Jeter Out Until After All Star Break

The Captain of the Yankees will be gone a bit longer than expected.

Derek Jeter apparently has a small crack in left ankle, the one that was surgically repaired over the off season. The Yankees were hoping that Jeter would return by opening day but that had to pushed back to May. Now it seems Jeter will have turned 39 years old by the time he returns from injury after the All Star Break.

The possibility that Derek Jeter will make a significant contribution to the Yankees this year is becoming less likely. The team or himself may have rushed things this Spring and, while both sides might not rush a comeback this time around, Jeter might just not have the same pep in his step. It might take him a while to get in rhythm and the injuries to his ankle might've affected his ability to play shortstop.

Many of the Yankees are certainly showing their age with the injuries with Jeter not being an exception.

Melk Gone Bad

The Giants this year have been in it but like the last few years, their bats have been lacking. One of the moves they made during the off season was a trade that brought Melky Cabrera to the team. Melky has certainly showed he was worth it having 159 hits which leads the majors and batting a .346 (2nd in the majors). He even made the All Star game where he named the All Star Game MVP. Just makes the fall from grace more tragic.

Melky Cabrera has tested positive for testosterone and has been suspended under MLB's drug policy for 50 games. That means Melky will miss the rest of the regular season considering that there is only 45 games left. If the Giants make the playoffs, he will miss up to five games in the postseason. If there is any games left over after all of that, it will carry over into next season. Melky is the first big player to be suspended since Ryan Braun's suspension which got overturned by appeal earlier this year.

"My positive test was the result of my use of a substance I should not have used," Melky said in a statement. "I accept my suspension under the Joint Drug Program and I will try to move on with my life. I am deeply sorry for my mistake and I apologize to my teammates, to the San Francisco Giants organization and to the fans for letting them down."

Now this one hurts. The Giants already have problems scoring runs and one of there best hitters is out for the remainder of the year with the Dodgers just passing them today by a half game. Worst time for something like this. There is no doubt the blame goes to Melky for taking this drug but it hurts the Giants a lot heading down the stretch. Those Dodgers are playing well as of late and we might not be able to keep pace with them.

Despite this loss, you still cannot count out the Giants. Buster Posey is hitting well, Pablo just came back to the lineup, and Hunter Pence has to stop slumping soon... right? The Giants still have a shot for the playoffs but they are definitely not favorites and their lineup will have to start picking up the slack.

A Giant of an All Star Game

Hope you guys got the chance to miss the All Star game. Still boring to me and hate the World Series implications. But if you did manage to see it, then you got to see Giants among the Stars. Melky Cabrera, Pablo Sandoval, and Matt Cain all had great nights in front of a national stage. Sandoval was 1 for 2 as he hit a bases loaded triple. Matt Cain had two shut out innings to start the game for the NL. Last, but certainly not least, Melky Cabrera went 2 for 3 and hit a 2 run HR in the 4th inning. Melky was actually named the All Star Game MVP as the NL won it, 8-0.

A Giant blowout for this year's All Star Game and some deserved attention to the San Francisco Giants. Hearing about this outcome almost made me regret missing it. Thank goodness mankind has invented sitcoms to fill the void for meaningless games. Though I hate the event, I'm glad that Melky and the Giants dominated the game. It's certainly something that will help with some momentum for their own team.

The break is almost over and the 2nd half of baseball is about to begin. You know what that means: TRADE DEADLINE SPECULATIONS!!! How is that more exciting to me than the All Star game? I need to reevaluate my life.