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According to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, the Texas Rangers are the front runners in hopes of swinging a deal for the Marlins corner infielder, Jorge Cantu.

The Marlins have told the Texas Rangers they would eat up most if not all of Cantu's remaining salary which stands at around $2 million. This move would enable the Marlins to ask and probably get a good quality pitching prospect who is on the verge of the big leagues. Candidates who fit the mold include lefties Beau Jones, Robert Erlin and Martin Perez. 

If he heads to Texas, Cantu would most likely be a starter at first base, replacing their current free swinging first baseman Chris Davis. Davis, whose batting average is south of the Mendoza Line after 30 plus games on the season.

Cantu could also return to his former position at second place with the injury to Ian Kinsler. 

Jorge Cantu got off to a great start in April with a .311 batting average, five HRs and 23 RBIs but since then has hit .241 with five HRs and 31 RBIs. Nevertheless, a change of scenery to the American League and playing in Ballpark in Arlington, a hitters park, would help him. Cantu drove in 100 RBIs last season with a .289 average and 16 HRs.

For the Marlins, they would most likely fill the void at third base with another corner infielder, Wes Helms and utility player Emilo Bonifacio. If recently called up prospect Logan Morrison does well, Chris Coghlan would return to play at third if not this season, then next.

“All things considered, I’d rather be in Philadelphia.” – W.C. Fields

This quote not withstanding, it wasn’t all that long ago that NO ONE wanted to play in Philadelphia.

The franchise, founded in 1883, was closing in (and has since surpassed) 10,000 losses. It had but one world championship to its name (1980), and not even a sniff of a pennant since 1993.

Hardly a winning tradition.

Not only that, but some of the players themselves didn’t even think the management cared about winning. Hard to blame them when team president Bill Giles said the Phillies—which play in the fourth largest TV market—were a “small market team."

So, Scott Rolen forced his way out of town to the “Baseball Heaven” of St. Louis.

Curt Schilling wiggled his way out, too.

J.D. Drew sat out an entire season just to re-enter the draft so he wouldn’t have to play for the Phillies.

In Veteran’s Stadium, they had a run-down, multi-purpose doughnut with a carpeted-concrete playing surface, and rats that were bigger than the cats.

In essence, it was a dump. Ah, but it was our dump!

Then, in 2002, things started to change.

Jim Thome signed as a free agent with the Phillies after the team, the city­—and the fans—put on the full court press to woo him.

With him in town, excitement started to build as fans began to look toward the opening of their new ballpark.

And on April 3, 2004, on a chilly, raining afternoon, the Phillies opened their brand new ballpark.

And lost.

Surprise, surprise.

But with the new stadium, and a core of young talent—Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins—the Phillies began to put together the building blocks of a competitive team.

Over time, with the increased revenue from the new ballpark, the Phillies began to spend money.

Then, before and during the 2007 season, they signed free agents like Jayson Werth, and Adam Eaton. Made shrewd waiver wire pickups like Greg Dobbs and J.C. Romero.  Made trades for big names like Freddie Garcia.

And made Chase Utley very, very rich, signing him to an $85 million extension.

Then at the trade deadline, Philadelphia found themselves only three games out. For a change, the team was a buyer and not a seller.

They added Tadahito Iguchi to fill in for an injured Utley. They added Kyle Lohse to shore up its rotation.

Granted, not all of these moves panned out (see Garcia, Freddie), but it seemed to mark a philosophical shift in Phillies’ management.

We can actually win here.

That year, aided by a historic collapse by the New York Mets, the Phillies overcame a 6.5-game deficit to clinch its first division title since 1993.

A quick three-and-out at the hands of the Colorado Rockies left a bad taste in the team’s mouth, and fired up the organization for a run at the title the next year.

That off-season, they brought in So Taguchi, Jeff Jenkins, Chad Durbin and Pedro Feliz.

At the deadline, they got Joe Blanton.

After the deadline, they got Scott Eyre and Matt Stairs.

And in October of 2008, the Philadelphia Phillies won only its second World Series title in 125 years. 

Fast forward to last year’s trading deadline, and the Phillies are in the running for two of the top pitchers in the game: Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.

Toronto wanted too much for Halladay, so the Phillies traded for Lee, who ended up helping lead the Phillies to its second consecutive National League pennant.

But the Phillies eventually got their man, as the team traded for Halladay this past offseason before signing him to an extension—saying he wanted to come to Philadelphia all along, wishing it was him on the mound instead of Cliff Lee during the World Series against the Yankees.

Ironically, Lee—who was traded to Seattle in the offseason before getting traded again to Texas last week—has stated he never wanted to leave Philadelphia.

It took more than a century of primarily bad baseball, but suddenly Philadelphia is a desirable place to play—and get paid, as Ryan Howard’s five-year, $125-million contract extension will demonstrate. 

In fact, the Phillies payroll has increased five-fold over the last decade, from $27.3 million in 1999 to an estimated $143 million this year.

But when Citizens Bank Park has had 90 consecutive sellouts, you can afford to be a little more loose with your payroll. 

Which leads us to today, where the Phillies once again got the best available pitcher at the trading deadline in the form of Houston’s Roy Oswalt.

The two-time defending NL champs will now throw a potent 1-2-3 at the top of their rotation of Roy Halladay (perfect game this season, 2003 AL Cy Young winner), Roy Oswalt (2005 NLCS MVP), and Cole Hamels (2008 NLCS & World Series MVP).

It used to be that only the Yankees were the ones that swooped in at the deadline and during the offseason to get the big names.

Growing up in Philadelphia, you hate anything that’s good for New York. Anything .

Having a father whose childhood was marred by the 1964 Phillies’ collapse, I’ve heard countless times the cynicism of “don’t worry, they’ll blow it.”

No longer.

Now, it’s Philly making the moves.

Now, it’s the Phillies spending the money.

With little more than 48 hours left before the trading deadline, the Phillies have served notice that they will not let Atlanta take the division without a fight.

Because they’re the Philadelphia Phillies.

And that’s how they roll. (Now.)

Statistics from Baseball-Reference.com and Philly.com

Back in the red after yesterday’s single, Aggie Engineer, ran a winning race but had to settle for second to Blue Chagall, who reverted to previous form and got the best trip possible under David Flores.

Six days into the meet and the sun has yet to show up. Aside from the pale-skinned fans in attendance, the implications of warmer days and how the track plays are significant and will need to be monitored.

The first half of today’s card leaves a lot to be desired, but I'll be rooting for the old man Shadow of Illinois in the second race. The last four races provide a challenging sequence where a nice payout is possible.

We’re off to the races!

Leg 1 – Race 5 (5,9) – A couple of speedballs that have shown a penchant for tiring late should set up this Cal-bred $40K maiden claiming race for fillies and mares going six furlongs to be won from off the pace.

No. 5 Warren’s Moon has finished second in four of her five starts and there is a concern that she might be afraid of winning. She’s been favored in her last three; however we’ll give her one more chance to win from just off the pace.

No. 9 Marino’s Promise missed by just half a length last time in a productive heat. She shows a pair of works over this track and can give Cho his second winner of the meet.

It’s interesting to note that the horse that breaks inside of her is out of the same sire and sold for over $30K more than she did at the Barrett’s October 2008 sale. But, Winning Valentine has been away for almost a year since running a clunker in her debut here last summer.

Leg 2 – Race 6 (1,3,5,8) – With the scratch of No. 4 Royal Applause, we’re left with a field of eight bottom level claimers going a mile-and-a-sixteenth. Four can win and four can’t. We’ll use the four that have a shot.

