Results tagged ‘ Roy Halladay ’

6 divisions in 6 days, Day 1 …

Leading up to Opening Day, I’ll roll out an All-Star team for each of the six divisions in baseball — that includes a manager, a starting nine (with a DH also for the National League), three starters and two relievers. One catch: Each team must have at least one representative, and the skipper doesn’t count. Feel free to submit your own lineups below. I’d love to see how yours differ.

Day 1: NL East
 Team-wise, perhaps the deepest division in baseball. But there are a lot of players I’m counting on bounceback years from (and that’s not even including Chase Utley)

Manager: Charlie Manuel, PHI

Lineup

Jose Reyes, SS (MIA)
Hanley Ramirez, DH (MIA)
Ryan Howard, 1B (PHI)
Mike Stanton, LF (MIA)
Brian McCann, C (ATL)
David Wright, 3B (NYM)
Danny Espinosa, 2B (WAS)
Jason Heyward, RF (ATL)
Shane Victorino, CF (PHI)

Rotation

Roy Halladay, PHI
Cliff Lee, PHI
Stephen Strasburg, WAS

Bullpen

Jonathan Papelbon, PHI
Craig Kimbrel, ATL

– Alden

A stat on the (not so) quality start

I just wanted to share something one of my editors shared with me recently, which expresses just how silly the “quality start” stat is.

The minimum requirement for a quality start is six innings and three earned runs, which comes out to a 4.50 ERA. Not very good (or, quality). In fact, it’s not even the league average. Not even close.

This year — “Year of the Pitcher II,” I should preface — the Major League average in ERA is 3.89. Last year,  it was 4.07. And in 2001 — when Barry Bonds broke the home-run record and offensive production was at its peak — it was 4.41.

Now, of course, there is something to be said about pitching into the sixth and giving up less than three runs in each start, and the leaders in quality starts this year are all legit aces — Justin Verlander (24), Jered Weaver (23), Roy Halladay, Dan Haren, Matt Cain, Cole Hamels, James Shields and Justin Masterson (tied with 20).

But it’s definitely not an end-all be-all by any means.

– Alden

* Filed this week: LoMo good for the game in milder doses; congratulations, apologies owed to Thome; baseball is family affair for the Valentins.

Yeah, um, Roy Halladay is, uh, pretty good

OK, so maybe you didn’t need me to tell you Roy Halladay is a good pitcher. But it was interesting to see just how much of a throwback he is.

Pitchers, as you know, rarely pitch entire games anymore, and “durability” usually means 200 innings. Not for Halladay. The Phillies’ ace (and, yes, even though they signed Cliff Lee, he is the unquestioned ace on that team) is essentially unmatched in terms of complete games over the last few years.

Consider:

* From 2003-11, Halladay has notched the most complete games in baseball with 54. The No. 2 man on that list? CC Sabathia, with 28.

* The 54 complete games by Halladay is more than the total for 26 teams.

For that eight-plus-year span, Halladay has 134 wins (first in the Majors), 1,743 2/3 innings (fourth), 1,333 strikeouts (sixth), a 3.03 ERA and a 4.79 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The 33-year-old right-hander’s last complete game came Wednesday against the Nationals, giving up two runs and striking out nine in the process. He has given up just three runs in 22 innings this year and has 22 strikeouts with only three walks.

Yeah, The Doc is pretty good.

And he’s actually pretty funny, too. This ad was a good one …

– Alden 

* What I wrote this week: The Rockies are doing what they never have; turning a double play can be a dangerous game; MLB family honors Jackie Robinson. 

Too early for MLB power rankings? …

I don’t think so. 
All the big free agents — minus Rafael Soriano — have signed, and it seems every team is pretty much set for the start of Spring Training. It has been an amazingly surprising offseason, with Jayson Werth signing with the Nationals, Cliff Lee going to Philly, Carl Crawford now with Boston, the Angels missing out on everyone, the Yankees staying quiet, and Dan Uggla getting the kind of money I never thought he would land. 
That means a lot has changed since the end of the 2010 season. 
So, let’s get to it … 
* 2010 records are listed in parenthesis

A-Gonz.jpg1. Boston Red Sox (89-73): The Red Sox have the best lineup in baseball after adding Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez (pictured right, by The Associated Press), they have a very good bullpen after key offseason additions, and their rotation is very deep. But they’ll have to stay healthy — something that didn’t happen last year. 

