Harold Reynolds fired from ESPN?

I hope this is false. Baseball Tonight is not complete without Harold Reynolds.

The Dodger Series

July 13
Cards beat Dodgers 3-2 in extra innings
Winning pitcher - Braden Looper (5-1)
HR: Jim Edmonds (11), Albert Pujols (30)

July 14
Cards shut out Dodgers 5-0
Winning pitcher - Chris Carpenter (8-4)
HR: Chris Duncan (4), Juan Encarnacion (12)
Carp pitched a complete game, two-hit shut out.

July 15
Cards win in extra 2-1
Winning pitcher - Braden Looper (6-1)
HR: Albert Pujols (31)
Rolen drove home Eckstein in a blooper to end the game.

July 16
Cards crush the Dodgers 11-3.
Winning pitcher - Anthony Reyes (2-3)
HR: John Rodriguez (2)
This is the seventh win in a row and the streak is as long as it was in 2004.
Chris Duncan had a big game, going 3-4 with a double and 3 runs. Pujols went 4-5 with two runs and 3 RBI. Molina was 3-4 with two doubles and 3 RBI. Anthony Reyes was solid for 5 innings except for giving up two runs and seven hits. He fanned 5. Josh Hancock and Tyler Johnson combined for three innings of relief, giving up 3 hits and striking out one. Josh Kinney, in an inning of relief, gave up a run.

VS. ATLANTA
July 17 (ESPN)
Jeff Weaver vs. Horatio Ramirez, 7 PM

July 18
Jason Marquis vs. Tim Hudson, 8:10 PM

July 19
Chris Carpenter vs. TBA, 8:10 PM

Milestone watch:
Albert Pujols needs 23 home runs to tie Ken Boyer for 2nd on the Cardinals all-time home runs list with 255.
Jeff Suppan needs 1 strikeout for 1,000 career strikeouts.
Jeff Weaver needs 1 strikeout for 1,000 career strikeouts.
Jason Isringhausen needs 8 saves for 250 career saves.

The Cardinals bullpen is 15-12 with a 3.91 ERA. In the past few games, with several going extra, and the starters going deep into the game, they've lowered their ERA a little bit as it was 3.96 yesterday. The Cards are starting to get back into their old form before the losing streak.

FARM WATCH
The Springfield Cardinals have helped out Chris Lambert. Lambert is 8-7 this season with a 5.27 ERA while throwing 86 strikeouts in 97.1 innings pitched.

Mark Worrell has 21 saves this season with Springfield and leads the category in the Texas League. Stuart Pomeranz is on the DL.

Larry Bigbie has started rehabbing in his attempt to get back to the major leagues.

In other baseball news, Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones tied an MLB record for consecutive games with an extra base hit set by Paul Waner in 1927. He has had an extra base hit in 14 consecutive games now. Mariano Rivera became the 4th player to save his 400th game.

Trade News

The Reds traded Lexington native (and Cats fan) Austin Kearns (OF) to the Nationals today in an 8 player deal. The Reds gave up some great players to improve their lack of quality relief pitching.

The Nationals now have five outfielders. Soriano may be joining St. Louis sooner than we think.

Ponson signed with the Yankees.

Ponson released by Cardinals

I'm not at all surprised by this. Nice knowing ya, Sid!

Ponson, designated for assignment Friday hours after making a quality start in a loss against the Houston Astros, is due to clear release waivers this afternoon, according to sources. Any team willing to assume the remainder of the righthander's guaranteed $1 million salary plus a potential $1.5 million in appearance incentives may claim him; Ponson retains the right to reject any claim and become a free agent.

Released largely of his inability to pitch deep into games and a refusal last month to embrace his transfer to the bullpen, Ponson has attracted significant interest from the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox and could accept a bid from either club if he clears waivers.

The P-D takes a look at the midseason report.

MVP: Pujols
Cy: Carpenter

Comeback(s) of the year
1. Scott Rolen, from last August's season-ending shoulder surgery to make the All-Star team and lead the Cardinals in extra-base hits.
2. Scott Spiezio's return from the career dead.
3. The Cardinals rallying from six runs down to beat Milwaukee 10-6 and snap a three-game losing streak June 9. The win gave St. Louis a lead it hasn't relinquished.

