Half way mark: 1st half MVPs

I haven't been able to keep up with this blog as much as I would have liked but with good effort, I will be able to put my thoughts in a concise form instead of spread around Twitter (@StevenPhilNYY). As crazy as it may seem, the MLB season is half way over. 81 games have been completed and a lot has been settled in this 3 1/2 months. The best part about this unique 2012 season is that it is the first time in the history of baseball that we will have two wild card races to look after. This means that a handful of teams that were dead by July, are alive and well. Baseball purists who still stand by the old way of doing things are not properly weighing out the benefits of adding just one more playoff spot. I have been for this move by Bud Selig and I stand completely by my opinion that it is great for the game.

This post will not be long winded but I wanted to take the time to give you some of my thoughts about the first half MVPs in baseball.

So without further stalling, I will dive into the complicated world of the American League.

Standing atop of the AL with the best record in all of baseball is the familiar Yankees. They are doing it in ways we are quite used to seeing it. They win by smashing the ball into smithereens but this team is different. They are overcoming adversity and winning despite their injuries. They have overcome the storm and come out stronger. If the unlikely pieces like Ibanez, Wise,  and Jones continue to produce at a high level paired with the Yankees strong pitching, they will be hard to beat.

The American MVP race is a tough choice and will be a really hard decision at the end of the year for the powers that be. It has been a discussion that will live on around barbecues and in swimming pools. Can a player that missed the first month of the season, come through and win the MVP? Yes, I am talking about Mike Trout. To me, this is a two player race. Obviously Josh Hamilton continues his torrid pace despite recent injury stints but Mike Trout has literally altered the fate of a faltering Angels squad. It has not been a coincidence that the Halos turned around after Trout sped onto the scene. His projected numbers based on this pace are MVP caliber especially when taking the Angels early struggles and recent success into account based on his arrival in Anaheim. The 2nd half will need to be huge for this young man, but if you watch him on a weekly basis, you see a player that is only going to get better. Trout just gets it. He gets my first half MVP.


Moving onto the National League, the MVP will continue to be a 5 horse race all through the summer and early fall. To me, it is between Joey Votto, Matt Kemp,  David Wright Melky Cabrera and Andrew McCutchen. If Kemp didn't fall victim to injury woes this would be no question. He was on his way to becoming the Michael Jordan of baseball with so many epic moments in April. He quickly was grounded by injuries and others took the attention of the baseball world. Joey Votto continues to show the world he is the best 1B in all of the National League. He is expected to be in this discussion every year. David Wright has quietly taken over the Mets clubhouse with his play on the field. He was snubbed in the All Star Game but with a strong 2nd half, he could very well walk away with some MVP hardware. D-Wright, is for sure going to be someone the Mets need to lock up when the time comes. But for now, he will continue batting in the high .300s and leading a renaissance in Queens. Surprisingly, McCutchen and Cabrera are hanging with the big boys all year. It is another debate that will be ironed out at the end of the year but given the fates of all of the teams based on performance, I have to go with McCutchen. The first place Bucs come into the All Star Break surging, in first place for the first time since '97 this late in the year. They are a fun story and it would be not be possible without 'Cutch. Cutch is my first half MVP.


I fully expect to look back on this at the end of the year and be wrong. That is what I love about baseball, it is unpredictable. There very well may be a team or player that will surprise us all in the 2nd half. What we must not forget is that the 2nd half is just as long as the first. We need to take into consideration what was accomplished in the first 81 but the second set of 81 is JUST as important. Until next time...Thanks for reading

It's been a while (Top 3 Pitching Match Ups) 5/1/12

Alright so last time I was here, we were getting ready for the season. I wasn't able to tend to the blog as I had planned but I am back for good. April is too flimsy of a sample size to really make a big deal out of anything, anyway. With April in the rear view mirror, it's time to sort the pretenders from contenders. I'm going to try and do the pitching match ups previews on most days and tell you my top 3. Let's start May right!

Top 3 Daily Pitching Match Ups) 5/1/12

Courtesy of Newsday Sports.

On a Tuesday night that threatens a lot of East Coast games because of wide spread rain, there is a lack of what some would call premier pitching match ups. We have a full slate of National and American League games to choose from and here's what I came up with.

3.) Ricky Nolasco vs. Matt Cain (Miami @ San Francisco)
These two right handers come in with respectable ERAs. I've liked what I have seen from Cain lately, he has one complete game shut out under his belt trying to carry a rotation that was pulled down surprisingly by Tim Lincecum's poor start to the 2012 campaign. You have to imagine that this rotation will fix itself out by the middle of the summer and they will be in the thick of the playoff race especially with two Wild Cards up for grabs. They are too talented to falter. Ricky Nolasco has an ERA greater than 3 which is a whole run lower than his career average. That's good news for Miami but they have other issues to worry about like why they are throwing the ball around the yard and making errors left and right. Yikes.  Either way, this should be a solid match up with two offenses that are trying to figure out who they are exactly.

2) Trevor Cahill vs. Jordan Zimmermann (Arizona @Washington)
Jordan Zimmermann has been part of the reason that the Nats have gotten off to such a stellar start. A 1.33 ERA is something to be proud of and he is fitting right in with the likes of Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez. I believe that Jordan is the key to this rotation because if he can remain consistent and solid, the Nationals have one of the deeper, more dangerous rotations in the league. Can you imagine the Washington rotation in a 5 game playoff series? Lethal. Trevor Cahill is trying to rebound from his last start on 4/25 where he was hung with the loss after giving up 4 runs through 5.1 innings.

1) Cole Hamels vs Brandon Beachy (Philadelphia @ Atlanta)
Hamels is trying to pick up where he left off the last 3 starts. He has won 3 straight decisions since losing his first start. His last start against Arizona, he was superb going 8 strong striking out 7. While Cliff Lee is on the DL, the Phillies need to lean on Hamels more than usual especially with the injuries all over their line up offensively.  Brandon Beachy is really what makes this match up the best of the night. If you are not a Braves fan or just aren't paying attention to Beachy's great start, you may have missed the numbers he is recording. He is 2-1, the 1 loss a hard luck loss so ignore it. His ERA is a minuscule 1.05 but what is even more impressive is his WHIP. His WHIP is hanging around 0.95. He is striking out batters without the walks you worry about with young pitchers. His K/BB ratio is 20/7. Wow!

