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?
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Players of May, 2010
Congratulations to the Players of May
HITTER - RF JD Drew (QBC) - .390, 10 HR, 25 RBI, 4 BB, 16 K, 1.164 OPS
PITCHER - Brandon Webb (COL) - 5-0, 1.71 ERA, 36 2/3 IP, 39 K, 6 BB, .185 OpAvg
ROOKIE - 1B Gaby Sanchez (SPR) - .327, 7 HR, 16 RBI, 6 BB, 19 K, .971 OPS
HITTING PROSPECT - LF Nick Stavinoha (SF) - .308, 7 HR, 25 RBI, 13 BB, 24 K (for AAA FW)
PITCHING PROSPECT - Doug Fister (ATL) - 5-0, 1.60 ERA, 39 1/3 IP, 54 K, 14 BB (for AAA CHAR)
HITTER - RF JD Drew (QBC) - .390, 10 HR, 25 RBI, 4 BB, 16 K, 1.164 OPS
PITCHER - Brandon Webb (COL) - 5-0, 1.71 ERA, 36 2/3 IP, 39 K, 6 BB, .185 OpAvg
ROOKIE - 1B Gaby Sanchez (SPR) - .327, 7 HR, 16 RBI, 6 BB, 19 K, .971 OPS
HITTING PROSPECT - LF Nick Stavinoha (SF) - .308, 7 HR, 25 RBI, 13 BB, 24 K (for AAA FW)
PITCHING PROSPECT - Doug Fister (ATL) - 5-0, 1.60 ERA, 39 1/3 IP, 54 K, 14 BB (for AAA CHAR)
Monday, June 28, 2010
Around the League - 5/31/10
We've reached the end of May, and league-wide competition is more than I could have hoped for. 11 of the 14 teams in SLB are within 3 games of first place, and with the 1st half/2nd half record format for playoff berths, no one is out of it.
Let's see where we stand as we enter June.
EAST
- Three teams are within a game of each other at the top of the division, but Atlanta is hanging on by a thread. The pitching is starting to show some weakness (Andy Pettitte was finally rescued from AAA purgatory to patch things up). After a dominating month of April (16-6), the Flyers have fallen back to the pack in May (15-12). Still, the team has the best record in SLB and has an offense that has 6 players with 10+ home runs.
- Jersey City went 16-10 this month despite a 5.90 team ERA. How long can the Jackals keep winning the high scoring games? JC will have to improve on its 6-6 division record, as they have series with all four East Division teams in June.
- Columbus is the hottest team in the league, winning 8 of 10 and posting a league best 17-8 record in May. The Capitals are clicking in all areas this month, as the hitters put up a .914 team OPS and the pitchers posted a 3.58 team ERA (both tops in SLB for May). The biggest obstacle for June is the loss of Carlos Pena, whose middle of the order power will be missed. Brandon Webb should win Pitcher of the Month, after posting a 5-0, 1.71 record for the month.
- New York is heading in the wrong direction, recently (losers of 5 straight), but overall, had a great month (16-10). The Knights still don't hit home runs, and Pujols is still mysteriously awful, but the starting pitching is strong.
- Miami is the only team really out of it in the division right now, though a second half surge could find them in the playoffs. That seems unlikely right now, after the Sharks went 7-19 in May. The team offense is pretty bad, and the lack of power (7 HR leads the team) isn't enough to overcome some spotty pitching. Kudos to GM Jose Gutierrez for shaking up the pen, but more needs to be done to right this ship.
WEST
- It's a three way tie for first place, and no team looks built to pull away from the pack. LaBrea (14-12 in May) has had to switch gears, as the early pitching success has come back to earth, but the offense has stepped it up. Ryan Howard has 20 HR, while Ethier and Kubel have been power threats as well.
- Kansas won 16 games this month and continues to lead the league in most offensive categories. Justin Upton (22 HR, 55 RBI) shows no signs of slowing down, and my have the inside track on league MVP. 15 of his 22 HR were hit this month! How much longer does GM Ben Royer stick with Chris Carpenter before giving Galaragga or Marcum a shot at the rotation?
- Oklahoma City matched Kansas with 16 May wins, but may have had more if Max Scherzer were replaced in the rotation. The guy was just awful, going 0-5, 5.76 for the month. Surely there are better options in AAA? Evan Longoria is finally starting to hit, but the black hole at catcher needs to be addressed.
- Springfield has rebounded from an awful April to go 13-14 in May. The team still can't hit, and the one player who CAN hit (Carlos Lee) is still on the shelf another 2-4 weeks. What HAS started working is the pitching, as the team posted a 4.02 team ERA (3rd best in SLB). The superstar pitching rotation was much better, all posting ERA's in the mid 4.00's (compared to the mid-to-high 5.00's in April).
- Sioux Falls lost a league high 20 games in May, mostly due to a pitching staff who gives up runs in bunches (6.72 team ERA this month). The team is so young that you wonder if its worth just riding this season out and hoping the youth grows into a contender. The Tomahawks may be the first team to starting selling....
WORLD
- The entire division is under .500, but only 2 1/2 games separate first from last place. Brisbane's offense is really hurting them, as they went 13-15 in May despite a 3.87 team ERA (second best in the league). Time to hit the trade market for a big bat? The Koalas have a great bullpen, so maybe a reliever-for-bat swap can be made.
- Caracas continues to pound the ball but lose late due to a terrible bullpen. The pitching staff as a whole gives up a ridiculous number of home runs. Is there anyone in Ft. Wayne who can pitch better than Livan Hernandez? There are four starting pitchers on the Baals with ERA's of 3.50 or under....
- Quebec got David Ortiz and Andrew McCutchen back this week, which they hope will wake up an offense that slept through May. The pitching was very good (3.79 team ERA in May), but the Frogs won just 12 games. What happened to Dustin Pedroia?
- Hats off to Fremantle, who didn't pack it in after an abysmal April. The Cormorants went 15-13 in May, and now sit just 2.5 out of first place. Burnett and Sabathia were a combined 7-2 this month, both sporting ERA's in the low 2.00's. Only Zambrano continues to struggle (despite maintaining a high K rate). Time to trade an arm for a bat?
Let's see where we stand as we enter June.
EAST
- Three teams are within a game of each other at the top of the division, but Atlanta is hanging on by a thread. The pitching is starting to show some weakness (Andy Pettitte was finally rescued from AAA purgatory to patch things up). After a dominating month of April (16-6), the Flyers have fallen back to the pack in May (15-12). Still, the team has the best record in SLB and has an offense that has 6 players with 10+ home runs.
- Jersey City went 16-10 this month despite a 5.90 team ERA. How long can the Jackals keep winning the high scoring games? JC will have to improve on its 6-6 division record, as they have series with all four East Division teams in June.
- Columbus is the hottest team in the league, winning 8 of 10 and posting a league best 17-8 record in May. The Capitals are clicking in all areas this month, as the hitters put up a .914 team OPS and the pitchers posted a 3.58 team ERA (both tops in SLB for May). The biggest obstacle for June is the loss of Carlos Pena, whose middle of the order power will be missed. Brandon Webb should win Pitcher of the Month, after posting a 5-0, 1.71 record for the month.