Leg 3 - Race 7 (1,2,5,7) – Some nice fillies and mares sprint six furlongs in this featured optional claiming event.

We’ll play against morning line favorite Heartless Vixen based off sub-par efforts in her last two and uninspiring reports from her morning works.

No. 4 Holding Her Ground has no chance facing these kind of horses, so we’ll use the other four.

Leg 4 – Race 8 (1,5,8,9,10) – Another $40K Cal-bred maiden claiming race; this one for two-year old fillies going five and a half furlongs to round out the card.

No. 1 Jenny Jenny Emily was nowhere in her debut, but she drops in class and shows some nice works for a trainer who excels with two-year-olds.

No. 5 Table for One retains the services of Rafael Bejarano and her race two back is good enough to win.

N. 8 Cosafina Carina was also nowhere in her debut, but drops in class and has trained forwardly since, including a nice four furlong work over the track.

No. 9 Homework ran a solid fourth in her debut after breaking from the rail in a productive heat. She moves to the outside here and wouldn’t need to improve much to win.

No. 10 Desperate Measures finished second in her debut to a horse that came back to run here in a stakes last week.

Recap – (5,9) w (1,3,5,8) w (1,2,5,7) w (1,5,8,9,10) – Total cost of ticket = $80

Make sure to follow me on Twitter <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> @mdoche for last minute changes caused by scratches.

Good luck!

Yesterday’s Result – (-$72)

Total for meet – (-$43.15)

Its official! Roy Oswalt is now a Philly. Oswalt waived his no-trade clause to join the red-hot Phillies and hopefully win the National League East (insert Boos from Braves & Mets fans). Oh yeah he's also getting $31 milion in small unmarked bills, I hear.

The Astros receive J.A. Happ who just came back from the DL. They also get two minor leaguers—Anthony Gose (OF) and Jonathan Villan (SS).

In terms of fantasy value, Oswalt will now receive a hell of a lot more run support which will equate to more wins. For the year, Oswalt had eight losses with three or less earned runs.

Joining a winning team is exactly what Roy wanted and his chances of winning a ring with the Phillies has increased a thousand times over the Astros. Oswalt, Halladay, and Hamels are now the Miami Heat of the Northeast.

Written by Evan Marx exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com

Written by Evan Marxexclusively for TheFantasyFix.com .  You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter @fantasyfix_evan .  

Follow us on Twitter for more updates @TheFantasyFix.

Here are some more articles that will not self destruct in ten seconds...

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Does Albert Haynesworth understand what he's doing? Albert Haynesworth, the disgruntled for no reason defensive tackle on the Washington Redskins, keeps making himself look bad.

Instead of sending a message saying that he wants out, which he did early in the offseason, Haynesworth claims to have lost 30-40 pounds, but today July 29th, 2010, Haynesworth was not allowed to practice with the team at their training camp because he failed their conditioning test.

According to Foxsports.com 's Jay Glazer, Haynesworth was suppose to run two 300 yard shuttle runs, which is the equivalent of twelve 50 yard sprints, and during the workouts Haynesworth began to walk.

So, the true question is to Albert Haynesworth: Do you want to play football? Do you want to win?

The Washington Redskins just wish that Haynesworth would grow up and say yes to these questions.

The Redskins are bringing in all the help they can get to make them a winning team, with Donovan McNabb at quarterback along with Willie Parker and Larry Johnson at backup running backs. Chris Cooley will be back from ankle surgery last year, making Washington's offense threatening. 

New coach, Mike Shanahan, said Haynesworth would not be practicing with the team, but he would be doing sideline workouts until he passed his conditioning test, and when Haynesworth did return he would begin practicing with the backups.

So there it is Albert. You're going to begin with the backups. Maybe your attitude has something to do with it?

Try not walking during workouts for a team that you said you didn't want to play for. Try creating a better image for yourself so that if Washington does let you go, you become attractive for other teams.

Until that happens, Haynesworth is just another diva in the NFL show. A very big diva I might add. 

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As part of BCS Know How’s 2010 college football season preview, we will be breaking down each week’s most important games that could have BCS and postseason implications in the “Road to Glendale 2011.″

Let’s move on to Week Five, where the Red River Shootout is among the many fantastic conference match ups during the first week of October.

Florida at Alabama: Oct. 2, TBA

A rematch of last season’s SEC Championship Game and a game which will feature Nick Saban, Alabama’s defending Heisman trophy winner running back, Mark Ingram, and the defending national champion Crimson Tide, so it doesn’t need much hyping.

However, added storylines include Urban Meyer’s near-retirement, Florida’s new quarterback in John Brantley, and the chance for a preview of the 2010 SEC Championship Game, which only adds to the appeal of this matchup.

It’s not a stretch to expect both teams to be undefeated when the Gators travel to Tuscaloosa, although tough matchups do exist for both teams, in trips to Arkansas for Alabama, and Tennessee for Florida.

Regardless, the strength on both sides of the ball for both squads could make this another classic SEC tussle—which have been the most exciting in college football these past few years—and there’s no reason to expect any less.

Texas vs. Oklahoma: Oct. 2, TBA

Alright, lets be truthful; 2009′s edition of the Red River Shootout was a sloppy game.

The 16-13 victory by Texas was marred by injuries, tons of turnovers, and Oklahoma rushing for minus-16 yards. Even Colt McCoy, who played the whole game, passed for a measly 127 yards and just one touchdown.

Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford, in his second game back from a shoulder injury, suffered in the Sooners’ season opener, was injured in the first quarter and replaced by then-freshman Landry Jones, who struggled.

This year’s edition will hopefully be a better-controlled game, especially since this one game—as has been the case many times in the past decade—will likely decide who has the upper hand in the volatile Big 12 South Division.

Despite the injury that ruined Sam Bradford’s final collegiate year and likely cost Oklahoma a shot at a national title bid, the Sooners were able to help groom Jones for the 2010 season. The sophomore now comes into this season looking ready to lead the Sooners back to the top of the college football landscape.

McCoy’s replacement and Jones’s counterpart at the helm of the Longhorn offense, sophomore Garrett Gilbert, also benefited from playing time filling in for McCoy, however, his playing time came in the BCS National Championship Game, pressure Jones did not experience.

So both programs are led by quarterbacks that have unexpected experience, and by the time this year’s edition of the Red River Rivalry arrives, both will have played a full slate of non-conference games. The unplanned extra grooming, along with the annually reloaded roster of both the Sooners and Longhorns could make this a can’t-miss Big 12 battle.

Washington at USC: Oct. 2, 8:00 p.m. ET

Despite not being able to participate in postseason play for 2010 and 2011, USC is still considered among the favorites in the very unpredictable Pac-10 in 2010.

Washington, too, is considered a strong choice to make their way back to the top of the conference, in large part because of the hype surrounding senior quarterback, and Heisman hopeful, Jake Locker.

In Week Five, the two teams will meet for the first time since a tussle in Washington last season, where the Huskies knocked off a then-No. 3 Trojan group, who seemed to be angling for a Pac-10 championship once again. The loss put a large hole in that hope, and the Trojans would end up missing a BCS bowl bid for the first time in eight years.

Washington, on the other hand, took the victory and ran with it, improving upon a winless 2008 and finishing ’09 with a respectable 5-7 record. Following the season it, was expected that Locker would leave for the NFL, but the returning senior gives the Huskies a true hope at a conference crown.

USC will counter at the Coliseum with sophomore Matt Barkley, who won the starting job at ‘SC as a true freshman, and now returns to the field with an extra year of experience. However, Barkley and the Trojans will have to deal with the loss of players transferring out because of the NCAA sanctions.

A victory here would give either team an upper hand in the Pac-10 race, which is sure to be undecided until the end of the season.

