Random Images and Ideas

Vladimir Guerrero Junior splashed his prolific talent at the All Star Game, where he was named MVP. The Blue Jays star's booming 2nd inning home not only helped build the AL's lead, but was the 200th home run in the history of baseball's Midsummer Classic (Babe Ruth hit the first, in the inaugural game back in 1933. It also made him part of a father - son combo where each each hit All Star Game homers -- joining the Bonds and Griffey families.

Jameson Taillon hasn't had the impact his former Pirates teammate Taijuan Walker has enjoyed with New York's other team. But he's held opponents to two runs or less in four of his last five starts.

Here's a moment Mets manager Luis Rojas had to hold his breath: Jacob deGrom, trying to bunt last week against the Brewers, exposes his priceless right hand when trying to lay one down -- and then quickly pulls back. There are probably still a few folks in the Mets organization that recall another lefty hitting righthander, David Cone, being hurt in a botched bunt attempt in 1987.

Not quite sure it's how baseball would look if played in a dungeon, but there's an overall weirdness being totally enclosed inside Tropicana Field that rivals that of the late -- and not especially lamented -- Kingdome.

And one more from the travel file: I just digitized this 1991 image from Jack Murphy Stadium (a/k/a Quallcom). Abandoned by first the Padres, then the NFL Chargers, the 1960s park was torn down earlier this year.