July 14
Dick's Stock Watch identifies whose stock is up and whose is down over the past week across the world of sports.
|  |
| Bird |
STOCK UP: Pacers, Hillenbrand, Moyer, Jeter
Indiana Pacers -- The Pacers got Larry Bird back in the front office (as team president). Bird had coached the Pacers for three years, leaving the team after his contract expired following the 1999-2000 season (when he led the Pacers to the NBA Finals). Coach Isiah Thomas better win, baby, with former Celtic and ex-Pistons coach Rick Carlisle available! Carlisle was a reserve on the 1986 Boston Celtics squad that Bird led to the NBA championship.
Shea Hillenbrand -- What a week for the Arizona Diamondbacks hitter. First, against the Los Angeles Dodgers he had the game of a lifetime: 5-for-5, three home runs, seven RBI and four runs scored. Later in the week he had a four-RBI performance against the Padres.
Jamie Moyer --The Seattle Mariners starter got his 12th win of the season Friday, tying Warren Spahn and Phil Niekro for most wins at the All-Star break by a pitcher 40 years or older. And you can be sure he gets no advice from his father-in-law, ESPN college basketball analyst Digger Phelps.
Derek Jeter -- Coming back from his shoulder injury earlier in the season, the New York Yankees shortstop has been on a major tear. He's raised his batting average over 60 points in the past few weeks. Jeter is a winner and a classy guy.
STOCK DOWN: Randall Simon, White Sox, Blue Jays, Twins
Randall Simon -- The Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman for his bat attack on the woman wearing the sausage costume in Milwaukee's storied sausage race.
Chicago White Sox -- The White Sox were supposed to make a run after adding Roberto Alomar and Carl Everett. Instead, it was Struggle City against what was supposed to be an easy part of the schedule -- Tampa Bay, Detroit and Cleveland.
Toronto Blue Jays -- The Blue Jays have fallen out of the AL East race after being in the thick of it for the first few months.
Minnesota Twins -- The Twins have also collapsed, and the pitching has been the key reason. Brad Radke has struggled the past couple of months.