Penn State at Iowa: Oct. 2, 8:05 p.m. ET

Although both teams are expected to be chasing Ohio State for the Big Ten crown this season, the conference is shaping up to be a possible two-bid BCS bowl league this season, so a victory here could be very beneficial to that goal for either team.

And who knows? Ohio State might slip up somewhere down the line, leaving the winner of this game in prime position to take over the conference crown if the Buckeyes falter down the stretch.

Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi is back to lead the Hawkeye offense against Penn State’s defense, while Penn State’s offense is in a period of transition at the QB spot, looking at Kevin Newsome and Matt McGloin to plug the hole left by Daryll Clark.

Whoever does step up to take the reigns of the Nittany Lion offense will be helped by running back, and Big Ten Player of the Year candidate, Evan Royster.

By the time this game rolls around, Penn State will have gone through a tough non-conference schedule, where they will be tested against Alabama and Temple. Iowa, on the other hand, seems to have a pretty simple road to 4-0, when they welcome Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions to Iowa City.

Other Games of Note

Navy at Air Force, Stanford at Oregon

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

It has been presented many times by writers, coaches, college football fans, members of Congress, and even the President of the United States that college football would be better if the current BCS system was replaced with a playoff.

Below are a few reasons why the BCS should be scrapped in favor of a playoff system that invites at least the champions of EVERY FBS conference.

The BCS is inherently unfair because it eliminates teams, even those from BCS conferences, from playing for a national title before a single game is played.

First, let me give you the case from a non-BCS position. As of today, July 29, 2010, 52 of the 120 teams that make up the FBS cannot win a national championship in 2010 no matter what they do.

That's 43 percent of the teams in college football.

This year is unique in that two teams from the non-BCS, Boise State and TCU, will start high enough in the polls to make a national championship run possible.

A team like Troy, Middle Tennessee State, or even a better known and respected team like BYU couldn't win a national title because going from unranked in the polls to the required No. 1 or No. 2 in the final BCS ranking would require every team in the top 25 to lose at least once, and those in the Top Five to all lose probably at least twice.

That doesn't happen folks.

The term National Champion implies that a certain team is the best team in college football. Problem is, Troy or Middle Tennessee State could have the Indianapolis Colts' entire roster, and they still couldn't play for a national title.

All because of the BCS.

So it's not about being the best team in college football. It's about being perceived as the best team.

However, the BCS doesn't just eliminate non-BCS teams from the possibility of a national title. It affects BCS teams as well.

Let's rewind to 2004, shall we?

USC and Oklahoma began the season No. 1 and No. 2 in the AP respectfully. Both teams went undefeated, and USC defeated Oklahoma to win the National Championship. Yes, two undefeated non-BCS teams were left out (Utah and Boise State), but all is right for those in BCS conferences.

Isn't that right, Auburn?

You see, Auburn started as the preseason No. 17 team. Because USC and Oklahoma went undefeated, they stayed on top. Auburn rose as high as they could, but No. 3 in the final BCS ranking doesn't get you the National Championship Game.

And even though USC had to vacate that National Title because of Reggie Bush, Auburn STILL can't have the National Championship for 2004.

No team can start off the season ranked No. 20 or lower and win a national title, BCS team or not. Oklahoma started off the season in 2000 at No. 19 and won a title, but I think that would be a stretch today.

For those playing at home, only 17 percent of FBS teams, BCS or not, can possibly play for a national title.

Compare that to any other sport, whether that be college or professional, where 100 percent of teams can complete for a national (or world) title by winning their division or conference.

That's why saying that the regular season in college football matters is false. For 83 percent of teams in any given year, the regular season doesn't matter, because obtaining the national title is impossible for them.

Another point used against non-BCS teams is the old who did they play argument. This one is popular with SEC fans in particular.

The argument goes something like this:

"Boise State, TCU, and whoever else from the non-BCS don't deserve to play for a National Title because of their schedule. If they were in the SEC, they wouldn't go undefeated. Who did they beat? OUR team beat more great teams than Boise State and TCU did!"

Very well, but that doesn't address the question of who is the better team. It's hard to compare two teams that don't play each other because, well, they didn't play each other.

Here's an example for you.

Team A is a powerhouse team from a BCS conference. They beat the No. 13, the No. 14, and only lost to the No. 1 team in the final AP poll.

Team B is from a non-BCS conference. They Beat the No. 7, the No. 18, and the No. 25 teams in the final AP poll. They did not lose a game in the regular season.

Who is the better team?

If you picked Team B, the scoreboard agrees with you. Team A is the 2008 Alabama Crimson Tide, and Team B is the 2008 Utah Utes.

Oh, and Utah beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl 31-17.

You see, the only way to find out which of two teams is truly better is have them prove it on the field.

By the same token, the only way to truly determine a National Champion is to get together the best teams from around the country and have a playoff.

I could go on, ladies and gentlemen of the jury. But for now, I rest my case. Please, do what is right for college football:

Help us get rid of the BCS and replace it with a playoff.

The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired Roy Oswalt and cash in exchange for J.A. Happ, Anthony Goss, and Jonathan Villar according to MLB Network.

The Phillies Get

They create the type of one-two combo they could have had, except that they opted not to keep Cliff Lee once they acquired Roy Halladay in the offseason. With most pitchers you would be concerned with the move to a hitters ballpark, but it is not like Oswalt has called a pitcher’s paradise home in recent years. He has been better on the road (2.68 ERA) this year, but there is nothing to complain about his 3.96 ERA at home.

It’s not like he is an extreme fly ball pitcher (36.0 percent in 2010 and 31.9 percent for his career) or gives up a lot of home runs (0.91 HR/9 in 2010 and 0.78 for his career). That should translate to Citizens Bank Park, you would think.

He hasn’t been overly lucky this season, with a .283 BABIP and 73.3 percent strand rate. His control has always been a strength.

The one concern may be his strikeout rate. He currently has a K/9 of 8.4. That’s a full strikeout better than his career mark. In fact since 2005 he’s only had a K/9 above 7.0 once (7.1 in 2008). If he were to regress there, his WHIP and ERA would likely suffer slightly, because he would give up more hits (assuming his BABIP remains consistent). Yes, it’s a slight concern, but not enough. He actually only had one big strikeout month this season (44 K in 38.1 IP in May).

He’s going to continue to be an above average pitcher, now with the ability to win games. It’s a big boost in his fantasy appeal.

The Astros Get

Happ had great numbers in 2009 (12 W, 2.93 ERA and 1.23 WHIP), but he also benefited from an 85.2 percent strand rate, so his ERA is a bit deceiving.

Like Oswalt, the ballpark will not be a factor, but he goes into a far worse situation to get wins. That’s a huge hit on his value, as was his less then stellar numbers during his rehab (5.97 ERA). Then again, he’s shown more strikeout potential in the minor leagues (9.3 K/9 over 528.0 innings prior to 2010), so you would expect the lefties 6.6 K/9 in the majors to improve with experience.

He’s got value in deeper formats, but is not likely to be a must start in 2010. He projects more as a pitcher with a high-3s/low-4s ERA for the rest of the year, so don’t expect much more than that.

Gose is an outfielder who was ranked as the Phillies' sixth-best prospect prior to the season by Baseball America. He is best known for his defense and speed. He had 76 stolen bases in 96 attempts last season, but has struggled slightly this year. He has 36 stolen bases, but has been caught 27 times at High Single-A. He also needs to improve his ability to make contact, having struck out 103 times in 418 at-bats thus far this season.

