On today’s show, with a renewed vigor and an enthusiasm not felt in ages, MLB is back, has been back for me and I’ve been living in the box scores, on Baseball Reference, on MLB Network, since April, so now it’s time for this show to catch up a bit, and we have a lot to catch up on, including…

- the extreme highs and recent lows of Aaron Judge…,

- ranking Judge with the other most elite hitters in my Top 10 Batters in the league today rankings, overall best batters, the 1st Team All NBA level or NFL 1st Team All-Pro level hitters in the league today, not just the best this season but guys w/ some high ceilings who have routinely hit those highs and strike fear into opposing pitchers…,

- and of course there’s an Outside Looking In group who couldn’t quite crack the Top 10 but deserve acknowledgment,…

- the best up and coming, breakout type players in the game…,

- and, a group of superstars w/ a lot of high MVP finishes who may be on the downside of their careers.

- Then, for contrast and to see where we’ve come from just a month ago, I give my Power Rankings from the All-Star Break before unveiling my newest updated Rankings w/ just 40 games to go…,

- take a look at the Playoff picture in each league…,

- and much, much more!

So sit back, it’s been an amazing MLB season as we head into the pennant races, and we’re breaking down how it’s all unfolding, next on the Roundup Podcast so let’s get rolling . . .

> If you’re wondering what the intro/outro music on the show is, we lead off every episode with an amazing song by Calexico called Close Behind, and for the closing music, the same song we’ve used every single episode so far, a beautiful rendition of the standard I Wish You Love, performed by a group called Friends of Dean Martinez, and special thanks to Joe Burns for letting us use his music here. So as always, a shoutout to the music we love, Calexico, Friends of Dean Martinez, check it out…