MLB Second Season Starting Tonight

I like the All-Star game. It's fun for fans and acknowledges the great play during the first half of the season. Some who deserve to play get overlooked. It happens every year. Tonight the second half or what I like to call the second season begins. The second season is the one that determines which teams and players are gamers who can still be strong after a 162 game season and play in the third season, the playoffs.

The San Francisco Giants are ready for the final push. Hunter Pence should be back in the lineup towards the end of the month. Joe Panik should be ready as early as Sunday according to reports for a rehab after recovering from a concussion.

Starting pitching has been pretty consistent and there was no June slump. Santiago Casilla gets some flak from fans, but he has been a solid performer closing 21 of his 25 opportunities. Castilla does put fans on the edge of their seats and drives Bruce Bochy's blood pressure up. In the end he has done a fine job.

Should Casilla have this much pressure on him at the end of games? This blogger thinks he needs some help and that might come in the form of a trade deal before the August 1st deadline. Sergio Romo came back strong and if he stays healthy and sharp he could see a lot of action in the 8th inning with games on the line.

I could see the Giants making a deal for a right handed closer before the deadline. The Giants farm team(s) have provided solid support during the first half while key players recovered from injuries. I see the Giants making a move for an additional right handed closer before anything else.

The Giants second season starts in San Diego with a matchup of Madison Bumgarner vs Andrew Cashner.

Go Bumgarner! Go Giants!!!