Much has been made about Miguel Cabrera and Chris Davis becoming the first players to ever hit the All-Star Break with 30+ homers and more than 90 RBI's.
Davis is on pace for 62 bombs and 157 runs batted in while Cabrera is in line to slug 52 dingers and plate 164 Tigers.
If either finishes with 50 and 150 they would join pretty elite company.
There have been 46 seasons in MLB history of 150+ RBI's and 42 where a slugger has hit more than 50 Home Runs.
Here's the group that has done both within the same season.
The old guys
Babe Ruth
1921 - 59/171
1927 - 60/164
Hack Wilson
1930 - 56/191 (Single-season record for RBI's)
Jimmie Foxx
1932 - 58/169
1938 - 50/175
The users
Sammy Sosa
2001 - 64/160
Alex Rodriguez
2007 - 54/156
That's it. Five guys, seven times, ever.
Pretty elite potential company.
Notes
Of those 46, 150-RBI seasons Gehrig (7) and Ruth (6) had nearly 30 percent between the two of them.
Gehrig had more than 165 RBI's FOUR times but never hit more than 49 long balls - which he did twice.
In 1930, SIX players eclipsed the 150 mark, including Wilson's record of 191. No one has been within 25 of that mark since 1938. Gehrig's 184 in 1931 is the second most ever. Hank Greenberg's 183 in 1937 is the only other single-season where someone had over 175.
Mark McGwire had five seasons with more than 50 homers but never led the league in RBI's or drove in more than 147.
****
There will be talk of a repeat triple crown for Cabrera, an MVP debate that could top Trout-Cabrera of 2012, and playoff spots up for grabs, but the historic race to rarefied 50/150 air bears watching as well.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Weaver, Boras, Moreno and impending free agency
Jered Weaver is leading a hotly-contested AL Cy Young race with inside of two months to go.
Last year he led the league in strikeouts. He is 28. He is having a career year.
In the offseason he actually lost his arbitration case. He wanted $8.8 million. He got $7.36 million instead. Somebody dropped the ball.
He will not pitch for less than $10 million for the forseeable future. He won't pitch for less than $20 million, starting next year.
How long that lasts falls on the shrewd shoulders of super-agent Scott Boras.
The Angels may have been able to negotiate a long-term deal with Weaver six months ago. Something in the range of four years and $70 million.
Now nothing under nine numbers will do.
****
Scott Boras will not go quietly into the night now. Not armed with back-to-back top-5 Cy Young finishes, or repeat All Star appearances, or 400-plus K's over those two years.
He wants to get Weaver to free agency. He will drive up the dollars. A bidding war will ensue.
The Bombers need pitching. Even if Sabathia opts out he will be back. The Super Nova and Phil Hughes may be mainstays but by Thanksgiving next year Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon will be footnotes.
They missed on Cliff Lee. They don't miss often.
****
They didn't whiff on Mark Teixeria and there's no hiding how much of an impetus that may be for the current impasse. A Boras client the Angels wanted to retain, owner Arte Moreno makes no qualms about his feelings for Boras.
He won't negotiate with him. He moved him from his suite behind home plate so he wouldn't have to see him on TV. He can't avoid him now. Or at least his people can't.
What he is staring down the barrel of now is Barry Zito money.
At 30, Weaver's age next offseason, Boras will certainly try to leverage the extra years for his client. This will be his one big deal.
Jered has started 28 games or more each of the last four seasons. His ERA has dropped, too.
The Yankees aren't the only team that need - or would pony up for - his arm.
The Red Sox are always in the mix, too. Beckett and Lester are great but questions linger after that. The Cubs have money. The Nationals are starting to spend with the big boys and slotting Weaver ahead of Zimmerman and Strasburg has to scare the hell out of Philly and Atlanta.
****
Luck and misfortune go hand-in-hand.
The Boras pendulum swings both ways, and the Angels organization is laying in this bed by choice.
After a standout career at Long Beach State, Weaver and Boras scared 11 teams picking ahead of Anaheim in 2004. He fell into their laps. He shouldn't have been on the board but he was - buyer beware.
****
So where does that leave Weaver? In a perfect place as long as his bank account is concerned. At 30 he will be smack dab in the middle of his prime.
Pitchers are a precious commodity. They are never a sure thing but organization's have no choice but to hope they stay viable.
So what does the market look like?
In my estimation the floor starts at five years and $100 million. It skyrockets from there.
Somebody will offer six years. The seventh year will be the deal breaker.
Six years and $140 million? Seven and $150? These are astronomical figures, but aces in their prime get paid, plain and simple.
The window for the Angels was open but it's closing fast. I think it's shut until next fall.
Then it's game on. Let the bidding begin.
Last year he led the league in strikeouts. He is 28. He is having a career year.
In the offseason he actually lost his arbitration case. He wanted $8.8 million. He got $7.36 million instead. Somebody dropped the ball.
He will not pitch for less than $10 million for the forseeable future. He won't pitch for less than $20 million, starting next year.
How long that lasts falls on the shrewd shoulders of super-agent Scott Boras.
The Angels may have been able to negotiate a long-term deal with Weaver six months ago. Something in the range of four years and $70 million.
Now nothing under nine numbers will do.
****
Scott Boras will not go quietly into the night now. Not armed with back-to-back top-5 Cy Young finishes, or repeat All Star appearances, or 400-plus K's over those two years.
He wants to get Weaver to free agency. He will drive up the dollars. A bidding war will ensue.
The Bombers need pitching. Even if Sabathia opts out he will be back. The Super Nova and Phil Hughes may be mainstays but by Thanksgiving next year Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon will be footnotes.