- New York is heading in the wrong direction, recently (losers of 5 straight), but overall, had a great month (16-10). The Knights still don't hit home runs, and Pujols is still mysteriously awful, but the starting pitching is strong.
- Miami is the only team really out of it in the division right now, though a second half surge could find them in the playoffs. That seems unlikely right now, after the Sharks went 7-19 in May. The team offense is pretty bad, and the lack of power (7 HR leads the team) isn't enough to overcome some spotty pitching. Kudos to GM Jose Gutierrez for shaking up the pen, but more needs to be done to right this ship.
WEST
- It's a three way tie for first place, and no team looks built to pull away from the pack. LaBrea (14-12 in May) has had to switch gears, as the early pitching success has come back to earth, but the offense has stepped it up. Ryan Howard has 20 HR, while Ethier and Kubel have been power threats as well.
- Kansas won 16 games this month and continues to lead the league in most offensive categories. Justin Upton (22 HR, 55 RBI) shows no signs of slowing down, and my have the inside track on league MVP. 15 of his 22 HR were hit this month! How much longer does GM Ben Royer stick with Chris Carpenter before giving Galaragga or Marcum a shot at the rotation?
- Oklahoma City matched Kansas with 16 May wins, but may have had more if Max Scherzer were replaced in the rotation. The guy was just awful, going 0-5, 5.76 for the month. Surely there are better options in AAA? Evan Longoria is finally starting to hit, but the black hole at catcher needs to be addressed.
- Springfield has rebounded from an awful April to go 13-14 in May. The team still can't hit, and the one player who CAN hit (Carlos Lee) is still on the shelf another 2-4 weeks. What HAS started working is the pitching, as the team posted a 4.02 team ERA (3rd best in SLB). The superstar pitching rotation was much better, all posting ERA's in the mid 4.00's (compared to the mid-to-high 5.00's in April).
- Sioux Falls lost a league high 20 games in May, mostly due to a pitching staff who gives up runs in bunches (6.72 team ERA this month). The team is so young that you wonder if its worth just riding this season out and hoping the youth grows into a contender. The Tomahawks may be the first team to starting selling....
WORLD
- The entire division is under .500, but only 2 1/2 games separate first from last place. Brisbane's offense is really hurting them, as they went 13-15 in May despite a 3.87 team ERA (second best in the league). Time to hit the trade market for a big bat? The Koalas have a great bullpen, so maybe a reliever-for-bat swap can be made.
- Caracas continues to pound the ball but lose late due to a terrible bullpen. The pitching staff as a whole gives up a ridiculous number of home runs. Is there anyone in Ft. Wayne who can pitch better than Livan Hernandez? There are four starting pitchers on the Baals with ERA's of 3.50 or under....
- Quebec got David Ortiz and Andrew McCutchen back this week, which they hope will wake up an offense that slept through May. The pitching was very good (3.79 team ERA in May), but the Frogs won just 12 games. What happened to Dustin Pedroia?
- Hats off to Fremantle, who didn't pack it in after an abysmal April. The Cormorants went 15-13 in May, and now sit just 2.5 out of first place. Burnett and Sabathia were a combined 7-2 this month, both sporting ERA's in the low 2.00's. Only Zambrano continues to struggle (despite maintaining a high K rate). Time to trade an arm for a bat?
Thursday, June 24, 2010
2010 Amateur Draft Preview
Winter League has wrapped up and the Amateur Draft is less than a month away. Which players are likely to go in the first round? Who are the sleepers?
Here, we'll break down the eligible draftees by position and venture a guess of how the first draft of the league will go.
STARTING PITCHERS
For the Kansas Twisters (#1 overall pick), the choice will likely come down to Stephen Strasburg or Yu Darvish. Based on their Winter League numbers, they can't really lose with either choice.
The 21 year old Strasburg features a plus fastball and slider, with a good curve and developing change. He went 9-2, 2.72 with 11 QS in 17 Winter League starts. Lefties and righties batted .240 against him, and he struck out 122 batters in 115 innings (vs. 25 walks).
Japanese phenom Yu Darvish is 2 years older than Strasburg, but put up better numbers. Yu features a plus fastball and power sinker, while his secondary pitches (curve/slider) are more polished than Strasburg's. Darvish went 10-2, 1.93 with a league-leading 16 QS. A 1.00 WHIP and .217 OpAvg were extremely impressive.
Though the pre-draft focus has been on these two prospects, this is far from a two-pitcher draft. Here's a look at some of the other starters:
Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman has the strongest arm in the WL, but is still trying to harness his control. He threw 100 K's in 105 IP, but walked 45. This 22 year old has a plus fastball, but needs to improve his other pitches before he will succeed in the majors.
22 year old Kyle Drabek lead the WL with 11 wins (vs. 4 losses), and posted a 3.52 ERA. Like Chapman, he averaged over a K/IP, but struggled with walks. He has four good pitches, but the scouts don't see a "plus" pitch yet. He may be a bit of a project, but has a high ceiling.
Drabek's WL teammate Brad Lincoln also enjoyed success this winter, but went about it in different ways. His K's were lower, but he kept the ball in the yard. This 24 year old lefty had strange reverse splits (lefties hit 100 points higher off of him than righties), but he has four good pitches, 3 of which are very strong.
Jay Jackson is a project player who could reap rewards with some patience. His 76:56 BB:K ratio is troubling, but he held batters to a .246 average while allowing just 6 HR in 106 IP.
Dan Hudson flirted with a perfect record this winter, but settled for 8-1, 3.30 mark. He lacks a plus pitch, and his change up is very raw (which contributed to his 1.38 WHIP).
RELIEF PITCHERS
Lefty Craig Kimbrel averaged a K/IP and held batters to a .195 average (and .293 SLG). He'll give you a heart attack before getting the save (19 walks in 34 IP), but he allowed just 2 of 12 inherited runners to score.
In a small sample size (15 1/3 IP), righty Hank Gonzales went 2-1, 1.17 ERA, holding batters to a .115 average and .173 SLG. He has a good slider, but scouts warn that his fastball is decidedly average.
Jennry Mejia lead the WL in saves (15 in 33 appearances), and is the rare relief prospect with four pitches. He has a plus sinker and a good fastball. He gave up too many extra base hits (.480 OpSLG) and had a 1.37 WHIP, but he stranded 16 of 24 inherited runners.
Right hander Tanner Scheppers is a project. On the plus side, he allowed just 1 HR (in 39 IP) and held opponents to a .231 average. On the negative side, he gave up 31 BB's (to 30 K's) and posted a 1.64 WHIP.
The big dice roll among relievers is Moxie Jiminez. Despite the fact that his sinker and slider have been called "awful", "hopeless" and "career killers" by various scouts, this righty posted a 3.32 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP and .234 OpAvg.
CATCHERS
Hank Conger is a rare, switch-hitting backstop. He has a good arm and developing power, but is a defensive liability (13 errors). He hit .300/.378/.430 with 30 doubles.
