BOB’S REVISED HOME RUN DERBY PICK AND UPDATED ODDS
The Home Run Derby Monday night (8 p.m. on ESPN) has stirred up more interest than Tuesday night’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
Credit to super slugger and defending champion Giancarlo Stanton and rookie sensations Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger for that.
Updated odds (courtesy of Bovada): Giancarlo Stanton 7-to-5 (bet $5 to win $7)...Aaron Judge 7-to-4 (bet $4 to win $7)...Cody Bellinger 6-to-1...Mike Moustakas 12-to-1...Miguel Sano 14-to-1...Justin Bour 14-to-1...Charlie Blackmon 14-to-1...Gary Sanchez 16-to-1.
Bob’s picks:
First round
Stanton over Sanchez
Judge over Bour
Bellinger over Blackmon
Sano over Mousrtakas.
Semifinals
Stanton over Sano in a close one
Judge over Bellinger
Championship
Stanton over Judge. Home-field advantage will be the difference. Most of the nation will be rooting for Judge but Miami fans will be cheering for their hero.
IMAGINE THIS -- BRIAN GIONTA AS CAPTAIN OF THE CALDER CUP AMERKS?
Imagine Brian Gionta skating with the “C” stitched to that classy Rochester Americans jersey this AHL season.
A long shot to be sure. But we can dream.
The Buffalo Sabres have made upgrading the Amerks a priority this season and Gionta’s presence would be a boost to the team on the ice, in the locker room and at the turnstiles. He’d also be experienced insurance in Rochester if the parent club needed help in a pinch.
Gionta is 38 years old but obviously still can play. He finished a three-year, $12,750,000 deal with Buffalo last season. He played all 82 games and had 15 goals and 20 assists.
I don’t know if Brian would could use another $650,000 or so for next season and would welcome an opportunity to finish his pro career in a possible renaissance season in his home town even if the Sabres offered it to him.
But I’m pretty sure every fan of the Amerks would absolutely love to see it happen.
WHY THE TWINS HAD TO PROMOTE ZACK GRANITE
Mainly because he earned it.
I’m pretty sure a few Rochester Red Wings of the past had a month as productive as center fielder Zack Granite enjoyed in June – but not many of us have been around long enough to have witnessed it.
Granite was the International League’s Player of the Month and it was no contest.
His June performance line is one for the ages:
.470 batting average
55 hits, including 16 extra-base hits
20 multiple-hit games
23 runs
And -- the most impressive stat of all -- .527 on-base percentage.
The Minnesota Twins couldn’t hold off any longer and promoted Granite last Friday.
Rochester’s hopes of making the IL playoffs took a huge hit with the departure of Granite, but fans of the Red Wings should not be upset.
The surprising Twins are keeping the pressure on the favored Cleveland Indians in the American League Central and the versatile Granite is going to be an asset no matter how much he plays.
Minnesota already had an impressive group of young outfielders in Max Kepler, Eddie Rosario and the mercurial Byron Buxton, with Robbie Grossman to platoon. Where will Granite fit in?
It will be interesting to see how Minnesota manager Paul Molitor handles the playing time in center field.
Buxton has been a disappointment on offense, but he probably is the best defensive outfielder in all of baseball and also could be the fastest and best base runner. He had three hits and scored from first base on a single in Minnesota’s come-from-behind home win last Friday night.
Buxton wins games with his defense and legs, but reaching first base has been the huge problem.
Buxton’s June performance line for the Twins was as unimpressive as Granite’s was impressive for the Red Wings: .184 batting average (16-for-87); 9 runs; 3 doubles; 2 HRs; 6 RBI; 6 walks; 20 strikeouts and a brutal .285 on-base percentage.
When Granite was promoted, he was leading the IL with a .360 batting average. The next-highest batting average was .313 by current New York Yankee Tyler Wade. He was leading the league in on-base percentage and was second in OPS (.904; on-base percentage + slugging percentage). He was 15-for-21 stealing bases and had 0 errors.
The bottom line: Buxton is a better fielder and runner than Granite but Granite at this point – until Buxton figures it out – is a better hitter.
We’ve seen enough of Granite to believe he is destined for a long stay in the majors. Will it be with the Twins? At the very least, Granite will be prime trade bait. Wherever he plays, it will be fun to follow him for the rest of his career.
BARTOLO COLON WILL BE THE SIXTH CY YOUNG WINNER TO PITCH FOR RED WINGS
When Bartolo Colon starts for Rochester Thursday night at the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, he’ll become the sixth Cy Young Award-winning pitcher to play for the Red Wings.
Bob Gibson
...with Red Wings 1958 (5-5 record; 2.45 ERA) and 1960 (23 record; 2.85 ERA)
...Cy Young Award seasons: 1968 with St. Louis (22-9; 1.12 ERA) and 1970 with St. Louis (23-7 record).
...career record in the majors: 251-174; 2.91 ERA.
