The World is another highly competitive division, with 3 of the 4 teams over .500 (and within 2.5 games of each other). Caracas, who under-performed in 2010, has put it together so far this year, but are tied with Quebec. Fremantle is right on their tails, with last place Brisbane just 2 under .500 (and 6.5 back). It's truly anyone's division.
Caracas Bolivares
Caracas was all about hitting in 2010, but couldn't overcome major pitching issues. Some savvy off-season moves by GM Tom Hey have bolstered the rotation and put Caracas in a good position heading down the stretch.
The offense is still a huge strength for the Bolivares. Not only do they hit for power, but they hit for average as well (five regulars are hitting over .300). Chris Coghlan is the total package, batting a whopping .360/.393/.717, making him a viable MVP candidate. Last year's MVP, Alex Rodriguez, continues to produce, while veterans like Bobby Abreu and Jermaine Dye defy their age. Outside of light hitting Brian McCann behind the dish, there are no holes in this lineup.
What a difference in the rotation this year! Johan Santana is no longer going it alone, as the team added Cole Hamels (7-1, 2.93), Jake Westbrook (6-4, 2.91) and Justin Verlander (12-2, 3.16). The fifth starter is a problem, but come playoff team, won't matter. Nothing great in the pen (and some disasters), but it's been good enough.
Quebec Horned Frogs
The Horned Frogs have gone about things very similarly to the Bolivares, with a core of power hitters complimented by good enough pitching. The team has catching up to do in the divisional record category, with Caracas' 14-6 mark besting (at present) Quebec's 9-10, which would be a tie-breaker for playoff seedings.
A very strong lineup has lead Quebec to a tie for best record in SLB. Adam Dunn is an RBI machine, while Drew, McCutchen and Reyes help set the table and score runs. Soriano has been solid (when healthy), and the unknown Willie Bloomquist has been a nice surprise. Dustin Pedroia can't stay on the field, suffering another long term injury in the first half. The first round pick has combined for under 350 AB's in his first two seasons in Quebec.
Though not as good as Caracas, the Quebec rotation is solid. Roy Oswalt has stepped up as the ace with his 2.27 ERA, and he's backed by solid years from Perkins, Duke and Slowey. Aaron Cook has been knocked around, but he's the fifth starter.
Hawkins and Farnsworth are a dynamite duo at the end of games, but it's sometimes tough getting them the lead. Middle and long relief has been really rough, and it will be interesting to see if there is a shake up in July or August.
Fremantle Cormorants
Unlike the two teams they're chasing, Fremantle's team is built primarily around pitching, not hitting. The starters are good, and the bullpen is arguably the best in the division. Are there any moves to be made to bolster the offense down the stretch?
While there are some good batting averages in this lineup, it's still what you'd call "light hitting". Mark Teixeira is the only Cormorant to have over 20 HR, and his 59 RBI lead the team. An unsung hero on this team is Tug Hullet (who?), the second baseman who leads the team in OBP and SLG. Alex Rios is also having a good year but has remained under the radar.
This rotation is very good 1-5, keeping losing streaks to a minimum. Four of the five starters have ERA's under 4.00, though the W-L records aren't very impressive. Carlos Zambrano has been the best starter, but has been hampered by injuries, limiting him to 10 starts. Great comeback year for Chris Carpenter, who has allowed just 5 HR in 118 IP.
Outside of Soriano, the pen just isn't good (and even HIS ERA is unsustainable with his peripherals). Anyone in the minors to bring up?
Brisbane Koalas
The defending SLB champs have gone through front office changes, and as such, have fallen back a bit in the standings. Still, at just 6.5 games back, they're still in it, and with more active attention, could make a move.
The Koalas are dead last in team home runs (just 81 in 90 games), and they are by far the lowest scoring team in the division. Just three players on the entire roster have over 10 HR (Zimmerman leads with 17), and the team batting average is close to last as well. Plenty of places to upgrade on the trade market, but what is management willing to part with?
Felix Hernandez looked unhittable in the first month of the season, winning Pitcher of the Month with a 4-0, 0.00 ERA April record. He's still good, but his numbers are now a more human 9-6, 3.62. The rest of the rotation is quite good, with excellent first-halves from Francis, Kershaw and Piniero.
A couple of former starters are really excelling in the pen this year. Aaron Laffey (1.85) and Jeff Weaver (1.61) have been lights out, and closer Carlos Marmol (2.00) has taken care of business in the ninth. With even average run support, this team is right in the race.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Midseason Report 2011 - West Division
The West is by far the weakest division in SLB, with the division leaders tied with just a .500 record. Last year's World Series runner up (OKC) is struggling badly, and Kansas' pitching can't keep it's league-leading offense in games. Sioux Falls is struggling again, and one wonders how soon the youth will start paying off.
La Brea Dire Wolves
La Brea clinched the first half with a 41-36 record, but has gone 3-8 since. A .500 record sounds about right for a team that is firmly middle-of-the-pack both offensively and defensively. They don't hit well (just one regular squeaking above .300), but the power is pretty decent. This is the slowest team in SLB, stealing just 55 bases in 88 games.
The really good pitching performances (Beckett, Towers) are being overshadowed by the really bad (Duchscherer, Wang). Improvements must be made to the rotation if there is any hope of advancing in the playoffs. Josh Towers has been excellent (7-3, 2.74), but he can't do it all alone.
It's more good and bad in the bullpen. Jon Link has been very solid late, allowing just 2 HR in 34 IP while allowing just a .344 OpSLG. Ryan Madson has managed a solid ERA despite giving up a lot of hits. On the down side, Strop and Rodriguez's control has been horrible, allowing a ton of baserunners late.
Springfield Isotopes
The Isotopes are also .500, but have been playing better in July (6-5). The team is more talented on paper than La Brea, and if they stay healthy, have a good chance to win either the second half or the division outright.
Springfield has scored the second fewest runs in SLB, and have been outscored by 26 runs total. The power is partly to blame (Blanks is the only hitter with over 20 HR), while the catching position has been a black hole. The speed isn't great either, but if the team is looking to upgrade, another power bat (or two) would surely go far.
Even though the team ERA is very good, the starters have really struggled. Burnett and Lincecum have been good (3.36 and 3.75 ERA respectively), but neither is above .500. A long injury to Zach Greinke (who recently returned) forced Vazquez and Buchholz into more starts than the front office would have liked.
On the flip side, the Isotope bullpen has been lights out. Aside from Mitch Talbot, the entire relief staff have ERA's south of 4.40. Fuentes and Hernandez have been particularly dominating, each holding opponents to under .200 batting averages.
Oklahoma City Bison
The defending West champs have had a terrible run this year, thanks to an insane number of injuries. Right now, six players are out long term, while others have been off and on the DL all season. No team can be expected to succeed with this amount of playing time going to replacement level players.
Only four players have played every day, and one of them sucks (Pena). Longoria has had decent run production numbers, but has hit very poorly. The other two are Japanese, so I'm not sure they're even real. The star of the team is Carlos Gonzalez, but he's more or less out for the year after posting a .322/.365/.675 line. Tough break. First base has been a disaster (Ludwick and Hoffpauir are both hurt and bad). Uncle, I give.
Josh Johnson and Ted Lilly have continued their 2010 successes in 2011 and anchor this rotation. After that, it's ugly. Max Scherzer, who couldn't win to save his life last year, is now the third best starter thanks to disastrous seasons by McGowan and Kazmir. Many GM's will come calling about Lilly and Johnson, but will OKC move them?
Good think Broxton is decent as the closer, because otherwise it's been horrible. Donnie Veal was demoted after inexcusably bad stats, but is already back up due to injuries. Why does Heath Bell suck so much? Guess Brett Anderson isn't the answer, huh?
Kansas Twisters
Kansas dug themselves a deep hole that they're now trying desperately to dig themselves out of. They finished June 12 games back, but have made up 5 games in July by going 8-3. If La Brea and Springfield continue to struggle in mediocrity, it's not unrealistic to think that the Twisters could storm back and take the division.
This offense is best in the division and second best in the league (behind Caracas). Four players have 20+ HR, and all four are nearly at 30. Ryan Braun is out for 4-6 weeks, which hurts, though Mark DeRosa has (coughroidedcough) vastly improved over last season. Brett Gardner is out for the year, leaving Ichiro as the lone stolen base threat.
Second best offense, second worst pitching. Tommy Hanson's 4.21 ERA makes him the ace, and it goes downhill from there. Jered Weaver would be a decent 4th starter on most teams, but slots in at #2 here. Number one overall draft pick Stephen Strasburg was the opening day starter, but struggled through his 13 starts before being shut down for the year with tricep problems. Jonathan Sanchez finally gets the starts he has deserved for the past year and a half.
Total disaster. Jose Valverde has been great, but otherwise it's a train wreck. The less said the better.
Sioux Falls Tomahawks
Fans probably hoped that this team's youth strategy would start paying off in year two, but SF is still struggling. The offense is uneven, while the pitching is worst in the league. GM Mike McAvoy is smart to not make any rash moves, though, as the only way to get the kids better is to keep running them out there.
Marlon Byrd is the star here. Marlon Byrd. Okay, I shouldn't make fun of the guy, as he's hitting .314 with 30 HR, but it points to the lack of star power in this lineup. One bright side of things, rookie catcher Tony Sanchez has been a nice addition to the lineup, giving the team something to build on. I have no idea what's wrong with Adrian Gonzalez.
Everything isn't bleak for the Tomahawk pitching staff. Carmona and Price have improved steadily and are solid options in the rotation. Yu Darvish has struggled as much as fellow draftee Strasburg, but at least he's stayed healthy. The team ERA has been skewed by some unbelievably bad bullpen numbers (four players with ERA's north of 7.00). Chris Perez and Leo Nunez, however, have been nails.
La Brea Dire Wolves
La Brea clinched the first half with a 41-36 record, but has gone 3-8 since. A .500 record sounds about right for a team that is firmly middle-of-the-pack both offensively and defensively. They don't hit well (just one regular squeaking above .300), but the power is pretty decent. This is the slowest team in SLB, stealing just 55 bases in 88 games.
The really good pitching performances (Beckett, Towers) are being overshadowed by the really bad (Duchscherer, Wang). Improvements must be made to the rotation if there is any hope of advancing in the playoffs. Josh Towers has been excellent (7-3, 2.74), but he can't do it all alone.
It's more good and bad in the bullpen. Jon Link has been very solid late, allowing just 2 HR in 34 IP while allowing just a .344 OpSLG. Ryan Madson has managed a solid ERA despite giving up a lot of hits. On the down side, Strop and Rodriguez's control has been horrible, allowing a ton of baserunners late.
Springfield Isotopes
The Isotopes are also .500, but have been playing better in July (6-5). The team is more talented on paper than La Brea, and if they stay healthy, have a good chance to win either the second half or the division outright.
Springfield has scored the second fewest runs in SLB, and have been outscored by 26 runs total. The power is partly to blame (Blanks is the only hitter with over 20 HR), while the catching position has been a black hole. The speed isn't great either, but if the team is looking to upgrade, another power bat (or two) would surely go far.
Even though the team ERA is very good, the starters have really struggled. Burnett and Lincecum have been good (3.36 and 3.75 ERA respectively), but neither is above .500. A long injury to Zach Greinke (who recently returned) forced Vazquez and Buchholz into more starts than the front office would have liked.
On the flip side, the Isotope bullpen has been lights out. Aside from Mitch Talbot, the entire relief staff have ERA's south of 4.40. Fuentes and Hernandez have been particularly dominating, each holding opponents to under .200 batting averages.
Oklahoma City Bison
The defending West champs have had a terrible run this year, thanks to an insane number of injuries. Right now, six players are out long term, while others have been off and on the DL all season. No team can be expected to succeed with this amount of playing time going to replacement level players.
Only four players have played every day, and one of them sucks (Pena). Longoria has had decent run production numbers, but has hit very poorly. The other two are Japanese, so I'm not sure they're even real. The star of the team is Carlos Gonzalez, but he's more or less out for the year after posting a .322/.365/.675 line. Tough break. First base has been a disaster (Ludwick and Hoffpauir are both hurt and bad). Uncle, I give.
Josh Johnson and Ted Lilly have continued their 2010 successes in 2011 and anchor this rotation. After that, it's ugly. Max Scherzer, who couldn't win to save his life last year, is now the third best starter thanks to disastrous seasons by McGowan and Kazmir. Many GM's will come calling about Lilly and Johnson, but will OKC move them?
Good think Broxton is decent as the closer, because otherwise it's been horrible. Donnie Veal was demoted after inexcusably bad stats, but is already back up due to injuries. Why does Heath Bell suck so much? Guess Brett Anderson isn't the answer, huh?
Kansas Twisters
Kansas dug themselves a deep hole that they're now trying desperately to dig themselves out of. They finished June 12 games back, but have made up 5 games in July by going 8-3. If La Brea and Springfield continue to struggle in mediocrity, it's not unrealistic to think that the Twisters could storm back and take the division.
This offense is best in the division and second best in the league (behind Caracas). Four players have 20+ HR, and all four are nearly at 30. Ryan Braun is out for 4-6 weeks, which hurts, though Mark DeRosa has (coughroidedcough) vastly improved over last season. Brett Gardner is out for the year, leaving Ichiro as the lone stolen base threat.
Second best offense, second worst pitching. Tommy Hanson's 4.21 ERA makes him the ace, and it goes downhill from there. Jered Weaver would be a decent 4th starter on most teams, but slots in at #2 here. Number one overall draft pick Stephen Strasburg was the opening day starter, but struggled through his 13 starts before being shut down for the year with tricep problems. Jonathan Sanchez finally gets the starts he has deserved for the past year and a half.
Total disaster. Jose Valverde has been great, but otherwise it's a train wreck. The less said the better.
Sioux Falls Tomahawks
Fans probably hoped that this team's youth strategy would start paying off in year two, but SF is still struggling. The offense is uneven, while the pitching is worst in the league. GM Mike McAvoy is smart to not make any rash moves, though, as the only way to get the kids better is to keep running them out there.
Marlon Byrd is the star here. Marlon Byrd. Okay, I shouldn't make fun of the guy, as he's hitting .314 with 30 HR, but it points to the lack of star power in this lineup. One bright side of things, rookie catcher Tony Sanchez has been a nice addition to the lineup, giving the team something to build on. I have no idea what's wrong with Adrian Gonzalez.
Everything isn't bleak for the Tomahawk pitching staff. Carmona and Price have improved steadily and are solid options in the rotation. Yu Darvish has struggled as much as fellow draftee Strasburg, but at least he's stayed healthy. The team ERA has been skewed by some unbelievably bad bullpen numbers (four players with ERA's north of 7.00). Chris Perez and Leo Nunez, however, have been nails.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Midseason Report 2011 - East Division
The East has been highly competitive this year, with 4 winning teams separated by just 3.5 games (and last place New York just 6 out). Atlanta won the first half, but it's anyone's division to win. Perhaps the team that makes the big trade will be the team that comes out on top come October.
Atlanta Flyers
The Flyers are once again in first place at the break despite any real superstars. Atlanta is built on a team-first concept, where everyone contributes but no one really stands out. The team is 6th in runs and 10th in ERA, but holds the second best record in baseball. The Flyers rely on a lot of luck (they've been outscored this year but are 9 games over .500), thanks to a 19-9 record in 1-run games.
Solid contributions 1-8 make this offense a threat. Nine players have 10+ HR, though nobody with more than 200 AB's is batting over .300. Justin Morneau is the team MVP, thanks to his 78 RBI (a total that is nearly double any of his teammates). Look for Carlos Beltran to get the lion's share of playing time in center with his hot bat.
The rotation has become more consistent this year. Last season's starters were feast or famine, while the 2011 rotation are all good but not great. Edwin Jackson has been the "ace", going 10-4 with a 3.99 ERA, but no starter has been dominant. Injuries have forced rookie Doug Fister to start 10 games, and he hasn't been good.
Joakim Soria is the best reliever in SLB, giving up just 21 hits in 45 IP, with a 1.39 ERA. Joe Nathan is a quality closer, and Rafael Perez has been good enough. Middle/long relief has been spotty, but overall, the pen has done it's job.
Columbus Capitals
It has been another up and down year for Columbus, but the Capitals find themselves just a game out of first at the break. The team has made up 3.5 games in 10 days, thanks to an Atlanta slump. Last year's playoff squad has seen a lot of turnover, but the new faces have done well to keep the winning ways alive.
It's a younger offense in 2011, as Manny Ramirez and Chone Figgins have been replaced by Matt LaPorta and Mat Gamel. Gamel, a throw in from last year's Billy Wagner trade, has excelled in his starting role, batting .321 with over 20 homers. 2010 MVP runner up Chase Utley was off to a hot start (.345) before being shelved with an injury, forcing management to promote 2010 draftee Scott Sizemore into early duty. The youngster has responded, batting over .300 since his promotion. Jeremy Herminda has been a nice addition as well.
Another great season for the Columbus starters. Roy Halladay has his eye on the Cy Young, notching an 11-4, 2.72 mark through the first half. Webb, Chamberlain and Liriano all have ERA's in the 3's, while newcomer Matt Cain has been the "worst" at 6-5, 4.51. The rotation has combined for 48 quality starts.
The Achilles' heel for the Capitals has been the pen, who, outside of Volstad and Marte, has been terrible. Everyone gives up hits in bunches, even closer Brian Wilson, who has completely fallen apart after a successful 2010 campaign. What will the trade market look like for relievers this year?
Miami Sharks
The Sharks are the most improved team in the East, thanks to quality pitching and veteran hitters. Miami was 34-44 in the first half last year, on pace for 75 wins and 4th place. Now they are just 2 games out of first.
It's not an ideal lineup, but it has been effective. Old timers like Derrek Lee and Jorge Posada are showing that they aren't quite over the hill yet, while rookie SS Tracy Pena has been a nice spark. The team has good speed, which makes up for the lack of power. Miami has been lucky on the injury front, which has masked the lack of depth on offense.
The Sharks are 4th in the league in ERA without any true stars. The rotation has been great with no-names like Nolasco and Blackburn leading the way. Jake Peavy has done well, while Kendrick and Pelfrey have been good enough at the back of the rotation. All of the starters have been particularly good at limiting walks, keeping runners off base.
The bullpen has been one of the best in SLB. Chad Bradford has been nails at closer, while Mike Gonzalez has bounced back to have a strong year. Miami has benefited from reliable middle relief, a luxury few teams in the league have had.
