OLD BASEBALL AXIOM

**THE TEAM IN FIRST PLACE ON THE 4TH OF JULY, WINS THE PENNANT**
Of course, that's not true, but it makes some old-timers happy when you say it (and yes, I mean older than me).  So lets look at July 4th last year first.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
New York Yankees - won the East by 7 games
Cleveland Indians - finished second to Detroit by 15 games
Los Angeles Angels - finished second to Texas by 10 games
Tampa Bay was the wild card
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Philadelphia Phillies - won the East by 13 games
St Louis Cardinals - finished second to Milwaukee by 6 games
San Francisco Giants - finished second to Arizona by 8 games
The Cardinals did get in as the wild card

Only two of the six leaders actually won their division so if it's an axiom, it's a faulty one.

This years standings look like this.
AMERICAN LEAGUE 
New York Yankees - For all their shortcomings, they still have a five game lead and should finish in the money.
Chicago White Sox - Some people think they're playing this good just to make Ozzie Guillen look bad - like that's hard to do.
Texas Rangers - A solid team but they may find it harder to repeat than they think it is.
Biggest surprise - Detroit Tigers. They were supposed to run away with the Central but can't seem to get out of their own way. They'll have to go 55-27 (.670) the second half to match last years record. No way.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Washington Nationals - they might actually make it. Meanwhile,  Philadelphia is in last place, 12 games out.
Pittsburgh Pirates - The Pirates??  Wow! This would be the first time in 19 years they have a winning record.
San Francisco Giants - Ya gotta love Melky Cabrera
Biggest surprise - Everybody but the Giants (At least Janice Hough is happy)

## Kevin Youkilis is hitting .280 for the White Sox and just had a walk-off hit last night. Wil Middlebrooks, the rookie who made Youk's trade possible, may be heading for the DL. Things don't seem to be working out for the Red Sox. Awwww!

## Umpire's interference? Seems to me that occurs whenever they walk on to the field. It's been a long time since I've read the rule book, but I thought the umpires were not supposed to negate a play when they accidentally become part of it. When the Tampa Bay catcher hit the umpire while trying to throw out a runner at third, it was at least half the catcher's fault. Instead, they send A-Rod back to second and it cost the Yanks a run. I wonder if the Umpire will be fined or chastised for this. NAH!

No "THEY SAID IT" feature today. It seems everybody had the Holiday off.

CP-