They missed on Cliff Lee. They don't miss often.
****
They didn't whiff on Mark Teixeria and there's no hiding how much of an impetus that may be for the current impasse. A Boras client the Angels wanted to retain, owner Arte Moreno makes no qualms about his feelings for Boras.
He won't negotiate with him. He moved him from his suite behind home plate so he wouldn't have to see him on TV. He can't avoid him now. Or at least his people can't.
What he is staring down the barrel of now is Barry Zito money.
At 30, Weaver's age next offseason, Boras will certainly try to leverage the extra years for his client. This will be his one big deal.
Jered has started 28 games or more each of the last four seasons. His ERA has dropped, too.
The Yankees aren't the only team that need - or would pony up for - his arm.
The Red Sox are always in the mix, too. Beckett and Lester are great but questions linger after that. The Cubs have money. The Nationals are starting to spend with the big boys and slotting Weaver ahead of Zimmerman and Strasburg has to scare the hell out of Philly and Atlanta.
****
Luck and misfortune go hand-in-hand.
The Boras pendulum swings both ways, and the Angels organization is laying in this bed by choice.
After a standout career at Long Beach State, Weaver and Boras scared 11 teams picking ahead of Anaheim in 2004. He fell into their laps. He shouldn't have been on the board but he was - buyer beware.
****
So where does that leave Weaver? In a perfect place as long as his bank account is concerned. At 30 he will be smack dab in the middle of his prime.
Pitchers are a precious commodity. They are never a sure thing but organization's have no choice but to hope they stay viable.
So what does the market look like?
In my estimation the floor starts at five years and $100 million. It skyrockets from there.
Somebody will offer six years. The seventh year will be the deal breaker.
Six years and $140 million? Seven and $150? These are astronomical figures, but aces in their prime get paid, plain and simple.
The window for the Angels was open but it's closing fast. I think it's shut until next fall.
Then it's game on. Let the bidding begin.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Must win - One week In?
Even a modest prediction for the San Francisco 49ers before the season started was 10 wins. With five or six wins in their division alone easily attainable another five against the NFC South and AFC West didn't seem like a stretch at all.
With one game left in week two the Niners schedule - based on early returns and one awful game by the Singletary's - looks downright mean all of the sudden:
Week 1 at Seattle - Expectation: Rebuilding year for the 'Hawks with a new coach and a lot of new pieces. Loud place to play but the Niners will take care of business (and expectations) and get the win. Result: Three early chances to score TD's are blown leading to just six points and the team implodes, leaving a wake of accusations and allegations about communication and competency on the offensive side. Wow, even for the NFL the division-champs-to-be were smoke and mirrors pretty quick.
Week 2 vs. New Orleans - Expectation: Chalked this one up as four-six losses before the season. The defending champs come to town and are just too balanced for the Niners to upend. If they play well though, it could be a confidence-booster. The 'ol hang with the best, means we are close moment. Lose badly (like home loss to Atlanta in '09) and its back to the drawing board. Reality: Sandwiched between last's week debacle and next week's trip to KC (early start, short week, loud stadium, 2-0 Chiefs) and this game looks pretty important now.
Week 3 at Kansas City - Expectation: The Chiefs are not there yet. They have a few pieces and like Seattle it's loud and can be hostile when the team is going well but once again, this is a game a good team should be able to find a way to win. Reality: The Chiefs haven't proven a ton yet. They were outplayed by the Chargers a week ago and the torrential downpour mitigated those circumstances and beating the Browns isn't a huge hurdle to clear but the previously mentioned issues will be. West coast teams do not play well at 10 AM Pacific time, preparing for an opponent on a short week is hard and those communication issues will only be magnified in a raucous success-starved Arrowhead on Sunday morning.
Week 4 at Atlanta - Expectation: Loss. The Falcons crushed the 49ers last season at the Stick. Why would the boys of the bay roll into the ATL and suddenly handle Matty Ice and the Birds? Yea, I couldn't come up with a good reason either. So that means 2-2 after four weeks, waiting for the schedule to soften a bit. Reality: 0-4?? Season over, quarterback controversy, need for a new coach/offensive coordinator and a top-10 defense pissed that the other side of the ball is worthless despite the presence of at least two bona-fide playmakers (more on that in a second).
From there seven home games remain - three against hapless NFC West foes - but at 0-4 what does it matter? The Niners rally late and finish 7-9 again? Another off-season of pining about missed opportunities, 10-win seasons, playoffs and what could have been. Wait haven't we been down this road before?
Even at 1-3, Philadelphia comes to town and will be no easy task. Next up is the Raiders are a team the 'Niners should handle but no one is a pushover at this point. Another early start follows this time in Carolina - another road game that a playoff team wins - and then a "home" tilt with Denver across the Pond before the bye week. What was purported to be a 5-3 or 6-2 team heading into the break could be looking at a reversal of numbers. 2-6 or 3-5 certainly seems plausible when staring at an 0-4 hole. But they'll regroup after the bye, going 6-2, and string along that optimism all the way until next fall. Will that last gasp matter? Tonight should tell us a lot. Of course an upset of the defending champs at home, could sweep all of this under the rug. Such is life.
Additional thoughts: Mike Singletary may be an icon, a tremendous motivator and a wonderful mentor but he is meant to be the head coach of an NFL team. The jury has to still be out. While many coaches are blessed with great players, others get the most out of what they have. The Niners defense is formidable, the offense has more quality skill players than at any point in recent memory and then there's quarterback. Sure, Singletary's Papa Bear approach worked wonders with Vernon Davis but he was also supremely gifted. Can the same be said of Alex Smith? And for all of Coach Sing's football gusto how much does he know about molding QB's? For a franchise with two of the greatest gunslinger's ever the dearth of talent at the most crucial position in football since Jeff Garcia and definitely Steve Young and Joe Montana before him is a glaring problem and will continue to be.
