ESPN

The battery of Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd has a better ERA during the afternoon episodes of "SportsNation" TV.

Argue the hot topics of the day and vote on the biggest stories from the world of sports. The show airs on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. and midnight ET.

Note: Broadcast voting results as of this afternoon (ET).

If he trained, would LeBron be a better WR than Braylon Edwards?
You've seen the LeBron in a Browns uniform commercial. You've seen Edwards traded away. Now complete the Cleveland fantasy football picture.

Whom would you pick first for a playoff series?
Derek Jeter had a clutch HR to start the Yankees' postseason scoring. Albert Pujols was intentionally walked anytime the Dodgers saw danger.

Are the Red Sox in the Angels' heads?
The Angels have lost 12 of their past 13 postseason games against the Red Sox. "Last year was last year," said Torii Hunter when asked about it.

Does toughness run in families?
Eli Manning missed practice for a second straight day. Will he play against the Raiders? Dad Archie and brother Peyton have been known to play hurt.

Does Braylon Edwards make the Jets a serious Super Bowl contender?
Edwards, wearing a white No. 17 Jets jersey, caught passes from rookie Mark Sanchez and backups Erik Ainge and Kevin O'Connell in drills Thursday.

What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.

Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd tee off for a $10 million paycheck on "SportsNation" TV.

Argue the hot topics of the day and vote on the biggest stories from the world of sports. The show airs on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. and midnight ET.

Note: Broadcast voting results as of this afternoon (ET).

Should the Nets be on LeBron James' short list?
The King hasn't said anything recently to cause us to doubt his Cleveland loyalties, but the Nets are getting a new Russian billionaire owner.

Would you hire a former great player to coach your team?
Wayne Gretzky is the latest superstar player to fare poorly in management. His record in Phoenix: 143-161-24 with no playoff appearances.

Who has been more impressive this season?
The Cardinals are on the verge of wrapping up the NL Central. Have you been more impressed with Albert Pujols or St. Louis' pitching?

Do you enjoy player trash talk?
Randy Moss and the Jets defense are exchanging off-field barbs. We see the talking, even if we can't hear what the players are saying, almost every game.

Do you like Jay Leno's new show?
Many of the critics have been unkind to the former "Tonight Show" host in his new, earlier time on NBC. What's your take on Leno?

What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.

• Vote: Who gets your support for Cy Young and MVP in each league?

Sure, Zack Greinke isn't going to get to 20 wins. But the guy made a late September game against the Red Sox meaningful -- for the Royals. That's downright superhuman. Greinke's six shutout innings earned him win No. 15. Only 23 percent of SportsNation thought he had the Cy Young wrapped up before that effort, but another 34 percent -- more than enough to push him over the top -- thought last night clinched it.

When it comes to MVP, Albert Pujols' grip on the award makes "Mad Men" envious, but the AL race still has some intrigue. Most people seem to think it's down to Joe Mauer and Derek Jeter, but SportsNation blogger brianRuberti -- a Yankees fan, no less -- has Jeter fifth, Mauer second and another time at the top of his ballot.

• "If Miguel Cabrera wasn't in that lineup every night, do you thing that Minnesota would only be 2 games back? Try being 5 games up instead. He does it all in run production, and having a .994 fielding percentage doesn't hurt either." -- read the full post.

Sticks and stones may break bones, but batting helmets never seem to hurt anyone.

In another baseball brouhaha that was more sports creationism than sweet science, Kevin Youkilis charged the mound after being hit by Rick Porcello in the second inning of Tuesday's game between the Red Sox and Tigers. And it would seem to us that if you have a helmet in one hand and a bat in the other, and you elect to take the former into combat and leave the latter at the plate, you're pretty much admitting you shouldn't be going out there at all.

But aside from making for amusing video and brightening Ozzie Guillen's day, the brawl also got us wondering which batter would you least want to see rumbling toward the mound?

• Vote: The loss cost the Tigers in the standings; what's next in the Central?
• Vote: Do beanballs serve a purpose or just get more batters hit?

Lost among the cheers, applause and wildly flailing dreadlocks that surrounded Manny Ramirez's pinch-hit, tie-breaking grand slam last night was the fact that Manny is closing in on an all-time record.

Manny has somewhat of a talent for hitting with the bases loaded -- his OPS with three men on is 65 points higher than his career OPS. In only 272 at-bats with the bases drunk (we're running out of ways to say "bases loaded," so bear with us), he's hit 21 grand slams. Lou Gehrig, whose personal letters ESPN.com collected to illustrate the course of his illness, holds the all-time record with 23.

A grand slam's a funny thing. It requires a number of disparate factors to align in just the right way. If one runner decides to try to score from second on a single, it doesn't happen. If a pitcher throws a wild pitch, it doesn't happen. In addition, even if you do get the opportunity, you actually have to defy the pressure, get the perfect pitch, and put it out of the ballpark. No wonder the career record is only equal to, say, a few good months from Albert Pujols. Manny could hit two tomorrow, or he could never hit one again.