2. Philadelphia Phillies (97-65; lost in NLCS): The old saying says, “You’re only as good as your next day’s pitcher.” If that’s the case, put the Phillies in the World Series right now. Lee, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels is arguable the best rotation foursome in baseball history. And their offense is still scary. But the bullpen, as usual, is a question mark. 

3. San Francisco Giants (92-70; won WS): They’re the defending champs, and their pitching staff is as good or better than anybody’s in baseball. But can their spare-parts offense carry them deep like it did last year? Hard to believe they can repeat without a more-consistent bat. 

4. Texas Rangers (90-72; lost in WS): Not being able to get Lee hurts, especially when considering pretty much everybody in that rotation outperformed last year. But their starting staff is still solid, their bullpen is very good and, after the addition of Adrian Beltre, they have one of the best offenses in baseball. 


5. Atlanta Braves (91-71; lost in NLDS): Filling the big shoes of Bobby Cox is a whole lot easier when inheriting a team like this one. Fredi Gonzalez has a dynamic lineup, especially with the addition of Uggla – though they’ll regret that extension — plus a solid rotation and a really good bullpen.  

6. St. Louis Cardinals (86-76): I expected the Cards to be a lot better than they were last year, and I don’t expect them to disappoint again this year. Lance Berkman could end up being a liability in right field, but if healthy, he can give them a big middle-of-the-order bat. Regardless, two dynamic duos — Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday, and Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright — should lead to title contention.  

7. Milwaukee Brewers (77-85): It took a major toll on the farm system, but the additions of Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum give the Brew Crew one of the best 1-thru-5 rotations in baseball. And Prince Fielder is still there. The Brewers will be legitimate title contenders.   

8. Colorado Rockies (83-79): The Rockies have a bright future with Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and possibly Ubaldo Jimenez – if he agrees to an extension after the 2011 season — locked up. Their present looks very good, too. They have great depth, a solid rotation and a good lineup. Lots to be excited about in the Mile High City.

9. Chicago White Sox (88-74): Looks like the South Siders are going for it all this year after signing Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko – or perhaps they’re setting it up so that Ozzie Guillen is the main culprit if they don’t win it all in 2011. Regardless, they have a power-packed offense and some nice arms. It’s up to Ozzie to bring it all together.  

10. New York Yankees (95-67; lost in ALCS): The Yankees have issues, yes — they’re aging, they have holes in the rotation and the bullpen is spotty. But they’re still the Yankees. And as long as Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia and Mariano Rivera are there, they’re a major threat.  

11. Cincinnati Reds (91-71; lost in NLDS): The Reds were a surprise team last year, but I don’t think they did enough this offseason to stay on top. Their pitching staff is still deep and talented, but they needed to make bigger moves this offseason — mostly on offense — to take the next step, especially when considering how much better the teams in their division got. 

12. Detroit Tigers (81-81): Victor Martinez and Joaquin Benoit were big pickups, and the Tigers will compete in the American League Central all the way through. But it’s a tough division.  

13. Minnesota Twins (94-68; lost in ALDS): The Twins always seem to find a way, and they’ll be fine again if they resign Carl Pavano and Jim Thome (as expected). A healthy Justin Morneau will be huge, too. But their bullpen took a major hit, and while the White Sox and Tigers got better, they really didn’t. 

14. Oakland Athletics (81-81): This is my surprise team of the year. Billy Beane has established a phenomenal young pitching staff and a great defensive team. If only they could’ve acquired a couple of the big bats they needed. (I give their stadium a lot of the blame for that.)  

15. Chicago Cubs (75-87): The Cubs sure look like they’re going for it by trading for Matt Garza, signing Kerry Wood to a two-year deal and giving Carlos Pena $10 million. On paper, they look good. But that seems to be the case a lot in the Windy City, and somehow it never comes to fruition. Why should I believe otherwise now?  

16. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (80-82): It has been a very disappointing
offseason for Angels general manager Arte Moreno, who lost out on Crawford and Beltre despite badly needing offensive help. They have potential in their rotation and a good bullpen that will be great if they get Soriano. But it seems they took a step back this offseason.  

17. Los Angeles Dodgers (80-82): The Dodgers still have pieces in that lineup that can do some things, as well as a deep rotation. Don Mattingly will keep them relevant in his first year on the job. 

18. San Diego Padres (90-72): This was the kind of reality Padres faithful expected, even after a surprising 2010 season that should’ve led to a playoff berth. No Gonzalez, and Heath Bell is a very likely Trade Deadline chip. But they still have a great pitching staff and a very good defensive team. I just don’t know where their offense will come from.  