Michael Crabtree is gifted. He has the potential to be a great receiver but he has really put himself in a precarious position as a pariah. The long holdout last season, the "diva" tag, missing the preseason, getting veteran treatment before proving anything to the point that V. Davis felt compelled to get in his face at practice then looking awfully lost when the lights came on Week 1. Not a great start. He needs to work hard, figure out what he's doing and start making a discernible difference if the 'Niners offense is going to take the leap necessary to be good week-in and week-out.
Enjoy the game.
With one game left in week two the Niners schedule - based on early returns and one awful game by the Singletary's - looks downright mean all of the sudden:
Week 1 at Seattle - Expectation: Rebuilding year for the 'Hawks with a new coach and a lot of new pieces. Loud place to play but the Niners will take care of business (and expectations) and get the win. Result: Three early chances to score TD's are blown leading to just six points and the team implodes, leaving a wake of accusations and allegations about communication and competency on the offensive side. Wow, even for the NFL the division-champs-to-be were smoke and mirrors pretty quick.
Week 2 vs. New Orleans - Expectation: Chalked this one up as four-six losses before the season. The defending champs come to town and are just too balanced for the Niners to upend. If they play well though, it could be a confidence-booster. The 'ol hang with the best, means we are close moment. Lose badly (like home loss to Atlanta in '09) and its back to the drawing board. Reality: Sandwiched between last's week debacle and next week's trip to KC (early start, short week, loud stadium, 2-0 Chiefs) and this game looks pretty important now.
Week 3 at Kansas City - Expectation: The Chiefs are not there yet. They have a few pieces and like Seattle it's loud and can be hostile when the team is going well but once again, this is a game a good team should be able to find a way to win. Reality: The Chiefs haven't proven a ton yet. They were outplayed by the Chargers a week ago and the torrential downpour mitigated those circumstances and beating the Browns isn't a huge hurdle to clear but the previously mentioned issues will be. West coast teams do not play well at 10 AM Pacific time, preparing for an opponent on a short week is hard and those communication issues will only be magnified in a raucous success-starved Arrowhead on Sunday morning.
Week 4 at Atlanta - Expectation: Loss. The Falcons crushed the 49ers last season at the Stick. Why would the boys of the bay roll into the ATL and suddenly handle Matty Ice and the Birds? Yea, I couldn't come up with a good reason either. So that means 2-2 after four weeks, waiting for the schedule to soften a bit. Reality: 0-4?? Season over, quarterback controversy, need for a new coach/offensive coordinator and a top-10 defense pissed that the other side of the ball is worthless despite the presence of at least two bona-fide playmakers (more on that in a second).
From there seven home games remain - three against hapless NFC West foes - but at 0-4 what does it matter? The Niners rally late and finish 7-9 again? Another off-season of pining about missed opportunities, 10-win seasons, playoffs and what could have been. Wait haven't we been down this road before?
Even at 1-3, Philadelphia comes to town and will be no easy task. Next up is the Raiders are a team the 'Niners should handle but no one is a pushover at this point. Another early start follows this time in Carolina - another road game that a playoff team wins - and then a "home" tilt with Denver across the Pond before the bye week. What was purported to be a 5-3 or 6-2 team heading into the break could be looking at a reversal of numbers. 2-6 or 3-5 certainly seems plausible when staring at an 0-4 hole. But they'll regroup after the bye, going 6-2, and string along that optimism all the way until next fall. Will that last gasp matter? Tonight should tell us a lot. Of course an upset of the defending champs at home, could sweep all of this under the rug. Such is life.
Additional thoughts: Mike Singletary may be an icon, a tremendous motivator and a wonderful mentor but he is meant to be the head coach of an NFL team. The jury has to still be out. While many coaches are blessed with great players, others get the most out of what they have. The Niners defense is formidable, the offense has more quality skill players than at any point in recent memory and then there's quarterback. Sure, Singletary's Papa Bear approach worked wonders with Vernon Davis but he was also supremely gifted. Can the same be said of Alex Smith? And for all of Coach Sing's football gusto how much does he know about molding QB's? For a franchise with two of the greatest gunslinger's ever the dearth of talent at the most crucial position in football since Jeff Garcia and definitely Steve Young and Joe Montana before him is a glaring problem and will continue to be.
Michael Crabtree is gifted. He has the potential to be a great receiver but he has really put himself in a precarious position as a pariah. The long holdout last season, the "diva" tag, missing the preseason, getting veteran treatment before proving anything to the point that V. Davis felt compelled to get in his face at practice then looking awfully lost when the lights came on Week 1. Not a great start. He needs to work hard, figure out what he's doing and start making a discernible difference if the 'Niners offense is going to take the leap necessary to be good week-in and week-out.
Enjoy the game.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Long hiatus over, NFL season upon us!
There is a lot to discuss but this post will be short.
Plenty of exciting topics to touch upon, like the baseball races - Cy Young, Triple Crown, NL West, NL East, AL East.
Basketball and hockey are close to returning.
Good first week of college football, with some big match-ups in two days and of course the NFL begins tonight.
On that note allow me to make my first pick for the season.
Vikings @ Saints (-5.5)
I'll take the defending champs to cover and I'll be back by Sunday morning for a run-down of the rest of the picks.
