Phillies are in the World Series since 1993

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MLB power rankings By Aram Tolegian

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1 Cubs 85-50 1 1/13 The good: Aramis Ramirez has been relatively quiet this season, but perhaps his two-homer performance on Saturday means a stretch-run breakout is looming. The bad: Derrek Lee left Saturday's game with back spasms. The good: Aramis Ramirez has been relatively quiet this season, but perhaps his two-homer performance on Saturday means a stretch-run breakout is looming. The bad: Derrek Lee left Saturday's game with back spasms. Lee, like Ramirez, has been good, but not great this year. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy | Schedule 2 Rays 81-51 1 1/24 The good: The Rays have counted on Rocco Baldelli throughout the years only to get burned. But now with Carl Crawford gone and Evan Longoria hurting, Baldelli is actually coming through. The good: The Rays have counted on Rocco Baldelli throughout the years only to get burned. But now with Carl Crawford gone and Evan Longoria hurting, Baldelli is actually coming through. The bad: This should've been an easy upcoming week for the Rays, but the way the Jays are playing, there may not be a more feared team in the East. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy | Schedule 3 Angels 81-52 2 1/12 The good: We're not even to September and K-Rod has 50 saves. Let that be a sign the Halos will be just fine during close games in the postseason. The bad: The Angels rank in the league's bottom half in home runs, but that may not be an accurate indicator of the team's current capability since Mark Teixeira wasn't in the OC while the statistical damage was done. The good: We're not even to September and K-Rod has 50 saves. Let that be a sign the Halos will be just fine during close games in the postseason. The bad: The Angels rank in the league's bottom half in home runs, but that may not be an accurate indicator of the team's current capability since Mark Teixeira wasn't in the OC while the statistical damage was done. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy | Schedule 4 Twins 75-59 - 4/26 The good: We said last week that the Twins' performance vs. the Yanks was a stamp of quality. So what does their showing against the Angels mean? ChiSox beware. The bad: The Twins rank in the league's bottom 10 in home runs. The good: We said last week that the Twins' performance vs. the Yanks was a stamp of quality. So what does their showing against the Angels mean? ChiSox beware. The bad: The Twins rank in the league's bottom 10 in home runs. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy | Schedule 5 Brewers 77-56 - 5/23 The good: Despite a terrible first two months, J.J. Hardy has 20 homers and continues to thrive in the No. 2 hole. Chalk that up to Ned Yost making the switch. The bad: Ryan Braun's lower back issues don't appear to be going away. The good: Despite a terrible first two months, J.J. Hardy has 20 homers and continues to thrive in the No. 2 hole. Chalk that up to Ned Yost making the switch. The bad: Ryan Braun's lower back issues don't appear to be going away. That's an ominous sign for the stretch run and beyond. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy | Schedule 6 Red Sox 77-56 - 1/8 The good: Paul Byrd got his first Boston win last week. Byrd's arrival looks even better now that Josh Beckett is hurting/tingling. The bad: The Red Sox seem to lose their aura of invincibility a little more with each passing week. The good: Paul Byrd got his first Boston win last week. Byrd's arrival looks even better now that Josh Beckett is hurting/tingling. The bad: The Red Sox seem to lose their aura of invincibility a little more with each passing week. It's hard for us to believe this team is better than it was two months ago. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy | Schedule 7 White Sox 76-57 2 5/19 The good: The ChiSox lead the majors in homers and are in the top five in runs scored. The bad: The Twins are peaking at the right time and who knows just how long they can keep this going. The good: The ChiSox lead the majors in homers and are in the top five in runs scored. The bad: The Twins are peaking at the right time and who knows just how long they can keep this going. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy | Schedule 8 Mets 74-60 1 3/20 The good: Ryan Church is back after missing a significant chunk of time due to complications from multiple concussions. The bad: With Church's return, Fernando Tatis has been bumped back into a reserve role. The good: Ryan Church is back after missing a significant chunk of time due to complications from multiple concussions. The bad: With Church's return, Fernando Tatis has been bumped back into a reserve role. We're not sure Tatis isn't the better player. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy | Schedule 9 Cardinals 74-60 1 4/20 The good: Albert Pujols is giving every indication he'll finish the season with a rush. That's good news because there's no way Ryan Ludwick can be counted on to stay at this pace. The bad: If you're a believer that power pitching is what wins in the postseason, the Cards, who rank near the bottom of the league in Ks,

Pete Breaks Down the MLB

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Whats going on in the MLB today?!

