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).

Tags:

Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, NY Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers

The NY Yankees decided to skip Javier Vazquez in the rotation again and went with Sergio Mitre to make the spot start. Mitre allowed just one run (on a homerun by Justin Morneau) in 5+ innings. He allowed just four hits and struck out three.

For the Minnesota Twins, Nick Blackburn pitched seven innings and allowed three runs on nine hits. It looked as though Blackburn would suffer the hard-luck loss, but the Twins offense came alive against the Yankee bullpen.

Joba Chamberlain left with the bases loaded and two outs for closer Mariano Rivera. Rivera had not given up a bases loaded walk since 2007 until the eighth inning on Sunday when he walked Jim Thome.

Jason Kubel grand slam

Two pitches later, Jason Kubel crushed a grand slam (the first Mo’s given up since 2002) to give the Twins a 6-3 lead. With the 6-3 lead, the Twins turned to closer Jon Rauch for the save.

However after back-to-back hits to the bottom two in the lineup (Randy Winn and Ramiro Pena), the Yankee Stadium crowd came to life. So did Rauch, as he struck out the side (Derek Jeter, Brett Gardner, and Mark Teixeira) to end the game and end their 12-game losing streak in NY.

Bronson Arroyo of the Cincinnati Reds pitched a complete game on Sunday as the Reds took over first place in the National League Central by beating the visiting St. Louis Cardinals 7-2.

Arroyo allowed two runs on seven hits and also contributed a two-run single in the Reds three-run fifth inning. The Reds collected 13 hits in the victory as Scott Rolen collected two hits, including a two-run homerun in the first inning.

In Baltimore, the Cleveland Indians took the three-game series with a 5-1 victory over the Orioles. Indians starter Jake Westbrook held the Orioles to one run (a homerun by Luke Scott in the eighth inning) on nine hits while striking out eight.

The Indians offense provided Westbrook with two homeruns by Matt LaPorta and Russell Branyan and each hitter collected at least one hit while Lou Marson and Mark Grudzielanek had two hits.

After being battered by the Arizona Diamondbacks offense on Saturday night, the Atlanta Braves returned the favor against Dbacks ace Dan Haren. It all started with Marin Prado’s leadoff homerun.

They hit four homeruns on the day, two by Prado and one each by Eric Hinske and Troy Glaus. Haren allowed seven runs (six earned) on eight hits in 4.1 innings. Prado collected four hits and Glaus delivered three hits. Braves starter Tim Hudson scattered three hits over eight innings while striking out six and he also collected two hits.

The Detroit Tigers made a flurry of roster moves heading into their finale against the Boston Red Sox. Gone to the minors were starter Max Scherzer and rookie second baseman Scott Sizemore. Arriving were starter Armando Galarraga and rookie infielder Danny Worth.

Both would start on Sunday. Galarraga allowed just one run in 5.2 innings. The Tigers offense got to Red Sox starter John Lackey as he allowed five runs on nine hits in seven innings while also walking four. Magglio Ordonez continued his hot hitting as he collected two hits and Worth collected his first Major League hit (an infield single) and RBI in his first at-bat.

Jeff Francis

Former Colorado Rockies ace Jeff Francis returned to the mound for the Rockies on Sunday against the Washington Nationals. It was a pitcher’s duel between Francis and Scott Olsen.

A Brad Hawpe sacrifice fly off Nationals everyday reliever Tyler Clippard was the game-winner as the Rockies won 2-1 and have won three straight. Both runs the Rockies scored were on sacrifice flies. Francis allowed one run on seven hits while striking out six and Olsen allowed one run on five hits in 6.2 innings as neither starter factored into the decision.

The LA Dodgers got a sweep of the San Diego Padres on Sunday as Chad Billingsley allowed just four hits in 7.1scoreless innings while striking out six. Padres starter Wade LeBlanc allowed just two hits in seven innings while allowing a run on Russell Martin’s RBI single in the sixth inning. Unfortunately the Padres could not score and they lost 1-0.

Tags:

Bronson Arroyo, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Jason Kubel, Javier Vazquez, Jeff Francis, Jim Thome, Mariano Rivera, Matt LaPorta, Minnesota Twins, Nick Blackburn, St. Louis Cardinals

The grounds crew in NY

Rain played a major part in games played Friday night. In New York, the Yankees and Texas Rangers completed just six innings when the game was finally called. The Yankees won 5-1 as CC Sabathia dominated in the complete game win. CJ Wilson of the Rangers was hurt by poor defense and infield hits (four of the Yankees seven hits did not leave the infield) in his complete game loss.

The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays played to a 1-1 tie at Fenway Park, as rained halted the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. Play will resume prior to their start tonight. The Red Sox Josh Beckett and the Rays rookie Wade Davis were involved in a great pitcher’s duel, despite the rain, though the Rays stole four bases off of catcher Jason Varitek (who hit a solo homerun).