19. Tampa Bay Rays (96-66; lost in ALDS): It’s a different Rays team now, with no Crawford, Soriano, Benoit, Pena or Garza. But that’s a savvy front office, and their array of young players give them a great future once again. But it’s a retooling year in Tampa Bay. And they won’t be as relevant in the AL East as they have been.  

20. Florida Marlins (80-82): The Marlins needed bullpen help, a catcher and another arm for the rotation this offseason and got all of that. They also have a great bunch of young position players and two franchise-type guys in Hanley Ramirez and Josh Johnson. But it looks like another .500 year in South Florida. Nothing more, nothing less.  

21. New York Mets (79-83): The Mets have toiled in obscurity this offseason, and maybe that’s a good thing. This is a year about finding out their identity and improving for the future — not competing.  

22. Washington Nationals (69-93): Mike Rizzo lost out on Lee, and he overpaid enormously for Werth. But they vastly improved their defense (with Werth and Adam LaRoche), have a nice lineup and boast a few nice, young pitching arms. D.C. is still on its way to becoming a place where free agents will actually want to be at some point.  

23. Baltimore Orioles (66-96): O’s look to have a pretty impressive lineup, but they need a lot more pitching — especially in the bullpen — to compete in baseball’s toughest division.  

24. Toronto Blue Jays (85-77): They’re another team that had its bullpen get completely stripped, and I don’t expect Jose Bautista and Vernon Wells to equal their 2010 season and keep them competitive. Not a bad rotation, though, and Alex Anthopoulos has made some nice forward-thinking moves thus far. 

25. Houston Astros (76-86): Brad Mills led the Astros to an impressive second half last year, but they have a long, long way to go.  

26. Seattle Mariners (61-101): The M’s were a big disappointment last year, and they will struggle once again in 2011. 

27. Arizona Diamondbacks (65-97): Kevin Towers has gone to work on retooling that dreadful bullpen, but there’s a lot more work to be done in Arizona than that.  

28. Cleveland Indians (69-93): Indians are still waiting for the young players they got back from trading two Cy Young Award winners (Sabathia and Lee) to come through. Until that happens, they’ll go nowhere. 

29. Kansas City Royals (67-95): With the pieces they have in their farm system and in the big leagues, the Royals seem set up to be a competitive team as soon as 2012. But not in 2011. 

30. Pittsburgh Pirates (57-105): The Pirates have issues. Their Major League roster is unimpressive, and their farm system isn’t great. All they can hope to do is avoid another 100-loss season.  

– Alden Gonzalez

Clean livin’, by C.J. Wilson

ARLINGTON — The Rangers did something really cool after they beat the Rays to advance to the American League Championship Series for the first time in their history. They waited on Josh Hamilton and C.J. Wilson to come around the corner, and then they sprayed them with ginger ale. 

The reason is the same (neither of them drink alcohol). 
The background for it is totally different (Hamilton can’t drink because of past problems with drugs and alcohol, and Wilson doesn’t drink simply because he never went down that path in the first place). 
Speaking to the media before the biggest start of his life — not to mention Rangers history — on Thursday, Wilson was witty, charming and refreshing. He didn’t display any apprehensions about matching up with one of the best big-game pitchers in baseball, CC Sabathia, for Game 1 of the ALCS on Friday. 
Instead … 
* When asked how Cliff Lee has impacted his successful transition from reliever to starter, he quipped, “Before he was here, I was actually a right-handed second baseman.” 
* He joked: “I think I’m just going to get that knuckleball over the plate first pitch and see where we go from there.” 
* Regarding the matchup with CC, he stated: “I don’t face him. … Yeah, his uniform is much bigger than mine, and his feet are much larger than mine, but I’m not trying to fill his shoes.”
* And he was delightfully rude when asked if it was a big deal to face the Yankees in the playoffs: “Getting to the World Series is a big deal, winning the World Series is a big deal. Everything is a big deal. That’s why you guys are all here watching us and asking us silly questions.”
AP101014123489.jpg
Wilson (pictured above by The Associated Press) was also asked about his personal choice to live a clean life. That’s when things got serious — and interesting, and enlightening. 
“My whole life, I never drank, I never used drugs or anything like that,” Wilson said. “And in this era, where so many guys are tainted and stuff, I would pee in a cup and feel good about it every time. 
“I got a lot of really good advice when I was a kid, and one of them was like, ‘Hey, you know what, there are a couple of things that ruin careers, but why would you ever want to step down a path that’s going to do that to you?’ It’s like, well, I wasn’t born with as much physical talent as other guys. I can’t lay back and let that take over. I have to work for everything I’ve gotten. I’m a regular-size dude, and I can’t hit the ball 500 feet. I’m a little guy, and I’ve always equated it to a work-ethic thing, and that’s the way it’s always been.”
Wilson has had a major impact in Hamilton’s turnaround, too. 
Hamilton, you might’ve heard, is supremely talented but had well-chronicled drug-and-alcohol problems coming up, the type that began in 2001, put him out of baseball for a three-year span beginning in ’03 and ended abruptly in October 2005. The Rangers’ do-everything outfielder has been sober ever since, and the clean Wilson has been helping him stay there. 
“Josh and I have a very odd bond because of that,” Wilson said. “The last couple of years, him and I have gotten close because I was one of the few guys that he had the green light to hang out with, you know what I mean, because guys knew that I was zero risk in that sense. He was going to go over to my room, and we were going to play Xbox, and that’s what was going to happen. We were going to kill some aliens playing ‘Halo.’”
Tomorrow, Wilson will try to kill some Yankees playing the game he loves. If Francisco Liriano weren’t in the same league, Wilson would be an ideal Comeback Player of the Year candidate. having gone from back-end reliever to successful starter (he’s 15-8 with a 3.35 ERA in 33 starts as the No. 2 man behind Lee this season). 
Now, after 6 1/3 shutout innings against the Rays in his playoff debut, he’s gearing up for the start of his life. 
“Every mile I’ve run, my entire life,” he said, “and every little tubing exercise and sinker I’ve thrown playing catch is everything I’ve done to get to this point.”
– Alden Gonzalez

