Red Sox: 44-28
Phillies: 41-30
Bartolo Colon (4-1 3.41 ERA, 1-1 4.00 ERA)
Cole Hamels (6-4 3.27 ERA, 0-0 --- ERA)
Projected lineups
Ellsbury LF N/A
Pedroia 2B N/A
Drew RF N/A
Lowell 3B N/A
Youkilis 1B N/A
Varitek C N/A
Crisp CF N/A
Lugo SS 2/3, 2 HR, 3 RBI, .667/.667/2.667
Colon P
Rollins SS 3/12, 1 RBI, .250/.308/.333
Victorino CF N/A
Utley 2B N/A
Howard 1B N/A
Burrell LF 3/13, 2 RBI, .231/.286/.385
Jenkins RF 2/5, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .400/.500/1.000
Feliz 3B 2/7, .286/.286/.429
Ruiz C N/A
Hamels P
The second round of interleague begins a series later than everyone else for the Phillies, and it's no easy task. Boston rolls into town with the best record in the American League, and they've won 12 out of their last 16 games. They're not without problems though; Ortiz and Matsuzaka are still on the DL, and Manny Ramirez might miss some more games with a hamstring injury.
With Cole Hamels on the mound tonight, the Phillies need to get the series off to a fast start. Their ace is on the mound, and this might be the most winnable game of the three game set. With the exception of Lugo, they haven't seen him yet, so Hamels should be able to keep them off balance.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Rationally Looking Ahead
The way they lost today was tough, but the reality is, the Phillies just finished a 9 game road trip against three good teams at 5-4. If you asked people if they would be happy with 5-4 before it started, everyone would've said yes. They gained a game on Florida, which is what it's all about.
The other reality is things don't get easier. They'll be back home for six games, but it's against two of the best teams in the AL in Boston and Anaheim. Boston isn't particularly good on the road, but they've owned the Phillies in recent years. Anaheim is very good on the road, and they have a very good staff. These two teams are tough, so I think we should be satisfied if they take three.
After that, the Phillies will wind down their interleague schedule by heading out west for Oakland and Texas. Texas is currently a game under .500, so these six games won't be any easier. They can hit the ball, and the Phillies should get in three slugfests with them. At 37-31, the A's present their own challenges.
To start off July, the Phillies will play three more games in Atlanta, and even though they swept the last meeting, you can count on a tough stretch. This brings them home to a ten game homestand to close out the first half. St. Louis and Arizona have good records, and you can throw away records when the Phillies meet the Mets.
This is obviously a tough stretch of games. It might be frustrating for fans when they're not winning 2 of 3 every time and putting up pretty winning percentages, but these aren't easy games and series to win. The Phillies just need to hold their ground for now and make their move in August and September.
The other reality is things don't get easier. They'll be back home for six games, but it's against two of the best teams in the AL in Boston and Anaheim. Boston isn't particularly good on the road, but they've owned the Phillies in recent years. Anaheim is very good on the road, and they have a very good staff. These two teams are tough, so I think we should be satisfied if they take three.
After that, the Phillies will wind down their interleague schedule by heading out west for Oakland and Texas. Texas is currently a game under .500, so these six games won't be any easier. They can hit the ball, and the Phillies should get in three slugfests with them. At 37-31, the A's present their own challenges.
To start off July, the Phillies will play three more games in Atlanta, and even though they swept the last meeting, you can count on a tough stretch. This brings them home to a ten game homestand to close out the first half. St. Louis and Arizona have good records, and you can throw away records when the Phillies meet the Mets.
This is obviously a tough stretch of games. It might be frustrating for fans when they're not winning 2 of 3 every time and putting up pretty winning percentages, but these aren't easy games and series to win. The Phillies just need to hold their ground for now and make their move in August and September.
Phillies Lose Dead Weight
In recent days, the Phillies released RP Steve Kline and SP Zack Segovia.
Kline was picked up by the Phillies very early this season, and they were hoping he still had a little left in the tank. The team felt they needed a second lefty reliever and the bullpen, and Kline leaves them still looking to satisfy that need. He was getting hit hard by lefties in AAA to the tune of .340, which definitely can't help the big club in anyway. The Phillies and Iron Pigs were a bit of a hometown team for Kline, so I'm not sure if anyone is going to pick him up.
Segovia has struggled mightily since an April start for the Phillies in 2007. He's battled injuries, and he just hasn't been able to recover. He was demoted all the way down to Clearwater this season, and he was never able to rediscover what made the Phillies think so highly of him. He'll probably be able to catch on elsewhere for a little bit.
I hope to get back to doing Phillies game previews and updating regularly tomorrow.
Kline was picked up by the Phillies very early this season, and they were hoping he still had a little left in the tank. The team felt they needed a second lefty reliever and the bullpen, and Kline leaves them still looking to satisfy that need. He was getting hit hard by lefties in AAA to the tune of .340, which definitely can't help the big club in anyway. The Phillies and Iron Pigs were a bit of a hometown team for Kline, so I'm not sure if anyone is going to pick him up.
Segovia has struggled mightily since an April start for the Phillies in 2007. He's battled injuries, and he just hasn't been able to recover. He was demoted all the way down to Clearwater this season, and he was never able to rediscover what made the Phillies think so highly of him. He'll probably be able to catch on elsewhere for a little bit.
I hope to get back to doing Phillies game previews and updating regularly tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Is This Some Sort of Jokinen?
The Miami Herald mentions that the Flyers could have interest in Panthers C Olli Jokinen.
It's obvious that Jokinen has talent. He's 89, 91 and 71 point seasons since the lockout. He's a great player, and he would obviously add a lot to any team. At the age of 29 with two more seasons left on his contract, he's no rental. He has a lot left in the tank.
