Texas Rangers vs. TB Rays

Starting pitching: Lee versus Price is the marquee matchup. Lee has struggled late in the season, but last year he knew when to turn it on with the Philadelphia Phillies, so it will not surprise me if he dominates again this postseason. The rest of the matchups are interesting. Rays manager Joe Maddon is going with James Shields in Game 2 versus CJ Wilson. Maddon is hoping “Big Game” James can turn his season around. Wilson has been the Rangers most consistent starter and his bulldog mentality should work well in the postseason. When the series moves to Texas, the Rangers will throw Colby Lewis and Tommy Hunter in Games 3 and 4 while the Rays go with Matt Garza and rookie Wade Davis.

Bullpens: Both the Rangers and Rays have two of the best bullpens in the game. The series may come down to whose bullpen is better. The Rangers have the young fireballers while the Rays have the wily veterans. The edge would probably go to the Rays as they have the veteran presence that has been to the World Series (Dan Wheeler, Chad Qualls, and Grant Balfour). Plus their bullpen turned around with the offseason acquisition of Rafael Soriano. Rangers rookie closer Neftali Feliz has been great, but the playoffs are uncharted waters for him.

Evan Longoria

Starting lineups: For the Rays, catcher John Jaso has led off for most of the season once he claimed the starting job. However he has struggled as of late and with the Rangers throwing left-handers in the first two games, it will be interesting if Maddon goes with Kelly Shoppach in those games (and his .196 average). Carlos Pena may be playing in his final games with the Rays and they could use his power, which has the ability to quickly change a game. His .196 batting average is scary for someone in the middle of the order and if he does not hit, Evan Longoria will not see many good pitches to hit. Longoria is the Rays big question mark in their lineup. He did not play the final week of the season and their offense sputtered without him. The Rays have many key players having down offensive seasons (BJ Upton, Pena, and Jason Bartlett) and with Shoppach and DH Dan Johnson in the lineup (though Johnson provides instant power like Pena), they could be in trouble if they do not hit. Speed is a key part of the Rays game and expect Carl Crawford, Upton, and Ben Zobrist to run when they reach base.
For the Rangers, Bengie Molina will catch Lee, while Matt Treanor will catch Wilson. The veteran duo is out there for their game-calling and defensive abilities but can just as easily spark the offense at the bottom of the order. The Rangers will most likely continue to platoon Mitch Moreland and midseason acquisition Jorge Cantu. The middle of the Rangers order is the key with Michael Young, Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, and Vladimir Guerrero. Hamilton is the key as he missed most of the last month of the season and their offense sputtered without him. Speed is also important for the Rangers with Elvis Andrus at the top of the order, but power in the middle is the key to their success.

Josh Hamilton

Bench: The Rays bench is very versatile. Reid Brignac and Sean Rodriguez have been clutch for the Rays all season and can play multiple positions in the infield and the outfield (in Rodriguez’ case). Willy Aybar, a switch-hitter, provides a potent bat that could also DH. It will be interesting to see if Maddon carries Rocco Baldelli, a key right-handed bat that could DH the first two games of the series against the left-handed Rangers starting pitching.

The Rangers bench will include versatile infielder Andres Blanco and speedster Julio Borbon. David Murphy will most likely come off the bench in Game 1 with Jeff Francoeur getting the start in right field against David Price.

*This could be the most exciting series as both teams match up well against each other. The games could be pitcher’s duels or slugfests. Look for these games to possibly go to the final at-bats and for the series to last five games.

Minnesota Twins vs. NY Yankees

Matt Capps

Starting pitching: The Twins will throw Francisco Liriano, Carl Pavano, and Brian Duensing in the first three games (with Nick Blackburn most likely getting the Game 4 start), while the Yankees will counter with CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte, and Phil Hughes. Both sides have question marks. At the end of the season, the starting pitching was not good for either team. Duensing has been the most consistent for the Twins, but he will be pitching at Yankee Stadium. After Sabathia, the Yankees have major issues. Pettitte was not strong after his return from the DL. Hughes has been on an innings-limit for most of the second half, so no one is sure what to expect from him. AJ Burnett made the roster and I would assume he would pitch Game 4, though as much as he has struggled this season, it is kind of a shock (I guess that’s why the extra long-man in the bullpen).