There you have it. My top picks for pitching match ups tonight. Good observation, if you noticed that all three are NL match ups. That's not being biased, it just so happens that a lot of the AL is tossing up middle or bottom of the rotation guys. So enjoy your time in the sun National League while the likes of King Felix, Sabathia and Verlander have the night off. If you have MLBTV or Extra Innings, you may be able to watch them like myself.

Side note: Matt Kemp is a beast. If you missed it, he clubbed his 12th home run in April alone! Always keep your eyes on the Dodgers. There are some exciting things happening in Los Angeles concerning baseball...unless your name is Albert Pujols.

Submit questions or topics you would like me to discuss on to my Twitter handle (@StevenPhilNYY)
Thanks for reading!

The Friars Club

Guest Blogger: @MattJHolder

2011 was a forgettable year for the San Diego Padres, they finished 23 games back of first place with a 71-91 record. 2012 will most likely end with the same results as 2011 because of the Padres’ lack super-stardom. 

The Padres pitching staff is missing a true ace after they dealt Mat Latos to the Reds for Yonder Alonso, Edinson Volquez and two other prospects. Volquez could be the ace for the Padres if he returns to his 2008 form when he was an All-Star. Clayton Richard is a consistent lefty who will win games. Tim Stauffer, Corey Luebke and Dustin Moseley finish out the not so intimidating starting rotation. That has to leave fans pessimistic about the season although PETCO Park will help this pitching staff.

The Padres’ bullpen will have new faces after Heath Bell took his talents to South Beach and Mike Adams was traded to the Rangers in 2011. The Padres acquired Huston Street from the Rockies. Street is an exciting acquisition because if healthy he could end up giving the Padres the same production Heath Bell provided. Luke Gregerson is the only reliever really worth talking about as he will be the 8th inning guy and had a 2.75 ERA last year. 

The Padres are going to be an interesting team offensively. They lack a superstar but have a top tier prospect in Yonder Alonso.  Alonso has the ability to hit 30 home runs and drive in 100. Alonso could develop in 2012 and become the superstar that the Padres need. The Padres acquired Carlos Quentin who will help solidify the middle of the order with Chase Headley. Cameron Maybin will play center field for the Friars. He is already entering his 6th year in the big leagues and is only 24 years old. Look for Maybin to blossom into a top 10 center fielder this year. The Padres are solid up the middle with the “O-Dog” Orlando Hudson and Jason Bartlett. Nick Hundley is a solid catcher and is proficient at calling a game.


The Padres are going to have a hard time winning games but we all know that in a crazy NL West, you can be last one year and first the next. San Diego will have fun seeing some young players perform and develop but I don’t expect them to finish above 3rd in the NL West .

The Rays' Magic

Guest Blogger: @MattJHolder

In 2011, The Rays had the magic to make it in to the playoffs on a walk off home run by Evan Longoria and the collapse of the Red Sox, which should have been discussed the same as the Mets collapses in 2007 and 2008, but that is a different article.  The Rays shocked a lot of the baseball world in 2011. Analysts said there is no way they can win. They lost Carl Crawford to the rival Sox and they traded away Matt Garza. They also lost Manny Ramirez who failed a drug test and decided to retire. The Rays won in 2011 with the leadership of veteran Johnny Damon and Casey Kotchman who hit .306 and defensively replaced Carlos Pena nicely. The main reason the Rays made a run in 2011 and won the wild card is because of their pitching staff.
The Rays have the best starting rotation in the American League. They have 5 pitchers who could be number one starters on almost every team in baseball. David Price and James Shields are the veterans of the staff who know how to win and have been in a World Series atmosphere. Matt Moore showed he was major league ready in the postseason when he tossed 7 scoreless innings and allowed only 2 hits to the offensive power house that is the Texas Rangers. Jeremy Hellickson was the AL Rookie of the Year and his future is brighter than anyone in baseball. Wade Davis is a solid five starter and maybe the dark horse of the rotation.

The bullpen is solid every year, they continue to lose arms and are able to pick up arms that deliver. Kyle Farnsworth shocked the baseball world with his consistency in the closer role. Look for J.P Howell to bounce back this year after having a rough 2011 campaign as he was coming back from shoulder surgery. Fernando Rodney is a solid 8th inning man and could close if Farnsworth struggles.

The lineup is a lineup that won’t scare anybody but they know how to get on base and will work counts. They do the small things such as when the Twins were at there best. They have rookie phenom Desmond Jennings who can out run almost anyone. He displayed power hitting 10 home runs in the second half of the year for the Rays. Evan Longoria is the best third baseman in baseball offensively. He can do everything and now with the acquisitions of Carlos Pena and Luke Scott it gives Longoria so much protection. With this new found protection he could be bound for an MVP type year. Is this the year where B.J Upton breaks out and shows that he consistently can be the player he was projected to be?

The Rays may have the best manager in baseball in Joe Maddon who has won 2 Manager of the Year awards in Tampa. His leadership will have the Rays in contention in 2012. They will also thrive with the help of their pitching staff and Evan Longoria in the middle of that lineup. The Trop will be rocking come September and possibly October.

Rock-Climbing the Standings?

One of the teams that comes into 2012 that I feel is a huge mystery on what to expect is the Colorado Rockies. Winners of only 73 games last year, they are flying way under the radar and rightfully so. They have made minor moves but no huge splashes. While other teams have done cannon balls into the pool, they waded in and testing the temperature of the water. They know that they have the core in place to win a World Series, they just need to surround them with the right complimentary pieces. If history lends us any hint on this Rockies' franchise is that they are due for another team that entertains the masses in Denver. In 2009, they won a similar 74 in total and the year after, they took the Wild Card home.

There are returning key cogs in the offense in the form of Troy Tulowitzki, Todd Helton, and Carlos Gonzalez. That locks up three important positions in SS, 1B, and LF. But what about the rest of the team? If you weren't following the Rockies closely, their starting line up will be a mystery because no one is talking about them. It's okay, I'll fill you in.

