It isn’t quite the All-Star Break for baseball, yet most of the league’s teams are at or past the halfway point of this year’s grueling 162 game season. With that being said, there are certainly a number of teams and players that have already stood out in a negative way.

Yep, they’re askin’ for it. It’s a special edition of “Throwing Tomatoes”… nah, let’s call it a “special delivery”. So get your ammo ready, and let’s start slingin’…


Throwing Tomatoes – Volume VIII **
SPECIAL DELIVERY: Baseball’s Halfway Point


Colorado Rockies (32-50)
Eight short months ago, this team was the NL’s representative in the World Series. What happened? A lot of things, including first half injuries to Tulowitzki and Holliday, struggles by staff ace Jeff Francis, and little progress from some of their promising young players. Oh, and Colorado’s pitching staff has a team ERA of 4.70. Only Texas and Pittsburgh are worse.

San Diego Padres (32-51)
Injuries to Jake Peavy and Chris Young during the first half certainly didn’t help, but the lack of production by the offense (with exception to Adrian Gonzalez) has been the bigger issue.

Detroit Tigers (41-40)
Sure, they’re above .500 and finally getting their act together, but it’s still been a rough first half for a Tigers team that entered 2008 with a boatload of lofty expectations. Offseason acquisition Miguel Cabrera (.279 average, 11 HR, 47 RBI) has been decent since joining the Tigers. Dontrelle Willis, on the other hand… let’s get back to him in a minute.

New York Mets (40-41) and Omar Minaya
Are the Mets suffering from a hangover after last season’s collapse? That depends on who you ask. Still, this team has way too much talent to be performing this poorly. Fortunately for Mets fans, the Phillies are not running away with the East. By the way, Minaya and the front office deserve a tomato for the way they handled the Willie Randolph firing.

Cleveland Indians (37-45)
One game from the World Series last season, the talented Indians now find themselves in the cellar of the AL Central division. Cleveland’s offense has been abysmal in the first half, batting .246 as a team. That’s good for 27th in the majors.

Seattle Mariners (31-50)
After a promising 2007 campaign, the M’s thought they had the door open to the playoffs after acquiring Erik Bedard during the offseason. Instead, Seattle is by far the AL’s worst team. GM Bill Bavasi and manager John McLaren were first half casualties. Who’s next?

Troy Tulowitzki (.157 average, 2 HR, 13 RBI)
In 34 games this season, Tulowitzki is nowhere near the Mendoza line. That’s a far cry from his 2007 campaign, where he batted .291, with 24 homers and 99 RBI’s.

Barry Zito (3-11, 5.91 ERA)
This is not exactly what the Giants were looking for when they signed Barry “The Green Giant” Zito to a monster deal before the 2007 season. What happens if Barry loses 20 games?

Shawn Chacon (2-3, 5.04 ERA, and 1 violent act)
Chacon didn’t perform well, but more notable was the outburst in which he snapped and threw Houston GM Ed Wade to the ground. Chacon has since been cut by the Astros, and don’t be shocked if he never pitches in the majors again.

Francisco Liriano (0-3, 11.32 ERA)
With Santana departing, the Twins were depending on Liriano to return to his 2006 form (12-3, 2.16 ERA) after being out for the entire 2007 campaign. Instead, Liriano struggled and was shipped back to AAA. The Twins persevered and have played well anyway.

Eric Gagne (1-2, 6.98 ERA, five blown saves)
If you’re like me, you thought the Brewers were crazy to sign Gagne to a ten million, one-year deal, especially after watching him struggle with Boston last year. Salomon Torres has pitched so well in the closer’s role, Milwaukee would be equally as crazy to make a change now that Gagne’s back.

Ryan Howard (.216 average, 113 K’s)
While his twenty homers are only three behind the major league lead, Howard has struggled throughout the year. In fact, he’s on pace to eclipse last year’s horrific 199 strikeout total.

Erik Bedard (4-4, 3.79 ERA)
Bedard hasn’t exactly been what the Mariners have hoped for this season. Then again, he certainly isn’t the only one to blame for Seattle’s woes either.

Phil Hughes (0-4, 9.00 ERA) and Ian Kennedy (0-3, 7.41 ERA)
These were the two young talents that were supposed to help anchor the Yankees’ rotation, while adding youth to an older roster. Neither has panned out at this point.

Bronson Arroyo (4-7, 6.19 ERA)
After two solid seasons in Cincinnati, Arroyo has struggled during the first half of 2008. Most notable was Bronson’s one inning, ten run disaster against Toronto about a week ago.

Homer Bailey (0-3, 8.76 ERA)
I’ve always thought it was a bit of a jinx to be a pitcher named “Homer”. Still, one of the game’s most highly touted prospects continues to underachieve in Cincinnati.