Bullpen: Many thought the Twins were in trouble when closer Joe Nathan succumbed to Tommy John surgery in spring training. Instead, the bullpen has been their strength. Jon Rauch stepped up into the role before management acquired closers Matt Capps from the right side and Brian Fuentes from the left side, though both have imploded at times in the past. This will be Capps’ first crack at the postseason after being on perennial losing teams (the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Nationals). Rauch has been hindered by a knee injury as of late. They also have power arms in middle relief in Matt Guerrier, Jesse Crain, and Jose Mijares (a left-hander).

The Yankees bullpen has sputtered as of late, including closer Mariano Rivera. Mid-season acquisition Kerry Wood has been the best as he has only allowed two runs since joining the Yankees. The Yankees have power arms in David Robertson and Joba Chamberlain helping to set up Rivera, but both have been inconsistent. Boone Logan has been the only left-handed reliever for most of the season and manager Joe Girardi decided to only carry one left-handed reliever. Dustin Moseley and Sergio Mitre round out the bullpen (interesting to see them carry two long relievers).

Starting lineups: The Twins lineup did not skip a beat when they lost first baseman Justin Morneau for the season. Catcher Joe Mauer has been bothered by knee injury and injuries have also plagued shortstop JJ Hardy and DH Jim Thome. However when healthy, all three can be key contributors. The Twins have relied on outfielder Delmon Young and Jason Kubel, fill-in first baseman Michael Cuddyer, and rookie third baseman Danny Valencia. Denard Span provides speed at the top of the order and he should have the green light against the Yankees, which gives manager Ron Gardenhire the chance to hit-and-run with the prototypical two-hitter Orlando Hudson.

Curtis Granderson

The Yankees have had their own injury problems with outfielders Brett Gardner and Nick Swisher, first baseman Mark Teixeira, and catcher Jorge Posada. Derek Jeter has had a subpar season. Can Alex Rodriguez carry over his dominant 2009 postseason into 2010? Centerfielder Curtis Granderson has looked more comfortable at the plate and could be key at the top or bottom of the Yankees order.

Bench: It will be interesting to see if the Twins carry three catchers with Mauer’s knee injury. Drew Butera has had clutch moments for the Twins but is just a rookie. Alexi Casilla gives the Twins versatility in the infield. Veteran Nick Punto also provides a solid presence. Thome’s injury could also cause the Twins to carry extra bench players.

The Yankees most likely will continue to platoon their DH between Marcus Thames and Lance Berkman, with Thames providing a power bat. Francisco Cervelli has been a very serviceable backup to Posada and the pitchers love having him behind the plate. Girardi decided to carry Ramiro Pena as the only backup infielder and choose a veteran backup outfielder (Austin Kearns) and a speed/defensive outfielder (Greg Golson) with the injuries to Gardner and Swisher.

*The Twins have always struggled in the postseason, but this could be the year they break through the Yankees. Staring the series at Target Field is also an advantage. The Yankees are not as dominant coming into the postseason as they were last year and this series could go either way. I give the Twins the edge if their bullpen can continue to shine.

Cliff Lee with the Rangers

Last year, the NY Yankees rode a three-man rotation in the playoffs to a World Series title. With the playoffs less than two months away, which teams in the American League have the best three starting pitchers to make it out of the short playoff series? Let’s take a look at the AL teams fighting for playoff spots:

Texas Rangers: Cliff Lee (lhp), CJ Wilson (lhp), and Tommy Hunter (rhp). When the Rangers beat out the Yankees in the bidding for Lee, the Rangers became that much better by adding a legitimate ace. Lee could end the season with more wins than walks (right now he has 10 wins and just 9 walks). Lee proved his dominance over the Yankees (and everyone else) last year in the World Series (and playoffs) for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Wilson had quietly emerged as the Rangers ace before the acquisition of Lee after spending last season as the team’s closer. Wilson always seemed to be slotted against the opposition’s aces and was coming up a winner in the first half (despite not making the All-Star team). Opponents are hitting just .216 against him. Wilson has struggled a bit as of late with the walks, but that may be attributed to the innings he is racking up. Hunter has dominated since coming off the DL in June to a tune of a 9-1 record and a 3.01 ERA. Hunter could prove to be the dominant right-hander slotted between lefties Lee and Wilson, especially since he is more rested after missing the first two months.