There will be a battle at different positions during Spring Training which breeds success. At third, it will be high end prospect Nolan Arenado and veteran Casey Blake. The reason it is left between just these two is because third was literally a three person job last year. Ty Wiggington, Kevin Kouzmanoff and Ian Stewart all had significant chunks of starts at the hot corner. However, none of them really helped the Rockies win. Wigginton, Kouzmanoff and Ian Stewart have been since shipped off. Leaving none of that trio. Ian Stewart usually can hide his defensive inabilities with his bat but batting a measly .156 with 0 HRs did not make his case for not being expendable. They say good riddance to the revolving door at third in hopes for one of these two to lock it down for the 2012 campaign. The Rockies will probably tote their new, young prospect out there to see what he's got. If the Rockies solid history of drafting continues, he will be just another example of a team that knows how to build from within. I like the kid to start at the third unless Casey Blake impresses in Spring ball.

Second base was wide open too since Mark Ellis found a new home in Dodger blue. However after acquiring Marco Scutaro, he has filled that cog. Michael Cuddyer was solid in Minnesota for years and now he brings his talents to the high altitude of Coors Field in Right Field. This could improve on his power numbers and he will bring an edge to the team. Ramon Hernandez is projected to be the starting catcher which should bode well for the pitching staff of Colorado who will benefit from his guidance and leadership.

Looking at their projected line up makes me think that Colorado is going for the division crown this year. There is a good mix of veterans and young players that usually can mix well in the postseason. Now let's look at their rotation which no one knows what to expect from.

Yesterday, Orioles' ace Jeremy Guthrie was traded to Colorado and he takes over those duties as the number 1 starter. I love this deal for the Rockies because Guthrie's numbers were inflated due to playing in the American League East. He was being bashed around by the Red Sox and Yankees all year. I think he will thrive in Denver and have a season to remember. Other parts of the rotation are some returnees from last year. They are Chacin and Nicascio. Both of them are so young and will improve. It was Jhoulys Chacin's first season and Juan Nicasio's as well. Most everyone will remember that Nicasio was hit in the head by a line that fractured his neck last year during the season. He is expected to make a full return but it will be interesting to say the least. Alex White will be the 4th starter and he was one of the main pieces in the Ubaldo deal last year from Cleveland. It should be fun to watch him grow as a pitcher. Finally, their 5th starter will be Guillermo Moscoso who was acquired from Oakland in return for Seth Smith. He has only been in the MLB since 2009.  I think the Rockies should call up Drew Pomeranz and keep him there. He should be the 5th starter because in his short work with the big league Rockies, he shined. This rotation has a chance to be great.

While all everyone knows about Colorado sports is Tim Tebow, they should start to get excited for the Rockies. This season has potential all over the board mixed with calming, veteran influence. With teams in the MLB drafting smarter and spending money wisely, it is rare to see a team stay down for too long if they are doing it the way. The National League West is a division that is challenging with young talent on each team but not so far out of reach for anybody. I expect a strong showing from the Rockies in 2012.

Cleaning up the Mess in Queens

If there was ever a real life example of peaks and rock bottom, it is the journey the New York Mets have been on since Carlos Beltran's knees buckled at the hands of the filthiest of pitches in 2006. The Mets were the class of the National League in 2006, leading a renaissance in Queens that left fans hopeful. There is little dispute that the Mets were the best team that year, they just fell into a hotter Cardinal team built for a postseason run. Who would have thought they could have fallen so far...so fast?

Fast forward to 2012 where the Mets are reeling with a impatient fan base and question marks on and off the field. It is because the Mets play in New York in the shadow of the mighty Yankees that the Mets situation looks worse than it really is. Yes, they lost their best player and reigning NL batting champ Jose Reyes to division rival Miami. Yes, their ownership is in question and they are in financial trouble but they have a better team than a lot of people will give them credit for. The financial problems will be fixed eventually, just look at how the Dodgers situation was solved in a short period of time. If this exact Mets team played in Houston, it is doubtful they would be under the same type of scrutiny that the franchise is under. But that all comes with playing under the bright lights of New York.

I am not saying the Mets will win it all, I'm not. But they will be respectable and improve on last year's results. They have a better than 77 win team. They will challenge for the second Wild Card and could surprise a lot of fans this year. It all depends on pitching and staying healthy. Staying healthy is something the Mets haven't been able to do. Looking up and down their line up, they are in better shape than one would think. With moving the fences in at Citi Field, David Wright, Jason Bay and a healthy Ike Davis will bring much needed production offensively. Andres Torres was a big reason that the Giants won the World Series in 2010 and if he can return to form, he will sure up the Mets outfield. Call me crazy but I think their offense matches up with a lot of National League teams. Comparing them to secondary teams in their league, are they really worse than Pittsburgh? A gutted Milwaukee team?

They are playing in a division that is on the rise. It is unfortunate because they are falling victim to playing great teams on a weekly basis. A lot of their losses will come at the hands of Halladay, Lee, Strasburg, Josh Johnson, Jurrjens etc. You put this Met team in the NL Central and they would be a legit threat to win that division. 

The front office put focus on improving the bullpen and they did just that. Terry Collins will have great new additions to utilize at his will in Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco. They have been missing their ace for too long now and Santana needs to come back healthy to guide this team. If they are going anywhere anytime soon, Santana and Pelfrey will need to pitch comparable to the other 1-2s in the National League East.

Do I think the Mets will make the playoffs? No, I don't. However, there is reason to be hopeful because the front office is building the right way and trading away pieces for the future. By looking towards the future, they will be well built to contend once all of this talent is ready to blossom. For a franchise that has been so near sighted for too long, they are improving their way of thinking. The Mets will compete this year. They will be pesky, hard working and full of effort in response to their manager who demands baseball to be played the right way. Terry Collins will make sure that this team is focused on a daily basis and ready to play. If you are a fan of the Mets, isn't that all you can ask for?

Red Sox-Yankees Fraternity Brothers?

This is just a random thought as I have MLB Network on about all of the time in my house but I miss the days when the Red Sox and Yankees legitimately hated each other. Watching highlights of Pedro and Posada screaming at each other from across the field gets me fired up. Everyone talks about Boston and New York as the premiere rivalry in the MLB yet its not even close if you measure level of team hatred.

I am not a fan of when Ortiz hits a go ahead double, Jeter is there to ask him how his night was, with a glove to the chest, complete with a huge smile. That's not me questioning whether Jeter actually takes the game seriously or not because we all know he does. It just is disheartening to see a rivalry with so much flavor get neutered to this point. Yes, the fans do not like each other but ultimately the fans feed off of the field. With players on both of the teams socializing before and during the game, it takes a lot away from the rivalry.