However, how does he fit what the Flyers need? Make no mistake, he's very good. The Flyers already have enough depth at Center. Briere and Richards are locked up until I'm dead, plus they have to worry about locking up Carter and Umberger if they choose. They don't need a center, unless they plan on keeping Briere or Carter on the wing.
Maybe they could make it work. If they choose to take on Jokinen and his 5.2 million dollar cap hit, that would definitely mean no more Carter. They could trade him for a young defenseman, goalie or some picks. Carter could net a lot in return; he's young, big, fast and he can put the puck in the net. It's very possible that he becomes better than Olli, but Jokinen is the better player now.
He would definitely be a nice pickup, but I hope that Paul Holmgren is looking for potential defensive upgrades first. You can never have too many assets, but they need to add some on the blue line.
It's obvious that Jokinen has talent. He's 89, 91 and 71 point seasons since the lockout. He's a great player, and he would obviously add a lot to any team. At the age of 29 with two more seasons left on his contract, he's no rental. He has a lot left in the tank.
However, how does he fit what the Flyers need? Make no mistake, he's very good. The Flyers already have enough depth at Center. Briere and Richards are locked up until I'm dead, plus they have to worry about locking up Carter and Umberger if they choose. They don't need a center, unless they plan on keeping Briere or Carter on the wing.
Maybe they could make it work. If they choose to take on Jokinen and his 5.2 million dollar cap hit, that would definitely mean no more Carter. They could trade him for a young defenseman, goalie or some picks. Carter could net a lot in return; he's young, big, fast and he can put the puck in the net. It's very possible that he becomes better than Olli, but Jokinen is the better player now.
He would definitely be a nice pickup, but I hope that Paul Holmgren is looking for potential defensive upgrades first. You can never have too many assets, but they need to add some on the blue line.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Sixers Draft Workouts: June 6th
This is obviously several days late, but I beat the clock by getting it in before the next workouts begin. With only one pick in this draft, their options appear to be limited at the moment. However, there is always a lot of movement on NBA Draft Day, so things could be a bit unpredictable.
Callistus Eziukwu FC 6'10 220 Senior Grand Valley State
According to Draft.net and DX, Eziukwu doesn't even exist. He plays for a very small school, but I can give you what the Sixers' website says about him. He was All-Conference and All-Defense in his conference for two straight seasons, due to his athletic ability and shot blocking skills. I'll be shocked if he gets drafted, and I have to give credit to the Sixers for even knowing he exists.
C.J. Giles FC 6'10 225 Junior Oregon State
It's a bit surprising that Giles already hired an agent. He only played in 10 games last season with about 18 minutes per game, and he's skipping his senior season. Draft.net and DX don't have him in their mocks, so it could turn out to be a poor choice to come out early. He's had some off-court issues that caused him to get kicked off of Kansas before he landed at OSU. Problems aside, he's still a pretty raw player. He's a good athlete and good shot blocker, which is the kind of thing the Sixers are looking for.
JaVale McGee C 7'0 241 Sophomore Nevada
McGee is probably the player the Sixers brought in that's most highly thought of by scouts. He's probably going to be a mid-first round pick, and since he's already hired an agent, he's locked in. He comes from a basketball playing family, and he has a lot of potential to grow. Like the previous two players, athleticism is the key word when describing his game. If he gets stronger, he's going to become a good low post defender with shot blocking ability. He's young, so his offensive game is a bit of a work in progress. For a big guy, he has surprising range on his jump shot.
If you can learn anything from the first day of workouts, which you can't, the Sixers are looking for big, athletic shot blockers. That fits in with their defensive system, and they would love to add depth to the front court.
Callistus Eziukwu FC 6'10 220 Senior Grand Valley State
According to Draft.net and DX, Eziukwu doesn't even exist. He plays for a very small school, but I can give you what the Sixers' website says about him. He was All-Conference and All-Defense in his conference for two straight seasons, due to his athletic ability and shot blocking skills. I'll be shocked if he gets drafted, and I have to give credit to the Sixers for even knowing he exists.
C.J. Giles FC 6'10 225 Junior Oregon State
It's a bit surprising that Giles already hired an agent. He only played in 10 games last season with about 18 minutes per game, and he's skipping his senior season. Draft.net and DX don't have him in their mocks, so it could turn out to be a poor choice to come out early. He's had some off-court issues that caused him to get kicked off of Kansas before he landed at OSU. Problems aside, he's still a pretty raw player. He's a good athlete and good shot blocker, which is the kind of thing the Sixers are looking for.
JaVale McGee C 7'0 241 Sophomore Nevada
McGee is probably the player the Sixers brought in that's most highly thought of by scouts. He's probably going to be a mid-first round pick, and since he's already hired an agent, he's locked in. He comes from a basketball playing family, and he has a lot of potential to grow. Like the previous two players, athleticism is the key word when describing his game. If he gets stronger, he's going to become a good low post defender with shot blocking ability. He's young, so his offensive game is a bit of a work in progress. For a big guy, he has surprising range on his jump shot.
If you can learn anything from the first day of workouts, which you can't, the Sixers are looking for big, athletic shot blockers. That fits in with their defensive system, and they would love to add depth to the front court.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
30 Burning Questions On Frank Lloyd Wright Day
As we all wrap up our cookouts and parties honoring Frank Lloyd Wright, let's take a look around baseball and one question each team has to answer going forward.
Phillies 38-26: Is the starting pitching good enough?
Cole Hamels is obviously an ace, but things get pretty murky after that. Brett Myers has not met expectations this season, and Jamie Moyer, Kyle Kendrick and Adam Eaton are all 4-5 types. Their SP ERA is 4.46, which is only good for 10th in the NL. Although they lead the NL in innings, it's an area that needs to be addressed for a team with championship aspirations.