Mike McCormick
...with Red Wings 1964 (12-8 record; 3.29 ERA)
...Cy Young Award season: 1967 with San Francisco (22-10; 2.85 ERA)
...career record in the majors: 134-128; 3.73 ERA.
Jim Palmer
...with Red Wings 1967 (0-0 record; 11.57 ERA in 2 games and 1968 (0-0 record; 13.50 ERA in 2 games)
...Cy Young Award seasons: with Baltimore 1973 (22-9; 2.40 ERA), 1975 (23-11, 2.09 ERA) and 1976 (22-13, 2.51 ERA)
...career record in the majors: 268-152; 2.86 ERA.
Mike Flanagan
...with Red Wings 1975 (13-4; 2.50 ERA), 1976 (6-1; 2.12 ERA) and 1987 (0-0, 3.00 ERA in 3 games)...Cy Young Award season: 1979 with Baltimore (23-9; 3.08 ERA)
...career record in the majors: 167-143; 3.90.
R. A. Dickey
...with Red Wings 2009 (2-1; 5.13 ERA in 5 games)
...Cy Young Award season: 2012 with New York Mets (20-6; 2.73 ERA)
...career record in majors: 116-113; 4.03 ERA.
Bartolo Colon
...Cy Young Award season: 2005 with Cleveland (21-8; 3.48 ERA)
...career record in the majors: 235-170; 4.07 ERA.
SPRAYING BASEBALL HITS TO ALL FIELDS
The Los Angeles Dodgers are 61-29 and the Houston Astros are 60-29. It is the first time since 1969 that two teams in the majors have at least 60 wins at the All-Star break.
Houston on the road is an amazing 33-11 with 314 runs scored. The Astros are 27-18 and have scored a “mere” 213 runs on the road.
Jose Altuve (Houston) has at least 3 hits in his last 5 games. The MLB record is six.
The New York Yankees are 1-7 in their last 8 series.
The defending champion Cubs are 43-45. They were 53-35 at the All-Star break last season.
Detroit enters the All-Star break under .500 for the first time in 12 years.
Zack Granite had his first Major League Baseball start Sunday for Minnesota: center field; 0-for-3 with 1 walk and 1 run.
The Buffalo Bisons are 4-22 in their last 26 games and 12-31 on the road.
WONDERING IF CHRIS COLABELLO HAS ANYTING LEFT
The Cleveland Indians released 2013 Red Wings hero Chris Colabello on Friday. I’d like to see Minnesota sign the 2013 Red Wings hero and assign him to Rochester. But I couldn’t guarantee that he has enough left to spark a late surge for a playoff berth.
Colabello has two eye-popping performance lines:
2013 with Rochester – 89 games; .352 batting average (119-for-338); 58 runs; 25 doubles; 24 HRs; 76 RBI; .427 on-base percentage; .639 slugging percentage; 1.066 OPS. International League Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player.
2015 with the Toronto Blue Jays – 101 games; .321 batting average (107-for-333); 55 runs; 19 doubles; 1 triple; 15 HRs; 54 RBI; .367 on-base percentage; .520 slugging percentage; .886 OPS.
Colabello turns 34 in October. He was suspended for 80 games in April 2016 after testing positive for an anabolic steroid. Sadly, he hasn’t done much since:
2016 with the Buffalo Bisons – 40 games (after serving his suspension); .180 batting average (25-for-139); 14 runs; 0 doubles; 0 triples; 5 HRs; 11 RBI; 11 walks; 46 strikeouts; .248 on-base percentage; .288 slugging percentage; .536 OPS.
2017 with the Columbus Clippers – 71 games; .225 batting average (58-for-258); 10 doubles; 6 HRs; 36 RBI; 34 walks; 75 strikeouts; .324 on-base percentage; .333 slugging percentage; .658 OPS.
MINNESOTA’S FARM SYSTEM IS ON A ROLL
The Rochester Red Wings aren’t the only winning team in the Minnesota Twins farm system so far this season. Far from it. In fact all seven affiliates have winning records. Check this out (records entering Monday):
Rochester – 49-39 record, including 20-6 in the last 26 games...outscoring opponents 365-309 (+56 runs)
Chattanooga – 56-31 record, including 24-4 in the last 28 games...outscoring opponents 381-285 (+96)
Fort Myers – 45-39 record...outscoring opponents 360-311 (+49)
Cedar Rapids – 49-39 record...outscoring opponents 395-325 (+70)
Elizabethton – 12-6 record...outscoring opponents 100-83 (+17)
Gulf Coast League Twins – 9-3 record...outscoring opponents 62-49 (+13)
Dominican Summer League Twins – 24-6 record...outscoring opponents 201-115 (+86).
Totals – 244-163 record (+81)...outscoring opponents 1884-1377 (+507).
SHORT SHOTS
The most interesting trade target I’ve seen for the New York Yankees is Miami left-handed hitting first baseman Justin Bourn (.286; 20 HRs; 57 RBI in 77 games). I don’t know what the Marlins would want in return but I’d be listening.
