This past week, yours truly was in Las Vegas for some much needed vacation. While time off from my job feels good, taking a pause from this blog doesn’t as I miss my creative outlet. Writing these pieces feels therapeutic in these times we live in, as crazier and crazier events seem to happen daily. I hope reading these provides as much relief from the world as it does to write them. With the All Star break looming we have jam packed edition of ATH so let’s dive in!
First Base
Snakes Bite Back: While the Mets have been making headlines for their charge up the NL standings, they have some company in that department as the Diamondbacks are red hot. Arizona struggled for the bulk of the first half, casting doubt on their ability to defend their NL crown. But in the weeks leading up to the All-Star Break, they have won 10 out of 15 and got above .500 for the first time since April 5th. Their lineup is clicking and they’re starting to get their pitching staff on the right track again too, which should give them a real shot at making the playoffs to continue their reign as National League Champions.
Second Base
The Blue Jays disappointing first half has them thinking sell. Could Vlad Jr. be on the move? 
John Fisher’s continuous destruction of the A’s should see another exodus from Oakland. Look for slugger Brent Rooker to draw plenty of interest. 
The Angels are expected to be sellers once again and infielder Luis Rengifo is their most desired piece. 
The White Sox are a tough watch, and it’s only going to get worse if they move lefty ace Garrett Crochet. 
With the Rangers title defense not going according to plan future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer could be on the move again. 
The Rays seem destined for another retooling. Could star outfielder Randy Arozarena net them good return at the deadline? 
Marlins star Jazz Chisholm is available for trade and is drawing tons of interest. The question is, which position will he play at his new home? 
The Cubs have been one of the biggest disappointments this season and seem interested in moving Cody Bellinger this deadline, should he return from injury. 
Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon is a priority target for a number of teams at this deadline. But will Colorado move him?
Meet the Sellers: Lots of focus is put on who will be buying at the deadline, but that would require a whole separate article to walk through them all. The majority of the league is in buy mode so let’s meet those selling at the upcoming trade deadline. The slides above preview the teams expected to move assets and which pieces are their most sought after…though there are plenty more where that come from.
Third Base
This One Belongs to the Reds: At least in the words of the great Marty Brennaman, it’s good news Rece Hines does belong to acing. The rookie came up just a week ago and in six days as a big leaguer he has done some incredible things. He already has nine extra base hits and five home runs, helping an already talented Reds lineup creep back towards .500. They’re just three games out of the final NL Wild Card spot, making them a team to keep an eye on the rest of the way.
Home Plate
Motor City Madhouse: No not the Ted Nugent song, I’m referring to Comerica Park, which was home to one of the games of the year Saturday. The Dodgers led this one 9-4 in the ninth, in part thanks to Shohei Ohtani’s 200th career homer. But Detroit didn’t give up and tied the game with five runs in the final frame. The rally set up Gio Urshela for a walk off winner in the tenth. This was a highlight for Detroit, who had otherwise endured a disappointing first half. Meanwhile for the Dodgers, the break can’t come soon enough as they are scuffling to the first half finish, with this loss coming in the wake of being swept by the Phillies.
Extra Inning
Skenes on the Bump: Thursday in Milwaukee Paul Skenes took the hill for the Pirates and absolutely carved the Brewers lineup over seven no-hit innings. While the Pirates didn’t let him go the distance (rightfully), the young righty continues to capture the imagination of the fans and media alike. He even got to hold court with legendary voice of the Brewers Bob Uecker.
Thankfully, with that in mind, NL All Star skipper Torrey Lovullo tabbed Skenes to start the All Star game this week. Check out the clip below, as Lovullo surprised Skenes with the news during a TV appearance this week.
Where They Stand
With the All-Star Break finally here, here’s a look at the standings from around the league. The second half is shorter than usual this year with all teams having around 60+ games left, making this a sprint to the finish. These should make for some very tight races making for great entertainment.
The Walkoff
If You Build It: Last time out I talked about the 1999 All Star Game and the legendary outing by AL Starter Pedro Martinez. While that was special for its own reason, I wanted to revisit that night to look back at its other best moment. Prior to the game, MLB celebrated its All Century team, as the best players who ever lived took the field together with current stars. The celebration was aided by the great Kevin Costner, who has made enough fabulous baseball films in his time that he was a natural fit to MC. He recounted his memory of the occasion with MLB Network this week, in the clip below. He speaks with such sincerity about the game we all love, as only a fan could.
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The Broadway Breakdown 
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