Marlins 33-28: How are our injured arms doing?
The Marlins were one of baseball's biggest surprises in the first two months of the season. However, despite claiming the Tax and Mothers' Day championships, they are starting to fade. The blame for this falls squarely on the starters, who are pitching to the tune of a 5.24 ERA. They have two injured starters, Josh Johnson and Anibal Sanchez, that pitched pretty well before going down with serious injuries. If they can make it back, the rotation could improve.
Braves 32-31: What are we going to do without John Smoltz?
After acquiring Mark Teixeira at last year's trading deadline, the Braves appeared ready to reclaim the NL East. Like the first two teams I reviewed, starting pitching has been and will be their undoing. They seeked to upgrade the staff in the offseason, and added Tom Glavine and Jair Jurrjens behind their aces Tim Hudson and Smoltz. They've all gotten banged up, and the Braves are wondering what happened to their offseason of work.
Mets 30-31: Is Willie Randolph the guy?
Let's face it; this team is underacheiving. It started in the second half of 2007, and the Mets have come out flat again in 2008. They have talent; Wright, Reyes and Beltran lead what should be at least a decent offense, and Santana headlines what should've been a pretty good pitching staff. This team doesn't seem to have a good attitude, and it starts at the top. Omar Minaya didn't deal him the best hand, but I still have to believe they're better than the way they're playing.
Nationals 25-38: How do you build a team?
For the third straight year, it looks like this team is going to finish below .500. Since 1997, this franchise has finished above 4th one time. They just don't get it. Their pitching isn't good, and their lineup is proving that it wasn't RFK that prevented them from scoring runs. Their OF has been one of the worst in the majors, and it looks like that instead of going for toolsy guys that just need to put it altogether, they need to find some less athletic sluggers to score some runs for once.
Cubs 39-24: Is Ryan Dempster as good as he's been pitching?
It's tough to pick a bone with a team that's playing so well, but here's one guy who's really overacheiving. As a whole, the Cubs' rotation has a very good ERA, despite poor performances from guys like Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis. Dempster currently has a 2.90 ERA, and this is pretty unexpected coming from a guy with a career mark almost two runs higher. If he starts pitching the way he has in the past, their rotation could be hurting for depth behind Carlos Zambrano.
Cardinals 37-27: How long can this rotation hold up?
If you read anything about the Cardinals this offseason, things didn't sound good. They didn't make the playoffs last season, and it seemed like they were sliding downhill. Albert Pujols has been himself this season, and even though Ryan Ludwick is hitting out of his mind, I have to question the starters. This is a rotation that's missing Chris Carpenter, and Mark Mulder if you really care about him. They signed Kyle Lohse just before the season started, and along with Todd Wellemeyer, their rotation is overacheiving and keeping them in a surprising postseason hunt.
Brewers 32-30: How can we recapture the magic of the first half of 2007?
The Brewers were the darlings of the league, when young players such as Prince Fielder, JJ Hardy, Yovani Gallardo and Ryan Braun were leading them to win after win. The magic has worn off, and the Brew Crew is now a mediocre group. Their lineup isn't particularly potent, and their pitching staff isn't much better. It's always questionable whether or not Ben Sheets will stay healthy, and Eric Gagne has been a huge bust. Ned Yost could lose his job if he doesn't figure out how to rightsize his ship.
Astros 32-31: How is our offense only 9th in the NL in runs?
This is probably the least objectionable thing about them, but I found it funny that they're in the middle of the pack in terms of NL offense despite Berkman's ridiculous season. Michael Bourn, Carlos Lee and Kaz Matsui are guys that Houston was counting on to help, and they haven't turned in their best performances. Their pitching is awful, and it's only a matter of time before this team cools off and falls below .500 for good.
Reds 30-33: How can we make starters appear out of thin air?
The Reds have and will continue to have the sluggers to score enough runs to win. Brandon Phillips, Adam Dunn and Jay Bruce, plus some complementary players, add up to one of the better offenses in the league. However, despite their solid bullpen performance to start the year, the starters are holding them back. Brandon Arroyo has been bad again, and besides Edinson Volquez and Aaron Harang, the starters have been underwhelming and are preventing the Reds from contending.
Pirates 29-33: Can we produce a successful first round draft pick?
The fact is, if you have top pick after top pick, you have to get a good player to the majors once in a while. However, the Pirates have had awful luck with their top draft choices, and it's created a talent gap that's preventing them from winning. They've made trades and developed later round picks like Jason Bay, Ian Snell and Nate McLouth, but the elite talent gained from top 10 draft picks hasn't been there like they need. If Van Benschoten or Sean Burnett or someone can somehow step up, they'll get a little better.
Diamondbacks 34-28: Can we continue to score enough runs to support the pitching?
The staff is there. They have the second best ERA in the NL, and their starters and relievers alike have carried their share of the load. However, they've struggled a bit lately, and I'm inclined to believe it's because of their bats. Last year, they allowed more runs than they scored, and it was due to a young lineup that didn't score many runs. This season, they returned mostly the same crew, and they're just letting them develop and grow into their roles. It's not bad, but they might go cold at times and cost them games.
Dodgers 30-32: Can the young guys hit?
Once again, whether it's due to their big stadium or talented pitchers, the Dodgers have a very good team ERA. Once again, whether it's due to their big stadium or untalented hitters, the Dodgers aren't scoring enough runs. This team has previously relied on players like Nomar Garciaparra, Jeff Kent and Juan Pierre, but now it's time for young guys such as Andy LaRoche, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier to play every day. They are the future, and like Arizona, these young guys need to play every day in the majors to gain experience. They can learn on the job.
Giants 27-35: Where is the offense coming from?