Make sure you follow C.J. Wilson on Twitter (@str8edgeracer).

And check out my case for Roy Halladay outdueling Tim Lincecum on Saturday. 

Postseason breakdown: National League

MINNESOTA — While the American League was pretty much decided by the time the final week of the 2010 regular season began, the National League came down to the final Sunday.


Heading into the playoffs, the mystery continues. 

Three of the four NL postseason clubs were watching from home at this time last year. Can anyone from the Reds, Braves and Giants knock out the red-hot Phillies, who have won the pennant two years in a row? 

Have a look … 
Phillies (97-65)

Potential lineup

Jimmy Rollins, SS

images2.jpg

Placido Polanco, 3B
Chase Utley, 2B
Ryan Howard, 1B
Jayson Werth, RF
Raul Ibanez, LF
Shane Victorino, CF
Carlos Ruiz, C

Potential rotation

Roy Halladay, RH
Roy Oswalt, RH
Cole Hamels, LH
Joe Blanton, RH

Key relievers

Brad Lidge, RH (CL)
J.C. Romero, LH
Ryan Madson, RH
Jose Contreras, RH

Key reserves

Brian Schneider, C
Wilson Valdez, INF
Ross Gload, INF/OF
Ben Francisco, OF

Why they’ll win: They’re calling them “H2O” now. But however you want to identify them — “The Big Three,” “Cole Oswaday” (that was me) — the starting-rotation trio of Halladay, Oswalt and Hamels is looking untouchable heading into this postseason. So untouchable that they’re pretty much all you need, especially in a short AL Division Series. Throw in the fact that their offense — when it’s right — is one of the most deadly in baseball, and the Phils look poised for a third straight trip to the World Series. 

Why they won’t: Just like last year, the Phillies and Charlie Manuel aren’t sure what they’re going to get in the ninth inning from Lidge, even though he has closed out the season very well. Also, the offense has been inconsistent this year, to say the least, and that’ll be something to watch out for, too — especially with J-Roll not looking too healthy. 

Giants (92-70)

Potential lineup

Andres Torres, CF

Timma.jpg

Freddy Sanchez, 2B
Aubrey Huff, 1B
Buster Posey, C
Pat Burrell, LF
Juan Uribe, SS
Jose Guillen, RF
Pablo Sandoval, 3B

Potential rotation

Tim Lincecum, RH
Matt Cain, RH
Jonathan Sanchez, LH
Madison Bumgarner, LH

Key relievers

Brian Wilson, RH (CL)
Sergio Romo, RH
Jeremy Affeldt, LH
Santiago Casilla, RH

Key reserves

Eli Whiteside, C
Edgar Renteria, INF
Cody Ross, OF
Aaron Rowand, OF

Why they’ll win: The Giants’ duo of Lincecum and Cain is as good as any in baseball and will keep games close, and Sanchez, the No. 3 man, has been an under-the-radar stud. San Fran is also a hot team going in, having gone 19-10 since the start of September to take the NL West from the Padres. Their bullpen is lights-out, too. The Giants finished the regular season with the best ERA in baseball, and the second-best relief-pitcher ERA. 