CC Sabathia with NY

NY Yankees: CC Sabathia (lhp), AJ Burnett (rhp), and Andy Pettitte (lhp) or Phil Hughes (rhp). This three-man rotation (with Pettitte) dominated in the playoffs in 2009 but this year’s group has not been as dominating. Pettitte is on the DL and Burnett has been inconsistent. Burnett has struggled against playoff contenders and with his control. Hughes could step in if Pettitte (or Burnett) are not ready, though the Yankees are trying to limit his innings. Pettitte is almost unbeatable in the postseason (a matchup with Cliff Lee would be entertaining). Sabathia has not lost at home and has been good against playoff contenders.

John Danks

Chicago White Sox: Mark Buehrle (lhp), John Danks (lhp), and Gavin Floyd (rhp). Floyd won Pitcher of the Month for July as he has been the AL’s best pitcher so far in the second half (after an abysmal first two months). He has given up just two homeruns once the calendar turned to June and has walked just nine batters after the All-Star break. Danks has also been dominant since the All-Star break, going 4-1 with a 2.91 ERA. Will the amount of innings that Danks and Floyd have thrown hurt them in the postseason? Buehrle has been inconsistent but is the ace. He has also struggled against the Rangers, Yankees, and Rays.

Minnesota Twins: Carl Pavano (rhp), Francisco Liriano (lhp), and Scott Baker (rhp). I think the Twins rotation will be what keeps them out of the playoffs come October. When you name Carl Pavano as your most consistent and reliable starter, that’s trouble (no matter how many times he beats the Yankees). Pavano has earned 14 victories with an ERA under 3.30 and has been more dominant so far in the second half. Liriano has been dominant at times, though some of the struggles have come against the division and on the road. He does keep the ball in the ballpark (he has allowed just two homeruns in 2010). Baker has also struggled on the road and has not been the dominant pitcher he was in 2009. Nick Blackburn has been banished to the minors and maybe he can regain his form there. Brian Duensing has been a pleasant surprise since moving from the bullpen to the rotation.

Tampa Bay Rays: David Price (lhp), Matt Garza (rhp), and James Shields or Jeff Niemann (rhp). Price could be headed towards a CY Young award in his second season in the majors and has quickly become the dominant force in the Rays young rotation. Garza has been inconsistent though he has recently pitched a no-hitter and thrown better in the second half. Shields’ season has been disastrous though he has pitched well against the Yankees. Niemann could get the nod in a short series, especially if his shoulder heals after his stint on the DL.

Boston Red Sox: Josh Beckett (rhp), Jon Lester (lhp), and Clay Buchholz (rhp). The Red Sox have been hit by the injury bug time-and-time again. Lester and Buchholz have anchored the rotation. Beckett has been solid since coming off the DL and should be fresh for the postseason (plus he pitches his best then). Lester and Buchholz may be Price and Lee’s biggest competition for the CY Young award. Lester started off terrible in April but has recovered to a 12-7 record and a 2.94 ERA. He also has pitched well against playoff-contending teams. Buchholz currently leads the AL in ERA (2.49) and has been dominant so far in August (2-0 with a 1.54 ERA in three starts).

The Angels have faced adversity all season long with the death of rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart and all of the injuries to its pitching staff, so facing the Red Sox is nothing different. The Red Sox have five players with 20+ homeruns (Jason Bay, David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis, JD Drew, and Victor Martinez), “Big Papi” is staging a comeback (.258, 16 HR, 52 RBI after the All-Star break), and the Red Sox hitters are extremely patient.

They also have Jacoby Ellsbury at the top of the order who reeks havoc whenever he’s on the bases (70 SB). The Angels were second in the AL in runs scored, have their own speedster at the top of the order (Chone Figgins and his 42 stolen bases), and are just as patient 1-9 as the Red Sox. Their patience comes from offseason acquisition Bobby Abreu, one of the most patient hitters in the game and the team’s MVP.

The game-changing matchup of the series could be Los Angeles Dodgers lefty closer Brian Fuentes versus Red Sox lefty DH David Ortiz. Fuentes pitched in 19 innings against lefties, only giving up 2 runs on 17 hits. Fuentes isn’t intimidating as a closer and this matchup could make or break the series for the Angels. Ortiz is only hitting .212 against lefties this season with just 6 HR.