Make no mistake about it. This lineup still isn't good, but they're not as frightfully bad as a lot of people thought they would be. Aaron Rowand and Bengie Molina are turning in good seasons that are helping this team out immensely. Freddy Lewis and Randy Winn make for a good OF, and this team is a few offensive upgrades from getting back into contention.
Padres 27-37: Why is a lackluster lineup finally catching up to us now?
The truth is, San Diego hasn't hit the ball for a while. They play in a great pitchers' park, but even then, their lineup doesn't score enough runs. People say pitching wins championships, but that formula hasn't done anything for the Padres for quite some time. Their pitchers are a bit banged up, but until they get out of the basement in the NL in runs, it won't matter.
Rockies 24-38: Even when healthy, is this team as good as last year?
After getting swept and embarrassed in Philadelphia, Phillies fans were left wondering about the team that easily handled them in the 2007 playoffs. They were missing players such as Matt Holliday, Brad Hawpe, Garrett Atkins and Troy Tulowitski. The Rockies weren't as explosive as they were in October, and their pitching hasn't been as good either. That's their true problem; the starters aren't overachieving like they did during the stretch run last season. They can get all of their hitters back, but unless they pitch like they did last year, they'll be playing golf come October.
Red Sox 39-26: Can we win on the road?
Boston has to overcome several injuries to stay afloat, but that might not be their biggest challenge. This is a team that is just 14-20 on the road, one of many teams around the league that can't win away from home this season. Both their offense and pitching have significant home/away splits, and if this holds up, they're going to have to continue to be phenominal at home to repeat as champions. You have to be able to win on the road to be a World Series team.
Rays 37-25: Is the back end of the rotation good enough?
Everyone knows about Scott Kazmir and James Shields. Kazmir has been dynamite since starting the season on the DL, and Shields is one of the best #2 starters in the league. However, except for maybe Matt Garza, the back of the rotation has been not only bad at times, but destructive. Edwin Jackson has a good ERA, but his rates, which are actually better than usual, indicate he may not be as good as he might seem. Andy Sonnanstine has about the same WHIP, but his ERA is very high. They're both very inconsistent, and if the Rays can upgrade the 4 and 5 spots, they should try.
Orioles 31-30: Can the rotation continue to get by in a Bedard-less world?
It's funny that I'm saying their rotation is okay after criticizing Tampa's far superior one, but these guys were supposed to suck and they're not. Guthrie, Cabrera and Olson have all pitched well, and if they can find one or two guys to man the other spots in the rotation, they'll be looking even better. Their offense has struggled a bit, and it's these guys that have kept them around a surprising .500 record.
Yankees 31-31: Where is my calzone?
I've tried to remain serious so far, but I can't help myself. Their offense has pounded opposing pitchers when healthy again, and the pitching has been their downfall. Phil Hughes, when healthy, and Ian Kennedy, when not at AAA, did not meet expectations, and those were two guys the Yankees were leaning on this season. The rotation has no depth, and the bullpen can't figure out how to get to Rivera. The Steinbrenners cannot be happy, about both their lack of an italian lunch and ballclub.
Blue Jays 32-32: Can we find enough runs for this awesome pitching?
Despite adding Scott Rolen in the offseason and him rejuvinating his career, the BJ's lineup hasn't scored enough runs to support their strong pitching staff. Frank Thomas struggled and was released, and players such as Alex Rios and Vernon Wells are either struggling or hurt. It's a shame, because their starters have been great, and their bullpen shuts down about everyone. If they can find one or two bats anywhere, they could quickly rise through the standings.
White Sox 35-26: Can we continue to get by with struggling bats?
The White Sox finished poorly last season, to the surprise of no one that understands the results of players overachieiving. This year, they have several important players underacheiving, but they're playing through it. Nick Swisher, Paul Konerko and Jim Thome are all struggling, but guys like Carlos Quentin and Joe Crede are carrying the offensive load. If those three players continue to have down years, will they score enough runs to remain a playoff team?
Twins 31-31: How long can we get by with this lineup devoid of talent?
That's a little unfair, because players such as Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau have obviously been good in the past. However, the rest of the lineup has been brutal this year, and they're still hovering around .500. Adam Everett was never going to hit, so that's not a surprise, but the Twins were expecting Delmon Young and Michael Cuddyer to provide some runs and power. They're not.
Indians 28-34: Why can't any team in this division score?
I'm getting bored talking about the hitting, but the Indians are having trouble scoring runs too. Their pitching isn't bad; Carmona's been good, and Cliff Lee has been outstanding. C.C. Sabathia hasn't had his best outings yet too. However, to get back to the ALCS and beyond, Cleveland has to score more. Victor Martinez and Ryan Garko have been a bit disappointing, and they've had a revolving door in the OF trying to find guys that work. Maybe their bullpen hasn't been there either, but this is a lineup that should be scoring more runs to support the starters.
Tigers 25-36: Weren't we supposed to be awesome?
The Tigers might be the biggest disappointment of 2008. They were supposed to score 1000 runs on their way to a WS appearance, but they're 10 games back and are going to have to fight to get back in it. Their offense has been good, and although it won't be quite 1000 runs good, their pitching has cost them a lot of games. Jeremy Bonderman is now out for the year, and they've had to lean on Armando Galarraga to lead the staff. Kenny Rogers and Justin Verlander have been terrible, and their bullpen hasn't set the world on fire either.
Royals 24-38: Why is Miguel Olivo our best hitter?
No offense to Olivo, who's reviving his career in 2008. However, he typically isn't a very good player, and he's been the best Royal this season. Everyone else is average at best. Alex Gordon and Billy Butler are still learning on the job, and if they find their strokes, things will be looking up. Jose Guillen has been a bit of a disappointment, and this is a team that leaves rookie manager Trey Hillman searching for runs.
