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2012 MLB Team Preview: Cleveland Indians

Posted by on 2 April 2012, 3:20 am

Cleveland Indians logo; aka 'the Tribe'

The 2011 Cleveland Indians came out of the gate hot last season, and were first in the AL Central up until July 20th having won 51 games.

Following that day, the Tribe only won 29 more games in 2011, and finished the season a distant second with 15 games separating them and the division leading Detroit Tigers.

Every team suffers injuries but in Cleveland players spent a total of 826 days on the DL in 2011, which certainly was higher than normal.

Now, with a new season just days away can a healthy Tribe finish off what they couldn’t in 2011?

Let’s take a look at the Indians heading into the 2012 season….

THE POSITIVES:

The emergence of shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera going from good to All-Stat, hitting 25 homers and 92 RBIs in 2011. The 26-year old ranked first in RBIs and hits out of all AL Shortstops and second in home-runs and doubles, and it earned him his first Sliver Slugger Award. This guy has a really bright future in Cleveland and his natural baseball ability leads many to believe that Cabrera will only get better.

The Indians have to take advantage of the April schedule. The Tigers play the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays and Rangers in the first month so the Indians have to pounce from the start, as the Tigers bats, aka Miguel Cabrera; tend to need a month to warm up before blasting everything out of the park. The Tribe needs to capitalize off every single opportunity if they plan on contending with the Tigers come September.  So, another hot start is in order in Cleveland.

THE NEGATIVES: Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: Cleveland Indians’ »

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2012 MLB Team Preview: Minnesota Twins

Posted by on 26 March 2012, 9:11 pm

Minnesota Twins logo.

The Minnesota Twins plunged to the bottom of the AL Central in 2011 finishing with a 63-99 record, which was the second worst in baseball.

In 2010, the Twins won 94 games and captured their second-straight American League Central title, which is why last season’s fall, came unexpectedly.

It just seemed like everything in Minnesota went wrong at the right times last season, as hampering injuries were ramped.

So, now the 2012 million-dollar question is whether the Twins can get back to being a contender in the AL Central again.

Let’s check it out…

THE POSITIVES:

The Twins seemed to have hit rock bottom, and as the saying goes the only place to go is up, as I don’t see the Twins losing 99 games again in 2012. This team won six divisional title in the past ten years, and all under skipper Ron Gardenhire. And if anyone knows what worked, or what is not working it should be Gardenhire but it seems like the Twins were ok with chalking things up to injuries last season.

Justin Morneau is an all-around great baseball player and with him playing any team would improve. The 2006 MVP and four-time All-Star can rake, as over his career he averages 29 homers and 113 RBIs a season, which includes the last two seasons where he spent more time on the DL than at the plate. Morneau has suffered his three concussions, but the big blow happened in 2010 and he missed half the season. Morneau admittedly is still suffering from symptoms but as of now have been better but the 2010 blow came back to haunt him last season, as he was on the DL for over 90 games. Morneau could be used as a permanent DH, as his bat is one of the best in the Majors and the Twins need all the help they can get. I have a feeling that Morneau will still see time at first-base, which I think is reckless because the odds of him winding up back on the DL become that much higher. I like Morneau and he is a superstar when healthy, as he blows Mauer out of the water. Still, the Canadian-born Morneau was a hockey fanatic growing up so he probably took hits on the ice well before his baseball playing days, which might be why he can’t shake the the symptoms.

THE NEGATIVES:  Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: Minnesota Twins’ »

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2012 MLB Team Preview: Kansas City Royals

Posted by on 10 March 2012, 4:15 pm

Kansas City Royals Logo

Last season the Kansas City Royals finished with a 71-91 record, but regardless of what that record suggests, the team looked a lot better than anyone could have anticipated.

Still, Royals fans are frustrated. They are sick of hearing how excited they should be about the future and want to see some results now.

Will Royals Nation finally get the season they have waited well over a decade for in 2012?

Let’s take a look….

THE POSITIVES:

Offensively the Royals have some young, and promising talent in Alex Gordon, Jeff Francoeur, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Billy Butler, and Alcides Escobar. And now that now they all have a season under their belt together looked for a marked improvement in 2012, and for seasons to come.

Heading into this season the team’s bolstered the strength of their bullpen, but they are banking on a bigger and better year out of closer Joakim Soria and newly acquired Jonathan Broxton who they inked to a one-year at $4 million deal. The ex-Dodger has struggled on the mound since his dominant 2010 season, but if Braxton can get close to being that guy again, the Royals bullpen will be a shutdown one.