Why they won’t: This department has been better lately, but the Giants’ offense is still a big question mark heading into the postseason. Does Bruce Bochy‘s club have enough punch to compete with some of the NL’s best? Can they manufacture runs without having to rely on the long ball? And can Posey, the potential NL Rookie of the Year, bust out of his recent slump — 6-for-42 — and come up big in his first postseason? They’ll need him to. 

Reds (91-71)

Potential lineup

Brandon Phillips, 2B

votto.jpg

Orlando Cabrera, SS
Joey Votto, 1B
Scott Rolen, 3B
Jonny Gomes, CF
Jay Bruce, RF
Drew Stubbs, CF
Ramon Hernandez, C

Potential rotation

Edinson Volquez, RH
Bronson Arroyo, RH
Aaron Harang, RH
Travis Wood, LH

Key relievers

Francisco Cordero, RH (CL)
Arthur Rhodes, LH 
Nick Masset, RH
Aroldis Chapman, LH

Key reserves

Ryan Hanigan, C
Miguel Cairo, INF
Paul Janish, INF
Laynce Nix, OF

Why they’ll win: Some may be surprised to learn that Cincinnati finished the regular season with the most runs in the NL, but the Reds are a very good offensive ballclub despite the lack of sexy names. Whether they hit against the Phillies and, perhaps eventually, the Giants remains to be seen. Their bullpen has some weapons, especially in Chapman — a wild card for this team. 

Why they won’t: Dusty Baker‘s club just has too many inconsistent parts. It starts with Volquez, the Game 1 starter who’s been up-and-down since coming off ’09 Tommy John surgery, and it ends with Cordero, who’s blown eight saves this season. Then you can sprinkle Phillips and others in between. And then there’s this: The Reds went a combined 7-12 against the three other NL playoff teams this season. 
Braves (91-71)

Potential lineup

Omar Infante, 3B

bobby_cox_cigar.jpgJason Heyward, RF

Derrek Lee, 1B
Brian McCann, C
Matt Diaz, LF
Alex Gonzalez, SS
Brooks Conrad, 2B
Rick Ankiel, CF

Potential rotation

Derek Lowe, RH
Tommy Hanson, RH
Tim Hudson, RH
Brandon Beachy, RH

Key relievers

Billy Wagner, LH (CL)
Takashi Saito, RH
Jonny Venters, LH
Peter Moylan, RH

Key reserves

David Ross, C
Troy Glaus, INF
Eric Hinske, INF/OF
Rick Ankiel, OF

Why they’ll win: Because fate says they should, considering this will be Bobby Cox‘s last season at the helm. Need a more concrete reason? The Braves can still pitch with just about anybody, and it can be enough to keep them in contention despite a myriad of injuries. 

Why they won’t: Because of what I just mentioned — injuries. Chipper Jones was first, then Martin Prado, and now Jair Jurrjens has been shaken up and won’t be starting in the NLDS. The Braves’ offense will be relying on an inconsistent Lee, Ankiel, McCann and Gonzalez, and a rookie in Heyward. That’s a lot of question marks that need to turn into solid answers. 

NL CHAMPION: Phillies. 
– Alden Gonzalez

September chock-full of storylines

The best time to be a baseball fan, in my mind, starts right now, when the calendar flips to September, the rosters expand to 40, the trade rumors simmer and each game takes on added playoff intensity. 