Astros request waivers for Chacon's unconditional release

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HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros have released Shawn Chacon, opting to cut the right-hander a day after he reportedly grabbed general manager Ed Wade by the neck and threw him to the ground. The team requested waivers on Chacon on Thursday for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release. If he isn't claimed by another major league team by Monday, waivers will expire and his contract will be terminated without pay

Astros suspend pitcher Chacon indefinitely for insubordination

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HOUSTON -- Astros pitcher Shawn Chacon was suspended indefinitely by the team Wednesday for insubordination after reportedly grabbing general manager Ed Wade by the neck and throwing him to the ground. Chacon Chacon, upset after getting demoted to the bullpen over the weekend, told the Houston Chronicle this problem began when Wade saw him in the dining room before the game against Texas. Wade wanted to meet with Chacon in manager Cecil Cooper's office, the pitcher said. "I sat down to eat and Ed Wade came to me and very sternly said, 'You need to come with me to the office,'" Chacon said. "I said 'for what?' I said 'I don't want to go to the office with you and Cooper.' And I said, 'You can tell me whatever you got to tell me right here.' He's like, 'Oh, you want me to tell you right here?' And I said, 'yeah.' I'm not yelling. I'm calm." Chacon said things went downhill from there. "He started yelling and cussing," Chacon said of Wade, according to a story on the Chronicle's Web site. "I'm sitting there and I said to him very calmly, 'Ed, you need to stop yelling at me.' Then I stood up and said, 'You better stop yelling at me.' I stood up. He continued and was basically yelling." Chacon said that after Wade told him he needed to "look in the mirror," it got worse. "So at that point I lost my cool and I grabbed him by the neck and threw him to the ground. I jumped on top of him," he said. "Words were exchanged." Chacon said players quickly came and separated the two. He recalled outfielder Reggie Abercrombie pulling him away from Wade. Wade announced the move, but would not provide any other details. Chacon has been upset since being bumped from the rotation and moved into the bullpen on Sunday. Chacon is 2-3 with a 5.04 ERA in 15 starts for Houston this year. The right-hander set a major league record with nine straight no-decisions to start the season. "He is suspended pending final resolution of whatever move we end up making with him," Wade said. When asked if Chacon was disciplined because he physically accosted Wade, the GM said: "I'm not getting into any details of anything beyond what I just said. It is an internal matter." Wade did confirm that Chacon's agent called and requested a trade earlier this week but said "that has nothing to do with the events of today." Chacon is now concerned that he might not pitch in the majors again. "Maybe it shouldn't have happened," Chacon said. "But when you do those things and you're yelling at somebody and you're cussing you better know what type of person you're dealing with. If there's any regret, I just wish they had just let me alone. I wish they had left me alone," he told the Chronicle. Chacon signed a $2 million, one-year contract with Houston in February after spending 2007 with Pittsburgh. He split time as a starter and a reliever there and was 5-4 with a 3.94 ERA and one save in 64 appearances with the Pirates.