THE NEGATIVES: Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: Kansas City Royals’ »

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2012 MLB Team Preview: Detroit Tigers

Posted by on 7 March 2012, 2:00 pm

Detroit Tigers Logo

The Detroit Tigers went from being a .500 ball-club in 2010, to winning 95 games and the AL Central in 2011.

In an off-season where they lost Victor Martinez for the all of 2012, Tigers ownership stepped it up big to make sure that the team is still in a place to contend by signing Prince Fielder to a nine-year, $214 million deal. WOW…that is a lot of money.

Still, there are issues here but can the Tigers grind it out again and continue further than the ALCS in 2012?

Let’s take a look…

THE POSITIVES:

Offensively the Tigers will be featuring two of the best hitters in baseball, Miguel Cabrera and the newly signed Prince Fielder, along with Alex Avila and Jhonny Peralta. In my opinion any team with Cabrera on it is a threat, as he can carry a team on his back. He is the best pure hitter in the game today that I have ever seen. Rumor has it that Cabrera came into camp early, a little lighter and more importantly problem free, which is a positive.

The Tigers rotation is led by the AL MVP and CY Young award winner Justin Verlander, and overall the rotation had a decent season in 2011; and I say decent because looking at the rotations overall stats they land in the middle in almost every catagory. The Tigers have the ultimate ace in Verlander, as he won 24 games in 2011 and he is the definition of an innings eater pitcher. Also they are banking on a great full season of Doug Fister, which would help deepen their rotation, but don’t expect a repeat of the 1.79 ERA he posted when he was acquired by the Tigers mid-season in 2011. After Fister comes Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello, who won a combined 29 games in the 2011 season. All five Tiger starters are below the age of 30, which means there is still room to grow here.

THE NEGATIVES: Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: Detroit Tigers’ »

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New York Yankees: Secret To ALDS Success Vs. Detroit Tigers

Posted by on 30 September 2011, 11:17 am

So, what is the New York Yankees secret to success in this ALDS series?

It is a pretty simple formula…. winning Game 1 and beating Justin Verlander.

Appropriately in Game 1, both skippers’ Joe Girardi and Jim Leland, have their aces taking the hill. This is almost a prerequisite for all teams competing in the five-game ALDS series, as it allows an ace to pitch twice if needed.

First off all, winning Game 1 of the postseason is never a bad thing, as for any team it sends an abrupt message that you came to play. For the Yankees, defying the odds is something the players seem to relish in and when they get hot, they usually stay that way but the same is true when they get beat.

Now let’s look at Verlander, Sabathia and my specific prediction for the outcome of the ALDS Game 1….

Verlander vs. Sabathia

Justin Verlander:

It is easy to start with Tigers Justin Verlander, as be is a shoe-inn for the AL CY Young Award and is in serious contention for the AL MVP Award, which a pitcher hasn’t won since Roger Clemens was on the juice.

Regardless, Verlander is nasty. The righty finished the regular season with a 24-5 record, which included four complete games and two shutouts. Over the total of 251 innings he pitched, Verlander fanned 250 batters, posted a 2.40 ERA and opposing hitters averaged .192 against him. His arsenal includes a wicked curveball, slider and change-up to compliment his 100+ mph fastball.

To put it politely the Yankee bats will have their hands full, but it is not a total lost cause. Verlander gave 24 home-runs and 57 walks, which is a higher number than expected. Hitters have fared a lot better against him then the stats would make out to believe, but not by much.

In his career, the Yankee Captain has hit .357 off Verlander. And now I understand why Girardi is DH-ing Jorge Posada as he is not far behind Jeter posting .333 vs. the Tiger’s ace. Swisher has three career homers against Verlander, while Tex, Chavez and Cano have all gone yard once vs. Verlander.

Even with the future crowned 2011 CY Young winner on the mound, the Yankee hitters have an enormous amount of plate patience and it could frustrate Verlander. The only thing is that Verlander is a workhorse and can through well over 130 pitches, so that almost eliminates the Yankees advantage over the Tigers relievers.

CC Sabathia:

When you consider that Sabathia gave up 17 home-runs and 61 walks in total, it makes Verlander seem more mortal and if any lineup in baseball can bring a pitcher back down to earth it is the Yankees. It also reminds baseball fans that Sabathia is no slouch.

It is no secret that Sabathia struggled this past August. The decline happened at the same time Girardi went to a six-man rotation and the extra day between starts might have thrown the ace off schedule.

My guess it at some point Sabathia will have to swallow his pride by intentionally walking Tigers slugger and 2011 AL Batting Title winner Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera is the best hitter I have ever seen, and he has owned Sabathia. In his 16-career at-bats vs. CC, Cabrera has 11 RBIs, two home-runs, one double; four walks and posts a .563 batting average. So this move would be smart.

