Video Archive Search

I'm Ken Rosenthal with your AL hot corner report. Let's go back to last Tuesday in the All-Star game in the former MVP who was left sitting on the bench. That of course would be Alex Rodriguez. And the question is why didn't he ever get into this game. Let's clear up some things first. It rod was the last -- position player available. He could not a pinch hit for Ian Kinsler or for John Buck. Why because the rules read that the real entries can only occur if the last player at a position or the last catcher is injured. Neither Kinsler and -- book was injured. The real question is why didn't Joe Girardi does well and Iraq for David Ortiz. Obviously David Ortiz did not represent the tying run. The American League was still down two runs at the time when Ortiz reached for the lead a single. Oh my goodness you don't want David Ortiz anywhere near the base paths. So after the game it was reported by SI dot com that Iraq actually had a thumb injury. And the Joe Girardi didn't want to play him. I for one thing if that's true. There right should not have been on the active roster he should have called up Michael Young to replace him to at least have a healthy body. One that they could use. However Brian Cashman the yankees' general manager told reporters yesterday they -- I was fine. That Joe Girardi was simply keeping him back for strategic purposes. What strategy exactly what Kasper talking about there I'm not sure. They ride should have been in that game even with a thumb injury he could've run in the days let's stay in the American League east and talk a little bit about the Red Sox. People look at them and -- third place five games out of first three games out of a wild card. Can they hang in there aren't good enough -- they headed for elimination. Keep in mind the Red Sox might have the third best record in the American League east but they are pretty good team. They're tied for the fourth best record in Major League Baseball with the Padres. Incredibly. Since there eleven of fourteen start with all the injuries they are forty and when he three. So what has happened here well it's pretty obvious they need to get healthy. All eleven players still on the disabled list -- started to come back Josh Beckett should be back fairly soon -- Colts Victor Martinez. They would of course Dustin Pedroia in early August that's when they expect him as of now. If the Red Sox can get health and perhaps make an addition or two at the deadline. And get Pedroia back. There's no reason frankly that they shouldn't be in position to win the -- much less content. The -- that have to happen but I don't count the Red Sox out yet finally let's talk about the hottest team in baseball right now. My World Series pick the Chicago White Sox. No I don't expect the White Sox to play nearly as well as they did over the last several weeks going into the All-Star break. But I still see them as the team to beat in the AL central and here's why. One the White Sox have the best rotation even without Jake Peavy. You look at the twins and Tigers the twins are tenth in the American League in rotation ERA the Tigers -- twelfth both near the bottom. The White Sox also have the most aggressive general manager of the three. The Tigers Dave Dombrowski would make some moves but hey Ken Williams the White Sox GM. We know he is going to do something improbably it's going to be a move wore a big bat. The White Sox have been trying to get Adam Dunn so far the prices too high. But if not done it probably will be someone else if -- Hudson doesn't prove capable of filling the fifth spot in the rotation. It's conceivable the White Sox could go get distorted to. The twins have the best bullpen at least statistically of this group play like the White Sox a good bit as well in the Tigers well right now -- short in the bullpen. And they to me are probably the weakest of these three clubs but -- force -- back and they get their offense continued to perform at a high level. Can't rule them out either so this is going to be a dogfight the twins need to add a starting pitcher needing Cliff Lee. Now we'll see who does what leading up to July 31.