Latest addition to the bobblehead collection - Kyle Blanks

The latest addition to my bobblehead collection: Kyle Blanks. I obtained this through a seller on Ebay. I have always like Kyle Blanks when I saw him coming up the Padres ranks. Those who remember his 2007 Bowman autograph card where has this intimidating "I'm dead serious" nonsense look on his face that what he really looks like when I first saw and met him when he was playing for Padres AA club San Antonio Missions. He has this aura on intensity around him. That what drew me being a fan of him. His approach is no words, swing the bat, hit balls, and take names. After spending this most of the season in the minors I'm glad he's back up in the majors. I see lots of potential in him and be one of key players of Padres from now and the future.

Views of a game - Round Rock Express and New Orlean Zephyrs - August 21

My second visit at Dell Diamond Field in Round Rock, TX for Express/Zephyrs game felt different. Last I been was two years ago when it was Astros affiliate club. Now its Rangers affiliate club. More on that later on.

For the game its a wild affair with Zephyrs scoring total of 7 runs in first three innings. Express tries to make a comeback but fell short as Zephyrs won 7-5.

Rangers top prospect Martin Perez was out of control getting roughed in 2 innings with 6 runs all earned and 8 hits.

Zephyrs starting pitcher Darin Downs do no better as he dinged in 4 innings with 5 runs all earned and 10 hits. Reliever Garrett Parcell perform well in 2.2 innings to get the win.

Leonys Martin and Val Majewski are bright spots of Express offense.

Mike Cevernak is offensive player of the game for Zephyrs.

The game has appearance of Chris Coghlin and Logan Morrison.

As for the ballpark its a different feel. When I looked around it was all decked of Rangers with the banners, the logos, and the program. What it didn't mention is its past. Everything when they moved to Round Rock at 2000 to 2010 wiped out. Not one mention of it on game program. They just mention about 2011 acting like its a brand new team when its not. It disappoints me they refuse have anything do with the past.

When I used to live in Midland and go to the games the Midland organization acknowledge their past from the teams they used to be affiliated with along former team names, and the players that was on the roster. The past is shown on with the team logos on top of visiting club dugout and the programs.

I wish Round Rock Express, at least, show who they were in the past like Midland Rockhounds did. They choose to ignore like it never happened.

Views and shots of a game - Astros vs Giants - August 19

Drove to Houston on Friday for Astros game as they took of Giants. It was umbrella night so I got my souvenir giveaway. Starting pitchers of the game are Wandy Rodriguez and All-Star pitcher Ryan Vogelsong. My seat is from 3rd level of the stadium.

Murial of Jeff Bagwell 449 homeruns and Craig Biggio 3000 hits.

Retired numbers of Astros players.

Wandy Rodriguez pitching on the mound. He went 8 innings with 8 strikeouts, 5 hits, and no runs along going 1-2 with 2 RBIs.

Clint Barmes moving out of the way from inside pitch. He went 1-2 with 2 runs.

Carlos Lee swinging and missing being unproductive as usual. 0-4 for the big useless lug.

Made my way down at 7th inning to get these shots:

Guillermo Mota catching the ball during his warm on the mound

Jimmy Paredes at bat. Tries hard but swinging for strikes instead of hits. He went 0-4 with 3 striekouts. He will get better.

Brian Bogusevic big swing in the 9th which netted this:

Jeff Fulchino pitches a scoreless 9th with 2 strikeouts to end the game. After the game he gets sent down to AAA.

Astros beat the Giants 6-0. This includes fine performance from catcher Carlos Corporon, who was batting .176, went 3-3, RBI, and 2 runs against All-Star pitcher Vogelsong. J.B. Shuck went 1-3 driving in team's first 2 runs of the game. Brian Bogusevic throw at home plate nailed Aubrey Huff who end up throwing a huff afterwards.