Maybe the rivalry took a hit when the Sox finally got a few rings under their belt. The pressure was off and the jealousy for the Yankees team glittering with gold disappeared. One of my good friends (@bmanimalcracker) made a good prediction that Padilla, if he makes the rotation, will reignite a stagnant spark in the rivalry. I hope he is right.

If you look at Cardinal/Reds games from the past couple of years, those teams legitimately cannot stomach each other. I love that. It brings an edge to the way the game is played and to the ballpark. It makes the games more interesting. Baseball is more fun that way. Don't get me wrong, I know they are real people and are mostly all friends. If you want to hang out and talk, at least save it for after the game because it can send the wrong message.

Detroit's 4 Big Cats (20 wins?)

While everyone is talking about the daunting 3-4 punch that the Tigers will boast starting in April with Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder, we can't overlook the real reason they have a real shot to win the World Series. Their ridiculous pitching staff leaves American League teams shaking where they stand based on potential and actual production. 

The 1971 Orioles may have some company in the near future. As we all know the 71' O's had four 20 game winners. They were Mike Cuellar, Jim Palmer, Pat Dobson and Dave McNally. This was the first and only time in history that this was done. Interestingly enough, I can say without laughing that the Tigers rotation as is has a great shot at accomplishing this feat. Let's take a look at why...

We all know what Justin Verlander brings to the table. The reigning AL Cy Young and MVP. He captured both of these awards and let everyone know that the best pitcher in baseball resides in the Motor City. Although he only won 18 games, I expect him to improve on that total with an improved offense. I think he is a lock for twenty wins this year.

We talked about the certainty of the rotation but moving on to the young guys. Porcello, Scherzer and Fister together form 3 of the best young arms in the league. I am basing my bold prediction that they can win 20 games in the future based on their potential. They all have enough innings under their belt and big league experience to move into the conversation of being in their 'prime'. They all have shown glimpses of greatness but this may be the year they finally put it all together. It's refreshing to watch a guy like Doug Fister receive the run support he has been lacking in Seattle and actually racking up wins. I still scratch my head as to why Seattle shipped him off for practically nothing. 

We can not forget about young Jacob Turner who will try his hand in the rotation this year after being toted as Detroit's top pitching prospect. He has been perfecting his craft and is projected to start the year as the 5th starter for this explosive Tiger team. What a perfect way to get introduced to the big leagues pitching to about 6 runs for support every night.

While it is more unlikely than likely that 4 starters in a rotation will ever win 20 games again in one season, do not count these guys out. If anyone CAN do it, it's Detroit. They have the big arms and lively bats for the run support. They will feast on inadequate offenses and teams in their own division. They should already start stitching the 2012 American League Central Division Championship banner, that's how lopsided this division is. Offenses beware, this rotation is daunting.

Holier than Thou MLB fans (Braun, steroids, Hall of Fame rant)

This is directed towards the arm chair manager and sofa commentators of the world, You are so quick to throw players who are accused of taking illegal substances or PEDs under the bus yet you don't keep their achievements in perspective. Yes, Ryan Braun tested positive but do fans even bother find out for what and why? No. Jump on the bandwagon, believe the hype. "He took PEDs, he is a blatant cheater with no respect for the game." Fans are calling for Selig to take away his MVP award. Are you joking? There is a reason the MLB is a professional league and that is because they handle situations like this with class and a level-headedness that the NCAA could not dream of. While the NCAA makes a hasty decision to strip past awards that have already been won (Bush of the Heisman), the MLB accepts its awards as is. Once it is won, it is won. You cannot go back and take away awards based on allegations or even convictions. Should Kemp have won the NL MVP? Maybe. But he didn't. To think it would be good for the game for them to take it away from Braun and give it to Kemp is a joke.

Lets's take this Braun situation and look at it with a clear head. It is disappointing and upsetting to see one of the best and bright young players of the league fall victim to an epidemic that we thought was fleeting. However, the MLB is littered with cases that are discovered and hidden of players that took, take and will continue to use PEDs in some form to get a competitive edge over the rest of the league. With different eras come different edges. To think that players of the 1930s wouldn't have used anything to their advantage to win ball games is naive and near sighted. Yes, I think Ryan Braun was wrong but I'm not going to hate the player because of this. He made a mistake, get over it. A lot of fans act like they are flawless in character and action throughout life. Braun maybe wasn't taking PEDs to improve out of selflessness but recover from a nagging injury. While players in the 80s used cocaine and other drugs to last, Braun tried something different. They both had the same purpose. They were trying to outlast during a grueling 162 season to bring a World Series title home to their city.

Obviously, if it is proven that Ryan Braun intentionally took illegal performance-enhancing drugs, the legitimacy of his MVP award will be thrown into serious doubt, but I think Major League Baseball and the Baseball Writers Assn. of America will just have to grin and bear it.

The historical can of worms that would be opened by re-assigning the award would damage the credibility of the process as much or more than just accepting the fact that naming Braun the National League MVP seemed like the right thing to do at the time.

Lest we forget, a guy named Barry Bonds has a whole room full of MVP trophies and Roger Clemens has a Cy Young Award to leave to every member of his family. It would be nice if we could sanitize history whenever it doesn’t retroactively live up to our expectations, but that’s just not practical. (Peter Schmuck, Baltimore Sun)

Here is a side note: For those that say the steroid users should be left out of the Hall of Fame, here is an argument that cannot be disputed. If you keep Bonds out of the Hall of Fame, how can you prove that half of the pitchers he hit bombs off of weren't on roids themselves? Why should this be looked at different than the fact that Babe Ruth never had to play against black players? Would Ty Cobb have had different numbers if he had to play any black players? Different eras, have different edges. There were no rules against using steroids for guys like Bonds, McGwire, Sosa and Canseco. Their numbers can be looked at with a funny face but not completely disputed. The era's offensive production is inflated for obvious reasons but leaving them out of the Hall is ignoring a dark but vital part of baseball history that revived the game from possible demise. Cooperstown is supposed to tell the story of baseball, not leave any parts out. The way I view the Hall is if someone who never watched baseball went there, they could see a little bit of every player that made an impact on the league's history. With this current perspective of picking and choosing people we BELIEVE did not "cheat", we are using selective memory and creating a false perception of what baseball really was. These players were a part of history, like it or not.