June 25th MLB Rankings

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1 Cubs 1 - 1/13 The Cubs bounced back from being swept in Tampa to take their weekend series against the South Siders. There was talk last week of Alfonso Soriano returning earlier than expected from his broken hand. The Cubs have to hope Soriano isn't rushing back just to be a part of the All-Star festivities in New York. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 2 Angels 3 (+1) 2/12 If Ervin Santana keeps this up, he'll pitch his way into the AL Cy Young argument. Santana completely baffled the Phillies last Friday in a park where not many visiting pitchers can say that. The Halos' schedule lightens up a bit this week with sets against two sub-.500 clubs in the Nats and Dodgers. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 3 Red Sox 2 (-1) 1/3 Anything Curt Schilling gave the Sox this season would've just been gravy. So officially losing him for the season doesn't really change things. Taking a series in Philly without a healthy lineup was pretty impressive, but it didn't carry over into the weekend against the Cardinals. Dice-K's back, but he'd better improve off of Saturday's showing. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 4 Rays 4 - 2/24 The Rays are getting downright scary at home. Only Boston and the Cubs have a better home winning percentage. You can bet the Marlins will be looking for a little revenge this week after the Rays swept them at the Trop last weekend. Who knew a Marlins-Rays series could be so interesting? Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 5 Cardinals 5 - 4/20 What a fickle game baseball is. The Cards took their weekend series against the Red Sox, looking very much like a playoff-caliber in the process. But they spent the early part of the week being swept by Kansas City. Albert Pujols is scheduled to return this week in time for a revenge set against the Royals. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 6 Phillies 6 - 5/16 The Phils haven't won a series since taking a set against the Braves in early June. Granted, the competition has been stiff as the Phils have played arguably the toughest June schedule of anybody in the league. It only gets tougher this week with road tests at Oakland and Texas. With no clear No. 2 starter, it's obvious what the Phils need to do at the trade deadline. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 7 Brewers 11 (+4) 6/23 Ryan Braun has driven in a run in all but six games this month. But he hasn't been the catalyst to the Brewers getting over .500. That's been Russell Branyan, who has 10 homers this season. Starting Branyan over Bill Hall may have saved Ned Yost's job. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 8 White Sox 7 (-1) 7/19 The weekend set at Wrigley didn't go according to plan, but it's no fault of Jermaine Dye, who hit five homers last week. Pitching would be a better place to put the blame. Jose Contreras is giving every indication his hot start was an aberration. Perhaps the ChiSox will fare better at home this weekend vs. the Cubs. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 9 Athletics 8 (-1) 7/25 Friday's win over the Marlins was a perfect microcosm of the A's season. Just when you think they're done, they come back ... and it's usually from an unexpected source. It gets tougher this week with the Phillies hitting town before another weekend set against their Bay Area rivals. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 10 Marlins 9 (-1) 6/29 Dan Uggla is getting ridiculous. Raise your hand if you thought he'd cool off three weeks ago? Well, he hasn't. Uggla has quite honestly played his way past Chase Utley, but that doesn't mean he'll start ahead of him at the All-Star game. The Marlins get their chance at revenge this week when the Rays come to Dolphin Stadium. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 11 Yankees 12 (+1) 3/23 Nobody thought the Yanks' winning streak would last forever, but dropping a series at home to the Reds? The Yanks are still within striking distance in the East and the hitting is good enough to make it an interesting summer in the Bronx . But unlike the Red Sox, who seem to just absorb injuries and move on, we don't see the Yanks simply overcoming the loss of Chien-Ming Wang. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 12 Twins 16 (+4) 12/26 The Twins caught the Nats on a rare winning streak and quickly put that fire out with a sweep. They then took a series against Arizona, which isn't hard to do these days. This interleague stuff has worked out pretty well thus far and a set at punchless San Diego this week should continue the trend. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 13 Diamondbacks 10 (-3) 2/13 Eric Byrnes is nearing a return and that has some people grumbling that Justin Upton may be sent down when it happens. Upton's struggles over the last two months have hurt the D-backs. He was hitting .327 entering May and is now in the mid-.240s. But the D-backs have to take the good with the bad while starting such a young roster. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 14 Orioles 13 (-1) 12/30 The O's swept the Astros with two one-run wins and a two-run win. Closer George Sherrill, who has bee

Ftf Blog : MLB Power Rankings

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Which Team has the nicest Uniforms?

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MLB Power Rankings

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Clemens avoids steroid questions, will throw to minor leaguers

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Roger Clemens arrived at the Houston Astros' minor league clubhouse on Tuesday and walked straight to a fenced-in bullpen to greet his oldest son, Koby, a catcher in the Astros' system.

Knee surgery to shelve Phillies closer Lidge 3-6 weeks

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Phillies closer Brad Lidge is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Monday and could miss the regular-season opener.

Cleveland Cavaliers player a Yankee Fan , " Oh my god " , what next !

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Nike is putting out a new basketball shoe endorsed by Lebron James to promote his favorite baseball team , the " New York Yankees " ! What a crime , lol . What next , Lebron endorsing " Hebrew Franks " !

Tejada Traded to Houston for 5 Players

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Fan Blog: Yankees Downfall

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What is happening to the Yankees organization ?

Which state in the United States has the best all round sporting teams?

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If you could live anywhere in the United States what state would you like to live in and why? Explain why the state teams are better that any other state...

Where does Roger Clemens rank all time amongst big league pitchers?

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Clemens delivered again yesterday pitching a no-hitter into the 6th inning. So where does he fit amongst the all time greatest pitchers to ever take the mound?

HALL OF FAME?????

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Coming Down Like A House Of Cards?

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Don't look now Met fans but here come the 'Stros. You better keep an eye on this race as the Houston Astros have cut the Cardinal's lead to a game and a half after being 8 1/2 back last WEDNESDAY! That is not a typo. Houston has won seven in a row as the Card's have gone in the tank and lost their last seven games. If i were a Met fan i'd be breaking out my Roger Clemens voodoo dolls and hoping that somehow St Louis can hold on or if they do continue to lose Cinncy can somehow slide in there because the last team you want to face would be team as hot as the Astros with that kind of pitching. Prediction.....if the 'Stros make the dance they're going to the show!