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Peavy has a contract that runs through the 2012 season, with an option for 2013. So he's not a rent-a-player.

However, the 28-year-old has been on the disabled list since June 9 with a strained tendon in his right ankle.

White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams said prior to tonight's game Peavy would not be available to pitch until late August. That probably means only about 5 or 6 starts for the rest of the season.

Now, it's up to the Sox to stay in contention for the next month as they battle Detroit and Minnesota for the AL Central title.

The Sox gave up pitchers Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda, Adam Russell and Dexter Carter. Richard had an up-and-down season for the South Siders, but his last two starts were outstanding. Poreda logged some time in bullpen before being sent down to Charlotte. Russell and Carter have spent the season in the minors.

I believe the pitching can hold up during this stretch, but the offensive needs to heat up or else it might not be worth it to get Peavy back on the mound until next season.

- Tom

Gone are center fielder Brian Anderson (traded), infielder Josh Fields (sent down to Triple-A Charlotte) and pitcher Bartolo Colon (placed on disabled list due to right elbow inflammation). Anderson – who was sent down Charlotte last week – was traded to the Boston Red Sox for veteran outfielder/infielder Mark Kotsay. To make room for Kotsay, the Sox demoted Fields. And Colon, who was supposed to start tonight at Minnesota, will take another turn on the DL. In his place will be left-handed relief pitcher Randy Williams, called up from Charlotte.

For Anderson, it marks the end of a disappointing White Sox career. The Sox drafted him in the first round (No. 15 overall) of the 2003 draft, but he could never figure out major league pitching, hitting a paltry .225 in 782 at-bats. He also didn't seem to get along real well with Manager Ozzie Guillen.

Kotsay will be counted on to back up Paul Konerko at first base, spot start in the outfield and pinch hit. Kotsay, 33, has a .281 career batting average, but played sparingly for the Red Sox this year, hitting .257 in 74 at-bats.

Williams will provide Guillen with a second left-hander out of the bullpen (ahead of Matt Thornton). He is 3-0 with a 3.44 ERA in 33 games for Charlotte.  

CUBS FANS, PLEASE SPEAK UP: After being one of the most disappointing teams in baseball, the Cubs have been playing great baseball since the All-Star break with 10 wins and three losses. A 12-0 pounding of Houston this afternoon tied the Cubbies with St. Louis for first place. I have been somewhat skeptical of the North Siders recent surge, pointing out they have pretty much been beating up on marginal teams. The upcoming road trip includes stops in Florida and Colorado, which will give me a better of idea of where they stand. Do you, Cubs fans, think the team has turned it around and will cruise to the NL Central title? Or will it be a roller coaster ride to the end, with enough ups and downs that make you unsure if they will qualify for the playoffs or not? Please leave your comments.          

 - Tom

After all, Buehrle is in rare company of pitchers tossing both a no-hitter and perfect game. He has also won 133 games this decade, pitched in four All-Star games and earned a World Series ring in 2005. He's only 30 years old, has never been on the disabled list, and is not a hard thrower, so arm injuries should not be an issue.

An impressive resume, but since Buehrle is not a strikeout pitcher, and has yet to win 20 games in a season – 19 games is his high – or a Cy Young Award, his best bet to gain entry to the Hall would probably have to be win 300 games.

And that thought made me ponder if 300 wins is a realistic milestone for even the very best pitchers the way the game is played today.

With five-man rotations, most starters being lifted after 100 to 115 pitches, it practically takes a perfect game – or at least a shutout  – for a starter to complete a game.

These factors all contribute to less innings pitched, less opportunities for victories, and relying more on the bullpen to secure wins.

And, any pitcher finishing with 250 wins currently would rank No. 47 in career victories.

Roy Halladay, recognized as one of the best pitchers in baseball, has 142 victories, one Cy Young Award and is 32. Johan Santana has 120 wins, two Cy Youngs, and is 30.

And while Buehrle needs at least one 20-win season and a Cy Young to get serious consideration for the Hall, 300 wins shouldn't be a  benchmark in today's game.