Before the next part, I will say that Jim Edmonds is starting to show his bat again and returning to his old form.

Second-half wish list:
1. Jim Edmonds' bat.
2. Mulder's health.
3. Walt Jocketty's ability to find two of three, in order of preference: a veteran starting pitcher, a power bat or a resilient reliever with Al Reyes' qualities.

All-Star Recap

Well, let's just say that I would have rather had Izzy in there in the 9th inning pitching for us. It doesn't matter how many get on base because he still gets us out of a jam.

The NL got a break with the ground-rule double but the two-run triple definitely did help matters. The NL doesn't get home field advantage yet again and it makes me angry because they get creamed in IL play. I'm starting to think whether or not the NL teams elected by the fans are truly the All-Stars they deserve to be. You can't have an NL team without Ken Griffey, Jr. Scott Rolen should have played some yesterday. Some of the pitchers selected did not even pitch a minute. It's an all-star game--play everyone. If Adam Dunn starts batting for average as well as power, his bat would have been helpful last night. The NL has had two leads since they last won in 1996--us fans need to start electing players who want to play to win because it counts for the post-season HFA.

At the all-star break, here are my midseason post-season awards
National League
ROY: Ryan Zimmerman
MVP: Albert Pujols
CY: Brandon Webb

Pitching TC Leaders:
Wins: Tom Glavine
ERA: Carlos Zambrano
Strikeouts: Brandon Webb

American League
ROY: Jonathan Papelbon, Francisco Liriano
MVP: David Ortiz
CY: Roy Halladay

Pitching TC Leaders
Wins: Roy Halladay
ERA: Francisco Liriano
Strikeouts: Johan Santana

I'm hoping St. Louis plays a better second half of the season. Even though his playing has been less than impressive this season, Jason Isringhausen leads the NL in saves with 26. He's tied with the MLB lead with Jenks and Papelbon. Batting-wise, the Cards have quite a few in the top fifty with Rolen, Pujols, Eckstein, and yes, he's actually up there--Juan Encarnacion. Edmonds is in the top 100.

At the rate it is looking, David Ortiz will probably break the AL record for home runs in a single season which is still at 61 in case you forgot.

With regards to the 500 home run club, Jim Thome (460) and Manny Ramirez (459) are edging closer to joining it which pretty much guarantees them a spot in the HOF. Alex Rodriguez (448) will likely be joining next season if he gets out of the slump he's in. Frank Thomas (467) should get there but he's been fading out the past few years since the end of the 2003 season. Mike Piazza (409) should but he just hasn't been putting up the numbers like he used to. He needs to go AL and start DH'ing. But for a catcher, he's Hall-bound in my opinion. Carlos Delgada (391) needs two or three seasons to get there--he's having an Edmonds year with the way his AVG is this season. Gary Sheffield is at 453 and will likely join the club next season or in two seasons due to the injury this year.

And let's look at the 300 hit club, Craig Biggio is the closest to 3,000 among active players with 2,883. Bonds is next with 2,789. Steve Finley has 2,491. Sheffield has 2,383.

In pitching, Tom Glavine will join the 300-win club next year most likely. He's pitched 19 games this season, winning 11 of those. The Mets have been superhot this year and he's having his best year since 2002. Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez should join the 3,000 K club this year.

I'm leaving off closers since they really haven't been elected to the HOF.

ESPN no longer wants baseball playoffs?!?

IMDB reports:

Fox and TBS Play Ball
The Fox broadcast network and the TBS cable network have approved seven-year deals with Major League Baseball to televise weekend games during the season, the entire first round of the playoffs, plus one of the two league championship series, the All-Star Game and the World Series, Bloomberg News reported today (Tuesday), citing three people familiar with the negotiations. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Under it, Fox would broadcast 26 Saturday games (up from the current 18), while TBS would carry 26 Sunday games. TBS would carry the American and National League first-round playoffs, sharing them with sibling cable network TNT. Fox would continue to air the All-Star Game, the World Series and either the American or the National League championship series. The other series is still up for grabs. Further details are expected to be announced before tonight's All-Star Game in Pittsburgh.

