Kly, congrats on getting Victorino into the All-Star game. I thought Sandoval had a chance until I heard someone point out that the entire state of Hawaii is rabid about anyone famous who comes from there. So I had a feeling there would be no way that San Francisco could compete against Philadelphia and Hawaii.

Hopefully Sandoval still gets a chance to make the team because of Beltran's injury.

I just tried to use baseball-reference.com to compare the two but I can't figure out how to use that site. It looks awesome, but I can't get it! Basically Sandoval has better stats than Victorino in every major category except stolen bases. I hate how the all-star system works with it being a popularity contest and people who have no job or life can sit and vote 5,000 times. Oh well.

Thanks, blib. I'd bet Sandoval makes an All-Star game soon. Victorino had a couple things going for him. First, name recognition was key. While fans use a myriad of reasons to elect all-stars, they ternd to favor people they know, and Victorino had a few big post season moments last year.

Also, there was a big campaign in Philly. This past series the stadium was filled with "Vote for Shane" t-shirts, Chan Ho Park stood on busy streets with a sign for Victorino, and the mayor of Philadelphia went door to door with Victorino for some laughs. And as you mentioned, Hawaii loves him.

I thought he was a great pick for this team as he will probably be the best defensive outfielder. He's a good hitter with a lot of speed. Now we Phillie fans are getting greedy and looking for Werth to replace Beltran. I don't think Charlie will do it though.

it's not like he isn't killing the ball. and he's on my fantasy team too! send him in!

Nick Johnson as John Candy's lookalike...who's with me?!



It's not just the moustache - his eyes are similar, too!

Wow, no-hitter!! I just "saw" the last out on Gameday at MLB's site, and now I'm watching it live on ESPN...how cool is that?!

Congrats to BL's guy, Jonathan Sanchez!

SANCHEZ!!!! The first Giants no-hitter in my lifetime!!! My throat hurts from cheering so loud.. I think I scared the crap out my whole family, but I've been waiting for a Giants no-hitter my whole life!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my goodness, they just showed the 2nd out of the ninth with that great catch by Rowand...that must've been scary!

I'm so glad you got to see that, BL.

I'm still trying to figure out why his Dad was in attendance. Sanchez is from Puerto Rico, so it's not like his father is able to come to a lot of games. I can't imagine how proud he is to be at a game where his son throws a no-hitter.

Not to mention, Sanchez has never even thrown a complete game in his young career, so to make his first a no-no is so exciting!

Ironically, there was a lot of talk on the local sports radio today about Lincecum, and when will he throw a no-hitter, because he didn't give up a hit until the 7th last night. Nobody would have guessed that Sanchez, who had been temporarily demoted to the bullpen because of his recent struggles, would come on this strong.

My family is giving me a lot of "rolling-eyes" because they don't understand how important this is to me, but I don't care. I'm on cloud nine!

too bad he couldnt get a perfect game...but yea he did a great job, and idk maybe now the giants can get a decent bat for there line up (i just hope the giants kick the dodgers ass)

You got your greedy wish . Charlie Manuel is going to hear from Giants fans when the Phillies come to town at the end of July. To put it nicely, he's a whore.

I'm not saying Werth doesn't deserve to be there, but Sandoval not being on a team where he is better than a lot of the guys is a shame. Sandoval is so cool about it though, at least on the outside. But you can tell he's mad because he's been taking it out on the baseball since getting snubbed.

There are only two 3B's on the team, David Wright and Ryan Zimmerman, and Sandoval's numbers are better than both. . Not to mention the Giants have the second best record in the NL and only have two players on the team.

I know it's just a meaningless game, but it's hard not to take feel bad for Sandoval. The whole system is screwed up with the voting and all.

Sorry I'm late to the party, but that was a heck of a pitched game for Sanchez. While I was watching the highlights, I was getting pumped up. I could see that BL was just a little bit more excited than I was.

That was nice. The Phillies got their entire outfield on the All-Star team. Yeah, the Giants' fans are upset, but such are the perks when you get to the World Series. I think the goodwill Manuel solidified with his starting rightfielder will outweigh the wrath of Giants' fans.

Anyway, SF had two chances to vote their guy into the game, and Sandoval is young and will get his chances.