The five youngest NFL head coaches entering the 2017 season: Sean MKcVay (Rams) 31.63 years old...Kyle Shanahan (49ers) 37.74...Adam Case (Miami) 39.45...Ben McAdoo (Giants) 40.17...Sean McDermott (Bills) 43.47...The five oldest head coaches: Pete Carroll (Seahawks) 65.99...Bill Belichick (Patriots) 65.39...Bruce Arians (64.94)...Jim Caldwell (Lions) 62.65...John Fox (Bears) 62.59. (courtesy of NY Daily News).
A common theme making the rounds in the NFL is that the 2017 New York Jets could have the league’s worst roster in a long time. That should mean two sure wins on an otherwise killer schedule for the Buffalo Bills. It also means the Jets figure to be in position to select the very best of the of a strong quarterback class in the 2018 college draft.
Chalk up Mikhail Grigorenko as another first-round draft bust for the Buffalo Sabres. The No. 12 overall pick in the 2012 entry draft is returning to Russia as a member of CSKA in the Kontinental Hockey League. His greatest contribution to the Sabres was being part of a trade with Colorado that brought Ryan O’Reilly to Buffalo. His scoring lines: Bufalo 6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points in 68 games...Rochester 14 goals, 26 assists, 40 points in 52 games...NHL career 22 goals, 42 assists, 64 points, minus-26 plus-minus rating in 217 games.
Keen Ice upset 1-to-2 favorite Shaman Ghost to win the $750,000 Suburban Stakes at Belmont Park. He was 5-to-1 and paid $12 to win. It was his third victory in 22 career starts and his first since a shocking upset of Triple Crown champion American Pharoah in the 2015 Travers stakes.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Monday, July 10 – Trent Richardson (27)...Antonio Brown (29)...Adam Foote (46)...Urban Meyer (53)...Darryl Talley (57)...NFL’s Roger Craig (57)...Andre Dawson (63)...Bob Bailor (66)....Hal McRae (72)...Virginia Wade (72).
Tuesday, July 11 – Joey Bosa (22)...Caroline Wozniacki (27)...Patrick Peterson (27)...Wesley Johnson (30)...Jacoby Jones (32)...Joe Pavelski (33)...Chris Cooley (35)...Andre Johnson (36)...Javier Lopez (40)...Rod Strickland (51)...Al MacInnis (54)...Hugo Sanchez (59)...Leon Spinks (64)...Bill Barber (65).
Wednesday, July 12 – LeSean McCoy (29)...Inbee Park (29)...Sami Zayn (33)...Travis Best (35)...Brock Lesner (40)...Dan Boyle (41)...Kristi Yamaguchi (46)...Jerry Ostroski (47)...Chad Brown (47)...Julio Cesar Chavez (55)...Mario Soto (61)...Gilles Meloche (67)...Ron Fairly (79). Cheryl Ladd (66), Richard Simmons (69) and Bill Cosby (80) are invited to the birthday party.
Thursday, July 13 – Cody Bellinger (22)...Liu Xiang (34)...Yadier Molina (35)...Shin-Soo Choo (35)...Ryanh Ludwick (39)...Spud Webb (54)...David Thompson (63)...Tony Kornheiser (69). Harrison Ford (75) and Patrick Stewart (77) are invited to the birthday party.
Friday, July 14 –John Gibson (24)...Conor McGregor (29)...Darrelle Revis (32)... Tim Hudson (42)...Erick Dampier (43)...Robin Ventura (50)...Steve Stone (70). Crash Davis – the real baseball player – was born on 98 years ago (1919) and died in 2001 at age 82. He hit .230 with 2 HRs and 43 RBI in three major-league seasons with the 1940-42 Philadelphia Athletics but spent most of his career in the Carolina League.
Saturday, July 15 – Damian Lillard (27)...Peter Ciavaglia (48)...John Crotty (48)...Carnell Lake (50)...Barry Melrose (61)...John Stallworth (65)...Jesse Ventura (66). Forest Whitaker (56) and Linda Ronstadt (71) are invited to the birthday party.
Sunday, July 16 – Duncan Keith (34)...Carli Lloyd (35)...Aaron Glenn (45)...Barry Sanders (49)...Anna Smashnova (51)...Claude Lemieux (52)...Terry Pendleton (57)...Miguel Indurain (53)...Gary Anderson (58)...Jimmy Johnson (74)...Margaret Smith Court (75). Will Ferrell (50) and Michael Flatley (59) are invited to the birthday party. “Shoeless Joe” Jackson was born on this date 130 years ago (1887) and died in 1951 at age 64.
PLEASE NOTE: Monday night, featuring The Dugout Show from 7 to 8 p.m., will be my only show this week. I’ll be on vacation and Kevin Oklobzija will be the extremely valuable pinch-talker...But I’ll be posting my WHAM1180.com colukmn as usual Wednesday and Friday at noon or so...Thank you for listening and reading my s tuff.