Angels 39-24: Can Vladimir Guerrero turn it around?
The Angels have been great so far in 2008. Their bullpen has been good, and their starters help get them by. However, for the umpteenth straight year, Anaheim would like to score more runs. It's tough to put this on one player, but Vlad has not been the Vlad of years' past. They've brought in guys like Sarge Jr. and Hunter to help, but Vlad is still the man in this lineup. If he gets going, the Angels could get very dangerous.
Athletics 33-29: Can the rotation keep it up?
Rich Harden has defied all odds and managed to make 7 great starts so far this season. Justin Duchscherer has made a seamless transition to the rotation, and Dana Eveland and Greg Smith have turned in strong starts to make up for Blanton's down year. Will this last? The A's don't have the offense to make up for a decline in pitching success, so if Oakland is going to continue this surprising start, they'll need to continue to impress.
Rangers 31-33: Will we ever stop allowing so many runs?
I know they got Josh Hamilton and he's been huge for the offense so far, but how nice would Edinson Volquez look in this rotation? Their team ERA is over 5, and the pitching will again be the Rangers' undoing. They don't have one starter you can hang your hat on, and their bullpen is mediocre at best. The Rangers have to find some way to bolster their staff before they're going to be contenders.
Mariners 22-40: Did we overachieve that badly last season?
Last year's surprisingly solid finish and the offseason acquisition of Erik Bedard left many excited for Seattle's future. Unfortunately, they are not living up to even half of people's expectations. They hardly score runs, and they allow too many. This spells trouble. Carlos Silva has been a huge bust, and the offense can't support Felix Hernandez' great season. They need to figure things out fast, or there could be jobs on the line in the Seattle organization.
There. A look around Major League Baseball, in honor of Frank Lloyd Wright.
Phillies 38-26: Is the starting pitching good enough?
Cole Hamels is obviously an ace, but things get pretty murky after that. Brett Myers has not met expectations this season, and Jamie Moyer, Kyle Kendrick and Adam Eaton are all 4-5 types. Their SP ERA is 4.46, which is only good for 10th in the NL. Although they lead the NL in innings, it's an area that needs to be addressed for a team with championship aspirations.
Marlins 33-28: How are our injured arms doing?
The Marlins were one of baseball's biggest surprises in the first two months of the season. However, despite claiming the Tax and Mothers' Day championships, they are starting to fade. The blame for this falls squarely on the starters, who are pitching to the tune of a 5.24 ERA. They have two injured starters, Josh Johnson and Anibal Sanchez, that pitched pretty well before going down with serious injuries. If they can make it back, the rotation could improve.
Braves 32-31: What are we going to do without John Smoltz?
After acquiring Mark Teixeira at last year's trading deadline, the Braves appeared ready to reclaim the NL East. Like the first two teams I reviewed, starting pitching has been and will be their undoing. They seeked to upgrade the staff in the offseason, and added Tom Glavine and Jair Jurrjens behind their aces Tim Hudson and Smoltz. They've all gotten banged up, and the Braves are wondering what happened to their offseason of work.
Mets 30-31: Is Willie Randolph the guy?
Let's face it; this team is underacheiving. It started in the second half of 2007, and the Mets have come out flat again in 2008. They have talent; Wright, Reyes and Beltran lead what should be at least a decent offense, and Santana headlines what should've been a pretty good pitching staff. This team doesn't seem to have a good attitude, and it starts at the top. Omar Minaya didn't deal him the best hand, but I still have to believe they're better than the way they're playing.
Nationals 25-38: How do you build a team?
For the third straight year, it looks like this team is going to finish below .500. Since 1997, this franchise has finished above 4th one time. They just don't get it. Their pitching isn't good, and their lineup is proving that it wasn't RFK that prevented them from scoring runs. Their OF has been one of the worst in the majors, and it looks like that instead of going for toolsy guys that just need to put it altogether, they need to find some less athletic sluggers to score some runs for once.
Cubs 39-24: Is Ryan Dempster as good as he's been pitching?
It's tough to pick a bone with a team that's playing so well, but here's one guy who's really overacheiving. As a whole, the Cubs' rotation has a very good ERA, despite poor performances from guys like Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis. Dempster currently has a 2.90 ERA, and this is pretty unexpected coming from a guy with a career mark almost two runs higher. If he starts pitching the way he has in the past, their rotation could be hurting for depth behind Carlos Zambrano.
Cardinals 37-27: How long can this rotation hold up?
If you read anything about the Cardinals this offseason, things didn't sound good. They didn't make the playoffs last season, and it seemed like they were sliding downhill. Albert Pujols has been himself this season, and even though Ryan Ludwick is hitting out of his mind, I have to question the starters. This is a rotation that's missing Chris Carpenter, and Mark Mulder if you really care about him. They signed Kyle Lohse just before the season started, and along with Todd Wellemeyer, their rotation is overacheiving and keeping them in a surprising postseason hunt.
Brewers 32-30: How can we recapture the magic of the first half of 2007?
The Brewers were the darlings of the league, when young players such as Prince Fielder, JJ Hardy, Yovani Gallardo and Ryan Braun were leading them to win after win. The magic has worn off, and the Brew Crew is now a mediocre group. Their lineup isn't particularly potent, and their pitching staff isn't much better. It's always questionable whether or not Ben Sheets will stay healthy, and Eric Gagne has been a huge bust. Ned Yost could lose his job if he doesn't figure out how to rightsize his ship.
Astros 32-31: How is our offense only 9th in the NL in runs?