Investing in Hamilton?

This time next year, we most likely will know our answer to the question that will be on everyone's minds throughout this season. Will the Rangers splurge and lock up Josh Hamilton long term as a free agent? He seemed to have conquered his addiction and that directly led to his mashing of American League pitching. The talent was always there but the distractions have been too much since he was drafted by the Devil Rays in 1999. He had a short stint with the Reds before being shipped for pitching to Texas. He made that trade look like a steal for the Rangers' organization as he overcame his addiction and put it all together for the first time in 2010 to win a MVP award that we all knew he could win. He hit for average and power which is a rare feat in the MLB nowadays. In 2008, he was able to drive in 130 runs but 2010 was his best season to date. He batted .359 and was basically impossible to get out. The deal looked especially great after Volquez was suspended for PEDs. All was right in Texas. It seemed a foregone conclusion that the Rangers would resign their best overall player that led them to two straight pennants.

With the news coming out on Twitter last night about him having a relapse and drinking at a Dallas bar, we have to wonder again if it would be worth it to sign Hamilton to the money that his numbers suggest he should get on the free agent market.

This marks the second known relapse Hamilton has had since quitting drugs and alcohol. Hamilton drank alcohol in January 2009 in a bar in Tempe, Ariz. Photographs from the night surfaced on the Internet in August 2009 while the Rangers were playing at Anaheim. (Boston Herald)

 The Rangers know how it feels to be hamstrung by a deal that limits any sort of flexibility to be creative in creating your team after they signed Alex Rodriguez to a lucrative and insane deal. Texas was desperate for fans and desperate to win. That same desperation is gone now that they know they have a winning formula. They even showed that they could win without Hamilton with him having missed significant time in both years they went on to the World Series. He missed a little over 40 games in 2011 and over 30 in 2010. They aren't a team that is built around one player which actually makes Hamilton dispensable. As much offensive production as he does bring, he can be replaced in their winning system of baseball. They are a team that even without Hamilton could score more than most teams in either league.

If Hamilton is guaranteed to stay clean and addiction free, the deal is a no brainer. But after this recent relapse, Jon Daniels has to wonder if the money would be going to waste. I think the Rangers will ultimately resign Hamilton and put the same trust that they put in their embattled manager Ron Washington. The Rangers believe in forgiveness and rebirth. Both of these men have been accountable for their actions and deserve the respect they get from the front office and from the players. But from a fiscal point of view, one has to be wary before writing out that check to sign Hamilton. It's an unenviable place for the Rangers' organization to be in. It could polarize the fan base and leave some fans angered if he goes on to stay clean and rake for another team.

Texas has finally conquered a mission to become relevant in an area that is a dominantly Cowboys and Mavericks town. They  have overshadowed the Astros and became the toast of the town the last couple of years. Paired with the Mavericks' championship run, the fans of Dallas have grown to love a team that they were otherwise indifferent about. Although they were unable to win two years in a row, there has been an electricity in Texas about baseball that was nonexistent just a few years prior.They must keep it going and decide whether Hamilton will part of that process.

In my opinion, the Rangers took a risk in trading for him in the first place. They showed faith in him and it has paid off. They need to continue to keep the faith in Hamilton through good times and bad. He has shown that he can be the best player in baseball when clean. You have continued to trust the good in Ron Washington, now show that you know Hamilton will rebound and stay strong through even the most trying times. Judging strictly by what he has done for the Texas Rangers on the field, he deserves that.

Marlins' Home Run feature

No post tonight just this video that looks like something straight out of an 8 year old girl's Barbie set. This will happen every time a Marlin hits a home run....Here's a picture of it being assembled to be ready for Opening Night in Miami...

Repeat in the Desert?

Guest blogger: @MattJHolder
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2011 was a magical year for the D-Backs, they went from last place in 2010 with a 65-97 record to winning the NL West and shocking the baseball world. The D-Backs won with great starting pitching from Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson. They also received an MVP type year from Justin Upton and timely hitting from Chris Young and “Tat-Man” Ryan Roberts. Manager of the year Kirk Gibson looks for his team to receive the same magic as last year and make it to the playoffs.


The starting rotation has improved with the acquisition of Trevor Cahill from the A’s. Cahill will be the two starter behind Ian Kennedy who won 21 games in 2011. Cahill who was an all-star and ace for the A’s will improve in the NL and also is in a weak offensive division in the NL West. Daniel Hudson is another starter who could be an ace on another team but will be the three starter. Joe Saunders looks to rebound and return to the form he was with the Angels when he was an automatic 15 game winner. The fifth spot is in the hands of Josh Collmenter, who went 10-10 as a rookie with a 3.38 era.


The bullpen was solid last year with J.J Putz returning to his Mariners’ days. Takashi Saito is a solid setup man and David Hernandez will have a big year in the pen this year. They also acquired Craig Breslow who is a solid lefty for the A’s for th past few years.

The D-Backs have a solid lineup and may have one of the deepest lineups in baseball. The D-Backs hope to have Stephen Drew for the whole season as he was out of action for the last half of the season with a fractured wrist. Drew will hit leadoff and will be apart of a solid double play tandem with Aaron Hill. The acquisition of Jason Kubel is huge in the outfield. Kubel is capable of hitting 30 homeruns and drive in 100 runs. Miguel Montero may be the best catcher in the NL and will lead a young pitching staff. The only question mark is at first base with rookie Paul Goldschmidt. Goldschmidt has extreme power and can hit 25 home runs with ease and can be rookie of the year in 2012.


2012 will be the year, Justin Upton will win the NL MVP. Upton hit .289 with 31 homeruns and 88 RBIs. Upton is a 5- tool player and at only 24 years old he hasn’t even hit his prime yet. Upton showed last year he is ready to be the man in Arizona and expect him to lead Arizona on the field and lead them to a division title.

With the acquisitions in the offseason and no other team really improving in the NL West expect the D-Backs to win the NL West and be a tough team to face in the division series with Kennedy, Cahill, and Hudson.