Another switch-hitter is Dave Holshouser, who scouts call "the most developed hitter among a thin catching class." He was 4th in the league in walks, which lead to a robust .404 OBP.
Left-handed hitter Jason Castro went .322/.390/.479 in a platoon with Jake Ortiz.
FIRST BASEMEN
The prize at this position is Ike Davis, who lead the league in SLG and tied for second in HR. He hit .310/.415/.566 with 15 HR and 50 RBI, all in an inexplicable platoon with Dick Dorgan. Davis walked 41 times while striking out 34.
Logan Morrison doesn't have the measurable physical skills of Davis, but he flourished on a strong offensive squad. 9 HR and a .972 OPS (with no errors) could find him a late first, early second round pick.
23 year old Chris Carter has as much power as Davis, but needs to refine his eye at the plate. He hit 11 HR (to go with 33 doubles), but still strikes out a lot.
Your risk/reward pick at this position is Justin Smoak, a player whose raw skills make scouts drool, but didn't end up with the results at the plate. He hit 8 HR and drew 52 walks (one off the league lead), but hit just .219/.337/.323, hitting just 9 doubles. Bad luck, or bad hitter? Might be the steal of the draft if he develops in someone's minor league system.
SECOND BASEMEN
This position is extremely thin, so Scott Sizemore may be picked higher than he should if a team needs a second baseman. His numbers were decent (.274/.355/.440 with 8 HR), but he's a few years from being MLB ready.
The only other second bagger of note is Kevin Russo, who spent the winter splitting gaps at an alarming rate (50 doubles in 373 AB's). That said, he struck out 72 times and made 7 errors.
THIRD BASEMEN
Mike Moustakas has a lot of raw power, but will take time to catch up to pro-level pitching. He hit 15 HR, but his slow speed resulted in 10 double-plays and just 16 doubles.
Brett Wallace is more or less the same as Moustakas: powerful but slow. His average is better (.293 vs. .263), but he was a few HR behind.
SHORTSTOPS
The infield options get better with a strong SS class. Starlin Castro had surprising power, knocking 10 out of the park and posting a .446 SLG. He had 101 hits and stole 13 bases.
The most major league ready SS is Tracy Pena, a 22 year old righty with great speed and a plus arm. Pena hit .313/.387/.501 with 113 hits and 41 doubles.
John Dietz and Hoyt Williams are similar players who will likely go in the 2nd or 3rd rounds. Dietz had a good hitting line (.291/.367/.443), but his lack of speed (no steals) might push him down to the 3rd round. Williams' line was very similar (.290/.357/.475), but grounded into 14 double plays.
OUTFIELDERS
Jason Heyward will likely be the first hitter taken, possibly in the top 3 picks. The lefty has major league power and lead the WL in HR (17) and RBI (58). His lack of speed hampered his doubles/triples totals, but he walked 53 times and only struck out 57.
The speediest guy in the draft is center fielder Austin Jackson. He lead the league with 17 steals, and plays above average defense at all three OF spots. He'll need to cut down on his K's.
Desmond Jennings is a corner outfielder with plus speed, but for some reason, it didn't translate on the field. He hit .288/.338/.454, but had just 3 steals and struck out nearly 3 times for every walk.
A project player (though already 24 years old) is Michael Taylor. His hitting line was unimpressive (.251/.323/.401), but he knocked 11 out of the park.
Bobby Jackson is not loved by scouts, but put up some impressive numbers. Decent eye at the plate, but poor marks of power and speed, yet he hit .326/.406/.553 with 57 doubles. Are the scouts wrong?
Don't sleep on Adam Piatt, who could develop into a useful player from the 2nd or 3rd round. An .818 OPS with 7 HR is pretty good, so he's worth taking a flyer on.
Here, we'll break down the eligible draftees by position and venture a guess of how the first draft of the league will go.
STARTING PITCHERS
For the Kansas Twisters (#1 overall pick), the choice will likely come down to Stephen Strasburg or Yu Darvish. Based on their Winter League numbers, they can't really lose with either choice.
The 21 year old Strasburg features a plus fastball and slider, with a good curve and developing change. He went 9-2, 2.72 with 11 QS in 17 Winter League starts. Lefties and righties batted .240 against him, and he struck out 122 batters in 115 innings (vs. 25 walks).
Japanese phenom Yu Darvish is 2 years older than Strasburg, but put up better numbers. Yu features a plus fastball and power sinker, while his secondary pitches (curve/slider) are more polished than Strasburg's. Darvish went 10-2, 1.93 with a league-leading 16 QS. A 1.00 WHIP and .217 OpAvg were extremely impressive.
Though the pre-draft focus has been on these two prospects, this is far from a two-pitcher draft. Here's a look at some of the other starters:
Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman has the strongest arm in the WL, but is still trying to harness his control. He threw 100 K's in 105 IP, but walked 45. This 22 year old has a plus fastball, but needs to improve his other pitches before he will succeed in the majors.
22 year old Kyle Drabek lead the WL with 11 wins (vs. 4 losses), and posted a 3.52 ERA. Like Chapman, he averaged over a K/IP, but struggled with walks. He has four good pitches, but the scouts don't see a "plus" pitch yet. He may be a bit of a project, but has a high ceiling.
Drabek's WL teammate Brad Lincoln also enjoyed success this winter, but went about it in different ways. His K's were lower, but he kept the ball in the yard. This 24 year old lefty had strange reverse splits (lefties hit 100 points higher off of him than righties), but he has four good pitches, 3 of which are very strong.
Jay Jackson is a project player who could reap rewards with some patience. His 76:56 BB:K ratio is troubling, but he held batters to a .246 average while allowing just 6 HR in 106 IP.
Dan Hudson flirted with a perfect record this winter, but settled for 8-1, 3.30 mark. He lacks a plus pitch, and his change up is very raw (which contributed to his 1.38 WHIP).
RELIEF PITCHERS
Lefty Craig Kimbrel averaged a K/IP and held batters to a .195 average (and .293 SLG). He'll give you a heart attack before getting the save (19 walks in 34 IP), but he allowed just 2 of 12 inherited runners to score.
In a small sample size (15 1/3 IP), righty Hank Gonzales went 2-1, 1.17 ERA, holding batters to a .115 average and .173 SLG. He has a good slider, but scouts warn that his fastball is decidedly average.
Jennry Mejia lead the WL in saves (15 in 33 appearances), and is the rare relief prospect with four pitches. He has a plus sinker and a good fastball. He gave up too many extra base hits (.480 OpSLG) and had a 1.37 WHIP, but he stranded 16 of 24 inherited runners.
Right hander Tanner Scheppers is a project. On the plus side, he allowed just 1 HR (in 39 IP) and held opponents to a .231 average. On the negative side, he gave up 31 BB's (to 30 K's) and posted a 1.64 WHIP.
The big dice roll among relievers is Moxie Jiminez. Despite the fact that his sinker and slider have been called "awful", "hopeless" and "career killers" by various scouts, this righty posted a 3.32 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP and .234 OpAvg.