Game 1: John Lackey vs. Jon Lester
Game 2: Jered Weaver vs. Josh Beckett
Game 3: Scott Kazmir @ Clay Buchholz
Game 4: Joe Saunders @ Daisuke Matsuzaka

Angels Strengths:

*The offense 1-9: At one point late in the season, manager Mike Scioscia’s lineup boasted nine hitters all hitting .300 or better. Yes, some of those hitters have dropped below .300, but you can see why the Angels were second in the AL in runs scored (8 everyday hitters were hitting .290 or better at the end of the season). It starts at the top with the speed of Figgins and continues on through to the speed of Erick Aybar in the 9-hole. In between are patient hitters (except for the free-swinging Vladimir Guerrero) who can all drive the ball and produce run-scoring hits.

*Speed: Like I mentioned, the Angels have speed both in the leadoff spot and in the 9th spot with both Figgins and Aybar. Maicer Izturis, who normally bats in the 7th spot, can also run. The unexpected speed comes from veterans Bobby Abreu (30 SB) and Torii Hunter (18 SB). Since the Red Sox have such a hard time holding runners on and throwing attempting stealers out, the Angels could be off to the races.

*The rotation: Early in the season, the rotation was a big question mark. However, as the season has progressed, it has become a strong point. With the acquisition of Scott Kazmir from the Tampa Bay Rays and the healthy returns of John Lackey and Joe Saunders, they have bolstered around the already dominating Jered Weaver. Scioscia will be expecting a lot of innings out of these four workhorses.

*An “Angel” in heaven: In 2002, the Angels had the Rally Monkey. This year, they have the memory of Nick Adenhart. Many would say that what this team has overcome at the start of the season, they would be destined to win it all for Nick.

Angels Weaknesses:

*The bullpen: Closer Brian Fuentes ended the season with 48 saves, but with a record of 1-5 and an ERA of 3.93, he is hardly dominating. Fuentes pitched very well down the stretch, expect for a loss at Boston on 9/16. Jose Arredondo has not been able to duplicate his 2008 season (and may not make the playoff roster), thus the Angels have relied on Kevin Jepsen to set-up. Veteran Darren Oliver has been the steadying force in the Angels bullpen posting a 5-1 record with a 2.74 ERA. He also led the Angels bullpen in innings (69). The bullpen will have to be successful early, so as to not put all the pressure on the starters.

*Postseason failures against the Red Sox: 3 out of the past 5 divisional series the Angels have played the Red Sox. In 2004 and 2007, the Angels were swept by the Red Sox. Last year, the Angels lost in 4 games. The Angels will have to overcome all the past demons to make it past the Red Sox and into the championship series.

Key Players:

*Maicer Izturis and Erick Aybar: Izturis and Aybar are probably the most underrated double-play combination in the big leagues. Both are quick, athletic, have strong arms, and are switch-hitters. Izturis has become more than just a sure defender at second base; his career average with runners in scoring position heading into the last weekend series was .327. Aybar got hot at the end of the season, raising his average to .312, while having a .328 average after the All-Star break. In the late innings, Aybar is hitting well over .300.

Red Sox Strengths:

*Big Papi: Last postseason, Big Papi disappointed and carried that into the 2009 season. However, he has been huge for the Boston Red Sox since the weather started to heat up in June. Big Papi has the ability to change a game with one swing of the bat and no matter how much he is struggling; he is the one guy no one wants to get beaten by.

*Beckett’s playoff experience: Josh Beckett was the World Series MVP in 2003 while carrying the Florida Marlins to an unexpected World Series title over the Yankees. He was also the ALCS MVP in 2007, leading the Red Sox into the World Series. The Red Sox need Beckett to pitch better than he has of late and be the playoff competitor he has been in the past.

*The offense: The Red Sox offense rivals the Yankees and Phillies in that 1-9 can hit the ball out of the ballpark (1-8 for the Phillies). The Red Sox bolstered their lineup by adding catcher Victor Martinez at the trading deadline. He provides yet another run-producing threat to a middle of the order that includes, Big Papi, Youkilis, Lowell, Bay, and Drew. The Red Sox were 3rd in the AL in runs scored and homeruns, and 4th in batting average.

*The rotation: Until the end of the season, the rotation was a major strength. Jon Lester was dominant, as was Beckett, and Buchholz was pitching the way many had predicted. Matsuzaka came back and pitched excellent. However, Beckett missed a start with back spasms and Buchholz imploded in his final 2 starts. If the top three can pitch the way they had when they were dominating, this series could be pitchers’ duels.