The storylines are aplenty this year, with 12 teams within five games of a playoff spot heading into Wednesday. Here are my top 10 … 
10. Skippers trying to shed the “interim” tag
Their clubs may not be heading to the playoffs, but interim managers Edwin Rodriguez (Marlins), Daren Brown (Mariners), Mike Quade (Cubs) and Kirk Gibson (Diamondbacks) are competing for long-term jobs. Per standard protocol, each of their respective clubs have said they’ll be a strong candidate in the interview process, and how their teams play in September could go a long way in that regard. Also consider that several other openings — the Braves, Blue Jays, and possibly the Dodgers and Cardinals, to name a few — will come up this offseason, meaning clubs may be more willing to stick with what they’ve got. 
9. Chapman leads the list of September call-ups
Unfortunately, Tommy John surgery deprived us of watching more of Stephen Strasburg‘s rookie season. But not to worry — Aroldis Chapman and his 100-plus mph fastball from the left side are here to dazzle us. He’ll be something to watch every time he steps out of the Reds’ bullpen. Also look out for John Mayberry Jr. (Phillies), Freddie Freeman (Braves), Desmond Jennings (Rays), Mike Moustakas (Royals) and several other prospects who will be called up this month. 
8. Can Morneau make it back? 
We know Minnesota won’t rush the return of Justin Morneau, who’s recovering from a concussion and has been out since July 7. But the Twins were already dealt a serious blow when closer Joe Nathan‘s elbow gave out in Spring Training, and it’ll be hard to see them advancing deep in the playoffs with Morneau also gone (despite Jim Thome‘s prowess at the plate this season). 
7. Lee and Howard look to reverse struggles
Two of the game’s elites are looking to bounce back from rough Augusts. Cliff Lee had a nightmarish seven starts that month, posting a 1-4 record and a 6.37 ERA, after topping the Majors in WHIP and being nearly unhittable for most of the season. Ryan Howard, meanwhile, missed most of the month while on the DL with a left ankle strain and was batting just .111 with one RBI in his first nine games back before having a nice night against the Dodgers on Tuesday. Deep postseason runs aren’t possible on the Rangers and Phillies without these two in top form. 
6. Low-budget Reds and Padres still doing it
Will that continue? The Reds’ win and the Cardinals’ loss put them a season-high seven games up heading into the month, even though Cincinnati didn’t make much in the form of in-season acquisitions. The Padres have scuffled recently, but they’ve been in first place in the National League West since June 16 and still hold a four-game cushion. It’ll be interesting to see if the Giants can catch up. 
5. Injury-riddled Red Sox march on

Somehow, the Red Sox have managed to stay afloat in the toughest division in baseball despite being completely ravaged by injury this season. Things likely won’t get any better, either, since Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis all figure to be out for the year. But the Red Sox have plenty of chances remaining against the Rays and Yankees as the regular season winds down, and history us not to sleep on this team. 
4. Bobby’s swan song
Can Bobby Cox, a sure-shot Hall of Famer, end his brilliant career with yet another playoff appearance? It sure seems that way, even though Chipper Jones has already been lost for the season. The Braves have been in sole possession of first place in the NL East since May 31 and don’t seem to be going anywhere. The health of Derek Lowe‘s elbow — which he says is nothing serious — will be something to monitor down the stretch, as will the production of recently acquired first baseman Derrek Lee, and whether or not Troy Glaus can give Atlanta anything as a third baseman. 
3. Who gets the major awards? 
It’s been one of the most impressive years for National League rookies in quite some time. So, who wins that league’s Rookie of the Year award? (I’m assuming either Austin Jackson or Neftali Feliz in the American League.) Jason Heyward, Jaime Garcia, Buster Posey, Mike Stanton, Gaby Sanchez and Strasburg, among others, are candidates. As for the two league MVPs? It’s up for grabs between Robinson Cano, Josh Hamilton and Miguel Cabrera in the AL, while Joey Votto, Albert Pujols and Carlos Gonzalez will seemingly battle it out in the NL. The Cy Young, in my mind, will come down to Tim Hudson, Roy Halladay, Josh Johnson, Adam Wainwright, Ubaldo Jimenez and Chris Carpenter in the NL; and Clay Buchholz, Felix Hernandez, Trevor Cahill, David Price and C.J. Wilson will go at it in the AL. 
2. The race between the Yankees and Rays
Will any club separate itself in the AL East? The Rays and Yankees were deadlocked for a record-setting eight straight games until the Yankees took a one-game lead on Tuesday night. But this is far from over. The two clubs have been separated by no more than a game since Aug. 15 and are scheduled to meet seven more times before the regular season ends. The Rays lead the season series thus far, 6-5. 
(Here’s a column I wrote on the Rays’ in-it-to-win-it mentality last week.)
1. Manny’s in Chicago
I am of the belief that Manny Ramirez‘s impact on the White Sox will be a great one. One that will get them over the top and into the playoffs, in fact. The skepticism is obvious, but one doesn’t have to look too far back to find a reason to believe. In 2008 — during a contract year, just like this one — Ramirez joined the Dodgers right before the non-waiver Trade Deadline, tore it up and got them in the playoffs. His run with the White Sox starts Wednesday, when he bats fifth and serves as the DH. Considering the Twins’ situation with Morneau, I believe he helps Chicago close the gap on their four-game deficit in the AL Central. Even if he doesn’t, a White Sox team with Ramirez (pictured below; Reuters) and Ozzie Guillen in the same dugout is a must-watch. 
55899334.jpg
* Here’s a MLB.com homepage on Thursday. 
– Alden Gonzalez

No stopping yet for Rauuuul

MIAMI — Raul Ibanez still wakes up every morning loving his job. (And, really, why wouldn’t he?) He still feels like he’s in tip-top physical shape. And when seasons end, Ibanez still hasn’t reached the point when he’s analyzing about what life after baseball will bring.