The Cubs are 8-2 since the All-Star break, sure you might say that it was against weak opponents; but the Cubs can't control who they play.  They're playing the schedule given to them and beating teams they should beat.  With the Astros coming into town, it appears the offense has woken up from an 80+ game slumber.  Aramis Ramirez is back and contributing and Derrek Lee is scorching hot.

The Cards have made some moves, some good moves...they snatched Mark DeRosa away from the Indians and Matt Holliday away from Oakland.  Moves that improve their chances, but I think the Cubs lineup and starting rotation is superior to the Cardinals.  In a division where no one wants to pull away health and consistency are going to be with the team that wins.  The Cubs currently have 2 starters on the DL, but they're expected to be relatively short stints.  When Geovany Soto comes back, the offense should be better; with all the vitriol that surrounded this team a few months back; the Cubs have brought some optimism back to the Northside.

I knew the Sox were winning 4-0 thanks to grand slam by Josh Fields, but didn't realize Buehrle was perfect as I tended to my design work.

Now the thought of a perfect game was starting to race around through my head, but I didn't want to get too far ahead of myself, for all it would take was one bad pitch, bad play or lucky bounce for the dream to die.

One of televisions in The Times office was turned on, and I watched the top of the seventh inning at a distance from my desk, interested, but not yet "all in" to the possibility Buehrle – who tossed a no-hitter in 2007 against the Texas Rangers at U.S. Cellular Field – could retire 27 batters in a row.

Once it was the top of the eighth inning I moved close to the television to watch, and believe, this could happen. I had a nervous moment as Tampa Designated Hitter Pat Burrell lined a shot down the left field line just inches foul. But Burrell eventually made the last out of the inning, lining out to third baseman Gordon Beckham.

Now to the ninth. Buehrle had the home fans rooting him on at The Cell. More people gathered around the television to watch history in the making. Until Gabe Kapler pounded a Buehrle pitching to center field. Oh no I thought, a home run. Perfect game, no hitter, shutout, down the tubes.

Then, out of nowhere, center fielder DeWayne Wise - yes, the same DeWayne Wise I said earlier this week should have been shipped out instead of Brian Anderson - goes on a full sprint to the wall, jumps, makes the catch, then as he falls back to the ground the ball pops out, but he snags it with his bare hand. Phewwww!!!

Buehrle went 3-1 on the next batter, catcher Michel Hernandez, then struck him out. One more to go. Jason Bartlett then grounded a ball to short, and Alexei Ramirez threw to first to complete the 18th perfect game in major league history.

Then, a couple of fist pumps. Then, a feeling of pure joy. Then, a status update on Facebook.  

Cross your fingers White Sox fans.

Starting pitcher John Danks has been removed from his scheduled start on Wednesday against Tampa Bay due to a blister on his pitching hand.

Carlos Torres will be called up from Triple-A Charlotte to replace Danks. His statistics at Charlotte are: 8 wins, 4 losses, 2.20 earned run average, 98 innings pitched, 16 starts and 96 strikeouts.
Torres, 26, is listed as 6-foot, 2 inches tall and weighing 195 pounds.

While Danks, 8-6, 3.98 ERA this season, is not expected to be placed on the disabled list, blister problems can linger.

And while I wish Torres the best of luck tomorrow, the Sox need Danks back in the rotation when they head into Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, the Metrodome and Comerica Park in the upcoming weeks.

- Tom

The announcement today that Carlos Quentin has been activated and will be in the lineup tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays no doubt has White Sox fans excited about the added offensive punch.

But the news it was center fielder Brian Anderson who was sent down to Triple-A Charlotte to make room for Quentin on the roster has some Sox fans scratching their heads. Anderson, a superior fielder, was shipped out, while DeWayne Wise, who has contributed little with the bat or glove, remains on the roster.