Plenty of exciting topics to touch upon, like the baseball races - Cy Young, Triple Crown, NL West, NL East, AL East.
Basketball and hockey are close to returning.
Good first week of college football, with some big match-ups in two days and of course the NFL begins tonight.
On that note allow me to make my first pick for the season.
Vikings @ Saints (-5.5)
I'll take the defending champs to cover and I'll be back by Sunday morning for a run-down of the rest of the picks.
Friday, July 9, 2010
NL Cy Young Update: Jimenez has the W's, but that's it
Ubaldo Jimenez has had a fantastic season. He looked fabulous again today in shutting down St. Louis and was on a record-breaking pace until recently. But a few hiccups in late June and early July have opened the door for a slew of serious contenders.
One look at U can't hit what U can't see's numbers and the data is shocking.
15-1, 2.20 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 113 K's. Nobody's won more than 27 games in the National League in nearly 60 years. Last season's Cy Young winner won 15 games all season.
But let me say it again. Last year's Cy Young winner won only 15 games.
In an age of Sabremetrics and stat geeks simply winning games won't do it. Adam Wainwright was a bullpen meltdown away from being a 20-game winner with a bunch of other gaudy numbers and he came up short in 2009.
For Ubaldo, a 25-win season, a no-hitter, 200 K's and an ERA in the low two's may be too much for anyone else to overcome. Hell, Jimenez could wind up winning the pitching triple crown (wins, ERA and strikeouts) but there are plenty of pitchers with numbers just as impressive or better than Jimenez in other categories not including record.
Let's round out the rest of the top-10 with just a few days left until the All-Star break.
LURKING
Josh Johnson (FLA)
After eight shutout innings Wednesday night in LA, Johnson's numbers are top-to-bottom the best in baseball. He sports a tidy 1.70 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 123 K's against just 28 walks. His record is 9-3. He leads all NL starters in every possible metric including WAR where he tops the list at 5.0. If I had to vote right now he would be my pick.
Adam Wainwright (STL)
A brilliant 2009 behind him, nothing has changed for Wainwright in the new decade. A 2.24 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, 123 K's and 32 BB with a 12-5 record. Not a lot of drop off there or from the rest of the candidates. He's gone at least six innings in every start but one and hasn't given up more than four earned runs in an appearance.
Roy Halladay (PHI)
Like Jimenez, a few rough starts have skewed some otherwise downright numbers for ol' Roy but the sum totals are still pretty fantastic. 2.33 ERA a 1.08 WHIP and 119 K's with only 18 free passes in as many starts. Doc is just 10-7 but has seven complete games and three shutouts (both the most in the NL). The Philly bats have been uncharacteristically quiet for long stretches in the early going and Halladay's record has suffered. His 4.3 WAR is tied for second in the league with Jimenez.
Mat Latos (SDP)
Certainly the surprise of the first-half, Latos has been downright brilliant for the Padres thus far. Latos boasts a 2.45 ERA with just a 0.97 WHIP. He's struck out 99 and walked just 28. He's 10-4 for the NL-West leading Daddies. His hits allowed per nine innings pitched is the second lowest behind Jimenez.
FOUR MORE TO WATCH FOR
Yovani Gallardo (MIL)
Flithy stuff, but just landed on the DL. Should be back after the break. 2.58 ERA and 128 K's. High WHIP (1.26) because of so many walks (48). 8-4 for a Milwaukee team that is really struggling and may trade off some pieces making it even harder for Gallardo to get wins.
Clayton Kershaw (LAD)
Speaking of good stuff, this young Dodger lefty has electric pitches. He's 9-4 with 128 K's and a 2.96 ERA. Does a nice job of working out of jams - 50 BB - but makes it tough on himself by issuing so many slow trots.
Jaime Garcia (STL)
Another good young arm is the 24-year old Mexican rookie pitching for the Cardinals. His 2.17 ERA is second-best on the senior circuit. He's 8-4 and has fanned 80 hitters. Durability has been his weakness so far since Garcia has yet to throw more than seven innings in a start this season, although he has gone six or more in all but four games and has recorded a quality start each time he has done so.
Tim Lincecum (SFG)
The two-time reigning NL Cy Young winner started 2010 looking like the same pitcher that dominated the league for the past two seasons before control problems sent him into trouble. But he's regained his prowess and owns a respectable 3.26 ERA. For the third year in a row he leads the NL in strikeouts and he's 9-4. His 1.28 WHIP is inflated due to 48 BB. A strong second-half from the Freak could put Timmy right back in the middle of this conversation.
One look at U can't hit what U can't see's numbers and the data is shocking.
15-1, 2.20 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 113 K's. Nobody's won more than 27 games in the National League in nearly 60 years. Last season's Cy Young winner won 15 games all season.
But let me say it again. Last year's Cy Young winner won only 15 games.
In an age of Sabremetrics and stat geeks simply winning games won't do it. Adam Wainwright was a bullpen meltdown away from being a 20-game winner with a bunch of other gaudy numbers and he came up short in 2009.
For Ubaldo, a 25-win season, a no-hitter, 200 K's and an ERA in the low two's may be too much for anyone else to overcome. Hell, Jimenez could wind up winning the pitching triple crown (wins, ERA and strikeouts) but there are plenty of pitchers with numbers just as impressive or better than Jimenez in other categories not including record.
Let's round out the rest of the top-10 with just a few days left until the All-Star break.
LURKING
Josh Johnson (FLA)
After eight shutout innings Wednesday night in LA, Johnson's numbers are top-to-bottom the best in baseball. He sports a tidy 1.70 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 123 K's against just 28 walks. His record is 9-3. He leads all NL starters in every possible metric including WAR where he tops the list at 5.0. If I had to vote right now he would be my pick.