Thumbnail image for raul-ibanez-steroids-20090607_zaf_cp4_071.jpg
“I analyze how I can get better,” Ibanez told me last weekend in Sun Life Stadium, where his Phillies were taking part in a three-game series against the Marlins. “When the offseason hits, I’m mostly thinking about how I can get better — how I can become a better player.” 
That’s a good sign. It means Ibanez, 38 and in his 15th season in the Majors, still doesn’t feel like the end is near and still feels good enough to stick around. After this season, he’ll have another year left on his three-year, $31.5 million contract. 
As for retirement?
“I don’t think about it much,” Ibanez said. “I give it thought from time to time — the thought will pop in from time to time. But you’re so busy every day trying to be the best player you can be that you don’t really have time to think about that. If you focus on anything other than this job, then you can have some rough days. So, I really don’t look ahead. But I do love the game, and I love everything about the game.”
During the series, Ibanez (pictured) was making his return to Miami, which is where he grew up, fought through the system the hard way — he took the community-college route to the Draft — and went from being the 1,006th overall selection in 1992 to one of the most productive outfielders in baseball. 
“It’s always nice to come back,” he said.
Many say Ibanez, who didn’t make his first All-Star team until last year (at age 37), was a late bloomer. Perhaps that’s why the the lefty-hitting left fielder doesn’t feel restricted by age.
“The age thing that people talk about, I don’t buy that,” said Ibanez, batting .242 with three homers and 21 RBIs through his first 51 games. “I feel physically as good as I did eight years ago or seve years ago, whatever. So, I think if you take care of yourself, if you take care of your body, your mind, then who’s to say how long you can play and be productive?”
Perfecto …
I got to experience something very cool and very rare (and very taxing) that Saturday night, when Roy Halladay became the 20th pitcher in Major League history to throw a perfect game. Sure, his teammates were thrilled, but Halladay maintained an all-business approach and deflected a lot of the praise to his catcher. Interestingly enough, Halladay’s previous start was his worst of the season, and he bounced back in a big way. 
A heartfelt goodbye to my favorite player ever, Ken Griffey Jr. Like Mickey Mantle was to my father’s generation, Ken Griffey Jr. is to mine, in my mind. He was incredibly talented, a thrill to watch and a class act. Every time I sign something, the final ‘z’ on my last name curves over top, and I write the No. 24 on it, in honor of the man who first made me love baseball. Happy retirement, ‘Kid.’

– Alden Gonzalez

Trying to predict a truly unpredictable game …

What would Opening Night be without predictions of what will happen half a year from now? Baseball is one of those elements of life that follows no script and is loaded with unpredictability. Come October, this will serve as proof …

Best offense: Phillies 

Thumbnail image for junior.jpg

Best defense: Red Sox
Best starting rotation: Yankees
Best bullpen: Rangers
Best bench: Rockies
NL Rookie of the Year: Jason Heyward 
AL Rookie of the Year: Michael Brantley
NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay
AL Cy Young: Josh Beckett
NL MVP: Hanley Ramirez
AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez
World Series champion: Phillies (over Yankees)
… Now, it’s time to find out just how wrong I truly am. Happy 2010 season, everyone.
– Alden Gonzalez

(Pictured: A vintage Ken Griffey Jr. moon shot. Why? He was my favorite player growing up, this may be the last year we are graced with his presence, and his eight Opening Day home runs is tied with Frank Robinson for the most in baseball history. Enough said.)