Red Sox Weaknesses:

*Throwing out runners: This has been a problem for the Red Sox in the past and has only gotten worse this season. Captain Jason Varitek only threw out around 8% of base stealers, while new addition Martinez only threw out around 11% after joining the Red Sox. You can’t blame it all on the catchers if the pitchers aren’t doing their job of holding runners on, but if they want to beat the Angels, they’ll all have to do a better job. During the regular season, the Angels were successful in 15 of 17 stolen base attempts.

*Getting the ball to Papelbon: Closer Jonathon Papelbon is one of the best closers in the game, but this isn’t the Red Sox teams of the past where they had a consistent stream of relievers who were reliable about getting the lead to Papelbon. Manager Terry Francona has been handing the ball over to rookie reliever Daniel Bard. Billy Wagner has been good since coming over in a waiver claim from the Mets, but the rest have been inconsistent (Ramon Ramirez, Hideki Okajima, and Takashi Saito). Paul Byrd will be the long-man out of the bullpen and his numbers have been up and down since coming out of retirement.

*Back of the rotation: Tim Wakefield is out due to his lingering back and leg problems. Paul Byrd will be coming out of the bullpen. That leaves Dice-K as the 4th starter. During the first-half of the season, Dice-K was awful. Since coming back from the DL, he has been great, giving up 3 runs in a start just once. It has been a tale of two seasons. However, he only made 4 starts at the end of the year after being out since the middle of June.

Key Players:

*Daniel Bard: The Red Sox have had problems getting the lead to closer Jonathon Papelbon. Since manager Terry Francona has trusted Bard with the 8th inning, things have gone smoother. The hard-throwing rookie can regularly touch 100 mph and could become a household name this postseason. However, his wildness will determine how long Francona will leave him in before going to Papelbon for more than 3 outs. Down the stretch, Bard has struggled, giving up 4 runs in just 6.2 innings with 4 walks and 6 Ks. Francona will rely on the 6’4 righty from the University of North Carolina with the game on the line.

*Rocco Baldelli: (if he’s healthy and on the roster) Baldelli has been playing most of the season against left-handed pitching. With lefties Kazmir (his former teammate) and Saunders scheduled to pitch games 3 and 4, Baldelli could have a huge impact. Baldelli hit .290 against lefties, with 4 HR and 15 RBI.

These are the three frontrunners:Elvis Andrus of the Texas Rangers is the everyday shortstop, forcing the move of All-Star Michael Young to third base. His offensive numbers are not eye-popping, though consistent, and his defense has been outstanding at times and mediocre at others (hence the 22 errors). However, his speed (32 stolen bases) and footwork allow him to get to balls other shortstops cannot. Andrus plays one of the most demanding positions in baseball, on a team that was competing for a playoff spot into the month of September. As the opening day starter, Andrus has played in over 140 games for the Rangers.141 G/159 .266 avg 6 HR 35 RBI 38 BB/ 75 K .327 OBP 32SB

Rick Porcello is a 20-year old phenom pitcher for the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers. Porcello won over manager Jim Leyland in spring training to earn a spot in the rotation, despite spending 2008 in High-A (his first full professional season).

Porcello has worked to stay consistent and has become one of the Tigers top three starters (behind Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson). Porcello garnered the Rookie of the Month award in May.
153.2 IP 14-9 4.04 ERA 81 K/50 BB .270 avg 22 HR allowed

The Tampa Bay Rays have a legitimate ROY starter, though it’s not the one you might expect. Jeff Niemann, not David Price, has become a consistent workhorse for the Rays. Niemann, a 2004-draft pick out of Rice, has pitched 2 complete game shutouts with an ERA under 4.
175.2 IP 12-6 3.94 ERA 120 K/58 BB .265 avg 17 HR allowed

The rest of the field:The Toronto Blue Jays have relied on Roy Halladay and a laundry list of rookie starting pitchers. One of those rookie pitchers, Ricky Romero, has exceeded all expectations. A first-round pick in 2005 out of Cal State Fullerton, Romero was considered a bust before putting it all together in Triple-A in 2008 and this season. The lefty can pile up strikeouts, though he tends to walk to many.171.1 IP 13-9 4.26 ERA 133 K/76 BB .288 avg 17 HR allowed