Jersey City Jackals
The Jackals lost their GM this year (yet to be replaced), but are still playing some pretty strong baseball. Like the Flyers, Jersey City has a balanced offense, but the pitching has kept them from pushing to the front of the pack in the East. Can a new owner be found to fine tune this squad for a playoff run?
Joe Mauer leads a team with nine players sporting double digit homerun totals. Mauer is a strong MVP candidate, batting .339/.390/.630 while leading the team in RBI. Nice contributions from Magglio Ordonez and Brade Hawpe in the outfield, while Orlando Hudson has the speed at the top to set the table.
Outside of Mark Buerhle, the starting rotation has been solid. Run support has hurt the W-L records, but vet Rich Harden and youngster Felix Doubront have low ERA's and quality numbers. Kuroda is a good #3 starter, and Rick Porcello has been decent enough.
The pen has it's good and it's bad. Ageless Mariano Rivera continues to pitch well late in games, and Jesse Crain is a crazy 7-1 in short relief. Bob Howry is terrible.
New York Knights
New York has had the same problems in 2011 that plagued them throughout 2010. While the pitching has been pretty good, the offense is simply terrible; last in runs and last in home runs at the break. What is it about the Big Apple that kills the long ball?
The focus remains on Albert Pujols, who, despite having a better batting average, is still bafflingly unproductive. He's hitting .266 with just 9 HR, though to be fair, Nelson Cruz's 13 HR lead the team. There is a ton of team speed, but small ball hasn't cut it for the Knights, who are busy trying to solve this offensive conundrum.
The starting pitching, on the other hand, has been quite good. Scott Baker leads the way with his 3.19 ERA, while Cliff Lee and Aaron Harang squeak in with ERA's just under 4.00. The pen has been pretty good, with Kuo, Wood, McClellan and Bonser all holding their own. If the Knights continue to fall further out of the playoff picture, expect many teams to come calling about relief help.
Atlanta Flyers
The Flyers are once again in first place at the break despite any real superstars. Atlanta is built on a team-first concept, where everyone contributes but no one really stands out. The team is 6th in runs and 10th in ERA, but holds the second best record in baseball. The Flyers rely on a lot of luck (they've been outscored this year but are 9 games over .500), thanks to a 19-9 record in 1-run games.
Solid contributions 1-8 make this offense a threat. Nine players have 10+ HR, though nobody with more than 200 AB's is batting over .300. Justin Morneau is the team MVP, thanks to his 78 RBI (a total that is nearly double any of his teammates). Look for Carlos Beltran to get the lion's share of playing time in center with his hot bat.
The rotation has become more consistent this year. Last season's starters were feast or famine, while the 2011 rotation are all good but not great. Edwin Jackson has been the "ace", going 10-4 with a 3.99 ERA, but no starter has been dominant. Injuries have forced rookie Doug Fister to start 10 games, and he hasn't been good.
Joakim Soria is the best reliever in SLB, giving up just 21 hits in 45 IP, with a 1.39 ERA. Joe Nathan is a quality closer, and Rafael Perez has been good enough. Middle/long relief has been spotty, but overall, the pen has done it's job.
Columbus Capitals
It has been another up and down year for Columbus, but the Capitals find themselves just a game out of first at the break. The team has made up 3.5 games in 10 days, thanks to an Atlanta slump. Last year's playoff squad has seen a lot of turnover, but the new faces have done well to keep the winning ways alive.
It's a younger offense in 2011, as Manny Ramirez and Chone Figgins have been replaced by Matt LaPorta and Mat Gamel. Gamel, a throw in from last year's Billy Wagner trade, has excelled in his starting role, batting .321 with over 20 homers. 2010 MVP runner up Chase Utley was off to a hot start (.345) before being shelved with an injury, forcing management to promote 2010 draftee Scott Sizemore into early duty. The youngster has responded, batting over .300 since his promotion. Jeremy Herminda has been a nice addition as well.
Another great season for the Columbus starters. Roy Halladay has his eye on the Cy Young, notching an 11-4, 2.72 mark through the first half. Webb, Chamberlain and Liriano all have ERA's in the 3's, while newcomer Matt Cain has been the "worst" at 6-5, 4.51. The rotation has combined for 48 quality starts.
The Achilles' heel for the Capitals has been the pen, who, outside of Volstad and Marte, has been terrible. Everyone gives up hits in bunches, even closer Brian Wilson, who has completely fallen apart after a successful 2010 campaign. What will the trade market look like for relievers this year?
Miami Sharks
The Sharks are the most improved team in the East, thanks to quality pitching and veteran hitters. Miami was 34-44 in the first half last year, on pace for 75 wins and 4th place. Now they are just 2 games out of first.
It's not an ideal lineup, but it has been effective. Old timers like Derrek Lee and Jorge Posada are showing that they aren't quite over the hill yet, while rookie SS Tracy Pena has been a nice spark. The team has good speed, which makes up for the lack of power. Miami has been lucky on the injury front, which has masked the lack of depth on offense.
The Sharks are 4th in the league in ERA without any true stars. The rotation has been great with no-names like Nolasco and Blackburn leading the way. Jake Peavy has done well, while Kendrick and Pelfrey have been good enough at the back of the rotation. All of the starters have been particularly good at limiting walks, keeping runners off base.
The bullpen has been one of the best in SLB. Chad Bradford has been nails at closer, while Mike Gonzalez has bounced back to have a strong year. Miami has benefited from reliable middle relief, a luxury few teams in the league have had.
Jersey City Jackals
The Jackals lost their GM this year (yet to be replaced), but are still playing some pretty strong baseball. Like the Flyers, Jersey City has a balanced offense, but the pitching has kept them from pushing to the front of the pack in the East. Can a new owner be found to fine tune this squad for a playoff run?
Joe Mauer leads a team with nine players sporting double digit homerun totals. Mauer is a strong MVP candidate, batting .339/.390/.630 while leading the team in RBI. Nice contributions from Magglio Ordonez and Brade Hawpe in the outfield, while Orlando Hudson has the speed at the top to set the table.
Outside of Mark Buerhle, the starting rotation has been solid. Run support has hurt the W-L records, but vet Rich Harden and youngster Felix Doubront have low ERA's and quality numbers. Kuroda is a good #3 starter, and Rick Porcello has been decent enough.
The pen has it's good and it's bad. Ageless Mariano Rivera continues to pitch well late in games, and Jesse Crain is a crazy 7-1 in short relief. Bob Howry is terrible.
New York Knights
New York has had the same problems in 2011 that plagued them throughout 2010. While the pitching has been pretty good, the offense is simply terrible; last in runs and last in home runs at the break. What is it about the Big Apple that kills the long ball?
The focus remains on Albert Pujols, who, despite having a better batting average, is still bafflingly unproductive. He's hitting .266 with just 9 HR, though to be fair, Nelson Cruz's 13 HR lead the team. There is a ton of team speed, but small ball hasn't cut it for the Knights, who are busy trying to solve this offensive conundrum.
The starting pitching, on the other hand, has been quite good. Scott Baker leads the way with his 3.19 ERA, while Cliff Lee and Aaron Harang squeak in with ERA's just under 4.00. The pen has been pretty good, with Kuo, Wood, McClellan and Bonser all holding their own. If the Knights continue to fall further out of the playoff picture, expect many teams to come calling about relief help.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
2011 Draft Preview
Winter League has wrapped up and the Amateur Draft is here. Which players are likely to go in the first round? Who are the sleepers?
Once again, we break down the eligible draftees by position
STARTING PITCHERS
It's not as strong a year for starting pitching, with no obvious #1 guy in the mix.
Nassau's Bruce Lang will get some first round consideration, despite an underdeveloped fastball. He averaged nearly a K/IP, and had a fantastic 2.35 ERA in 114 IP.
Jarrod Parker improved in his second season, going 9-4 with a 3.89 ERA. Problem is, he doesn't strike out enough people (just 77 in 104 IP).
Another pitcher with similar numbers is Tim Alderson, though he had more strikeouts.
A pitcher who went undrafted last year was Floyd Bluege. He had good numbers in 2010, and repeated them in 2011, going 4-5 with a 3.21 ERA. Scouts still worry about his lack of fastball and hittable sinker.
Andrew Cashner won 8 games, but had a decidedly average ERA (4.25) and just 74 K's. He has a plus slider and a good fastball, and with a top speed of around 93 mph, is a worthwhile project.
RELIEF PITCHERS
The top reliever this year is probably Tanner Scheppers, who improved in his 3rd year by going 2-3, 2.25 with 31 k's in 40 IP. He has a major league curveball and above average secondary pitches.
Teammate Steve Portugal had a 3.02 ERA with nearly a K/IP. Everything he throws is hard (FB/SI), but he has better control than Scheppers.
Righty Milt Bowcock posted good relief numbers (2-3, 3.33) thanks to a plus curve.
Another 3rd year reliever is Hank Gonzales who relies heavily on a ML ready slider. He had 7 saves in 25 1/3 IP.
Lorenzo Olerud doesn't have the strongest arm in the world, but his plus fastball should intrigue scouts.
CATCHERS
The best backstop in the draft is Jesus Montero, a 21 year old righty with great defense and improving batting. He lead all WL catchers in average, tied in HR, and was 4th in RBI.
Another good looking catcher is Travis D'Arnaud, who has the strongest arm in the draft. His hitting skills measure up with Montero, though his average was decidely low this season.
Left-handed hitter Jason Castro batted .340 after being passed in the draft last year. Don't sleep on him again!
FIRST BASEMEN
It's a thinner year at 1B, but Yonder Alonso is sure to get a look. The lefty has some growing to do, but did hit 13 HR with a .300+ average.
Nassau's Andy Holke ad a nice year, batting .336 with 10 dingers. He, too, needs some work in the minors.
SECOND BASEMEN
This position is stronger than last year, lead by Sam Harshany, who lead his position with 18 HR and 60 RBI. He combines good contact and above average power with good speed.
Adrian Cardenas went nuts in his 3rd year, batting .392 (!!!) despite very average measurables.
Guy Martinez and Frank Decker could be good value picks in the later rounds.
THIRD BASEMEN
Josh Vitters will likely be the first 3B taken this year. He has nice power and a good bat, and at just 21 years old, has some room to improve. He hit 15 HR with 58 RBI this year.
John Marston is even younger (19), and is a switch-hitter with good speed. Will he stick at 3B, or should he move to the middle infield? He hit .317 with 11 HR to go with 9 swipes.
SHORTSTOPS
WL MVP Dee Gordon isn't eligible to be drafted this year, but there are several good SS to choose from.
Tim Beckham is a speedy shortstop (12 SB) who batted a robust .348. He has a strong arm, and is qualified to play 2B as well.
Hak-Ju Lee had another good year, swiping 24 bags while batting .308.
Another good hitter is Grant Green, who hit .304 with 5 HR in a part time role.
OUTFIELDERS
The big prize this year among outfielders is Mike Stanton. The kid can belt it, rocking 21 HR and 64 RBI. His two year combined numbers (roughly a full MLB year) were .287, 36 HR, 118 RBI. Awesome.
Aaron Hicks is a player with a great skill set; decent eye, developing power, above average speed.
Charlie Gannon had a monster year, hitting .379 with 17 steals. This kid could probably start in the majors as early as next year. His teammate (Archie Bolin) had 19 steals of his own.
A kid with a lot of power is Domonic Brown. Scouts drool over his batting practice, and he hit 9 HR in a platoon in San Juan.
Once again, Adam Piatt, put up big numbers with limited skills. He was second only to Stanton in RBI, even though there is nothing particularly special about his swing
Once again, we break down the eligible draftees by position
STARTING PITCHERS
It's not as strong a year for starting pitching, with no obvious #1 guy in the mix.
Nassau's Bruce Lang will get some first round consideration, despite an underdeveloped fastball. He averaged nearly a K/IP, and had a fantastic 2.35 ERA in 114 IP.
Jarrod Parker improved in his second season, going 9-4 with a 3.89 ERA. Problem is, he doesn't strike out enough people (just 77 in 104 IP).
Another pitcher with similar numbers is Tim Alderson, though he had more strikeouts.
A pitcher who went undrafted last year was Floyd Bluege. He had good numbers in 2010, and repeated them in 2011, going 4-5 with a 3.21 ERA. Scouts still worry about his lack of fastball and hittable sinker.
Andrew Cashner won 8 games, but had a decidedly average ERA (4.25) and just 74 K's. He has a plus slider and a good fastball, and with a top speed of around 93 mph, is a worthwhile project.
RELIEF PITCHERS
The top reliever this year is probably Tanner Scheppers, who improved in his 3rd year by going 2-3, 2.25 with 31 k's in 40 IP. He has a major league curveball and above average secondary pitches.
Teammate Steve Portugal had a 3.02 ERA with nearly a K/IP. Everything he throws is hard (FB/SI), but he has better control than Scheppers.
Righty Milt Bowcock posted good relief numbers (2-3, 3.33) thanks to a plus curve.
Another 3rd year reliever is Hank Gonzales who relies heavily on a ML ready slider. He had 7 saves in 25 1/3 IP.
Lorenzo Olerud doesn't have the strongest arm in the world, but his plus fastball should intrigue scouts.
CATCHERS
The best backstop in the draft is Jesus Montero, a 21 year old righty with great defense and improving batting. He lead all WL catchers in average, tied in HR, and was 4th in RBI.
Another good looking catcher is Travis D'Arnaud, who has the strongest arm in the draft. His hitting skills measure up with Montero, though his average was decidely low this season.
Left-handed hitter Jason Castro batted .340 after being passed in the draft last year. Don't sleep on him again!
FIRST BASEMEN
It's a thinner year at 1B, but Yonder Alonso is sure to get a look. The lefty has some growing to do, but did hit 13 HR with a .300+ average.
Nassau's Andy Holke ad a nice year, batting .336 with 10 dingers. He, too, needs some work in the minors.
SECOND BASEMEN
This position is stronger than last year, lead by Sam Harshany, who lead his position with 18 HR and 60 RBI. He combines good contact and above average power with good speed.
Adrian Cardenas went nuts in his 3rd year, batting .392 (!!!) despite very average measurables.
Guy Martinez and Frank Decker could be good value picks in the later rounds.
THIRD BASEMEN
Josh Vitters will likely be the first 3B taken this year. He has nice power and a good bat, and at just 21 years old, has some room to improve. He hit 15 HR with 58 RBI this year.
John Marston is even younger (19), and is a switch-hitter with good speed. Will he stick at 3B, or should he move to the middle infield? He hit .317 with 11 HR to go with 9 swipes.
SHORTSTOPS
WL MVP Dee Gordon isn't eligible to be drafted this year, but there are several good SS to choose from.
Tim Beckham is a speedy shortstop (12 SB) who batted a robust .348. He has a strong arm, and is qualified to play 2B as well.
Hak-Ju Lee had another good year, swiping 24 bags while batting .308.
Another good hitter is Grant Green, who hit .304 with 5 HR in a part time role.
OUTFIELDERS
The big prize this year among outfielders is Mike Stanton. The kid can belt it, rocking 21 HR and 64 RBI. His two year combined numbers (roughly a full MLB year) were .287, 36 HR, 118 RBI. Awesome.
Aaron Hicks is a player with a great skill set; decent eye, developing power, above average speed.
Charlie Gannon had a monster year, hitting .379 with 17 steals. This kid could probably start in the majors as early as next year. His teammate (Archie Bolin) had 19 steals of his own.
A kid with a lot of power is Domonic Brown. Scouts drool over his batting practice, and he hit 9 HR in a platoon in San Juan.
Once again, Adam Piatt, put up big numbers with limited skills. He was second only to Stanton in RBI, even though there is nothing particularly special about his swing
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Players of April, 2011
Congrats to the Players of April:
HITTER - OF Chris Coghlan (CAR) - .354, 10 HR, 21 RBI
PITCHER - RHP Felix Hernandez (BRI) - 4-0, 0.00 ERA, 29 K's, 6 BB
ROOKIE HITTER - SS Tracy Pena (MIA) - .260, 3 HR, 7 RBI
ROOKIE PITCHER - RHP Yu Darvish (SF) - 2-2, 4.26 ERA, 22 K's, 10 BB
HITTER - OF Chris Coghlan (CAR) - .354, 10 HR, 21 RBI
PITCHER - RHP Felix Hernandez (BRI) - 4-0, 0.00 ERA, 29 K's, 6 BB
ROOKIE HITTER - SS Tracy Pena (MIA) - .260, 3 HR, 7 RBI
ROOKIE PITCHER - RHP Yu Darvish (SF) - 2-2, 4.26 ERA, 22 K's, 10 BB
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Around the League - 04/25/11
It's our first look at 2011, and the big story in SLB is Felix Hernandez. After signing the richest deal this off season (moving from Caracas to Brisbane), the young fireballer has absolutely dominated in his first 4 starts, not allowing an earned run so far this season. Check out this stat line:
3-0, 0.00 ERA, 28 1/3 IP, 8 H, 0 HR, 5 BB, 18 K, .087 OpAvg, .109 OpSLG
For those of you playing at home, that's a WHIP of 0.46!!!!!!!!
Now, for the rest of the league...
EAST
- The race heats up right away, with three teams within a game of first place. Atlanta stakes their claim to the top early (despite a miserable 5.31 team ERA), thanks to a league leading 35 HR.
- Columbus is right back at their underachieving ways, wasting brilliant starting pitching with a hot/cold offense and spotty bullpen. 2010 Cy Young winner Brandon Webb is winless with a 5.18 ERA to start the year.
- Miami is off to a better start this year, going 10-9 over the first 3 weeks. Starting pitching has been key so far, as the offense has been slow to get going.
- After a terrible start, New York is back to within 2 games of .500. Newcomers Chone Figgins and Nelson Cruz have sparked an otherwise anemic offense, as Albert Pujols' spring training numbers haven't carried over into the regular season (how does this guy not have a HR yet?)
- Jersey City sits in last, partially due to the financial inability to improve this off season. The bullpen has been really rough, and outside of Magglio Ordonez and Josh Hamilton, there hasn't been much to report from the offense.
WEST
- This division is pretty mediocre top to bottom, but LaBrea has shown something in 2011 that they didn't in 2010: the ability to hit. The Dire Wolves are 3rd in the league in batting. Josh Towers has been brilliant, and the pen is among the best in the league so far.
