I think that maybe a more interesting article could address a site such as firejoemorgan, which set itself in direct opposition to the stupidity of mainstream/big sports media. And why doesn't king agree with the basic motivation for the site? His column certainly more with fjm than any other mainstream sports analysis that I read.

Not you personally, King; I know you're just reporting on the website. But now people are bashing Joe-Frickin-Morgan? Who's next? A crippled kid? Why don't we dig up Harry Caray and Jack Buck and tell them they sucked, too?

Joe Morgan talks about himself when Jon Miller asks him a question about himself. I really don't know what people want from a sports announcer or analyst. Yes, there are a few that are terrible, like Tino Martinez on Baseball Tonight. He is awkward and wooden and brings nothing to the table. But Jon Miller and Joe Morgan make a team that is very enjoyable to hear call a game. They are calm and don't use catch phrases like Chris Berman. During one recent game when a Spanish-speaking announcer from ESPN Deportes was sharing the booth with them and went into his stupid "no-no no-no no-no!" call when a home run was hit, it made me appreciate Miller and Morgan even more, as the two of them sat back patiently and waited for him to finish his schtick.

The last 4 months in sports seem to have been dominated by people complaining about announcers. Whether it's World Cup announcers, or Joe Buck, or Chris Berman, or whomever. It's getting old. There is no such thing as the perfect announcer.

Morgan is a Hall of Fame player who has won Emmys for his broadcasting. I'm not quite sure how criticizing him is but a step up from ripping on a crippled child. I'm sure he (Morgan) can take it. He is constantly talking about himself and not just when asked by Miller. Also, a constant refrain of his is "I can't really talk about this player or team because I haven't seen them play." I could have sworn his job was to watch baseball teams. He is a lazy broadcaster, something that could never be said about him as a player.

I am convinced that MLB has instituted an altitude adjusted ball in Denver. Many players have commented that the ball doesn’t carry as far, and many fly balls that use to carry out now die in the gloves of outfielders. Sitting in outfield seats, the difference is just obvious.

This is a good thing.

Dave Krieger of the Rocky Mountain News nagged MLB for years to change to an adjusted ball. He pointed out that the NBA, NFL, professional tennis and golf all use altitude adjusted balls. He argued cogently that the Rockies could not survive without the change. They always had to build two teams, one for home and one for the road. They have the worst road record in baseball since their inception (until this season).

MLB always refused to comment on the ball, despite Krieger’s probing, and the Rockies would point to their farm system to explain their improved pitching. Pitchers do a stint in Colorado Springs on the way up to get used to the altitude. But the explanation only goes so far. Home runs at Coors were in the bottom third of the league last I saw, while the young Rockies have some good power. Teams score two runs or less, or ten runs or more, about as often as in other parks now, which was never the case before last year. There have already been more shut-outs at Coors this season than in any other full season.

As for the team, most of the Rockies are in their sophomore season, so they are sort of where the Tigers were a couple of years ago. (That doesn’t mean they’ll be where the Tigers are now in a couple of years, of course.) They have played very well at times, and their pitching has been unprecedented, at home and on the road. But they are still learning how to win. They have chumped a lot of games they had won, and they went the entire month of May without scoring a run. (OK, it only felt that way: they went on a three week stretch averaging less than two runs a game.)

Rockies management has improved their decision making and has developed a fine farm system. But it cannot be everyone’s imagination that the ball no longer carries the way it used to. Coors now plays more fairly, like any other park in the league. Games there look like real baseball now, instead of PCL games. It’s good for the Rockies and good for baseball. Just don’t expect MLB to confirm the change.

The last time the Astros were in Colorado, the TV guys were talking about how the Rockies received permission somewhat recently to store the baseballs in a humidor at some constant humidity. Apparently, the balls were shrinking in the dry air, and becoming harder - something like that. They had done tests. So, now that they're experiencing some humidity, the balls aren't jumping as much perhaps. I would think this would be good for baseball there - the Rockies might actually be able to sign some pitchers.

It seems to be that if you're in a hitters park you should build a team around pitching, not hitting. I mean, the Astros play in a hitter's park, but they don't have a monster offense. And despite their problems, they did make it the World Series last year.

So, King do you think the Tigers will hold on or are they going to the Wild Card? All the guys on Baseball Tonight were picking the White Sox to win the Central. I wonder how Kenny Rogers is going to hold up.

As far as my Astros go, I think they have a good shot at either the WC or the Central division. They always have at least one hot streak in them. One 10 game winning streak and they'll be right in the thick of things. (I said that in 2004 and they went and did it, so I say it every year now.) Huff is a good acquisition, you have to think Pettitte will start pitching better, Clemens should have fresher legs, and the bullpen's volatility is bound to quiet down.

Also, Craig Biggio inches closer and closer to 3,000 hits. He should hit 2900 by early/mid August or so.