Last year, Gordon Beckham, was a power-hitting shortstop playing in the College World Series final for runner-up Georgia. This year, Beckham has moved to third base and is showing manager Ozzie Guillen and the fans in Chicago why he belongs. Despite his 14 errors at third, and struggling at the onset of his promotion, Beckham has become a key cog in the White Sox lineup. Beckham garnered the Rookie of the Month award in July.100 G/159 .272 avg 14 HR 63 RBI 40 BB/62 K

The only Oakland A’s All-Star this year was rookie closer Andrew Bailey. Even though President Obama knew of him, many in the country do not. Bailey has taken over nicely for traded closer Huston Street and is an unexpected candidate for the award. His numbers do not lie:81.1 IP 6-3 1.81 ERA 26 SV 89 K/24 BB .190 avg

At midseason, the struggling Baltimore Orioles had two legitimate candidates for ROY until injuries ended their seasons. Starter Brad Bergesen was an unexpected call-up when injuries to the starting rotation forced a call-up and the O’s didn’t want to rush one of their prized arms. Bergesen pitched stellar, a bright spot to a rather dismal pitching staff. Before taking a line drive off of his left shin on 7/30 and thus ending his season, Bergesen’s ERA was 3.43, very respectable in the AL, and even more amazing for a rookie.123.1 IP(1 CG) 7-5 3.43 ERA 65 K/32 BB .265 avg 11 HR allowed

Leftfielder  Nolan Reimold quietly put together a great season in Baltimore, solidifying a young outfield and giving O’s fans something to be excited about. Reimold, playing most of the season with a partial tear to his Achilles tendon, was overshadowed by fellow rookie Matt Wieters and the ascension of the prized pitchers. “I’m just saying if you observe the way the kid plays, all of you would marvel that he runs the ball out all the time or he plays hard all the time. My contention is that he does it in spite of the fact that the guy hasn’t been 100 percent all year. I think that says a lot about him,” said O’s manager Dave Trembley.

Reimold garnered the Rookie of the Month award in June for his solid offensive numbers and solid defense (7 outfield assists). With the O’s out of contention, Reimold was shut down on 9/18 to have surgery and be ready for his sophomore season. Both Bergesen and Reimold both had t-shirt giveaways at Camden Yards this season. “I would say Reimold as a position player and Bergesen [were the biggest surprises],” said Trembley. “Both guys didn’t make the team out of Spring Training. Both guys had never played above Double-A. And both guys put up very good numbers.”
104 G/159 .279 avg 15 HR 45 RBI 47 BB/77 K

*stats as of 10/1 from MLB.com

Joe Mauer

The American League MVP race is a hot debate, with most not agreeing and another person bringing up another viable option. The MVP should be the best player in the league, regardless of whether or not the team is in the playoffs. But most believe the MVP should be on a winning team because it means that player is THAT good to carry his team.

Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins leads the majors in hitting. As a catcher, Mauer plays the most demanding position in the game, yet he still puts up huge offensive numbers year in and year out. The Twins are fighting for a playoff spot, and with the loss of slugger Justin Morneau, there is more pressure on Mauer to perform offensively. Mauer is also battling for his second consecutive batting title. The only knock on Mauer is that he missed the first month of the season recovering from injury.

The New York Yankees have two MVP candidates: Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira. The captain of the Yankees, Jeter is yet again putting up solid offensive numbers while batting leadoff. Just when the talking heads stated that Jeter was too slow and old to continue playing shortstop, he has been more than up to the challenge. Some say that when Mark Teixeira got hot, so did the Yankees. Teixeira is closing in on 40 homers and over 120 RBIs, while continuing his great defense at first. Teixeira seemed to be fighting the pressure early on of playing in NY and for the Yankees, but seemed to settle in once the calendar turned to May and Alex Rodriguez returned to the lineup. Despite being a perennial slow starter, Teixeira has his average around .290. The knock on both Jeter and Teixeira is how can two players from the same team compete for the MVP when they may not be the best player on their team? They will probably pull votes away from each other, opening the door for another candidate.

Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers has helped the Tigers stay in 1^st place in the Central for most of the season. Cabrera has been the lone bright spot in the offensive lineup for the Tigers. Yes, the Tigers are in 1^st place, but the offense has been inconsistent and disappointing, except for Cabrera. Cabrera has 100 RBIs in his 6^th straight season. Cabrera epitomizes the MVP, offensively he has carried his team and hopefully into the postseason.

