MLB Season

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Major League Baseball this year has started out being anything but business as usual. Even so, ironically, they're capitalizing significantly from a business perspective, making millions from ticket sales purchased by excited fans ready for this season. The overspending that has characterized the Yankee franchises over the past century has failed them this season, as they are only 3rd in their division and 6th in the American League. A disappointing start to professional baseball's most stacked franchise is mirrored by two amazing starts from the Florida Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays, which are both experiencing the best starts in their franchise histories. The Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres blasted away the old record for the longest game in Reds history on May 25, playing for almost six hours and eighteen innings.

The New York Mets, who were predicted by many to be the best team this year, are also in a slump even with the acquisition of former American League Manager of the Year, Jerry Manuel, behind the reins as interim-manager of the Mets. They are tied for eighth place in the National League with the Atlanta Braves and in fourth place in their division. Several other huge managerial changes have been made in the pre-season including the Yankees hiring of Manager Joe Girardi, who was fired by his former team, the Florida Marlins, after a disappointing season, despite Girardi winning the Manager of the Year Award in the same season. To do this, the Yankees dropped successful manager Joe Torre, who had been with the team for the past twelve seasons. Joe Torre took the the job as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, replacing Grady Little.

In the American League, young slugger for the Texas Rangers, Josh Hamilton, leads the way in batting with 19 home runs this season in addition to 74 runs batted in and 93 total hits. Hamilton is entering only his second season in Major League Baseball, playing for the Cincinnati Reds last season, so he hasn't been able to prove himself until this season, as he shocks the world with his amazing ability at the plate. His National League rival therefore would have to be second baseman Chase Utley of the Philladelphia Phillies with 22 home runs this season. Atlanta Braves' superstar Chipper Jones currently holds the highest batting average in professional baseball this season with an incredible .400 averge. Jones also recently hit his 400th career home run, being now behind only Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray on the list for most home runs in a career by a switch hitter. In addition, Cincinnati Reds' slugger Ken Griffey, Jr. became one of only six people to hit 600 career home runs, batting in his 600th on June 9 of this year.

Randy Johnson and Jamie Moyer lead Major League Baseball in record-setting this season. Jamie Moyer is one of six players to defeat all 30 teams in the MLB, and Johnson threw his 4673rd strikeout, which moves him to second place, behind only Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. Currently, Cliff Lee of the Cleveland Indians leads pitchers in the American League with 10 wins and an amazing earned run average of 2.55. This is after his poor performance last year, which resulted in his demotion to Class AAA Buffalo, a minor league team. In the National League, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Webb leads the league with 11 wins, although Cincinnati Reds' pitcher Edinson "Voltron" Volquez leads with a solid 1.64 earned run average and an incredible 105 strike outs

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