- Springfield comes in at 9-8, but who knows how! The offense is woeful (outside of Kyle Blanks), which is why Tim Lincecum is 0-3 despite a 1.67 ERA. Looks like the Isotopes have pulled out some close games late.
- Kansas added some thump to an already potent offense this winter, but are near the bottom of the league in runs scored. Add in the fact that outside of Adam Wainwright, the starting pitching (including top draft pick Stephen Strasburg) has been terrible, and you can see why they're just 8-9.
- The Bison hitting is the worst in the league at just .217. Ouch. It doesn't matter how good pitchers like Ted Lilly are, you aren't going to win with that kind of offense.
- Sioux Falls is still bad. There are some good hitters, but when three of your starters are winless (Price, Garza and Gallardo are 0-7 combined), you're going to have problems. Rookie Yu Darvish is off to a good (but not great) start.
WORLD
- Fremantle has the best record in the league, thanks to a 3.87 team ERA. Even though Tug Hullett is the only .300 hitter, there has been nice contributions up and down the lineup.
- Brisbane has the 2nd best record in the league, but is 1.5 back of Fremantle. While Felix Hernandez has been the story, Aaron Laffey (1.73 ERA) and Clayton Kershaw (1.80 ERA) have been nearly as impressive.
- Quebec is tied (by % points) for 2nd place, but would lead the other two division with their 12-8 mark. Despite some early injury issues, the team has scored over 20 more runs than the closest competitor. Roy Oswalt and Kevin Slowey have dominated.
- Caracas has been victimized by a league worst bullpen so far, and has no signs of fixing the problem. Money was (wisely) spent on starting pitching this winter, and so far it has paid off, as Verlander and Westbrook have been big improvements.
3-0, 0.00 ERA, 28 1/3 IP, 8 H, 0 HR, 5 BB, 18 K, .087 OpAvg, .109 OpSLG
For those of you playing at home, that's a WHIP of 0.46!!!!!!!!
Now, for the rest of the league...
EAST
- The race heats up right away, with three teams within a game of first place. Atlanta stakes their claim to the top early (despite a miserable 5.31 team ERA), thanks to a league leading 35 HR.
- Columbus is right back at their underachieving ways, wasting brilliant starting pitching with a hot/cold offense and spotty bullpen. 2010 Cy Young winner Brandon Webb is winless with a 5.18 ERA to start the year.
- Miami is off to a better start this year, going 10-9 over the first 3 weeks. Starting pitching has been key so far, as the offense has been slow to get going.
- After a terrible start, New York is back to within 2 games of .500. Newcomers Chone Figgins and Nelson Cruz have sparked an otherwise anemic offense, as Albert Pujols' spring training numbers haven't carried over into the regular season (how does this guy not have a HR yet?)
- Jersey City sits in last, partially due to the financial inability to improve this off season. The bullpen has been really rough, and outside of Magglio Ordonez and Josh Hamilton, there hasn't been much to report from the offense.
WEST
- This division is pretty mediocre top to bottom, but LaBrea has shown something in 2011 that they didn't in 2010: the ability to hit. The Dire Wolves are 3rd in the league in batting. Josh Towers has been brilliant, and the pen is among the best in the league so far.
- Springfield comes in at 9-8, but who knows how! The offense is woeful (outside of Kyle Blanks), which is why Tim Lincecum is 0-3 despite a 1.67 ERA. Looks like the Isotopes have pulled out some close games late.
- Kansas added some thump to an already potent offense this winter, but are near the bottom of the league in runs scored. Add in the fact that outside of Adam Wainwright, the starting pitching (including top draft pick Stephen Strasburg) has been terrible, and you can see why they're just 8-9.
- The Bison hitting is the worst in the league at just .217. Ouch. It doesn't matter how good pitchers like Ted Lilly are, you aren't going to win with that kind of offense.
- Sioux Falls is still bad. There are some good hitters, but when three of your starters are winless (Price, Garza and Gallardo are 0-7 combined), you're going to have problems. Rookie Yu Darvish is off to a good (but not great) start.
WORLD
- Fremantle has the best record in the league, thanks to a 3.87 team ERA. Even though Tug Hullett is the only .300 hitter, there has been nice contributions up and down the lineup.
- Brisbane has the 2nd best record in the league, but is 1.5 back of Fremantle. While Felix Hernandez has been the story, Aaron Laffey (1.73 ERA) and Clayton Kershaw (1.80 ERA) have been nearly as impressive.
- Quebec is tied (by % points) for 2nd place, but would lead the other two division with their 12-8 mark. Despite some early injury issues, the team has scored over 20 more runs than the closest competitor. Roy Oswalt and Kevin Slowey have dominated.
- Caracas has been victimized by a league worst bullpen so far, and has no signs of fixing the problem. Money was (wisely) spent on starting pitching this winter, and so far it has paid off, as Verlander and Westbrook have been big improvements.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Trade Review (By Brian B)
Trade Central:
2/7/11
2011
Fremantle Acquires:
Aramis Ramirez-3B
$600,000
Jersey City Acquires:
Jason Hammel-P
Casey McGehee-3B
The Deal:
Fremantle acquires a solid right handed bat to insert into the middle of the batting
order with Mark Teixeira. This move will hopefully improve on the team’s offensive
production from last year, where the Cormorants hit .254 as a team, finished in the
bottom 3 in homeruns and last in RBI. Ramirez hit .292 last year with 36 home runs and
111 RBI’s (his HR and RBI production would have lead Fremantle last year). Ramirez’s
bat should pay immediate dividends and help improve the offense for the Cormorants. In
addition, Aramis’ is in the last year of his contract and will be looking to make as much
money in the off season as possible so he will be motivated to improve upon last years
production. The addition of Ramirez does put Fremantle right up against the cap, but
improved its offense with this trade.
Jersey City makes this deal to free up much needed cap room and get some financial
flexibility. It’s obvious that the Jackals feel the offensive production lost by moving
Ramirez can be made up with the production of guys like Mauer, Hamilton, Butler and
Tulowitzki. McGehee is an affordable option at third for the Jackals and he is locked up
through 2013. His .254 average last year was not eye popping, but he did hit 19 homers
and should be an adequate replacement at 3B for the Jackals. Jason Hammel is a 27 year
old RH pitcher who pitched at AAA last year going 5-6 with a 3.90 ERA in 15 starts.
AAA batters hit only .258 against him last year and he had 94 K’s in 101 innings pitched.
Hammel should compete for the #5 spot in the rotation or at the least a long reliever job
with JC, but another year at AAA wouldn’t be out of the question.
Winner/Loser:
I like the deal for Fremantle as they add a productive bat in Ramirez who will hit for
average and power for the Cormorants (at least for this year) and only had to give up
one major league player in McGehee to get him. This is obviously a deal to clear cap
space for Jersey City and should be viewed that way. But McGehee should provide some
production lower in the order and if Hammel can develop into a back of the rotation arm
for the Jackals, that would be a plus.
2/7/11
2011
Fremantle Acquires:
Aramis Ramirez-3B
$600,000
Jersey City Acquires:
Jason Hammel-P
Casey McGehee-3B
The Deal:
Fremantle acquires a solid right handed bat to insert into the middle of the batting
order with Mark Teixeira. This move will hopefully improve on the team’s offensive
production from last year, where the Cormorants hit .254 as a team, finished in the
bottom 3 in homeruns and last in RBI. Ramirez hit .292 last year with 36 home runs and
111 RBI’s (his HR and RBI production would have lead Fremantle last year). Ramirez’s
bat should pay immediate dividends and help improve the offense for the Cormorants. In
addition, Aramis’ is in the last year of his contract and will be looking to make as much
money in the off season as possible so he will be motivated to improve upon last years
production. The addition of Ramirez does put Fremantle right up against the cap, but
improved its offense with this trade.
Jersey City makes this deal to free up much needed cap room and get some financial
flexibility. It’s obvious that the Jackals feel the offensive production lost by moving
Ramirez can be made up with the production of guys like Mauer, Hamilton, Butler and
Tulowitzki. McGehee is an affordable option at third for the Jackals and he is locked up
through 2013. His .254 average last year was not eye popping, but he did hit 19 homers
and should be an adequate replacement at 3B for the Jackals. Jason Hammel is a 27 year
old RH pitcher who pitched at AAA last year going 5-6 with a 3.90 ERA in 15 starts.
AAA batters hit only .258 against him last year and he had 94 K’s in 101 innings pitched.
Hammel should compete for the #5 spot in the rotation or at the least a long reliever job
with JC, but another year at AAA wouldn’t be out of the question.
Winner/Loser:
I like the deal for Fremantle as they add a productive bat in Ramirez who will hit for
average and power for the Cormorants (at least for this year) and only had to give up
one major league player in McGehee to get him. This is obviously a deal to clear cap
space for Jersey City and should be viewed that way. But McGehee should provide some
production lower in the order and if Hammel can develop into a back of the rotation arm
for the Jackals, that would be a plus.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
2010 Award Winners
The season is over, so it's time to see who the voters thought were the best in the league.
MVP
3B Alex Rodriguez (CAR)
It was a tight race between Caracas' A-Rod and Columbus' Chase Utley, but in the end, Rodriguez's eye-popping numbers swayed the voters. His 1.048 SLG and 74 steals were an astonishing combination of power and speed. His 150 runs lead the league, as did his 50 HR, while his 125 RBI were second only to teammate Prince Fielder.
Cy Young
RHP Brandon Webb (COL)
Many thought this race would be tighter (with Roy Oswalt's tremendous season), but Webb ran away with this one, getting every first place vote but one. Webb lead the league with 19 victories and a 2.64 ERA, holding opponents to just 169 hits and 30 walks over nearly 200 innings. His 25 QS in 30 games was among the league's best.
Rookie Hitter of the Year
1B Gaby Sanchez (SPR)
This award was a no-brainer, as there were very few rookies starting this season, and Sanchez lead them in nearly everything: hits, doubles, homeruns, total bases, RBI, runs, walks and sac flies.
Rookie Pitcher of the Year
RHP Jon Link (LAB)
The competition was even thinner here, with mostly relievers and mid-season call ups competing for the award. Chris Narveson was the only starter to log a lot of innings, but his season was average at best. The Dire Wolves' Jon Link, however, excelled in his bullpen role, posting a 1.83 ERA over 39 1/3 innings. Just 2 of his 20 inherited runners scored.
Rolaids [tm] Reliever of the Year
RHP Francisco Rodriguez (SPR)
K-Rod was dominant in the Isotopes pen this season. He posted a 1.98 ERA over 81 2/3 innings, holding opponents to a measly .179 avg and .290 SLG. He allowed just 52 hits over those 81 innings, and just 5 HR.
Other award winners:
Goat of the Year: 1B Albert Pujols (NY)
East Division MVP: 2B Chase Utley (COL)
West Division MVP: SS Jimmy Rollins (OKC)
World Division MVP: CF Jacoby Ellsbury (CAR)
MVP
3B Alex Rodriguez (CAR)
It was a tight race between Caracas' A-Rod and Columbus' Chase Utley, but in the end, Rodriguez's eye-popping numbers swayed the voters. His 1.048 SLG and 74 steals were an astonishing combination of power and speed. His 150 runs lead the league, as did his 50 HR, while his 125 RBI were second only to teammate Prince Fielder.
Cy Young
RHP Brandon Webb (COL)
Many thought this race would be tighter (with Roy Oswalt's tremendous season), but Webb ran away with this one, getting every first place vote but one. Webb lead the league with 19 victories and a 2.64 ERA, holding opponents to just 169 hits and 30 walks over nearly 200 innings. His 25 QS in 30 games was among the league's best.
Rookie Hitter of the Year
1B Gaby Sanchez (SPR)
This award was a no-brainer, as there were very few rookies starting this season, and Sanchez lead them in nearly everything: hits, doubles, homeruns, total bases, RBI, runs, walks and sac flies.
Rookie Pitcher of the Year
RHP Jon Link (LAB)
The competition was even thinner here, with mostly relievers and mid-season call ups competing for the award. Chris Narveson was the only starter to log a lot of innings, but his season was average at best. The Dire Wolves' Jon Link, however, excelled in his bullpen role, posting a 1.83 ERA over 39 1/3 innings. Just 2 of his 20 inherited runners scored.
Rolaids [tm] Reliever of the Year
RHP Francisco Rodriguez (SPR)
K-Rod was dominant in the Isotopes pen this season. He posted a 1.98 ERA over 81 2/3 innings, holding opponents to a measly .179 avg and .290 SLG. He allowed just 52 hits over those 81 innings, and just 5 HR.
Other award winners:
Goat of the Year: 1B Albert Pujols (NY)
East Division MVP: 2B Chase Utley (COL)
West Division MVP: SS Jimmy Rollins (OKC)
World Division MVP: CF Jacoby Ellsbury (CAR)
Monday, August 30, 2010
2010 World Series - Game 6
Back in Oklahoma City for Game 6, where Brisbane looked to win the first SLB Championship, and OKC tried to force a Game 7.
Max Scherzer took the mound, hoping to match his Game 2 success, and faced Game 1 winner, lefty Clayton Kershaw.
Scherzer was wild early, and Brisbane jumped all over him. After walking Carl Crawford, the OKC righty gave up a 2 run bomb to Joey Votto. Another walk to Marlon Byrd resulted in a third run, as Ian Kinsler doubled him home for a 3-0 lead in the top of the 1st. A wild pitch moved Kinsler to third base, and a second wild pitch scored him for a 4-0 lead. Yunel Escobar doubled, and the boo birds were out. Finally, with Jonathan Broxton warming in the pen, Scherzer got Miguel Montero to line out to third.
One would think Kershaw would relax and pitch free and easy with an early lead, but he walked the first two Bison batters. After striking out Ibanez and Iwamura back-to-back, he walked Gonzalez, loading the bases for Ryan Ludwick. Kershaw got Ludwick to strike out swinging, stranding 3, and ending the first with a pitching line of 1 IP, 0 H, 3 BB, 3 K.
Broxton came in for the 2nd inning, hoping to right the ship. He had an easy 1-2-3 frame, and the Bison broke through in the bottom of the inning on Evan Longoria's lead off, 408 foot HR to center. Despite a single by Broxton, the Bison failed to score again in the inning.
Broxton's success didn't last long, as he gave up a monster, opposite field shot to Kinsler, pushing the lead to 6-1.
OKC got a few more back in the bottom of the 4th. Jonathan Broxton doubled with 2 outs (for his 2nd hit of the game (after just 1 hit in 9 AB's during the regular season). Jimmy Rollins then clanged one off the foul pole in left to cut the lead to 6-3. Dexter Fowler followed with a single, but Raul Ibanez K'd for the 2nd time, ending the threat.
The Bison tried their luck sending Broxton out for a 4th inning of work, but the righty was gassed, and gave up a 3 run shot to Ian Kinsler (his 2nd of the game).
But give OKC credit, they kept fighting back. Carlos Gonzalez notched an RBI single in the bottom of the 5th, and Pena knocked one in the the 8th. Rollins hit his 2nd HR of the game to cut the lead to 9-6 after 8 innings.
So on they went to the bottom of the 9th, with Carlos Marmol in to protect a 3 run lead and a series clinching win. Iwamura flied out, and Carlos Gonzalez struck out, but with 2 outs, Ryan Ludwick singled to center. But that would to it, as Evan Longoria grounded to short and the Koalas rushed the field, celebrating a 4 games to 2 World Series victory!
Clayton Kershaw got the win, giving up 4 ER on 8 hits, 4 BB's and 7 K's over 6 IP. Max Scherzer was the loser, giving up 4 ER on 4 H, 1 BB and 1 K in just 1 IP. Marmol gave up a hit and a K in 1 IP for the save.
The World Series MVP went to Ian Kinsler, who batted .409, 2 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 5 R, 3 BB, 5 K for the series.
BOX SCORE
SCORING SUMMARY
TOP 1st
- (2-0) - Joey Votto homered, Carl Crawford scored.
- (3-0) - Ian Kinsler doubled, Marlon Byrd scored.
- (4-0) - Max Scherzer threw a wild pitch, Ian Kinsler scored.
BOT 2nd
- (4-1) - Evan Longoria homered to center.
TOP 3rd
- (6-1) - Ian Kinsler homered, Marlon Byrd scored.
BOT 4th
- (6-3) - Jimmy Rollins homered, Jonathan Broxton scored.
TOP 5th
- (9-3) - Ian Kinsler homered, Marlon Byrd and Joey Votto scored.
BOT 5th
- (9-4) - Carlos Gonzalez singled, Akinori Iwamura scored.
BOT 8th
- (9-5) - Brayan Pena singled, Evan Longoria scored.
- (9-6) - Jimmy Rollins homered to left.
Max Scherzer took the mound, hoping to match his Game 2 success, and faced Game 1 winner, lefty Clayton Kershaw.
Scherzer was wild early, and Brisbane jumped all over him. After walking Carl Crawford, the OKC righty gave up a 2 run bomb to Joey Votto. Another walk to Marlon Byrd resulted in a third run, as Ian Kinsler doubled him home for a 3-0 lead in the top of the 1st. A wild pitch moved Kinsler to third base, and a second wild pitch scored him for a 4-0 lead. Yunel Escobar doubled, and the boo birds were out. Finally, with Jonathan Broxton warming in the pen, Scherzer got Miguel Montero to line out to third.
One would think Kershaw would relax and pitch free and easy with an early lead, but he walked the first two Bison batters. After striking out Ibanez and Iwamura back-to-back, he walked Gonzalez, loading the bases for Ryan Ludwick. Kershaw got Ludwick to strike out swinging, stranding 3, and ending the first with a pitching line of 1 IP, 0 H, 3 BB, 3 K.
Broxton came in for the 2nd inning, hoping to right the ship. He had an easy 1-2-3 frame, and the Bison broke through in the bottom of the inning on Evan Longoria's lead off, 408 foot HR to center. Despite a single by Broxton, the Bison failed to score again in the inning.
Broxton's success didn't last long, as he gave up a monster, opposite field shot to Kinsler, pushing the lead to 6-1.
OKC got a few more back in the bottom of the 4th. Jonathan Broxton doubled with 2 outs (for his 2nd hit of the game (after just 1 hit in 9 AB's during the regular season). Jimmy Rollins then clanged one off the foul pole in left to cut the lead to 6-3. Dexter Fowler followed with a single, but Raul Ibanez K'd for the 2nd time, ending the threat.