CATCHERS
Hank Conger is a rare, switch-hitting backstop. He has a good arm and developing power, but is a defensive liability (13 errors). He hit .300/.378/.430 with 30 doubles.
Another switch-hitter is Dave Holshouser, who scouts call "the most developed hitter among a thin catching class." He was 4th in the league in walks, which lead to a robust .404 OBP.
Left-handed hitter Jason Castro went .322/.390/.479 in a platoon with Jake Ortiz.
FIRST BASEMEN
The prize at this position is Ike Davis, who lead the league in SLG and tied for second in HR. He hit .310/.415/.566 with 15 HR and 50 RBI, all in an inexplicable platoon with Dick Dorgan. Davis walked 41 times while striking out 34.
Logan Morrison doesn't have the measurable physical skills of Davis, but he flourished on a strong offensive squad. 9 HR and a .972 OPS (with no errors) could find him a late first, early second round pick.
23 year old Chris Carter has as much power as Davis, but needs to refine his eye at the plate. He hit 11 HR (to go with 33 doubles), but still strikes out a lot.
Your risk/reward pick at this position is Justin Smoak, a player whose raw skills make scouts drool, but didn't end up with the results at the plate. He hit 8 HR and drew 52 walks (one off the league lead), but hit just .219/.337/.323, hitting just 9 doubles. Bad luck, or bad hitter? Might be the steal of the draft if he develops in someone's minor league system.
SECOND BASEMEN
This position is extremely thin, so Scott Sizemore may be picked higher than he should if a team needs a second baseman. His numbers were decent (.274/.355/.440 with 8 HR), but he's a few years from being MLB ready.
The only other second bagger of note is Kevin Russo, who spent the winter splitting gaps at an alarming rate (50 doubles in 373 AB's). That said, he struck out 72 times and made 7 errors.
THIRD BASEMEN
Mike Moustakas has a lot of raw power, but will take time to catch up to pro-level pitching. He hit 15 HR, but his slow speed resulted in 10 double-plays and just 16 doubles.
Brett Wallace is more or less the same as Moustakas: powerful but slow. His average is better (.293 vs. .263), but he was a few HR behind.
SHORTSTOPS
The infield options get better with a strong SS class. Starlin Castro had surprising power, knocking 10 out of the park and posting a .446 SLG. He had 101 hits and stole 13 bases.
The most major league ready SS is Tracy Pena, a 22 year old righty with great speed and a plus arm. Pena hit .313/.387/.501 with 113 hits and 41 doubles.
John Dietz and Hoyt Williams are similar players who will likely go in the 2nd or 3rd rounds. Dietz had a good hitting line (.291/.367/.443), but his lack of speed (no steals) might push him down to the 3rd round. Williams' line was very similar (.290/.357/.475), but grounded into 14 double plays.
OUTFIELDERS
Jason Heyward will likely be the first hitter taken, possibly in the top 3 picks. The lefty has major league power and lead the WL in HR (17) and RBI (58). His lack of speed hampered his doubles/triples totals, but he walked 53 times and only struck out 57.
The speediest guy in the draft is center fielder Austin Jackson. He lead the league with 17 steals, and plays above average defense at all three OF spots. He'll need to cut down on his K's.
Desmond Jennings is a corner outfielder with plus speed, but for some reason, it didn't translate on the field. He hit .288/.338/.454, but had just 3 steals and struck out nearly 3 times for every walk.
A project player (though already 24 years old) is Michael Taylor. His hitting line was unimpressive (.251/.323/.401), but he knocked 11 out of the park.
Bobby Jackson is not loved by scouts, but put up some impressive numbers. Decent eye at the plate, but poor marks of power and speed, yet he hit .326/.406/.553 with 57 doubles. Are the scouts wrong?
Don't sleep on Adam Piatt, who could develop into a useful player from the 2nd or 3rd round. An .818 OPS with 7 HR is pretty good, so he's worth taking a flyer on.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Around the League - 5/14/10
Away we go....
EAST
- Atlanta finally got it's first taste of divisional play and didn't like it. After beating up the West and World divisions, the Flyers got swept by the Jackals, giving up 21 runs. The good news is that Hanley Ramirez is ready to rejoin the lineup after a brief injury. Atlanta goes on a 6 game road trip this week, visiting Columbus and Miami.
- Jersey City went 3-3 this week, sweeping Atlanta after being swept by Columbus. Cliff Floyd has been on fire, slugging .747 with 9 HR since Aramis Ramirez's injury.
- Columbus has ridden an 8-2 division record to close to 3 games of Atlanta in a highly competitive East. Josh Anderson hit for the cycle this week (the league's second of the season), but had his league leading 19 game hit streak broken. Everyone in the starting lineup not named Alicides Escobar is slugging over .500!
- New York is within a game of .500 despite basically no offense whatsoever. The Knights have just 25 HR through 35 games. The starting pitching is keeping them together right now.
- Miami has lost 7 straight to fall 10 games out of first. It's worth pointing out just how awful reliever Arthur Rhodes has been; he has allowed 30 baserunners in 9 2/3 innings. That's amazing.
WEST
- La Brea screamed back into first place with a 6-1 record. Cristian Guzman has reached base in 14 straight games (with a .507 OBP in that stretch...unreal). Ryan Howard leads the league in multi-HR games, and the rest of the offense (outside of Adam Jones) has been very strong. Eddie Guardado was released this weekend.
- OKC went 4-2 this week, but fell to a game and a half behind the Dire Wolves. Ted Lilly has proven to be an invaluable late round pickup, but second round pick Evan Longoria is slugging (yes, SLUGGING) .358 right now. Unacceptable.
- Kansas has been on a huge power surge, just as the pitching has gone into the crapper. Ichiro has reached base safely in 32 straight games (wow!) and Justin Upton leads the league with 16 HR. Strikeout machine Mark Reynolds (46 K's vs 6 BB's) was benched in favor of newly signed Michael Cuddyer.
- Sioux Falls looks out of it, but don't blame the offense. Adrian Gonzalez has homered in 5 straight games, while Upton and Kendrick join him in the double-digit club. The lowest ERA in the entire pitching staff (aside from Nolasco and Meredith's 4 2/3 combined innings) is Justin Verlander at 5.06.
- Springfield was 3-3, but there doesn't seem to be much to cheer about for Isotope fans. Time for a shake up?
WORLD
- Brisbane clings to first place, but might have a tough time riding out Jason Marquis' injury. Clayton Kershaw got blitzed in his first start (7 walks and only 1 strikeout in 3 2/3 innings).
- Caracas went 4-2 and is now above .500 (and 1/2 game out of first). Jacoby Ellsbury is a dark horse MVP candidate, leading the league in SLG (thanks to 32 of his 52 hits going for extra bases). Johan Santana continues to dominate, but the team is another starting pitcher away from being taken seriously.
- Quebec continues to slide, despite great starting pitching. 8 losses out of the bullpen explains some of it.
- Fremantle went 3-3, but remains 12 under .500. They continue to battle with Springfield and New York for most inept offense. The bullpen's not helping matters.
