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Hi and welcome Jeff foxsports.com demo -- first half easy recap presented by HT NT as we -- the All-Star break now so much to look back on from. Great first half of baseball that we turned a former big league general manager Jim -- and and seventeen year major leaguer Royce Clayton also comes to us some legitimate All-Star game experience. Welcome -- well it's so exciting it's all our time Anaheim California the great time here. Not time all our game is back here in Californians -- like you said very exciting time where on All-Star game in a guy can't be able gonna take a look at the best and the worst. From the first after the Major League he's well also hear from our base ball writers Ken Rosenthal standing by along with -- John Paul Perillo -- So first we turn to the guy in the studio we talk American League seems only fitting the way they've dominated the All-Star game over the last -- a couple of decades. For all Jim what are off rookie of the year -- got an American -- For me -- -- Boston and Detroit Tigers guys hit three for the entire year he's on pace for 25 home runs and a hundred RBIs. Jim Leyland told -- spring training at the Tigers we're gonna win the division he needed to get one. All I have to pull the Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera. They didn't know what the title is going to be brand -- he's been a great story in the first half of the Tigers -- -- -- look good fit. I get his name wrong please don't pay me -- -- missed none out rallied for now he will lead yeah you know we always look to the teams are in the first place rays they're gonna. Come down with stress is always there relievers guys -- patella those that -- into the bullpen. Closers -- guys. Kansas comes down the stretch he's a great job as a young player gonna have to go with him as they don't work. QB yeah that's a good choice of very big part of it hasn't tech Raiders so far. Go to and actually a lot of people are -- Stephen strasburg. I don't know if he's your guy but he is he in the conversation and he got the conversation you know look he's only pitched a month I can't put their may by the end of the year but in the first half. There's 45 great guys in the air but first of all I think it's left in high regard he of the St. Louis Cardinals won eight games for the first. He's got four pitches he throws a ball for strikes he uses both sides of the plate. Keep out of the middle Kevin Carpenter or Wainwright and highly Garcia. The St. Louis Cardinals had the best 123 rotation in the National League very strong so far Roy about you nationally. Laps to go Jason Heyward the sky is unbelievable he comes into this. Situation with the Braves and with a -- he starts off him really has solidified them in the -- their lineup Troy. Us -- great. It's you know for young player to have an impact and really. Excite the people -- great thing to see as far as coming back today traditional -- and he's a big part of it. Hell yeah Gabby Sanchez of Florida -- I guess he gets Cincinnati I Davis the Mets. Lot of good good body good rookies made the best rookie class in 2000 when -- here -- by the way rookie of the month for both died April and may. In a nationally all right Olerud and come back to these guys in a minute but first we take the show down to Anaheim. We drop an eighteen he lied about sports baseball writers Ken Rosenthal and John Paul -- in Canada would you give us your biggest surprises from the first half of the he's. I'm gonna go to Cincinnati Reds. Missed -- team that some people in spring training were quite high on. And I frankly didn't buy it because people three -- the reds every year and every year at least prior to this one they disappoint. But I love their offense. Cabrera have put them on the left side of the infield not just the defense but also the leadership. Look at the young pitching that they brought along Travis would it might be Chapman is common in the bullpen Edinson Volquez is coming back. My biggest surprise player is also from the reds -- that would be migration. Coming out of spring training this guy barely won the fifth starter as job. One of the best pitchers in the National League in the first half slower -- other -- surprise timing Garcia. So those are my biggest surprises coming at first half. Very I'm gonna stay in the National League my biggest surprise team. Diego Padres. I don't think anyone outside of San Diego expected this team to contend coming out of spring training. Low payroll we were all talking about. The date and the team to which Adrian Gonzales was going to get traded there was no indication that this young rotation. Clayton Richard madly toe wade LeBlanc that these are gonna be guys we're gonna really keep this team in contention I remember a couple months into the season I was talking who got. We said well maybe they have a chance to finish 500 right now they're still in first place. And for my surprise player -- in the National League Martins how. Now All-Star team. Again in spring training no one would've expected that -- he's been at or near the top of the NL batting leaders throughout the season he's been a tremendous. Glue player for that Atlanta game one of the biggest reasons why Bobby Cox as a jet into the postseason in his final year. All right thanks guys stand -- coming back -- -- later in the show and when we return we'll talk about the players who came in with great expectations this year but. Have provided very low returns you watch -- MLB first half season recap presented by eighteen to. -- -- And they didn't silence where that DJ. I'll get the music -- today. And beat the man ever. AT&T the nation's fastest Regina work. -- I welcome back we will talk -- most valuable players in each league coming up the show right now -- wouldn't talk about the LD PR least valuable players in the first half guys that. He might back to come in big production would have