I enjoyed the game cheering my guts out for the Astros. In season where there's hardly to cheer about call this one of bright highlights of the season. I saw a young team while raw played very hard on the field. To win one over All-Star pitcher and defending champs with 1/3 of Giants fans in attendance is a great feeling to Astros fan. It gave fans a glimmer of hope for next year improvement. Here's to Astros play and hope they play spoiler for rest of the season.

Thunder Thome enters the 600 Club

Jim "Thunder" Thome became 8th member of 600 Homerun Club as hit homeruns number 599 and 600 on Monday. I'm glad he reached no. 600 and been one of my favorites. The guy just goes on the diamond, practice, works, and play hard at his best. Even through and after the "steroid era" he continues to hit homeruns. He's a team player who never put himself above the team. Any team and player would love to have a teammate like him. No frills, no flash, no flamboyance, just hit, take names, and get ready for the next at-bat. A very classic hard worker of his craft. If Thome didn't make it to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot something is seriously wrong with the voting system. Congratulations to Jim "Thunder" Thome for history reaching achievement.

Houston Astros you got a major problems

Admission: I am Houston Astros fan. Another admission: there's nothing to cheer about the Astros this season or the next or the one following next year. Final admission: feeling like what the Pittsburgh Pirates fans went through over almost two decades.

In a weekend Houston Astros completely imploded the entire team, I mean the entire team, for a long reconstruction that last for few seasons or better yet over a decade and I'm being generous on it. On Friday July 29 Astros traded face of the franchise Hunter Pence to Phillies for three unproven minor league prospects and a player to be named later. On Sunday, July 31 Astros traded the team's second best player Michael Bourn to Atlanta Braves for Jordan Schafer and three unproven minor league prospects. Yep Astros got hosed on both deals thanks to dealings of GM Ed Wade. It wasn't over as they shockingly sent starting 3B Chris Johnson and 1B Brett Wallace to Triple A. Along with it the team have called up and purchased contracts from both of their Triple-A and Double-A teams.

I'm heavily disappointed with the moves. I knew both Pence and Bourn going be sent but to get little in return was a major slap in the face. Jordan Schafer, while at one time top Braves prospect, is pretty much AAAA player. Those five players? Four are pitchers when the team needed to most is offense not more pitching. Jarred Cosart and Jonathan Singleton said to be have upside but I have heard that used so many times and half of the time never pan out. IMO, the only bright spot is Brett Oberholtzer who looks to be on track of making Astros roster in 2013. The rest are too much risk or lifetime minor league players.

Those moves ushered in a giant painstaking rebuilding process for the team. The moves involved calling players up from their Triple-A and Double-A teams trying figure out team potential roster for next seaon. Hopefully the moves of Jose Altuve, Jimmy Paredes, and J.D. Martinez from Double-A to majors is worth the risk. The move will make or break the players confidence within few years. Also along the way possibly Brian Bogusevic and rejuvenated Chris Johnson and Brett Wallace may finally jump start a much needed stagnant offense.

This season the Astros are a mess from ownership to GM Ed Wade to team's lack of play. I'm hoping the rebuilding period goes through smoothly. Wish they can able find a way get rid of immobile Carlos Lee and piece of shit Brandon Lyon.

I will still cheer Houston Astros because they are my team.

How could the umpire miss this call?

From last night's marathon between Braves and Pirates.

Seriously how could this idiot umpire Jerry Meals blew this? Julio Lugo is out big time not even nowhere at the plate. MLB really needs to expand replay after this bullshit and last year when a blown call cost Armando Gallaraga perfect game. This major blown call may cost Pirates the NL Central at end of the season if Pirates miss winning it by one game.

2011 MLB All-Star Snubs

Let me introduce you my All-Star snubs of this year. It trim it down to 4 players each from both leagues. To me they are:

NL:

Michael Morse (.301; 15 HR; 47 RBI) - comeback player of the first half has produced offensively for the Nationals, more than $126 million man Jayson Werth. At least he was consider part of final roster vote.

