Marz’s thoughts:  You have to congratulate Craig Biggio on a tremendous career. He is going out the way a Hall of Famer should go out when he is on top. If I can have my career all over again, I would want to emulate his career both on and off the field. I also find it amazing how he has a flare for the dramatic. Just hours after he announces his retirement, B-G-O goes out and hits a Grand Slam to win it for the Astros!
P.S. – I wanted Craig Biggio’s career and got Bob Ueckers.

Cuch’s thoughts:  What does all of this cream, clear and steroid talk do? Well – evidence is just building up way too much and everyone can’t be in on some conspiracy at once, can they? I am not trying to be naive in the whole situation but the only fair way to handle it is to enjoy what Barry Bonds is accomplishing from a baseball standpoint and appreciate what talent it takes to achieve. I think Bud Selig is doing the right thing by going and saying the right things too…if and when new information comes out!
P.S. – What do you make of the new rumor circulating because of the comments on THIS BLOG that have people now linking Alyssa Milano to Dodger catcher Russell Martin?

Marz’s thoughts:  Minnesota has been a 2nd half team every year and Johan Santana has been the reason. As he goes, so do the Twins. He gave up 4 homeruns for the first time in his career yesterday. I don’t know for sure but the pitcher with the nasty stuff that Johan has that maybe – just maybe he is tipping his pitches!
P.S. – I felt bad for EJ missing us while we made fun of him until he came back with a cone in each hand!

Cuch’s thoughts:  Did Aaron Harang really go 10 innings? That is unheard of nowadays. What was more impressive is that he was able to mentally be prepared. Harang returned that day from his grandfathers funeral and pitched beautifully. His team would get the win in extra innings and I am sure that there was no better way to commemorate his grandfather than to go out and pitch the way he did.
P.S. – So we learned that they are authenticating the 499th homer (A-Rod) and 754th homer (Bonds) but why!?? Is it to practice the procedure for when the homers that actually break records happens?!

Marz’s thoughts:  Good Luck to John Lester on his comeback tonight. There are far more important things in life than baseball. He is an inspiration to all people who are suffering from this dreaded disease.
P.S. – I do not condone violence but if there is one person that i would like to get into the ring with…it is Scott Olsen!

Cuch’s thoughts:  I can sympathize with Johnny’s trip to the Ice Cream parlor. It is very difficult to make a decision. There are so many choices. Just look at this list from ONE chain…
http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/icecream/original_creations.html
P.S. – Willie Harris joins the ranks of 6 hits in one game and 2 of them are triples?!?! Wow

Marz’s thoughts:  The question is inevitably going to come up…whether or not the homerun record is tainted. If you read the book "Game of Shadows", you will have an understanding of what was going on in Barry Bonds’ life during this homerun chase. It is my opinion that this record was broken using some form of performance enhancing drugs, so i believe there should be an asterisk next to his name when in does break this record.
P.S. – I am going to go home and study my new words that I learned from Dave Check serendipitously….did i spell that right? who cares!

Cuch’s thoughts:    I watched the MLS All-Star game and although it is not impacting Johnny Marz, i am definitely more tuned in. Am i a devout soccer fan? No, but am I someone who keeps up with major events like this, yes. Money aside, David Beckham seems to have good intentions here and I will be paying attention to see what comes of his arrival in the US. (www.mlsnet.com)
P.S. – Does Tom Glavine sound intimidating Mets fans come playoff time? Add last nights performance to the list and seems as though there are holes in his water bucket.

Marz’s thoughts:  It was great to see a former teammate like Carlos Pena have a break out year. He is one of the nicest guys I have even met in baseball. Vinny and I constantly talk about how that transcends average, homeruns and RBIs. I am hoping that Tampa Bay understands what a great talent they have and he gets a long term contract. I think that organization is headed in the right direction and he will be an intergral part of it.
P.S. – I am going to tear some wallpaper off my wall so Vinny can wear it tomorrow on the show.