Villar is another speed guy, though as a shortstop. He’s hitting .272 with two home run's and 38 stolen bases at Single-A this season, though he too struggles with strikeouts (103 in 371 at-bats).

Neither prospect is close to making an impact.

What are your thoughts on the deal? How is Oswalt’s value affected? What about Happ’s?

Make sure to check out our trade deadline analysis:

Yunel Escober for Alex Gonzalez

Alberto Callaspo traded to the Angels, Dan Haren traded to the Angels

Jhonny Peralta to the Tigers

Scott Podsednik to the Dodgers

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With a 4-0 win over the Cardinals this afternoon, R.A. Dickey of all people is cementing his place as the ace of the Mets' pitching staff.  Dickey went 8.1 innings today, allowing no runs and only four hits while lowering his ERA to 2.32. 

In 14 starts since being called up from Triple-A Buffalo, Dickey has allowed four or more runs just twice, while averaging 6.2 innings per start.

I would still pick Johan Santana to start a must-win game, but Dickey has been the most consistent starter since May and has put up excellent numbers while pitching deep into games.  There can't be enough said on how important the emergence of Dickey has been to lightening the load that manager Jerry Manuel puts on the bullpen.  All of this from a man who has two primary pitches and is missing his ulnar collateral ligament.

The Mets brought Dickey in before spring training for insurance and to add depth to their rotation.  After a rough spring training, it looked as Dickey would have no chance of pitching for the Mets unless injuries occurred.  Well, injuries to Maine and Perez opened the door for Dickey to get an opportunity.  Pitching coach Dan Warthen had a talk with Dickey when he arrived and suggested that he throw his knuckleball harder to create sharper movement when the ball entered the zone. 

He took that advice from Warthen, and hasn't looked back since.

Dickey has created a problem for the Mets.  If he continues his success for the rest of the season, do the Mets give a then 36-year-old journeyman, with no such prior success, a contract?  More than that, can the Mets depend on him to be a solid piece of their rotation in the future? 

I think he can continue to be fairly successful and a solid starter in the back end of the rotation at CitiField.  There are still two full months left in the season, but at this rate the Mets need to resign their ace, R.A. Dickey.

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One loss.  That is all it can take for a team to see its national championship aspirations destroyed in one day afternoon of work.  The college football season is mind field where teams suffer the pitfall of one loss and reap all the benefits of remaining undefeated.

That will be no different in 2010.  Defending national champion Alabama returns a very strong squad gunning for its second straight crown with a line of challengers waiting to take the top spot should the Crimson Tide fail to make it back-to-back unblemished seasons.

But when could those season-crushing moments come for teams with hopes of holding up the crystal football? Each Top 25 team has at least one game on its schedule that could knock it off course. We search for those moments in the boldest prediction set of them all.

Note: The Top 25 list was taken from Athlon Sports

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In the latest turn of Ron Artest-related events, the Laker star was interviewed by a man of equal uniqueness and personality.

That man? Ron Artest.

Apparently ESPN let Artest browse around the ESPN the Magazine’s chief editor’s office, as he will be a guest editor in chief for the magazine’s next issue.

Watch Ron Artest interview himself on TheSportingRave.com .

Among the topics discussed were basketball, “Titanic,” and of course Artest’s music career, with a very interesting artist choice for a future collaboration.

Every year, college football has those guys not too many people know about.

For one reason or another, they are not exactly household names whether they are young, not very well exposed, or just have been hurt.

But the calendar means it is almost time for college football camps to kick off and we find out about who will be the next superstars in college football.

Here are five of the next generation of explosive players in college football:


1. Andre Debose - WR, Florida

Last season, it seemed as if Florida was missing the type of offensive threat that Percy Harvin was before he moved on to the NFL.

Gators fans thought that then-freshman Andre Debose would fill in that role as a true freshman, but suffered a torn hamstring and was forced to redshirt his freshman season.

When he does step on the field in 2010 to help out John Brantley in his first full year as a starting QB, Debose will be counted upon to flash the same skills that earned him the Harvin comparisons during the recruiting process.

His speed is definitely a major weapon in helping to free up space and give Brantley a go-to weapon that can turn a simple screen pass into a 30-40 yard play at any time.

While he could not display his skills in 2009, Debose certainly gave Gators fans a taste of what to expect in 2010 in the spring game.

Having a year in the program and practicing against a tough defense for months can give him an edge to see playing time in Urban Meyer's offense.


2. Jewel Hampton - RB, Iowa

Iowa was only one game away from a Big Ten title and came away with an Orange Bowl victory to wrap up an amazing 2009 season.

And the guy many thought would lead the running attack, like Debose, spent 2009 on the sidelines with an injury.

Jewel Hampton was originally the starting RB for the Hawkeyes before he suffered a knee injury, knocking him out for the season.

Hampton had drawn major hype in Iowa City after being a very good No. 2 back for Shonn Greene in 2008, averaging 5.1 yards per carry and scoring seven TDs.

Even though Iowa has Brandon Wegher and Adam Robinson who played very well in a rotation in 2009, expect Hampton to get most of the carries and to be explosive.

And he will need to be that feature guy to help carry Iowa back to the BCS.


3. Greg Reid - DB/KR, Florida State

Sometimes, freshmen looking to find playing time start out on special teams, and either get lost in the shuffle, or in the case of Greg Reid, set the turf on fire.

After decommitting from Florida and signing with the rival Seminoles, Reid found his stride right away as a high-octane punt returner.

Reid averaged 18.4 yards per punt return with a touchdown and returned one of his two INTs as a nickel corner for a touchdown as well.

Reid is a very electrifying athlete, with great speed and moves in the open field which makes him such a great returner. He also is a powerful hitter as FSU fans saw last year.

In Jimbo Fisher's first year as head coach, he expects Reid to be a major contributor in the secondary because he is the type of player where he doesn't need the ball in his hands to make plays.

But it is never a bad idea for Reid to get the ball either.


4. Kenjon Barner - RB/KR, Oregon

When you think of Oregon, the first thing you think about for 2010 is breakout RB LaMichael James, who was spectacular in 2009.

But one guy you will need to keep an eye on is the guy who spelled James for most of the season, burner Kenjon Barner.

Like Reid, Barner was an explosive returnman in 2009, with a 102-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at UCLA, and an 80-yard return against USC.

But he is more than a one-trick pony, as he averaged over six yards a carry, including running for 64 yards in only seven carries in a strong effort against Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.

With no Jeremiah Masoli, James and Barner will be counted on heavily in Chip Kelly's offense this season. And after a strong start to his collegiate career, teams should not only be aware of James, but also the deceptive Barner.


5. Marquise Goodwin - WR, Texas

Many fans already have a good idea of who Marquise Goodwin is after watching his Texas Longhorns reach the BCS National Championship Game last season.

But Goodwin was mostly a situational target, catching 30 passes in 2009 for 279 yards, and one touchdown which was the difference in the Horns win over Oklahoma.

An aspiring Olympian, Goodwin will be counted upon more in 2010 with the graduation of Jordan Shipley and the departure of WR Dan Buckner.

But he has shown that he can make big plays in the receiving game as well as the return game, with a kick return for a touchdown last season.

Whether or not Texas can get back to the Big 12 Championship Game in 2010, Goodwin will be a guy to watch in Austin.

This article can be found on Storm the Field.

When a team wins an NBA Championship, and not only returns their core intact, but adds essential role players through free agency, usually they should be considered as favorites to win again, right? After all, they were the best team in the NBA in 2010, and they've only gotten better.

If you listen to not only the talking heads at ESPN, but right here on Bleacher Report, you might forget that the Lakers even won last year.