EAST
- Atlanta finally got it's first taste of divisional play and didn't like it. After beating up the West and World divisions, the Flyers got swept by the Jackals, giving up 21 runs. The good news is that Hanley Ramirez is ready to rejoin the lineup after a brief injury. Atlanta goes on a 6 game road trip this week, visiting Columbus and Miami.
- Jersey City went 3-3 this week, sweeping Atlanta after being swept by Columbus. Cliff Floyd has been on fire, slugging .747 with 9 HR since Aramis Ramirez's injury.
- Columbus has ridden an 8-2 division record to close to 3 games of Atlanta in a highly competitive East. Josh Anderson hit for the cycle this week (the league's second of the season), but had his league leading 19 game hit streak broken. Everyone in the starting lineup not named Alicides Escobar is slugging over .500!
- New York is within a game of .500 despite basically no offense whatsoever. The Knights have just 25 HR through 35 games. The starting pitching is keeping them together right now.
- Miami has lost 7 straight to fall 10 games out of first. It's worth pointing out just how awful reliever Arthur Rhodes has been; he has allowed 30 baserunners in 9 2/3 innings. That's amazing.
WEST
- La Brea screamed back into first place with a 6-1 record. Cristian Guzman has reached base in 14 straight games (with a .507 OBP in that stretch...unreal). Ryan Howard leads the league in multi-HR games, and the rest of the offense (outside of Adam Jones) has been very strong. Eddie Guardado was released this weekend.
- OKC went 4-2 this week, but fell to a game and a half behind the Dire Wolves. Ted Lilly has proven to be an invaluable late round pickup, but second round pick Evan Longoria is slugging (yes, SLUGGING) .358 right now. Unacceptable.
- Kansas has been on a huge power surge, just as the pitching has gone into the crapper. Ichiro has reached base safely in 32 straight games (wow!) and Justin Upton leads the league with 16 HR. Strikeout machine Mark Reynolds (46 K's vs 6 BB's) was benched in favor of newly signed Michael Cuddyer.
- Sioux Falls looks out of it, but don't blame the offense. Adrian Gonzalez has homered in 5 straight games, while Upton and Kendrick join him in the double-digit club. The lowest ERA in the entire pitching staff (aside from Nolasco and Meredith's 4 2/3 combined innings) is Justin Verlander at 5.06.
- Springfield was 3-3, but there doesn't seem to be much to cheer about for Isotope fans. Time for a shake up?
WORLD
- Brisbane clings to first place, but might have a tough time riding out Jason Marquis' injury. Clayton Kershaw got blitzed in his first start (7 walks and only 1 strikeout in 3 2/3 innings).
- Caracas went 4-2 and is now above .500 (and 1/2 game out of first). Jacoby Ellsbury is a dark horse MVP candidate, leading the league in SLG (thanks to 32 of his 52 hits going for extra bases). Johan Santana continues to dominate, but the team is another starting pitcher away from being taken seriously.
- Quebec continues to slide, despite great starting pitching. 8 losses out of the bullpen explains some of it.
- Fremantle went 3-3, but remains 12 under .500. They continue to battle with Springfield and New York for most inept offense. The bullpen's not helping matters.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Around the League - 5/06/10
April is over, so where do we stand?
EAST
- Atlanta and Jersey City cooled off a bit, each going 3-3, but Miami and Columbus went 2-4. Miami plays New York this weekend, while Columbus travels to Jersey City.
- The Flyers' "offense first" draft strategy is paying off so far, as the team leads the league in HR and team SLG. Five players already have 7 or more HR. The pitching, however, is coming back to earth, as the staff posted a 5.11 ERA this week.
- The Jackals scored just 18 runs in their past 6 games. Still, the team has 8 players with 5 or more HR. Aramis Ramirez hit the DL this week, so Kevin Youkilis shifted to third base and Billy Butler slotted in at first. Brad Hawpe has a 13 game hit streak.
- The Capitals have arguably the best pitching rotation 1-5 so far this year. The ERA's range from Pedro Martinez (2.70) to Joba Chamberlain (3.56), and the starters have combined for 20 quality starts.
- Miami lost Brian Roberts for 4-6 weeks with a fractured ankle; a serious blow to the top of the order. Roberts had reached base in every game this year and had a .417 OBP. Dan Haren finally got his first win with a 7 inning, 2 ER, 8 K performance against Columbus.
- New York went 3-3 this week, failing to gain ground on Atlanta. Fans are growing impatient with first round pick Albert Pujols, who has hit a measly .220/.283/.339 so far. Boof Bonser (7.92 ERA) was replaced in the rotation with Dave Bush, who gave up 3 ER in 6 innings to post a win in his first start.
WEST
- Kansas has surged to the top of the division, passing La Brea and OKC with their 6 game win streak. The offense is really gelling, with Ichiro, Upton and Braun tearing it up all week. Chris Carpenter is still getting hammered, but the bullpen is coming together and locking down wins.
- La Brea's 3-3 week sees them fall 1/2 game behind Kansas as they enter a 3 game series with Sioux Falls. Jason Kubel had a big week, hitting 5 HR in 6 games.
- The Bisons are managing to get along fine without much power; OKC is 4th in SLB in runs scored despite being 10th in HR. There are still pitching issues, especially late in ballgames, as Jenks, Anderson and Bell have all been pounded.
- Sioux Falls continues it's fall, going 2-5 this week with a 5.27 team ERA. The young pitching continues to get roughed up, and a few blackholes in the lineup make it hard to overcome.
- Springfield, oh Springfield. Another 2 win week, though there are signs of improvement. Lincecum, Hamels and Greinke all posted quality starts this week. On the other hand, the offense is in the crapper; Martinez, Wright, Zobrist, Ryan and Span combined for 1 HR and 2 RBI this week. OUCH.
WORLD
- Brisbane went 5-1 this week to take a 2.5 game lead in the division. Finally, someone has stepped ahead of the pack! The Koalas lead the league with a 3.00 team ERA, thanks to unlikely pitching from Marquis and Pineiro.
- Caracas stays in 2nd place with a 4-2 mark, but continues to give up a lot of runs. Luckily for the Bolivares, the offense is still kicking tail (outside of Dan Uggla, who really needs a wake up call). A move for another starting pitcher would go a long way here.
- Quebec has lost 7 of 10 and is now 3 under .500. Tim Hudson (0-4, 7.06) has lost his spot in the rotation and has been replaced by Zach Duke. On the bright side, Alfonso Soriano is having an All-Star caliber year.
- Fremantle is back to their losing ways. Outside of Mark Teixeira, this is easily the worst infield in SLB. Matsui (.140), Theriot (.232) and Fox/McGehee (.100/.229) are killing this offense right now. The starting pitching is finally pitching like they're capable, but the bullpen has already accumulated 9 losses.
EAST
- Atlanta and Jersey City cooled off a bit, each going 3-3, but Miami and Columbus went 2-4. Miami plays New York this weekend, while Columbus travels to Jersey City.
