Today’s edition features slumping second half second basemen, a player hitting .300 after managing in the minors last season, a pitcher hitting free agency at the right time, why you should teach your kids to play every position on the field and lots more.

You can tell Tigers closer Fernando Rodney is new to his job.  He came in during the eighth inning to record his save and finished with 1.1 innings and a strikeout.  I don’t understand why part of the standard stats for closers is a breakdown of one, two and three-run saves, along with one inning or less and multi-inning saves.  That information is available but it should be part of the standard record when you click on a guy’s stat page at ESPN or Yahoo or wherever.

Indians pitcher Cliff Lee continues to taunt me. He went eight innings and did not allow a run.  And he did this while striking out a grand total of one batter.  I’d like Lee to win his next four starts to get to 20 wins, because that’s a great feat for a pitcher.  And then I want to see him pounded, absolutely pounded, his remaining starts of the season.

Marlins pitcher Josh Johnson kept his team from being swept by the Mets as he went seven innings and allowed just two runs.  Florida played back-to-back series on the road against its main rivals and went 3-3 because Johnson won two games.  Against two of the top offenses in the league, Johnson went 13 innings, allowed 10 hits and two runs.

Astros super sub Geoff Blum had three hits, a homer, 3 runs and two RBIs.  He also played both third base and first in the game.  Blum’s in his 10^th season in the majors and it’s due mostly to his versatility rather than his performance with the bat.  In 3,181 career at-bats, he has a .250/.310/.389 line.  If you can’t teach your kid to throw lefty the next best thing is to have him learn to play all of the infield and outfield positions.

Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler went 5-6 with a home run and three RBIs.  His big day upped his second half average to .244 in 90 at-bats.  Kinsler was an MVP candidate based on his first half numbers, in which he batted .337/.397/.548 in 398 at-bats.

White Sox designated hitter Jim Thome hit his 24^th home run of the season.  He now has 531 lifetime homers and is three shy of Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx for 15^th place on the all-time list.  In his 18^th season in the majors, Thome has a lifetime .280/.408/.563 line but is usually not thought of by the masses as a HOF candidate.  That’s ridiculous.  Not only does he not have the taint of steroids, he’s generally considered one of the hardest working players in the majors.

Brewers outfielder Gabe Kapler had just one hit in seven at-bats but it was a game-ending home run in the 13^th inning.  Kapler is batting .304 in 181 at-bats this season.  That’s outstanding for a guy who didn’t play in 2007 because he was the manager of the Low-A Greenville Drive.

Padres outfielder Brian Giles went 4-6, with 2 doubles, HR, 4 runs and 4 RBIs.  It’s got to be a nice treat to play a road game in Coors Field after playing your home games in Petco.  The California native just vetoed a deal that would have sent him from San Diego to Boston.  I’m glad he wants to stay home and he didn’t nix the deal because of his .208/.3003/.286 line in 77 career post-season at-bats.

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley hit a two-run home run to fuel a 3-run eighth-inning comeback. Like Kinsler, Utley had a first half MVP season, although to be more accurate he had a first-month MVP season.  In April he hit .352/.427/.741.  He has not hit above .278 or slugged over .537 in any following month.  Whatever he’s hitting he’s still an asset with the glove.

Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez struck out the side in the ninth inning and got the win when his teammates scored a run in the bottom of the inning.  K-Rod is going to hit free agency after this season, likely with the all-time single-season save record in his possession.  But all people want to talk about are his declining peripherals.  The walks are a huge problem but they are being negated this year by a .252 BABIP.  Still, I’ll take my chances with the guy with a 9.79 SO/9 IP ratio, even if it marks his fourth straight season in decline.

Dodgers outfielders Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier combined to go 5-9 with a walk, four runs scored, an RBI and accounted for all but one hit by the team.  But they lost the game.  Maybe Jeff Kent (0-4) was right.  This team needs veterans in the lineup.  Bench Kemp and Ethier and put in Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones.

Rays utility player Willie Aybar had two home runs and four RBIs.  Aybar gained some notoriety a few years ago when he was successfully platooned in the outfield by Bobby Cox for half a season.  He played third base Sunday and is listed as a first baseman.  If he plays his cards right, he could be this generation’s Geoff Blum.

Diamondbacks infielder Jamie D’Antona had two walks and a run scored.  He makes the wrap up simply because I saw him play in college.  I saw the game where Wake Forest pitcher Kyle Sleeth tied the consecutive game win streak but teammate D’Antona was the most impressive guy on the field that day.  Glad to see he’s now getting some playing time in the majors.

Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster picked up his 13^th win of the season.  It’s always a good idea to have a career year as you get ready to become a free agent.  He’s two wins shy of his career best in victories and his 2.92 ERA is a career best.  He’s also doing this with a .265 BABIP, a 0.63 HR/9 IP and a 1.16 WHIP.  Sure, he could do all of those things again next year, but I wouldn’t want to wager a free agent contract on him doing so.