1. Now, what’s going on?: Memo to the Oakland A’s: you’re in Coors Field, act like it! The A’s were shut again by the Rockies, 6-0. Colorado’s Jason Jennings and two relievers held the A’s to just one hit (insert that Bob Uecker Major League quote here if you wish) in the second consecutive shutout of the former hottest team in baseball. Cory Sullivan and Garret Atkins drove in two runs each for the Rockies, who have quietly climbed back to a game over .500 in the competitive NL West. They are a game and a half behind the Padres. The A’s, meanwhile, have fallen back into a tie with Texas in the AL West.
2. It’s the balls, naturally: What might be going on, according to A’s manager Ken Macha, is the baseballs that the Rockies keep in the humidor were the main factor for the A’s impotent bats the past two nights. They are complaining that the balls are tougher to hit. “I think it should be investigated,” Macha told mlb.com. He did add that the A’s used the same ball, and that there were no excuses for his team’s magically disappearing bats the past two nights. All of this being said, it is a little surprising that the once ridiculously hitter-friendly park is now tied with Comerica Park in Detroit, Safeco Field (Seattle) and Minute Maid Park (Houston ) for the most shutouts in the majors with seven.
3. Continuing a bad idea: Quick, who won the NBA All-Star game this year? How about the Pro Bowl? Of course nobody remembers, because the games just aren’’t that important. It’s simply a reward for players who are the best in the league and just forgettable exhibition games for the fans. So why does Major League Baseball continue with the ridiculous idea of awarding home-field advantage in the World Series to the league that wins the Midsummer classic? We’’ll never know, but get used to the idea; because they plan on doing it for at least two more seasons, according to mlb.com. This has been in place since the 2003 season. The idea was to drum up interest in the game, which had suffered declining ratings and hit a low point in 2002 with the infamous tie game. But it needs to stop. Can anyone rationalize the possibility that say, the Mets, who might win 105 games this year could end up starting the series on the road against the A’s, who might win 90? All because say, Mark Grudzielanek of the last-place Royals hits a meaningless RBI single July 11 at PNC Park to give the AL the win? The concept of giving the team with the best record home-field advantage? Now, that’s radical.
4. A funny thing happened on the way to a baseball game: A football game broke out. At least that’s the way it looked on the scoreboard, as the White Sox bombed the Cardinals 20-6 at U.S. Cellular field. Joe Crede homered twice, including one in the 11-run third inning off Mark Mulder. Mulder lasted only 2.1 innings and gave up nine earned runs. The teams combined for 40 hits, including 24 by the White Sox. Then it got testy in the sixth. As the Sox plated six more runs to make it 19-2, Cardinals pitcher Sidney Ponson hit Brian Anderson and Pablo Ozuna (with the bases loaded) on consecutive at-bats. Everyone in the park knew what was coming in the next inning, and of course, Ozzie Guillen wouldn’t disappoint. Chicago’s David Riske plunked Chris Duncan, earning ejections for both Riske and Guillen. The teams meet again tonight and Thursday.