The Yankees bullpen is dominate, and if Sabathia can throw six solid innings without letting runs score that would be enough.

WHO HAS THE PITCHING ADVANTAGE? Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Secret To ALDS Success Vs. Detroit Tigers’ »

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2011 MLB Season: Top 9 Headlines After Two Weeks Of Drama

Posted by on 18 April 2011, 5:07 am

It is hard to believe that the 2011 MLB season is only a tad over two weeks old, as the drama could be deemed season-worthy already.

What story-lines have really shocked baseball fans?

Here are the top 9 headlines (with my comments) that could make baseball worthy of it’s own soap opera, now that the MLB Network just aired baseball’s first official reality series. Please, click on the titles to go to the actual articles, trust me it is well worth it.

  1. A.J. Burnett Has More Wins Than the Boston Red Sox – Come on now, is it possible that every baseball expert on earth couldn’t have seen this one coming. Rethinking strategy? Next time watch what happens after “THE DECISION” before making one.
  2. Charlie Sheen to Red Sox fans: ‘Relax’ – Red Sox fans felt much better and finally could relax after hearing from the man who deemed himself the biggest winner ever, lives with goddesses and is the ultimate poster boy of why you should never touch drugs. Sheen says worries over, time to panic.
  3. Wait, WHO is Leading the Central??? – Is it possible that Royals and Indians will continue like this past April? Doubtful but these days crazier things have happened, like trading an entire team for A-rod would barely reduce salary at all?
  4. Alec Baldwin and John Krasinski Knock Baseball Smack-Talking Out of the Park – who are the AD Wizards that came up with this one? Thank you New Era!!!
  5. The 2011 New York Mets: They rearranged the deck chairs – is it possible that a team could get any worse? I guess Madoff involvement wasn’t rock bottom. Up next…. Mr. Met head gets knocked off and Manny Ramirez is inside?
  6. 2011 Walk Off Hits – everybody’s doing it, as the number of walk off wins so far is ridiculous. Can anyone say YEAR OF THE WALK OFFS?
  7. Showtime offers glimpse of new show featuring World Series-winning Giants – FYI HBO’s HARD KNOCKS ONLY films during pre-season camp. There was NEVER filming during the regular season, as once things started cameras were off. That bullshit ‘glimpse’ is a ploy to get the players to drop their inhibitions, my advice is be careful cause instead of being the less-talked about on the East Coast, you are going to become a joke too. If the 2010 Champs want East Coast attention REPEAT.
  8. Monday Morning Shortstop: The Colorado Rockies, Baseball’s Best Team? – No question that the Rockies are the best team so far, but by a lot. No distractions, all business was the message the Rockies spoke during Spring Training. The Rockies are walking the talk and making some noise among East Coast fans, aka. Yankee fans know you are coming to the Bronx soon and they can’t wait.
  9. This Time, Manny Is Fleeing Manny – Manny never loved baseball like baseball loved Manny. It was a sad day for the sport and not the way fans wanted to say goodbye.

 

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New York Yankees: Super-Nova vs. Minnesota Twins Preview

Posted by on 4 April 2011, 5:43 am

In his first match-up, New York Yankees rookie pitcher Ivan Nova will take on the Minnesota Twins.

Technically, it is not Nova’s first time pitching in the Bronx, but it is his début as the official fourth starter in the 2011 pitching rotation.

Nova popped up mid-pennant race last season for seven starts; he posted a 1-2 record, a 4.50 ERA, striking out 26, over 42 innings pitched. He walked 17 batters and allowed 21 earn runs, but Nova’s overall performance wasn’t as bad as the stats make it seem. Still, the Nova from last year would not have been named as the Yankees fourth starter.

Nova improved from the experience and worked hard this off-season, as the pitcher that showed up in Spring Training was the Nova that won the job.

The game is at home and Yankee fans are hoping for a big performance from the 24-year-old in the Bronx, just like the Nova that posted a 1.80 ERA over 20 innings in Spring Training.

Nova did pitch one scoreless inning in relief against Minnesota last May.

The Yankees bats hit nine home-runs over the weekend, three from a typically April-slumping Mark Teixeira. The Yankees took two of three from the heavily loaded Detroit Tigers in their first season’s series; and even in the 10-7 loss, the Bombers were hitting as Jorge Posada went yard twice

As for the Twins, things haven’t been so smooth, dropping two of three to Toronto to avoid a sweep by winning on Sunday 4-3. It was closer Joe Nathan’s first save since 2009, but it was a little too close for comfort.

The Twins-nation has a major bone to pick or at least to break with the Yankees. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Super-Nova vs. Minnesota Twins Preview’ »

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