There's no reason to go into what happened this past summer, the world knows it. I'm not even going to break down the matchups between the Heat and Lakers. People who read my last article know exactly where I stand on that.

I'm writing this for one reason: Laker fans are bitter. As a Laker fan, I am bitter.

Not bitter that their reign is over, most Laker fans are very confident that their team will prevail in a fabled Finals clash between LA and Miami. No, Lakers fans feel disrespected.

And they have every right to.

Seemingly within minutes of LeBron's "Decision" the Heat were installed as favorites to win the NBA Title.

They were installed as favorites when they only had six players on their roster.

Think about that for a minute. They had no established starting center and no depth on their bench, save Udonis Haslem, and they were put down as favorites.

This sickened me, as I'm sure it did other Lakers fans. A brand new team that doesn't even have a full roster, let alone experience and chemistry, be favored over the champion Lakers, who have repeatedly proved themselves?

Speaking as a die-hard Laker fan, I want more than anything for LA to win their first regular season game by 20, just to shut people up.

Miami has not won anything. They have never played a game together. They do not have established chemistry together. They are not the favorites.

To be fair, Dwyane Wade made it clear that the Lakers are still the team to beat, and I respect him for that.

It's the now-rabid Miami Heat fans that need to wake up to reality.

The Lakers are the defending champions. The Lakers have the best player in the NBA. The Lakers have the best coach in the NBA. The Lakers have experience and chemistry. The Lakers as a team know what it takes to win a title.

Only one-third of Miami's core can claim that much.

Sorry Heat fans, but the Lakers are still in the drivers seat of the NBA. As long as Kobe is around, you'd better get used to it

By now, the biggest question surrounding Alex Rodriguez’s 600th home run may not be where/what section in the stadium, but when?

Two long weeks ago, here at SeatGeek, we released our initial report on where Alex Rodriguez’s 600th home run may land at Yankee Stadium. There was a substantial likelihood that A-Rod would hit the milestone home run towards the end of the Yankees’ nine game home stand which began after the All-Star break.

One week ago, A-Rod hit career home run number 599, and had three games left on the current home stand to hit the milestone homer in front of the home crowd. Yet, A-Rod did not hit 600 in New York, and he took his chase with him to Cleveland, as the Yankees were slotted to play four games versus the Indians at Progressive Field.

SeatGeek and Hit Tracker followed up our initial report with a prediction of where the historic ball may land at Progressive Field. Given the frequency in which Rodriguez has hit home runs this season and in the past, there again was a high percentage chance he would hit one home run during the Cleveland series. Yet, three games have passed, and A-Rod has gone homerless. Now, here we are, preparing to release another report with a prediction of where A-Rod’s 600th home run ball may land at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay (the Yankees play their next three games after tonight versus the Rays–let us know if you want a sneak peak at the data).

Throughout the coverage of A-Rod’s milestone chase, SeatGeek and Hit Tracker have kept track of the percentage chances of when A-Rod may hit his 600th home run.

By now, everyone is wondering when (if ever!) will A-Rod actually hit number 600?

At this point, there is a 22 percent chance that Rodriguez puts one in the bleachers during tonight’s game at Progressive Field. Remember, if he does, the most likely section is Section 182, while "The Money Seat” is Section 181, Row J, the aisle seat in between Sections 180 and 181.

If A-Rod does not hit a home run tonight, there is a 42% chance that he hits it during one of the three games versus the Rays in Tampa. If he doesn’t hit it at Tropicana Field, then there is a 29% chance he hits it during the Yankees next home stand (seven games), beginning August 2nd–track Yankees ticket prices updated daily to track the impact, if any, that A-Rod is having on the secondary ticket market.

Don’t lose hope Yankees' fans! If you were hoping to see A-Rod hit his 600th at Yankee Stadium, there is still a chance!

If you want to go to any of the upcoming games in which the Yankees play and A-Rod may hit 600, SeatGeek is the place to get your tickets! Click on a game below to see the best ticket deals around on the secondary ticket market:

7/29 Yankees @ Indians

7/30 Yankees @ Rays

7/31 Yankees @ Rays

8/1 Yankees @ Rays

If you have any questions or data inquiries, don’t hesitate to email me at justin@seatgeek.com. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @SeatGeek, “Like” us on Facebook, and stop by SeatGeek for all of your ticket needs.

This article is also featured on SeatGeek Sports Blog

If you’re scouring the waiver wire in your NL-only league, there may be a few hidden gems that some of the other owners have not stumbled upon, or reacted quickly enough to add to their squads.  The following is an eclectic mix of top-rated prospects and some others who snuck in the back door to earn enough playing time to be relevant.

Domonic Brown (OF) – PHI – Owned in 33% of CBS leagues

The Phillies’ No. 1 rated prospect will finally get a chance to show his wares at the Major League level after tearing it up for Triple-A Lehigh.  At 23 years of age, Brown was hitting at a .392 clip in 51 at-bats, with a gaudy 1.101 OPS.  Prior to that, Brown hit .317 in 236 at-bats for Double-A Reading, with a slightly more modest OPS of .993.  In addition, he has 14 stolen bases combined this year and has posted double-digit steals in every season of his minor league career.

Brown will get the opportunity to play every day since Shane Victorino was placed on the disabled list with an abdominal strain.  If Brown hits like he is capable of hitting, it will be difficult for the Phillies to remove him from the lineup even when Victorino returns. 

His promotion and impending success also makes the trade of Jayson Werth an inevitability.  With a suddenly aging Raul Ibanez hitting a paltry .259, with eight home runs, and 48 RBI on the season (.754 OPS good for 45th amongst all NL outfielders, according to MLB.com), the Phillies' best chance to make the playoffs may be with Brown in the starting lineup regardless.  

Josh Thole (C) – NYM - Owned in 2% of CBS leagues

Thole has shown enough in capably handling the Mets staff thus far.  In addition, he has provided decent offense as a starter and late inning pinch-hitter (.455 BA as a PH). 

With his performance to date, Thole was able to convince Jerry Manuel to fight to keep him on the roster, even though the Mets already had Rod Barajas and Henry Blanco active.  Now with the injury to Barajas, Thole has been thrust into almost full-time starting duty for the Metropolitans. He will handle receiving duties for every pitcher not named Johan Santana or Mike Pelfrey. 

Thole has never been known to swing a mighty stick, but has posted a .351 BA in 37 at-bats so far this season, and an OPS of .975.  In his five-year minor league career, Thole’s batting average has progressively increased to a high of .328 last year (.817 OPS).  His power numbers, or lack thereof, leave a little to be desired, but the Mets will surely accept a .300 BA in the bottom third of the lineup.

With a lack of any other suitable options, it looks like Thole will get a decent chance to prove that he belongs on regular basis.  He may not have to do all that much considering Barajas’s average has dipped to a cool .227 on the season (.186 in July and .150 since the All-Star break). 

Logan Morrison (1B/OF) – FLA – Owned in 11% of CBS leagues

Morrison was called up after the shaving cream pie incident gone wrong involving Chris Coghlan.  He will immediately step into the LF starting role for the Fish and bat second, according to CBS Sportsline.

Morrison posted very nice numbers in Triple-A New Orleans this season—.324 BA and .945 OPS—and has shown excellent plate discipline with a 36:27 BB:K ratio (minors career—226:280).  This sort of control seems to be his calling card, since he’s only tallied 52 home runs in 1,581 minor league at-bats (1 HR/30 AB’s).

Due to Coghlan’s injury, Morrison will get a nice long look from the club. Also, with Cody Ross likely to be moved at the trade deadline, Florida will be left short on capable OFs.

