News that Rogers Clemens is being indicted on six counts of perjury is just the latest chapter in The Rocket’s fall from grace. The evidence that Clemens used performing enhancing drugs has thrown his future Hall-of-Fame candidacy into Jeopardy, and ruined his public image. Details of an alleged affair with a country music singer certainly hasn’t helped as well. We all remember Roger shaking politician’s hands in the nation’s capital while he strongly denied that he ever used steroids. The 11-time All Star could face up year and half years in jail if convicted. Clemens, Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez, and Rafael Palmero have all been shamed in recent years for past steroid use. However, if Clemens is found guilty of these charges it would be a new low for baseball’s steroid era.

Miguel Cabrera- Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers first baseman is simply having a monster year. There isn’t much more Miguel Cabrera could do to earn his $20 million pricetag. Miguel has a realistic shot at winning the batting title and RBI’s race in 2010 with two months to go in the season. The 27-year-old leads the league in OPS, slugging, and RBI’s and is second in the league in doubles and On Base Percentage. One thing hurting Cabrera’s chances at a AL MVP award is the rest of his team. Where would the Tigers be if Miguel wasn’t having a career year? The bottom of the AL Central that’s where.

Josh Hamilton - Texas Rangers

Josh Hamilton is another American league player having a career year at the plate, but the Texas Ranger does have the luxury of playing on a team that looks destined for October. The Rangers have opened a 8.5 game lead on the Oakland Athletics in the AL West, so barring a complete collapse, Hamilton should be playing in the postseason. The 29-year-old outfielder was completely out of baseball only three seasons ago, recovering from a serious addiction to drugs and alcohol. Hamilton presently is in the driver’s seat for the the 2010 batting title and leads the Rangers in all batting statistical categories expect RBI’s (Vladimir Gurrero leads team with 86).

Andre Dawson, Doug Harvey, and Whitey Herzog will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY this weekend. Beloved Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs outfielder Andre “Hawk” Dawson will be the biggest name headed to hall in 2010. The .279 career batter spent 11 season in Montreal, before becoming a Cubbie legend in the mid-1980’s. In 1987, Dawson hit 49 home runs and 137 RBI’s on his way to the NL MVP Award. Joining Dawson this weekend in Cooperstown will be famed umpire Doug Harvey and 1982 World Series winning manager Whitey Herzog. Harvey earned the nickname “God” during his 30-year career umpiring in the major leagues. Herzog managed the Cardinals from 1980-1990 after spells with the Kansas City Royals, California Angels, and Texas Rangers. Finishing with six division titles, three NL pennants, and a World Series victory to his name, Herzog firmly deserved his place in the HOF.

It’s true. The Cincinatti Reds are leading the NL Central. When Dusty Baker’s team jumped out to a early lead in the division many baseball scribes patted them on the head and called them cute. But here we are. It’s the beginning of July and the Reds are a game up on the mighty St. Louis Cardinals. Standing atop the division with a 44-35 record, Cincinati are look like a team that will be battling for a postseason berth all season. It’s been fifthteen years since the Reds have been to the playoffs and 10 years since they finished a season with a winning record. If the Reds keep up their winning ways, this stint in Cinci might be the finest achievement in Dusty Baker’s career. The franchise has been in the wilderness for so long that the city is bound to go crazy if they actually take home the division. Baker’s been helped by heavy hitting first baseman Joey Votto, a reborn Scott Rolen at third, and great pitching from starters Johnny Cueto and Bronson Arroyo. Who knows if the baseball first pro team can keep winning, but the fans in Southwest Ohio should be happy.

It may have taken manager Ozzie Guillen’s team until mid-June to start playing well this season, but the Chicago White Sox are on a roll. The Southsiders have won 8 straight games this month heading into their game today with the Atlanta Braves. The starting pitching the last few weeks has been terrific with Jake Peavy, Freddy Garcia, John Danks, and Mark Buehrle all putting out a string of quality starts. Outfielder Alex Rios is repaying GM Kenny Williams for trading for him last season by raising his batting average to .318. Paul Konerko is having one of his best starts to a season this year with a BA of .304, 17 HR’s, and 52 RBI’s. The White Sox are currently only sitting back 3.5 games from the division leading Minnesota Twins. The Detroit Tigers also have a game up on the White Sox, but the AL Central is looking more every day like a three horse race. A few wins over hated rival the Chicago Cubs in the Crosstown Classic would be a ideal way for the White Sox to finish off the month of June. We’ll see if the The Men in Black can keep this momentum going.

