MLB Week in Review (July 6-12)
Posted by thesportsjunky on July 13, 2013 · Leave a Comment
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A few weeks ago The Sport Addiction would post a MLB Week in Review about Biogenesis and the hunt for cheaters that the MLB was undertaking. The MLB was looking at Biogenesis, an anti-aging clinic in Florida that had reportedly sold steroids to a number of players in the MLB. Major League Baseball would spend the majority of the offseason downplaying the comments of Anthony Bosch, the former owner of Biogenesis. Bosch would be the centre of the steroid scandal throughout the winter and the MLB would continually claim that he was not to be trusted. Then when the season started the accusations of steroid use would become more realistic and the MLB would start their own investigation into the reports. They would look to Bosch to provide a statement as to who was supplied with steroids. After spending all winter downplaying Bosch’s statements the MLB would use him as their main source for trying to catch cheaters. Bosch would give them 25 names of players that had been given steroids when Biogenesis was in operation. The steroid era is far from over in the MLB as these new names are set to be released after the all-star game with suspensions coming. For players like Melky Cabrera it could mean 100 games off as it would be the second time that Cabrera had been found to be cheating. Of course they would have to find evidence that he did it more than the time he got caught. For other players like Ryan Braun and Alex Rodriguez it could also mean 100 game suspensions as the MLB plans to punish them for not cooperating with the investigation. There are apparently many other names on the list that could make a big impact on their teams. It would be the biggest steroid scandal since the Mitchell Report that would change the outlook on baseball forever. Still there are a lot of very strange questions about this investigation and the names that will be released. First is the questions that arise when the MLB uses Anthony Bosch as their main source of information. There has to be more evidence than one man’s word and if the MLB is hoping to suspend 25 players they will need more than just Bosch’s word. Another strange part of the investigation is that the MLB has the names and presumably the evidence to suspend players but will not reveal the names until after the All-Star break. The MLB will likely frame it as trying to put all their ducks in a row before they suspend anyone. The reality is that there are likely players on the all-star rosters that will be named and the MLB does not want to take them out of the game. The All-Star weekend is a big weekend for the league and having steroids rule the headlines will not bode well for them. By delaying the release of the names they are essentially showing that they do not really care about removing steroids. Instead they are more concerned about their bottom line than running a clean league. Finally the fact that the MLB is looking to suspend Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun for not cooperating could come under fire as the suspensions are established for cheating not for cooperating. No player is required to cooperate in an MLB investigation and punishing them for making it more inconvenient may not go over well. As the All-Star break approaches the anticipation will build as after this week the MLB could be facing yet another major scandal that could see a lot of names leave the game for a long time. Whether or not the MLB wants to only discuss the all-star game it will not be the main storyline as there are a lot of questions to be answered with the Biogenesis scandal just getting started.
Extra Innings:
(Thoughts on the past week in the MLB)
The Babe’s Debut
The King of the HR, even if it isn’t in the record book, would reach another milestone this week as Babe Ruth would make his major league debut 99 years ago this week and would change what it meant to be a home run hitter
Barely All-Stars
The All-Star rosters were announced and one spot remained on both teams as the fans got behind Steve Delabar and Freddie Freeman who earned the last two spots on the All-Star rosters got their first appearances ever
The Debate over Puig
Freddie Freeman would get in to the All-Star Game for the National League but he would take the last spot away from rookie Yasiel Puig who many believed should have been in the game even if he had yet to play half a season of baseball
Harvey to Start ?
One of the best stories this year has been the dominance of Matt Harvey for the New York Mets and for that he has received a spot on the All-Star roster and with Harvey missing his start on Saturday many believe he is set to start in his first at All-Star Game
MLB Standings
American League
AL East:
1. Boston Red Sox (.611)
2. Tampa Bay Rays (.564)
3. Baltimore Orioles (.553)
4. New York Yankees (.548)
5. Toronto Blue Jays (.478)
AL Central:
1. Detroit Tigers (.554)
2. Cleveland Indians (.527)
3. Kansas City Royals (.478)
4. Minnesota Twins (.411)
5. Chicago White Sox (.404)
AL West:
1. Oakland Athletics (.581)
2. Texas Rangers (.570)
3. Los Angeles Angels (.484)
4. Seattle Mariners (.441)
5. Houston Astros (.359)
National League
NL East:
1. Atlanta Braves (.570)
2. Washington Nationals (.505)
3. Philadelphia Phillies (.495)
4. New York Mets (.449)
5. Miami Marlins (.347)
NL Central:
1. St. Louis Cardinals (.615)
2. Pittsburgh Pirates (.604)
3. Cincinnati Reds (.559)
4. Chicago Cubs (.451)
5. Milwaukee Brewers (.402)
NL West:
1. Arizona Diamondbacks (.527)
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (.500)
3. Colorado Rockies (.479)
4. San Francisco Giants (.457)
5. San Diego Padres(.436)
Scores:
Houston Astros 9 – 5 Texas Rangers
– The battle of Texas was seen once again and once again the Astros would at least pull one out but this time they would do it against one of the best pitchers in baseball beating Yu Darvish who would make a trip to the DL after the game
Los Angeles Dodgers 4 – 1 San Francisco Giants
– The San Francisco Giants led their division at the start of the season and now they are sitting at the bottom while the Dodgers start at the bottom and used this game and plenty more to get to the top of the division
Oakland Athletics 2 – 1 Pittsburgh Pirates
– Bartolo Colon did not seem to have much left of his career at the start of the year but he has proven everyone wrong return to dominant form for the Athletics as he would earn his 12th win against the Pittsburgh Pirates
New York Yankees 8 – 4 Kansas City Royals
– The Yankees would get their leader back as Derek Jeter returned to the lineup for the first time this year and would go 1-for-4 with an RBI but would pull up after pulling his quadriceps in only his first game back
Next Week:
Chicago White Sox vs. Philadelphia Phillies (Saturday July 13th; 4:05 pm ET)
– The White Sox are bringing up the rear in their division while the Phillies are still hanging in the battle for theirs as every game for the Phillies becomes more important and for the White Sox it gives them more chances to spoil the party
Cincinnati Reds vs. Atlanta Braves (Sunday July 14th; 1:35 pm ET)
– The Reds are trying to get back into the hunt of the NL Central after sitting near the top for the start of the season and the Braves are still sitting at the top as they hope to get the win and continue their dominance
American League vs. National League (Tuesday July 16th; 8:00 pm ET)
– The Big Apple plays host to the 2013 All Star Game as the best of both leagues play for more than just pride as they look to earn home field advantage in the World Series as the MLB shows off everything they have at Citi Field
New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox (Friday July 19th; 7:10 pm ET)
– The Yankees have fallen fast and are hoping that reinforcements are coming soon but they need to stop the damage and there is no better team to do it against than their longtime rivals in the Red Sox who are the best team in the AL East this year
Filed under Baseball · Tagged with 2013 MLB All-Star Game, Alex Rodriguez, Anthony Bosch, Babe Ruth, Babe Ruth 99 year anniversary, Baseball, Biogenesis, Freddie Freeman, Matt Harvey, MLB, MLB All-Star Game, MLB Biogenesis investigation, MLB Standings, MLB Steroid Scandal, Ryan Braun, Steve Delabar, Tony Bosch, Yasiel Puig
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