In Pittsburgh, rookie Mike Leake of the Cincinnati Reds matched up against the Pirates Zack Duke. Though Leake was not stellar (he walked five and gave up seven hits in seven innings), he limited the damage by allowing just three runs. Duke on the other hand was outstanding. He gave up six hits and one run in seven innings. However the Pirates bullpen gave away the lead by allowing three runs (one of which was Duke’s as he started the eighth inning) in two innings. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, centerfielder Andrew McCutchen collected a single. He immediately stole second base and scored on left fielder Lastings Milledge’s RBI single to center to send the Pirates home happy.

Felipe Lopez greeted by teammates after grand slam

In St. Louis, the Cardinals were dominated all night by NY Mets starter Oliver Perez (even though Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter was just as dominant by striking out 10 in 6.1 innings). In the seventh, Mets manager Jerry Manuel pulled Perez after he allowed an infield single and a sacrifice bunt. Reliever Fernando Nieve came in and hit pinch-hitter Skip Schumaker and walked pinch-hitter Matt Holliday to load the bases. In came Raul Valdes to face Cardinals infielder Felipe Lopez, who deposited a 2-1 hanging curveball over the left field wall for a grand slam (which gave the Cardinals a 4-1 lead). Though the Cardinals bullpen almost blew the lead, they held on for a 4-3 win.

In Philadelphia, the Florida Marlins Jorge Cantu extended his hitting streak to 11 games but could not collect an RBI. He came up in the ninth inning after the Marlins had already scored four runs off of the Phillies bullpen with two men on base, but closer Ryan Madson induced a ground ball to end the rainy and cold game (8-6). The Marlins were dominated all night by Phillies new ace Roy Halladay, as he allowed two runs on eight hits in eight innings.

In Minnesota, the Twins seemed to have the bases loaded every inning against the KC Royals ace Zach Greinke and the Royals bullpen as they won 10-3. Greinke, last year’s CY Young award winner, did not have his usual command as he walked five in his five innings of work while allowing four runs (though only two were earned). The Twins on the other hand, received solid pitching from Scott Baker, who went seven innings while striking out six.

Andre Ethier greeted by teammates after grand slam

In LA, the Dodgers jumped all over SF Giants starter Todd Wellemeyer in the first two innings as he allowed seven runs, capped by Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier’s back-to-back homeruns in the first inning and  Ethier’s grand slam in the second. There was a scary moment for the Giants in the fifth as Dodgers starter Vicente Padilla hit Aaron Rowand in the face, causing a cheek injury and a concussion. The Giants stormed back against the Dodgers bullpen as they scored five runs in the ninth, but could not overcome the lead (they lost 10-8).

In Toronto, the LA Angels almost wasted a gem thrown by starter Jered Weaver, as the Blue Jays scored four times in the eighth inning to cut the Angels lead to 7-5. However new Angels closer Fernando Rodney came in and quickly shut the door on the Blue Jays, as he threw just 9 pitches to pick up his second save of the season. Weaver went into the eighth inning (he was pulled after allowing a Randy Ruiz solo homerun) and gave up just two runs on five hits while striking out eight (he did not walk a batter).

Tags:

Aaron Rowand, Andre Ethier, Boston Red Sox, CC Sabathia, Chris Carpenter, Cincinnati Reds, CJ Wilson, Felipe Lopez, Fernando Rodney, Florida Marlins, Jason Varitek, Jered Weaver, Jorge Cantu, Josh Beckett, KC Royals, LA Angels, LA Dodgers, Lasting Milledge, Matt Kemp, Mike Leake, Minnesota Twins, NY Mets, NY Yankees, Oliver Perez, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Roy Halladay, Ryan Madson, Scott Baker, SF Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Vicente Padilla, Wade Davis, Zach Greinke, Zack Duke

Throughout baseball, Jackie Robinson was celebrated on Thursday. Fans, players, coaches, and umpires, young and old, regardless of race joined in the annual celebration. Robinson was a pioneer for African-American players and for all athletes who have fought for a dream. All players and coaches wore his retired number 42 and the umpires wore number 42 on their sleeves.

NY Yankees honor Jackie Robinson

The biggest celebration came in NY at Yankee Stadium as Robinson’s wife and daughter were in attendance for the pre-game festivities and his grandson threw out the first pitch. Phil Hughes made his first start of the season for the Yankees and was backed by three homeruns off of LA Angels Scott Kazmir, who was also making his first start.

The LA Dodgers always request to play home on Jackie Robinson day so that they can honor their former player. On Thursday, Tommy Lasorda, Frank Robinson, and Don Newcombe (among others) were on hand for the pre-game festivities. The Dodgers came back for the second straight day against Arizona Diamondbacks closer Chad Qualls, but this time won the game in the bottom of the tenth on Andre Ethier’s walk-off hit (his 10^th walk-off hit of his career).