By the way, great news on the no hitter. I remember Montefusco's back in '76. There is nothing as exciting as watching a no hitter unfold late in a game.

I hear the Giants are trying to trade Barry Zito. Who in their right mind is going to give something up for him, and/or take on any part of that contract?

the nationals might go for that...other wise i dont see any other team. if he does get traded then blib will be happy.

When people say a player is "untradeable" it means because they are a star, or a top prospect projected to be a star. Zito is untradeable because he stinks and is getting more money than all but two or three pitchers in baseball. It's a very sore subject for Giants fans, especially because his contract pays more money each year for the next four years after this season.

Where did you hear the rumor JL? There have been a ton of rumors today that I've been trying to ignore because the internet is so unreliable. The latest rumors are saying the Giants might trade for Roy Halladay and Alex Rios. I have to try not to wet myself thinking about that one because it's just a rumor and I'll be depressed when it doesn't happen.

It was an ESPN "Insider" story, so I couldn't read the details.

PTI also talked about it...maybe the pirates will trade for zito.

Zito makes more money than the Pirates entire 25 man roster.

one cool thing to do in the middle of the season is to hand out the 1st half awards. I won't go into detail about the Rookie of the year award, first because it is such a meaningless award in baseball and second because I don't know much about it. who would that be? David Price and Andrew McCutchen? something like that...

AL Cy Young Award - Zack Greinke

he came back from a weird mental disease to pitch like Sandy Koufax for a few starts in a row. the best way to understand how great he was in that strech is trying to get how he's still 10-5 for a terrible Royals team and has a 2.12 ERA even though he's 2-4 with a 4-plus ERA in the past 2 months.

AL MVP Award - Joe Mauer

the Twins hometown hero has a crazy stat line in which he's chasing Ted Williams' .400 BA and has already topped his highest HR total in a season with half the at bats. odds are that he has to cool down but if he finishes with a 20+ HR, .350 BA I still say he's a monster.

NL Cy Young Award - Tim Lincecum

Dan Haren deserves serious consideration but I consider Lincecum more dominant. the reigning Cy Young Winner will single handedly keep the Gians in contention his whole career if he don't break down or don't sign iwth the Yankees and become a choking prima-donna.

NL MVP Award - Albert Pujols

that's it. one of the greatest hitters of all time.

That has to be some nobody blogger starting a rumor. People were joking all day today on talk radio about getting rid of Zito, so I wouldn't be surprised of someone heard the talks and took them seriously, and next thing you know ESPN is reporting it.

People were jokingly suggesting that the Giants trade Zito to the A's for the territorial rights to San Jose so that the A's can pursue a new stadium there . It would never happen, but that's how desperate people are to get rid of Zito and his contract.

hey blib maybe the cubs could trade for zito...giants send zito to the cubs and the cubs send garbage...sounds fair to me lol

Quite a feat for Ryan Howard - Quickest player to 200 HRs in terms of number of games played.

He broke Ralph Kiner's record - pretty good company.

It's too bad that Howard started so late. By this age (29) ARod already had about 400 homers.

howard's 29? man i thought he was younger than that.

Howard has been a homerun machine since the Phillies brought him up. He didn't start his career until he was 25 because the Phillies had Jim Thome at the time. He didn't just break the record for the fewest games to 200 - he shattered it. And it's not the ballpark. He hits about as many on the road as home.

I remember Philadelphia sports talk radio, which regularly crucifies the Philly pro teams, lambasting Phillies m,anagement for not going ahead with the deal that would have sent Howard to Pittsburgh for pitcher Kris Benson. They claimed that minor league firstbasemen are a dime a dozen and how can you pass on proven talent like Benson.

Anyway, Howard has had his best games after the all-star break and has a history of getting red hot in September. I'll take the strikeouts because he is one of the most productive hitters of the decade.

Howard must be racking up strikeouts on a record pace as well. I like Howard though.

i am just saying this, but ryan howard is baseball's brett favre

In what way?

basically i am getting at the strikeouts howard makes to favres interceptions which breaks records.

What do you guys think about Matt Holliday going to the Cardinals? I think they and the Phillies are the favorite now to get to the World Series.