Adam Wainwright (STL)
A brilliant 2009 behind him, nothing has changed for Wainwright in the new decade. A 2.24 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, 123 K's and 32 BB with a 12-5 record. Not a lot of drop off there or from the rest of the candidates. He's gone at least six innings in every start but one and hasn't given up more than four earned runs in an appearance.
Roy Halladay (PHI)
Like Jimenez, a few rough starts have skewed some otherwise downright numbers for ol' Roy but the sum totals are still pretty fantastic. 2.33 ERA a 1.08 WHIP and 119 K's with only 18 free passes in as many starts. Doc is just 10-7 but has seven complete games and three shutouts (both the most in the NL). The Philly bats have been uncharacteristically quiet for long stretches in the early going and Halladay's record has suffered. His 4.3 WAR is tied for second in the league with Jimenez.
Mat Latos (SDP)
Certainly the surprise of the first-half, Latos has been downright brilliant for the Padres thus far. Latos boasts a 2.45 ERA with just a 0.97 WHIP. He's struck out 99 and walked just 28. He's 10-4 for the NL-West leading Daddies. His hits allowed per nine innings pitched is the second lowest behind Jimenez.
FOUR MORE TO WATCH FOR
Yovani Gallardo (MIL)
Flithy stuff, but just landed on the DL. Should be back after the break. 2.58 ERA and 128 K's. High WHIP (1.26) because of so many walks (48). 8-4 for a Milwaukee team that is really struggling and may trade off some pieces making it even harder for Gallardo to get wins.
Clayton Kershaw (LAD)
Speaking of good stuff, this young Dodger lefty has electric pitches. He's 9-4 with 128 K's and a 2.96 ERA. Does a nice job of working out of jams - 50 BB - but makes it tough on himself by issuing so many slow trots.
Jaime Garcia (STL)
Another good young arm is the 24-year old Mexican rookie pitching for the Cardinals. His 2.17 ERA is second-best on the senior circuit. He's 8-4 and has fanned 80 hitters. Durability has been his weakness so far since Garcia has yet to throw more than seven innings in a start this season, although he has gone six or more in all but four games and has recorded a quality start each time he has done so.
Tim Lincecum (SFG)
The two-time reigning NL Cy Young winner started 2010 looking like the same pitcher that dominated the league for the past two seasons before control problems sent him into trouble. But he's regained his prowess and owns a respectable 3.26 ERA. For the third year in a row he leads the NL in strikeouts and he's 9-4. His 1.28 WHIP is inflated due to 48 BB. A strong second-half from the Freak could put Timmy right back in the middle of this conversation.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
AL MVP Race
July is upon us and the Midsummer Classic is just around the corner. With that in mind I thought it wasn't too early to start the AL MVP debate. While this award can certainly be won (or lost) in September when a player can swing the tide of the playoff race the groundwork for a complete resume is being laid now.
In the conversation
(AKA The 12 HR, 53 RBI guys)
10. Torii Hunter (LAA) - Despite losing bopper Kendry Morales to injury the Angels are once again in the thick of the AL West race and Hunter's calm and steady presence in the clubhouse, line-up and centerfield are a big part of that. Spiderman has won nine straight gold gloves and he leads the league in doubles (24).
9. Evan Longoria (TAM) - Longo is developing into a leader in his third season in Tampa and heads a good Rays club that is scrapping to stay with the surging Red Sox and loaded Yankees. Has a 3.2 WAR and plays a gold-glove hot corner behind the AL's best staff.
8. Adrian Beltre (BOS) - Brought to Boston to shore up the Sox infield defensively not only has Beltre put up good power numbers reminiscent of his Dodger days but he is also tied for second in the league with a whopping .349 batting average.
On the outside looking in
7. Kevin Youkilis (BOS) - Youk is a run-producing machine. He's scored a league-high 62 times and driven in 50. The first baseman leads the AL with 49 walks and his .416 OBP is second-best.
6. Paul Konerko (CHW) - Konerko is tied for the league-lead with 20 homer's and his 56 RBI's are fourth best. His White Sox are red-hot and in the middle of a heated AL central race.
5. Justin Morneau (MIN) - Has an MVP award on his mantle already, carrying a Minnesota offense that is dealing with down years from most of it's other big bats like Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel. His 5.1 WAR, .446 OBP and 1.063 OPS leads the league.
Leading the pack
4. Robinson Cano (NYY) - Leads the league with a .354 average and has been hitting for power, too (16 HR's and 54 RBI). Second in WAR (4.6) has just one error (.997 fielding percentage) and like Morneau, making up for sub-par years from A-Rod and Teixiera.
3-2. Vladimir Guerrero/Josh Hamilton (TEX)
Vlad the Impaler has always hit well in Arlington (.385 career clip, .374 in 2010) so the move to the Rangers seemed like a smart one. But coming off an injury plagued 2009 campaign that limited him to 100 games. It seemed like Guerrero, the 2004 AL MVP, was certainly on the downward arc of his brilliant career.
That assumption - and the reality then when healthy he is still a force - has been hammered home to his old mates the last couple of nights. Last night Vlad hit a go-ahead grand slam in a 4-for-4, two bomb performance and is 68 RBI tie him for the league lead. He has 18 dingers and a .339 average. The big knock against him will be that he is primarily used as a DH.
Hamilton, like Vlad, had a DL-laden 2009 season. On the heels of his unbelievable comeback and breakout 2008, he too was a question mark. But Hamilton has exploded once again. The splits are eye-popping, .343/18/58, and he currently boasts the longest hitting streak in the bigs this year (23 games). He leads the AL in total bases and has yet to ground into a double play.