The Bison tried their luck sending Broxton out for a 4th inning of work, but the righty was gassed, and gave up a 3 run shot to Ian Kinsler (his 2nd of the game).
But give OKC credit, they kept fighting back. Carlos Gonzalez notched an RBI single in the bottom of the 5th, and Pena knocked one in the the 8th. Rollins hit his 2nd HR of the game to cut the lead to 9-6 after 8 innings.
So on they went to the bottom of the 9th, with Carlos Marmol in to protect a 3 run lead and a series clinching win. Iwamura flied out, and Carlos Gonzalez struck out, but with 2 outs, Ryan Ludwick singled to center. But that would to it, as Evan Longoria grounded to short and the Koalas rushed the field, celebrating a 4 games to 2 World Series victory!
Clayton Kershaw got the win, giving up 4 ER on 8 hits, 4 BB's and 7 K's over 6 IP. Max Scherzer was the loser, giving up 4 ER on 4 H, 1 BB and 1 K in just 1 IP. Marmol gave up a hit and a K in 1 IP for the save.
The World Series MVP went to Ian Kinsler, who batted .409, 2 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 5 R, 3 BB, 5 K for the series.
BOX SCORE
SCORING SUMMARY
TOP 1st
- (2-0) - Joey Votto homered, Carl Crawford scored.
- (3-0) - Ian Kinsler doubled, Marlon Byrd scored.
- (4-0) - Max Scherzer threw a wild pitch, Ian Kinsler scored.
BOT 2nd
- (4-1) - Evan Longoria homered to center.
TOP 3rd
- (6-1) - Ian Kinsler homered, Marlon Byrd scored.
BOT 4th
- (6-3) - Jimmy Rollins homered, Jonathan Broxton scored.
TOP 5th
- (9-3) - Ian Kinsler homered, Marlon Byrd and Joey Votto scored.
BOT 5th
- (9-4) - Carlos Gonzalez singled, Akinori Iwamura scored.
BOT 8th
- (9-5) - Brayan Pena singled, Evan Longoria scored.
- (9-6) - Jimmy Rollins homered to left.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
2010 World Series - Game 5
It was time for the pivotal Game 5 in Brisbane, as both teams looked to take a one-game advantage back to Oklahoma City. Sean Marshall (6-6, 2.96) took the mound for Brisbane to face Game 1 loser Scott Kazmir.
Oklahoma City opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd inning. Rollins doubled, followed by a Dexter Fowler walk. Raul Ibanez singled to drive in Rollins. But with the bases loaded, Sean Marshall induced a ground ball from Longoria to end the inning.
Brisbane answered in the bottom of the frame with a two out, solo HR off the bat of Rafael Furcal.
The Bison reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth on a solo blast from Iwamura. Again, the Koalas had an answer. Votto lead off the bottom of the fifth with a walk, then moved to second on a Miguel Montero single. Furcal then garnered his second RBI of the game, tying the game at 2-2. Crawford followed with a walk to load the bases with just one out. Ian Kinsler hit a deep fly to left that wasn't quite caught, but the runners had to hold up. Two runs scored, but Kinsler only made it to first, and Crawford held at second. After a wild pitch moved the runners up a base, Nick Markakis hit a fielder's choice ground out to first, which scored Crawford. A Marlon Byrd fly out finally ended the inning, and now Brisbane lead 5-2.
The Bison were retired in order in the top of the 6th, and the Koalas opened their half of the frame by teeing up on Kazmir once again. Escobar and Votto opened with back to back hits, putting runners on the corners with 0 outs. Montero hit into a double play, but Escobar scored the Koalas' sixth run.
The game was put away by Brisbane in the 8th, when pinch-hitter James Loney hit a 2 RBI triple off of OKC reliever Takashi Saito to give the Koalas an 8-2 lead.
That was all she wrote, as Brisbane took a 3-2 series lead. Sean Marshall was the winner, allowing 2 ER on 6 hits and 2 walks over 6 IP. He struck out 9 batters. Scott Kazmir lost once again, giving up 6 runs (5 earned) on 8 hits and 3 walks in 6 IP. He struck out 5.
Game 6 moves back state side, with projected starters being Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer.
BOX SCORE
SCORING SUMMARY
TOP 3rd
- (1-0) - Raul Ibanez singled, Jimmy Rollins scored.
BOT 3rd
- (1-1) - Rafael Furcal homered to right.
TOP 5th
- (2-1) - Akinori Iwamura homered to left.
BOT 5th
- (2-2) - Rafael Furcal doubled, Joey Votto scored.
- (2-4) - Ian Kinsler singled, Miguel Montero and Rafael Furcal scored.
- (2-5) - Nick Markakis ground out to first, Carl Crawford scored, Ian Kinsler to third.
BOT 6th
- (2-6) - Miguel Montero grounded into a double play, Yunel Escobar scored.
BOT 8th
- (2-8) - James Loney tripled, Yunel Escobar and Joey Votto scored.
Oklahoma City opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd inning. Rollins doubled, followed by a Dexter Fowler walk. Raul Ibanez singled to drive in Rollins. But with the bases loaded, Sean Marshall induced a ground ball from Longoria to end the inning.
Brisbane answered in the bottom of the frame with a two out, solo HR off the bat of Rafael Furcal.
The Bison reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth on a solo blast from Iwamura. Again, the Koalas had an answer. Votto lead off the bottom of the fifth with a walk, then moved to second on a Miguel Montero single. Furcal then garnered his second RBI of the game, tying the game at 2-2. Crawford followed with a walk to load the bases with just one out. Ian Kinsler hit a deep fly to left that wasn't quite caught, but the runners had to hold up. Two runs scored, but Kinsler only made it to first, and Crawford held at second. After a wild pitch moved the runners up a base, Nick Markakis hit a fielder's choice ground out to first, which scored Crawford. A Marlon Byrd fly out finally ended the inning, and now Brisbane lead 5-2.
The Bison were retired in order in the top of the 6th, and the Koalas opened their half of the frame by teeing up on Kazmir once again. Escobar and Votto opened with back to back hits, putting runners on the corners with 0 outs. Montero hit into a double play, but Escobar scored the Koalas' sixth run.
The game was put away by Brisbane in the 8th, when pinch-hitter James Loney hit a 2 RBI triple off of OKC reliever Takashi Saito to give the Koalas an 8-2 lead.
That was all she wrote, as Brisbane took a 3-2 series lead. Sean Marshall was the winner, allowing 2 ER on 6 hits and 2 walks over 6 IP. He struck out 9 batters. Scott Kazmir lost once again, giving up 6 runs (5 earned) on 8 hits and 3 walks in 6 IP. He struck out 5.
Game 6 moves back state side, with projected starters being Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer.
BOX SCORE
SCORING SUMMARY
TOP 3rd
- (1-0) - Raul Ibanez singled, Jimmy Rollins scored.
BOT 3rd
- (1-1) - Rafael Furcal homered to right.
TOP 5th
- (2-1) - Akinori Iwamura homered to left.
BOT 5th
- (2-2) - Rafael Furcal doubled, Joey Votto scored.
- (2-4) - Ian Kinsler singled, Miguel Montero and Rafael Furcal scored.
- (2-5) - Nick Markakis ground out to first, Carl Crawford scored, Ian Kinsler to third.
BOT 6th
- (2-6) - Miguel Montero grounded into a double play, Yunel Escobar scored.
BOT 8th
- (2-8) - James Loney tripled, Yunel Escobar and Joey Votto scored.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
2010 World Series - Game 4
Up two games to one, Oklahoma City sent young right hander Josh Johnson (9-12, 4.75 ) to face Brisbane's Aaron Cook (15-9, 3.76) for a Game 4 showdown.
After the Bison went down in order in the top of the 1st, The Koalas came out hitting. Carl Crawford hit a ground rule double, and was immediately driven in by Joey Votto. Johnson retired the next two batters to get out of the inning down just a run.
For the next several innings, hits were hard to come by. The two starters traded scoreless frames, allowing just 3 hits combined over the first 4 innings.
Brisbane looked like they would push the lead to two in the bottom of the 5th. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Joey Votto hit a line drive to left. The third base coach stopped the slow footed Miguel Montero at third base, leaving the bases loaded for Nick Markakis, who grounded weakly to 2nd for the final out.
The score remained 1-0 heading into the top of the 8th. Lefty Bobby Seay (3-4, 2.74) relieved Cook, hoping to hold the lead. Two deep flies and a ground out put the Koalas back in the dug out, hoping to add to their lead against veteran Takashi Saito (2-3, 5.58).
Despite walking two batters, Saito got out of the inning unscathed. Brisbane closer Huston Street entered to try to nail down the victory, but he would have to face the top of the Bison order. Rollins and Fowler both lined out hard to third base, so it was up to Raul Ibanez. Ibanez also hit the ball to third, but this time a fielding error by Escobar allowed him to reach safely. But Iwamura struck out swinging, and the Koalas held onto the 1-0 score for a victory.
The series is now tied 2-2, with Game 5 in Brisbane (followed by 6 and 7 in Oklahoma City). Aaron Cook got the victory, dominating the Bison lineup for 7 innings, giving up just 2 hits, no runs, no walks, and 6 strikeouts. Josh Johnson was the hard-luck loser, giving up a single earned run on 5 hits, 3 walks, and 5 K's over 7 innings. Huston Street notched his first save of the World Series with a perfect 9th inning.
Probable starters for Game 5 are Game 1 loser Scott Kazmir vs. Sean Marshall.
BOX SCORE
SCORING SUMMARY
BOT 1st
- (0-1) - Joey Votto singled, Carl Crawford scored.
After the Bison went down in order in the top of the 1st, The Koalas came out hitting. Carl Crawford hit a ground rule double, and was immediately driven in by Joey Votto. Johnson retired the next two batters to get out of the inning down just a run.
For the next several innings, hits were hard to come by. The two starters traded scoreless frames, allowing just 3 hits combined over the first 4 innings.
Brisbane looked like they would push the lead to two in the bottom of the 5th. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Joey Votto hit a line drive to left. The third base coach stopped the slow footed Miguel Montero at third base, leaving the bases loaded for Nick Markakis, who grounded weakly to 2nd for the final out.
The score remained 1-0 heading into the top of the 8th. Lefty Bobby Seay (3-4, 2.74) relieved Cook, hoping to hold the lead. Two deep flies and a ground out put the Koalas back in the dug out, hoping to add to their lead against veteran Takashi Saito (2-3, 5.58).
Despite walking two batters, Saito got out of the inning unscathed. Brisbane closer Huston Street entered to try to nail down the victory, but he would have to face the top of the Bison order. Rollins and Fowler both lined out hard to third base, so it was up to Raul Ibanez. Ibanez also hit the ball to third, but this time a fielding error by Escobar allowed him to reach safely. But Iwamura struck out swinging, and the Koalas held onto the 1-0 score for a victory.
The series is now tied 2-2, with Game 5 in Brisbane (followed by 6 and 7 in Oklahoma City). Aaron Cook got the victory, dominating the Bison lineup for 7 innings, giving up just 2 hits, no runs, no walks, and 6 strikeouts. Josh Johnson was the hard-luck loser, giving up a single earned run on 5 hits, 3 walks, and 5 K's over 7 innings. Huston Street notched his first save of the World Series with a perfect 9th inning.
Probable starters for Game 5 are Game 1 loser Scott Kazmir vs. Sean Marshall.
BOX SCORE
SCORING SUMMARY
BOT 1st
- (0-1) - Joey Votto singled, Carl Crawford scored.
Friday, August 27, 2010
2010 World Series - Game 3
With the series tied 1-1, the teams took the long flight to Brisbane, Australia for Games 3-5. The Koalas send staff ace Chad Billingsley (15-9, 3.45) to the mound to face Bison ace Ted Lilly (13-5, 3.72). Both starters are 1-0 in the playoffs.
Billingsley wiggled out of some early trouble in the top of the first. Rollins lead off with a single and moved to second on a passed ball. After Ibanez walked, Iwamura grounded into a 1-4-3 double play to retire the side.
Brisbane opened in the scoring in the bottom of the first. Rafael Furcal lead off with a walk, then scored all the way from first on a Carl Crawford double to the gap. Lilly held the Koalas at one, stranding Crawford at third.
The Bison took the run right back in the top of the second. Carlos Gonzalez lead off with a walk and stole second before moving to third on a Ryan Ludwick single. Evan Longoria followed with a base hit, scoring CarGo and tying the score at one all. OKC then took the lead on Brayan Pena's single. With nobody out, Ted Lilly came to the plate and immediately poked a single up the middle, giving the Bison a 3-1 lead with nobody out. Billingsley finally got it together, and retired the next three batters on a K and two groundouts.
The next several innings were full of missed opportunities. Both teams got runners on base in every frame, but failed to push anyone across the plate. After five innings, the score remained 3-1.
Oklahoma City broke through for another run in the top of the sixth. Longoria lead off with a double, then moved to third on an infield single off the bat of Pena. Lilly struck out, but Rollins hit a single up the middle to score Longoria. Fowler followed with a 3 run shot that just snuck over the fence in right, pushing the score to 7-1. Billingsley was chased from the game, and Trevor Hoffman came in to retire the side.
Brisbane wasn't going down without a fight. Yunel Escobar opened the bottom of the inning with a single, and Joey Votto parked one 370 feet into right field for a two run homer.
The game was now in the hands of the bullpens, and neither side budged. Oklahoma City won 7-3 and took back home field advantage. The winning pitcher was Ted Lilly, who gave up 3 earned runs over 7 innings, giving up 7 hits, 3 walks, and striking out 11. Billingsley got the loss, giving up 7 earned runs on 11 hits and 3 walks in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out 8.
Game 4 will pit Aaron Cook against Josh Johnson.
BOX SCORE
SCORING SUMMARY
BOT 1st
- (0-1) - Carl Crawford doubled, Rafael Furcal scored.
TOP 2nd
- (1-1) - Evan Longoria singled, Carlos Gonzalez scored, Ryan Ludwick to third and Evan Longoria to second on throw home.
- (2-1) - Brayan Pena singled, Ryan Ludwick scored.
- (3-1) - Ted Lilly singled, Evan Longoria scored.
TOP 6th
- (4-1) - Jimmy Rollins singled, Evan Longoria scored.
- (7-1) - Dexter Fowler homered to right, Brayan Pena and Jimmy Rollins scored.
BOT 6th
- (7-3) - Joey Votto homered, Yunel Escobar scored.
Billingsley wiggled out of some early trouble in the top of the first. Rollins lead off with a single and moved to second on a passed ball. After Ibanez walked, Iwamura grounded into a 1-4-3 double play to retire the side.
Brisbane opened in the scoring in the bottom of the first. Rafael Furcal lead off with a walk, then scored all the way from first on a Carl Crawford double to the gap. Lilly held the Koalas at one, stranding Crawford at third.
The Bison took the run right back in the top of the second. Carlos Gonzalez lead off with a walk and stole second before moving to third on a Ryan Ludwick single. Evan Longoria followed with a base hit, scoring CarGo and tying the score at one all. OKC then took the lead on Brayan Pena's single. With nobody out, Ted Lilly came to the plate and immediately poked a single up the middle, giving the Bison a 3-1 lead with nobody out. Billingsley finally got it together, and retired the next three batters on a K and two groundouts.
The next several innings were full of missed opportunities. Both teams got runners on base in every frame, but failed to push anyone across the plate. After five innings, the score remained 3-1.
Oklahoma City broke through for another run in the top of the sixth. Longoria lead off with a double, then moved to third on an infield single off the bat of Pena. Lilly struck out, but Rollins hit a single up the middle to score Longoria. Fowler followed with a 3 run shot that just snuck over the fence in right, pushing the score to 7-1. Billingsley was chased from the game, and Trevor Hoffman came in to retire the side.
Brisbane wasn't going down without a fight. Yunel Escobar opened the bottom of the inning with a single, and Joey Votto parked one 370 feet into right field for a two run homer.
The game was now in the hands of the bullpens, and neither side budged. Oklahoma City won 7-3 and took back home field advantage. The winning pitcher was Ted Lilly, who gave up 3 earned runs over 7 innings, giving up 7 hits, 3 walks, and striking out 11. Billingsley got the loss, giving up 7 earned runs on 11 hits and 3 walks in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out 8.
Game 4 will pit Aaron Cook against Josh Johnson.
BOX SCORE
SCORING SUMMARY
BOT 1st
- (0-1) - Carl Crawford doubled, Rafael Furcal scored.
TOP 2nd
- (1-1) - Evan Longoria singled, Carlos Gonzalez scored, Ryan Ludwick to third and Evan Longoria to second on throw home.
- (2-1) - Brayan Pena singled, Ryan Ludwick scored.
- (3-1) - Ted Lilly singled, Evan Longoria scored.
TOP 6th
- (4-1) - Jimmy Rollins singled, Evan Longoria scored.
- (7-1) - Dexter Fowler homered to right, Brayan Pena and Jimmy Rollins scored.
BOT 6th
- (7-3) - Joey Votto homered, Yunel Escobar scored.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
2010 World Series - Game 2
The Bison headed into Game 2 hoping to tie the series before the long flight to Australia. Things didn't look good, though, as Max Scherzer (7-13, 6.60) was taking the mound against lefty Aaron Laffey (12-13, 4.04). Scherzer did win his LCS game (4-3 against the Jackals), so perhaps there was a new found confidence that the team wanted to exploit....
Scherzer started off well, polishing off the Koalas 1-2-3 in the top of the 1st. Laffey responded with a scoreless inning of his own.
Brisbane almost broke the scoreless tie in the top of the 3rd. With 2 outs, Rafael Furcal hit a deep fly to right field, and Raul Ibanez's diving attempt came up short. As the ball rolled to the wall, Furcal looked on his way to an inside-the-park home run, but Ibanez recovered quickly and gunned him down at the plate to end the threat.
The Bison were the first to score, as back to back doubles by Fowler and Ibanez gave them a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 4th. After Ibanez advanced to third on a fielder's choice, he scored on a Carlos Gonzalez sac fly, pushing the lead to two.
OKC added a third run in the 6th. Rollins doubled, moved to third on a fielder's choice, and came in to score on a single by Iwamura. The Koalas, on the other hand, had no answer for Scherzer, who looked as sharp as he has all season.
In the top of the 8th, the Bison went with Bobby Jenks, and he redeemed himself after Game One's drubbing, tossing a scoreless frame to maintain the 3-0 lead.
