Sandwich Showdown XXV

This week, the showdown features a Turkey and Ham on Garlic and the sandwich of the month, Italian BMT on Herbs and Cheese. The T&H started off with a decent start, incorporating high quality marks throughout. However, deeper in the sandwich, a new ingredient was used, in the form of mayonnaise. This did not create too much conflict, as it meshed pretty well with the BBQ sauce traditionally found. The July Special fought as hard as it could, bringing in all the great parts and flavors of Italy in the sandwich. The bread here would put it well over the top, showing why it is the sandwich of the month. This will run again next week.

Song of the Week XXVI

This week we have a classic rock 'n' roll track from Aerosmith. The song is a first-person rendition of what any man has likely experienced with women. It details the high school version of hooking up. This song, entitled Walk This Way, is centered around meeting and getting to know a love interest. It is a staple of the rock 'n' roll era in music, featuring the normal guitar and drum rhythms for the harder rock of the time. It is a very good song as well, something that people can relate to. This feature will run next week.

Fantasy Baseball All-Stars week 13

Just as a note, the real All-Star game is coming up soon in the major leagues, and during that week we will have a recap of the game itself and possibly the Home Run Derby. That week's fantasy all-stars post will be the same as others, but obviously on a smaller scale with only one weekend of games instead of the full week. Here's the studs:

Catcher: Brian McCann, 3 runs. 10 hits, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, .476 average, .500 on base
First Base: Lance Berkman, 7 runs, 5 hits, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, .294 average, .480 on base
Second Base: Ian Kinsler, 5 runs, 7 hits, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 3 SB, .318 average, .444 on base
Third Base: Aramis Ramirez, 9 runs, 11 hits, 6 HR, 10 RBI, 0 SB, .393 average, .419 on base
Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez, 7 runs, 7 hits, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB, .318 average, .400 on base
Outfield: Carlos Gonzalez, 9 runs, 13 hits, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 2 SB, .464 average, .531 on base
Utility: Jose Bautista, 6 runs, 9 hits, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB, .391 average, .500 on base
Starter: Gio Gonzalez, 15 IP, 2 wins, 16 K, 0.60 ERA, 0.80 WHIP
Reliever: Craig Kimbrel, 4 IP, 4 saves, 9 K, 0.00 ERA, 0.50 WHIP

Sandwich Showdown XXIV

The 24th installment of the Sandwich Showdown features a Roast Beef on Wheat and an Italian BMT on Herbs and Cheese. Leading off, the Roast Beef came in with a little less than strong meat flavor. This is uncharacteristic of the sandwich. It got a boost from the tasty bread, but seemed just slightly weaker than normal. The Italian BMT came out much stronger with all of its tri-meat flavor present. The bread was also exceptional, outweighing even the opponent's bread. By a landslide, the BMT would take the win this week. It will also have many more chances to defeat opponents as the featured $5 footlong of the month. This feature will run again next week.

Song of the Week XXV

This week, we have a song that was bound to be featured eventually, coming from Snow Patrol. The band's final track from A Hundred Million Suns is the song this week. Those familiar with this track know how truly amazing it is. Entitled The Lightning Strike: What If This Storm Ends?/The Sunlight Through the Flags/Daybreak, it runs at a total time of 16:18, or 5:10 for the first, 4:17 for the second, and 6:51 for the third part. Due in part to its sheer size, the song is a masterpiece. Sometimes it is viewed as excessive for the purposes it serves, but it all comes together for a continuous length of time. This song is one of my all-time favorites from Snow Patrol, and I'd like to give them their due credit for a great song. This feature will be back next week.

Fantasy Baseball All-Stars week 12

Catcher: Brian McCann, 4 runs, 5 hits, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, .357 average, .471 on base
First Base: Adrian Gonzalez, 4 runs, 13 hits, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, .500 average, .552 on base
Second Base: Brandon Phillips, 6 runs, 12 hits, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 0 SB, .444 average, .483 on base
Third Base: Evan Longoria, 8 runs, 10 hits, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 0 SB, .370 average, .393 on base
Shortstop: Yuniesky Betancourt, 3 runs, 10 hits, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 SB, .417 average, .417 on base
Outfield: B.J. Upton, 5 runs, 8 hits, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 2 SB, .320 average, .393 on base
Utility1: Ty Wigginton, 5 runs, 8 hits, 5 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB, .333 average, .333 on base
Utility2: Michael Young, 5 runs, 13 hits, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 0 SB, .481 average, .481 on base
Starter: Clayton Kershaw, 18 IP, 2 wins, 22 K, 1.00 ERA, 0.50 WHIP
Reliever: Mariano Rivera, 3 IP, 3 saves, 6 K, 0 holds, 0.00 ERA, 0.33 WHIP

Baseball 6/23

Today there are a mere five games of interleague play being played. We start in...