With Quentin back – but still not 100 percent as he recovers from plantar fasciitis in his left foot – the game plan is to remove him from games in the late innings to get him off his feet, and improve the defense. Continuing this theory, Quentin would be pulled from the game after his fourth at-bat in the seventh or eighth innings, center fielder Scott Podsednik would replace Quentin in left, and then somebody would come off the bench to play center.

That is a perfect role for Anderson, who has had trouble hitting big-league pitching (.225 career hitter, .238 this season), but is a smooth, athletic center fielder.

But the Sox decided to keep Wise (.211 career average, .196 this season) who struck out three times and was booed on opening day, and has done little since. He’s an OK fielder that plays a shallow center, and often has balls go over his head because he plays so shallow.

Obviously this isn’t a move that will determine if the Sox will win the AL Central or not, but since the White Sox have a pretty shaky defense as it is, I would think they would want their best defensive outfielder on the roster and in the game in the late innings of crucial games down the stretch.

In other news, another member of the 2005 World Series championship team is attempting a comeback with the Sox. In May, it was Podsednik who signed a minor-league contract after being released by the Colorado Rockies at the end of spring training. Scotty Pods has added much needed juice to the Chicago lineup, batting .300 with 3 home runs, 24 runs batted in, 14 stolen bases and 37 runs scored in 66 games. Now it is Freddy Garcia trying to make the big leagues again on the South Side. Garcia has faced injury problems since being traded from the Sox to Philadelphia following the 2006 season.

On Monday, “Sweaty” Freddy, as he is called by some members of the Chicago media, threw a bullpen session that impressed pitching coach Don Cooper enough that the 33-year-old is scheduled to pitch some games in the minor leagues before determining if he can help fill the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation that has not been successful with Clayton Richard. Sox fans fondly remember Garcia in 2005 as the winning pitcher in game clinching game against Detroit to win the American League Central, and in Game 4 of the clinching game of the World Series. As with Podsednik, I’m not expecting much, but if Garcia is needed to start a few games in August and September to help the pitching staff, he could probably still do a credible job.

THOME AWARDED: White Sox designated hitter Jim Thome today was named American League player of the week. Thome slugged two home runs, and drove in seven runs in a 12-8 victory against Baltimore last Friday. Thome’s second big fly was a grand slam, and it traveled an estimated 449 feet.
- Tom

With approximately 70 games left in the regular season, the race for the eight coveted playoff spots in Major League Baseball is heating up after the All-Star break.

One of the big questions in the next several days is if Toronto ace Roy “Doc” Halladay will be traded. Halladay gave a terrific audition on Sunday, if in fact he is dealt before the July 31 non-waiver deadline. The starting pitcher for the American League in last week’s All-Star Game shut down the Boston Red Sox 3-1 in a complete game effort that drew numerous standing ovations from the home fans at Rogers Centre, knowing it could be the last game Halladay pitches in a Blue Jays uniform.

Possible destinations include Philadelphia, St.Louis and Los Angeles in the National League, while Texas, Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Detroit and the White Sox have made inquiries about Halladay in the American League. A bunch of top prospects, plus a couple of players off the major league roster would likely have to be offered to make a deal.

Toronto General Manager J.P. Ricciardi said there’s about 50-50 chance Halladay will be dealt. Halladay’s current contract ends after the 2010 season. His salary is $14,250,000 this year. He is 32 years old with a career record of 142 wins, 69 losses and a 3.46 earned run average.

Some other thoughts about teams contending or pretending:

• It’s very possible the three best teams in baseball reside in the American League East. Boston (55-36), New York (54-37, 1 game behind) and Tampa Bay (51-41, 4.5 games behind) should swallow up two of the four American League playoff spots. It will be a shame the team that finishes third will probably record more than 90 victories and be sitting at home in October.

• Meanwhile, 87 wins should be enough to win the AL Central. Minnesota has the scheduling advantage, already having finished play with the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays. The White Sox have a brutal schedule, including their next five series: home against Tampa Bay (4 games), at Detroit (4 games), at Minnesota (3 games), home against New York Yankees (4 games), home against Los Angeles Angels (3 games). First-place Detroit appears a little thin at the back end of the rotation and in the bullpen. Setup man Joel Zumaya was placed on the disabled list last weekend.