Albert Pujols: M.O.B (Money over Birds)

I think as baseball fans, we all remember where we were when we heard the Albert Pujols to the Angels news. I happened to be finishing up teaching and checked my phone fast at lunch to about 25 tweets in a row on my feed going crazy, discussing the effect this has on the AL West and the league at large. There is a lot to consider when you look at this decision for Albert Pujols. He will now have played in both the National League and American League expanding his Hall of Fame resume even further. But now the question at hand is whether his legend has grown or shrunk with this decision.

It's hard to feel bad for Cardinals' fans because of their recent championship run and two in the last 10 years. But I feel bad for Albert Pujols. That's right, I said it. I feel bad for Pujols. He made a hasty decision based on money that he will wind up regretting when he hangs up the cleats. He has already made all the money he could have ever dreamed of. At what point is money not an issue? To me, being a lifelong member of a legendary franchise like the Cardinals' is more important. He forever tarnished his legacy as a Cardinal by signing with the Angels in my eyes. Don't get me wrong, he will forever be a Cardinal. In fact he will come back in 25 years for their ceremonies in the pregame, and he will receive a rousing ovation. But things will never be the same again. He had the chance to cement himself as the greatest Cardinal ever. Stan Musial, your title is safe.

The next 10 years of his career will most likely be forgotten when we talk about his accomplishments no matter how great he may play. I have a feeling that we will sit back as old men and talk about Pujols on the Angels like they talked about Montana on the Chiefs. Irrelevant, meaningless. At least Montana was traded. Pujols left on his own free will, spurning the city that crowned him King. He now joins the class of athlete that is perceived as a hired gun, driven by money rather than the love of the game and city. It's so rare in this sport to see lifers on teams like Derek Jeter especially in this large pool of free agent money to be had. I never thought I'd see Pujols toss on a different uniform and call another city home. It's like seeing Mickey Mantle play on the Cubs. Cal Ripken Jr. on the Padres. It looks so wrong, that it almost seems fake. It's like some kid who is an Angel fan playing MLB the Show traded Pujols to the Angels during season mode to stack up his team. It looks that surreal.

I hate to be overly dramatic because in the end when Albert's plaque is carved by Cooperstown he will be wearing a Cardinal cap. But something about this does not fit right. Every time I see a picture of him in the Los Angeles uniform, I feel uneasy. I don't think that the fans of St. Louis will boo him, although they have every right to. They will be gracious for what he accomplished but left broken hearted. Pujols and St. Louis were high school sweet hearts, married happily. They just celebrated an anniversary and a great vacation making memories galore. Pujols dumped St. Louis because he was bored. I think he will miss the Cardinals and being in the National League.

I don't like the argument that Pujols went to the Angels for another opportunity to win. It obviously was about money and a large, long term contract more than it was about rings because St. Louis had a team in place that could have contended for a title for the next 6 seasons. People forget that they won the World Series without Wainwright. They were slated to only be better if Pujols had stayed. 

The hangover in St. Louis will be there but they will move on. They will look back fondly at what #5 accomplished with the Cardinals' name of his chest while as an old man, Pujols will wonder what could have been if he had stayed.

Lost in the shuffle: Nats will fall short of Wild Card

In response to @MattJHolder's prior post
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    Matt was nice enough to contribute to this blog for ranting and raving about baseball topics. A hot topic in the baseball world is located in our nation's capital. Strasburg returns to the Nats after a year off. In his rookie year, he took the baseball world by storm, captivating audiences across the country to tune in and watch him seemingly fan whole teams. Can the Nats ride this new found media attention wave to the top of the NL East...?

    Yes they improved, I agree with all of that. Gio Gonzalez will compliment Strasburg and Zimmermann well in this DC rotation but it will not be enough. I have been saying that if they landed Fielder they would have a legitimate chance at challenging for the division but they fell short in the sweepstakes. Michael Morse is nothing to ignore but looking at Prince Fielder's production yearly, you realize he cannot be duplicated.

    The Nationals will compete and improve on their 80-81 season from a year ago but they will not clinch a playoff berth. It won't be because of their shortcomings but mostly because of the talent in this division. There are 3 legitimate teams that could win the National League East and the Nats have to figure out Halladay, Lee, Josh Johnson, Jurrjens, Hudson and even Johan Santana more than other teams.

     If they were playing their games in the National League Central, I think they would be a favorite to win but this division provides a tough task for a young team. They are growing and progressing in the right directions. Davey Johnson has the feel and pulse of the team. They will not be able to score enough runs to take over the crown in this division. They are making strides and will make baseball very relevant probably all the way through August in Washington but I see them falling short of their ultimate goal. I hope I'm wrong because we saw how electric Strasburg's starts were. Just imagine what a playoff game would be like in Nationals' Park.

Is It The Nats Time This Year?

Guest blogger: @MattJHolder

     The Nationals had a weird year in 2011. Their manager, Jim Riggleman stepped down while his team was on a winning streak and was a game over .500 at 38-37, Riggleman was then replaced by a World Series winning manager in Davey Johnson. Johnson took over and led them to a 40-43 and the Nats finished with a 80-81 record.

       The Nationals look to improve on that record and look to win the Wild Card or NL East Division. The Nats have a young pitching staff led by the phenom Stephen Strasburg. They also acquired Gio Gonzalez from the A’s, who is a nice number two starter for the Nats. The sleeper in the Nats rotation is Jordan Zimmermann who can step up and can be a stud for the Nats. The rotation is solid one through five with John Lannan, who was the number two, moving to the four slot and Chien Ming Wang rounding out the rotation.

The bullpen has been solid for the Nats and now have acquired Brad Lidge to go with former Yankee, Tyler Clippard and closer Drew Storen.

      The key for me is offense, I was certain Prince Fielder would wind up in Washington but since he is in Detroit the Nationals have to pray that Jayson Werth returns to form this year after having a dud year. We have to wonder if Michael Morse can have the same year that he had last year. Ryan Zimmerman will be solid as he is the best third baseman in the National League.

      The biggest question is will Bryce Harper be in the MLB this year? Will the Nationals feel pressure to call him up if he hits .350 in spring training? Will they rush him up or will he sit in the minors most of the year and be a September call up?

       The Nationals can contend in the NL East this year and have a shot to enter the postseason as a wild card team. They have improved in every aspect this offseason. In 2011, they finished 19-17 vs. the Braves and Phillies and went 36-36 in the division. They can compete in the division and could shock many baseball fans in 2012.