This is probably the least objectionable thing about them, but I found it funny that they're in the middle of the pack in terms of NL offense despite Berkman's ridiculous season. Michael Bourn, Carlos Lee and Kaz Matsui are guys that Houston was counting on to help, and they haven't turned in their best performances. Their pitching is awful, and it's only a matter of time before this team cools off and falls below .500 for good.
Reds 30-33: How can we make starters appear out of thin air?
The Reds have and will continue to have the sluggers to score enough runs to win. Brandon Phillips, Adam Dunn and Jay Bruce, plus some complementary players, add up to one of the better offenses in the league. However, despite their solid bullpen performance to start the year, the starters are holding them back. Brandon Arroyo has been bad again, and besides Edinson Volquez and Aaron Harang, the starters have been underwhelming and are preventing the Reds from contending.
Pirates 29-33: Can we produce a successful first round draft pick?
The fact is, if you have top pick after top pick, you have to get a good player to the majors once in a while. However, the Pirates have had awful luck with their top draft choices, and it's created a talent gap that's preventing them from winning. They've made trades and developed later round picks like Jason Bay, Ian Snell and Nate McLouth, but the elite talent gained from top 10 draft picks hasn't been there like they need. If Van Benschoten or Sean Burnett or someone can somehow step up, they'll get a little better.
Diamondbacks 34-28: Can we continue to score enough runs to support the pitching?
The staff is there. They have the second best ERA in the NL, and their starters and relievers alike have carried their share of the load. However, they've struggled a bit lately, and I'm inclined to believe it's because of their bats. Last year, they allowed more runs than they scored, and it was due to a young lineup that didn't score many runs. This season, they returned mostly the same crew, and they're just letting them develop and grow into their roles. It's not bad, but they might go cold at times and cost them games.
Dodgers 30-32: Can the young guys hit?
Once again, whether it's due to their big stadium or talented pitchers, the Dodgers have a very good team ERA. Once again, whether it's due to their big stadium or untalented hitters, the Dodgers aren't scoring enough runs. This team has previously relied on players like Nomar Garciaparra, Jeff Kent and Juan Pierre, but now it's time for young guys such as Andy LaRoche, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier to play every day. They are the future, and like Arizona, these young guys need to play every day in the majors to gain experience. They can learn on the job.
Giants 27-35: Where is the offense coming from?
Make no mistake about it. This lineup still isn't good, but they're not as frightfully bad as a lot of people thought they would be. Aaron Rowand and Bengie Molina are turning in good seasons that are helping this team out immensely. Freddy Lewis and Randy Winn make for a good OF, and this team is a few offensive upgrades from getting back into contention.
Padres 27-37: Why is a lackluster lineup finally catching up to us now?
The truth is, San Diego hasn't hit the ball for a while. They play in a great pitchers' park, but even then, their lineup doesn't score enough runs. People say pitching wins championships, but that formula hasn't done anything for the Padres for quite some time. Their pitchers are a bit banged up, but until they get out of the basement in the NL in runs, it won't matter.
Rockies 24-38: Even when healthy, is this team as good as last year?
After getting swept and embarrassed in Philadelphia, Phillies fans were left wondering about the team that easily handled them in the 2007 playoffs. They were missing players such as Matt Holliday, Brad Hawpe, Garrett Atkins and Troy Tulowitski. The Rockies weren't as explosive as they were in October, and their pitching hasn't been as good either. That's their true problem; the starters aren't overachieving like they did during the stretch run last season. They can get all of their hitters back, but unless they pitch like they did last year, they'll be playing golf come October.
Red Sox 39-26: Can we win on the road?
Boston has to overcome several injuries to stay afloat, but that might not be their biggest challenge. This is a team that is just 14-20 on the road, one of many teams around the league that can't win away from home this season. Both their offense and pitching have significant home/away splits, and if this holds up, they're going to have to continue to be phenominal at home to repeat as champions. You have to be able to win on the road to be a World Series team.
Rays 37-25: Is the back end of the rotation good enough?
Everyone knows about Scott Kazmir and James Shields. Kazmir has been dynamite since starting the season on the DL, and Shields is one of the best #2 starters in the league. However, except for maybe Matt Garza, the back of the rotation has been not only bad at times, but destructive. Edwin Jackson has a good ERA, but his rates, which are actually better than usual, indicate he may not be as good as he might seem. Andy Sonnanstine has about the same WHIP, but his ERA is very high. They're both very inconsistent, and if the Rays can upgrade the 4 and 5 spots, they should try.
Orioles 31-30: Can the rotation continue to get by in a Bedard-less world?
It's funny that I'm saying their rotation is okay after criticizing Tampa's far superior one, but these guys were supposed to suck and they're not. Guthrie, Cabrera and Olson have all pitched well, and if they can find one or two guys to man the other spots in the rotation, they'll be looking even better. Their offense has struggled a bit, and it's these guys that have kept them around a surprising .500 record.
Yankees 31-31: Where is my calzone?
I've tried to remain serious so far, but I can't help myself. Their offense has pounded opposing pitchers when healthy again, and the pitching has been their downfall. Phil Hughes, when healthy, and Ian Kennedy, when not at AAA, did not meet expectations, and those were two guys the Yankees were leaning on this season. The rotation has no depth, and the bullpen can't figure out how to get to Rivera. The Steinbrenners cannot be happy, about both their lack of an italian lunch and ballclub.
Blue Jays 32-32: Can we find enough runs for this awesome pitching?
Despite adding Scott Rolen in the offseason and him rejuvinating his career, the BJ's lineup hasn't scored enough runs to support their strong pitching staff. Frank Thomas struggled and was released, and players such as Alex Rios and Vernon Wells are either struggling or hurt. It's a shame, because their starters have been great, and their bullpen shuts down about everyone. If they can find one or two bats anywhere, they could quickly rise through the standings.
