Its playoff push time for the contenders and in the NL, some losers as well. Dealings are (mostly) done and injuries are starting to have a real affect. And for some reason the worst teams in baseball were very interesting this past week. ? What I learned this week: - Chase Utley?s 34 game hitting streak featured an incredible 23 multi-hit games. Joe DiMaggio?s 56 gamer? Only 19. - Theo Epstein passed on Kip Wells and Mark Redman, fearing the former had a shoulder injury and the latter couldn?t get out tough AL East batters. In related news the Rangers scratched Wells from his scheduled start and the Mark Redman-led Royals beat the Red Sox. - Don?t look now but Manny has a 24-game hitting streak, tops in the AL this year. He?s hitting a nasty .396 during it. - If the money the Blue Jays spent on Lyle Overbay and AJ Burnett keeps them from re-signing Vernon Wells to an extension JP Ricciardi should be dangled from the CN Tower. - Ryan Howard is hitting the same homers Big Papi is hitting, but he hits them in the 4th inning of losses. Sorry, not exactly the same thing. ? The Good, the Bad and the Ugh. - Good: Yankees. Now 3 games up in the AL East and Bobby Abreu actually hit a homerun. - Bad: Red Sox. 2-6 since the deadline. Did Theo know about the deadline? In the last month they have given up 6 games in the standings and 7 in the loss column to the hated Yankees. - Ugh: MLB. First, they screw up the Hometown Heroes crap that they?re shoving down our throats by forgetting to list Christy Mathewson, Eddie Mathews or even Jimmie Foxx. Then they come down on the Brewers for adding the Chorizo to the sausage race, stating some inane rule that doesn?t allow teams to add mascots during the season. Bud, who the hell gives a crap? Why don?t you try keeping players from smuggling steroids over the border, you trout-faced liar? ? I?ve gotten a few emails wondering why I never talk about any of the teams West of the Mississippi or East of Las Vegas. First of all, its untrue, I mention how the Rockies are frauds, how the Brewers fans are pathetic and reference my overall malaise for the Rangers and their inability to win anything. That said, we?ll introduce you to the Obscure Mid-West bit of the week, so feel free to stop e-mailing me. And now, the Obscure Mid-West bit of the week: Albert Pujols is good. Thank you, Branford, Missouri. ? Actually, I was watching a Red Sox v. Royals game this week and two things occurred to me: 1) why id it that the telecast looks worse than the Little League World Series from Williamsport? The picture is grainy, the lighting is terrible and you can almost smell the manure wafting in from over the outfield fence, and 2) who in the hell lives in KC? Apparently no one. The entire stadium was full of Red Sox fans. Isn?t this the same fan-base that packs Arrowhead for Chiefs games? That?s either an indictment for awful Royals ownership or a huge commendation for the revenue-sharing of the NFL. I?m voting for a little of both. If you?re one of the near dozens of Royals fan, get back to me on this. ? It?s not over until August 31st? We told you Javy was going to the Red Sox. We told you Livan would still be dealt. There are still players to be had on waivers, if you don?t mind overpaying. Still candidates to be moved? Here they are? - Jon Lieber, SP, Phillies. Yes, he stinks. Yes, he costs too much and yes, he sulks around the clubhouse. He?s still better than Jason Johnson and at one time got out a lot of AL hitters. Destination: Nowhere - Ramon Ortiz, SP, Nationals. Baby Pedro is probably older than we all think, but he?s got another winning streak going and arms are at a premium. He?d get shelled in the AL, but hell, who doesn?t? Destination: Minnesota - Tony Armas, SP, Nationals. A good pitcher at a good price, but if the Nats are serious about re-signing Soriano, they?d better keep anyone under 250 lbs and 30 years of age. Destination: Nowhere - Jacque Jones, OF, Cubs. Its high-time for a change in Wrigleyville and Jones was really just a bat for this year?s playoff push. Ha-ha. He could help a few teams right now, including the Angels or the Cards. Destination: St. Louis - Aaron Boone, 3B, Cleveland. Andy Marte is up from Buffalo now and Boone makes way too much cash for someone with no range and less power. Destination: San Diego - Damaso Marte, RP, Pirates. This guy proved while with the White