Gone Fishin': Marlins' Rotation

Where are the penny pinching, low budget Marlins we have been accustomed to in the MLB? We all know the big splash that the Miami Marlins have made this off season with the acquisition of speedy Jose Reyes. They signed one of the best closers in the NL to sure up their bullpen in Heath Bell. We are aware of their new, unique stadium. We have seen their new uniforms. We heard about Hanley  Ramirez moving to third base. We all are left to wonder if Ozzie Guillen can control this powder keg of a locker room. Putting that all aside and just looking at the main piece to making sure the Marlins get back to October glory is their vastly improved pitching staff.

Can this pitching staff get the Marlins to the postseason and give them a chance for a 3rd World Series title? I decided to take a look and do some investigation myself.

Their projected rotation boasts Josh Johnson, Mark Buerle, Anibal Sanchez, Ricky Nolasco and Carlos Zambrano.

We all know what we can expect from JJ. He has been consistent since he has broken into the bigs being one of the true elite, and underrated pitchers in the game. Playing in the depths of unoccupied Florida, hidden from the public eye. All true baseball fans know how good Johnson is. As a 28 year old, he has accomplished a lot in his short career. Being hurt for most of 2011, the Marlins stayed on the safe side keeping their franchise ace healthy for a huge year in 2012. With the improved offense and bullpen, Josh Johnson will look to break the 20 win threshold for the first time in his career.

Mark Buerle loves playing for Ozzie Guillen. Everyone remembers his ridiculous play between his legs on opening day and his perfect game. What gets lost in that is how consistent Buerle has been in all of his years with the White Sox. He will bring a veteran point of view to the rotation with young arms. He knows how to win and has tasted the World Series championship before. This signing is not only great for improving the pitching staff but also for the character of the team. Buerle is a true leader and will keep the team focused when and if they struggle.

Anibal Sanchez is projected to be the 3rd starter and he has a strong arm. Being young as he is, the Marlins feel confident in his ability to improve. They saw glimpses of brilliance in his rookie year of 2006 going 10-3 with a 2.86 ERA in 18 games. He has yet to get back to that level of pitching but with the guidance of the veterans in this rotation, he should make great strides towards being a front line starter.

Ricky Nolasco is your typical number 4 starter. High ERA but there is always the chance that he weaves a gem. If you have watched Nolasco pitch, you know how good his stuff can be. He tends to walk too many batters but if he can win about 10 games, I think the Marlins would take that. If the Marlins are going to go anywhere this season, they are going to need production from pitchers not named Johnson and Buerle. Sanchez, Nolasco and Zambrano will be huge in determining their fate.

Speaking of Carlos Zambrano, he is a reclamation project. Given up on by the Cubs for his temper and his struggles on the mound, the Marlins are taking a chance with him. Will his personality clash with some of the players? He was ostracized from that Cub clubhouse, and was decidedly disliked by his teammates. If he pitches well it is easy for players to look past his antics but when struggling, his act can get old fast. I expect some true fireworks with Ozzie and Zambrano wearing the same uniform. If the Marlins get anything out of Big Z, they'd be happy. I expect there will be a different pitcher instead of Carlos taking the ball every 5th day by early June.

What's not being mentioned but definitely considered is the Marlins competition. They need to play the Phillies, and Braves with great pitching staffs themselves. They will need to fare well against the class of the division and feast on the weak like the Mets. Their offense will be exciting with speed and power mixed all throughout the line up and their bullpen will be solid at the back end. They will need to figure out a sturdy bridge to get the ball to Bell. The Marlins will need to get off to a hot start to build a comfortable lead while the Phillies try and get healthy. The National League East will be a slug fest and it WILL be decided by starting pitching. What staff can hold up throughout the grind of a 162 game season?

If the Marlins get in the playoffs, watch out. They only get in when they decide to win it all. The only two times that the Marlins franchise has reached the post season, they won the World Series. 1997 and 2003.

Miami has a team and a beautiful stadium now all the fans have to do is show up. Support the team, and enjoy your new ball park. I think we will see these Miami Marlins become celebrities under the bright lights of prime time. They have a chance to be showcased for one of the first times in their history. The team is being talked about and there is a distinct buzz about them. With new uniforms and new players, regular season baseball in Miami has become relevant for the first time.

Great Yankees tribute

Houston Astros: The 'other' team in Texas

Does anyone else remember the not so distant seasons where the Rangers would not make the playoffs and play in the shadow of the Houston Astros? In 2005, Houston won the National League pennant for the first time in their long history. They have had a lot of teams that were talented enough to win it all but this team has yet to find the promised land.

Despite Carlos Beltran's efforts, the Astros were swept by the White Sox leaving the city of Houston upset but hopeful for the future. Fast forward to 2012, and the owner is thinking about a complete overhaul of a team who's struggles on the field have led to a decline in ticket sales. This correlation is not uncommon...play bad baseball, have poor attendance. Simple math.

The Astros haven't made the playoffs since that historic run in 2005 despite having talent on all of the rosters in the past 6 seasons. If they were searching for rock bottom, I believe they found it last year. They are in complete rebuild mode shipping off Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn for a plethora of young talent to playoff competing teams. They are struggling and although 2012, 2013, 2014 don't look promising, they should not change the team's complete identity after this road block. As the team starts its 50th anniversary, they should look fondly back on their history not with disdain. By changing the Astros. name, they are choosing to forget their years of futility and inability to win a championship while ignoring the greatness that took place in both the Astrodome and Minute Maid Park.

Houston's fan base has only been able to see their team make the playoffs 9 times since their inception in 1962 as the Colt .45s. Since 1965, they have donned and played under the title of Astros and to me that means something. Despite their struggles, and no championship to show for their years in the league, there is GREAT history that comes with that name. Changing the Houston Astros name robs the city and franchise of a chance to add some names of future greats to names such as Craig Biggio,  Jeff Bagwell,  Jimmy Wynn, Jose Cruz, Nolan Ryan, Mike Scott and more! In baseball there is a certain lore that comes with a franchises name.