1. Miguel Cabrera (DET)
After his drunken incident in the midst of the biggest series of the season and the collapse that followed, Cabrera was on thin ice. And for about .23 seconds the Tigers thought about shipping him out of town. But after getting sober and re-focusing Miggy is once again doing what he's always done, flat-out rake.
Cabrera is tied for the AL lead in homers and RBI's and sports a lofty .337 average making him a dangerous threat for the triple crown. His .628 slugging percentage is tops in the league and he's second in runs scored and total bases.
But it's his meltdown at the end of last season and his subsequent gut check that has got him here and he's really put the Tigers on his back in 2010. Barring a triple crown feat, Detroit needs to make the playoffs for Tubbs to hold off some strong competition, but if they do edge out Minnesota and Chicago then Cabrera has the inside track to his first MVP trophy later this year.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Twins-Mets musings
Headed to Citi Field in a few hours for the Minnesota-New York game. Thought I'd shed some light on the two teams, the match-up and the new Mets stadium.
Without further ado...
There were rumors this week that the Mets and Mariners had mutual interest in a deal involving Cliff Lee. The Mets however were reportedly reluctant to pull the trigger on a trade if it included big league talent like Jon Niese, Ike Davis or Angel Pagan. Wait, what?
Jon Niese is a good young pitcher but he also couldn't make it through five innings against Detroit Tuesday night after being staked to a 10-0 lead.
Ike Davis is a fan favorite in the Big Apple, already inspiring a "We like Ike" Dwight D. Eisenhower-esque campaign after just a few months in the show. The hefty lefty was the Metropolitans first-round choice in 2008, drafted 18th overall out of Arizona State. He could be a middle of the line-up masher for the next 10-15 years, and is having a fine rookie season to date.
Angel Pagan is a light-hitting outfielder, with some speed. He's hitting at a .304 clip currently but has just four home runs and is very expendable.
But since when did the Mets decide to be the Yankees? Not the free-wheeling spenders but the "we want to build from within and not continue to mortgage our future types?" Oh wait, maybe a decade-and-a-half worth of huge deals that yielded little results can cause a shift in philosophy but the Mets still have money and we are still talking about Cliff Lee.
While the Mets have been playing very good ball of late, winning seemingly every time ace Johan Santana doesn't pitch, putting Lee and Santana at the top of a rotation would be exactly the formidable one-two punch that fellow NL clubs like St. Louis (Carpenter and Wainwright), San Francisco (Lincecum and Cain) and rival Philadelphia (Halladay and the aforementioned Cliff Lee) have or should have tried to keep intact.
In case you needed reminding, since apparently Mets executives do, here are Lee's numbers from last postseason with the Phillies: 5 starts, 40.1 IP, 4-0, 27 H, 6 BB, 33 K's and a 1.56 ERA.
Now there is a guy I want on the mound come October and if the Mets are serious about contending and making noise in a pitching-packed NL postseason then they should, too.
****
Speaking of Santana, he got roughed up by his former mates yesterday (five earned in six innings, of a 6-0 loss), and even without his services the Twins just keep on chugging.
While the monster contract doled out to catcher Joe Mauer shows that even Minnesota is capable of opening up its wallets a bit the Twinkies are still a model of efficient, calculated success.
At 41-33, they own a game and a half lead over the red-hot White Sox (winners of 11 in a row) and the Detroit Tigers. Both teams spend more money than the Twins do ($108 million and $122 million respectively) but Minny's 2010 payroll is just under $98 million allowing them to keep some of their home grown talent in house and to be competitive consistently.
Beautiful new Target Field only increases the chances of that happening. The Twin Cities new jewel, a downtown, outdoor stadium, has been filled at 99 percent capacity so far in its inaugural season and with a good team in a fantastic place for summer it should be a good ride for the Twins again this year.
****
I got my first taste of Citi Field Wednesday evening when the Tigers were in town to take on the Amazing's. It feels absolutely huge, but the spacious concourses, and fabulous concessions made it a great experience. Every one of these new ball parks is a sight to behold and this one is no slouch.
I've heard about big it was and after watching so many games at Long Beach's Blair Field and following the Giants at AT&T Park it was hard for me to imagine a diamond that played much bigger than those two but Citi really is a cavernous place.
High walls and really deep alleys make it a pitcher's haven and even with Wright and Bay expected to produce a lot of power it seems like the Mets are building around pitching and winning close, low-scoring games.
****
It's only late June but both teams are locked in close division races. I mentioned the three-team battle ensuing in the AL Central but the Mets are 42-32. That puts them 1.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves and two games clear of the two-time defending NL champion Phillies.
Needless to say in a long season, every game is still important. The Twins needed 163 games to edge out the Tigers last October after their disastrous finish and with an historic collapse of their own in the not so distant past the Mets need to keep grinding each day.
****
I'll have much more from the game, so stay tuned at twitter.com/philomis for more Twins-Mets info. There will also be plenty of World Cup tidbits and Giants-Red Sox stuff as Lester and Lincecum duel it out by the bay.
Without further ado...
There were rumors this week that the Mets and Mariners had mutual interest in a deal involving Cliff Lee. The Mets however were reportedly reluctant to pull the trigger on a trade if it included big league talent like Jon Niese, Ike Davis or Angel Pagan. Wait, what?
Jon Niese is a good young pitcher but he also couldn't make it through five innings against Detroit Tuesday night after being staked to a 10-0 lead.
