Diamond Cuts.

I haven't posted in a while, but then again I haven't been keeping up with the sports scene lately. So, I'm back and I'm ready to talk baseball! No, it's technically not baseball season, but I feel it's always baseball season.

With the first major move of the off-season, the Atlanta Braves acquire second baseman Dan Uggla for left-hand pitcher Mike Dunn and utility man Omar Infante.

I just want to say, welcome sir.

This is crucial. Trading for a high caliber second basemen shows just how questionable Chipper Jones is. Braves fans do not want him to go, but it looks like the team is prepared for the worst. With Uggla starting at second base, Martin Prado can move permanently to third if needed. If Jones does come back, Prado has the ability to play the outfield. Another option could see Prado at first base if Freddie Freeman doesn't work out as planned.

I'm also not sure why the Florida Marlins would have traded such a valuable player within the division. They received two high caliber players and left a small hole in the bullpen and on the bench of the Braves, but I feel Uggla will have the better return. An exciting move for the Braves, but personally, I hate to see Dunn and Infante go.

Gridiron Gang.

So...last week I talked about how much I love Brett Favre. This week I'm almost ashamed to admit it. Three interceptions, a fumble that was returned for a touchdown and a quarterback rating of 44.3, there was no way I could look a Vikings highlight directly in the eye. With his fourth interception of the season, Favre is more than half way to his total of seven interceptions from last season. But I have to stick with my man for at least one more week. He cant go three and out, can he? He's going up against the Detroit Lions for crying out loud. Certainly he can get me more than negative seven fantasy points this week.

On a more positive note, my all time favorite quarterback is finally getting a chance to turn back the clock and prove to football fans that he still has what it takes to run all over an opposing defense. That's right, Michael Vick is back and he is starting. I finally have a reason to be excited about football again! In his first start since 2006, Vick dominated the Lions defense. Passing for a surprising 284 yards and two touchdowns, Vick appeared to have earned the starting role in Philadelphia. Andy Reid thought otherwise. Until today, Reid was set to stick with Kevin Kolb, an unproven mess whose only successful appearance came against the Kansas City Chiefs last season. Vick is clearly the better option and is no longer fit for the bench. He is hot right now and should continue to be successful against Jacksonville and Washington in the coming weeks. If Reid is smart enough to stick with Vick for the season, look for the week six match-up against the Atlanta Falcons, it will be the game to watch.

Gridiron Gang.

Looks like I've been absent in the sports world for a while, but I'm back and I've got more to say. Football season is finally here! I'm slightly excited, but I'm more excited for the final few weeks of baseball. Anyway...

The 2010 NFL season kicked off with the reigning Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints battling against the bionic man, Brett Favre, and his purple people eaters, the Minnesota Vikings. The game was not a drive-up-the-score-and-see-who-wins kind of game, it was a let's-hit-each-other-and-see-who-hits-harder kind of game. Not really the excitement people are looking for to kick off the football season. Generally people want too see a shoot out, and with Favre and Brees at the helm, the chances were high. But, the focus was on the defensive play. Somehow, the Saints were held to 14 points, while the Vikings ran into a wall. I have to say, I love Favre. I don't care how long it takes for him to make up his mind in the off-season. I don't care what team he plays for. I don't care about his personal life. I just want to see the old man play! But, his 2010 debut has been tarnished by what I am going to call, the anti-Farve movement and his anti-fans.

No, Favre and the Vikings didn't win the game. Yes, he threw an interception that should never have been thrown. Yes, he made Visanthe Shiancoe look good. No, I repeat, No, Favre is not done. Favre is simply getting started. Last year at this time he completed 14 of 21 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown against the Browns. This year, he completed 15 of 27 passes for 171 yards, a touchdown and an interception. I would say, interception aside, Favre did better in his 2010 debut than his 2009. Why anti-fans are already counting him and the Vikings out, I have no idea. After Favre's slow 2009 start, he had six 300+ yard games, six 3+ touchdown games and ten games where his quarterback rating was over 100.

Anti-fans appear to be looking too much toward the negative aspects of Thursday night's game. Sure, a couple passes were off target. Sure, he made a bad decision and got intercepted. But based on the touchdown pass to Shiancoe and the drive that led up to it, Favre has a lot left in the tank. I wouldn't be surprised if he repeats his godlike statistics from 1 year ago.

Diamond Cuts.

Okay, Strasburg started yesterday, won, struck out eight, whatever. Today, I want to talk about the 2010 MLB All-Star Game.

Sportscasters, sports writers, bloggers, players and fans all have something to say about the All-Star game coming up on Tuesday. I say, shut up. Specifically, one giant shut the eff up to Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan.

On July 4, Passan decided to go All-Star bashing and according to him, Omar Infante is the "worst All-Star ever." This is probably the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. In no way am I angry solely because I am a Braves fan and he took a jab at one of my men, I find all of his All-Star views to be ridiculous and unnecessary. Arthur Rhodes and Evan Meek were sarcastically referred to as "better equipped...than Strasburg."

Let's see, Infante is currently batting .321 with 2 home runs, 26 runs, 23 RBIs and 3 stolen bases in 61 games. For a spot starting, pinch hitting utility player, those are respectable numbers. As he plays in the outfield more often, as he should, those stats are going to skyrocket.

Arthur Rhodes has given up five runs to the Phillies and one to all other clubs, has three fists full of holds and up until June 29, had a 0.28 ERA. Seems like the 40-year-old southpaw deserves to be an All-Star.

