Houston?

ML baseball announces that the 1960 season will open one week later than this year in hopes of getting better weather.

Gee, I thought they didn't have those problems in the golden age of baseball.

Appears to actually be 77054, but close enough. So what are they planning to do with the Astrodome? Last I heard about it in a meaningful way it was housing the Katrina folks, I assume they're gone.

Heard on an ESPN national radio broadcast last weekend:

[Chase Utley catches line drive and starts 4-3 double play]

Color Announcer: "Utley made that double play by knowing he was going to catch the ball and getting ready to throw it."

Wow, and I'll this time I thought that fielders were shocked to find that ball in their glove.

So what are they planning to do with the Astrodome? Last I heard about it in a meaningful way it was housing the Katrina folks, I assume they're gone.

Unclear. I don't know what the latest plan might be. But proposals have been made to turn it into some kind of small city of condos and retail, or to turn it into some kind of Disney type theme park. I think most of the proposals fell through.

I'm sure most of you don't follow New York State politics, but here's some interesting news.

Obviously Albany wouldn't have all these problems if they had a salary cap.

So when does the strike start?

Today I went to tune in to my local sports talk show and instead Colin Cowherd was on, and in the 5 seconds that I listened he wondered if Roy Halladay is traded to the Phillies this week if he still goes to the All Star Game as a Blue Jay. And the reporter or analyst he had on didn't know either.

if Roy Halladay is traded to the Phillies this week if he still goes to the All Star Game as a Blue Jay.

He would not.

-- MWE

I think it was Jeff Shaw who actually made his debut with the Dodgers in an All Star game.

He would not.

I know, I wasn't asking if he would. It's obvious he wouldn't.

But would he get his $125,000 AS incentive?

The Shaw case wouldn't be an exact parallel, since it was within leagues.

In a Roy to the Phils scenario, I assume he would still be invited to the All-Star game, but would not be eligible to play and would be replaced on the AL staff. I further assume, however, he could be added to the NL staff as a replacement if the situation arose.

Do you know for certain Mike?

But would he get his $125,000 AS incentive?

Now there's a good question. On one hand, he's already been named to the team, so maybe the bonus already kicked in. But since the game hasn't been played maybe not. I would think the former would be the case, that somewhere along the way the union negotiated that into the CBA to protect a player who makes the team but gets injured between the roster announcement and the game.

Isn't his bonus for being named to the All-Star team, rather than playing in it? I can't see how he wouldn't get the $125K

Isn't his bonus for being named to the All-Star team, rather than playing in it?

That's the standard phrasing of the clause. I'm assuming that players who are injured and can't play also get their bonus, so I can't see why Halladay wouldn't get the bonus if he was traded out of the league.

Hmm.... don't know where else to put these. Enjoy!

Evan Longoria, past 2 months (50 games, 200 PAs): .227/.328/.375/.703
BJ Upton, past month (23 games, 105 PAs): .311/.394/.544/.939

Ian Kinsler, past 6 weeks (46 games, 211 PAs): .200/.289/.400/.689
Brett Gardner, past 2 months (136 PAs): .322/.414/.496/.909/ (13sb/1cs)

Adrian Gonzalez, past month (140 PAs): .194/.379/.324/.703
Prince Fielder, past 2 months (260 PAs): .343/.456/.695/1.151 (19 HRs)

Jay Bruce, past 2 months (211 PAs): .179/.252/.374/.626
Colby Rasmus, past 6 weeks (120 PAs): .356/.361/.653/1.014 (19-1 K/BB)

Orlando Hudson, past 2 months (240 PAs): .254/.311/.343/.654
Geovany Soto, past month (91 PAs): .278/.363/.633/.996

Nick Markakis, past 50 games (220 PAs): .252/.300/.351/.651
Justin Upton, May 1-July 1 (239 PAs): .340/.418/.622/1.040