- The Flyers' "offense first" draft strategy is paying off so far, as the team leads the league in HR and team SLG. Five players already have 7 or more HR. The pitching, however, is coming back to earth, as the staff posted a 5.11 ERA this week.
- The Jackals scored just 18 runs in their past 6 games. Still, the team has 8 players with 5 or more HR. Aramis Ramirez hit the DL this week, so Kevin Youkilis shifted to third base and Billy Butler slotted in at first. Brad Hawpe has a 13 game hit streak.
- The Capitals have arguably the best pitching rotation 1-5 so far this year. The ERA's range from Pedro Martinez (2.70) to Joba Chamberlain (3.56), and the starters have combined for 20 quality starts.
- Miami lost Brian Roberts for 4-6 weeks with a fractured ankle; a serious blow to the top of the order. Roberts had reached base in every game this year and had a .417 OBP. Dan Haren finally got his first win with a 7 inning, 2 ER, 8 K performance against Columbus.
- New York went 3-3 this week, failing to gain ground on Atlanta. Fans are growing impatient with first round pick Albert Pujols, who has hit a measly .220/.283/.339 so far. Boof Bonser (7.92 ERA) was replaced in the rotation with Dave Bush, who gave up 3 ER in 6 innings to post a win in his first start.
WEST
- Kansas has surged to the top of the division, passing La Brea and OKC with their 6 game win streak. The offense is really gelling, with Ichiro, Upton and Braun tearing it up all week. Chris Carpenter is still getting hammered, but the bullpen is coming together and locking down wins.
- La Brea's 3-3 week sees them fall 1/2 game behind Kansas as they enter a 3 game series with Sioux Falls. Jason Kubel had a big week, hitting 5 HR in 6 games.
- The Bisons are managing to get along fine without much power; OKC is 4th in SLB in runs scored despite being 10th in HR. There are still pitching issues, especially late in ballgames, as Jenks, Anderson and Bell have all been pounded.
- Sioux Falls continues it's fall, going 2-5 this week with a 5.27 team ERA. The young pitching continues to get roughed up, and a few blackholes in the lineup make it hard to overcome.
- Springfield, oh Springfield. Another 2 win week, though there are signs of improvement. Lincecum, Hamels and Greinke all posted quality starts this week. On the other hand, the offense is in the crapper; Martinez, Wright, Zobrist, Ryan and Span combined for 1 HR and 2 RBI this week. OUCH.
WORLD
- Brisbane went 5-1 this week to take a 2.5 game lead in the division. Finally, someone has stepped ahead of the pack! The Koalas lead the league with a 3.00 team ERA, thanks to unlikely pitching from Marquis and Pineiro.
- Caracas stays in 2nd place with a 4-2 mark, but continues to give up a lot of runs. Luckily for the Bolivares, the offense is still kicking tail (outside of Dan Uggla, who really needs a wake up call). A move for another starting pitcher would go a long way here.
- Quebec has lost 7 of 10 and is now 3 under .500. Tim Hudson (0-4, 7.06) has lost his spot in the rotation and has been replaced by Zach Duke. On the bright side, Alfonso Soriano is having an All-Star caliber year.
- Fremantle is back to their losing ways. Outside of Mark Teixeira, this is easily the worst infield in SLB. Matsui (.140), Theriot (.232) and Fox/McGehee (.100/.229) are killing this offense right now. The starting pitching is finally pitching like they're capable, but the bullpen has already accumulated 9 losses.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Players of April, 2010
Congratulations to the Players of April
HITTER - C Joe Mauer (JC) - .392, 7 HR, 22 RBI, 10 BB, 12 K
PITCHER - Hiroki Kuroda (JC) - 3-0, 1.52 ERA, 29 2/3 IP, 23 K, 2 BB, .149 OpAvg
ROOKIE - C A.J. Ellis (QBC) - .306, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 11 K
HITTING PROSPECT - CF Roger Bernadina (CAR) - .374, 6 HR, 14 RBI, 10 BB, 15 K (for AAA FW)
PITCHING PROSPECT - Ernesto Frieri (ATL) - 2-1, 1.54 ERA, 35 IP, 36 K, 9 BB (for AAA CHAR)
HITTER - C Joe Mauer (JC) - .392, 7 HR, 22 RBI, 10 BB, 12 K
PITCHER - Hiroki Kuroda (JC) - 3-0, 1.52 ERA, 29 2/3 IP, 23 K, 2 BB, .149 OpAvg
ROOKIE - C A.J. Ellis (QBC) - .306, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 11 K
HITTING PROSPECT - CF Roger Bernadina (CAR) - .374, 6 HR, 14 RBI, 10 BB, 15 K (for AAA FW)
PITCHING PROSPECT - Ernesto Frieri (ATL) - 2-1, 1.54 ERA, 35 IP, 36 K, 9 BB (for AAA CHAR)
Monday, June 14, 2010
Around the League - 4/30/10
April is wrapping up, and we're starting to see the division take shape.
EAST
- Atlanta won all 5 games this week (and 9 of 10 overall) to stake themselves to a 16-5 record, best in the league. The power keeps coming, and the pitching is there.
- Jersey City went 3-2 this week, but is just 2 games back (and the 2nd best record in the league). Mauer is still batting over .400 and the lineup has a nice power distribution. The Jackals don't play their first division game until May 7.
- Columbus went 5-2 this week, scoring 45 runs while posting a 1.74 team ERA. Josh Anderson (10 game hit streak) is filling in nicely for the injured Brett Gardner, and 7 of the 8 regular hitters batted over .300 for the week.
- Miami is heading south (2-5 record), despite Brian Roberts' 22 game on-base streak (he's reached in every game this season). There have been some good performances, but overall, the team is pretty average thus far.
- New York is the only East team with a losing record, thanks (in part) to another power outage; the Knights were one of two teams (Brisbane) to hit no home runs this week. The pitching staff posted a 2.25 ERA this week, but the result was just a 3-2 record.
WEST
- La Brea and OKC are deadlocked atop a closely contested West Division. Both teams went 4-3 this week with very similar numbers (4.45 vs 4.27 team ERA, 33 vs 31 runs scored).
- The Dire Wolves mixed up the order this week, moving Matt Wieters up in the order. He responded by tying teammate Ryan Howard for the team lead in HR.
- The Bisons are keeping their heads above water despite low power numbers and three pretty bad starting pitchers. How long can it last?
- Kansas had a great week offensively, but went just 3-4 to fall to .500. The top half of the batting order is kicking tail right now, but the bottom half is dragging the team down. The bullpen is keeping the team in games, even when some of the starters aren't.
- Sioux Falls has lost 5 of their last 7 to fall to fourth place in the West. The pitching is too young, maybe? Too inexperienced? They strike out a lot of batters, but the ERA's are pretty ugly.
- Springfield had a (relatively) good week, going 3-4, but still sport the worst record in the league. But hey, Tim Lincecum won a game! The failures of this pitching rotation are really inexplicable, and management (and fans) have to hope that the long season will see the ugly numbers balance themselves out.