Washington, D.C. with the Nationals hosting the Seattle Mariners. Michael Pineda and Jason Marquis made the starts. The game was scoreless until a ninth inning sacrifice fly by Laynce Nix to give Washington the 1-0 win as Danny Espinosa crossed home. Chris Ray suffered the loss, while Tyler Clippard grabbed the win. Justin Smoak and Michael Morse were top batters as the Nationals took the series 3-0 in the sweep.

Onward to New York with the Mets hosting the Oakland Athletics. Graham Godfrey and Chris Capuano were on the mound. New York opened with a second inning double play grounder by Capuano to score Jason Bay, followed by Jose Reyes singling in Lucas Duda. Daniel Murphy extended the Mets lead in the fifth with a single to knock Reyes home. New York did some more in the sixth with Reyes singling home Josh Thole. Oakland got on the board with Coco Crisp's sacrifice fly to bring around Jemile Weeks. The final would be 4-1, with Capuano getting the win, Godfrey taking the loss, and Francisco Rodriguez converting the save. Scott Sizemore and Murphy were the top hitters. The Mets took the series 2-1.

Into San Francisco, with the Giants welcoming the Minnesota Twins. Brian Duensing opposes Tim Lincecum from the hill. San Francisco opened the scoring in the second on a Miguel Tejada groundout to squeeze in Pablo Sandoval. The Giants added on with a Cody Ross single to drive in Aubrey Huff. Minnesota made it 2-1 on a Michael Cuddyer double scoring Alexi Casilla, although a lack of further offense still resulted in a loss. Lincecum picked up the win, Duensing took the loss, and Brian Wilson had the save. Cuddyer and Tejada were top batters. The Giants win the series 2-1.

Moving to Kansas City with the Royals hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks. Daniel Hudson and Felipe Paulino make the starts. Arizona opened the first with Chris Young singling both Ryan Roberts and Justin Upton home. The Diamondbacks added a solo shot by Miguel Montero in the second. Kansas City got on the board in the bottom of this inning with Alex Gordon dashing home as Montero erred, and Alcides Escobar singling Mike Moustakas around the paths. Arizona replied with a third inning Stephen Drew double, allowing Roberts to score again. Juan Miranda supplemented this in the fourth for the Diamondbacks, with his own solo home run. The Royals made it 5-3 in the bottom of the inning as Matt Treanor knocked Jeff Francoeur in with a single. This would be the final, with Hudson winning, Paulino losing, and J.J. Putz picking up the save. Drew and Escobar took best hitting status. Arizona's win allowed them a three game sweep.

Wrapping up with the National League game, where the St. Louis Cardinals hosted the Philadelphia Phillies. Roy Oswalt and Chris Carpenter made the starts. St. Louis started quickly with a Jon Jay home run, a solo shot in the first. The Cardinals added on in the second with Tony Cruz singling in Colby Rasmus before Ryan Theriot knocked in both Skip Schumaker and Cruz with his own single. In the third, St. Louis got another run with Schumaker grounding into a fielder's choice, providing passage home for Matt Holliday. Philadelphia found the scoreboard in the sixth as Ryan Howard singled Shane Victorino home. The Cardinals had an answer for this as Cruz singled to score Rasmus again. St. Louis kicked it into high gear in the eighth as Jay walked to force Yadier Molina home, Holliday singled so knock in both Daniel Descalso and Theriot, and Lance Berkman launched a three run blast to get Jay and Holliday back around. The Phillies cut it down to 12-2 as Carlos Ruiz hit a solo home run. Oswalt lost and Carpented got the win. Ruiz and Berkman were the top batters. Philadelphia put the brooms away, only taking the series 2-1.