Ike Davis is a fan favorite in the Big Apple, already inspiring a "We like Ike" Dwight D. Eisenhower-esque campaign after just a few months in the show. The hefty lefty was the Metropolitans first-round choice in 2008, drafted 18th overall out of Arizona State. He could be a middle of the line-up masher for the next 10-15 years, and is having a fine rookie season to date.
Angel Pagan is a light-hitting outfielder, with some speed. He's hitting at a .304 clip currently but has just four home runs and is very expendable.
But since when did the Mets decide to be the Yankees? Not the free-wheeling spenders but the "we want to build from within and not continue to mortgage our future types?" Oh wait, maybe a decade-and-a-half worth of huge deals that yielded little results can cause a shift in philosophy but the Mets still have money and we are still talking about Cliff Lee.
While the Mets have been playing very good ball of late, winning seemingly every time ace Johan Santana doesn't pitch, putting Lee and Santana at the top of a rotation would be exactly the formidable one-two punch that fellow NL clubs like St. Louis (Carpenter and Wainwright), San Francisco (Lincecum and Cain) and rival Philadelphia (Halladay and the aforementioned Cliff Lee) have or should have tried to keep intact.
In case you needed reminding, since apparently Mets executives do, here are Lee's numbers from last postseason with the Phillies: 5 starts, 40.1 IP, 4-0, 27 H, 6 BB, 33 K's and a 1.56 ERA.
Now there is a guy I want on the mound come October and if the Mets are serious about contending and making noise in a pitching-packed NL postseason then they should, too.
****
Speaking of Santana, he got roughed up by his former mates yesterday (five earned in six innings, of a 6-0 loss), and even without his services the Twins just keep on chugging.
While the monster contract doled out to catcher Joe Mauer shows that even Minnesota is capable of opening up its wallets a bit the Twinkies are still a model of efficient, calculated success.
At 41-33, they own a game and a half lead over the red-hot White Sox (winners of 11 in a row) and the Detroit Tigers. Both teams spend more money than the Twins do ($108 million and $122 million respectively) but Minny's 2010 payroll is just under $98 million allowing them to keep some of their home grown talent in house and to be competitive consistently.
Beautiful new Target Field only increases the chances of that happening. The Twin Cities new jewel, a downtown, outdoor stadium, has been filled at 99 percent capacity so far in its inaugural season and with a good team in a fantastic place for summer it should be a good ride for the Twins again this year.
****
I got my first taste of Citi Field Wednesday evening when the Tigers were in town to take on the Amazing's. It feels absolutely huge, but the spacious concourses, and fabulous concessions made it a great experience. Every one of these new ball parks is a sight to behold and this one is no slouch.
I've heard about big it was and after watching so many games at Long Beach's Blair Field and following the Giants at AT&T Park it was hard for me to imagine a diamond that played much bigger than those two but Citi really is a cavernous place.
High walls and really deep alleys make it a pitcher's haven and even with Wright and Bay expected to produce a lot of power it seems like the Mets are building around pitching and winning close, low-scoring games.
****
It's only late June but both teams are locked in close division races. I mentioned the three-team battle ensuing in the AL Central but the Mets are 42-32. That puts them 1.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves and two games clear of the two-time defending NL champion Phillies.
Needless to say in a long season, every game is still important. The Twins needed 163 games to edge out the Tigers last October after their disastrous finish and with an historic collapse of their own in the not so distant past the Mets need to keep grinding each day.
****
I'll have much more from the game, so stay tuned at twitter.com/philomis for more Twins-Mets info. There will also be plenty of World Cup tidbits and Giants-Red Sox stuff as Lester and Lincecum duel it out by the bay.
Friday, June 25, 2010
So you're telling me there's a chance
That's one of my favorite lines from a long list of classic Dumb and Dumber quotes.
Lloyd asks Mary the chances of "a guy like you and a girl like me... ending up together?"
Mary tells him they are one in a million. Lloyd is ecstatic.
That's how the U.S. men's soccer team and it's supporters feel on the eve of a monumental tilt with the Black Stars of Ghana.
The Yanks were given a gift when English goalie Robert Green flubbed Clint Dempsey's shot near halftime in their opening match in South Africa.
But then their luck turned. After making an epic comeback to even the score with Slovenia, drawing to 2-2 after being down a pair at intermission, Maurice Edu's game-winner was disallowed and the red, white and blue was on the brink of another early exit.
In Wednesday's third and final qualifying game the Americans had another goal waived off but didn't waiver and Landon Donovan's goal in extra time sent the U.S. through to the round of 16.
****
What number 10's magical strike really did was give the U.S. new life. Staring elimination straight in the face the "cardiac kids" not only found the tally they so desperately needed but in doing so clinched the top spot in Group C and really found themselves excited about their "one in a million moment."
****
The last Vegas-based odds I saw before the World Cup began had the Americans as 66-1 to hoist the golden ball. Overseas it was even higher, going off at 125-1. A Sam Bradford-led renaissance in St. Louis, where the hapless Rams win the Super Bowl next February is a 200-1 possibility at the moment.
There all parallels. Both the Rams and the U.S. would have to beat out 31 other foes and the mere mention of it brings both snickers and looks of disbelief.
But once again Donovan's goal changed everything.
Not only did the U.S. win their table by finishing with more goals than the Three Lions but they also won the lottery in terms of who they will face en route to the "Final Four."
Make no mistake, a run to the semi-finals would be very much like Butler or George Mason making it. But for the Americans the three teams they are now matched up against in the "Sweet Sixteen" that remain alive in South Africa are like an eight seed, a nine seed and a 13 seed.
