NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STAR STARTING LINEUP
Rickie Weeks has had such an incredible impact as a leadoff hitter this season that Bruce Bochy figures why not utilize that success on Tuesday night. Weeks will hit leadoff for the National League in the All-Star game. It was a tough decision for Bochy to make, but with the power and speed of Weeks, it should be the right move.
"If you look at our lineup, he makes the most sense," Bochy said. "He's been doing it, but I don't think there's a stronger hitting second baseman in the game. He's got great power, and he's really gotten better as a hitter with his discipline. He has speed and can steal you a base, and he's one of those leadoff hitters you have to be careful with. You can't say, 'All right, I'm going to walk him,' because he can beat you with the long ball."
The starting lineup is as follows:
1. Rickie Weeks, second base
2. Carlos Beltran, designated hitter
3. Matt Kemp, center field
4. Prince Fielder, first base
5. Brian McCann, catcher
6. Lance Berkman, right field
7. Matt Holliday, left field
8. Troy Tulowitzki, shortstop
9. Scott Rolen, third base
The National League starting nine will have plenty of fire power to get after American League starter Jared Weaver. Weeks, Beltran, and Kemp all bring power, but more importantly, speed to a relatively quick lineup. If they can get on in front of Fielder, McCann, and Berkman it will be a long day for Weaver. Everyone has the AL beating the NL on paper but I disagree. This is a group to be reckoned with and I think they will prove it tonight.
RYAN BRAUN SHOULD BE READY
After Ryan Braun took himself out of the All-Star game, he envisioned himself getting healthy and preparing to start Thursday night to kick off the second half of the season. Braun still went to Arizona to root on his fellow teammates Fielder and Weeks, but will not participate in any of the festivities.
I am personally disappointed that Braun will not be able to play in the Midsummer Classic, but I am grateful that he is responsible enough to realize that the team and winning is more important that any personal conflicts he may have. By no means will this be Braun's last All-Star game so I am sure that made the decision a little easier on him.
YOVANI GALLARDO TO START OFF SECOND-HALF OF SEASON
Gallardo will get the ball Thursday night against Ubaldo Jimenez and the Rockies. Yovani started opening day for the Brewers so it seems fitting that he starts the second opener as well. He has been throwing the ball good as of late, which I am sure is why Milwaukee's manager Ron Roenicke has opted to go with him. Zack Grienke's struggles probably had something to do with it as well.
Roenicke has preached consistency the entire season and he is not happy with the inconsistency of his ball club towards the end of the first half.
"Everybody's going to have a bad game defensively, or offensively, or even pitching, but to have these streaks where we play bad for a week, we're going to have to stop doing that if we want to end up trying to win this division."
I cannot agree more with Roenicke. The Brewers had to many patches in the first half of the season where they would just play terrible baseball. There is no excuse for that considering the talent they have on their roster. Milwaukee has a legitimate shot at winning the division for the first time in nearly three decades, but they will not do it unless they have a dependable starting rotation and steady offense for the rest of the year.
Milwaukee will have a three city, eleven day road trip to start out the second half and will play the Chicago Cubs when they return to Miller Park on July 26th.
No comments:
Post a Comment