Danny Espinosa (16 HR; 50 RBIs) - in his first full season he provided the Nationals a 1-2 offensive punch. His 16 HRs currently tied 10th in the NL.

Anibal Sanchez (6-2; 3.58 ERA; 117 strikeouts) - back to form after battling injuries for past few years. His 117 strikeouts is tied 9th in the league.

Tommy Hanson (10-4; 2.44 ERA; 1.02 WHIP) - one of 13 players to have 10 or more wins with a low ERA and still no appearance.

AL:

Dan Haren (10-5; 2.61 ERA; 134.1 IP; .95 WHIP) - like Hanson, one of 13 players with 10 or more wins, a low ERA, and effective starter stretching out innings and walking fewer batters.

Alex Gordon (.299; 106 hits; 11 HR; 50 RBI) - finally has his breakout season with showing off his offensive bat. At least he was part of the final vote.

Nelson Cruz (20 HR; 55 RBI in 73 games) - despite missing 1/5 of the season he bounced back with his offensive pop that netted him 20 homeruns in 73 games. Those 20 homeruns currently ranked 9th in the league.

Adam Lind (.300; 78 hits; 16 HR; 52 RBI in 67 games) - like Cruz who missed part of the season he manage make it up with his offensive with his homers and driving in runs including a healthy .300 average.

How to Fix the All-Star game

With mid-summer baseball exhibition coming up fans gripe about players who deserves to be there got snub and who should not be in. At same time you have game where it lost it luster throughout the decade and half. How about fixing the mistakes of the All-Star game that just got to a point its a lousy exhibition with a lousy win-all incentive? Here are my suggestions on fixing the MLB All-Star game.

1. Get rid of winner gets World Series home field advantage - its a lousy incentive to play for. Despite getting home field in the playoffs its still a 50/50 chance the team will get eliminated. Ever since the incentive was placed not once a World Series headed to game 7. Look into sports outside MLB home field advantage doesn't mean much. The recent examples happened in NHL and NBA Finals. In the NHL Vancouver Canucks had home ice and series went to a game 7. They lost game 7 and the series. In the NBA Miami Heat had home court. Series went to a 6 games which Dallas Mavericks beat them right at their home court. Team having home advantage in the playoffs doesn't mean anything in anymore.

2. Get rid of all 30 teams must be represented rule - before the expansions (before 1993) I wouldn't mind. Now with 30 teams the rule gotta be scrapped. Sometime the lone player representing the team at the All-Star game shouldn't be there. Remember Mike Williams and Derrick Turnbow being named despite with ERA of 4-5 and they were relievers? How about last year picks of Ty Wiggington and Michael Bourn? Despite being "best" pick of the team the player is not worthy of being on the All-Star team taking away a spot for much deserved player. See Michael Young exclusion last year. I rather have the "best" players of the league playing in the game, not one per team.

3. 2 closers and 1 reliever to the team - Instead five relievers how about trim it to three? Let it be 2 closers and 1 reliever. Give two extra players to starters that deserve it. Would you have Tommy Hanson over Johnny Venters or last year, Jaime Garcia over Evan Meek to pitch an inning?

4. Get rid of fan voting - fan voting is just a popularity contest. See this year when Derek Jeter was named starter based on votes despite missing part of first half when Astrubal Cabrera deserved it more than him. Fans just stuff ballots and small market teams like Royals and Pirates have hard time trying garner extra votes outside their market.

5. Pay per incentive/bonus - reason why NASCAR All-Star race is popular and matters is the $1 million dollars prize to the winner. How about MLB pony up the money and give it to the players in some form? Give them a bonus for being in the game or toss in extra money for homeruns, strikeouts, stolen base, or runs driven in. Call it greed, but it worth watching of players going full force for the extra money. With the money bonus incentives it make players play and try harder to earn the extra bucks. It make him and the fans feel he deserves to be part of the All-Star game. It worked for NASCAR.