The Cleveland Indians (in the bottom of the American League Central) received great starting pitching from David Huff, who threw a complete game four-hitter in the Indians 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers. He threw just 104 pitches and his only blemish was the two-run homerun he allowed to Michael Young in the fourth inning. Shin-Soo Choo took Huff off of the hard luck loss by blasting a three-run homerun in the bottom of the eighth inning (the homerun was preceded by two men reaching base on errors).

Phillies NL champions ring

In Philadelphia on Thursday was also the ring ceremony for the 2009 National League Champions. Even though Phillies pitcher JA Happ struggled into the sixth inning (he walked six), they held a 4-1 lead. However the Phillies bullpen, which has been stellar so far this season, gave up six runs in relief of Happ (three runs by Danys Baez and two more by closer Ryan Madson). Washington Nationals Ryan Zimmerman delivered a pinch-hit go-ahead two-run homerun in the eighth inning off of Baez to seal the win for the Nationals. Zimmerman had not played since Saturday due to an injured hamstring.

The Houston Astros finally won a game in the 2010 season. They beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 with a three-run eighth inning. The top of the order for the Astros (Michael Bourn and Jeff Keppinger) combined to go 4-for-8 with three runs scored and three RBIs. Astros starter Bud Norris went five innings allowing one unearned run on four hits while striking out nine.

Minnesota Twins honor Jackie Robinson

In Minnesota, Twins starter Francisco Liriano dominated the visiting Boston Red Sox with seven shutout innings. He allowed just four hits and struck out 8. The Twins offense battered Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield through five innings (he allowed 10 hits and five earned runs).

Ben Sheets, an expensive signee this offseason for the Oakland A’s, won his first game since 2008 as he dominated the now 1-9 visiting Baltimore Orioles. Sheets went six shutout innings and allowed five hits. He walked three and struck out four. The A’s improved to 7-4 on the season.

Tags:

Andre Ethier, Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Ben Sheets, Boston Red Sox, Bud Norris, Chad Qualls, Cleveland Indians, Danys Baez, David Huff, Francisco Liriano, Houston Astros, JA Happ, Jackie Robinson, Jeff Keppinger, LA Angels, LA Dodgers, Michael Bourn, Michael Young, Minnesota Twins, NY Yankees, Oakland A's, Phil Hughes, Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan Zimmerman, Scott Kazmir, Shin-Soo Choo, St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, Tim Wakefield, Washington Nationals

Unveiling of the Kirby Puckett statue

Monday was another day full of home openers. In Minnesota, Kirby Puckett Jr. was the first fan admitted inside Target Field for the official opening of the ballpark Monday afternoon. He and his mother unveiled the Kirby Puckett statue on Target Plaza just outside one of the gates prior to entering the ballpark. He also represented the family for on-field festivities with Rod Carew, Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, and Kent Hrbek. Marco Scutaro of the Boston Red Sox had the first official hit at Target Field off of Twins starter Carl Pavano. However, Twins leadoff hitter Denard Span scored the first run. Jason Kubel hit the first homerun and Joe Mauer collected three hits for the Twins. The Twins beat the Red Sox 5-2 as Jon Rauch collected his fifth save.

In Chicago, the Cubs opened Wrigley Field (which had $10 million done in renovations). Many of the renovations were the new player’s lounge and maybe that helped. The Cubs blasted three homeruns (a three-run blast from Xavier Nady and two-run blasts from Jeff Baker and Aramis Ramirez) to win the opener 9-5 over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.

Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel once again raised the championship flag in the center field stands. The Phillies players also filed in from the stands onto the field just like last year and were led by Jamie Moyer and Roy Halladay. Phillies starter Cole Hamels struggled into the sixth (he allowed a two-run double to opposing pitcher Jason Marquis) but was helped out by the Phillies offense. The Phillies had a five-run 5^th inning that chased the Nationals’ Marquis, which was capped by a Chase Utley two-run homerun. The Phillies bullpen came up strong going 3.1 scoreless innings.

The Clydesdales at Busch Stadium

The St. Louis Cardinals opened up Busch Stadium with the usual Clydesdales taking part in the pre-game festivities. Albert Pujols quickly brought the fireworks against the winless Houston Astros. Pujols had an RBI single in the first and blasted a curveball into the left field seats for a three-run homerun in the third. Pujols’ performance backed the dominance of starter Adam Wainwright, who went eight shutout innings while allowing six hits and he struck out seven.

In Seattle, the Mariners had the Big Unit (Randy Johnson) throw out the first pitch before their home opener against the Oakland A’s. However the Mariners were dominated by A’s starter Justin Duchscherer, who won his first game since 2008. The Mariners mustered just two hits in the game to lose 4-0.

In San Diego, the worst offensive team in baseball (the Padres) took out its week’s worth of struggles on Jair Jurrjens and Jo-Jo Reyes of the Atlanta Braves. The Padres scored 17 runs (10 in the fourth) on 19 hits to back San Diego native Kevin Correia.

