1. The competitive edge: It seems as though Apple iPods have already infiltrated every aspect of our lives. Well, here’s another: the Rockies are using video iPods to store game film on. Pitchers can watch films of themselves or hitters, while position players can store nearly every at-bat they’ve ever taken. While the ability to take home DVDs of their performances has been common for a while, storing the videos on their iPods is much more convenient. The Rockies are the only team doing this right now, but reportedly Florida and Seattle are also interested.
2. The final blow: The Braves had worked themselves out of the division picture anyways, but their loss to the Marlins yesterday might have sealed the deal. They suffered a three-game sweep at the hands of pitiful Florida, even though about a combined 22,000 people showed up for the games at Dolphin Stadium. The pitching victim was Jorge Sosa yesterday. After last season’s 13-3 record and 2.55 ERA, Sosa lost again to fall to 1-9 this year. He has a 5.35 ERA, about where he was in his first three seasons with the Devil Rays. But the Braves keep starting him, and they almost have to with Mike Hampton out for the season and Kyle Davies out for a while. At 30-37, the Braves are 13 games back in the NL East and have only won 2 games in June. Looks like they won’t have to find room for another division title banner at Turner Field this year.
3. From jail to the pitching mound: Esteban Loaiza has more to worry about than pitching right now. Loaiza, who committed DUI earlier this week, spent Tuesday night in jail. But he was released (his trial date is July 14) and pitched 6 strong innings last night for the win. Loaiza allowed 3 earned runs and helped the A’s to a sweep of the Mariners. First baseman Dan Johnson drove in 4 runs and had 4 hits. For the Mariners, Jarrod Washburn (4-8) was hit with the loss after allowing 6 runs. It wasn’t all good news for the A’s last night: slugger Frank Thomas was put on the 15-day DL.
4. The Wright to win: Lately, David Wright and the New York Mets have been tearing up the National League. Wright, who was touted before the year as a future star, has even exceeded those expectations. He has 14 homers, 50 RBIs, and is among the National League leaders with a .335 batting average. Wright has homered in three straight games, driven in a run in 6 straight, and has a nine-game hitting streak. Meanwhile, the Mets dusted the Phillies last night 5-4 to sweep the series. They have won 8 straight, and as of now their record is the best in baseball (42-23).
5. The Western Frontier: No division in modern baseball history has had all of its teams achieve winning records. But if the season ended today, the NL West would do just that. It is the closest division in baseball, as only two games separate first place from last. Currently the Dodgers, at 36-30, are on top. The reeling Diamondbacks, losers of 9 of their last 10, are still in second at 35-31. Three teams — San Diego, San Francisco, and Colorado — are tied for third (or last depending on how you look at it) with a 34-32 record. This marks almost a complete reversal from last season, when for a while we thought that no team would emerge from this division with a winning record.
