That didn’t take long. Not even training camp, and the Skinny Luka PR Push is in full effect. Two 90 minute workouts. Protein shakes. Intermittent fasting. Gluten free, buzzin like a bee. King Pudge has been reduced to lean muscle, admirable delts, and a low-sugar diet. I commend Luka for his recent health kick, but even he couldn’t escape the urge to tell the world about it. Maybe it’s Revenge Body Syndrome. Maybe it’s his general fame. Will he dunk now? Who can say.

Perhaps the All-Star Break was the best time for an MLB recap. Perhaps I too was taking a break though. So, let’s catch everyone up on the Major Leagues as the calendar turns to the Trade Deadline and the Race to October. You read this, I’m tellin ya, and it’ll be like you were watching the whole season:

Division Leaders:

AL: Blue Jays, Tigers, Astros

NL: Mets, Brewers, Dodgers

MVP Candidates:

AL: Judge (injured), Cal Raleigh (not Aaron Judge)

NL: Shohei (pitching now), Pete Crow-Armstrong (not Shohei)

Cy Young:

AL: Tarik Skubal

NL: Paul Skenes

Just give this award away right now.

Guys who are Doing It, because they do it every year:

AL: Jose Ramirez, Framber Valdez, Max Fried

NL: Trea Turner, Manny Machado, Juan Soto

Guys who are becoming Guys who Do It every year:

Of course there’s turnover in the sport, and this is a list of guys post-pandemic who should dominate until 2030. It’s perhaps the first generation of Studs that you don’t know because they didn’t break into the league while you were in college or your early 20’s.

AL: Bobby Witt, Jr, Jeremy Pena, Ceddane Rafaela

NL: Corbin Carroll, Kyle Tucker, Elly De La Cruz

Why are the Blue Jay’s in first place?

I’m using them as a metaphor. This season has seen blistering runs from the Jays, Tigers, Brewers, and Dodgers. The Rockies have been the exact the exact opposite. Regardless, the divisions are still competitive. Nothing is sown up. Expect division battles through September with the exception of the AL Central.

Tell me more about these Jays?

You know these guys: Vlad Guerrero Jr, George Springer, Bo Bichette

These are guys are making the engine run: Alejandro Kirk, Ernie Clement, Addison Barger

They pitch too: Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassit, Jose Berrios

I commend the Jays. We’re witnessing the typical July rumor mill of under performing teams selling off players. Sure, some guys are potential free agents. But I can’t applaud teams for shipping out their few good players when they’ll undoubtedly need to replace them next year or suffer the same fate. Here’s who’s on the Block:

AL: Ryan O’Hearn, Luis Robert, Jr, Willi Castro

NL: Eugenio Suarez, Mitch Keller, Sandy Alcantara, Edward Cabera

Anything else I need to know before I’m an Ultimate Seamhead:

- Aaron Judge is hurt. They promise he doesn’t need Tommy John, but his elbow has an boo-boo. It’s a major, major damper on another historic Judge season. Let this man PRP and get back on the field.

- The Dodgers pitching staff broke all their limbs for the 10th year in a row, but the game’s most funded machine rolls on. They should not have 45 losses at this point, but that’s what happens when Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, Blake Treinen, Tanner Scott, Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol, and Clayton Kershaw all miss a bunch of time.

- AJ Hinch has turned the Tigers into a serious Ball Club. He’s revitalized Javy Baez (in CF) and the Young Tigs are all grown up. The AL Central is pitiful. Full of half-baseball teams. The Tigers could roll this division for years.

- The Orioles are the biggest disappointment of the season. All the young promising dudes have regressed. The Front Office invested nothing serious in the rotation, and they’re paying the price. This team made back-to-back postseasons, but they’ll need to pick up the pieces in 2026.