It’s called HIBERNATION

Liz and I took an extended nap on our blog. We hibernate. Don't discriminate against us for being bear-esque.

Now, onto the real story of this post: baseball, in any way, shape or form. So, in about 4 hours, we will have about 1 month left in the season. Shall we all go back and look at our predictions? What's that? You threw yours out? Well, I wrote an English dialogue in April about baseball (and, as Suzyn Waldman would say, how you can't predict it). Suzyn is totally right. My April predictions look about as good as those ugly show dogs. Shall we review?

American League East:
Prediction: Yankees win, Rays second and Wild Card
Currently: Yankees lead, Rays second and wild card

Notes: Shockingly accurate. If both of tonight's scores hold, the Yankees will have a 1 game lead on the Rays entering September. With any luck, we can take at least 4 games from them out of the remaining six (3 in the Bronx, 3 in the Trop). And, not to toot my own horn, but props to me for the lack of the Red Sox. I think its safe to say that with their loss on Sunday to Tampa that they are officially done.

AL Central

Prediction: Twins win in a landslide, Tigers hold their own for a while and then crash.
Currently: Twins lead by 4 games over Chi-Town.

Notes: So, it's not going to be a landslide as I projected. But the Twinkies should hold on to this. Man-Ram-Cheat will help and make the race interesting, but he's not contest for the M and M Brothers (Mauer and Morneau) in Minnesota. Also, Detroit collapsed (sounds familiar, doesn't it?)

AL West:

Prediction: Mariners win. Angels a close second. "Forget about the Rangers"
Currently: Rangers running away and hiding. Nobody else even has a shot.

Notes: Well John, you just can't predict baseball.

NL East

Prediction: Phils win, Bravos second and Wild Card. Mets have a down year.
Currently: Bravos on top by a lot. Phils fighting for the Card.

Notes: Got the Metros right, didn't I? But both the Phils and the Braves are primed for a long Playoff run (that is, if they both get in)

NL Central

Prediction: Cardinals run away and hide early. No contest.
Currently: Reds are wrecking everybody.

Notes: Really? This was my most confident pick. Where did Cincy come from? Joey Votto is a champion. I would not want to touch him in a dark alley, or a light alley, or a light street. I'm a bit afraid of him. And he could win the Triple Crown.

NL West

Prediction: Giants win behind the Freak.
Currently: Padres winning behind stellar pitching. Giants in the WC hunt.

Notes: Can anybody predict this division? It changes every day who's going to win. I gotta say, SD is not going to fair well in the post season. They lack offense.

So. Predicting baseball. You just can't do it.

General notes:

Really sorry for the extended break. Hope you all are doing well.

The Yankees have actually not played well lately. But that's ok. We're still winning.

Marcus Thames? WTF?

Robbie Cano might actually win the MVP if the Tigers and Miggy Cabrera keep tanking.

Sabathia deserves the Cy Young. Burnett deserves the Worst Pitcher ever award.

It's time to get rid of Cervelli. Montero is ready. Let's get real Joey Braces and CMoney.

Screw Roger Clemens. (The video keeps the Suzyn Waldman theme going)

Some cool stuff:

Follow these tweeps (if you're on twitter): @EatSleepYankees, @JustFollowYanks and @AnaMariana42.

Until next time, my friends.

Dear Nick Swisher

Dear Mister Swisher,

Thank you. I think you are the only true, blue baseball player. You clearly play for the love of the game and have so much fun doing so. For that I thank you. You treat the "Bleacher Creatures" like they're your step-brother and have a great connection with the fans.

This season, you've been on a tear. All your stats are up this year from the averages. Your BA is up almost .50 points, slugging the same. Even your OBP is up about .3 You're more valuable than an average player is (WAR at 1.8, higher than the average 1.0). You should be an all star. You're better than a lot of players out there.

Why else do I like you? You have fun and aren't afraid to show it. I think thats why you didn't prosper in Chi-town. Ozzy held you down. Now, you're with Joey Braces and the Funtime Gang. I have a picture from the World Series celebration hanging up, and you are having so much fun. Your mouth is wide open and you're flying into the pile. It was a brilliant photo, but it describes you so well.

Mr. Swisher, if you ever read this letter, know one thing. I graduate high school next year. I want you at my graduation party. You seem like one of the best people to have a non-alcoholic beverage with. I just want to pick your brain and learn all about you (in the least creepy sense of that statement). So if you are reading this, send me a sign. Hold one up at the game on July 21. We'll be there. Or reply to this post. Or send me something on Twitter. Or something like that.

Your Friend,

Mike

PS TWITTER ME @BACK2BACKNYY