In Toronto, Blue Jays starter Brian Tallet expected the home crowd to be electric due to the Blue Jays record coming into their home opener (5-1). However the hometown fans saw the visiting Chicago White Sox tie the game in the ninth inning on a Mark Teahen homerun off of Jason Frasor (who blew his second save) and win it in the top of the 11^th on Teahen’s RBI triple.

In Florida (where the fans did not come out for their home opener with just a little over 10,000), the Cincinnati Reds won the game in the top of the 10^th on an RBI single from third baseman Scott Rolen, who also belted two homeruns in the game. The Marlins had their chance in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded off of Reds reliever Nick Masset but Cody Ross grounded out and sent the game into extra innings.

Tags:

Adam Wainwright, Albert Pujols, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Brian Tallet, Charlie Manuel, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cole Hamels, Denard Span, Florida Marlins, Houston Astros, Jason Frasor, Jason Kubel, Jason Marquis, Jon Rauch, Justin Duchscherer, Kevin Correia, Kirby Puckett, Marco Scutaro, Mark Teahen, Minnesota Twins, Oakland A's, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, Scott Rolen, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, Target Field, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals, Wrigley Field

Friday was a big day for home openers. It started in Detroit as the Cleveland Indians traveled to a packed Comerica Park. The game was all about pitching early on between the Indians David Huff and the Tigers Rick Porcello. With the bases loaded of Tigers in the fifth, Magglio Ordonez hit a sharp grounder to third base that Jhonny Peralta threw away and three unearned runs scored to give the Tigers a 4-2 lead. The Tigers held on to win the game 5-2 before the second largest crowd in Comerica Park history. Rookie second baseman Scott Sizemore of the Tigers collected his first Major League hit and Tigers rookie centerfielder Austin Jackson swiped his first base.

The SF Giants opened up AT&T Park against the Atlanta Braves in a game that was dominated by the Braves Tim Hudson. Hudson went seven innings while allowing two runs on just three hits. However in the bottom of the ninth against Braves closer Billy Wagner, Giants shortstop Edgar Renteria continued his hot-hitting by blasting a two-run homerun to tie the game at 4-4. In the 13^th inning, Braves manager Bobby Cox was ejected for the 154^th time for arguing a checked swing called third strike from the dugout. Juan Uribe stole second base and Braves catcher Brian McCann’s throw sailed into centerfield (with Uribe moving up to third base). The umpires could have called interference on the batter as Aaron Rowand’s back swing caught McCann as he was throwing the ball. With two outs, Rowand hit a ball into the hole at shortstop but Yunel Escobar could not throw him out, thus driving in the game-winning run from third base. The Giants won the game 5-4 in 13 innings to improve to 4-0.

Mike Gonzalez hands off the ball after another blown save

The Orioles opened up Camden Yards against the Toronto Blue Jays with second year pitcher Brad Bergesen making the start. However both he and Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow struggled. Miguel Tejada returned to Baltimore to blast a two-run homerun in the fifth inning to tie the game at 5-5 (Tejada had three hits and four RBIs). After the Orioles took the lead in the bottom of the eighth, manager Dave Trembley went to new closer Mike Gonzalez to earn the save. Unfortunately the record breaking home opening crowd of O’s fans did not like what they saw out of Gonzalez. His struggles continue this season as he went just 2/3 of an inning while allowing two runs. He left to a loud array of boos from the fans that had high hopes for the 2010 team. The O’s lost yet another game by one run and another blown lead to drop to 1-3 (they lost the game 7-6).

The Colorado Rockies opened Coors Field against the San Diego Padres, who continued their poor-hitting (which is worst in the Majors). Jorge De La Rosa of the Rockies gave up just one hit in seven innings while striking out nine. The Rockies won 7-0 with everyone other than De La Rosa in the lineup collecting a hit (with the 4-6 hitters combining to go 6-for-11).

Then there were the late inning heroics. In Chicago, Minnesota’s JJ Hardy grounded a ball past the diving Alexei Ramirez at shortstop for an RBI single in the top of the eleventh to give the Twins a 4-3 lead. Closer Jon Rauch came on in the bottom of the inning and retired the White Sox, despite giving up two singles, to record his third save. The White Sox lost their second straight 11 inning game.

In Milwaukee, St. Louis Cardinals pinch-hitter Nick Stavinoha hit a two out 1-2 changeup from All-Time saves leader Trevor Hoffman into the left field bleachers to give the Cardinals a 5-4 win. It was Stavinoha’s first at-bat of the season. It was a tough loss for the Brewers, who kept the Cardinals in check with starter Dave Bush who gave up just four hits in 5.2 innings while striking out six (though he gave up three runs).