Cuch’s thoughts:  First off, what is with the ragging on my shirt? Secondly, it was all apart of my little scam! I knew Johnny Marz couldn’t resist making fun of it. Finally, We have figured on the show that 13 of 30 teams are actual sellers in the trade market. That number might still even be high considering we have the White Sox and Marlins in that group. Each are teams that can make the argument that they are talented enough or close enough to compete. With all that said, i believe we have one QUIET trade deadline.
P.S. – Coming up tomorrow – a Casey and Logan watch update. They are in Long Beach this weekend. (www.avp.com)

Marz’s thoughts:  All the guests we had today…Joe Gannascoli, Brian McRae and Jim Leyritz were all fantastic. They had incredible insights on the game of baseball and sports in general. Today was one of my favorite shows because we also got to talk about the Sopranos, driving in the rain and other issues like Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons.
P.S. – I can’t wait to get that pool stick from Vito, but i will use it to play pool!

Cuch’s thoughts:  The Chicago White Sox continue to fall yet GM Kenny Williams says he has no plans to scrap the team. Who is to blame? Is it the underachieving players like Jermaine Dye… is it the Manager Ozzie Guillen… or is it the GM himself? Perhaps everyone is to blame at some level but ultimately the White Sox are a huge flop. I will put my blame to start on Williams for some of the trades made in the pitching department.
P.S. – Seth is right, John and I make a point NOT to listen to him during his MLB.tv game of the day. We prefer to focus our attention to when either Keith Irizarry or Glenn Giangrande take over. They make more sense!

Marz’s thoughts:  The Phillies and Mets have to go out west. It is a prime example of good pitching beating good hitting. Philly and New York each have good offensive clubs but they were each shut down by teams in LA and San Diego that have upper tier pitching. It is because of this that I think that the Wild Card will come out of the West. Between the Dodgers and Padres…one will win the division and the other will take the wild card.
P.S. – Billy "The Fly" Sample would make the perfect wrestler with those sunglasses he had on today. He looked just like a fly with the bug eyes and his finishing move would be the Swatter!

Cuch’s thoughts:  So Scott Olsen gets suspended by the Marlins for two games without pay and we are more confused. What is Olsen’s deal? He has already been reprimanded for giving an obscenity to the crowd in Milwaukee. Clearly, Fredi Gonzalez is trying to cut off something at the pass and hopefully he figures it out. The Marlins have one of the most talented young staffs, however – Willis and Olsen have underperformed…Johnson was hurt and Sanchez settled down too. If they get back on track, they will compete!
P.S. – To answer the big question left unanswered today…it was the green death flavor

Marz’s thoughts:  It is Friday the 13th and it seems like a perfect day for the Phillies to get their 10,000th loss! Once they lose, the team will turn the corner. This may not be a national headline but in Philly where the fans where their passion on their sleeves, it is. The positive is they have been around long enough to lose it but the negative is that they will be the organization with the most losses!
P.S. – I should have made fun of EJ the Engineer a lot more. That weasel escaped for way too long. I plan on being worse next week.

Cuch’s thoughts:  The type of ownership I want for my team is the George Steinbrenner, Arte Moreno, Mark Cuban type. Good news for Cubs fans is that Mavs owner Mark Cuban is putting his name in the mix for ownership of the Chicago Cubs. The owners who come in and want to spend money and care what the total number of wins is for your club at years end is much better to root for.
P.S. – Better luck to Casey and Logan on the AVP Crocs Tour who finished 13th and 9th respectively in New Jersey. The next stop is Long Beach, CA. www.avp.com

OUR THOUGHTS:  Off to San Francisco we go as we prepare for All Star weekend! We can’t wait to go. We will try and visit the Golden Gate Bridge…Alcatraz and Johnny Marz’s favorite place…the hotel so he can go to sleep!

If you are in SF, visit fanfest and come and say hi!

Cuch, Marz, Chris the Producer and the rest of the gang

Marz’s thoughts:  Congratulations to John McLaren who notched his 1st victory! It was an honor to be coached by him in Boston and Seattle. He deserves this job…as this couldn’t go to a better guy and better baseball man.
P.S. – I need to get in shape. My stomach looks like i just ate a volleyball…but i will follow Logan and Casey throughout the year and see if i can play volleyball anytime soon.  (www.avp.com)

Cuch’s thoughts:  The Hot Dog eating contest was out of control. I watched and laughed as the announcers proclaimed the upset the "Biggest moment in American Sports History." I watched as guys STUFFED their mouths and ate over 60 hot dogs in 12 minutes and still look like they didn’t gain an ounce. That was more like one of the funnier, weirder events in American Sports history.
P.S. – www.AVP.com – the Casey Logan tracker begins this season – lets see how they do in Seaside Heights, NJ this weekend!