Honorable Mention:

Neil Walker (2B) – PIT - Owned in 18% of CBS leagues
.310 BA/.812 OPS—Everyday second baseman for Pittsburgh showing he can handle the bat and the glove (four errors/.980 fielding % according to MLB.com).

 Tyler Colvin (OF) – CHC – Owned in 26% of CBS leagues
.265 BA/.867 OPS/16 HR’s in only 230 AB’s—playing every day now that Kosuke Fukudome has been phased out and readied for a trade. 

Chris Johnson (3B) – HOU – Owned in 11% of CBS leagues
.327 BA/.843 OPS/.347 BA in July, and .432 since the All-Star break with an 11-game hitting streak. 

Joel Hanrahan (RP) – PIT – Owned in 5% of CBS leagues
3.50 ERA/1.03 WHIP/59:14 K:BB ratio in 43.7 IP—1.64 ERA in July, with six straight scoreless appearances (6 IP/0 ER/7 K)—PIT’s closer-in-waiting once Octavio Dotel is traded at the deadline. 

Written by Rosti Satanovsky exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com .  You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter @rsat04 .  

Follow us on Twitter for more updates @TheFantasyFix.

Here are some more articles that will not self destruct in ten seconds...

It has been reported in the British press that soccer icon David Beckham may return to England to play for West Ham once his season is over with the LA Galaxy.

He is currently sidelined due to a Achilles tendon injury and has been approached by West Ham staff concerning the possibility of joining West Ham United in January.

His people are denying this move is even in the works. Well, of course they are.

But their denial does not mean that meetings have not taken place and discussions have not happened.

From my viewpoint, I cannot see why he would want to make a move like this.

What could he possibly gain from playing for West Ham?

Money: He already has more than he will ever be able to spend.

Glory: He already has that and playing for West Ham would not add to that glory.

Ego: I am not going to go there. It will only start arguments on this forum.

The best thing for him to do is remain where he is and fulfill his commitment to the LA Galaxy, for however long it remains on his contract.

If he does feel a desire to return to England, perhaps he should hang up his kit and become a coach, or possibility a team owner.

Unfortunately, he will need more money if he decides to become an owner.

Oops, I was mistaken. He may need more money. This may be a good move for Beck.

I guess only time and David Beckham will tell.

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FLUSHING, N.Y.—Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey just continues to dominate, as today he shut down the Cardinals for 8.1 innings en route to a 4-0 Mets victory, New York's league-leading 14th shutout of the season.

After an awful road trip, the Mets have gotten off to a great start on the homestand, winning their first series since late June, and doing it against a first-place team.

Dickey allowed a one-out double in the first, but cruised after getting through the inning.

The Mets were facing starter Blake Hawksworth, and got a huge lift on one swing.

After the Mets stranded two men on with no outs in the second, first baseman Ike Davis provided a boost with a three-run home run in the third, giving the Mets a 3-0 lead. It was a monster shot to straightaway center field, his 15th of the season.

Dickey's knuckleball was working all game, and the Cardinals never really posed any big threats.

After allowing some baserunners in the third and fifth, Dickey induced groundball double plays to first base. He only struck out two, both in the first inning, and only walked two, one coming in the ninth.

The Mets added a run in the fifth on a Carlos Beltran RBI single.

After Dickey breezed right through the Cardinals lineup on three days' rest, he started to fatigue in the eighth. He came back to begin the ninth and got one out, but put two men on.

Jerry Manuel replaced him with closer Francisco Rodriguez, who proceded to record the final two outs, earning Dickey his seventh win of the season in 14 starts.

Hawksworth received the loss, going six innings while allowing four runs on seven hits.

Angel Pagan went 2-for-3, as he tripled, bunted for hit, and scored two runs. David Wrght got a day of rest with Mike Hessman starting in his place.

The Mets will now welcome in the Arizona Diamondbacks for a weekend series, trying to get some revenge after being swept by them on the road trip.

Tomorrow night's matchup will feature Mike Pelfrey against Ian Kennedy.

NL East standings (top three teams)

Atlanta 58-42
Philadelphia 55-46 (3 1/2)
NY Mets 52-50 (7)

Next series probable pitchers

July 30
New York: Mike Pelfrey (2010: 10-5, 4.00 ERA) vs. Arizona: Ian Kennedy (2010: 5-8, 4.10 ERA)

July 31
New York: Hisanori Takahashi (2010: 7-5, 4.47 ERA) vs. Arizona: Barry Enright (2010: 2-2, 2.73 ERA)

August 1
New York: Jon Niese (2010: 7-4, 3.43 ERA) vs. Arizona: Rodrigo Lopez (2010: 5-9, 4.68 ERA)

Upcoming schedule

New York Mets:
July 30-August 1 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
August 2-4 @ Atlanta Braves

Arizona Diamondbacks:
Tonight @ Philadelphia Phillies
July 30-August 1 @ New York Mets

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L ocal soccer fans in attendance at the 2010 MLS All Star Game in Houston got a reason to cheer as they saw a local player get into the game and score a goal.

Houston Dynamo's forward Brian Ching came into the game in the 46th minute as a replacement for Juan Pablo Angel.

The orange clad Dynamo fans in the stands came to their feet when he headed a free kick from David Ferreira past Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

His goal came in the 64th minute, taking the score to 2-1, cutting the Red Devil's lead to one.

He came back with an assist in the 90th minute on Dwayne De Rosario's goal.

The goals by Ching and De Rosario are all the MLS All Stars could put on the scoreboard.

Ching was added to the All Star roster by Commissioner Don Garber as one of his two exclusive picks.

"It was really amazing to do that in front of all those fans. It was an incredible atmosphere, and I will always remember that moment," Ching stated in the post-game press conference.

He also said, "This was a good night for the MLS. It showed how far the MLS has come. Soccer is the top youth sport out there, and if you look at the crowd we had, I think you could see it is finding its footing, and that’s really exciting."

According to the Associated Press, former high school basketball star Jeremy Tyler has decided to play professional basketball in Japan. He will be playing with the Tokyo Apache of the Basketball Japan League (known as the bj-league).

The 19-year-old Tyler decided against playing college basketball, and left high school before his senior season. He decided to play overseas with Maccabi Haifa in Israel. He signed a $140,000 contract and averaged 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds per game in 7.6 minutes.

If Tyler were to finish college basketball this year, he might be projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.

But I guess that isn't going happen.

Tyler will be playing for former NBA coach, Bob Hill.

“We are extremely excited for Jeremy to join our team in Tokyo,” the team said in a statement. “His athleticism and size will be a major presence in our frontcourt this season.”

Maybe in a few years Tyler could give the NBA a shot. You never know, the young power forward could come back to America and sign with an NBA team.

He should give it a try once the season with the Apache is over.

Back in May, the Southeastern Conference made headlines when it announced it would be experimenting with a pitch clock during the conference tournament.

Two months later, the NCAA could be about to make the innovation mandatory across all baseball games.

The SEC introduced the clock in an effort to combat one of the aspects which makes baseball at once unique and infuriating: The fact that it is untimed.

In almost every other sport, you now exactly how long each game will take. Even a Test match in cricket you know will take no longer than five days.

Baseball is different. The shortest MLB game this season was Armando Galarraga’s perfect game that wasn’t, at just one hour 44 minutes. The longest, on the other hand was the Mets’ and Cardinals’ epic seven-hour duel. Obviously, that’s just the nature of the beast. You cannot do anything about that without allowing games to end in ties.

Earlier this year, umpire Joe West called the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees a "disgrace to baseball" because their games took so long. But it’s not necessarily the length of the games that is so frustrating, rather it's what causes them to be so long.