Ichiro is the heart and soul for the Seattle Mariners. He has amassed 200+ hits for 9 straight seasons, his first 9 seasons in professional baseball in the US. Ichiro runs well and also plays a great right field. A prototypical leadoff hitter that doesn’t show much power during games, Ichiro hit his first career walk-off HR off of Mariano Rivera on 9/18. That was one day after winning the game in the 14^th inning with a walk-off single against the Chicago White Sox.

The sleeper of the MVP race is the LA Angels Bobby Abreu, who may have been the best off season free agent signing. Abreu has helped the Angels’ hitters have a more patient approach at the plate, which has led to almost every hitter hitting around .300. As of late, Abreu has been struggling at the plate, though his overall numbers are still good. He can also run, as his 29 stolen bases can attest. Abreu has also reached 100 RBIs in 7 straight seasons.

Who should win: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers

152 G/155       .329     32 HR 100 RBI

32 doubles       63 BB/ 105 K

Who will win: Mark Teixeira, NY Yankees

151 G/157       .294     38 HR   120RBI

43 doubles       79 BB/ 112K

OR

Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins

130 G/155       .371     28 HR   92 RBI

28 doubles       67 BB/ 60 K

Sleepers: Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners

140 G/ 156      .351     11 HR   46 RBI

31 doubles       31 BB/ 68 K      26 SB

Derek Jeter, NY Yankees

149 G/ 157      .333     17 HR   65 RBI

27 doubles       70 BB/ 89 K      30 SB

Bobby Abreu, LA Angels

148 G/ 156      .295     14 HR   101 RBI

29 doubles       94 BB/ 111 K    29 SB

*Stats as of 9/29 from MLB.com

Major League Baseball’s best division, The AL East, continues its mastery of the National League and paved the way to the American League’s 10 wins Wednesday night. It was “Happy Days are Here Again” for the AL and especially for the American League East with four of the division’s five teams registering decisive wins before the big crowds that follow the division wherever they travel.

Red Sox 3, Nationals 2

Nationals Park has 41, 530 fans there but the majority were rooting for the league leading Red Sox (44-27) as the visitors rode a three run home run by David Ortiz and a 2 run shot by Jason Varitek to outscore Washington 6-4.

John Lester recorded the win and Jonathon Papelbon recorded his 17th save.

Ortiz flagged a 2 out changeup with 2 on in the fourth to ignite the Red Sox offense. The Bosox now lead the AL East by 5 games.


Yankees 4, Braves 2

The Yankees (39-32) ended a string of 14 scoreless innings after Manager Joe Girardi was tossed from the game when rookie catcher Francesco Cervelli hit his first major league homerun in the sixth inning. The slumping A Rod (.210) finally got a clutch hit, smashing an 0-2 pitch from Kris Medlen (2-3) in to right center and plating 2 runs.

Jaba Chamberlain pitch 6.1 strong innings, striking out 5 and walking nine in recording his 4th win (402). All Star reliever Mariano Rivera notched his 16 save to seal the win. In a rare appearance at the plate, Rivera lined out in the 9th.

Blue Jays 8, Reds 2

Toronto (40-33) took the mystery out of this early as Aaron Hill, Adam Lind and Vernon Wells all homered in the first inning off shell-shocked Bronson Arroyo. It was Toronto’s third straight win.

Scott Richmond recorded his 6th win for the homestanding Jays.

Rays 7 – Phillies 1

In another faceoff between last year’s league winners, the homestanding Rays (38-35) chalked up a 5-run 8th inning to boost Matt Garza (5-5) past the Champion Phillies.

Ex-Phillie slugger Pat Burrell got Tampa started with a 2 run shot in the second and Quniton McCracken extend his 18 game hitting streak with an RBI single in the 8th.

Marlins 5, Orioles 2

On a hot night in Miami, Ricky Nolasco continued to show winning form after two weeks in the minors with his 4th consecutive strong outing. The Marlins have now won four straight and have handed the Orioles (32-39) their second loss following a five game winning streak.

Nolasco only surrendered tow unearned runs. Dan Meyer notched his first save in relief. Cody Ross had three hits for Miami.

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