Closer Brett Anderson came in to pitch the 9th and immediately gave up a run. Joey Votto lead off with a double, and then scored on a Nick Markakis single. Markakis was erased on a caught stealing, but Marlon Byrd doubled, and Ian Kinsler was intentionally walked to put runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out. The strategy worked, as Yunel Escobar grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game and tie the series at 1-1.
Max Scherzer got the win, going 7 innings and giving up no runs, 3 hits, and 2 walks while striking out 5. Aaron Laffey gets the loss, tossing 7 innings and giving up 3 runs, 7 hits, and 3 walks while striking out just 2. Anderson got the save despite giving up a run on 3 hits and an intentional walk.
Games 3-5 will be in Brisbane, Australia. Probable starters are Ted Lilly (OKC) vs. Chad Billingsley (BRI).
BOX SCORE
SCORING SUMMARY
BOT 4th
- (0-1) - Raul Ibanez doubled, Dexter Fowler scored.
- (0-2) - Carlos Gonzalez hit a sac fly to left, Raul Ibanez scored.
BOT 5th
- (0-3) - Akinori Iwamura singled, Jimmy Rollins scored.
TOP 9th
- (1-3) - Nick Markakis singled, Joey Votto scored.
Scherzer started off well, polishing off the Koalas 1-2-3 in the top of the 1st. Laffey responded with a scoreless inning of his own.
Brisbane almost broke the scoreless tie in the top of the 3rd. With 2 outs, Rafael Furcal hit a deep fly to right field, and Raul Ibanez's diving attempt came up short. As the ball rolled to the wall, Furcal looked on his way to an inside-the-park home run, but Ibanez recovered quickly and gunned him down at the plate to end the threat.
The Bison were the first to score, as back to back doubles by Fowler and Ibanez gave them a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 4th. After Ibanez advanced to third on a fielder's choice, he scored on a Carlos Gonzalez sac fly, pushing the lead to two.
OKC added a third run in the 6th. Rollins doubled, moved to third on a fielder's choice, and came in to score on a single by Iwamura. The Koalas, on the other hand, had no answer for Scherzer, who looked as sharp as he has all season.
In the top of the 8th, the Bison went with Bobby Jenks, and he redeemed himself after Game One's drubbing, tossing a scoreless frame to maintain the 3-0 lead.
Closer Brett Anderson came in to pitch the 9th and immediately gave up a run. Joey Votto lead off with a double, and then scored on a Nick Markakis single. Markakis was erased on a caught stealing, but Marlon Byrd doubled, and Ian Kinsler was intentionally walked to put runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out. The strategy worked, as Yunel Escobar grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game and tie the series at 1-1.
Max Scherzer got the win, going 7 innings and giving up no runs, 3 hits, and 2 walks while striking out 5. Aaron Laffey gets the loss, tossing 7 innings and giving up 3 runs, 7 hits, and 3 walks while striking out just 2. Anderson got the save despite giving up a run on 3 hits and an intentional walk.
Games 3-5 will be in Brisbane, Australia. Probable starters are Ted Lilly (OKC) vs. Chad Billingsley (BRI).
BOX SCORE
SCORING SUMMARY
BOT 4th
- (0-1) - Raul Ibanez doubled, Dexter Fowler scored.
- (0-2) - Carlos Gonzalez hit a sac fly to left, Raul Ibanez scored.
BOT 5th
- (0-3) - Akinori Iwamura singled, Jimmy Rollins scored.
TOP 9th
- (1-3) - Nick Markakis singled, Joey Votto scored.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
2010 World Series - Game 1
Oklahoma City is buzzing as the inaugural SLB World Series began tonight. Brothers Dylan (OKC) and Evan (BRI) Goforth square off in a best of 7 series.
Game 1 saw the host Bison south paw Scott Kazmir (12-12, 4.54) take the mound against fellow lefty Clayton Kershaw (6-10, 3.48). The Koalas are 10-2 in the playoffs, knocking out Kansas and Atlanta on the way to the Series, while Oklahoma City defeated Jersey City 4 games to 2 after a first round bye.
Kazmir was sharp early, striking out the side in the top of the first inning. Kershaw was not, giving up a lead-off home run to Jimmy Rollins on the second pitch of the game. He limited the damage to one, however, retiring the next three batters.
After retiring the first two of the second inning, Kazmir ran into some trouble. He walked Yunel Escobar, then gave up a ringing double to Joey Votto, putting runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs. Instead of walking number eight hitter Miguel Montero, Brisbane chose to pitch to him, and he responded with a two-run single up the middle. Kershaw then struck out to end the rally.
Kershaw retired 8 straight until Rollins hit a double in his second at-bat. Dexter Fowler tied the game at two by driving him in with a single, and was followed by a single to Raul Ibanez, putting runners on the corners with two outs. But Akinori Iwamura struck out swinging, leaving the game 2-2 after 3 innings.
OKC retook the lead in the bottom of the 4th. A Ryan Ludwick single was followed by an Evan Longoria walk. Catcher Brayan Pena then shot a line drive to left center, driving in Ludwick. The damage was limited there, as Kazmir struck out, and, after Rollins was intentionally walked, Fowler flew out to center with the bases loaded.
The Bison tacked on more in the fifth. Carlos Gonzalez hit a 2 out double, and scored on Yunel Escobar's error at 3rd. Later, with runners on the corners, Pena came through again with an RBI single, pushing the lead to 5-2.
Kazmir couldn't hold Bribane down in the top of the 6th. Ian Kinsler hit a one-run single, then stole second base. Nick Markakis walked, and then Marlon Byrd singled to scored Kinsler. Escobar followed with an RBI single of his own, closing the margin to 5-4. After Joey Votto struck out looking, Miguel Montero came through again, this time with an opposite field blast to left that gave Brisbane a 7-5 lead. A tired Kazmir stayed in the game, only to give up a solo shot to pinch hitter Conor Jackson before striking out Rafael Furcal to end the inning.
Trevor Hoffman relieved Kershaw in the bottom of the 6th and quickly retired the side 1-2-3. The Bison countered with Bobby Jenks, who gave up a single to Ian Kinsler, who scored after a passed ball and a single to Markakis. Escobar followed with a run scoring double, pushing the Koala lead to 10-5.
Hoffman pitched a second inning of scoreless ball in the 7th, and Brisbane looked to have the game well in hand. The Koalas continued to pour it on, however, pushing the lead to 11-5 on an RBI single by Crawford in the 8th.
Brisbane's bullpen was too much for OKC, as Clay Zavada struck out the side in the bottom of the 8th. In the mean time, the Koalas added a 12th run in the top of the 9th.
No rally for the Bison, who ended the game on a double play.
The offensive hero for Brisbane was Miguel Montero, who went 2-5 with a HR and 5 RBI. Kershaw earned the win despite giving up 5 ER in 5 IP. The Brisbane pen gave up just one hit while striking out 7 in 4 innings of work. Kazmir got the loss, giving up 8 runs in 6 innings despite striking out 11 Koalas.
Game 2 will be tomorrow, pitting Aaron Laffey against Max Scherzer.
BOX SCORE
SCORING SUMMARY:
BOT 1st
- (0-1) - Jimmy Rollins homered.
TOP 2nd
- (2-1) - Miguel Montero singled, Yunel Escobar and Joey Votto scored.
BOT 3rd
- (2-2) - Dexter Fowler singled, Jimmy Rollins scored.
BOT 4th
- (2-3) - Brayan Pena singled, Ryan Ludwick scored, Evan Longoria to third.
BOT 5th
- (2-4) - Ryan Ludwick safe at first on Yunel Escobar's fielding error, Carlos Gonzalez scored.
- (2-5) - Brayan Pena singled, Ryan Ludwick scored, Evan Longoria to second.
TOP 6th
- (3-5) - Marlon Byrd singled, Ian Kinsler scored, Nick Markakis to third.
- (4-5) - Yunel Escobar singled, Nick Markakis scored, Marlon Byrd to second.
- (7-5) - Miguel Montero homered, Marlon Byrd and Yunel Escobar scored.
- (8-5) - Conor Jackson homered (pinch-hitting for Clayton Kershaw).
TOP 7th
- (9-5) - Nick Markakis singled, Ian Kinsler scored.
- (10-5)- Yunel Escobar doubled, Nick Markakis scored.
TOP 8th
- (11-5)- Carl Crawford singled, James Loney scored.
TOP 9th
- (12-5)- Joey Votto doubled, Yunel Escobar scored, Votto to third on throw.
Game 1 saw the host Bison south paw Scott Kazmir (12-12, 4.54) take the mound against fellow lefty Clayton Kershaw (6-10, 3.48). The Koalas are 10-2 in the playoffs, knocking out Kansas and Atlanta on the way to the Series, while Oklahoma City defeated Jersey City 4 games to 2 after a first round bye.
Kazmir was sharp early, striking out the side in the top of the first inning. Kershaw was not, giving up a lead-off home run to Jimmy Rollins on the second pitch of the game. He limited the damage to one, however, retiring the next three batters.
After retiring the first two of the second inning, Kazmir ran into some trouble. He walked Yunel Escobar, then gave up a ringing double to Joey Votto, putting runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs. Instead of walking number eight hitter Miguel Montero, Brisbane chose to pitch to him, and he responded with a two-run single up the middle. Kershaw then struck out to end the rally.
Kershaw retired 8 straight until Rollins hit a double in his second at-bat. Dexter Fowler tied the game at two by driving him in with a single, and was followed by a single to Raul Ibanez, putting runners on the corners with two outs. But Akinori Iwamura struck out swinging, leaving the game 2-2 after 3 innings.
OKC retook the lead in the bottom of the 4th. A Ryan Ludwick single was followed by an Evan Longoria walk. Catcher Brayan Pena then shot a line drive to left center, driving in Ludwick. The damage was limited there, as Kazmir struck out, and, after Rollins was intentionally walked, Fowler flew out to center with the bases loaded.
The Bison tacked on more in the fifth. Carlos Gonzalez hit a 2 out double, and scored on Yunel Escobar's error at 3rd. Later, with runners on the corners, Pena came through again with an RBI single, pushing the lead to 5-2.
Kazmir couldn't hold Bribane down in the top of the 6th. Ian Kinsler hit a one-run single, then stole second base. Nick Markakis walked, and then Marlon Byrd singled to scored Kinsler. Escobar followed with an RBI single of his own, closing the margin to 5-4. After Joey Votto struck out looking, Miguel Montero came through again, this time with an opposite field blast to left that gave Brisbane a 7-5 lead. A tired Kazmir stayed in the game, only to give up a solo shot to pinch hitter Conor Jackson before striking out Rafael Furcal to end the inning.
Trevor Hoffman relieved Kershaw in the bottom of the 6th and quickly retired the side 1-2-3. The Bison countered with Bobby Jenks, who gave up a single to Ian Kinsler, who scored after a passed ball and a single to Markakis. Escobar followed with a run scoring double, pushing the Koala lead to 10-5.
Hoffman pitched a second inning of scoreless ball in the 7th, and Brisbane looked to have the game well in hand. The Koalas continued to pour it on, however, pushing the lead to 11-5 on an RBI single by Crawford in the 8th.
Brisbane's bullpen was too much for OKC, as Clay Zavada struck out the side in the bottom of the 8th. In the mean time, the Koalas added a 12th run in the top of the 9th.
No rally for the Bison, who ended the game on a double play.
The offensive hero for Brisbane was Miguel Montero, who went 2-5 with a HR and 5 RBI. Kershaw earned the win despite giving up 5 ER in 5 IP. The Brisbane pen gave up just one hit while striking out 7 in 4 innings of work. Kazmir got the loss, giving up 8 runs in 6 innings despite striking out 11 Koalas.
Game 2 will be tomorrow, pitting Aaron Laffey against Max Scherzer.
BOX SCORE
SCORING SUMMARY:
BOT 1st
- (0-1) - Jimmy Rollins homered.
TOP 2nd
- (2-1) - Miguel Montero singled, Yunel Escobar and Joey Votto scored.
BOT 3rd
- (2-2) - Dexter Fowler singled, Jimmy Rollins scored.
BOT 4th
- (2-3) - Brayan Pena singled, Ryan Ludwick scored, Evan Longoria to third.
BOT 5th
- (2-4) - Ryan Ludwick safe at first on Yunel Escobar's fielding error, Carlos Gonzalez scored.
- (2-5) - Brayan Pena singled, Ryan Ludwick scored, Evan Longoria to second.
TOP 6th
- (3-5) - Marlon Byrd singled, Ian Kinsler scored, Nick Markakis to third.
- (4-5) - Yunel Escobar singled, Nick Markakis scored, Marlon Byrd to second.
- (7-5) - Miguel Montero homered, Marlon Byrd and Yunel Escobar scored.
- (8-5) - Conor Jackson homered (pinch-hitting for Clayton Kershaw).
TOP 7th
- (9-5) - Nick Markakis singled, Ian Kinsler scored.
- (10-5)- Yunel Escobar doubled, Nick Markakis scored.
TOP 8th
- (11-5)- Carl Crawford singled, James Loney scored.
TOP 9th
- (12-5)- Joey Votto doubled, Yunel Escobar scored, Votto to third on throw.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Around the League - 09/20/10
Just 2 weeks (4 series) to go in the regular season. Let's see how we're shaping up in the stretch run.
EAST
- Though they aren't officially "in" yet, Atlanta is a lock for the playoffs. Even if Jersey City makes a miraculous run to overtake the Flyers in the final two weeks, Atlanta won the first half. Expect them to not only make the playoffs (comfortably), but to get a first round bye as well.
- Further good news for Atlanta is that they will be getting Hanley Ramirez and Adam Lind back in the next week, just in time for the playoffs. Expect some starters to get some rest in the final two weeks.
- Jersey City is in the driver's seat for a wildcard spot, but has some work to do. They have a 3 game lead on Columbus, but neither team has been all that great in September. The two teams play each other in the final series of the season, which could be a mini-playoff of its own depending on how the standings shake out.
- Columbus has a glimmer of hope, just 3 games back of a wildcard spot. After going 11 games over .500 in the first half, the team has struggled to stay afloat in the second half. Can they finally put a win streak together when it matters most (and after they traded away key parts of the team at the deadline)?
- Miami is looking to play spoiler in the final 2 weeks. The team has had a pretty good 2nd half, and has found some key players to build on for 2011. Nick Blackburn has given up just 6 HR in 117 IP (10-2, 2.30 ERA). Will he get any Cy Young votes?
- It's been a season to forget for New York, but it hasn't been without some positives. The pitching rotation has been very good, and some young hitters have started to play well. Still, the team needs some sluggers next year (or hope that Pujols starts playing like he's supposed to).
WEST
- The Bison have played well in the past few months, and are just 3 games out of a first-round bye. There has been an offensive explosion, as the team is suddenly second in SLB in runs scored. The team has two 100+ RBI guys (Longoria/Gonzalez), while Jimmy Rollins continues to set the table. Is there enough pitching for a playoff run?
- Springfield continues a good second half on their way to a playoff berth. It's a nice turn around for a team that struggled so much in the first half of the season. Choo and Martin have proven to be invaluable additions to a lineup that struggled to score runs. If the pitching performs, this team could surprise come October.
- Kansas should thank it's lucky stars that the playoff format is what it is, because after winning the first half of the season, the team has completely crapped the bed in the second (10 over .500 at the break, 18 under since). So while the Twisters limp into a playoff spot, do they have anything in the tank to do anything in the post season? They have the bats, but the pitching has been just terrible lately.
- La Brea was "this close" to winning the first half of the season, and now are long shots. It's unlikely they can make up 7 games in the final two weeks, but funnier things have happened. Why is the team leader in HR and RBI (Howard) batting 8th?
- Sioux Falls can't wait for October. It's been a terrible inaugural season, and now they're being kicked while they're down; CF BJ Upton suddenly announced his retirement this week. As if it wasn't bad enough that the Tomahawks have half their team on the shelf, now this. 2011 can't come soon enough.
WORLD
- This division got a lot of crap in the first half, what with Brisbane winning it with a .500 record. But the Koalas have been red hot since the All-Star Break, going 15 over .500 and essentially blowing out the rest of the division. The pitching has been phenomenal, and if the team can work around the recent injury to Joel Piniero (out for the season), they can do damage in the playoffs.
- Caracas is one win streak away from sneaking into the playoffs, but can they overcome a season of inconsistencies to do it? The offense is tops in the league (with a trio of 100+ RBI sluggers knocking in MVP candidate Jacoby Ellisbury). It's a tough final 2 weeks for the Bolivares (QBC, SPR, FRE, BRI), but if they can enter that final weekend within shouting distance, they might just shock the world.
- Quebec has made a valiant effort to stay in this thing, and are just 2 1/2 games behind Brisbane for the 2nd half lead. Their next two series are against Caracas and Brisbane, which is pretty much their season; win those two series, and they could make the playoffs. Struggle, and the season is over. Not to be lost in this race is the performance of Roy Oswalt, who should garner a lot of Cy Young votes.
- Fremantle just never got over the hump. Early struggles by the offense put them in a hole and they haven't managed to climb out. It's been fun to see Matt Cain finally pitch (after missing most of the year). He has put up a 2.89 ERA and 4 quality starts (in 6 starts) since returning from the DL.
EAST
- Though they aren't officially "in" yet, Atlanta is a lock for the playoffs. Even if Jersey City makes a miraculous run to overtake the Flyers in the final two weeks, Atlanta won the first half. Expect them to not only make the playoffs (comfortably), but to get a first round bye as well.
- Further good news for Atlanta is that they will be getting Hanley Ramirez and Adam Lind back in the next week, just in time for the playoffs. Expect some starters to get some rest in the final two weeks.
- Jersey City is in the driver's seat for a wildcard spot, but has some work to do. They have a 3 game lead on Columbus, but neither team has been all that great in September. The two teams play each other in the final series of the season, which could be a mini-playoff of its own depending on how the standings shake out.
- Columbus has a glimmer of hope, just 3 games back of a wildcard spot. After going 11 games over .500 in the first half, the team has struggled to stay afloat in the second half. Can they finally put a win streak together when it matters most (and after they traded away key parts of the team at the deadline)?
- Miami is looking to play spoiler in the final 2 weeks. The team has had a pretty good 2nd half, and has found some key players to build on for 2011. Nick Blackburn has given up just 6 HR in 117 IP (10-2, 2.30 ERA). Will he get any Cy Young votes?