Additionally, it's tough to find two players of somewhat equal talent who are more different than Gehrig and Ramirez. One was a dour, stout, defensively skilled first baseman who held the record for most consecutive games played. The other is a cheery, flaky, defensively challenged left fielder. One thing they have in common, though: both are hitters of a legendary caliber.

• A huge majority thought Lou Gehrig should start on the American League all-time All-Star Team.
• SportsNation would pick Albert Pujols to come off the bench and pinch hit over Manny Ramirez, despite Manny's heroics.
• Groups: Dodgers Fan Club | MLB chatroom | The New York Yankees Fan Club

Terry and Tito Francona need not apply. Tony Gwynn and Tony Gwynn Jr. can also save the application fee. No extra credit for the third generation, so the Bells are out.

And after last night's barren performance, Brandon Inge can bring Babe Ruth back and have the Sultan of Swat adopt him, and he's still not getting another go.

Fathers playing catch with sons is an American theme. But fathers and sons crushing the heck out of the ball is smaller, less universal club. One in which Prince Fielder emphatically staked his surname's membership in Monday's Home Run Derby. Sure, it wasn't Josh Hamilton blasting off or Bobby Abreu hitting 40-plus dingers, but Fielder gave us what we wanted -- a guy swinging with enough force to put Tiger Woods to shame and occasionally hitting the ball more than 500 feet.

He also did it far more consistently than his dad, Cecil, ever did in three appearances in the Home Run Derby. But whatever their current relations, how would the Fielders fare against two other families with almost 1,000 home runs between the generations? Since we're cruelly denied a chance to vote for Jose and Danny Tartabull, we're voting Griffey.

• It's not going to the Ivy league but the Derby gets a passing grade from the 'Nation.
• How many home runs will Fielder hit in his career? Vote on Derby-related issues.
• All-Time Derby: Barry Bonds fared well on his own against the legends.
• Chat: Ask Rob Neyer about Danny Tartabull's greatest hits (and more) at 12 ET

• Rank the most perfect players in baseball history.

Hank Aaron babysat orphaned kittens in his spare time. Honus Wagner prevented a second Spanish-American War. Barry Bonds signed an autograph once.

OK, we're exagerrating a bit. Aaron, Wagner, Bonds, and others are on our list of "Most Perfect Players" because of their baseball prowess, not any made-up off-the-field activities. Five-tool players don't exactly litter the game -- skill in one area doesn't guarantee excellence in another (witness: Adam Dunn, Adam Everett, the Mets). Tim Kurkjian ranked Albert Pujols as the most perfect player in the game today, but does he stack up to the all-time greats?

One thing's for certain: a Triple Crown would probably help his chances in that regard. SportsNation thinks he'll get close, but no cigar.

• Groups: St. Louis Cardinals Nation | SAINT LOUIS SPORTS!
• Complete All-Star game coverage.
• Video: Is Pujols the perfect player?

• Rank the field of eight for the Home Run Derby.

It's Nelson Cruz, Brandon Inge, Adrian Gonzalez and the greatest show in sports! All right, so part of the lineup for this year's Home Run Derby has almost as much star power as a Syfy Channel original movie (although on the plus side, much, much better special effects). But as long as guys like Prince Fielder and Ryan Howard are around, the field isn't completely barren beyond hometown hero Albert Pujols.

In fact, more people are picking someone else to win the Home Run Derby than are picking someone other than Tiger Woods to win the British Open.

And like the NBA's dunk contest, minus the props, it's the fun of the moment that makes the event. If you can name the last five winners of the event, you may have an unhealthy obsession with Miguel Tejada. It's all about hitting a lot of balls a long way. And as long as somebody challenges Pujols, and Carlos Pena doesn't try to draw a walk, we'll be fine.

• Pujols is good, but more people would rather see LeBron in the dunk contest.
• LeBron aside, only a few states prefer the dunk contest to the HR Derby.
• All-Time Derby: Roger Maris doesn't fare well against history's best sluggers
• Chat: Ask Ken Griffey Sr. about his All-Star memories at 4:15 p.m. ET

Two things we know for sure about Albert Pujols. First, Calvin Borel will play no part in the pursuit of this Triple Crown. Second, SportsNation considers him the greatest hitter in Cardinals history (although it's worth noting Missouri gives Stan Musial a little more love than most states).

But as good as Pujols has been since his first season in the majors, leading one SportsNation blogger to say he's the kind of player to tell your kids about in 25 years, he's on the verge of exploring new statistical territory. Not only is Pujols on pace to hit at least 61 home runs, a mark a majority of SportsNation still considers the single-season record, but he could become the first player since Carl Yastrzemski to win a Triple Crown.

Check where Pujols stands: Average | Home Runs | RBI

• 80 percent: Winning the Triple Crown would be more impressive than 62 home runs.
• 63 percent: Which is all well and good, but Pujols won't win the Triple Crown.
• 52 percent: Hitting 62 home runs would be better than Joe Mauer hitting .400.
• Groups: St. Louis Cardinals Nation. | Saint Louis Sports! | National league
• Chat: Don't have Pujols? Get fantasy answers in chat at 3 p.m. ET