Drew Stubbs hits a grand slam

The Cincinnati Reds won in dramatic fashion for the second straight day. This time the hero was Drew Stubbs and the victim was the Chicago Cubs. Stubbs hit a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth off of Cubs reliever Esmailin Caridad to give the Reds a 5-4 win. The centerfielder hit his first Major League grand slam 421 feet into the Reds’ bullpen in centerfield.

The Kansas City Royals came back to defeat the Boston Red Sox once knuckleballer Tim Wakefield left the game after seven innings. Against reliever Daniel Bard with two men on base, centerfielder Rick Ankiel deposited a broken bat double into left field to drive in the two runners. Ankiel collected a career high four hits in the Royals 4-3 win.

Tags:

Aaron Rowand, Atlanta Braves, Austin Jackson, Baltimore Orioles, Billy Wagner, Bobby Cox, Boston Red Sox, Brian McCann, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Coloado Rockies, Daniel Bard, Detroit Tigers, Drew Stubbs, Edgar Renteria, Jhonny Peralta, JJ Hardy, Jon Rauch, Jorge De La Rosa, KC Royals, Magglio Ordonez, Miguel Tejada, Mike Gonzalez, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, Nick Stavinoha, Rick Ankiel, San Diego Padres, Scott Sizemore, SF Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Tim Hudson, Tim Wakefield, Toronto Blue Jays, Trevor Hoffman

President Obama throws out 1st pitch in Washington

Hope springs eternal. At the start of each new season, every MLB team begins in first place and equal to every other team. Every team leaves spring training with the hopes of playing October postseason games. That belief continues late into the summer.

Opening Day for teams is a brand new season. For fans it means the end of winter and something to look forward to. The home teams have pre-game ceremonies that feature player introductions, fly-overs, packed seats, and famous people throwing out the first pitch. In Washington, the Nationals have President Barack Obama throwing out the first pitch to the face of the franchise, Ryan Zimmerman. President Obama walked out onto the mound wearing a Nationals jacket but was quick to pull out his Chicago White Sox hat and put it on before throwing the pitch. His pitch was a bit high and outside. It marked the 100^th anniversary of the President throwing out the 1^st pitch on Opening Day.

Opening Day also begins with divisional matchups like the Nationals versus the Philadelphia Phillies, the Cleveland Indians versus the Chicago White Sox, the KC Royals versus the Detroit Tigers, the Florida Marlins versus the NY Mets, and the St. Louis Cardinals versus the Cincinnati Reds. For Minnesota, their Opening Day will come next week with the opening of Target Field, an open-air stadium in Minneapolis. The NY Yankees will open next week with the players receiving their World Series rings. The Phillies will open next week and the players will receive their National League Championship rings.

Opening Day is when the preceding year’s champion (the Yankees and Phillies) have targets on their backs. It is when the expected lowly teams of the divisions: the Nationals, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the San Diego Padres, the Royals, the Baltimore Orioles, and the Toronto Blue Jays, hope to surprise everyone in baseball. They want to beat the expected division winners and lead the division themselves (just like the Tampa Bay Rays did in 2008).

Zack Greinke

Opening Day is when the world gets to see each team’s aces face off like Tim Lincecum versus Roy Oswalt, Josh Johnson versus Johan Santana, Carlos Zambrano versus Derek Lowe, and Zack Greinke versus Justin Verlander. It is a time to see how last year’s award winners will perform under the microscope (Andrew Bailey, Chris Coghlan, Greinke, Lincecum, Joe Mauer, and Albert Pujols). It is a time when players and teams who struggled the year before turn the page on that year and look to rebound (like the Chicago Cubs, the NY Mets, Carlos Pena, Pat Burrell, Aaron Harang, Vernon Wells, and Josh Hamilton). It is a time when newly acquired players begin to prove their worth (like Roy Halladay, Jason Bay, and Chone Figgins). Opening Day is when the world gets to see the game’s stars of tomorrow begin their Major League careers (like Jason Heyward, Tyler Colvin, and Mike Leake).

It is a day that fans, players, coaches, writers, and organizational members look forward to while digging out of two feet of snow. So welcome to the beginning of the 2010 baseball season, a season when anything can happen.

Tags:

Minnesota Twins, NY Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, President Barack Obama, Ryan Zimmerman, Tim Lincecum, Washington Nationals, Zack Greinke

Joe Mauer's press conference

This has been the week of extensions. First came the signing of catcher Joe Mauer, who signed an 8-year extension with the Minnesota Twins. The hometown kid was the number one pick in 2001 (and the Twins were criticized for going the cheap way instead of drafting college pitcher Mark Prior). The hometown kid has rewarded the Twins since he reached the Majors in 2004 and he won the American League batting title, American League MVP, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger last season. So the Twins rewarded him with a $184 million extension with a full no-trade clause. It is a great deal in that it shows that small market teams can keep their best players (they also signed outfielder Denard Span and pitcher Nick Blackburn to extensions this spring). However I am curious to see if this deal hamstrings the Twins in the long haul. Sure they have a new ballpark (Target Field) so they now have extra money flowing in. But if the Twins struggle, will they have the money to make improvements? Say God forbid Mauer gets hurt or begins to deteriorate offensively and defensively. With a full no-trade clause and a huge contract, it would be tough for the Twins to move him (like the Toronto Blue Jays and Vernon Wells when at the time of that signing it was seen as a great move).