While this possible name change has been chalked up by some people as a publicity stunt by Astros' management to get the fans involved this year, I still see it as an attack of the historic nature of the Houston Astros franchise. This is a tough time to be fan of or be involved in the Astros organization as they watch their once futile neighbor prosper with two straight American League pennants. But they should not panic and start over from scratch.

Championships are not everything, you cannot ignore the great history that goes with the Astros' name. If championships were the be all, end all...Dan Marino would not be looked upon as great as he is. I have faith that this franchise will return to relevance sooner than later. This team will jump into a talented and deep American League West in 2013 but by then, they should be on the tail end of their rebuild. Competition breeds excellence and just being in the same division as those teams will force the Astros to be better than they ever had to be.

If they want to change their uniforms, do it. In fact, they should follow the trend that the Orioles and Blue Jays have taken to by going back to their old uniforms. If they want to update the old yellow and orange threads, I'd be okay with that. Do what you must to rebuild the team and get the fans back in the seats but please leave the name alone though. The city of Houston deserves it. What's in a name? A LOT. In baseball, history is valuable and it should be respected.

A case for the Pirates in October

What is the first thing that comes to mind when I say "The Pittsburgh Pirates"...? Quick...! If you had the answer losing, last place, big market farm system or pathetic, you aren't alone. This team has been the model of inconsistency and losing for 19 consecutive years. If you are a fan of baseball, you are aware about the greats that have once donned that stylish 'P' on their cap. Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Barry Bonds, Honus Wagner, Bill Mazeroski and Paul Waner all have been greats in that uniform.

Pittsburgh is a city that has a tradition of winning sports. The Steelers and Penguins have gotten to the promise land in recent years while the Pirates have floundered in futility creating minor stars who go on to finish their careers in other uniforms. For a few months of the 2011 season, the city of Pittsburgh was alive with their baseball team playing better than they have been in almost two decades. With Andrew McCutchen leading the way, the Pirates were an overachieving team with playoffs on their mind. Then something happened...the wheels fell off. Milwaukee wound up winning the Central going away while the Wild Card came from this division as well in the form of the eventual champions, St. Louis Cardinals. This left the Pirates organization to be left out another October and their fans questioning why they are never the team to catch a break. 

Well Pirates fans, this is the year. With the addition of the second wild card and a weaker division, this is the Pirates' chance to jump up high enough to squeeze into the playoffs. I'm not saying they are going to win 100 games, but this second wild card is the hope that teams like the Pirates needed to get over the hump. Here's why...

Going through their projected 2012 line up(thanks to rotochamp.com) 

We can see that they are bringing back almost the same line up that they tossed out there in 2011. This is a good sign for Pirates fans because usually their core is broken up by now. The Bedard signing is quietly effective to add a nice veteran presence to help sure up the rotation. Not even mentioned was their closer Joel Hanrahan who pitched to a 2.85 ERA with 35 saves. 

Clint Hurdle has the Pirates team believing. They know they can put together a winning half of season, so all they have to do is do it in the second half too. The team got a taste of hanging around the top of Central and liked it. It had to be nice to have the Pirates faithful loud and proud every night at PNC Park.

It’s interesting to hear Hurdle say the team learned some lessons from the humbling second half results.  The team was “punched in the mouth and tasted our own blood,” Hurdle said." (http://rumbunter.com/2012/01/26/after-14-months-are-the-pittsburgh-pirates-clint-hurdles-team-now/)

It's simple math...with the subtractions to Milwaukee and St. Louis...the Pirates are going to gain wins against both of them. With the Astros and Cubs essentially non factors in the division, there is only one way for the Pirates to go. They are the direct beneficiaries of the mass exodus of talent out of the division. Ryan Braun's 50 game suspension will also help. If you believe in any of this WAR statistics, you can't ignore that the wins HAVE to go somewhere. That somewhere is Pittsburgh. With the second wild card added to the mix, it is the perfect antidote to this 19 year old flu. Finally the stigma will be gone and the Pirates will fly their flag in October....

A start with some proposed questions

Anyone that follows me on Twitter (@StevenPhilNYY) knows that I love to go on rants about sports but more specifically baseball in general. I am a Yankee fan but I love the league. I consider myself pretty knowledgeable as a fan about not only my team but the whole league. This blog is to contain my thoughts and organize them into something I can go back to a little easier than my Twitter account. The writing here will not only be myself but I will let some others contribute to agree or disagree with a topic I have presented.

First off, with the last big free agent finding a home, we can all look towards opening day with hope and optimism. We are left with a lot of questions to ponder on our way to Opening Day. Here are some of the big questions that should be answered throughout the season.

*How does the acquisition of Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson affect the American League West? Are the Rangers the team to beat still after two consecutive American League pennants or do the Halos garner that respect simply based on their unbelievable off season?

*Will Fielder put the Tigers over the top to finally bring a World Series title to Detroit? How will Miguel Cabrera do at third?

*Will Yu Darvish's transition into the MLB be smooth? Will his numbers reflect anything he did overseas or will he be just another bust?

*We know that the absence of Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun from the Brewers line up will hurt...but at least Braun will be coming back eventually. While serving his 50 game suspension, he will have a lot of time to mull over his future. How will he react to his now tarnished legacy ? Will he embrace his mistakes and try to be a role model (Andy Pettitte) or will he curl up and become defensive? (Barry Bonds/ Rogers Clemens)

*Will the Pirates end their long drought from the post season with the Brewers gutted, the Cardinals without Pujols, the Cubs in transition and the Astros being a bottom feeding team in full rebuild mode?

*Can the Diamondbacks do what they did last year and win the National League West? Are they here to stay?

*Which team will show signs of wariness following their late season collapses at the first sign of turmoil...Red Sox or Braves?

*New managers...who will prosper, who will struggle? We have skippers that are new all around the league. Ozzie Guillen in Miami, Mike Matheny in St. Louis, Bobby Valentine in Boston, Robin Ventura in Chicago (South Side), Dale Sveum in Chicago (North Side)

*Is this FINALLY the year that the Nationals break out? With a rotation stacked with young arms and a pretty decent offense, can they get to the top of the National League East?

If I missed any questions, post them in the comments.

In the following posts, I will start to preview and give some predictions as to where I think teams will be in a few months. Thanks for reading. Again my Twitter handle is @StevenPhilNYY. Send me some questions, suggestions, comments. I love talking baseball to anyone that will listen.