The Blue Workhorse

What can we say about Mr. Hanley Ramirez, the preseason number 1 overall player? He just finished a week where a clubbed a couple grand slams and drove in 15 runs. His overall campaign now looks like .333 AVG / 47 R / 11 HR / 51 RBI / 11 SB; however all his owners would like the steals to increase from a guy who has stole 50 in the past.

“Bossman” BJ Upton had another nice week and continues to shine in the month of June. Upton went .348 over the past week with a homer and two steals, upping his total to 28 bags. It looks like the window has passed to buy low on Upton as he finally has things going and displaying that 5 category potential.

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* The Red Sox have finally removed Dice-K from the rotation after another putrid start against the Atlanta Braves where he allowed 6 runs. Matsuzaka has a season ERA of 8.23 and WHIP of 2.20. He has single-handedly destroyed some fantasy pitching staffs, and it looks like the 100 million dollar import will be on the shelf for a while. Examine the starts of John Smoltz, and always remember Clay Bucholtz is always tearing it up in Triple A.

* One thing I love to watch is Andrew McCutchen run the bases. The lighting-quick centerfielder was promoted to the big club after the much dissected Nate McLouth trade. McCutchen has showed up with a bang, hitting .333 and posting a .904 OPS in his first 78 at-bats. Will this type of production last, of course not, but one promising sign is only 14 strikeouts in 82 plate appearances, meaning he putting the bat on the ball.

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We’ve got a bunch of random links lying around that need some love, so today we’re giving you links to 5 Around the Country, 3 Random Old, 2 Hometown, and 1 Megan Fox is Ungodly Hot:

5 Around the Country -

* Another reason Joe Morgan sucks! - Bob’s Blitz

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In this “B-Ray-ves Report,” we discuss the Braves come-from-behind victory over Milwaukee and Chipper Jones having possibly the greatest game of his career. We also discuss the Rays formerly reliable bullpen blowing a game against the Yanks and a chance to close the gap in the division:
Current Series:
Atlanta -

Friday: Brewers 4, Braves 0 (WP - Gallardo, LP - Jurrjens)
Saturday: Brewers 3, Braves 0 (WP - Suppan, LP - Vazquez, SV - Hoffman)
Sunday: Braves 8, Brewers 7 (WP - O’Flaherty, LP - Villanueva, SV - Gonzalez)

On Deck: Four game series vs. Pittsburgh Pirates beginning Monday
Tampa Bay -

Saturday: Rays 9, Yankees 7 (WP - Howell, LP - Rivera, SV - Choate)
Sunday: Yankees 4, Rays 3 (WP - Aceves, LP - Balfour, SV - Rivera)
Monday: @ New York (A) - 7:05 PM EST (Sonnanstine - Pettitte)

On Deck: Three game series @ Los Angeles of Anaheim beginning Tuesday

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In this “B-Ray-ves Report,” we discuss the Rays’ epic fail known as the 8th and 9th inning of Monday’s game at Cleveland and the Braves falling in the first game of their west coast trip despite Brian McCann’s perfect offensive day:
Current Series:
Atlanta -

Monday: Giants 8, Braves 2 (WP - Sanchez, LP - Vazquez)
Tuesday: @ San Francisco - 10:15 PM EST (Medlan - Lincecum)
Wednesday: @ San Francisco - 10:15 PM EST (Kawakami - R. Johnson)

On Deck: Four game series @ Arizona Diamondbacks beginning Thursday
Tampa Bay -

Monday: Indians 11, Rays 10 (WP - Sowers, LP - Isringhausen)
Tuesday: @ Cleveland - 7:05 PM EST (Garza - Pavano)
Wednesday: @ Cleveland - 7:05 PM EST (Sonnanstine - TBD)
Thursday: @ Cleveland - 12:05 PM EST (Niemann - Huff)

On Deck: Three game series vs. Minnesota Twins beginning Friday

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Aki Iwamura was injured  on this “slide” by rookie Chris Coghlan. He had to be carted off the field following the play and is likely headed to the DL for an extended stay. (Photo: AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

In this “B-Ray-ves Report,” we discuss the Braves sweeping the Blue Jays thanks to a 7-run, 7th inning [...]

In this “B-Ray-ves Report,” we discuss Bobby Cox shaking up the lineup to success and the Rays’ missed opportunities that ruined a great outing by Big Game James:
Current Series:
Atlanta -

Monday: Rockies 5, Braves 1 (WP - Marquis, LP - Lowe)
Tuesday: Braves 8, Rockies 1 (WP - Jurrjens, LP - Hammel)
Wednesday: vs. Rockies - 7:00 PM EST (Jorge De La Rosa - Javier Vazquez)
Thursday: vs. Rockies - 7:00 PM EST (Aaron Cook - Kris Medlan)

On Deck: Three game series vs. Toronto Blue Jays beginning Friday
Tampa Bay -

Monday: Rays 13, Athletics 4 (WP - Niemann, LP - Gallagher)
Tuesday: Athletics 4, Rays 1 (WP - Casilla, LP - Wheeler)
Wednesday: vs. Athletics - 7:08 PM EST (Brett Anderson - Scott Kazmir)
Thursday: vs. Athletics - 4:08 PM EST (Dallas Braden - Matt Garza)

On Deck: Three game series @ Florida Marlins beginning Friday

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In this “B-Ray-ves Report,” we discuss the Braves and Rays both winning via a walk-off. The Braves blew a lead in the 9th and rallied in the bottom half of the inning while the Rays made the largest comeback in team history:
Current Series:
Atlanta -

Friday: Braves 4, Arizona 3 (WP - Gonzalez, LP - Pena)
Saturday: vs. Diamondbacks - 7:00 EST (Max Scherzer - Kenshin Kawakami)
Sunday: vs. Diamondbacks - 1:30 EST (Jon Garland - Derek Lowe)

On Deck: Four game series vs. Colorado Rockies beginning Monday
Tampa Bay -

Thursday: Indians 11, Rays 7 (WP - Carmona, LP - Shields)
Friday: Rays 8, Indians 7 (WP - Wheeler, LP - Vizcaino)
Saturday: vs. Indians - 4:10 EST (Carl Pavano - Matt Garza)
Sunday: vs. Indians - 1:38 EST (No Starter Named - Andy Sonnanstine)

On Deck: Four game series vs. Oakland Athletics beginning Monday