- It's been a season to forget for New York, but it hasn't been without some positives. The pitching rotation has been very good, and some young hitters have started to play well. Still, the team needs some sluggers next year (or hope that Pujols starts playing like he's supposed to).
WEST
- The Bison have played well in the past few months, and are just 3 games out of a first-round bye. There has been an offensive explosion, as the team is suddenly second in SLB in runs scored. The team has two 100+ RBI guys (Longoria/Gonzalez), while Jimmy Rollins continues to set the table. Is there enough pitching for a playoff run?
- Springfield continues a good second half on their way to a playoff berth. It's a nice turn around for a team that struggled so much in the first half of the season. Choo and Martin have proven to be invaluable additions to a lineup that struggled to score runs. If the pitching performs, this team could surprise come October.
- Kansas should thank it's lucky stars that the playoff format is what it is, because after winning the first half of the season, the team has completely crapped the bed in the second (10 over .500 at the break, 18 under since). So while the Twisters limp into a playoff spot, do they have anything in the tank to do anything in the post season? They have the bats, but the pitching has been just terrible lately.
- La Brea was "this close" to winning the first half of the season, and now are long shots. It's unlikely they can make up 7 games in the final two weeks, but funnier things have happened. Why is the team leader in HR and RBI (Howard) batting 8th?
- Sioux Falls can't wait for October. It's been a terrible inaugural season, and now they're being kicked while they're down; CF BJ Upton suddenly announced his retirement this week. As if it wasn't bad enough that the Tomahawks have half their team on the shelf, now this. 2011 can't come soon enough.
WORLD
- This division got a lot of crap in the first half, what with Brisbane winning it with a .500 record. But the Koalas have been red hot since the All-Star Break, going 15 over .500 and essentially blowing out the rest of the division. The pitching has been phenomenal, and if the team can work around the recent injury to Joel Piniero (out for the season), they can do damage in the playoffs.
- Caracas is one win streak away from sneaking into the playoffs, but can they overcome a season of inconsistencies to do it? The offense is tops in the league (with a trio of 100+ RBI sluggers knocking in MVP candidate Jacoby Ellisbury). It's a tough final 2 weeks for the Bolivares (QBC, SPR, FRE, BRI), but if they can enter that final weekend within shouting distance, they might just shock the world.
- Quebec has made a valiant effort to stay in this thing, and are just 2 1/2 games behind Brisbane for the 2nd half lead. Their next two series are against Caracas and Brisbane, which is pretty much their season; win those two series, and they could make the playoffs. Struggle, and the season is over. Not to be lost in this race is the performance of Roy Oswalt, who should garner a lot of Cy Young votes.
- Fremantle just never got over the hump. Early struggles by the offense put them in a hole and they haven't managed to climb out. It's been fun to see Matt Cain finally pitch (after missing most of the year). He has put up a 2.89 ERA and 4 quality starts (in 6 starts) since returning from the DL.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Trade Analysis
Let's take a brief look at how those players traded at the deadline have done for their new teams.
MIA receives P Jake Peavy and a 3rd Round Pick (2011)
LAB receives P Dan Haren
Peavy had been stuck in AAA all year, and that looks like a mistake. Peavy is 2-0, 1.20 with 11 K's in his two starts for Miami, who looks to have a solid pitching nucleus going into next year (with Blackburn, Pelfrey, etc.)
Haren, on the other hand, has been terrible. He is 0-2, 7.26 in two starts with the Dire Wolves.
JC receives P Mariano Rivera and $2 million
LAB receives P Johnny Cueto and P Ryan Madson
The Jackals picked up Rivera in an attempt to catch up with Atlanta. He has 2 saves and a clean 0.00 ERA in 3 2/3 innings.
Cueto has yet to pitch for La Bra, but Madson has done well, posting a 1.12 ERA and 7 K's in 8 innings of relief.
NY receives 3B Ryan Zimmerman
MIA receives a 3rd Round Pick (2011)
This was simply a salary dump of a free agent by Miami, who now has four 3rd rounders next year.
Zimmerman is riding the pine, but has 2 doubles and an RBI in 7 AB's
KAN receives 1B Kendry Morales
COL receives CF Nate McLouth and a 3rd Round Pick (2011)
Morales was pegged as Columbus' starting first baseman until the very end of the initial draft, where the team splurged for Carlos Pena. Morales did poorly when Pena was on the DL, but he has flourished in the starting lineup for Kansas. He is hitting a whopping .425 with 8 HR and 13 RBI in just 40 AB's (1.625 OPS, lol).
Columbus took back the expiring contract of Nate McLouth, who has stepped into the starting lineup to replace Shin-Soo Choo. He has done well, hitting .412 with 2 HR and 8 RBI in 51 AB's.
SPR receives C Russell Martin and RF Shin-Soo Choo
COL receives 1B Chris Carter, 1B Justin Morneau and P Antonio Bastardo
Columbus moves more expiring contracts, netting two rookies in Bastardo and this year's 2nd round pick, 1B Chris Carter (a hopeful future replacement for Pena). Morneau was simply thrown in to balance money.
Springfield got some much needed offense as they pursue a playoff berth. Choo is hitting .344 with 1 HR and 6 RBI, while Martin is at .353 with 2 HR and 4 RBI. Nice upgrades for the Isotopes.
CAR receives P Billy Wagner and P Bud Norris
COL receives 3B Mat Gamel
Caracas does well here to upgrade a bad bullpen. Wagner is 2-0, 0.00 ERA in 4 innings of relief. Norris is a decent prospect who could be a 4th or 5th starter.
Columbus gets a good looking 3B prospect in Gamel.
MIA receives P Jake Peavy and a 3rd Round Pick (2011)
LAB receives P Dan Haren
Peavy had been stuck in AAA all year, and that looks like a mistake. Peavy is 2-0, 1.20 with 11 K's in his two starts for Miami, who looks to have a solid pitching nucleus going into next year (with Blackburn, Pelfrey, etc.)
Haren, on the other hand, has been terrible. He is 0-2, 7.26 in two starts with the Dire Wolves.
JC receives P Mariano Rivera and $2 million
LAB receives P Johnny Cueto and P Ryan Madson
The Jackals picked up Rivera in an attempt to catch up with Atlanta. He has 2 saves and a clean 0.00 ERA in 3 2/3 innings.
Cueto has yet to pitch for La Bra, but Madson has done well, posting a 1.12 ERA and 7 K's in 8 innings of relief.
NY receives 3B Ryan Zimmerman
MIA receives a 3rd Round Pick (2011)
This was simply a salary dump of a free agent by Miami, who now has four 3rd rounders next year.
Zimmerman is riding the pine, but has 2 doubles and an RBI in 7 AB's
KAN receives 1B Kendry Morales
COL receives CF Nate McLouth and a 3rd Round Pick (2011)
Morales was pegged as Columbus' starting first baseman until the very end of the initial draft, where the team splurged for Carlos Pena. Morales did poorly when Pena was on the DL, but he has flourished in the starting lineup for Kansas. He is hitting a whopping .425 with 8 HR and 13 RBI in just 40 AB's (1.625 OPS, lol).
Columbus took back the expiring contract of Nate McLouth, who has stepped into the starting lineup to replace Shin-Soo Choo. He has done well, hitting .412 with 2 HR and 8 RBI in 51 AB's.
SPR receives C Russell Martin and RF Shin-Soo Choo
COL receives 1B Chris Carter, 1B Justin Morneau and P Antonio Bastardo
Columbus moves more expiring contracts, netting two rookies in Bastardo and this year's 2nd round pick, 1B Chris Carter (a hopeful future replacement for Pena). Morneau was simply thrown in to balance money.
Springfield got some much needed offense as they pursue a playoff berth. Choo is hitting .344 with 1 HR and 6 RBI, while Martin is at .353 with 2 HR and 4 RBI. Nice upgrades for the Isotopes.
CAR receives P Billy Wagner and P Bud Norris
COL receives 3B Mat Gamel
Caracas does well here to upgrade a bad bullpen. Wagner is 2-0, 0.00 ERA in 4 innings of relief. Norris is a decent prospect who could be a 4th or 5th starter.
Columbus gets a good looking 3B prospect in Gamel.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Players of July, 2010
Congrats to the Players of July:
HITTER - 1B Adrian Gonzalez (SF) - .307, 12 HR, 25 RBI
PITCHER - RHP John Smoltz (QBC) - 4-0, 1.50 ERA, 42 K's, 5 BB
ROOKIE HITTER - LF Chirs Pettit (OKC) - .304, 1 HR, 12 RBI
ROOKIE PITCHER - RHP Adam Miller (LAB) - 1-2, 2.80 ERA, 30 K's, 9 BB
HITTER - 1B Adrian Gonzalez (SF) - .307, 12 HR, 25 RBI
PITCHER - RHP John Smoltz (QBC) - 4-0, 1.50 ERA, 42 K's, 5 BB
ROOKIE HITTER - LF Chirs Pettit (OKC) - .304, 1 HR, 12 RBI
ROOKIE PITCHER - RHP Adam Miller (LAB) - 1-2, 2.80 ERA, 30 K's, 9 BB
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Around the League - 08/02/10
Let's see where we stand as we enter August.
EAST
- Atlanta, who already clinched a playoff spot, isn't slowing down in the 2nd half. The Flyers have a 3 game lead in the 2nd half, and a 6 game cushion for best overall record. The team has finally gotten on the plus side of the run differential, but are still playing way ahead of the expected pace. Any trades on the horizon to shore up the pitching?
- Jersey City played well in July, but are losing ground. The offense continues to click, but the pitching is hit or miss. Adding Rich Harden was a good gamble, but he's been pretty average since coming over from Miami.
- Columbus just can't get it together. The offense is great, the starting pitching is great, but the team went .500 for the month of July. Time to trade for some bullpen help?
- The Sharks are playing much better baseball, and sit just 5 games out of a playoff berth (after a 34-44 first half). How long do they hold out hope before selling? There are some valuable trade pieces that they could move before 8/31.
- It's gone from bad to worse for New York, who has completely fallen off the map in the July. So what's the plan heading into 2011? Which pieces can be moved, and what does the team need for a better shot next season?
WEST
- Someone break up the Isotopes!! Springfield is 19-9 in the second half and nearly back to .500. More importantly, they have a 5.5 game lead for a playoff berth (after a 32-45 first half). Here's your argument FOR the 1st half/2nd half playoff system; a team struggles to get it going in the first half, but puts the pieces together late. The return of Carlos Lee has really picked up this offense.
- Kansas has slowed down since clinching its playoff spot, but still lead the overall West standings. Ryan Braun is now second in the league with 37 homers, and he's tied with Justin Upton at 81 RBI. The team has tried Gavin Floyd for 5th starter, and he's been as bad as everyone else.
- OKC looks like a team that is destined to just miss the post season. Without a big surge these final 2 months, the Bisons look like a decent team who will have nothing to show for it. At least Max Scherzer seems to have Goat of the Year wrapped up.
- La Brea just missed that playoff spot in June, but have now completely fallen apart. Weird stat of the day: Chien-Ming Wang has made 22 starts, but has just 8 decisions (4-4). Is there a major league record for most no-decisions in a season?
- Sioux Falls had the worst record heading into July, and though they're still not good, they've played better. Adrian Gonzalez is going nuts, leading all of SLB with 38 long balls. But man, that pitching is UGLY.
WORLD
- Quebec is the second "worst to first" success story of the second half, though they haven't done it with as much style as Springfield. Still, the Horned Frogs are 16-11 so far, good for a 2.5 game lead heading into August. Roy Oswalt is a big reason, as he stands at 13-3 with an incredible 159:14 K/BB ratio.
- Brisbane clinched a playoff spot with a .500 first half record, and so far in the second half they are..... .500. At least the team is consistent. Good thing for the Koalas that they could sneak that playoff berth early, as they are quickly losing ground to Quebec.
- The Cormorants made a valiant push in June to get within 3 games of the playoff spot, but haven't been able to stay hot in July. While they sit at the same 3 games out, their offense isn't keeping them in the low scoring games that their pitching is providing. Getting Kurt Suzuki is a plus, but the team needs bats.
- Caracas simply needs arms. They have three hitters with 80+ RBI already, but can't keep the ball in the yard. King Felix and Santana can't do it all by themselves here.
EAST
- Atlanta, who already clinched a playoff spot, isn't slowing down in the 2nd half. The Flyers have a 3 game lead in the 2nd half, and a 6 game cushion for best overall record. The team has finally gotten on the plus side of the run differential, but are still playing way ahead of the expected pace. Any trades on the horizon to shore up the pitching?
- Jersey City played well in July, but are losing ground. The offense continues to click, but the pitching is hit or miss. Adding Rich Harden was a good gamble, but he's been pretty average since coming over from Miami.
- Columbus just can't get it together. The offense is great, the starting pitching is great, but the team went .500 for the month of July. Time to trade for some bullpen help?
- The Sharks are playing much better baseball, and sit just 5 games out of a playoff berth (after a 34-44 first half). How long do they hold out hope before selling? There are some valuable trade pieces that they could move before 8/31.
- It's gone from bad to worse for New York, who has completely fallen off the map in the July. So what's the plan heading into 2011? Which pieces can be moved, and what does the team need for a better shot next season?
WEST
- Someone break up the Isotopes!! Springfield is 19-9 in the second half and nearly back to .500. More importantly, they have a 5.5 game lead for a playoff berth (after a 32-45 first half). Here's your argument FOR the 1st half/2nd half playoff system; a team struggles to get it going in the first half, but puts the pieces together late. The return of Carlos Lee has really picked up this offense.
- Kansas has slowed down since clinching its playoff spot, but still lead the overall West standings. Ryan Braun is now second in the league with 37 homers, and he's tied with Justin Upton at 81 RBI. The team has tried Gavin Floyd for 5th starter, and he's been as bad as everyone else.
- OKC looks like a team that is destined to just miss the post season. Without a big surge these final 2 months, the Bisons look like a decent team who will have nothing to show for it. At least Max Scherzer seems to have Goat of the Year wrapped up.
- La Brea just missed that playoff spot in June, but have now completely fallen apart. Weird stat of the day: Chien-Ming Wang has made 22 starts, but has just 8 decisions (4-4). Is there a major league record for most no-decisions in a season?
- Sioux Falls had the worst record heading into July, and though they're still not good, they've played better. Adrian Gonzalez is going nuts, leading all of SLB with 38 long balls. But man, that pitching is UGLY.
WORLD
- Quebec is the second "worst to first" success story of the second half, though they haven't done it with as much style as Springfield. Still, the Horned Frogs are 16-11 so far, good for a 2.5 game lead heading into August. Roy Oswalt is a big reason, as he stands at 13-3 with an incredible 159:14 K/BB ratio.
- Brisbane clinched a playoff spot with a .500 first half record, and so far in the second half they are..... .500. At least the team is consistent. Good thing for the Koalas that they could sneak that playoff berth early, as they are quickly losing ground to Quebec.
- The Cormorants made a valiant push in June to get within 3 games of the playoff spot, but haven't been able to stay hot in July. While they sit at the same 3 games out, their offense isn't keeping them in the low scoring games that their pitching is providing. Getting Kurt Suzuki is a plus, but the team needs bats.
- Caracas simply needs arms. They have three hitters with 80+ RBI already, but can't keep the ball in the yard. King Felix and Santana can't do it all by themselves here.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Midseason Report 2010 - World Division
Brisbane Koalas
The Koalas have the best team ERA in the league, but are near the bottom in runs scored. In other words, they're the opposite of Jersey City, but with worse results. The team has played well in Australia, but have the second most road losses (30) in the SLB.
It's kind of a no-name offense in Brisbane, as Carl Crawford and Ian Kinsler are your offensive leaders. The team hasn't gotten as much out of Joey Votto or Nick Markakis as they'd hoped, but the team is pretty young and should improve. Catcher has been an automatic out most of the year, while shortstop has also been mostly non-productive.
The pitching has been outstanding, which has been surprising considering the lack of "superstars" on the staff. Jason Marquis started hot, but got hurt, so Clayton Kershaw came in and has impressed. Aaron Cook, Joel Piniero....not who you'd expect to ride the leaderboards in ERA, but the Koalas have done a great job getting the most out if its pitchers.
The bullpen is arguably the best in baseball. Outside of a few rough ERA's (Zavada, Webb), the pen is stacked with sub-3.00 ERA's. Can an arm or two be packaged for a power bat?
Caracas Bolivares
The more things change, the more they stay the same. GM Tom Hey always seems to put together a team that pounds the heck out of the ball, but struggles to keep runs off the board. So it goes with Caracas, who are 3rd in runs scored, but 13th in team ERA. Will there be any starting pitching available at the deadline?
Jacoby Ellsbury for MVP? The young center fielder has 66 extra base hits (including 17 triples). Then there is just power everywhere in the heart of the order, with Prince Fielder and Alex Rodriguez, plus All-Star Chris Coghlan and his .330 average. The only player who has really struggled is Dan Uggla, who has been replaced by Luis Valbuena.
While Johan Santana and Felix Hernandez have been nails at the top of the rotation, there has been a lot of problems elsewhere. J.A. Happ has been knocked around, and John Lester has struggled with injuries. The team thought they were getting a great bargain in Livan Hernandez, but you get what you pay for.
The bullpen just isn't good. The lowest ERA (Litsch) is 4.31, and it's downhill from there. Is there anyone in the minors who could get a few outs?
Quebec Horned Frogs
The "hottest" of the World teams is Quebec, who has pulled to within a 1/2 game behind Brisbane (and tied with Caracas). They are fairly middle of the pack statistically, but haven't been able to put together a sustained win streak. Throw in some injury problems, and you have a team that can't get it's head above water.
The biggest home run hitter was a player who wasn't even drafted. After David Ortiz was injured on Opening Day, GM Michael Taylor signed Jim Thome to fill in, and the vet has responded with 20 dingers. Alfonso Soriano leads the team in RBI, while JD Drew is the SLG leader. In other words, lots of veterans. First round pick Dustin Pedroia is out for the year with a torn muscle.
Really great starting pitching, but it hasn't been enough. Veterans Oswalt and Smoltz head up the rotation, while the younger arms like Duke and Reyes have kept up. Tim Hudson has struggled, and has been demoted to the pen. Right now, all five starters have sub-4.00 ERA's.
Pretty bad. When Dan Wheeler is your premiere reliever, you've got issues. Dempster, Embree, Belisle.....no one can get the job done.