White Sox 35-26: Can we continue to get by with struggling bats?
The White Sox finished poorly last season, to the surprise of no one that understands the results of players overachieiving. This year, they have several important players underacheiving, but they're playing through it. Nick Swisher, Paul Konerko and Jim Thome are all struggling, but guys like Carlos Quentin and Joe Crede are carrying the offensive load. If those three players continue to have down years, will they score enough runs to remain a playoff team?
Twins 31-31: How long can we get by with this lineup devoid of talent?
That's a little unfair, because players such as Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau have obviously been good in the past. However, the rest of the lineup has been brutal this year, and they're still hovering around .500. Adam Everett was never going to hit, so that's not a surprise, but the Twins were expecting Delmon Young and Michael Cuddyer to provide some runs and power. They're not.
Indians 28-34: Why can't any team in this division score?
I'm getting bored talking about the hitting, but the Indians are having trouble scoring runs too. Their pitching isn't bad; Carmona's been good, and Cliff Lee has been outstanding. C.C. Sabathia hasn't had his best outings yet too. However, to get back to the ALCS and beyond, Cleveland has to score more. Victor Martinez and Ryan Garko have been a bit disappointing, and they've had a revolving door in the OF trying to find guys that work. Maybe their bullpen hasn't been there either, but this is a lineup that should be scoring more runs to support the starters.
Tigers 25-36: Weren't we supposed to be awesome?
The Tigers might be the biggest disappointment of 2008. They were supposed to score 1000 runs on their way to a WS appearance, but they're 10 games back and are going to have to fight to get back in it. Their offense has been good, and although it won't be quite 1000 runs good, their pitching has cost them a lot of games. Jeremy Bonderman is now out for the year, and they've had to lean on Armando Galarraga to lead the staff. Kenny Rogers and Justin Verlander have been terrible, and their bullpen hasn't set the world on fire either.
Royals 24-38: Why is Miguel Olivo our best hitter?
No offense to Olivo, who's reviving his career in 2008. However, he typically isn't a very good player, and he's been the best Royal this season. Everyone else is average at best. Alex Gordon and Billy Butler are still learning on the job, and if they find their strokes, things will be looking up. Jose Guillen has been a bit of a disappointment, and this is a team that leaves rookie manager Trey Hillman searching for runs.
Angels 39-24: Can Vladimir Guerrero turn it around?
The Angels have been great so far in 2008. Their bullpen has been good, and their starters help get them by. However, for the umpteenth straight year, Anaheim would like to score more runs. It's tough to put this on one player, but Vlad has not been the Vlad of years' past. They've brought in guys like Sarge Jr. and Hunter to help, but Vlad is still the man in this lineup. If he gets going, the Angels could get very dangerous.
Athletics 33-29: Can the rotation keep it up?
Rich Harden has defied all odds and managed to make 7 great starts so far this season. Justin Duchscherer has made a seamless transition to the rotation, and Dana Eveland and Greg Smith have turned in strong starts to make up for Blanton's down year. Will this last? The A's don't have the offense to make up for a decline in pitching success, so if Oakland is going to continue this surprising start, they'll need to continue to impress.
Rangers 31-33: Will we ever stop allowing so many runs?
I know they got Josh Hamilton and he's been huge for the offense so far, but how nice would Edinson Volquez look in this rotation? Their team ERA is over 5, and the pitching will again be the Rangers' undoing. They don't have one starter you can hang your hat on, and their bullpen is mediocre at best. The Rangers have to find some way to bolster their staff before they're going to be contenders.
Mariners 22-40: Did we overachieve that badly last season?
Last year's surprisingly solid finish and the offseason acquisition of Erik Bedard left many excited for Seattle's future. Unfortunately, they are not living up to even half of people's expectations. They hardly score runs, and they allow too many. This spells trouble. Carlos Silva has been a huge bust, and the offense can't support Felix Hernandez' great season. They need to figure things out fast, or there could be jobs on the line in the Seattle organization.
There. A look around Major League Baseball, in honor of Frank Lloyd Wright.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Flyers Make Small Trade
They've sent C Ryan Potulny to Edmonton for D Danny Syvret.
This is a pretty minor move. Potulny is not a 4th line-type player, so he needed to become a top-nine player. This was not going to happen with the Flyers who currently have centers coming out the ass. If he was never going to become a regular here, he needed a change of scenery. He might develop with the Oilers, but I won't lose sleep over it.
Syvret is a mobile defenseman, which is the kind of player the Flyers are looking for this offseason. He has a bit of NHL potential, but I don't see him making much of an impact this season. He had a very good junior career, but he hasn't made a successful leap to the pro game.
This is a pretty minor move. Potulny is not a 4th line-type player, so he needed to become a top-nine player. This was not going to happen with the Flyers who currently have centers coming out the ass. If he was never going to become a regular here, he needed a change of scenery. He might develop with the Oilers, but I won't lose sleep over it.
Syvret is a mobile defenseman, which is the kind of player the Flyers are looking for this offseason. He has a bit of NHL potential, but I don't see him making much of an impact this season. He had a very good junior career, but he hasn't made a successful leap to the pro game.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Brief Summary of the Phillies' Draft
Most of us knew that Gillick preferred the high ceiling talent that high school players have to offer, but he took it to the next level today.
Some fans were upset when the Phillies took HS player Anthony Hewitt with their first pick because he won't be ready for a while. However, you have to consider a few things. They're not a bad team anymore. They don't get any easy picks like Pat Burrell first overall. When you're that late in the draft, you're not going to get a good player that can help out very soon. Yes, it's probably going to take Hewitt a few years to reach the majors if he develops, but if he was closer to being ready than that, the Rays would be picking him, and not us.