Cards news in the past month and a half

June 26
Indians beat Cards 10-3
Losing pitcher - Jason Marquis (9-6)

June 27
Indians win 3-1
Losing pitcher - Anthony Reyes (1-2)

June 28
Cards win 5-4
Winning pitcher - Jason Isringhausen (2-3)
HR: Scott Rolen (10)

June 30
Cards lose 7-5 to Royals in extra innings
Losing pitcher - Braden Looper (3-1)

July 1
Cards lose again, 8-7
Losing pitcher - Jason Isringhausen (2-4)
HR: Jim Edmonds (8), Yadier Molina (3), Scott Rolen (11), Scott Spiezio (4)

July 2
Cards win 9-7
Winning pitcher - Jason Marquis (10-6)
HR: Jim Edmonds (9), Albert Pujols (27), Scott Rolen (12)
Pujols' 27th HR of the season tied him for third all-time with Ray Lankford with 228 home runs while playing for the Cards.

July 3
Cards lose 6-3 to Braves
Losing pitcher - Anthony Reyes (1-3)
HR: Albert Pujols (28)
Pujols reached 2,000 TB in his 854th game. Among active players, he ranks first with Nomar Garciaparra in second (859 games). The home run moves him into sole possession fo 3rd place all-time while playing for St. Louis with 229 home runs. He needs 26 more to tie Ken Boyer (255) for 2nd place. Stan Musial leads the team all-time with 475.

July 4
Cards win 6-3
Winning pitcher - Chris Carpenter (7-4)
SV - Jason Isringhausen (25)
HR: Juan Encarnacion (11)

July 5
Cards lose 14-4
Losing pitcher - Jeff Suppan (6-5)
HR: Hector Luna (4), Scott Rolen (13)

July 6
Cards lose to Houston 4-2
Losing pitcher - Sidney Ponson (4-4)
HR: Jim Edmonds (10)
This home run ties Edmonds with Mark McGwire with 220 (4th all-time) while playing for St. Louis.

July 7
Cards win 8-2
Winning pitcher - Jason Marquis (11-6)
SV - Jason Isringhausen (26)
HR: John Rodriguez (1)

July 8
Cards win 7-6 in extra
Winning pitcher - Jason Isringhausen (3-4)
HR: Albert Pujols (29), Scott Spiezio (5)

July 9
Cards win 7-5 in extra to conclude the first half of the 2006 season
Winning pitcher - Braden Looper (4-1)
SV - Josh Hancock (1)
HR: Scott Rolen (14)

The Cardinals go into the break with a 48-39 record.

Milestone watch:
Albert Pujols needs 25 home runs to tie Ken Boyer for 2nd on the Cardinals all-time home runs list with 255.
Jeff Suppan needs 7 strikeouts for 1,000 career strikeouts.
Jason Isringhausen needs 8 saves for 250 career saves.

Mulder update
Update on the Spikes

As mentioned yesterday, the Spikes are expecting to get some help in their pitching staff as Rice's right-handed pitcher Eddie Degerman is slated to join the staff.

Degerman was drafted by St. Louis Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty in the fourth round (146th overall) this past June.

He went 13-2 with a dominating 2.00 ERA in 17 starts for the Owls, and led them to the College World Series. Degerman, who is a power pitcher, recorded a 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walks ratio and held opponents to a .170 average.

Chris Perez has signed with the Cards.

History repeats itself in the Cards rotation.

St. Louis native Ryan Howard won last night's Home Run Derby.

All-Star Roster Additions

NL:
Nomar Garciaparra (1B) makes the team in the final vote.

Glavine, Reyes, and Martinez will not be playing. Chris Capuano, David Eckstein, and Roy Oswalt is a replacement.

AL:
Ramirez will not be playing due to injury but let's face it, he doesn't want to play the game ever so keep him off the ballot.

Cano is not playing and is replaced by Lopez. Rios is replaced by Gary Matthews, Jr. Magglio Ordonez replaces Ramirez. Lirano replaces Jose Contreras.

Kenny Rogers and Brad Penny will be the starters for their leagues as the lineups have been announced.