Matt Cain

The SF Giants, looking to contend in the National League West for the next few years, signed three major parts of their pitching staff through 2012. With CY Young award winner and ace Tim Lincecum signed long term, the Giants added rotation-mate Matt Cain to the list. Cain was in CY Young contention last year and gives the Giants a 1-2 punch that rivals the St. Louis Cardinals. MLB Network’s Joe Magrane has Cain as his sleeper pick for this year’s CY Young.

They also signed their 1-2 punch in the backend of the bullpen. Lefty setup man Jeremy Affeldt was one of the best in 2009. He had a 1.74 ERA in 74 appearances. He also induced 18 double-play grounders (which was tops in the Majors). Opponents hit just .197 against him. Because he pitches on the West Coast, he rarely receives recognition. Closer Brian Wilson is usually in the top five in saves each season, though sometimes his ERA tends to be elevated. Last year, he kept his ERA down (2.74) while converting 38 out of 45 save opportunities. He struck out 83 in 68 appearances while opponents hit just .223 against him. If you are a Giants fan, these extensions should have you looking forward to a postseason appearance soon.

Now there is rumor in Red Sox camp that Josh Beckett is close to agreeing to a four-year extension worth $65-70 million. An agreement is supposed to come in the next few weeks. Beckett has been a workhorse since joining Boston, but has also had health issues. Last year he struggled in the second half of the season. Everyone knows that for the Red Sox to make it to the World Series, they will need Beckett to pitch like he did in the 2003 playoffs with the Florida Marlins.

Tags:

Boston Red Sox, Brian Wilson, Jeremy Affeldt, Joe Mauer, Josh Beckett, Matt Cain, Minnesota Twins, SF Giants

In 2008, the Tampa Bay Rays surprised the baseball world by winning the American League title. That team had a closer by committee and manager Joe Maddon mainly chose his closer based on situations and who was coming to bat (and who had the hot hand). The closer by committee works when those in the bullpen understand that their job is to get hitters out whether it is in the fifth inning or the ninth inning. Some say that a bullpen does not become great until each reliever knows what his role is. Maybe so because baseball players are all about the routine.

The Minnesota Twins will begin the year with a closer by committee with All-Star closer Joe Nathan set to miss the entire 2010 season due to Tommy John surgery. This could work but look for manager Ron Gardenhire to find a closer by midseason, mainly determining who does the job best and who bounces back best from a blown save.

“I’ve seen committees work,” Gardenhire said. “It’s not always the easiest thing in the world, but you just have to ad lib. When you lose your closer, it’s a little different. That’s how we’re going to start, and we’ll go from there.”

Jon Rauch

The candidates are Matt Guerrier, Jon Rauch, Jesse Crain, and left-hander Jose Mijares. Guerrier is coming off a career year, with a 2.36 ERA in 79 games. Rauch is the only candidate with significant end-game experience, when he closed out games for the Nationals in 2008. However Rauch has never been able to keep hitters off base which has led to blown saves. The 6-foot-11 right-hander has the ability to strike hitters out and is a dominating (and looming) force on the mound. Crain was once considered the Twins’ closer of the future. Crain has huge strikeout numbers, though he also gives up his share of hits. Some like to have a lefty close because of the potential of power left-handed bats coming off the bench. Guerrier and Mijares are coming off career years but relievers have been known to be unpredictable. The Twins were considering starter Francisco Liriano, but he has stated that he wants to start and has pitched extremely well this spring (and has possibly won the fifth spot in the rotation).

Injured closer Joe Nathan, who had surgery on Friday, offered some advice to the bullpen and the potential closer. “You better be ready,” Nathan said. “You definitely can’t ease into the role. If you’re going to be doing this, you’ve got to jump in with two feet.”

Pat Neshek

Those four have the potential to be the Twins closer, with the bullpen being filled out by Clay Condrey (who excelled with the Philadelphia Phillies the last two seasons in a variety of bullpen roles) and whoever does not win the fifth starter’s spot (either Liriano or Brian Duensing). That leaves one final spot in the bullpen for newly signed left-hander Ron Mahay (who signed a minor league deal), Pat Neshek, who is returning from Tommy John surgery, or Glen Perkins. Mahay could start the season in the minors if the Twins do not feel he is ready for big league duty (he spent most of spring training before his signing throwing to high schoolers). Neshek, with his funky delivery, would be a solid choice for closer but the Twins do not want to push him and put too much pressure on him because of the surgery. In 2007, Neshek went 7-2 in 74 appearances with a 2.94 ERA. Opponents hit just .183 against him and struck out 74 times. Perkins has fallen out of grace with the Twins due to his DL stint last year, though he says that his issues with the Twins are in the past.

