The New York Yankees head into the all-star break with the best record in all of MLB (52-33/ .612 winning percentage) and the biggest divisional lead -- 7 games ahead of the O's -- in the game. Despite that lofty standing, the team really has yet to fire on all cylinders which could bode well in the second half should some injured players return and contribute and some of the slackers (yeah, A-Rod, I'm talkin' to you) start pulling their weight and living up to the backs of their baseball cards.

And while it wasn't crucial to make a statement vs the bosox this past weekend, taking three out of four did it anyway. The Yanks left fenway in first as previously mentioned, but they also dumped the home team into last place, ten games back in the loss column. If the season ended now, the sox wouldn't make the playoffs, but neither would the Rays, which is surprising.

Speaking of surprising, that remains the play of the Baltimore Orioles. In my next piece for the Bronx Baseball Daily I will be reviewing the O's and asking the question, "are they for real?" and hopefully giving some answers toward that. Personally, I still find it hard to take them all that seriously.

Meanwhile, across the country, Giants fans should be taking the total tumble of Tim Lincecum seriously. The guy has a 9.00ERA on the road; he has given up more runs this season than ALL of last. Perhaps the Giants knew something when they didn't lock him up long-term -- like his staff mates Cain and Baumgarner -- this past winter and just gave him two years sparing going to arbitration; bet they wish they had been willing to let someone else determine his 2013 salary. You gotta wonder if that could be the last season of The Freak in the Bay Area.

And maybe a change of scenery is what the guy needs: clearly it worked for AJ Burnett. His ten wins over the 1st half -- and one that he started on the DL -- is part of the difference that sees the freakin' Pittsburgh Pirates in first as the unofficial halfway mark passes. It's not going to happen, but sure would be interesting to see how Yankee fans in the Bronx would react should AJ pitch against the Bombers in the World Series.



I can't imagine I am the only writer (by a million) to pay his bar tab with his book, but that's sort of what happened last night...

Cheers
B.