Then he took another in Zach Collier. And another. In fact, when the first day was done, the Phillies only took two four-year college players. The Phillies haven't spent that much on bonuses in the past couple seasons, and if they intend on signing a lot of their picks, it's probably going to have to change this year. People wanted the owners to open up the wallets and bring in some real talent. Here's their chance.
I trust Pat Gillick to make the right decisions and take care of business for this team. He has an eye for talent, and it would be great if he found some today. He recognizes that this farm system already has some bench players, bottom of the order hitters and back end starters. They have a weak system, but they have the Happs, Naylors and Donalds teams need to fill out their roster and make solid contributions. Today, he tried to find the Rollins', Hamels' and Myers' to put this roster over the top. Now they just need to sign the dotted line and get on the diamond.
Some fans were upset when the Phillies took HS player Anthony Hewitt with their first pick because he won't be ready for a while. However, you have to consider a few things. They're not a bad team anymore. They don't get any easy picks like Pat Burrell first overall. When you're that late in the draft, you're not going to get a good player that can help out very soon. Yes, it's probably going to take Hewitt a few years to reach the majors if he develops, but if he was closer to being ready than that, the Rays would be picking him, and not us.
Then he took another in Zach Collier. And another. In fact, when the first day was done, the Phillies only took two four-year college players. The Phillies haven't spent that much on bonuses in the past couple seasons, and if they intend on signing a lot of their picks, it's probably going to have to change this year. People wanted the owners to open up the wallets and bring in some real talent. Here's their chance.
I trust Pat Gillick to make the right decisions and take care of business for this team. He has an eye for talent, and it would be great if he found some today. He recognizes that this farm system already has some bench players, bottom of the order hitters and back end starters. They have a weak system, but they have the Happs, Naylors and Donalds teams need to fill out their roster and make solid contributions. Today, he tried to find the Rollins', Hamels' and Myers' to put this roster over the top. Now they just need to sign the dotted line and get on the diamond.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
So Long Sami
At this point in career, he had certainly lost a step. He's no longer able to finish like he used to, and he was always a small guy. However, even fans that were hard on him this past season should be able to recognize what he did for the team in his years here.
Yesterday, Sami Kapanen announced that he's retiring from the NHL and returning to his native Finland to play hockey for the team he owns. He walks away from the NHL after a good career that unfortunately never saw him hoist the Cup.
Let's not forget that he was once a consistent 25 goal scorer. He still had great speed, and there weren't many forwards who had the responsibility to really commit themselves defensively. Players and coaches respected his voice in the locker room, and it isn't as easy to replace a guy like him as some like to think.
The Flyers will save 1.25 million with Kapanen's decision.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Wii Sports
This is loosely related to sports, so I'm going to post it here.
I played a Nintendo Wii for the first time yesterday, and I had a blast. Mario Galaxy was a lot of fun, but that has little to do with sports at all. I hope to get one of these systems very soon.
I started off with Wii Tennis. Once I figured out the timing to hit the ball with my front player, this one became very easy. This was still one of the more relaxing games, and it was nice to take a break from some of the other ones with Tennis.
Baseball was surprisingly hard. I was a mediocre at best player for ten years, but I still expected to have some success. Instead, I was met with a loss every game I tried to play. I couldn't hit, and I couldn't pitch. The fielders couldn't field. It was a disaster. When I actually get this, I'm going to have to improve my skills badly.
Wii Boxing was surprisingly easy the first time around. I won my fight in the third round by KO, and the opponent was lucky he held on that long. I kept missing my headshots with my left hand though, and I don't know what I need to do to get them to land. I made my living with my non dominant hand, and I really didn't have to do much to defend myself.
The Bowling game reflects my actual bowling ability. I can get in the low to mid 100's with a few decent rolls and a few chokes. I was unable to get a strike in the entire game, but I picked up 6 or 7 spares. I was not able to perfect my roll and just repeat the same motion every time.
Surprisingly, I picked up on Wii Golf pretty quickly. I'm no expert, but I was able to hang around par on the first two courses on my first couple tries. The putting game is tough, but my short game is very good. The distance gauge on the overhead map is very misleading, but once I got past that, I was set.
All in all, it was a very fun experience. My next purchase has to be one of these things, but it might be tough without a job.
I played a Nintendo Wii for the first time yesterday, and I had a blast. Mario Galaxy was a lot of fun, but that has little to do with sports at all. I hope to get one of these systems very soon.
I started off with Wii Tennis. Once I figured out the timing to hit the ball with my front player, this one became very easy. This was still one of the more relaxing games, and it was nice to take a break from some of the other ones with Tennis.
Baseball was surprisingly hard. I was a mediocre at best player for ten years, but I still expected to have some success. Instead, I was met with a loss every game I tried to play. I couldn't hit, and I couldn't pitch. The fielders couldn't field. It was a disaster. When I actually get this, I'm going to have to improve my skills badly.
Wii Boxing was surprisingly easy the first time around. I won my fight in the third round by KO, and the opponent was lucky he held on that long. I kept missing my headshots with my left hand though, and I don't know what I need to do to get them to land. I made my living with my non dominant hand, and I really didn't have to do much to defend myself.
The Bowling game reflects my actual bowling ability. I can get in the low to mid 100's with a few decent rolls and a few chokes. I was unable to get a strike in the entire game, but I picked up 6 or 7 spares. I was not able to perfect my roll and just repeat the same motion every time.
Surprisingly, I picked up on Wii Golf pretty quickly. I'm no expert, but I was able to hang around par on the first two courses on my first couple tries. The putting game is tough, but my short game is very good. The distance gauge on the overhead map is very misleading, but once I got past that, I was set.
All in all, it was a very fun experience. My next purchase has to be one of these things, but it might be tough without a job.
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