0 out-1 hit total)
#7/10—Travis Wood, Cincinnati at Philadelphia, Carlos Ruiz (0 out-4 hits total in 11 innings)

1961-1970: 36 no-hitters; 24 broken up in the ninth—60% survived through the ninth inning
    12 broken up with 0 out
     8 broken up with 1 out (75% survived)
     4 broken up with 2 out (90% survived)

1971-1980: 28 no-hitters; 30 broken up in the ninth—48.3% survived through the ninth inning
    10 broken up with 0 out
    12 broken up with 1 out (58.3% survived)
     8 broken up with 2 out (77.8% survived)

1981-1990: 19 no-hitters; 39 broken up in the ninth—32.8% survived through the ninth inning
    19 broken up with 0 out
     8 broken up with 1 out (48.7% survived)
    12 broken up with 2 out (61.2% survived)

1991-2000: 27 no-hitters; 23 broken up in the ninth—54.0% survived through the ninth inning
     8 broken up with 0 out
     9 broken up with 1 out (64.3% survived)
     6 broken up with 2 out (81.8% survived)

2001-09: 15 no-hitters; 13 broken up in the ninth—53.6% survived through the ninth inning
     5 broken up with 0 out
     6 broken up with 1 out (65.2% survived)
     2 broken up with 2 out (88.2% survived)

1961-2009: 125 no-hitters; 129 broken up in ninth—49.2% survived through the ninth inning     54 broken up with 0 out
    43 broken up with 1 out (62.5% survived)
    32 broken up with 2 out (79.6% survived)

#Perfect Game until ninth; Since 1961, 15 pitchers who brought perfect games into ninth finished with neither a perfect game nor a no-hitter (for a total of 16 such games since Mike Mussina twice had perfect games broken up in the ninth). In addition, Jack Kralick and Milt Pappas lost perfect games but maintained no-hitters for a total of 18 perfect games broken up in the ninth since 1961 (while Scott Baker in 2007 lost his perfect game with a walk and then his no-hitter in the ninth). During this period, there have been 15 perfect games (Jim Bunning, Sandy Koufax, Catfish Hunter, Len Barker, Mike Witt, Tom Browning, Dennis Martinez, Kenny Rogers, Pedro Martinez, David Wells, David Cone, Randy Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Dallas Braden, and Roy Halladay) pitched through nine innings (Pedro Martinez lost his perfect game and no-hitter in the 10th inning).

TOP PITCHER TRADED

2010-07-25T16:06:00.000-07:00

HARDEN GOES WEST

The Angels on Sunday acquired Dan Haren from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for left-handed pitcher Joe Suanders minor-league pitchers Patrick Corbin and Rafael
Rodriguez and a player to be named later.
Haren, 29, comes to the Angels as one of the National League’s top pitchers. His 30 combined wins over the last two seasons trail only consecutive Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum (33). The three-time All-Star has averaged 15 wins per year over his last five seasons. In 2009, he set career-highs in innings pitched (229.1) and strikeouts (223) while walking just 32 batters.
In 2010, the 6-5, 215-pound right-hander is 7-8 with one complete game and a 4.60 ERA with 141 strikeouts in 21 starts with Arizona. His 141 strikeouts are tied for the National League lead. Haren has walked just 29 batters in 141 innings.....FOX SPORTS.

Being a Angel fan I would say this is a good move for the Angels, this should boost their chances for a Wild Card spot, now let's see what my cross town Dodger's will do to increase their chances for the Post Season Dance.

Baseball Top Ten Hitters As Of 7/25/10

2010-07-25T15:37:00.000-07:00

These are the top 10 hitters as of 7/25/10, both Hamilton and Cabrera have an outside chance to win the triple crown, Carl Yastrzemski is the last person to win this award 43 years ago.

AL Average	BA
1. J. Hamilton TEX	.354
2. M. Cabrera DET	.347
3. J. Morneau MIN	.345
4. A. Beltre BOS	.336
5. R. Cano NYY	.334
Complete AL Leaders

NL Average	BA
1. R. Furcal LAD	.329
2. M. Prado ATL	.320
3. P. Polanco PHI	.317
4. M. Byrd CHC	.311
5. J. Votto CIN	.310
Complete NL Leaders

2009-12-27T14:46:00.000-08:00

Be Willing To Try Things Out

Since you love playing baseball, your goal is to become a better hitter. Everyone has an opinion, and everyone will give you advice and hitting tips. Whether qualified or not many people believe they are qualified to provide hitting instruction. Your job is to take all the advice and weed out everything that doesn't fit your hitting style. How do you know what to weed out? There are certain fundamentals common to all good hitters. Use those fundamentals as your building blocks, then be open to other advice. Try out different ways of hitting, different stances, different approaches, different hitting drills. If something works for you, keep it; if it doesn't, throw it out. Analyze your strengths and weaknesses, incorporate these into how you practice, and how you approach each at bat. If you want to be a great hitter, there's no substitute for desire and hard work, both mentally and physically. Don't be satisfied with a certain average or other statistics. There's always something that can be improved.