• I’m not sure if the Texas Rangers are a contender or pretender. For years, this club has had a big offensive presence, but their pitching staff has wilted in the hot Texas sun. With the Angels not running away in the AL West due to numerous injuries, the Rangers should stick around. Seattle is much better than last year, but won’t have enough to win.

• After a sluggish start, the Phillies are coasting to another National League East title. An eight-game winning streak by the defending World Series champions has pushed the lead to 6.5 games over the Atlanta Braves. The addition of Halladay isn’t needed to make the playoffs, but it could give the Phils a better shot at winning another World Series. Injuries have made the Mets pretenders, in fourth place and nine games back. New York has lost 15 of its last 24 games, and scored only 74 runs, worst in the majors.

• Will the real Cubs stand up? Are they the group that swept the hapless Washington Nationals in a four-game set to move within 2 games of St. Louis, or will they return to their inconsistent play before the All-Star break? A three-game set starting tonight in Philadelphia should give an indication. If the Cardinals land Halladay, they will probably win the division. Milwaukee? Not enough starting pitching? Houston? In recent years, the Astros play better in the second half, and they rocked Los Angeles All-Star Chad Billingsley the other day, but I’m not sold on them.

• The Dodgers have Manny back, and still have the best record in baseball, but there are concerns. An overworked bullpen is a big one, and the starting staff after Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw is another. They should still win the division, but either hard charging San Francisco and Colorado should snag the wild card in the NL. Starters Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain lead a strong staff for San Francisco, but another bat would be a help. The Rockies have been rolling since firing Clint Hurdle and replacing him with Jim Tracy. Ex-Cub Jason Marquis is having a career year for Colorado, winning 12 games.

LIVING A GREAT FANTASY LIFE: All it took was one great week (9-0-1) for my fantasy baseball team to jump from last place in a 10-team league to second (17-12-1 overall). Big weekends from White Sox slugger Jim Thome and Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano helped my squad to a dominant showing. My recent waiver pickup of Philadelphia starting pitcher J.A. Happ (7-0, 2.68 ERA) is also paying dividends.
- Tom

I promised a review of the major leagues before tonight’s All-Star game, but with the breaking news today that the Blackhawks fired General Manager Dale Tallon, the baseball post will have to wait a few more days.

With the Blackhawks advancing to the Western Conference finals, their best season in more than a decade, it wouldn’t make much sense to fire the architect of a team poised to win a Stanley Cup in the next few years.

But, according to the media reports I read today, the Blackhawks’ top brass – Owner Rocky Wirtz and Team President John McDonough – had been waiting for the right moment to replace Tallon with assistant GM Stan Bowman, and the recent blunder where qualifying offers were not sent on time to several Chicago players was that opportunity.

I don’t think it was a very professional way to treat the 58-year-old who has been with the organization for more than 30 years, including time as a player. The team did throw a bone to Tallon, keeping him on for the next two years as an adviser. But it’s just a backhanded way of saying “thanks for your service, but we don’t want you to be the general manager.”

And maybe Bowman – the son of NHL coaching great Scotty Bowman, a senior adviser with the Hawks – will become a fine general manager, but he shouldn’t have gotten the job this way. And for a team so public relations conscious, it makes no sense.

In fact, it’s similar to the way Denis Savard was canned just a few games into last season as the head coach of the Blackhawks, and replaced with Joel Quenneville. The move had been planned for some time, but instead of doing it in the offseason, management waited for the team to lose a few early-season games as a convenient excuse to get rid of Savard, who didn’t have the experience of Quenneville, but had done a nice job molding the young talent of the Blackhawks.

Yes, Wirtz and McDonough have the authority to fire and hire who they want, but don’t expect most Chicago hockey fans to approve of the timing and manner of replacing Tallon. Usually a general manager is replaced when the team has a poor season, not its most productive season in years.

