Goombah -

Have you been hearing any rumors in Cleveland about trades? From what I keep hearing, the Indians are in sell mode. And it makes me excited to hear that the Giants had scouts at the Indians/White Sox series scouting Jermaine Dye and Victor Martinez. Either of those guys makes me excited to think they could be in a Giants uniform.

Have you, or anyone else, heard anything possibly involving the Giants?

I would be shocked if the Indians trade Victor Martinez. Jermaine Dye is a logical move for the Indians. He can probably be acquired for mid-level prospects.

I think the Giants should go after Adam Dunn in Washington. He'd add a big left handed punch in the SF lineup.

You must be pretty excited about the Giants, Blibble. Their pitching is excellent, and they would be a dangerous playoff team, especially with a couple of more hitters. If I could pick one pitcher to start a staff, it would be Lincecum.

I have heard they are moving pieces, but have not heard Victor Martinez. I read that it would be guys with 1-2 year contracts, like DeRosa (who has already been traded), Pavano, Betancourt, and Carroll. Like Klydon, I would be stunned if Victor was traded.

I am excited! And I agree about Lincecum. It's hard to believe he could continue to improve, but he's been doing it. He has thrown 3 complete games in his last 4 starts, and the last two he did it on 108 pitches, and then on 95 pitches. And he is still racking up the K's! It's incredible how efficient and dangerous he has become. I just hope this guy doesn't get injured because I think he's going to continue to have a great career. He has power right now, but he is also smart and has the accuracy to pitch a long time, even after he starts losing velocity.

And as far as the trade rumors with the Indians and White Sox, Giants GM Brian Sabean said neither of those were possibilities, and I believe him because he never even gives hints as to what the Giants are thinking normally.

Gina -

Here we go! Astros vs. Giants! You know I love you but this is the only time I hope you are miserable for three days .

I hope I didn't just jinx the Giants...

i hope the giants kick the astros ass...hey blib do you know if the giants are meeting against the cardnals or brewers this month?

They just finished a road trip against them both. They went 1-2 against the Brewers and 2-2 against the Cards.

Ouch...harsh! Or a diehard fan, I guess! I can't criticize you for that.

But...yeah, be careful there, you came really close to jinxing your guys tonight.

Like I said in PM, I feel bad now . I didn't want it to be a blow out... 13-0... ouch. I was hoping for a close game.

Does everybody think the fans did a good job selecting the All-Star teams? I thought it was pretty darn good. Josh Hamilton probably shouldn't have been elected, but whaty can you do?

i have something to complain about derek lee not get a back up spot pissed me off...i was mad that sorino didnt get in, but he is kinda banged up so yea he needs the rest.

Everybody vote for Pablo Sandoval for the final spot!!

who the hell is he blib?

He's "The Kung Fu Panda"! He's been the Giants most valuable hitter and in only his first full season. He's like Vladmir Guererro in Benge Molina's body. He hits anything, including balls that bounce in front of the plate. He's got such a great personality as well, like he's a kid playing ball in the neighborhood empty lot.

It might take a year or two before fans around baseball find out how special he is, but he's a fan favorite in San Francisco. He's the kind of guy who could come into the All-Star game late for one at bat and drive in the winning run. People will know him then. That's my prediction if he makes the team.

Unfortunately for Lee, the NL is stacked with power hitting firstbasemen. Manuel took three reserve firstbasemen (Fielder, Howard and Gonzalez), and I'm willing to bet that Pujols plays the whole game. The others will likely be there to pinch hit.

Also, one of the perks of being the all-star mgr. is to get your own on the roster. Manuel's selection of Howard keeps the big fella happy in the second half of the season. Plus, Howard is from St. Louis, and it will be nice for him to play in the game in his home town.

I love Sandoval, and he is very deserving, but to Hell with him.

I'm passing up the Kung Fu Panda for the Flyin' Hawaiian, Shayne Victorino.

Sandoval hit a grand slam tonight.

Well, I need to make sure I vote more times than you do Klyd, to cancel out all your votes .

does it matter? the nl will lose again for what the 13th straight year.

Victorino had four hits, five runs, a homer and 4 rbis to eek out a 22-1 win against the Reds and Johnny Cueto.

Sandoval is leading right now. I better get busy to match your votes, blib.

Who is your AL choice? I'm going with Lind.

I've been voting for Kinsler, but I think Lind is deserving too.

Well done...but is that Pedro for Martinez or Feliz?

why the hell isnt derek lee not in it?

Read what Kly said above Bam.

okay didnt see that, but yea since tbs just put infield done by there name i couldnt tell who was playing at where position. well idk doesnt matter as much anyway...world series is the main game here.

and do you know what's better? both of them are on my Yahoo! Fanrtasy team. them and Chase Utley and Jayson Werth. and just for the record, oh my god, my team is on fire!

PS: of course that will work as another massive jinx. poor guys Javier Vazquez, Josh Beckett and Justin Verlander, who are starting tomorrow and don't even know what hunts them.

hey tony can you jinx geoffs team as well...i need as much help as i can get lol

The pressure remains on the NL. I remember the 70s and early 80s when the slow-footed AL couldn't buy a win. The AL streak, interrupted only by an unfortunate tie, has been equally impressive. But I'm picking the NL for a couple of reasons.

First, the fading away of PEDs has brought a little stability and equilibrium to the game. While both leagues bear the stigma of steroids, the AL with the DH has emphasized the long ball and high paid homerun sluggers a bit more than the NL, resulting in a power advantage. The AL always came to this game in the past 15 years with a decided power edge. Not so this year.

More importantly, the NL roster seems to have deeper and better left handed hitting. Both teams have only two lefty pitchers each: the NL with Santana and Lily and the AL with Buehrle and Fuentes. I like the NL lefties over the AL counterparts. I think if the game is tied or close late, it will be decided by a left handed hitter facing a right handed pitcher. Of course, someone like Rivera is about as effective against lefties as righties. But I'm going to be very interested in how both managers work to create good matchups throughout the game while trying to keep a lefty available late. Anyway, I think the game will be determined late by a left handed hitter. I'll take a stab and guess Prince Fielder.

I think the fans did a pretty decent job, save for Hamilton.

Soriano as an all-star, BAM? Really?

DB i think it is the better soriano is out of the all star game this year since his knee is banged up, and he needs that to heal up. if i heard right he was behind beltran when he was voted in, but he is injured right now.