really given their teams that -- nothing Roy has always -- one guy the entire Major League they fall league but he'll like. I don't really. Is -- tough situation because as a former player I'm no this game is very very difficult they're number of factors health could be an issue there's other things Arum ball. So figgins went on to to Seattle pinned -- you post being -- along with Ichiro and that one too common they are still on base isn't really supplying some much needed offense and Seattle. Has been a disappointment but my biggest disappointment in National League. Comes within a mama -- It's because the Cubs really need his bat. For the Alfonso Soriano using get off to a slow start. Derrek Lee trying to hold on to the offense and carry on -- shoulders they really need him to step up in his injuries among the factors. Have really been a disappointment for the Cubs as a whole they got a lot of other problems but he's a pretty disappointing for thirteen -- early this. Sure all one run games that they lost and in the end -- that and now he indirectly we're not there -- -- first two months for me. It was public -- San Francisco Giants he's on -- For twelve homers and 65 RBIs and they need offense bad San Francisco one of the best pitching staff in the league but they can't score runs. Mark DeRosa goes down with a rib injury yeah. Step up -- really doesn't have a lot of protection in the lineup. -- they need to trade for another bat the public and the -- really has heard the San Francisco Giants in the first. Hi those guys make their managers' jobs are extremely tough of -- -- -- -- jump back out on the AT&T line and go to Anaheim once again can end John Paul join us gentlemen. How about your manager of the year top. -- would have to go with two managers who featured prominently in Kenny how about the first that we're going to be fired this season. Ron Washington and Texas and Jerry Manuel of the Mets. At various times this year it seemed like. They're firing was if not imminent certainly very possible now bullpen other teams -- contention Ron Washington David. First place recently added Cliff Lee you have to like their chance to get into the playoffs and -- Jerry Manuel hey. -- this season. Which ends at different times and April didn't seem too -- great job by both both Delmon. You know what Barry I have to agree with JP. Jerry Emanuel did do a great job in the first half as did Ron Washington. But the bottom line is there have been a lot of really find jobs managing and I didn't give you two more than occurred in the first half. First blood Blatche is San Diego now obviously the Padres are huge surprise. And yet they've had dominant pitching particularly. All season long. But you know what scouts say about them they stated this team plays extremely hard every night and also plays in a very fundamentally sound matter. That is a testament to the manager. My other choice Terry Francona of the Boston Red Sox look at who the Red Sox have lost -- played without for most of the first half. To draw and -- Go right down the line. They've had a number of journeyman triple a guys contributing like now -- Darnell McDonald and get through it all. Yeah and being competitive in the dailies haven't fallen out of the race by any stretch if Francona deserves a ton of credit for that. I thanks guys we're gonna come back to admit -- -- tied and now to the pitchers really cannot deny that it is in the year the pitcher in Major League Baseball. Top contender -- for that Cy Young award Roy W nationally who's been about your mind I think you have to go to him and has with his record is ERA was. Almost. Point 000. -- -- aren't well brought up this guy you struggle a little bit would commit. -- good job. My dog you fourteen wins -- purely on the no question about it -- my exact same guy without question involving our. He's on pace for thirty wins this will be the first time anybody in Major League Baseball 130. He's been McClain did it. Back in 1968 in the biggest difference with a bottle Amanda's this year is he's pounding the strike zone and he's trusting his stuff he's not trying to strike everyone out his ground ball rate has been amazing he's keep the ball down both sides of the plate. Getting a lot of ground balls in missing bats. This guy not only is the favorite to win the Cy Young for right now he's on pace to be in the MVP chase as well one word answer Jim does he went thirty this year. No it's too hard yeah I agree with the all right I hope I hope we don't know that it made it coming out on the focused on the bubble imminent since I get up far. For Colorado how about the American League Jim your top guy that scored David Price for me I mean he's won twelve games here at the All-Star break he's dominating. The first pick in the country for Tampa Bay there's other really good kids in the American League like Jon Lester. But for me David Price should start the All-Star game which she's doing I had no wideout but I think right now I don't growing up you American League. Well up to go and so -- you isn't done about how big he's been in that Boston rotation. Looked up. Stepping up. And the problems that they've had offensively and get off to a slow start I think the one bright spot their rotation has been done Lester the consistency former teammate. He's got a good make up great story this guy's a class act and I think -- suicidal. These -- Senator John McCain. -- -- -- -- -- it -- a Major League Baseball -- you know one constant though the seventh inning -- -- -- musical -- of the game of self. In Anaheim California that song is actually meaningful -- Sweden has more to figure -- writer Chris acting. Why we're here at the cemetery today and you were honoring. It's been a real whirlwind I wrote a story for -- news and opening -- here -- written about the fact check nor the man who wrote the lyrics for to get the ball game played a redshirt but really the market was hard to read -- -- -- So fans got together and I wrote another. They tell -- from a period of the marker Raleigh finger on -- can division that we heard today honoring the marker here. In Anaheim right which it sat at the spot where he's very pregnant by his bullpen -- -- cornerback Jack -- work. And I'm thrilled that started with the article I had no idea this -- what was gonna happen. I mean I got history lesson here -- I had no idea. Good morning it who have written and how old it was that you throw long has been around his popular two hours and when I was five years old who was a kid. And and not knowing working from around nine Norman who who. In the right. -- -- -- It is okay. -- thanks -- and they have their play more to come here on the NLV first half easily cast presented by AT&T. Her and and that didn't silence. Where DJ. How -- the music save the day. And beat -- man ever. HT NT the nation's fastest Regina court. Sox. Can't welcome back we have talked least valuable player right now we're been -- most valuable player we go against Roy Clayton now or the American League what's it like that. The more my topic elected talk real positive -- -- the I think if truth prevail -- BP we gotta go Miguel Cabrera he's been a huge factor for the Detroit Tigers and their line up. Coming back from members you in the in the playoffs last year with Disney off the field can really bounce back and have the type fear that Detroit expected. It's. Impact player he stepped up so maturity this year and really. Across a book could be a typical and yeah I agree absolutely abhors you look Miguel Cabrera is on pace right now to win the Triple Crown in the American League. No one's done that and Carl Yastrzemski did in the late sixties this -- a guy that's cleaned up his life he quit drinking. He's worked on his game and you know what he's the most impact four hitter right now our Major League Baseball. He's improved his defense is ranged to his right right now at least -- he's the main reason why the Detroit Tigers are getting their first place. Tiger -- exciting he's gonna be MVP the American League. And a guy if he can stay healthy one and you know potential to be one of the great all time in Major League baseball's -- career -- suggest that. I'll go to and actually Albert Pujols has kind of hold on this thing twice. Consecutive years end at three the last five Roy how about you Albert Pujols again. He's gonna continue to hold on there for a long time I -- -- this guy entry for the next five years -- how to play. Continues to get better. He works harder and harder every year he comes back that's a home. Bless you All-Star game lesson it's an infield is a -- -- in this guys like this hard this table naturally to -- absolutely that's was exciting we need a guy like Albert Pujols who stepped up. Taken on the lion's share -- him a clean play -- a great player and has embraced in in a good town I think Albert Pujols is again. The MVP you know I think at the end of the year going to be right and -- -- is going to be having to be. -- right now I think. It's on pace to win thirty ball games and I know we don't like to give give -- the MVP awards. It's only happened a few times but this is the one exception. You can't sit down. This for thirty wins and not be the guy to win the MVP in my opinion. Gonna graduate -- got somebody out all our voters certainly in the action as well I let's get back on the AT and he lied and bring in canned and John Paul once again can't. How about you your MVPs and include. In the American League it seems the choice is fairly obvious Miguel Cabrera is on his way potentially. To a Triple Crown. This place at the break. I would say it is a pretty good chance to the first have been the big. Cabrera has turned his life around he's turned his game I'll let us he is the guy for sure in the American League. In the National League a little bit more varied in the choices that are available but I'm gonna go with Joey bottom of the Cincinnati Reds. He's been the National League leader in combined on base slugging percentage. Hit it did get out of hand. Obviously one of the key parts of one of the biggest surprise teams in the National League -- about a oh thank goodness he's an All-Star he should be an MVP. -- I have to agree with you what Miguel Cabrera is my pick as well Leavitt is in play a lot in Detroit. Time after time he's come over and -- it also. Improve defensively as well but he's got a guy that the Tigers have countered on. Jim Whalen is running out of superlatives to throw at -- we just keep saying the guys this Ariza started keeps coming up big for us. In the National League I think getting -- you're on the right team. I'll take a slightly different look angle across the diamond to third base with Scott Rolen at the Tigers acquired last July. That is did not understand the move with a young team they seem to be in sell mode and here they've acquired veteran player that I had trouble staying on the field. -- -- All it has been a tremendous mentor to a lot of young players that club out. He's been a great example how to play the game right and oh by the way he's been racking up the RBIs like he -- in some of the finest and -- Lewis so maybe. Statistically but I think in my club out on the field defensively Scott -- most vital player in the NL in the first half. Unanimous an American League we're different guys MVPs in the National League aren't they Ken Rosenthal and John Palmer go out and I'm also great production tonight from the guys not. The heart of the lineup that Jim -- Royce Clayton we thank them for being here I am very the Brockton. We thank you for checking -- out and don't forget the All-Star game pregame show starting at 2 o'clock eastern time. On Tuesday right here on foxsports.com. This summer. And ten you know start. First and and there's still silence. Where that DJ. I'll get the music saves the day. And beat -- man ever. AT&T the nation's fastest. -- --