- Tom

With the All-Star break finally here, both the Sox and Cubs still have a decent shot to win their divisions despite average play through the first three months of the season.

Both teams are 3 1/2 games out of first place, with the White Sox in second place and the Cubs tied for third.

However, the Sox at 45-43 have been a pleasant surprise to most, while the Cubs have been one of the biggest disappointments at 43-43.

To review my preseason predictions, I had the Sox finishing second in the AL Central with an 85-77 record. I’m pretty close to spot on so far. Most media, including Baseball Prospectus, had the South Siders earning around 75 victories and a fourth or fifth place finish. I forecasted the Cubs to go 92-70 and take care of business in the NL Central without too many worries. Obviously, the Cubs have underachieved, and I now believe the Cardinals can win the NL Central unless the North Siders play inspired baseball in the second half.

The Sox once again had a disappointing series in Minnesota, dropping two of three in the Metrodome over the weekend, but it didn’t wipe out an impressive stretch of play in the past month that has vaulted the South Siders into second place in the AL Central, 3 1/2 games behind Detroit at the break.

The good signs for the White Sox are the offense is coming alive – especially rookies Gordon Beckham and Chris Getz – and surprisingly the Sox have 59 stolen bases this season, and aren’t having to rely on the home run as much as in years past.

But as knowledgeable baseball fans know, any team is only as good as its pitching. The Sox have been pretty solid as of late, ranking No. 2 in the American League in earned run average, but hiccups from All-Star Mark Buehrle and John Danks against Minnesota show how vital it is. That being said, Chicago needs to do something about the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation. Clayton Richard threw the ball well earlier in the season, but his last several starts have been “I want to throw something at the television or turn off the television” bad. And Bartolo Colon, who held the No. 5 spot earlier in the 2009 campaign before being placed on the disabled list, served nothing more than batting practice for several opponents. I recommend to General Manager Kenny Williams to make a trade for a veteran pitcher before the July 31 trade deadline. Toronto ace Roy “Doc” Halladay is said to be available for the right price, but I wouldn’t do that deal if it includes Beckham or shortstop Alexei Ramirez. It appears either Philadelphia or Los Angeles could be the front runners for Halladay, if he is traded.

You could make an argument the Cubs have been one of the most disappointing teams in baseball, along with the New York Mets and Cleveland Indians. Outfielders Milton Bradley, Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke #####udome have all had inconsistent first halves. Their feeble production has prevented the North Siders from having a better record. And with Aramis Ramirez just coming back from injury, and Ryan Dempster and Geovany Soto going on the disabled list last week, things don’t look promising.

But, the Cubs have had very good starting pitching with the exception of Rich Harden, so if the offense gets on a hot streak, the Cubs could easily still make the playoffs for a third consecutive season.

However, I do consider the St. Louis Cardinals as a serious threat to the Cubs. The return of Chris Carpenter to the starting rotation, Ryan Franklin becoming a shutdown closer, Ryan Ludwick becoming a Cubs killer and the fantastic season of Albert Pujols have the Cardinals capable of the winning the NL Central unless the Cubs offense scores more runs.

Tomorrow, I will provide analysis of both the American and National leagues leading up to the All-Star game.

PREDICTION: American League home run leader Carlos Pena of Tampa Bay will win the home run derby tonight.

FANTASY UPDATE: I bounced back last week with a 6-4-0 mark, and am now just tied for last place with an overall mark of 8-12-0. I’m now only four games out of first place in the 10-team league, and only two games out of fifth.

- Tom

Admit it White Sox fans. Most of you are excited – and probably surprised – the team is right there in the American League Central, only 2 1/2 games out of first place as the South Siders have an off day before hosting the lowly Cleveland Indians for three at U.S. Cellular Field just past the halfway point of the season.