6 Divisions in 6 Days: AL East

With this being the final week of Spring Training (crazy, right?), I figured it’d be justified to take a look at all 30 clubs and examine where they stand, what they need and where it looks like they’ll finish heading into the 2010 season. So, leading up to Opening Night between the Red Sox and Yankees, I’ll touch on one of the six divisions each day Monday-Saturday. Today, Day 2, we look at the American League East …


Yankees: They added Javier Vazquez to a starting rotation that was already one of the best; they still have the automatic Mariano Rivera in the back end of a bullpen that will only 

Thumbnail image for rtxqd691yankees.jpg

benefit from one more year in the setup role for Joba Chamberlain (it seems inevitable that he’ll be the eighth-inning man); and despite not having Johnny Damon or Hideki Matsui, that offense is still one of the scariest. But that’s also the place that nurses my only real concern. The loss of Damon makes me question that top of the order. Derek Jeter did a great job at the leadoff spot last year, but I don’t like somebody his age being counted on to play the physically demanding position of shortstop and lead off. At the two-spot, Nick Johnson reminds me of Bobby Abreu because of his ability to take pitches and get on base. But he can break down any day. Plus, the loss of Matsui has them without a true No. 5 hitter to complement Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira and round out the middle of the order. (Are Curtis Granderson or Robinson Cano real forces there?) But let’s not complicate this: The Yankees have the pitching to shut down any lineup and the offense to light up any ace. Yeah, the defending champions are great again. 

Red Sox: With the addition of ace John Lackey, their rotation is up there with the Yankees as the best in baseball. And they’re now at the top of the league defensively, too, with Adrian Beltre and Mike Cameron in the mix. But the question among Boston fans is, Can they hit for power? My question is this: Do they even have to? They have power threats in Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia and Victor Martinez. But, yeah, they need David Ortiz to somewhat resemble the Big Papi of old. Maybe not the 54-homer guy, but definitely better than the .238-batting-average guy. Still, with a rotation that includes, Lackey, Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, a bullpen that’s still among the best in the league, premium defensive players at every position and several high-on-base guys in the lineup — add Marco Scutaro, Jacoby Ellsbury and J.D. Drew to that mix — the Red Sox are a force once again. 

Rays: It’s too bad the Rays don’t play in another division (I think they’re champs in the AL Central, AL West and National League West). I like this team — a lot. Kudos to the young Andrew Friedman for fielding a quality 25-man roster with that payroll. That starting rotation — with Matt Garza, James Shields, Jeff Niemann, David Price and Wade Davis — is legitimately five-deep. The lineup is nice with Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, Evan Longoria and two very underrated guys — Jason Bartlett and Ben Zobrist. And Rafael Soriano is a significant upgrade over J.P. Howell in the ninth inning. They’ll need B.J. Upton to figure it out, and I think he will, making Tampa Bay solid in every aspect. Better than the Red Sox and Yankees? Unfortunately for fans of the underdog, probably not. 

Blue Jays: Alex Anthopoulos has made some progress in his first year as general manager, but there’s a whole lot that needs fixing if this team is going to be considered any kind of threat in the toughest division in baseball. Priority No. 1: Get rid of that horrible contract that belongs to Vernon Wells. He’s owed $98.5 million over the next five years and coming off a .260 batting average and 15 homers in 2009. They’ll need a solid season from Wells if they want to find somebody who would take on that contract without forcing the Jays to eat up almost all of
it. Anthopoulos did manage to move the salary of Roy Halladay — though he’s still paying him $6 million this year — and got some nice prospects in return, like Kyle Drabek and, eventually, Brett Wallace. As for this year? Well, they have the same problems most rebuilding teams face. They don’t have an ace, there’s no legit closer in the back end of the bullpen — though there may be two or three nice options — and that lineup is less than formidable. (Jose Bautista as the leadoff hitter?) I don’t know that they’re the worst team in baseball, but considering the 25-man roster they sport and the division they play in, this may be the worst team record-wise when it’s all set and done. 

Orioles: They’ll be better, that’s for sure. After losing 98 games last year to sport the worst record in the AL, they may even improve to the .500 mark. But they won’t really compete yet, so let’s start with the future. It’s getting there. Corner infielders Josh Bell and Brandon Snyder, plus current young studs in center fielder Adam Jones, catcher Matt Wieters and right fielder Nick Markakis means that offense is not far away from being very legit (don’t forget Brian Roberts is locked up through 2013, too). Pitching-wise, guys like Chris Tillman, Brian Matusz and potential closer Jim Johnson (we’ll see) give the staff promise. In the mean time, GM Andy MacPhail did a nice job of getting some stopgap guys to make sure they don’t reside in the basement of the AL once again, with Kevin Millwood, Miguel Tejada and Mike Gonzalez. Yeah, things are getting better in Baltimore. Just be patient. 
AL East champion: Yankees
AL Wild Card: Red Sox

– Alden Gonzalez
« older posts | back to blog home |
Theme: MLB “pro” | Get a free blog at WordPress.com
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 30 other followers