EVENTS TO WATCH
Golf » U.S. Women’s OpenThu.-Fri. (ESPN, 2-6 p.m.), Sat.-Sun. (NBC, 3-6 p.m.)
Inbee Park will try to defend her 2008 sophomore-year title against the world’s best at Saucon Valley Country Club. Paula Creamer skipped this past week’s tourney to rest her injured thumb to vie for her first LPGA major title.
CONCACAF Gold Cup, U.S. vs. HondurasWednesday, 9, Fox Soccer Channel/Telefutura
The men’s national team rolls into RFK Stadium — technically, a home venue — to meet one of Central America’s toughest sides for the second time in a month, having beaten the Hondurans, 2-1, in Chicago on June 6. It is also a rematch of a historic RFK encounter on Sep. 1, 2001, a game Honduras won, 3-2.
MLB » Dodgers at Mets, Wednesday, 7:10 p.m., ESPN
This series at Citi Field means more to the Big Apple club than to the Manny Ramirez All-Stars. The Mets are struggling with injuries and are falling behind in the NL East. Some wins vs. the Dodgers could build some confidence.
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals Harrisburg City at D.C. United, Tuesday, 7:30, Maryland SoccerPlex
The Islanders play two divisions below Major League Soccer, but they handed United one of its worst U.S. Open Cup defeats two years ago, a 1-0 loss in Lancaster, Pa. D.C. also struggled to get by amateur Ocean City (N.J.). A United victory here clinches a semifinal on July 21 versus another minor league side: either Rochester or Wilmington.
BOLD PREDICTIONS
1. Albert Pujols will win the Triple Crown » We wrote about this last month. And since then Albert Pujols has not disappointed. He leads all of baseball in home runs and RBIs. His 30 bombs are six more than the nearest National League challenger (Adrian Gonzalez, 24). But the real reason why Pujols will become the first Triple Crown winner since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967 is his batting average. Since 2004 “The Machine” has hit .323 before the All-Star break and .347 after. He’s at .335 right now, good for fourth in the NL. His closest competitors (Hanley Ramirez, David Wright and Carlos Beltran) all play in pitcher-friendly parks, especially Wright and Beltran, who have to deal with a ton of foul territory at Citi Field. If Pujols has his usual second-half spike, he’ll finish north of .340 (possibly .350), putting him in good position for batting title No. 2 and Triple Crown No. 1.
2. Orlando will be the big loser in NBA free agency » So much for looking like the obvious favorite to repeat as Eastern Conference champions. The Magic simply couldn’t help themselves and stand pat after Washington nabbed Mike Miller and Randy Foye from Minnesota and Cleveland grabbed Shaquille O’Neal from Phoenix. Orlando quickly snatched Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson from New Jersey in exchange for Rafer Alston, Courtney Lee and Tony Battie.
Perhaps it was Hedo Terkoglu that forced the Magic’s hand by deciding to test the market himself. Regardless, it’s starting to look like a hasty switch with Rasheed Wallace on the move (perhaps to Boston) and Ron Artest (to the Los Angeles Lakers) likely to be the first domino in a long chain of moves over the coming weeks. Carter isn’t nearly the offensive facilitator that Terkoglu is, Alston and Lee were both decent pieces.
3. Nats starting pitcher John Lannan will win 15 games » Did you know the Nationals have a legitimate ace in their staff? Lannan is only 5-5 entering play Saturday, but the lefty put up Cy Young type numbers in June for a team that finds a new way to lose every night. The 24-year-old was 3-0 with a 2.19 ERA. Washington needs an experienced pitcher to step up and Lannan — 54 career starts — might have to be the guy. The Nats’ starting rotation is all under the age of 26 and Jordan Zimmermann, Ross Detwiler and Craig Stammen have a combined 30 career starts. With such a young, inexperienced rotation it is good to see their ace pitching so well.
PLAYER TO WATCH » Ricky Romero, Toronto Blue Jays, SP
The Blue Jays’ rookie southpaw is facing a two-start week with a turn Monday against the Yankees and Andy Pettitte in their series finale at Yankee Stadium and will go again at Camden Yards sometime this weekend.
The 24-year-old, CS-Fullerton product was the sixth overall selection in the 2005 MLB draft and is producing immediate results in his first season in the bigs.
Romero (6-3, 2.85 ERA, 61 Ks) has got to be getting some consideration for AL Rookie of the Year. His ERA has not risen above 4.15 this season.
However, all is not roses for the developing hurler. Two of Romero’s three losses have come against AL East teams and is currently 1-2 in the division, with his sole win coming in an impressive 8-inning, 4 strikeout performance against Tampa Bay July 1.
His future stock could rise dramatically this week if he can build on that win over the Rays with solid performances in New York and Baltimore.
FIVE UP
1. Landon Donovan » Stellar performance at Confederations Cup could lead to one more shot in Europe, or at least an offensive boost for Los Angeles Galaxy.
2. Chicago Blackhawks offense » Top Detroit goal-scorer Marian Hossa moves to arch Central Division rival; goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin bolts for Edmonton.
3. Candace Parker » Los Angeles Sparks superstar returns to practice less than two months after giving birth.
4. La-la Land baseball » Dodgers fans too excited for Manny Ramirez’s return to worry about Juan Pierre heading back to the bench.
5. Cincinnati men’s hoops » Highly sought-after — yet highly questionable — recruit Lance Stephenson lands with Bearcats.
FIVE DOWN
1. David Beckham » English midfielder’s return to MLS set to come under major scrutiny thanks to release of Grant Wahl’s book: “The Beckham Experiment.”
2. Yao Ming » Foot injury could cost Chinese center much of next season — there’s a chance it ends his career.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves » Top draft pick Ricky Rubio decides to play two more years in his native Spain.
4. Calvin Pace » New York Jets starting linebacker suspended for first four games of 2009 for violation of NFL doping policy.
5. Kelvin Sampson » NCAA denies former basketball coach’s appeal of penalties stemming from multiple phone violations at both Indiana and Oklahoma.
