What happened: The latest Buster Olney podcast features Rick Monday recounting how he pulled an American flag away from two people trying to burn it at Dodger Stadium in 1976, along with where that flag resides today. Paul Hembekides then joins for a "Blip or Trend" segment on the Yankees, Marlins, Rays and Rangers. The conversation turns to the underlying data on just how far the American League has fallen.
Why it matters: The American League has become a talking point because several of its marquee clubs are underperforming expectations. The Yankees, long the standard-bearer, illustrate the volatility: strong run-prevention numbers have not stopped a recent skid, exactly the kind of blip-or-trend question the segment is built to answer.
By the numbers: New York enters the stretch at 48-38 on the season, outscoring opponents on paper (4.8 runs scored to 3.8 allowed) yet mired in a seven-game losing streak with five straight defeats. Tampa Bay, Miami and the Rangers round out the AL clubs put under the microscope.
What to watch: Watch whether the Yankees' slide proves a blip or the start of a trend, and whether the broader AL data the segment flags holds up as the second half unfolds.