One of the bonuses of my vacation was getting several happy text messages as the Sox went 5-1 while I was gone, including:
• A series win against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have the best record in baseball.
• A series win against the dreaded Cubs, that included a walk-off single in the second game by rookie Gordon Beckham. It prompted this clever headline in our newspaper: ‘End it like Beckham’
• The beginning of a series sweep in Cleveland. And when driving back into town, listening to Ed Farmer and Darrin Jackson describe a rare four-run first inning for the Sox against Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee. Chicago would win the game 11-4.

And the Sox kept winning, reaching seven consecutive victories and beating possible AL All-Star game starter Zack Greinke before dropping the last two games of the four-game set at Kansas City.

The White Sox are now at 42-40 and in third place in AL Central, just 1/2 game behind Minnesota and 2 1/2 in back of Detroit a week before the All-Star break. This from a team playing rookies at second base and third base, a second-year player at shortstop, and one of its best hitters – Carlos Quentin – out of the lineup for more than month due to injury. This from a team that yields a lot of unearned runs because of inconsistent fielding, yet is second in the American League in team earned run average.

Who deserves most of the credit? Manager Ozzie Guillen, that’s who. The same guy who draws lots of attention for his rants and bleeps, and who finished second in a Sports Illustrated poll of managers that players would least like to play for (Cubs Manager Lou Piniella finished first), more often that not knows what buttons to push for his teams to play winning baseball. Guillen is in his sixth season managing the Sox, and has had only one losing season. A division title this year would be three in his six years, with a World Series win in 2005.

But before I get too far ahead of myself, here’s a look at how the AL Central should shape up in the second-half of the season:

• Detroit Tigers, first place, 44-37: A worst to first finish could happen for the Motor City Kitties if the vastly improved pitching continues. All stars Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson lead a much improved starting staff, with Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya anchoring a bullpen that is at least decent this year after being toxic last season. Thornton Fractional South High School graduate Curtis Granderson, who earned a spot on the AL All-Star team; Miguel Cabrera and underrated Brandon Inge provide most of the offensive pop. The back end of the starting rotation, an injury to outfielder Carlos Guillen and the slow start of Magglio Ordonez have prevented the Tigers from getting a larger lead.

• Minnesota Twins, second place, 43-40, 2 games behind: The M&M boys (Catcher Joe Mauer and First Baseman Justin Morneau) are two of the finest players in the major leagues. Closer Joe Nathan is an All-Star closer. Those three studs, and respected Manager Ron Gardenhire make the Twins contenders practically every season. But the four starting-quality outfielders squeezing playing time into the three available spots has resulted in poor years so far for Carlos Gomez and Delmon Young. Starting pitcher Francisco Liriano has been a huge disappointment, and his performance in the second half could determine how high the Twins finish. Also, 10-game winner Kevin Slowey was placed on the 15-day disabled list last weekend with a strained wrist.

• Chicago White Sox, third place, 42-40, 2 1/2 games behind: Consistent starting pitching and a solid bullpen can cover up some weaknesses with the glove and inconsistencies at the plate, and that’s what has happened in recent weeks for the South Siders as they have surpassed .500 and closed the gap to first place. While Mark Buehrle has been good all season, the efforts of starters Jose Contreras, Gavin Floyd and John Danks in the past month have given the club a boost. The surprise production of Scott Podsednik has jump-started the offense from the leadoff spot, and the recent successes of rookies Beckham, Chris Getz and Jayson Nix has taken some pressure off veterans Jermaine Dye, Jim Thome, Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski. Clayton Richard has been shaky in the fifth starting slot and center field is still not a productive spot. How effective and healthy Carlos Quentin is when he returns from the disabled list after the All Star break could determine if the Sox win the division.

• Kansas City Royals, fourth place, 35-46, 9 games behind: It wasn’t supposed to be the same old Royals this year. The club led the division through parts of April and May, has a decent starting rotation led by Greinke, and a shutdown closer in Joakim Soria. But injuries to Alex Gordon, Coco Crisp and Mike Aviles have derailed the offense and the Royals chance of contending.