WORLD
- Brisbane holds onto first place with a .500 record in what is easily the least dominant division in SLB. The offense forgot to show up this week, as the team went 2-3 despite a 1.65 team ERA. This offense needs some thump.
- Quebec was in a good position to take over first place, but matched Brisbane's 2-3 mark. One bright spot was Jim Thome, who was signed out of retirement to plug the injury plagued first base position, and responded with 3 HR and 8 RBI.
- Caracas is the one World team on an upward swing, posting a 5-2 record for the week thanks to improved pitching and some big power. A-Rod hit his league leading 12th HR, while Ellsbury and Coghlan are raking at the top of the order.
- Fremantle's hitting woes continue as the team went 0-5 on the week. The Cormorants hit a dismal .135 (!!!!) this week, scoring just 10 runs over the 5 game span. That's ugly.
EAST
- Atlanta won all 5 games this week (and 9 of 10 overall) to stake themselves to a 16-5 record, best in the league. The power keeps coming, and the pitching is there.
- Jersey City went 3-2 this week, but is just 2 games back (and the 2nd best record in the league). Mauer is still batting over .400 and the lineup has a nice power distribution. The Jackals don't play their first division game until May 7.
- Columbus went 5-2 this week, scoring 45 runs while posting a 1.74 team ERA. Josh Anderson (10 game hit streak) is filling in nicely for the injured Brett Gardner, and 7 of the 8 regular hitters batted over .300 for the week.
- Miami is heading south (2-5 record), despite Brian Roberts' 22 game on-base streak (he's reached in every game this season). There have been some good performances, but overall, the team is pretty average thus far.
- New York is the only East team with a losing record, thanks (in part) to another power outage; the Knights were one of two teams (Brisbane) to hit no home runs this week. The pitching staff posted a 2.25 ERA this week, but the result was just a 3-2 record.
WEST
- La Brea and OKC are deadlocked atop a closely contested West Division. Both teams went 4-3 this week with very similar numbers (4.45 vs 4.27 team ERA, 33 vs 31 runs scored).
- The Dire Wolves mixed up the order this week, moving Matt Wieters up in the order. He responded by tying teammate Ryan Howard for the team lead in HR.
- The Bisons are keeping their heads above water despite low power numbers and three pretty bad starting pitchers. How long can it last?
- Kansas had a great week offensively, but went just 3-4 to fall to .500. The top half of the batting order is kicking tail right now, but the bottom half is dragging the team down. The bullpen is keeping the team in games, even when some of the starters aren't.
- Sioux Falls has lost 5 of their last 7 to fall to fourth place in the West. The pitching is too young, maybe? Too inexperienced? They strike out a lot of batters, but the ERA's are pretty ugly.
- Springfield had a (relatively) good week, going 3-4, but still sport the worst record in the league. But hey, Tim Lincecum won a game! The failures of this pitching rotation are really inexplicable, and management (and fans) have to hope that the long season will see the ugly numbers balance themselves out.
WORLD
- Brisbane holds onto first place with a .500 record in what is easily the least dominant division in SLB. The offense forgot to show up this week, as the team went 2-3 despite a 1.65 team ERA. This offense needs some thump.
- Quebec was in a good position to take over first place, but matched Brisbane's 2-3 mark. One bright spot was Jim Thome, who was signed out of retirement to plug the injury plagued first base position, and responded with 3 HR and 8 RBI.
- Caracas is the one World team on an upward swing, posting a 5-2 record for the week thanks to improved pitching and some big power. A-Rod hit his league leading 12th HR, while Ellsbury and Coghlan are raking at the top of the order.
- Fremantle's hitting woes continue as the team went 0-5 on the week. The Cormorants hit a dismal .135 (!!!!) this week, scoring just 10 runs over the 5 game span. That's ugly.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Around the League - 4/23/10
We're about 1/10 of the way through the season, so let's see how things are shaping up early.
EAST
- The East Division has the biggest spread of records, with Atlanta and Jersey City locked up for first place. Atlanta, whose draft strategy puzzled GM's around the league (they didn't take their first starting pitcher until Round 23) seems to be working, with #1 overall pick Hanley Ramirez jumping out to a .302/.392/.714 start and Adam Lind providing an unexpected spark.
- The Jackals have won on the strength of their offense, but some shoddy pitching is bound to catch up with them eventually. Joe Mauer looks like a strong MVP candidate early, boasting a robust .415/.500/.815 line with 11 doubles. Team HR leader Magglio Ordonez is on the shelf, but ancient Cliff Floyd is filling in nicely. While James Shields and Hiroko Kuroda are doing well at the top of the rotation, Olsen/Buehrle/Porcello are getting hammered.
- Miami isn't hitting too well as a team, but they've managed to do enough things right to start 9-7. The pitching is doing very well outside of Dan Haren, who has been lit up in his first 3 starts. Nick Blackburn got hurt during his first start, but Kyle Kendrick has posted two quality starts in his wake.
- Columbus sits at .500 thanks to great starting pitching and an under-performing offense. Halladay, Liriano and Martinez have combined for 9 QS, but Brandon Webb has yet to get it going. On offense, Carlos Pena has started to heat up, recently hitting 3 HR in one game. Speedy center fielder Brett Gardner is out with a broken leg, while Utley and Figgins have yet to find their strokes.
- New York failed to hit its first HR until the second week of the season, leading to a string of early low-scoring losses. The offense is starting to come around, though from unlikely sources; Geovany Soto, Ty Wigginton and David Murphy are leading the team while Albert Pujols scuffles. The pitching has been hot and cold, with Cliff Lee (early CY contender) and Derek Lowe being offset by Boof (more like "oof") Bonser.
WEST
- Outside of Springfield, the entire division is with one game of first place. Great competition, or a boatload of mediocrity?
- La Brea has gotten some surprisingly good starting pitching from guys like Towers and Wang, but does it last? Cristian Guzman is an on-base machine, and controversial first round pick Matt Wieters leads the league in walks. The offense looks solid, especially if Adam Jones continues to hit for power.
- The Bisons have benefited from some hot hitting early, as five regulars are above .300. The starting rotation is the definition of "feast or famine", as Lilly/Johnson sport sub 2.00 ERA's while Kazmir/McGowan have posted 7.00+ ERA's. The bullpen is a mess right now and could cost the team down the stretch.
- After sorting out their financial mess during spring training, Kansas ended up with a roster that many thought would be the best in the West. The team has hit a lot of HR's, even from guys who aren't hitting for average (Phillips, Reynolds). Alexei Ramirez is hitting .455....maybe time to get him out of the 8-hole? Chris Carpenter has more K's than IP and a reasonable WHIP, but is 0-3, 9.00 ERA thanks to giving up 8 long balls in just 20 IP. The bullpen has been very good.
- Many believed that Sioux Falls' roster was too young to compete this year, but so far, the young bats have come to play. Erick Aybar (of all people) has had a torrid start, only recently falling out of the league lead in hitting. The pitching has only been "just okay." Verlander, Price and Carmona have yet to pitch to their potential.
