I would like to begin by giving kudos to the Arizona Diamondbacks Aaron Hill who, last evening in Milwaukee, hit for the cycle for the second time in eleven days and became the first player since Babe Herman to hit for the cycle twice in the same season.  Babe did it in 1931 so, for those who are counting, it has been 81 years since it last happened.  An even rarer feat (it has never happened) of two players on the same team hitting for the cycle may have been denied by a fan who interfered with a ball that Paul Goldschmidt hit down the third base line in the 9^th inning, giving Goldschmidt a ground rule double and getting the fan ejected from the game.  Had Goldschmidt made it to third base on that hit, he also would have also hit for the cycle. 

It appears that three teams will be burning down the house for the rest of the season in the National League West, where San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Arizona are fighting for two playoff positions.  After being 14 games out at the beginning of June, the Diamondbacks have cut it to 4 games after having a tremendous month (16-9 with a game remaining).  The Dodgers have lost 10 of the last 11 games and need their superstar Matt Kemp to come off the disabled list to lead them on the field again.  San Francisco ace Tim Lincecum seems to be getting his dominance back, and although the Diamondbacks’ starting pitcher Daniel Hudson is out for the season, pitching phenom Matt Bauer has appeared on the Diamondbacks’ roster from the minor leagues just in the nick of time.

There has been some recent talk about the upcoming All Star Game and some rookies who belong on the team.  If I had to vote on one rookie for each league, Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels (8 HR, 32 RBI .342 BA) would get my nod in the American League and starting pitcher Wade Miley of the Arizona Diamondbacks (9-3 2.19 ERA) my National League vote.  The reason for these selections is simple, the Angels and the Diamondbacks are fortunate that these two rookies are on their teams.  They are their teams’ heart and soul thus far this season.

With the recent announcements of first Michelle Beadle and now Erin Andrews leaving ESPN, I am having a hard time thinking of any reasons why I want to watch that cable channel anymore.  These two are damn good looking sports reporters, unlike Skip Bayless, Colin Cowherd, Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic, Merrill Hoge, and Steven A. Smith, who all should be on ESPN Radio only (or in some cases not seen or heard). 

There appears to be one big winner in the new four team college football playoff system and it is not the fans.  The winner would be Jerry Jones and his new Cowboys Stadium.  I can almost guarantee that future National Championship games will be played there regularly.  I am glad that the old BCS is gone, but I cannot be happy with any event that has Jerry Jones involved in organizing it.  The recent Super Bowl XLV comes to mind.  It was a total disaster in my estimation.