The constant delays from both teams can really hold up a game. Coaching visit to mound, batter steps up, pitcher gets sign, holds ball, batter gets time, steps out, steps in again, pitcher gets sign, delivers, batter steps out, catcher goes to mound. Lather, rinse, repeat.

You can go several minutes without a pitch even being thrown. Many have no problem whatsoever with this, it’s part of what makes baseball so special. But the esteemed Mr. West has a problem with it. So, it seems, did the SEC.

That gave birth to the pitch clock. The rule said that the pitcher must deliver the ball within 20 seconds, unless there are runners on base. The break between innings must be shorter than 90 seconds for non-televised games and 108 seconds for televised ones.

If a pitcher goes over the 20 seconds, he gets a warning. The second time he does it, a ball is added to the count. If a batter steps out with fewer than five seconds left, he gets a warning the first time, then a strike added the next.

If either team isn’t ready after the changeover between innings, they are similarly given a ball or strike.

During the SEC tournament, there wasn’t a single infraction, and the average length of a game was two hours and 43 minutes. In last year’s tournament, the average was three hours and 17 minutes. The games were over half an hour faster, and there wasn’t a single violation of the new rules.

With it seemingly being a success, the next logical step was for the NCAA to adopt the pitch clock across all conferences, which it is set to do if the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel give it the go-ahead. Then, the next step would be to introduce it in professional baseball.

When you look at it, it is very tempting to say that it is a great idea. It would speed up the game, which could bring ratings back up, and increasing revenue. Surely that’s all good.

Additionally, it doesn’t disrupt the games, it just removes the gratuitous preparations that have become the trademark of Jonathan Papelbon et al.

Yes, baseball purists—the sort of people who don’t want instant replay because they like the "human element" of the game—will oppose the idea with every fibre of their being. However, there really doesn’t seem to be that much of a downside. Except one.

It won’t work.

Sure, it works perfectly well at a collegiate level—the SEC tournament has proven that—but in the Majors, there is much more with which to contend.

For starters, there’s the fact that all 2,430 games are televised. Advertisements are crammed into every available spot already. Neither the advertisers nor MLB will be happy to cut down the number of commercials.

Secondly there is the organization which is in large part responsible for the league not yet having HGH testing: the MLB Players Union. The union will say that the rule infringes on a player’s right to prepare for a pitch in whichever way he sees fit, and could unfairly penalize those pitchers working with new catchers. Also, the union won’t like the fact that the count would be changed as a penalty, which could impact statistics, which could potentially impact new contracts.

The clock faces more obstacles at the Major League level than it does with the NCAA.

It may not be as drastic a change as the introduction of the Designated Hitter was 40 years ago, or the lengthening of the season to 162 games, but with MLB set up as it is now, the fact is there is no room for the pitch clock.

That said, if it were brought in, at the very least, it should shut up Joe West for a while.

When you hear Fox Sports Detroit's Rod Allen and Mario Impemba , and radio announcers Dan Dickerson and Jim Price talk about the Tigers, what do you think?

Of course, they cite stats that make most Detroit Tigers fans cringe.

The Tigers are 6-21 in their last 27 road games.

The Tigers are 3-7 in their last 10 games.

And so on and so forth.

It's their job to keep viewers and listeners informed—whether it's good news or bad. But it seems that no matter how bad it gets, the four find a bright side to the situation.

But being paid to be optimistic while on air leads to a question: What do you guys really think?

With the recent acquisition of Cleveland Indians infielder Jhonny Peralta, both sets of Tigers game-callers still mention the need for a big bat in the Tigers' lineup—the sought-after Washington Nationals first baseman Adam Dunn .

Peralta is a step in the right direction for the ailing Tigers. He's driven in 68 or more RBIs in six of his eight seasons in the bigs, and he's a dual position player, with the ability to play either short or third.

Is the trade that sent Single-A West Michigan White Caps pitcher Giovanni Soto worth bringing the nine-year veteran Peralta to Detroit? Is he too little too late, or a start to something?

Considering the injury to Detroit's mainstay at the hot corner, Brandon Inge, Peralta would most likely play third.

But again, Dunn is still mentioned as the power hitter the Tigers so desperately need.

Dunn would play a valuable role as a No. 3 or No. 5 hitter, and he could play first base in the event Miguel "Big Fella" Cabrera needed a rest. Dunn is also a capable outfielder, which would aid the spot vacated by Magglio Ordonez's injury.

The Tigers' on-air foursome know baseball better than most, that's why they're in the booth game-in and game-out.

So I'm reaching out to Dickerson, Price, Allen, and Impemba—in the event they read this. Please, to ease the ears and minds of Tigers fans everywhere, let us know what you really think.

It's amazing to me that in 2010, we've become so politically correct that Sonnen's awesome trash talk, and one sided efforts to promote a fight have been earmarked as somehow racist or xenophobic.

Now don't get me wrong, Sonnen has made some comments that are blatantly false, such as stating that he's never been beaten by a middleweight (Demian Meia and Paulo Filho would disagree) or that his uncle won an NBA championship with either the Jazz or Suns (Neither of which have won NBA championships).

But to blast Sonnen as somehow making this about race, when it's obviously about Anderson Silva's bizarre and blatantly disrespectful behavior towards the fans, Dana White, and his past few opponents, insults everyone with an IQ above 95. (For reference check out the recent UFC 117 Conference call where he spent the first half giving one word answers)

To insinuate that Chael is using codewords or hidden racist messages is absurd. He's made fun of Silva's dress sense, refusal to speak English (which you can prove with a simple Youtube search), and his clownish behavior in Abu Dhabi, as well as his training partners.

The two quotes that seem to be getting everyone riled up were his reference to Ed Soares praying to a Pygmy god, and Portuguese being easy to speak—neither of which are racist, or on par with anything you would hear at ANY comedy open mic across the country (and as a professional Comic, I would know).

And as if that's not bad enough, Silva and Ed Soares the two main targets for the last few months have both said that they think Sonnen's trash talk is funny. If the guys getting hammered by these verbal bombs don't think they're offensive, where the EFF does The Huffington Post get off?

If anything, Sonnen's trash talk reminds me most of the Diaz brothers who have also mentioned their lack of respect for opponents and reiterated that this is THE FIGHT BUSINESS! 

I, for one, appreciate Sonnen for making me laugh almost every day leading up to this fight making, what is probably going to be a VERY boring fight, somewhat interesting.

I just wish we lived in a World where we were a little less sensitive and didn't use race baiting to sell articles and magazines.

After letting Jason Taylor slip into enemy arms and cutting Joey Porter, the Dolphins have two huge holes on defense to fill. Not only do they need to replace their starting OLB's, they also need to replace the veteran leadership they brought to the young defense.

When the Dolphins kickoff the 2010-2011 NFL Season they will have many starters returning, but they will be missing a few key starters on defense. The Dolphins have done a nice job in their rebuilding process and getting a younger and more physical football team on the field.

A few names jump out at you when looking at the Dolphins defense from last year to this year. Jason Taylor, Joey Porter, Jason Ferguson, Gibril Wilson, even Phillip Merling will be missed. Although they have lost their veterans they have done a nice job replacing them: Koa Misi, Cameron Wake, Randy Starks, Jared Odrick, Charles Grant, Reshad Jones, Chris Clemons will all have important shoes to fill.

Late Wednesday night the Dolphins agreed to a contract with DE Charles Grant, former first round pick out of Georgia and picked by 2009-2010 Super Bowl Champions New Orleans Saints. The deal is rumored to be a two year deal worth $4.5 million. Grant will replace Ferguson's leadership on the D-line and will compete with first round pick Jared Odrick for a starting job.