American League

1. Ichiro Suzuki, rf
2. Derek Jeter, ss
3. David Ortiz, 1b
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3b
5. Vladimir Guerrero, lf
6. Ivan Rodriguez, c
7. Vernon Wells, cf
8. Mark Loretta, 2b
9. Kenny Rogers, p

National League

1. Alfonso Soriano, lf
2. Carlos Beltran, cf
3. Albert Pujols, 1b
4. Jason Bay, rf
5. Edgar Renteria, ss
6. David Wright, 3b
7. Chase Utley, 2b
8. Paul Lo Duca, c
9. Brad Penny, p

Cards trade for Weaver

AP reports that the St. Louis Cardinals traded Terry Evans and cash conisderations to the Los Angeles Angels for Jeff Weaver.

Weaver, 29, was designated for assignment by the Angels last Friday after going 6-10 with a 6.29 ERA in 16 starts this season. He signed an one-year, $8.3 million contract with Los Angeles as a free agent during the offseason.[...]

He has a career record of 81-97 with an ERA of 4.55 in 225 starts.

"We feel that Weaver is someone who can come in and lend immediate help and depth to our rotation," Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said after St. Louis' 14-4 loss at Atlanta.

Weaver allowed 114 hits, including 18 homers, while walking 21 and striking out 62 in 88 2-3 innings this season with the Angels. Opponents had a .309 average against him.

Evans, 24, was hitting .311 with seven homers and 20 RBIs in 21 games with Double-A Springfield. He began this season with Class A Palm Beach, hitting .307 with 15 homers and 45 RBIs in 60 games.

Evans was drafted in the 47th round by St. Louis in 2001.

Somehow I think this trade is a mistake.

All-Star Rosters

American League
Starters
American League Starters
1B David Ortiz, BOS
2B Mark Loretta, BOS
3B Alex Rodriguez, NYY
SS Derek Jeter, NYY
C Ivan Rodriguez, DET
OF Vladimir Guerrero, LAA
OF Manny Ramirez, BOS
OF Ichiro Suzuki, SEA

Pitchers
SP Mark Buerhle, CWS
SP Jose Contreras, CWS
SP Roy Halladay, TOR
SP Scott Kazmir, TB
SP Mark Redman, KC
SP Kenny Rogers, DET
SP Johan Santana, MIN
SP Barry Zito, OAK
RP Bobby Jenks, CWS
RP Jon Papelbon, BOS
RP Mariano Rivera, NYY
RP B.J. Ryan, TOR

Reserves
1B Paul Konerko, CWS
1B Jim Thome, CWS
2B Robinson Cano, NYY º
2B Jose Lopez, SEA ª
3B Troy Glaus, TOR
SS Miguel Tejada, BAL
SS Michael Young, TEX
C Joe Mauer, MIN - should have started without a doubt!
OF Jermaine Dye, CWS
OF Alex Rios, TOR º
OF Gary Matthews, Jr., TEX ª
OF Grady Sizemore, CLE
OF Vernon Wells, TOR

National League
Starters
1B Albert Pujols, STL
2B Chase Utley, PHI
3B David Wright, NYM
SS Jose Reyes, NYM
C Paul Lo Duca, NYM
OF Jason Bay, PIT
OF Carlos Beltran, NYM
OF Alfonso Soriano, WSH

Pitchers
SP Carlos Zambrano, CHC
SP Bronson Arroyo, CIN
SP Brad Penny, LAD
SP Tom Glavine, NYM
SP Pedro Martinez, NYM
SP Chris Carpenter, STL
SP Jason Schmidt, SF
SP Brandon Webb, ARI
RP Brian Fuentes, COL
RP Derrick Turnbow, MIL
RP Tom Gordon, PHI
RP Trevor Hoffman, SD

Reserves
1B Lance Berkman, HOU
1B Ryan Howard, PHI
2B Dan Uggla, FLA
3B Miguel Cabrera, FLA
3B Freddy Sanchez, PIT
3B Scott Rolen, STL
SS Edgar Renteria, ATL
C Brian McCann, ATL
OF Andruw Jones, ATL
OF Matt Holliday, COL
OF Carlos Lee, MIL

Final Man Candidates
AL
C A.J. Pierzynski, CWS
c Ramon Hernandez, BAL
1B Travis Hafner, CLE
SP Justin Verlander, DET
SP Francisco Liriano, MIN

NL
1B Nomar Garciaparra, LAD
P Chris Capuano, MIL
P Billy Wagner, PHI
P Bobby Abreu, PHI
P Chris Young, SD

How Curt Schilling or Josh Beckett were not elected is beyond me.