Sox that he could get outs in the American League. So far, half of the Red Sox bullpen has proven otherwise. They passed on Mark Redman (why?) and instead wanted to focus on middle-inning guys. Well, do it. Destination: Boston ? So, let me get this straight. Mets catcher Paul LoDuca is married to a Playboy model who wants a divorce, albeit an amicable one. She claims he spends too much of his time and too much of their money at the horse track. And on 19 year-old girls in clubs. Who could?ve figured a marriage between a nude model and a catcher from Brooklyn wouldn?t work out? Quote of the Week? When Carlos Zambrano recently asked Dusty Baker to play left field on days he isn't pitching, the Cubs' skipper responded: "He could play first base; he could play a lot of places," Baker said. "I've never seen a guy who could switch-hit and throw with both hands. Watch him play catch, and you can't tell if he's right-handed or left-handed. He could be a tight end. He could be an outside linebacker. We know he can play soccer. He probably can play basketball. ? He could win a Gold Glove, a Silver Bat. ? He's an athlete, not just a pitcher." He throws with both hands? Does that mean he can pitch twice in the rotation? Dusty, you have to stop sniffing glue between innings, it?s affecting your work. You can?t even get your regular fielders to hit the ball. While you?re at it, why not just put Prior at SS and Kerry Wood behind the plate? At least the Cubs could get their money?s worth. ? While we?re on the Cubs, why in the hell do people still go to watch them play? You know they?re going to lose, sometimes by a whole lot. Why not just go to a bar, drink cheaper beer and leave when it?s over(usually about the 6th)? I still can?t understand the people of Chicago and their blind acceptance of mediocrity. Hell, mediocrity would be a step up for the Cubs. Forget lovable, they?re just losers. ? Mike Piazza returned to She Stadium for the first time since joining the Padres and proceeded to hit two dingers off of Pedro Martinez, both solo shots, and get a curtain call, a first for a visiting player at Shea. Piazza missed a third HR by a few feet against Aaron after Aaron Heilman was called in to replace Pedro. The curtain-call and ovations given to Piazza juxtaposed Mets fans booing Chase Utley when he was attempting to extend his hit streak last week at Shea. Oh, the complexity that is the NY Metropolitan fan. ? Buy/Sell/Hold: OK, so we?ve taken a bit of a hit lately. Do your own research then. - Buy Last week: Ryan Shealy, 1B, KC. 6-22, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .429 OB%. This is why everyone from Boston to LA wanted this guy, he gets on base. This week: The Twins winning the Wild Card. Of the 3 teams in the hunt they have the best hitter (Mauer), the best pitcher (Santana) and, in light of back-to-back blown saves for Papelbon, the most reliable closer (Joe Nathan). Apologies to Papi and Schilling, but its true. - Sell Last week: Austin Kearns, OF, Nationals. This week: Rookie SP?s not named Jered Weaver. Verlander, Papelbon and Liriano are hitting the proverbial wall, sell while the price is still high. Weaver hasn?t pitched the entire year so give him a while longer. - Hold Last week: Roy Oswalt, SP, Astros. Good thing you didn?t trade him yet. A nice win in a blowout of the Pirates and even he hit a HR himself. Now that?s what I call helping your own cause. This week: Chad Billingsley, SP, Dodgers and Wilson Betemit, IF, Dodgers. LA has gotten better recently, ripped off an 11-game streak and Billingsley has had 2 consecutive good weeks. Betemit filled in nicely at 3B but now that Kent and Nomar are back, he has no position, yet. Wait and see what Grady does with him. - Dump Last week: Cincinnati Reds bullpen: Majewski is now on the DL b/c Jim Bowden screwed Krivsky over and they just picked up Ryan Franklin from the Phillies. I know he got the win, but he plain sucks. This week: Derrick Turnbow, RP, Brew Crew. If you?re the last guy to realize its over for the unofficial ugliest man in MLB, realize it now. Francisco Cordero is 4/4 in save opportunities and he throws just as hard as Turnbow. Next week we?ll break down the NL and AL Wild Card races, comparing schedules and the like. Until then, I?m John Franco?s illegitimate son coming to you, as always, From the Stretch. Hit me up here: [email protected]