Dontrelle Willis (0-1, 10.32 ERA, demotion to High-A Lakeland)
Willis has been a disaster since joining the Tigers during the offseason. To say Dontrelle (21 walks, 5 K’s) was wild before his demotion to Single A would be the understatement of the year. What’s higher, his leg kick or his ERA?!

Near Misses (Honorable Mentions)
Felix Pie, Victor Martinez, Eric Byrnes, Bill Hall, Richie Sexson, Jim Thome, Robinson Cano, Steve Trachsel, Brad Penny, Tom Gorzelanny, Joe Blanton, Pedro Martinez, and Matt Morris.

Honorary Tomato Throwers of the Week
Because those who found success earn a chance to sling one at their opposition

Asdrubal Cabrera – at the Toronto Blue Jays during his unassisted triple play on May 13th
Jered Weaver – at Mike Scioscia for removing him while having a no-hitter intact
Carlos Delgado – at the New York Yankees after having 9 RBI’s on June 28th
Mark Teixeira – at the Seattle Mariners after hitting three HR’s on June 22nd

If you get a chance, check out this post’s counterpart, “Gold Stars: Baseball’s Halfway Point”.

This has been “Throwing Tomatoes”… now don’t forget to wear red this Independence Day.

** All stats as of Sunday June 29, 2008

Once again, the Super Bowl is upon us, and like many, I have decided to throw a party to celebrate the season’s final football game.  Like last year, I consulted my little black book to contact various sports figures and celebrities in the world to see if they would bless me with their presence.  Yet again, I got more excuses than there are days that Bill Belichick wears a hoodie.  As always, I’m in the sharing mood, and thought I would fill you in on some of the responses I received… **

Celebrity Excuses for NOT Attending My Super Bowl Party (2008 Edition)

O.J. Mayo – He was scared to accept my invitation.

T.O. – He cried when he heard that I didn’t invite Romo.

Roger Clemens – He told me my party was “hogwash”.  I don’t even know what that means.

Ellen DeGeneres – She balked when I said she couldn’t bring her dog.

Eddie Murphy – He couldn’t commit for such a long period of time.

Bobby Petrino – He said he would attend, but later changed his mind.

Nick Saban – I couldn’t get a straight answer from him either.  Something tells me he’s at the same party as Petrino.

Brett Favre – He used the same excuse that he did on me last year.  He couldn’t decide.  I think it’s an easier decision this year Brett.  I’m going to have French Onion dip this time.

Michael Strahan – Due to his team making it to the big game, he said he didn’t have a gap in his teeth… I mean, his schedule.  

LaDainian Tomlinson – He just said he was going to sit this one out.

Lindsay Lohan – She said she wouldn’t be caught dead there.  Hmm, interesting choice of words.

Britney Spears – She said she couldn’t get a sitter.  Uh huh, yeah… good one Brit… and you’re also performing at the next MTV Awards show too aren’t ya?!

Bob Stoops – He said he would love to come, but he never shows up for the big game.

O.J. Simpson – I told him he couldn’t bring any friends.

Reggie Bush – He’s apparently busy taking a lie detector test.

Miguel Tejada – He said he was spending some time with Reggie Bush.

Sammy Sosa – He gave me some kind of excuse about not being able to speak English.  Too bad his excuse was written in English.

Dana Jacobson – Her “No” response was laced with “F-bombs”.  One thing is for sure, I don’t think she’ll be at church on Super Bowl Sunday.

Kelly Tilghman – She said I live too close to a back alley.

Steven A. Smith – He apparently found out I write a blog.  I think you know his answer.

Kwame Brown – He said he was too busy underachieving.  I’m not sure if that was meant to be a joke or not.

The ’72 Dolphins – They had to go buy some more ice for the champagne.  They’ve been waiting so long that it was beginning to melt.  

Ohio State Football – I guess my joke about “not being able to get here fast enough” must have struck a nerve or something.

Florida State Football – I know about half the team was available, but they still aren’t coming.

Miami Heat – They simply informed me that they were stuck in the cellar and wouldn’t be getting out any time soon.

Kirk Herbstreit – His source told him the party would be a blast.  He’s apparently still a little gunshy, and therefore respectfully declined.

Adam Jones – He didn’t know if he was going to be in Baltimore or Seattle.

Erik Bedard – See Adam Jones.

Ben Roethlisberger – He said I wasn’t tall enough.  I’m 6’ 3”, but wait… why does that even matter?  Oh well, whatever… I’m too tired.

And finally…

Amy Winehouse – Plain and simple, she said “NO, NO, NO”.

It looks like another year featuring a celebrity-free Super Bowl party at my house.  Oh well, that means more French Onion dip for me.

** Disclaimer: In all honesty, I know none of these celebrities.  I also don’t even own a little black book.  Therefore, all of these excuses are fabricated, and meant to provide a clever spin on Super Bowl week.  The part about having a Super Bowl party… now that was true.  Enjoy the big game, and as always, thanks for reading.  - KP