- Springfield is off to a woeful 3-11 start, mostly due to inexplicably bad pitching from what, on paper, is the best rotation in the division. Lincecum, Greinke, Santana and Hamels are a combined 2-9, and all have ERA's 5.28 or higher. What gives? Wright, Lee and Morneau are providing power, but you aren't going to win many games when three of your hitters are batting below .200. Already time for a shake up?
WORLD
- Like the West, the league leader here is just above .500. No clearly dominant team so far, but we've seen no divisional games yet. Who will step up in the coming weeks?
- Brisbane holds a slim lead for first place and is the only team in the division with a winning record. Carl Crawford has reached base in every game so far and has an 11 game road hitting streak. Unfortunately, he and Nick Markakis are the only hitters who have done much so far. The rotation has been pretty good, especially Cook and Pineiro, but the bullpen has lost them 3 games already.
- Quebec sits at .500 despite both of their first basemen being knocked out early with injuries. The team is doing well in the power department, but Teahen is hitting poorly and Jose Reyes has yet to take a walk. The Horned Frogs have had the best rotation in the league early on, but the bullpen is getting hammered.
- Fremantle invested a ton of money into their starting rotation (a little over $25M) but a slow start (and little offense) has hurt them early. Sabathia and Lackey are very good, but AJ Burnett has been terrible. The offense is hitting just .230, with Nelson Cruz (.328) hitting 50 points higher than the second best hitter (Theriot). Bay, Teixeira and Rios need to step it up.
- New league, same story with Tom He's Caracas Bolivares. Amazing offense, terrible pitching. A-Rod (league leading 9 HR and 21 RBI) and Prince Fielder (13-game hit streak) are a terror, while Chris Coghlan (.333) is a great table setter. Derek Jeter has yet to leave the yard, but has six stolen bases. Johan and King Felix are off to great starts (though they have just 1 win between them in 6 starts), but Happ/Livan/Lester are getting knocked around. It's early, and there is no clear cut leader in the division, so it's not time to panic (yet).
EAST
- The East Division has the biggest spread of records, with Atlanta and Jersey City locked up for first place. Atlanta, whose draft strategy puzzled GM's around the league (they didn't take their first starting pitcher until Round 23) seems to be working, with #1 overall pick Hanley Ramirez jumping out to a .302/.392/.714 start and Adam Lind providing an unexpected spark.
- The Jackals have won on the strength of their offense, but some shoddy pitching is bound to catch up with them eventually. Joe Mauer looks like a strong MVP candidate early, boasting a robust .415/.500/.815 line with 11 doubles. Team HR leader Magglio Ordonez is on the shelf, but ancient Cliff Floyd is filling in nicely. While James Shields and Hiroko Kuroda are doing well at the top of the rotation, Olsen/Buehrle/Porcello are getting hammered.
- Miami isn't hitting too well as a team, but they've managed to do enough things right to start 9-7. The pitching is doing very well outside of Dan Haren, who has been lit up in his first 3 starts. Nick Blackburn got hurt during his first start, but Kyle Kendrick has posted two quality starts in his wake.
- Columbus sits at .500 thanks to great starting pitching and an under-performing offense. Halladay, Liriano and Martinez have combined for 9 QS, but Brandon Webb has yet to get it going. On offense, Carlos Pena has started to heat up, recently hitting 3 HR in one game. Speedy center fielder Brett Gardner is out with a broken leg, while Utley and Figgins have yet to find their strokes.
- New York failed to hit its first HR until the second week of the season, leading to a string of early low-scoring losses. The offense is starting to come around, though from unlikely sources; Geovany Soto, Ty Wigginton and David Murphy are leading the team while Albert Pujols scuffles. The pitching has been hot and cold, with Cliff Lee (early CY contender) and Derek Lowe being offset by Boof (more like "oof") Bonser.
WEST
- Outside of Springfield, the entire division is with one game of first place. Great competition, or a boatload of mediocrity?
- La Brea has gotten some surprisingly good starting pitching from guys like Towers and Wang, but does it last? Cristian Guzman is an on-base machine, and controversial first round pick Matt Wieters leads the league in walks. The offense looks solid, especially if Adam Jones continues to hit for power.
- The Bisons have benefited from some hot hitting early, as five regulars are above .300. The starting rotation is the definition of "feast or famine", as Lilly/Johnson sport sub 2.00 ERA's while Kazmir/McGowan have posted 7.00+ ERA's. The bullpen is a mess right now and could cost the team down the stretch.
- After sorting out their financial mess during spring training, Kansas ended up with a roster that many thought would be the best in the West. The team has hit a lot of HR's, even from guys who aren't hitting for average (Phillips, Reynolds). Alexei Ramirez is hitting .455....maybe time to get him out of the 8-hole? Chris Carpenter has more K's than IP and a reasonable WHIP, but is 0-3, 9.00 ERA thanks to giving up 8 long balls in just 20 IP. The bullpen has been very good.
- Many believed that Sioux Falls' roster was too young to compete this year, but so far, the young bats have come to play. Erick Aybar (of all people) has had a torrid start, only recently falling out of the league lead in hitting. The pitching has only been "just okay." Verlander, Price and Carmona have yet to pitch to their potential.
- Springfield is off to a woeful 3-11 start, mostly due to inexplicably bad pitching from what, on paper, is the best rotation in the division. Lincecum, Greinke, Santana and Hamels are a combined 2-9, and all have ERA's 5.28 or higher. What gives? Wright, Lee and Morneau are providing power, but you aren't going to win many games when three of your hitters are batting below .200. Already time for a shake up?
WORLD
- Like the West, the league leader here is just above .500. No clearly dominant team so far, but we've seen no divisional games yet. Who will step up in the coming weeks?
- Brisbane holds a slim lead for first place and is the only team in the division with a winning record. Carl Crawford has reached base in every game so far and has an 11 game road hitting streak. Unfortunately, he and Nick Markakis are the only hitters who have done much so far. The rotation has been pretty good, especially Cook and Pineiro, but the bullpen has lost them 3 games already.
- Quebec sits at .500 despite both of their first basemen being knocked out early with injuries. The team is doing well in the power department, but Teahen is hitting poorly and Jose Reyes has yet to take a walk. The Horned Frogs have had the best rotation in the league early on, but the bullpen is getting hammered.
- Fremantle invested a ton of money into their starting rotation (a little over $25M) but a slow start (and little offense) has hurt them early. Sabathia and Lackey are very good, but AJ Burnett has been terrible. The offense is hitting just .230, with Nelson Cruz (.328) hitting 50 points higher than the second best hitter (Theriot). Bay, Teixeira and Rios need to step it up.
- New league, same story with Tom He's Caracas Bolivares. Amazing offense, terrible pitching. A-Rod (league leading 9 HR and 21 RBI) and Prince Fielder (13-game hit streak) are a terror, while Chris Coghlan (.333) is a great table setter. Derek Jeter has yet to leave the yard, but has six stolen bases. Johan and King Felix are off to great starts (though they have just 1 win between them in 6 starts), but Happ/Livan/Lester are getting knocked around. It's early, and there is no clear cut leader in the division, so it's not time to panic (yet).
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