The Dolphins have become one of the younger teams in the league by getting rid of their progress stoppers for the young players and having their acorns in place just in case a rookie needs time to develop into a star or impact contributor.

Dolphins Key losses: Jason Taylor, Jason Ferguson, Gibril Wilson, Joey Porter, Philip Merling(out for year: Injury)

Dolphins Key signings/draft/trades: Brandon Marshall , Jared Odrick , Koa Misi, Reshad Jones, Charles Grant , John Jerry

The Huffington Post is among many media outlets currently tracking down Amare Stoudemire's possible Jewish heritage. The new New York Knicks star has been in the spotlight ever since his move from Phoenix to the Big Apple. 

Basketball is not entirely a huge sport in Israel, but the Knicks forward was making a trip there this off-season. There was speculation that this was basketball related, but a Jewish website turned that rumor down. Stoudemire admitted he was "going 2 study Hebrew" on his Twitter account .

Haaretz revealed that Amare Stoudemire's mother has traces to Jewish roots. This is the main reason why the basketball star is out in the Middle East. Stoudemire could in fact be learning about his real heritage by the minute. 

"This ze ha'halon sheli" was another one of Stoudemire's tweets. When translated the tweet means "This is my dream." The latest tweets also end with "Shalom." All signs are pointing toward another Israeli star in the NBA. He could one day join an all Jewish All-Star team with Omar Cassipi and Jordan Farmar. 

This all seems like a happy ending and a happy realization, but then comes the professional and real NBA agent to Amare Stoudemire. He officially released a statement saying, "I know there are some reports that he is Jewish, but he is not. He thinks there may be some Jewish blood on his mother's side and he is researching it."

Guess the whole world has to wait and see what will be next in Stoudemire's journey for the truth. Hey, because Stoudemire's move to New York he will always be in the media's spotlight as one of the city's biggest stars. 

Welcome to the celebrity life! This is just one of many realizations that Amare will have about himself, as the media will soon come to know Amare better than he knows himself. 

Stephon Marbury went to sign a fat contract in New York with the Knicks. Yet he never lived up to expectations and went on to play for the Boston Celtics. After a decent year, the Celtics wanted to re-sign him but at the veteran’s minimum.

Apparently, that didn’t work out so well, so Marbury went on to play in China. Marbury played well in China. After a good year there, he was receiving interest from the NBA again, most notably the Miami Heat. Marbury declined.

Now, according to the Associated Press, Marbury has agreed to a deal to play in China for three more years. Along with that, his Starbury shoes and clothing will be sold in China and become more popular over there.

The 33-year-old point guard played 15 games for the Shanxi Zhongyu of the Chinese Basketball Association. He played successfully and quickly became a fan-favorite player in the city of Taiyuan.

Marbury looks to do a lot of good in China. Good investment for playing, money, and a lot of other things.

But this does bring a question. Once his contract is up, Marbury will be 36 or 37 years old. With this, I don’t know if he will be needed in China anymore. Most probably, he’ll come back to the NBA and sign the veteran’s minimum.

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According to the Associated Press, free agent veteran shooting guard Eddie House has agreed to a two-year deal worth $2.8 million. According to his agent, the second year will be a player-option.

House was originally drafted by the Heat in the 2000 NBA Draft and played three seasons with them. House last played with the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics.

He has averaged 7.6 points per game for his career and is known as a three-point shooter along with being a clutch-shooter.

House looks to help the South Beach Superteam coming off the bench.

Let's be real for a minute. The defending AFC North Champions, the Cincinnati Bengals, should be the favorites to repeat and win the division.

Many critics and fans will argue that the addition of Terrell Owens will ruin the Bengals and be a distraction because he is all about himself. Those critics just need to sit down and get their popcorn ready.

The champs are the champs until someone beats them, and they have added more weapons to the team.

The Bengals offense should be much better than last year with the additions of Owens, Antonio Bryant, and Jordan Shipley. The running game should still be a strength as well.

Many people are quick to name the Ravens the favorites because of the players they have added. While their offense will be stronger than last year, their defense has a lot of question marks.

Perhaps in all of the attention the offense is getting, people are forgetting about the defense. This defense is a solid unit that seems to get stronger ever year.

This defense can stop a lot of people and they have an offense to help them and make life easier on them.

The Bengals seem to be the most rounded team in the AFC North. The Bengals would have been tough without Owens, but with the addition of him and the other weapons, the Bengals now have a team that can make a deep run into the playoffs.

This team won the AFC North last year and has gotten better. The Ravens will be their biggest challenge during the season, but can the Ravens defense handle the Bengals offense?

We'll find out, as of now the Bengals should still be considered the favorites until someone takes their division title away.

For more NFL updates follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/SplogNation

Last week the Sporting News released their college football preseason rankings. The major national publication comes out with their top 100 every year around this time. Usually I have no major gripes, but this year something caught my eye.

As I scrolled down the list, I was searching for one team, my beloved Bearcats. When I finally saw them at No. 41, I almost fell out of my seat. 

The defending Big East champs and a team that finished No. 3 in the final BCS Poll a season ago returns a large chunk of one of the top offenses in the nation and can't even crack the top 40.

The Sporting News predicts an 8-4 season and a three-way tie for third place in the Big East. Now that hardly seems fair.

They attribute this to a few things. One of which is a stronger Big East. While the Big East may be improved in 2010, the reality is, the league is about the same talent-wise as it was last year. 

Both Pittsburgh and West Virginia will be comparable to what they were last season. South Florida, Louisville and Syracuse are clearly not in the mix and may be even worse than they were in 2009. Rutgers and Connecticut will be improved, but not to the point where they can honestly be placed ahead of Cincinnati, like the Huskies are. 

After the schedule breakdown, they go on to rate the team by position and what really got me fired up was the B given to the quarterback position. 

Zach Collaros was graded a B, which may seem fine to some, but is far lower than I would have ever anticipated, having seen what I saw last season. 

Tony Pike would have certainly been a Heisman finalist had he not gotten hurt last year and Collaros has the tools to be better than Pike was last year. I fully expect him to do so. 

B- at running back also left a bad taste in my mouth. Isaiah Pead as talented as almost any back in the country.

While some may question the losses of Pike and Mardy Gilyard, the Bearcats are stronger than ever in 2010. A more well-balanced offense with a focus on running the football will lead to a well-rested defense.

If Cincinnati could win the Big East with the conference's worst defense in 2009, that has to be some indication of what they could do with a better unit in 2010. 

As always, everything will have to be answered on the field. With a completely new coaching staff, I can see why some people raise a few red flags when deciding on how good the Bearcats will be in 2010.

One thing is certain.

This team is going to put some points on the board and in the process, prove the Sporting News and the eight wins they predicted to be completely wrong. 

Myself and Bearcat nation can guarantee that. 

With the Premier League season now rapidly approaching, I have decided to take a look at each of the 20 sides that will be playing at the top level of English football during this upcoming season.

To start off my countdown, I have decided to actually go in reverse order, with Wolverhampton starting off the list and Arsenal concluding it right before the start of the Premier League season.

In the sixth part of this series, I will now look at Sunderland , who finished 13th last year under Steve Bruce and had Darren Bent, who finished third in the Premier League in goals with 24.

Review of Last Year

After barely avoiding relegation the year before, Sunderland were able to put together a great performance in the Premier League after the arrival of Steve Bruce to become their new manager during the summer from Wigan.

After Bruce came in Darren Bent from Tottenham, who was nothing short of spectacular throughout the season.

Now, Sunderland will be looking to continue to move forward this season as they look to break the top half of the league table.

Transfers

Incoming Players