Fremantle Cormorants
The other team from down under is in last place, but just 2 games out of first. The draft philosophy was about pitching first, and it has worked, with the team ERA sitting 3rd in the league. Unfortunately, the offense is dead last in runs scored and home runs.
Not a single .300 hitter in this lineup, and little to no power. Mark Teixeira leads the team with 19 homers, but no one else has more than 10. Kurt Suzuki was putting up some nice numbers at catcher, but then got hurt, while the outfield has totally underperformed all season.
Outside of Carlos Zambrano (5.52 ERA), the starters have been very good. CC Sabathia started the All Star Game thanks to a 10-6, 2.63 first half mark. Burnett and Lackey have been great, and youngster Chris Narveson has held his own filling in for Matt Cain, who made just a single start before going out for the year.
Oh look, another team with bullpen woes. Mike Burns has been the only reliever worth mentioning, as even closer Jonathan Papelbon has been average at best.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Midseason Report 2010 - West Division
The West Division closely mirrors the East, with a three team race at the top, and two sellers at the bottom. Not that the top and bottom teams make sense, mind you, as there have been some very lucky (and rather unlucky) teams so far. There is no clear front runner here, so a key trade could be what makes one team make their playoff run.
Kansas Twisters
Kansas has the #1 scoring offense in the league, averaging 5.7 runs per game. Like Jersey City, they lean heavily on their offense to offset a pretty mediocre pitching staff, but the addition of an arm or two could put the team over the top.
The unlikely star of the Twisters offense is Justin Upton, who is tied with Ryan Braun for the team lead in HR (30), and has been on the run production leaderboards all season. With Ichiro and Alexi Ramirez excelling at the top of the order, the whole lineup has clicked. Even AJ Pierzynski has 24 HR from the catcher spot (who saw that coming?)
Starting pitching has underperformed all year. Only the 46 year old Randy Johnson has an ERA below 4.00, while projected staff ace Chris Carpenter has struggled all year. Is it time to give Jonathan Sanchez or John Danks a shot in the rotation? They can't do much worse than Armando Galarraga or Shaun Marcum have....
The bullpen isn't much better, and needs to be addressed. Why has Taylor Buchholz been given the ball 29 times when he has done nothing but toss batting practice every time out? Why is Jonathan Sanchez wasting his talents in relief?
Oklahoma City Bison
How is OKC only 1 game out of first? They're being outscored, half of their starting lineup is on the shelf, and they can't really pitch. It really makes no sense, but Bison fans are enjoying the success while it lasts.
Rollins, Iwamura, Kemp and Ibanez are all on the DL, yet the team continues to score. After a rough first month, first round pick Evan Longoria has really stepped it up, and now leads the team in RBI. Ryan Ludwick and Raul Ibanez have provided good power, while Carlos Gonzalez has been a nice surprise in the OF. There has been no attempt to send a catcher of even middling ability on the field each day, so it's no surprise that the position has been a black hole.
Though there have been some very good performances on the pitching staff, they've struggled overall. Ted Lilly has been surprisingly effective, but Josh Johnson has struggled, and Scott Kazmir has flat out sucked. Then there is Max Scherzer; does this guy have naked photos of the manager's wife or something? How does he keep getting the ball every 5th day?
The bullpen is getting by with smoke and mirrors. Outside of Jonathan Broxton, most of the relief has been average to poor, yet they haven't cost the team too many games. Saito is 5-0 with a 5.09 ERA (as one example). Time to upgrade?
La Brea Dire Wolves
The Dire Wolves lead the West for awhile early in the season, but have found themselves in a struggle for the division title. Despite a roster full of mostly "okay" players, La Brea is 8 game over .500 and in contention.
Many GM's and critics scratched their heads at the pick of Matt Wieters in the first round, but the young catcher has played pretty well. After missing nearly a month to injury, Wieters is OPSing around .850 and has drawn a lot of walks. Cristian Guzman has been the spark plug at the top of the order, batting .321 and stealing 28 bases. The rest of the offense centers around the outfield and Ryan Howard, who is hitting HR's at a good clip.
Somehow the team has done just fine with a rotation full of #3 starters. Josh Towers has been very surprising, as has Chien-Ming Wang. Josh Beckett has underperformed, but that has been offset by the great pitching of Justin Duchscherer.
Not super great, but good enough so far. Mike Adams and Jon Link have been very good, while Mariano Rivera and Brandon League have been good enough. They could use an upgrade in middle relief, but who doesn't?
Springfield Isotopes
The Isotopes went pitching, pitching, pitching in the initial draft, but have been hamstrung all season by the under-performing staff. Though the team has improved lately, it has dug itself a 10 game hole that it looks unlikely to climb out of without some personnel changes.
Springfield simply doesn't hit. Or score runs. Victor Martinez leads the team 45 RBI, and the only .300 hitters are probable Rookie of the Year Gaby Sanchez and injured Carlos Lee. Hunter has hit well, but can't get off the bench. The middle infield is terrible, as Zobrist and Ryan have combined for 10 HR and 40 RBI. It hasn't been nearly enough.
Who would have thought a starting rotation with Lincecum, Greinke, Escobar and Hamels would do so poorly? Lincecum had a terrible start, but has shaved a whole run off his ERA over the past 6 weeks. Hamels has been good, and Scott Baker has been better than projected, while Greinke has struggled mightily.
There have been some unreal seasons out of the pen for the Isotopes. Franky Rodriguez might get some Cy Young consideration if he keeps this up: 1-1, 1.01 ERA, .131 OpAvg. Crazy good. Then you have Rafael Soriano, who is almost as good at 4-0, 1.59 ERA, .104 OpAvg (!!!!!) Does Springfield keep these guys for a second half run, or do they get the best possible deal they can at the trade deadline?
Sioux Falls Tomahawks
What a miserable season in South Dakota. While the team hits a lot of home runs, they also sport the worst team ERA in the league (5.75). A team of young talent has not managed to keep up with league full of veterans, and as a result, the Tomahawks have the only sub-.400 winning percentage in SLB.
Sioux Falls can slug it with the best of the teams in the league. BJ Upton, Jason Werth and Adrian Gonzalez all have 20+ HR, while youngster Gordan Beckham has 18 of his own. Even young players like Lou Marson have double digit homers, which is a good sign for the future.
Huge disappointments all around on this promising young staff. David Price has been destroyed, Justin Verlander mediocre, and Yovani Gallardo criminally awful. Matt Garza has been okay, but the team has to be worried that its decision to draft young is going to take longer than planned to pan out.
The bullpen hasn't been much better. Cla Meridith is the only tradeable commodity, and even he hasn't been spectacular.
Kansas Twisters
Kansas has the #1 scoring offense in the league, averaging 5.7 runs per game. Like Jersey City, they lean heavily on their offense to offset a pretty mediocre pitching staff, but the addition of an arm or two could put the team over the top.
The unlikely star of the Twisters offense is Justin Upton, who is tied with Ryan Braun for the team lead in HR (30), and has been on the run production leaderboards all season. With Ichiro and Alexi Ramirez excelling at the top of the order, the whole lineup has clicked. Even AJ Pierzynski has 24 HR from the catcher spot (who saw that coming?)
Starting pitching has underperformed all year. Only the 46 year old Randy Johnson has an ERA below 4.00, while projected staff ace Chris Carpenter has struggled all year. Is it time to give Jonathan Sanchez or John Danks a shot in the rotation? They can't do much worse than Armando Galarraga or Shaun Marcum have....
The bullpen isn't much better, and needs to be addressed. Why has Taylor Buchholz been given the ball 29 times when he has done nothing but toss batting practice every time out? Why is Jonathan Sanchez wasting his talents in relief?
Oklahoma City Bison
How is OKC only 1 game out of first? They're being outscored, half of their starting lineup is on the shelf, and they can't really pitch. It really makes no sense, but Bison fans are enjoying the success while it lasts.
Rollins, Iwamura, Kemp and Ibanez are all on the DL, yet the team continues to score. After a rough first month, first round pick Evan Longoria has really stepped it up, and now leads the team in RBI. Ryan Ludwick and Raul Ibanez have provided good power, while Carlos Gonzalez has been a nice surprise in the OF. There has been no attempt to send a catcher of even middling ability on the field each day, so it's no surprise that the position has been a black hole.
Though there have been some very good performances on the pitching staff, they've struggled overall. Ted Lilly has been surprisingly effective, but Josh Johnson has struggled, and Scott Kazmir has flat out sucked. Then there is Max Scherzer; does this guy have naked photos of the manager's wife or something? How does he keep getting the ball every 5th day?
The bullpen is getting by with smoke and mirrors. Outside of Jonathan Broxton, most of the relief has been average to poor, yet they haven't cost the team too many games. Saito is 5-0 with a 5.09 ERA (as one example). Time to upgrade?
La Brea Dire Wolves
The Dire Wolves lead the West for awhile early in the season, but have found themselves in a struggle for the division title. Despite a roster full of mostly "okay" players, La Brea is 8 game over .500 and in contention.
Many GM's and critics scratched their heads at the pick of Matt Wieters in the first round, but the young catcher has played pretty well. After missing nearly a month to injury, Wieters is OPSing around .850 and has drawn a lot of walks. Cristian Guzman has been the spark plug at the top of the order, batting .321 and stealing 28 bases. The rest of the offense centers around the outfield and Ryan Howard, who is hitting HR's at a good clip.
Somehow the team has done just fine with a rotation full of #3 starters. Josh Towers has been very surprising, as has Chien-Ming Wang. Josh Beckett has underperformed, but that has been offset by the great pitching of Justin Duchscherer.
Not super great, but good enough so far. Mike Adams and Jon Link have been very good, while Mariano Rivera and Brandon League have been good enough. They could use an upgrade in middle relief, but who doesn't?
Springfield Isotopes
The Isotopes went pitching, pitching, pitching in the initial draft, but have been hamstrung all season by the under-performing staff. Though the team has improved lately, it has dug itself a 10 game hole that it looks unlikely to climb out of without some personnel changes.
Springfield simply doesn't hit. Or score runs. Victor Martinez leads the team 45 RBI, and the only .300 hitters are probable Rookie of the Year Gaby Sanchez and injured Carlos Lee. Hunter has hit well, but can't get off the bench. The middle infield is terrible, as Zobrist and Ryan have combined for 10 HR and 40 RBI. It hasn't been nearly enough.
Who would have thought a starting rotation with Lincecum, Greinke, Escobar and Hamels would do so poorly? Lincecum had a terrible start, but has shaved a whole run off his ERA over the past 6 weeks. Hamels has been good, and Scott Baker has been better than projected, while Greinke has struggled mightily.
There have been some unreal seasons out of the pen for the Isotopes. Franky Rodriguez might get some Cy Young consideration if he keeps this up: 1-1, 1.01 ERA, .131 OpAvg. Crazy good. Then you have Rafael Soriano, who is almost as good at 4-0, 1.59 ERA, .104 OpAvg (!!!!!) Does Springfield keep these guys for a second half run, or do they get the best possible deal they can at the trade deadline?
Sioux Falls Tomahawks
What a miserable season in South Dakota. While the team hits a lot of home runs, they also sport the worst team ERA in the league (5.75). A team of young talent has not managed to keep up with league full of veterans, and as a result, the Tomahawks have the only sub-.400 winning percentage in SLB.
Sioux Falls can slug it with the best of the teams in the league. BJ Upton, Jason Werth and Adrian Gonzalez all have 20+ HR, while youngster Gordan Beckham has 18 of his own. Even young players like Lou Marson have double digit homers, which is a good sign for the future.
Huge disappointments all around on this promising young staff. David Price has been destroyed, Justin Verlander mediocre, and Yovani Gallardo criminally awful. Matt Garza has been okay, but the team has to be worried that its decision to draft young is going to take longer than planned to pan out.
The bullpen hasn't been much better. Cla Meridith is the only tradeable commodity, and even he hasn't been spectacular.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Midseason Report 2010 - East Division
The top two records in SLB are in the East this year, with Atlanta and Jersey City in a virtual tie for first place. The Jackals are just percentage points ahead of the Flyers with 2 games in hand, and hit the break as the hottest team in the league, having won 8 of their last 10 games. Columbus is right there at 3 games back, but has scuffled in the past few weeks. The Knights and Sharks are out of first by double digits, and look like sellers before the trade deadline.
Jersey City Jackals
Despite sporting the 4th worst team ERA in the league, JC boasts the best winning percentage. The offense is getting the job done, scoring 476 runs (second best in the league). First round pick Joe Mauer has been everything fans had hoped for, hitting a robust .368/.426/.651 from the catcher's spot. Orlando Hudson is tearing it up from the lead off spot, while Josh Hamilton leads the team in long balls. Cliff Floyd was signed as an undrafted free agent and has been terrific for the Jackals.
On the pitching side, things aren't quite as impressive, but have been good enough so far. The starters aren't terrible, but no one has stepped up as the "ace" of the staff. Hiroki Kuroda started off hot (winning Pitcher of the Month in April), but has cooled off lately. James Shields has been solid, while Mark Buehrle is as likely to give up 7 runs as he is to throw a shut out. The front office made a trade for Miami's Rich Harden, hoping a change of scenery (and a playoff race) would get him on track, and while he was brilliant in his first start, he gave up 4 runs while recording a single out in his second. The bullpen has been pretty solid, holding onto leads in high scoring games.
Atlanta Flyers
The Flyers are tied for first and loving every game that they can prove their draft critics wrong; GM Jim Masters didn't take a single pitcher until Round 23, and pulled some pitchers off the scrap heap to cobble a rotation together. The team has been unbelievably lucky, going 15 games over .500 despite being outscored by their opponents to date. When does that luck start running out?
The offense is good but not great. Matt Holliday is near the top of the leader board in RBI, while first round pick Hanley Ramirez has put up some solid numbers. Pablo Sandoval and Adam Lind have filled out the lineup nicely, but there have been holes, particularly at catcher and center field.
The starting rotation in Atlanta has been really hit or miss. Edwin Jackson and Jeremy Bonderman have been quite good (3.41 and 3.14 ERA's respectively), while Javier Vazquez and Paul Byrd have been pretty bad. Andy Pettitte started the year in AAA, but has gone 4-1 since replacing Byrd last month.
The bullpen has been equally spotty, though they've managed to go 19-9 as a group. Edward Mujica is 5-0 by himself, though Joakim Soria is the only reliever with a sub-4.00 ERA.
Columbus Capitals
If Atlanta is getting all the good luck this season, Columbus is getting all the bad luck. The Capitals have outscored their opponents by nearly 100 runs, but are just 9 over .500 and 3 games back. The team is 1st in the league in batting, 2nd in runs, and 2nd in team ERA, but if the season were to end today, they'd miss the playoffs.
Chase Utley and Manny Ramirez are #1 and #2 in the league in RBI (81 and 80), and they nearly double all of their teammates (Russell Martin is third on the team at 46). Utley may be considered the front-runner for League MVP, leading all of SLB in AVG, SLG and RBI. Carlos Pena has 20 HR (despite missing a month with injury), and Shin-Soo Choo has quietly batted .319 with 28 steals. Overall, the Capitals have been very lucky with injuries, keeping the bench players on the pine.
The rotation for Columbus has been among the league's best. Brandon Webb is in the picture for Cy Young, going 12-5, 2.69 with 120 K's in his first 18 starts. Roy Halladay has won 10 games and struck out 136, while Pedro Martinez (old) and Joba Chamberlain (young) both have sub-4.00 ERA's.
The bullpen has been very spotty, and has cost this team too many games in the late innings. Brian Wilson has been brilliant in the 9th, and Brad Lidge has done his job, but after that, there is a lot of mediocrity. This is the one area the team should look to improve on before the deadline.
New York Knights
The Knights' season so far can be summed up thusly: they've wasted a lot of good pitching with a lousy offense. New York has the 3rd best team ERA, but is dead last in the league in runs scored (at just a hair over 4 runs/game). At 11.5 games back, the season looks more or less over for the Knights unless the hitting heats up in a big way.
The woes of the offense have been personified by Albert Pujols. The superstar slugger has simply not been able to get on track all year, and hits the break with a meager .218/.283/.356 line. The only hitter who is really pulling his weight is David Murphy (20 HR), while Ty Wigginton is playing better than expected. Shane Victorino and Elvis Andrus are both slugging under .400, which just kills a lineup that already has an automatic out in the pitcher's slot.
On the flip side, the pitching has been very good (though the individual win-loss records are, predictably, not very good). Jake Westbrook's 4.36 ERA is the worst in the rotation! Derek Lowe has defied the poor run support and gone 11-4, 3.27 (and should get some Cy Young votes). Ervin Santana has a sparkling 2.87 ERA but has been rewarded with a 4-8 record.
Billy Wagner and Kerry Wood have been great in the late innings, but middle relief has been pretty poor.
Miami Sharks
The Sharks had a terrible run in May and June and are already in sell mode. Miami sent Rich Harden to Jersey City for Dan Hudson and Kevin Youkilis in the league's first trade. The pitching has been middle of the pack in the league, but the offense just hasn't clicked. Does GM Jose Gutierrez continue to sell?
Miami was the last team to have a double-digit home run hitter, though Curtis Granderson is hitting the break red hot (homering in 4 straight games). Despite his power surge, he isn't driving in a ton of runs (18 HR and just 37 RBI). Jorge Posada's 46 RBI lead the entire team. The offense started going south when Brian Roberts got injured and hasn't really recovered.
The "star" pitchers have been a let down, while some lesser known players have stepped up. Rich Harden was terrible for Miami and is now out of town, and Dan Haren hasn't been much better. On the flip side, Mike Pelfrey and Kyle Kendrick have been quite good, and Nick Blackburn has been crazy good (5-0, 0.92 ERA in 6 starts). Chad Bradford has been lights out in the pen, so you wonder if he's on the block...
Jersey City Jackals
Despite sporting the 4th worst team ERA in the league, JC boasts the best winning percentage. The offense is getting the job done, scoring 476 runs (second best in the league). First round pick Joe Mauer has been everything fans had hoped for, hitting a robust .368/.426/.651 from the catcher's spot. Orlando Hudson is tearing it up from the lead off spot, while Josh Hamilton leads the team in long balls. Cliff Floyd was signed as an undrafted free agent and has been terrific for the Jackals.