Tags:

Clay Condrey, Francisco Liriano, Glen Perkins, Jesse Crain, Joe Nathan, Jon Rauch, Jose Mijares, Matt Guerrier, Minnesota Twins, Pat Neshek, Ron Gardenhire, Ron Mahay

The 2010 spring training has not been good to some players. The NY Mets will already start the season without centerfielder Carlos Beltran. Now they most likely will be without shortstop Jose Reyes. Reyes came to camp in Port St. Lucie early and in great shape. When interviewed during a game early in spring training, Reyes said that he did not even think about his hamstrings when he was running the bases. However tests showed that Reyes has a thyroid imbalance and must sit for two to eight weeks until it is back to normal. This all means that Reyes cannot do anything because his heart rate cannot be elevated. So when Reyes is cleared to play, he will be starting all over again. Veteran Alex Cora (coming back from thumb surgery) and 20 year old rookie Ruben Tejada (who has not played a game of Triple-A ball) are the two in contention for the starting shortstop position while Reyes is out.

Joe Nathan

The Minnesota Twins added players this offseason to solidify their defense (JJ Hardy and Orlando Hudson). With the American League Central expected to be up for grabs, the Twins have high hopes for the season. However closer Joe Nathan felt pain in his throwing elbow last Saturday in a game and the MRI revealed a tear. Nathan will rest for two weeks and throw and see how he feels. Worst-case scenario is that he will need season-ending elbow surgery. Nathan has said that he will do whatever he can to avoid surgery and get back on the mound. Devasting news for a team before the season even starts and for a guy who has been underrated throughout his career. Jon Rauch is expected to take over as the Twins closer for now, though starter Francisco Liriano is being considered. Opponents have hit just .213 against Liriano in their first at-bats. So far this spring, he has shown command of his fastball along with his nasty slider and changeup. Liriano also has the ability to strike out hitters in key situations. There also have been rumors of interest in San Diego’s Heath Bell and Cleveland’s Kerry Wood. Nathan is scheduled for a second opinion so the Twins are holding off on looking for a new closer for right now.

Brandon Webb

The Arizona Diamondbacks made a deal this winter to bring in All-Star starter Edwin Jackson to fill in the rotation behind aces Brandon Webb and Dan Haren (though it cost them starter Max Scherzer and left-handed reliever Dan Schlereth). Many thought this move gave the Diamondbacks one of the top rotations in the game, especially with the top three spots. However word out of camp is that Webb is still dealing with arm problems that limited the CY Young winner to just one game in 2009. He said his arm felt “stagnant” after throwing. He has thrown from 90 feet but has not thrown to hitters or off a mound and no one knows when that will happen. Webb preaches patience. It is looking like Webb will not be ready for Opening Day and who knows when (or if) he will pitch again. The team would rather have him miss time at the beginning of the season and be healthy when he returns. The loss of Webb puts pressure on the rest of the rotation and leaves the Diamondbacks with just two proven starters.

The Houston Astros added bullpen arms in Brandon Lyon and Matt Lindstrom along with starter Brett Myers this offseason. Even with the loss of Miguel Tejada and closer Jose Valverde, the Astros are expected to compete in the National League Central. However they were dealt a blow this week with an injury to veteran first baseman Lance Berkman. Berkman is expected to be out two to four weeks after undergoing knee surgery and most likely will not be ready for Opening Day. Geoff Blum is scheduled to get most of the starts at first base during the Grapefruit League season.

Tags:

Alex Cora, Arizona Diamondbacks, Brandon Webb, Francisco Liriano, Houston Astros, Joe Nathan, Jon Rauch, Jose Reyes, Lance Berkman, Minnesota Twins, NY Mets, Ruben Tejada

Denard Span stretches for the catch

The American League Central every year is up for grabs. Last year, Detroit Tigers rookie pitcher Rick Porcello excelled enough that he pitched the play-in game (which the Minnesota Twins won) and came in third in the Rookie of the Year voting. The Cleveland Indians have traded top players (like CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez, and Casey Blake) to strengthen their farm system and to make room for their young stars. The Twins will rely on young sluggers Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau for years to come. The Chicago White Sox are trying to shed their label of an old, aging team and have seen the likes of Alexei Ramirez, Bobby Jenks, Gavin Floyd, John Danks, and Gordon Beckham graduate to the big leagues and provide immediate impact. The Kansas City Royals were home to young ace Zack Greinke, who won the CY Young Award, and young power hitter Billy Butler. If a team is to succeed in the AL Central, a young player will need to be an important part of the team. Here’s a look at some 2010 AL Central breakout players:

Denard Span, Minnesota Twins (OF): Span should be the Twins leadoff hitter for years to come as last year’s .392 on-base percentage attests. For the Twins to succeed, Span will need to get on base and wreak havoc so that the M&M boys can bat in RBI situations. Last year, Span played in 145 games while hitting .311. He had 16 doubles, 10 triples, 8 homeruns, and 68 RBIs. Span scored 70 runs and could score more because he is a patient hitter (70 walks to 89 strikeouts). He also stole 23 bases though he was caught 10 times so that is something he needs to work on. Span is a great defensive outfielder as he can play all three positions, though centerfield will be his home for now.