6. Move the game after the regular season ends - move it to the fall and have it right before the playoffs start or better yet, before the World Series. Instead half a season, players have entire season to show they belong in the All-Star exhibition game.

7. Get rid of winner gets World Series home field advantage - oh wait I just mention that.

The All-Star game need serious changes if it want to make relevant to watching.

Canucks choke; Where was Roberto Luongo?

Leading 3-2 in the series Canucks needed one victory to win the Stanley Cup. They blew it in game 6 and 7 and lost the series 4-3. While the offense sputtered scoring total of 7 goals in the series (3 the most they scored in a game) shocking surprise was performance of goalie Roberto Luongo. In first three Cup home games he shined earning victories with two shutouts allowing two goals. On the road it was a different story as the Bruins shot past him allowing 15 goals in those three road games all losses. Then came game 7 at home where he shined. He went from shining to goat allowing three goals and getting pulled again. Bruins took game 7 with score of 4-0 and won the Stanley Cup. Canucks now have questions to answer on why didn't they perform especially Roberto Luongo. Why is his Stanley Cup performance shockingly surprising? He's currently one of top goalies in the league. A Stanley Cup win would have cemented him to elite status to go along with his Olympic gold medal performance after taking over and leading Team Canada when they were at crossroads. You thought he would do a good job behind the net under pressure like he did during the Olympics. Instead being gold in the Stanley Cup finals he end laying a big giant piece of turd nugget. Luongo choked when it mattered the most. Where was Luongo head on the road and game 7? Did Luongo ran out of gas? How come the coach didn't start backup Cory Schneider for the road games? Where was the Canucks offense? Too many questions for Canucks to answer on this choke job.

Mavericks took their talents to South Beach and won the NBA championship

NBA Championship decided at South Beach. No it wasn't hometown Miami Heat. It was Dallas Mavericks who rained and snuffed out the Heat on the road to win the championship. A much deserving title for entire team who dealt with first round disappointments in 3 of 4 seasons since their last finals appearance in 2006. No one gave Mavericks a chance to make it far in the playoffs. Trail Blazers wanted them in the first round thinking they could breeze through. Instead Mavericks eliminated Trail Blazers in 6 games. They proceeds shockingly sweep the Lakers and get past young Thunder team in 5 to make it to the finals. In the finals Heat didn't take likely to the Mavericks mockingly disrespect the team with the media eating up their pre-game actions. Mavericks used the disrespect as motivation and showed the Heat it takes an entire team, not three players, to win the championship. Lead by leader and captain Dirk Nowitzki went on a shooting spree even battling with a fever in game 4. Even having a down game he still kept at it not giving up. Jason Kidd, who been to the finals twice both in losing fashion, didn't let this one slip away being a playmaker making shots and passing the ball to open teammates. They were backed with role players who came through. Jason Terry with his marksmanship of three pointers. Tyson Chandler, many thought damaged goods, handled opponents with his defense. J.J. Barea gritty play picking up for Caron Butler when he went down with season ending injury. Shawn Marion, who had many disappointments as member of the Suns and being trade bait for past few years, provided points and boards. Among with them are DeShawn Stevenson (feuded with LeBron while a member of the Wizards), journeyman Brian Cardinals, Peja Stojakovic (2001 Western Conference Finals disappointment), and Brendan Haywood. At end of game 6 Dallas Mavericks showed why they are champions playing hard and not giving up. Their championship victory a popular one after many NBA fans felt disgusted the way three-ring circus of LeBron, D-Wade, and Bosh was formed and claimed they will win many championships. Turns out it wasn't three ring circus celebrating at the end. It was team of Mavericks, which had no champions on the team and few gave a chance except themselves, that celebrated. In a very classy gesture owner Mark Cuban let former owner and team founder Donald Carter to raise the NBA Championship trophy. After long hard 31 years including sublime decade of the 90s, Dallas Mavericks finally won the NBA title. Hard work well done Mavericks!