For a guy making $20 million a year you would think it’d be hard to live up to your paycheck, but Detroit Tiger Miguel Cabrera has done just that thus far in 2010. Building on a great 2009 season, Cabrera leads Major League Baseball in home runs with 19 and RBI’s with 59. If the season ended today the 27-year-old would definantly be up for a MVP award in the American League. The first baseman is hitting .332 for the Tigers who are sitting in a game and a half back from the AL Central leading Minnesota Twins. Last Sunday Cabrera blasted a three run homer to push Detroit past Pittsburgh 4-3. With the quality players both the Twins and Tigers have on roster, the AL Central race should be exciting this summer. There’s little doubt that Cabrera’s brillance will play a huge part in the Tigers’ success.

Perhaps it’s a bit premature to enshrine Washington Nationals’ messiah Stephen Strasburg in Cooperstown, but some of his gear is already in route to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The Nationals said that they are giving Strasburg’s hat and the ball that was used in the 21-year-old’s debut. Strasburg found some way to exceed the expectations put on his first MLB start by striking out 14 Pittsburgh Pirates this week. The San Diego born right hander devestated batters with his 100 MPH fast ball and wicked curve ball. Being an unknown quantiy to MLB players, Strasburg had a distinct advantage in his first start. Little can deny the #1 pick’s nasty stuff, however, with the amount of speed and movement he pitches with. In the minors, Strasburg had a ERA of 1.30 with the Syracuse Chiefs. The Nationals drafted another heralded prospect this week in 2010 MLB draft by selecting 17-year-old Bryce Harper. The future could be bright for the MLB’s youngest team.

Those who get their hands on MLB All Star Game tickets this year for baseball’s mid season classic will have an opportunity to see baseball best in Anaheim this year. Let’s take a look at who’s jumped out in the first quarter of the season to warrant real consideration for a All-Star selection in both the American League and National League. The Rockies’ Ublado Jimenez looks to be a lock for the starting spot in the NL with his incredible 0.78 ERA and 10-1 record. The top pitcher in the AL will likely go to Tampa Bay’s David Price (2.29 ERA 8-2) or the Yankees’ Andy Pettitte (2.48 ERA 7-1). At the plate Milwaukee Brewer Ryan Braun is having another monster year hitting .319 with 34 RBI’s while in the AL the Tigers Miguel Cabrera has 51 runs batted in and is sporting a .352 BA. Justin Morneau will give Cabrera a run for his money in the race for the AL starting first baseman position. The 7-year-pro is a big reason the Minnesota Twins are in first place in the AL central, hitting .369 with 38 RBI’s to his name. I’m sure a few players will make a big run in the time leading up the All Star Game on July 13th.

Few MLB pitchers have accomplished what Dominican right hander Ubaldo Jimenez has already done this year. Jimenez is 9-1 in ten starts this season and dons a league best 0.88 ERA. In 2009, Jimenez showed glimpses of being a top pitcher going 15-12 with a ERA of 3.47, but nothing near the level of dominance he’s displayed in the first quarter of 2010. In 71.1 innings pitched thus far this season, Jimenez has only given up 7 runs and only one home run. The fans were on their feet last night in Denver when the 26-year-old finished up his 8 innings of shut out pitching. Colorado is currently four games behind the NL West leading San Diego Padres, but if the rest of starting staff gets their stuff together this season the Rockies should have a good shot at the postseason. Ubaldo makes his next start against next Monday against fellow ace Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants. Jimenez-Lincecum should be one of the best pitching duels of the year.

On Thursday night in Detroit a line a mile long at the Tigers’ Comerica Park stretched across the field. The line wasn’t full of kids waiting to run the bases, but to pay there repsects to a fallen friend. Famed radio broadcaster Ernie Harwell passed away this week at the age of 92, sending the Motor City into full fledged mourning. Harwell was a legend in the city of Detroit for his 42 years calling Tigers games. There was line at 7:30 AM at Comerica Park, and by the time the last person left the stadium on early Friday morning more 10,000 Tiger fans paid their respect to the legend. I moved from Detroit when I was in the third grade, but out of curiosity I turned on a few youtube clips of Harwell. Immediately I recognized his voice like an old uncle I hadn’t heard from in a decade. Fox Sports broadcasters are planning on mourning Harwell with a half inning of silence. The Tigers will honor Ernie on Monday night at Comerica Park when the Tigers take on the Yankees at 7:05 PM.