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Hot Read:

Jul 8, 2008 12:00 AM (147 days ago) , The Examiner
This story ranks Not ranked
Related Topics: BALTIMORE
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - The players who were selected for the 79th All-Star Game were announced Sunday. The Midsummer Classic will be filled with the sport’s biggest stars, but also will feature players who probably deserve to watch the game on television. Here are five players who shouldn't be at Yankee Stadium July 15.

1. Kerry Wood, Chicago Cubs, closer: Yes, Wood has reinvented himself as a closer after a decade of injury-plagued seasons as a starter. But he has a 2.91 ERA and five blown saves. It’s also unbelievable that Wood has earned more than $30 million in a career where he is just 76-59 and never won more than 14 games in a season. Yeah, we know you struck out 20 batters in a game, but that was in 1998.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=iOPBeAhBElA

2. Kosuke Fukudome, Chicago Cubs, outfielder: He's put up solid numbers (.287 BA, 58 runs) and he should contend for Rookie of the Year in the National League. Major League Baseball needs to change the rules to not allow a 31-year-old who played nine seasons in the Japan to be eligible for the award … unless they play for the Cleveland Indians in the movie “Major League II.”

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http://youtube.com/watch?v=RHH8gSQmnGo

3. Brian Wilson, San Francisco Giants, closer: Another rule MLB needs to institute is not allowing any reliever on the All-Star team with an ERA higher than four. Wilson’s is at 4.37 to go along with his 24 saves. This Brian Wilson should not be confused with the Beach Boy or the Baltimore talk-show host of the same name.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=AZyPu7Dr7SE

4. Miguel Tejada, Houston Astros, shortstop: This former Orioles shortstop has 10 homers and 43 RBI — not bad until you realize Luke Scott, the outfielder traded by the Astros for him has 14 homers. Maybe Tejada needs to get a little more fired up, like reminding him he’s 34, not 32.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Rr09NXayz5k&feature=related

5. Milton Bradley, Texas Rangers, outfielder: OK, his .320 batting average, 17 homers and 54 RBI makes him a viable All-Star. But I’m not sure MLB wants the ratings spike it could get if Bradley goes off on a teammate, umpire, or even play-by-play man Joe Buck. Like the game Monopoly, created by the company of the same name: “Go straight to jail. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.”

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MoHbz7epAFA

WHAT WE LIKED: Brian Roberts continues to look out for the Baltimore area. The Orioles shortstop helped present a $50,000 check to the University of Maryland Medical Center to establish Shannon’s Fund. The fund is named after Shannon Obaker, the Orioles director of community outreach who died last year of cancer at 29. It provides funds to help hospital patients and their families.

WHAT WE DON'T LIKE: Seeing five of the nine All-Star starters voted in from the American League coming from the Yankees and the Red Sox. The two “evil empires” continue to have a stranglehold over the rest of sport. It would be nice to see at least one starter from the Rays, who have the best record in baseball. Yes, the same Rays that have placed last in the A.L. East in nine of their first 10 seasons.

STARS OF THE DAY: RAFAEL NADAL

Nadal proved to the world he is right there with Roger Federer in the tennis world as he won at Wimbledon on Sunday, 6-4, 4-6, 6-7(5), 6-7 (8), 9-7, in a four-hour, 48-minute marathon match. It was Federer’s first loss on grass in six years.

DONKEY OF THE DAY: ALEX RODRIGUEZ

It only looks to get even worse for the $250 million man as his wife, Cynthia, filed for divorce on Monday in Miami. The soon-to-be ex Mrs. A-Rod claims she is done dealing with his infidelity, and his “relationship” with Madonna was the last straw. We guess being in the “Material World” of New York made A-Rod think of being anything but “Like a Virgin.”

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Comments from Examiner Readers

10:28 PM MST on Sat., Jun. 28, 2008 re: "Hot Read"

Examiner Reader said:
still terrible. it's a bad version of the Cheers page you all do in print. that actually earns the laughs it goes for AND breaks news from time to time!

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11:19 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 26, 2008 re: "Hot Read"

Examiner Reader said:
Hello?!?! This is a SPORTS article and, compared to the editing fluffs in the Post lately, this is pretty good. Funny, shows a great knowledge of sports, easy to read. I like good writing too, but - geez - I don't think this is supposed to be Shakespeare. Lighten up!

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7:52 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 26, 2008 re: "Hot Read"

Examiner Reader said:
funny story. i enjoyed reading it

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7:41 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 26, 2008 re: "Hot Read"

Examiner Reader said:
Great article. Made me laugh

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7:40 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 26, 2008 re: "Hot Read"

Examiner Reader said:
HAHAHA!! Funniest stuff I've read in awhile!!

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6:47 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 26, 2008 re: "Hot Read"

Examiner Reader said:
This stuff is hysterical, is it going to come out every day?

6 agree | 8 disagree
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6:28 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 26, 2008 re: "Hot Read"

Examiner Reader said:
There are at least three "we haven't seen" references in this and a "seriously" or two in there. Is this amateur night at the Imrpov? Was Seinfeld's "What is the deal..." schtick being saved for later editions? Painful. Someone get the Sandman from the Apollo to sweep these guys off the stage.

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