Carlos Martinez visits Dominican Republic over All Star Break - A Hunt and Peck

Carlos Martinez did not make the all star team this year (though he has still led quite an impressive 2016 campaign - also you should take a peak at Adam Wainwright's numbers). Though he did not particpate in the All Star Game, which is a real tragedy because that means we missed another potential moment like this

that does not mean he was not busy over the week. In fact, he might have been the busiest player of all. During the All Star Break Carlos Martinez flew out to the Dominican Republic on behalf of his foundation, Tsunami Waves, and gave school supplies to children, starting with the home town of the late Oscar Taveras, Puerto Plata.

We came down to D.R. during the All Star Break to give school supplies to the kids of Puerto Plata. We started here in the home town of Oscar Taveras. #makingwaves Thank you #STL and #CardinalNation for helping us give back #payitforward #OT RIP

A video posted by Tsunami Waves Foundation (@tsunami_waves_foundation) on Jul 12, 2016 at 2:30pm PDT

Carlos is the best.

what else is going on in baseball...

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• The hottest game over All-Star Week wasn't Pokemon Go, it was shirsey hunting | MLB.com
• 100 predictions for the second half of the MLB season. | Sports on Earth
• Jose Fernandez Threw a Slow Fastball | FanGraphs Baseball
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• Why Fox gave David Ortiz a 3-hour tongue bath during the 2016 MLB All-Star Game | SBNation.com
• Banned Jenrry Mejia plans to sue MLB, alleges years of 'corrupt mob-like activity' | CBSSports.com
• A League of Bartolo Colons | Amazin' Avenue
  Please include the final lines of the above article in my epitaph for even in death, it is important to remain #FULLHEEL:
  

  

• ‘Pokemon Go’ helped me meet 100 new friends at a baseball stadium | SBNation.com
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• MLBRank Three Up, Three Down: Which superstar would you choose? | ESPN
• How big is AL's advantage in World Series after All-Star win? | SweetSpot | ESPN

what the cardinals are up to...

• Goold: Cardinals' season at a crossroads | St. Louis Cardinals | stltoday.com
• BenFred: Cards have no bigger woe than problems in the field | Ben Frederickson | stltoday.com
• St. Louis Cardinals, it's time: Let's make the stupid Mike Trout trade — MAD EM-DASHES

KNOW THINE ENEMY...

the nl central

• A Very Necessary Zack Cozart Follow-Up | FanGraphs Baseball
• Jon Lester recalls favorite David Ortiz memory as Papi nears retirement | SBNation.com
• Chicago Cubs feel energized for second-half run | Chicago Cubs Blog | ESPN