Ryan Perry

Ryan Perry, Detroit Tigers (RP): Both Perry and Rick Porcello made their Major League debuts in 2009 as they made the Opening Day roster after spending 2008 in High-A Lakeland. Perry was a first-round pick in 2008 mainly because of his 100 mph fastball. He is considered the Tigers closer of the future, but with the signing of Jose Valverde this offseason, Perry as the closer will have to wait. “I’m definitely looking forward to playing with him,” Perry said of Valverde. “…I’ll just try to help the team do what I am asked to do.” Perry should be stronger than ever since his Evel Knievel type motorcycle accident while at the University of Arizona kept him from doing weight work with his lower body. Now he can lift and is more ready to compete.

Pitching coach Rick Knapp said Perry will get a chance as the eighth inning setup man. In his rookie year, Perry pitched in meaningful games down the stretch that many others do not. In 53 games, he had a 3.79 ERA with 38BB/690K while opponents hit .246 against him. Control has been his biggest issue though he struck out about a hitter an inning in 2009. Catcher Gerald Laird said “…it’s fun to be behind the plate because he can just make hitters look silly.” If Perry can control his pitches and team with fellow fireballer Joel Zumaya (who needs to stay healthy) to setup Valverde, the Tigers could have the best back end of the bullpen in baseball.

Tags:

AL Central, Denard Span, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Ryan Perry

Target Field

Playing baseball outside in April in Minnesota will be becoming a reality this season. Target Field is set to open on April 12^th as the Twins take on the Boston Red Sox (though they do play two exhibition games against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 2^nd & 3^rd). It will be interesting to see how the Twins (and their fans) react to regularly playing in 20-40 degree temperatures early in the season and late in the year (and playoff time). The Metrodome was considered the greatest home-field advantage in all of baseball due to the white roof and how loud it would get inside. Plus, the mid-market Twins built their team around the turf (pitching and defense). It will be interesting to see if the current team will succeed at Target Field and if Target Field will play out as a pitcher’s or hitter’s park.

The Twins have made a few moves this offseason. First, veteran pitcher Carl Pavano accepted arbitration and re-signed. Then they traded speedy outfielder Carlos Gomez to the Milwaukee Brewers for starting shortstop JJ Hardy. Now they added second baseman Orlando Hudson. Hudson was a lat free agent signing last year too. In 2009, Hudson won a Gold Glove despite the fact that he lost his starting job to Ronnie Belliard with the LA Dodgers. The O-Dog struggled mightily in the second half at the plate (he hit just .222 in June, .264 in July, and .237 in September and October). Rumors had him signing with the Washington Nationals (who instead signed Adam Kennedy) but the Twins offered him more money.

The O-Dog with the Diamondbacks

The Twins infield seems solid if Hardy can rebound from a disastrous 2009 (.229 in 115 games with just 11 homeruns and 47 RBIs) and Justin Morneau is healthy after back surgery (which the cold weather will not help). Third base is an open tryout with most believing it will go to either Nick Punto or Brendan Harris. However prospect Danny Valencia could slip in and steal the spot, especially after his showing in winter ball and the Caribbean Series. “I’m going to Spring Training to be seen and not heard,” Valencia said. “I just want to play hard and play the game right. They are not going to hand me a job anywhere, so every day is a grind and I’m ready for the challenge.”

The Twins also just added outfielder Jacque Jones to a minor league deal and he could add depth to an outfield that lost Gomez and consists of just Delmon Young, Denard Span, and Michael Cuddyer. They also added veteran DH Jim Thome, who should add veteran leadership and receive some at-bats. I am not sure how much playing time Thome will receive due to Jason Kubel being the full-time DH and needing to give stars Morneau and catcher Joe Mauer days off from the field.

The Twins also added to their bullpen with the signing of former Philadelphia Phillie right-hander Clay Condrey. Condrey pitched very well for the Phillies the last two seasons. He will provide a versatile reliever to the Twins bullpen. The Twins are hoping all of these additions will help them repeat as the American League Central champion and make it to the World Series in 2010.

Tags:

Carl Pavano, Clay Condrey, Danny Valencia, Jacque Jones, Jim Thome, JJ Hardy, Minnesota Twins, Orlando Hudson, Target Field