Pitching nearly 50 innings out of the bullpen over the first half, Evan Meek is well deserving of a spot on the All-Star roster. He has consistently kept his ERA under one on a bad club. Pittsburgh is not close to being a winning team, but Meek is their saving grace.

All three players, unnecessarily dumped on by Jeff Passan hold a large place in their respective clubs hearts. Without Infante's consistency off the bench, the Braves might be looking up at the Mets in first place. Without Rhodes in the bullpen, the Reds may not hold an unexpected two game lead over St. Louis. Without Meek, well without Meek, Pittsburgh may only have 5 wins, it's tough to say.

The All-Star selection process is quite unfair. The fans in the larger market areas will sway the voting towards players who have been known in the past to do great or players that are just coming up and are expected to do great. You can always expect the AL to have 5 Yankees and 4 Red Sox. This fact alone should be reason enough for fans of baseball to appreciate the fact that lesser known players are getting a chance.

Rhodes has been around forever and deserves to bask in the glory that comes with being an All-Star, who knows if he will get another chance. Who knows if any player will have another chance. Maybe a series of unfortunate events will lead to Meek's early retirement, maybe Infante will be forever a bench warmer, maybe the world is going to end in 2012, who knows.

All I know is that these players, Omar Infante, Arthur Rhodes and Evan Meek, all deserve an apology from Jeff Passan and any other player, coach, fan or reporter that questions their spot on the team. They made it. They deserve it. And damn it, they will remember it. I for one would like to thank Charlie Manuel for helping make the NL All-Star team what it truly should be; a group of guys ready to win.

Jeff Passan's article.

Diamond Cuts.

With another Stephen Strasburg start on the horizon, it's time for another Stephen Strasburg Update.

Well, I can't say it enough, every time Strasburg takes the mound, he gives the Nationals a chance to win. He pitched brilliantly against the Braves, but came out early and was handed his second loss.

Strasburg got hit hard in the first inning, made his pitches and worked around a couple of baserunners. Quickly thereafter he found a groove against Braves hitters, striking out five in a row through spotless fifth and sixth innings.

It's the seventh inning that doomed Strasburg this time out. A lead off walk, a bloop single and a fielding error that could have turned into a double play, lead to the bases being loaded and no one being out. A sac-fly and a single later and the Braves were up 2-0. At this point, it's my opinion that Strasburg made an early exit. With stuff like his, Jim Riggleman should have let him get out of the inning. Chances are, all Strasburg would need is six pitches and he would strike out the next two batters and the Nationals would be down 2-0. Instead, Sean Burnett comes in and allows a bunt single to Gregor Blanco and an infield single to Omar Infante. Now down 4-0, Drew Storen comes in to get the final two outs. But before he can do that, he allows another runner to score on a sac-fly making the lead grow to 5-0.

The final line on Strasburg was 6.1 inning pitched, 6 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned, 2 walks and 7 strikeouts. All in all, he had a great outing, his defense let him down and his offense didn't help any. Losing his second straight start was surely tough, but Strasburg will look to continue his success today against the Mets. I can't say it won't be difficult, but it is the Mets, how hard can it be?

Diamond Cuts.

As fantasy baseball players around the world rush to find Edwin Jackson on waivers, I think it's time for a Stephen Strasburg Update.

I can't bring myself to say I told you so, but I certainly wasn't wrong. Strasburg was finally let down by the Nationals' offense as the Royals handed him his first major league loss a little earlier than I had expected. In his fourth major league start, Strasburg lasted six innings and struck out nine batters, but allowed all of the Royals nine hits. He allowed one too many men to reach base in the fifth inning, when Jose Guillen singled in the winning run with two outs.

It's a tragic loss. With nine hits, the Royals could have done a decent amount of scoring, but Strasburg held them to only one run and again gave the Nationals a good chance to win the game. I can see this kid winning every game he starts with a potent offense behind him. Send him to the Yankees (they like to spend money). Send him to the Red Sox (they'll take what the Yankees don't). Heck, send him to Texas (they like to score runs, they've won their last 11 games!).

Strasburg shouldn't really be on the move, there is no way the Nationals can give up an arm like that - if he throws it, they will come. Plus, it's great for the 17 real Nationals fans out there, they need something to cheer for, it's only fair.

Diamond Cuts.

Stephen Strasburg Update

Strasburg looks to continue his domination of under .500 teams today as the Washington Nationals attempt to finish off the Kansas City Royals in sweeping fashion.

His last start on June 18th against the White Sox resulted in a no decision as he pitched seven innings of one-run ball and struck out 10 men. Strasburg got into first inning trouble when the speedy Juan Pierre reached on an infield single and the crafty veteran Omar Vizquel looped a double down the right field line. With men at second and third and nobody out, Alex Rios drove in a run while grounding out to first and Strasburg went on to strike out the next two batters.

A couple of deep fly ball outs riddled between eight more strike outs and Strasburg would leave the game with the record for the most strike outs in his first three major league starts. Previously held by J.R. Richard, the record for most strike outs in a pitchers first three major league starts was 29. Strasburg has 32.

Strasburg has given the Nationals a chance to win every time out, but their offense couldn't rally against starter Gavin Floyd. I have a feeling Strasburg will be let down by the offense on numerous occasions throughout the year. Adam Dunn saved his winning record for the time being, but the Braves, the Mets and the Padres are up next.