Around The Majors - 7th Edition

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Around the Majors, acronym "ATM," is the place baseball fans all over the world come to cash on in what's been happening in Major League Baseball.



Get your debit cards out 'cause here it comes, Interleague Style.

New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies: Whenever a Met fan sees this match up, he or she wonders, "hmm, who do I root to win? Do I care more about the division rivalry (and my playoff chances) or more about the bragging right down at the New York tavern?" Well, let the Bar Fight go for now, we'd rather gain ground in the division. Oh, don't get me wrong, I don't want to see the Yankees win, I'm just rooting for the Phillies to lose.

Just as the debate stormed on inside my head, so too, the Yanks and Phils are going at it in the Bronx. They have each taken a game apiece and both look to take the rubber game tomorrow as C.C Sabathia takes on Cole Hamels at 1:05 pm.

On a side note, we all remember the Home Run Derby took place in Yankee Stadium last year and recall how Josh Hamilton made it look easy. But what we didn't know is how the new Yankee Stadium will feature a derby each and every game they play in it this year. Before Saturday's game, there have been 82 homers at Yankee Stadium, a record for the first 21 games at a major league park, according to the Elias Sports Bureau and five more than were hit at Houston's Enron Field in 2000. Talk about a band box. For all those who are clueless about why it's called a Band Box, fret not. You're not alone. But now's your chance to find out!

P.S: For good measure, Mariano Rivera's son is following in the footsteps of his father.

Minnesota Twins: It seems as if the cycle is almost as common as the home run in Yankee Stadium; it's happening often. Michael Cuddyer joined Jason Kubel as the second Twin to hit for the cycle this season. Cuddyer hit for it last night in an 11-3 win over the Brewers. Kubel delivered his cycle against the Angels on April 17 at the Metrodome. The last team to have two players hit for the cycle in the same season was the 2003 Montreal Expos, when Vladimir Guerrero and Brad Wilkerson each accomplished the feat.

It's also the third cycle the Twins have recorded in the past two seasons. Carlos Gomez hit for the cycle in a contest against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on May 7, 2008. Prior to Gomez's cycle, it had been nearly 22 years since a Twins player had hit for the cycle. Kirby Puckett hit for the cycle at the Metrodome on Aug. 1, 1986, against Oakland.

Oakland Athletics: When Jason Giambi signed with the A's in January, he was sitting on 396 career home runs and talked openly about wanting to play long enough to reach 500. No. 400 came in the fourth inning Saturday night.

Milwaukee Brewers & San Diego Padres: When Jody Gerut hit the first home run ever in Citi Field - he entered the history books, as well as the trivia books. During a Thanksgiving dinner 10 years from now, your uncle will turn to you and ask, "Sonny, who hit the first home run ever in Citi Field?" You'll know what to say. (The reason it's a great question is due to the fact that Gerut is not the most famous of players. Well, he started the season in San Diego but was traded to Milwaukee in a straight swap for Tony Gwynn Jr. And the answer starts his descent to the land of nowhere...)

Cherry on the Top: John Mayberry Jr. made his career debut with the Philadelphia Phillies today and in his second at bat, he took the ball yard. The best part about it? No, not that his parents were in the stands but rather, the silent treatment that his teammates gave him when he returned to the dugout after touching 'em all. You gotta love it...