• Cleveland Indians, fifth place, 33-50, 12 games behind: It’s getting so bad in Cleveland, prime trading chip Mark DeRosa was already dealt to St. Louis. Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee has a losing record despite not pitching that bad. And superstar outfielder Grady Sizemore has spent time on the disabled list with an elbow injury. General Manager Mark Shapiro says Eric Wedge will be his manager for the remainder of the season, but I don’t think that’s a good idea. The franchise hasn’t been the same since blowing a 3-1 lead to Boston in the 2007 American League Championship Series, and a new voice is needed. Make a clean break now, call up some of the young minor league talent and get a jump start on next year.
– Tom

I know it has been more than two weeks since I have posted, but I was gone for a week on a much-needed vacation, and then last week was a short work week for me, followed by a holiday weekend.

Needless to say, I have a lot of thoughts to share with you. I will also spend time this week trying to fix my fantasy baseball team. I am in a mid-season league that started play while I was still out of town. It was an auto draft, but I ended up with a bunch of guys on the disabled list. I am in last place with a 2-8-0 mark after not paying one bit of attention to my squad until this morning. I have made five transactions today, including Philadelphia starting pitcher J.A. Happ, who will take the mound tomorrow against Cincinnati. I also picked up Gary native LaTroy Hawkins, a relief pitcher on the Houston Astros; Toronto infielder Marco Scutaro; White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski; and White Sox starting pitcher John Danks. And for Cubs fans, the struggling Alfonso Soriano and Ryan Theriot are on my roster. I will keep you updated on my team. In my years of playing fantasy baseball and football, I have had pretty good luck finishing near the top of the regular season standings, often qualifying for the playoffs, but I never had a team win a championship.

My wife Charlene and I vacationed in Michigan and New York. We stayed two nights in Ann Arbor, Mich., with my sister and brother-in-law. Pittsford, N.Y., my hometown, was the other stop, to attend the high school graduation of my niece, Rachel, and spend time with family and friends.

A couple of special shout outs here.

First, to my friends Jeff Foster and Tom “Animal” Beckhorn. They are dear friends of mine from my first college stop, the State University of New York at Morrisville. We spent a Sunday together on this trip, happily remembering our time when I did receive an associate’s degree in journalism before heading off to Western Kentucky University to earn a bachelor’s degree in journalism. It’s a happy time for Beckhorn, a big Boston Red Sox fan with realistic dreams of another World Series title in October. Foster has had it tough, as he witnessed his Detroit Red Wings fall to Pittsburgh in the Stanley Cup Finals, his New York Mets are in freefall due to injuries, and his Syracuse Orange football team ranked near the bottom of Division I football programs. Can’t wait to see you guys next year!

Also, to a new reader of the blog, Kim Holmes. He is the brother-in-law of my brother John. We visited at my niece’s graduation, and he showed a genuine interest in the blog. Thanks Kim. Also, thanks to my niece Leslie, who said she also checks out the blog from time to time.

Just a few more random thoughts in this post:
• It doesn’t surprise me, but it does disappoint me the love fans are giving to Manny Ramirez after returning from his 50-game suspension for using performance enhancing drugs. Folks, he’s not returning from an injury. He broke the rules. Yet, there’s Manny, back out there last weekend in San Diego as if nothing’s happened. It’s not right. I hope Met fans give Ramirez a harder time this week. He deserves it.
• Steve McNair, R.I.P. The details, some of them not too flattering, are starting to come out as the former standout quarterback of the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens was shot to death on Saturday. McNair, 36, died after being shot four times in his condominium in Nashville. Also dead from a single gunshot wound, was his girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, 20, whose body was near McNair’s. Police are treating the death of McNair as a homicide, and are investigating the possibility of a murder-suicide, as McNair was still married and had children. This is obviously a sad and much-too-early end to the lives of these two people. McNair earned my respect as a guy who often played hurt, yet played well throughout his career. I’ll never forget his late charge in Super Bowl 34 ending one-yard short as the St. Louis Rams held on to a 23-16 win against Tennessee on the last play of the game.
- Tom