On the pitching side, things aren't quite as impressive, but have been good enough so far. The starters aren't terrible, but no one has stepped up as the "ace" of the staff. Hiroki Kuroda started off hot (winning Pitcher of the Month in April), but has cooled off lately. James Shields has been solid, while Mark Buehrle is as likely to give up 7 runs as he is to throw a shut out. The front office made a trade for Miami's Rich Harden, hoping a change of scenery (and a playoff race) would get him on track, and while he was brilliant in his first start, he gave up 4 runs while recording a single out in his second. The bullpen has been pretty solid, holding onto leads in high scoring games.
Atlanta Flyers
The Flyers are tied for first and loving every game that they can prove their draft critics wrong; GM Jim Masters didn't take a single pitcher until Round 23, and pulled some pitchers off the scrap heap to cobble a rotation together. The team has been unbelievably lucky, going 15 games over .500 despite being outscored by their opponents to date. When does that luck start running out?
The offense is good but not great. Matt Holliday is near the top of the leader board in RBI, while first round pick Hanley Ramirez has put up some solid numbers. Pablo Sandoval and Adam Lind have filled out the lineup nicely, but there have been holes, particularly at catcher and center field.
The starting rotation in Atlanta has been really hit or miss. Edwin Jackson and Jeremy Bonderman have been quite good (3.41 and 3.14 ERA's respectively), while Javier Vazquez and Paul Byrd have been pretty bad. Andy Pettitte started the year in AAA, but has gone 4-1 since replacing Byrd last month.
The bullpen has been equally spotty, though they've managed to go 19-9 as a group. Edward Mujica is 5-0 by himself, though Joakim Soria is the only reliever with a sub-4.00 ERA.
Columbus Capitals
If Atlanta is getting all the good luck this season, Columbus is getting all the bad luck. The Capitals have outscored their opponents by nearly 100 runs, but are just 9 over .500 and 3 games back. The team is 1st in the league in batting, 2nd in runs, and 2nd in team ERA, but if the season were to end today, they'd miss the playoffs.
Chase Utley and Manny Ramirez are #1 and #2 in the league in RBI (81 and 80), and they nearly double all of their teammates (Russell Martin is third on the team at 46). Utley may be considered the front-runner for League MVP, leading all of SLB in AVG, SLG and RBI. Carlos Pena has 20 HR (despite missing a month with injury), and Shin-Soo Choo has quietly batted .319 with 28 steals. Overall, the Capitals have been very lucky with injuries, keeping the bench players on the pine.
The rotation for Columbus has been among the league's best. Brandon Webb is in the picture for Cy Young, going 12-5, 2.69 with 120 K's in his first 18 starts. Roy Halladay has won 10 games and struck out 136, while Pedro Martinez (old) and Joba Chamberlain (young) both have sub-4.00 ERA's.
The bullpen has been very spotty, and has cost this team too many games in the late innings. Brian Wilson has been brilliant in the 9th, and Brad Lidge has done his job, but after that, there is a lot of mediocrity. This is the one area the team should look to improve on before the deadline.
New York Knights
The Knights' season so far can be summed up thusly: they've wasted a lot of good pitching with a lousy offense. New York has the 3rd best team ERA, but is dead last in the league in runs scored (at just a hair over 4 runs/game). At 11.5 games back, the season looks more or less over for the Knights unless the hitting heats up in a big way.
The woes of the offense have been personified by Albert Pujols. The superstar slugger has simply not been able to get on track all year, and hits the break with a meager .218/.283/.356 line. The only hitter who is really pulling his weight is David Murphy (20 HR), while Ty Wigginton is playing better than expected. Shane Victorino and Elvis Andrus are both slugging under .400, which just kills a lineup that already has an automatic out in the pitcher's slot.
On the flip side, the pitching has been very good (though the individual win-loss records are, predictably, not very good). Jake Westbrook's 4.36 ERA is the worst in the rotation! Derek Lowe has defied the poor run support and gone 11-4, 3.27 (and should get some Cy Young votes). Ervin Santana has a sparkling 2.87 ERA but has been rewarded with a 4-8 record.
Billy Wagner and Kerry Wood have been great in the late innings, but middle relief has been pretty poor.
Miami Sharks
The Sharks had a terrible run in May and June and are already in sell mode. Miami sent Rich Harden to Jersey City for Dan Hudson and Kevin Youkilis in the league's first trade. The pitching has been middle of the pack in the league, but the offense just hasn't clicked. Does GM Jose Gutierrez continue to sell?
Miami was the last team to have a double-digit home run hitter, though Curtis Granderson is hitting the break red hot (homering in 4 straight games). Despite his power surge, he isn't driving in a ton of runs (18 HR and just 37 RBI). Jorge Posada's 46 RBI lead the entire team. The offense started going south when Brian Roberts got injured and hasn't really recovered.
The "star" pitchers have been a let down, while some lesser known players have stepped up. Rich Harden was terrible for Miami and is now out of town, and Dan Haren hasn't been much better. On the flip side, Mike Pelfrey and Kyle Kendrick have been quite good, and Nick Blackburn has been crazy good (5-0, 0.92 ERA in 6 starts). Chad Bradford has been lights out in the pen, so you wonder if he's on the block...
Thursday, July 8, 2010
2010 Amateur Draft Grades
The 2010 Amateur Draft is complete, so let's take a look at how the teams did.
Kansas Twisters (A+) - The pressure was on with the #1 overall pick, but it's tough to argue with Stephen Strasburg. The 21 year old has two ML ready pitches and good command. Will the Twisters give him a year to develop, or will we see him in the majors this year? As if that wasn't enough, CF Austin Jackson falls to the 2nd round, and OF project Michael Taylor to the 3rd round.
Miami Sharks (A) - An impressive draft for the Sharks, as they picked up three players who all project as future starters. Tracy Pena is a five-tool shortstop who is likely ticketed for the majors sooner rather than later (I mean, Mark DeRosa is playing short right now....) Great value pick with Jay Jackson in the 2nd round, while Desmond Jennings already looks good enough to be the 4th outfielder on some clubs.
Sioux Falls Tomahawks (A-) - The struggling Tomahawks were fortunate to find themselves in the position to draft a potential ace. Many scouts would argue that Yu Darvish was the best player in the draft, and the baseball historians will likely compare his career to Strasburg's for their entire careers. Jenrry Mejia was a great pick in the 2nd round, as four-pitch relievers are a rare find. The 3rd rounder was gravy after the first two, though C Tony Sanchez looks promising.
Columbus Capitals (B+) - Columbus was in the dreaded middle of the order spot in this draft, meaning they weren't going to get a sure thing. Still, things went pretty well for the team, landing lefty Brad Lincoln in the 1st round, and fellow southpaw Craig Kimbrel in the 2nd. GM Darin Keesing lucked out in the third with 2B Scott Sizemore, a player many thought would go in the 2nd round.
La Brea Dire Wolves (B+) - Richard Gin filled a big need with 1st round pick Brett Wallace, an eventual 3B replacement for Michael Young. Hoyt Williams is an atypical SS (good power but slow speed), while P Casey Kelly could be a steal in the 3rd round if his control improves.
Oklahoma City Bison (B+) - The Bison went with three pitchers, starting with the flame-throwing Cuban Aroldis Chapman. If the lefty can develop some control and secondary pitches, he might ace this staff. Drew Storen is a promising late inning reliever, while Barr is a project reliever.
Caracas Bolivares (B) - Despite the roster being strong on offense and thin on pitching, GM Tom Hey went with three bats this draft. SS Starlin Castro looks like the heir apparent to Derek Jeter, and should improve his hitting and power in the minors. Hank Conger is a switch-hitting catcher who at the very least could become a serviceable backup.
Fremantle Cormorants (B) - With the focus on pitching early in the draft, Fremantle was able to land the Winter League MVP Ike Davis 6th pick. Davis hit 15 HR and posted a .981 OPS this winter and probably won't spend too long in the minors. Kevin Russo is an okay 2B, but at age 25, is already pushing "prospect" status.
Jersey City Jackals (B) - All pitching for the Jackals, which was a smart move for a team with a 5.24 team ERA. Kyle Drabek needs more development, but with two good pitches, could be in the majors in a couple of years. Dan Hudson has better control, but needs more work on his stuff, while Moxie Jimenez is a risk/reward prospect who, if he matches his WL numbers, could be the steal of the draft.
New York Knights (B) - Were the Knights sending a message to the under-performing Albert Pujols with their pick of 1B Justin Smoak? If nothing else, it puts Pujols on notice. New York rolled the dice on Mike Leake in the 2nd, hoping his raw skills would develop, while Ron Bailey is a decent if not spectacular relief option.
Quebec Horned Frogs (B) - With the two big arms off the board, picking OF Jason Heyward was a no-brainer with the 3rd overall pick. With Jeremy Hermida's impending free agency, Heyward could find himself in the opening lineup next April. Two more bats round out Quebec's selections, though both need more time to develop.
Springfield Isotopes (B) - Only two picks for the Isotopes, but both were power bats. Mike Moustakas may end up with the best power of anyone in the draft, though he needs to improve his eye and cut down on the strikeouts. His potential future infield partner may be 1B Chris Carter, who also has impressive power skills.
Atlanta Flyers (B-) - Jim Masters' team picked last each round (after picking first overall in the initial draft), so the team wasn't destined to land the very best players. Chili Jackson and Scott Pedrique are decent looking pitchers who could grow into back end rotation guys, but Johnny Cunningham has a long way to go before being MLB ready. Luckily, he's just 19 years old.
Brisbane Koalas (D) - Not a great showing by rookie GM Evan Goforth, as he squandered his high draft position on some questionable picks. 1st round pick Ken Pall is a decidedly average SS who wasn't projected until the late 2nd or early 3rd round. The Koalas need offense, but with players like Austin Jackson and Ike Davis available, the pick is puzzling. The team redeemed itself with Johnny Crasher, whose plus fastball could make him a future setup man/closer.
Kansas Twisters (A+) - The pressure was on with the #1 overall pick, but it's tough to argue with Stephen Strasburg. The 21 year old has two ML ready pitches and good command. Will the Twisters give him a year to develop, or will we see him in the majors this year? As if that wasn't enough, CF Austin Jackson falls to the 2nd round, and OF project Michael Taylor to the 3rd round.
Miami Sharks (A) - An impressive draft for the Sharks, as they picked up three players who all project as future starters. Tracy Pena is a five-tool shortstop who is likely ticketed for the majors sooner rather than later (I mean, Mark DeRosa is playing short right now....) Great value pick with Jay Jackson in the 2nd round, while Desmond Jennings already looks good enough to be the 4th outfielder on some clubs.
Sioux Falls Tomahawks (A-) - The struggling Tomahawks were fortunate to find themselves in the position to draft a potential ace. Many scouts would argue that Yu Darvish was the best player in the draft, and the baseball historians will likely compare his career to Strasburg's for their entire careers. Jenrry Mejia was a great pick in the 2nd round, as four-pitch relievers are a rare find. The 3rd rounder was gravy after the first two, though C Tony Sanchez looks promising.
Columbus Capitals (B+) - Columbus was in the dreaded middle of the order spot in this draft, meaning they weren't going to get a sure thing. Still, things went pretty well for the team, landing lefty Brad Lincoln in the 1st round, and fellow southpaw Craig Kimbrel in the 2nd. GM Darin Keesing lucked out in the third with 2B Scott Sizemore, a player many thought would go in the 2nd round.
La Brea Dire Wolves (B+) - Richard Gin filled a big need with 1st round pick Brett Wallace, an eventual 3B replacement for Michael Young. Hoyt Williams is an atypical SS (good power but slow speed), while P Casey Kelly could be a steal in the 3rd round if his control improves.
Oklahoma City Bison (B+) - The Bison went with three pitchers, starting with the flame-throwing Cuban Aroldis Chapman. If the lefty can develop some control and secondary pitches, he might ace this staff. Drew Storen is a promising late inning reliever, while Barr is a project reliever.
Caracas Bolivares (B) - Despite the roster being strong on offense and thin on pitching, GM Tom Hey went with three bats this draft. SS Starlin Castro looks like the heir apparent to Derek Jeter, and should improve his hitting and power in the minors. Hank Conger is a switch-hitting catcher who at the very least could become a serviceable backup.
Fremantle Cormorants (B) - With the focus on pitching early in the draft, Fremantle was able to land the Winter League MVP Ike Davis 6th pick. Davis hit 15 HR and posted a .981 OPS this winter and probably won't spend too long in the minors. Kevin Russo is an okay 2B, but at age 25, is already pushing "prospect" status.
Jersey City Jackals (B) - All pitching for the Jackals, which was a smart move for a team with a 5.24 team ERA. Kyle Drabek needs more development, but with two good pitches, could be in the majors in a couple of years. Dan Hudson has better control, but needs more work on his stuff, while Moxie Jimenez is a risk/reward prospect who, if he matches his WL numbers, could be the steal of the draft.
New York Knights (B) - Were the Knights sending a message to the under-performing Albert Pujols with their pick of 1B Justin Smoak? If nothing else, it puts Pujols on notice. New York rolled the dice on Mike Leake in the 2nd, hoping his raw skills would develop, while Ron Bailey is a decent if not spectacular relief option.
Quebec Horned Frogs (B) - With the two big arms off the board, picking OF Jason Heyward was a no-brainer with the 3rd overall pick. With Jeremy Hermida's impending free agency, Heyward could find himself in the opening lineup next April. Two more bats round out Quebec's selections, though both need more time to develop.
Springfield Isotopes (B) - Only two picks for the Isotopes, but both were power bats. Mike Moustakas may end up with the best power of anyone in the draft, though he needs to improve his eye and cut down on the strikeouts. His potential future infield partner may be 1B Chris Carter, who also has impressive power skills.
Atlanta Flyers (B-) - Jim Masters' team picked last each round (after picking first overall in the initial draft), so the team wasn't destined to land the very best players. Chili Jackson and Scott Pedrique are decent looking pitchers who could grow into back end rotation guys, but Johnny Cunningham has a long way to go before being MLB ready. Luckily, he's just 19 years old.
Brisbane Koalas (D) - Not a great showing by rookie GM Evan Goforth, as he squandered his high draft position on some questionable picks. 1st round pick Ken Pall is a decidedly average SS who wasn't projected until the late 2nd or early 3rd round. The Koalas need offense, but with players like Austin Jackson and Ike Davis available, the pick is puzzling. The team redeemed itself with Johnny Crasher, whose plus fastball could make him a future setup man/closer.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Around the League - 6/07/10
Rolling right along....
EAST
- Atlanta shook up the lineup, benching Lind, Beltran and Jaso in favor of Jones, Davis and Doumit. The Flyers are still treading water, but remain in first place.
- Jersey City matched Atlanta's 3-3 mark this week, so they stay 1/2 game back. Joe Mauer is red hot, hitting .462 with 2 HR, 9 RBI and 7 runs in 6 games this week.
- Columbus has a rough week as they were swept by the surging Cormorants followed by losing 2 of 3 to Quebec. The Capitals are 13-16 at home, but 18-8 on the road.
- New York is slumping, losing 4 straight and 8 of 10. They were swept by Springfield, scoring just 4 runs in the 3 game series. One encouraging sign is that Albert Pujols hit .360 this week.
- Miami is now 13 games out of first place with the 2nd worst record in the league. The Sharks scored just 13 runs this week.
WEST
- As the top teams in the East are struggling, the best of the West are all surging. La Brea has a league best 18-8 home record and have won 7 of 10 overall. Management is actively looking for relief help, but haven't found a trade partner yet.
- Kansas is tied with the Dire Wolves for first place. The Twisters continue to lead the league in runs, home runs and RBI.
- Oklahoma City went 3-3 this week, falling a game out of first. Ryan Ludwick is killing the ball this week (.417, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 8 runs).
- Springfield is finally heating up, winning 7 of 10 and 4 straight. Gaby Sanchez has emerged as a top contender for Rookie Hitter of the Year, but the offense still needs improvement; the pitching put up a 1.15 team ERA this week, yet the Isotopes only went 4-2.
- Sioux Falls has the worst record in the league. Yovani Gallardo looks to have the inside track on Goat of the Year, posting a 1-7, 8.31 mark so far.
WORLD
- Brisbane has turned it around with a sweep against Miami, and now sits a game over .500. Tons of players are banged up for the Koalas, which hurts an already weak offense.
- The other 3 teams in the division are all tied with a 26-30 record. Caracas continues to lose games late, so why hasn't management made some changes? Fremantle has turned it on and has threatened to make it all the way to first place. Quebec continues to shuffle along, so what will be the spark?
EAST
- Atlanta shook up the lineup, benching Lind, Beltran and Jaso in favor of Jones, Davis and Doumit. The Flyers are still treading water, but remain in first place.
- Jersey City matched Atlanta's 3-3 mark this week, so they stay 1/2 game back. Joe Mauer is red hot, hitting .462 with 2 HR, 9 RBI and 7 runs in 6 games this week.
- Columbus has a rough week as they were swept by the surging Cormorants followed by losing 2 of 3 to Quebec. The Capitals are 13-16 at home, but 18-8 on the road.
- New York is slumping, losing 4 straight and 8 of 10. They were swept by Springfield, scoring just 4 runs in the 3 game series. One encouraging sign is that Albert Pujols hit .360 this week.
- Miami is now 13 games out of first place with the 2nd worst record in the league. The Sharks scored just 13 runs this week.
WEST
- As the top teams in the East are struggling, the best of the West are all surging. La Brea has a league best 18-8 home record and have won 7 of 10 overall. Management is actively looking for relief help, but haven't found a trade partner yet.
- Kansas is tied with the Dire Wolves for first place. The Twisters continue to lead the league in runs, home runs and RBI.
- Oklahoma City went 3-3 this week, falling a game out of first. Ryan Ludwick is killing the ball this week (.417, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 8 runs).
- Springfield is finally heating up, winning 7 of 10 and 4 straight. Gaby Sanchez has emerged as a top contender for Rookie Hitter of the Year, but the offense still needs improvement; the pitching put up a 1.15 team ERA this week, yet the Isotopes only went 4-2.
- Sioux Falls has the worst record in the league. Yovani Gallardo looks to have the inside track on Goat of the Year, posting a 1-7, 8.31 mark so far.
WORLD
- Brisbane has turned it around with a sweep against Miami, and now sits a game over .500. Tons of players are banged up for the Koalas, which hurts an already weak offense.
- The other 3 teams in the division are all tied with a 26-30 record. Caracas continues to lose games late, so why hasn't management made some changes? Fremantle has turned it on and has threatened to make it all the way to first place. Quebec continues to shuffle along, so what will be the spark?
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