To be in a foursome with Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea while world soccer powers Argentina, Germany and England are opposite them, plus rival Mexico, well, the United States simply may NEVER have this kind of opportunity to at least make the semi-finals of the planet's biggest sporting event.
****
There is no getting around the fact that the U.S. team could already be back in the States. They did not play exceptionally well and could have very easily found themselves on the outside looking in but this situation is not at all new to them.
Just last summer, on South African soil and in many of the same stadium's, the Americans looked outnumbered and uninterested for their first two games before a 3-0 triumph against Egypt and a bizarre sequence of tiebreakers saw them sent through to face reigning European champion Spain.
They made the most of that opportunity knocking off the best team in the world 2-0 before taking an identical lead against the most decorated world soccer side, Brazil, in the Confederation's Cup final.
The Brazilians brilliance shone through in the second half and the Americans came up short but it was an important lesson on focusing on the task at hand and realizing that when presented with that "chance" anything is possible.
****
Tomorrow's game against Ghana is that chance multiplied by one hundred. What Donovan's goal set in motion was a chain of events that could change the course of American soccer history.
The Black Stars are a young team but a determined one. They sent the red, white and blue packing four years ago with a 2-1 win to close out group play and carry the hopes of an entire continent on their back, Five African teams made this World Cup, the first ever on the continent, and they are the only one still playing on home soil.
Uruguay has looked very good so far and La Celeste has won two World Cup titles - albeit not recently - and they use an up-tempo, attacking style that could cause problems for an unsettled American back line.
South Korea is still a relative unknown to the soccer world but has nothing to lose and so much to gain having advanced to this point already. The U.S. has surprised as an underdog but often scuffled against equal or lesser opponents.
Nothing will be guaranteed against any of these teams but when the anthems are done tomorrow evening in South Africa a "one in a million chance" will be a dream much closer, and much more plausible, for the Americans to realize.
Lloyd asks Mary the chances of "a guy like you and a girl like me... ending up together?"
Mary tells him they are one in a million. Lloyd is ecstatic.
That's how the U.S. men's soccer team and it's supporters feel on the eve of a monumental tilt with the Black Stars of Ghana.
The Yanks were given a gift when English goalie Robert Green flubbed Clint Dempsey's shot near halftime in their opening match in South Africa.
But then their luck turned. After making an epic comeback to even the score with Slovenia, drawing to 2-2 after being down a pair at intermission, Maurice Edu's game-winner was disallowed and the red, white and blue was on the brink of another early exit.
In Wednesday's third and final qualifying game the Americans had another goal waived off but didn't waiver and Landon Donovan's goal in extra time sent the U.S. through to the round of 16.
****
What number 10's magical strike really did was give the U.S. new life. Staring elimination straight in the face the "cardiac kids" not only found the tally they so desperately needed but in doing so clinched the top spot in Group C and really found themselves excited about their "one in a million moment."
****
The last Vegas-based odds I saw before the World Cup began had the Americans as 66-1 to hoist the golden ball. Overseas it was even higher, going off at 125-1. A Sam Bradford-led renaissance in St. Louis, where the hapless Rams win the Super Bowl next February is a 200-1 possibility at the moment.
There all parallels. Both the Rams and the U.S. would have to beat out 31 other foes and the mere mention of it brings both snickers and looks of disbelief.
But once again Donovan's goal changed everything.
Not only did the U.S. win their table by finishing with more goals than the Three Lions but they also won the lottery in terms of who they will face en route to the "Final Four."
Make no mistake, a run to the semi-finals would be very much like Butler or George Mason making it. But for the Americans the three teams they are now matched up against in the "Sweet Sixteen" that remain alive in South Africa are like an eight seed, a nine seed and a 13 seed.
To be in a foursome with Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea while world soccer powers Argentina, Germany and England are opposite them, plus rival Mexico, well, the United States simply may NEVER have this kind of opportunity to at least make the semi-finals of the planet's biggest sporting event.
****
There is no getting around the fact that the U.S. team could already be back in the States. They did not play exceptionally well and could have very easily found themselves on the outside looking in but this situation is not at all new to them.
Just last summer, on South African soil and in many of the same stadium's, the Americans looked outnumbered and uninterested for their first two games before a 3-0 triumph against Egypt and a bizarre sequence of tiebreakers saw them sent through to face reigning European champion Spain.
They made the most of that opportunity knocking off the best team in the world 2-0 before taking an identical lead against the most decorated world soccer side, Brazil, in the Confederation's Cup final.
The Brazilians brilliance shone through in the second half and the Americans came up short but it was an important lesson on focusing on the task at hand and realizing that when presented with that "chance" anything is possible.
****
Tomorrow's game against Ghana is that chance multiplied by one hundred. What Donovan's goal set in motion was a chain of events that could change the course of American soccer history.
The Black Stars are a young team but a determined one. They sent the red, white and blue packing four years ago with a 2-1 win to close out group play and carry the hopes of an entire continent on their back, Five African teams made this World Cup, the first ever on the continent, and they are the only one still playing on home soil.
Uruguay has looked very good so far and La Celeste has won two World Cup titles - albeit not recently - and they use an up-tempo, attacking style that could cause problems for an unsettled American back line.
South Korea is still a relative unknown to the soccer world but has nothing to lose and so much to gain having advanced to this point already. The U.S. has surprised as an underdog but often scuffled against equal or lesser opponents.
Nothing will be guaranteed against any of these teams but when the anthems are done tomorrow evening in South Africa a "one in a million chance" will be a dream much closer, and much more plausible, for the Americans to realize.
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