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I mean the AL MVP debate was at least passable, but everybody knew who the NL MVP for the 2011 season was going to be.

It would seem that the BBWAA’s blunders are coming from letting their wishes interpret all duties by having an open mind.

It was Los Angeles Dodger Matt Kemp, but he came in second and not a close one either to Milwaukee Brewers Ryan Braun.

Let me make it clear, that Braun was undoubtedly worthy of being involved in the 2011 MVP discussions and right till the end too.

The problem is Kemp’s regular season numbers were undeniably atop of the NL; and it is a travesty he didn’t win the award.

Still, there is no reason to not give huge congratulations to Ryan Braun, who had a spectacular 2011 season in Milwaukee.

Here is the 2011 NL MVP voting results:(...)
Read the rest of NL MVP To Ryan Braun Screw You Matt Kemp

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Post tags: Baseball Writers Association of America, Los Angeles Dodger, Los Angeles Dodgers, Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award, Matt Kemp, Milwaukee Brewers, National League, Ryan Braun

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The team formally known as the Florida Marlins is now officially part of the city they have represented for 19 seasons.

The now Miami Marlins got more than just a name change last night, as the franchise unveiled a new logo, along with fresh uniforms in the team’s new $515 million ballpark, called “Marlins Ballpark.”

The Miami Marlins will open up the 2012 season in their well deserved new home, led by new skipper Ozzie Guillen, who is sure to spice things up all on his own.

Well, Guillen might have a lot to look forward too, as the latest news swirling Miami is that owner Jeffrey Loria is only just getting started.

The latest from MLB Trade Rumors is that the Marlins played host earlier this week to both Albert Pujols and Jose Reyes. And Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal reports that the Marlins made “substantial offers” to both superstars.

Also, Jon Heyman of SI tweeted that Guillen has also attempted to entice newly free agent Mark Buehrle, who pitched for him with the Chicago White Sox, to make a move south too. Buehrle also made a personal visit to Miami and according to Heyman got an offer too.(...)
Read the rest of New Miami Marlins Trying To Spend Like New York Yankees

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Post tags: Albert Pujols, Florida Marlins, Mark Buehrle, Miami, New York Yankees

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So congratulations are in order, for outfielder Curtis Granderson and second baseman Robinson Cano who both consistently produced at the plate throughout the 2011 season. The Yankees also owe HUGE thanks to batting coach Kevin Long, who has been instrumental in the entire team’s success at the plate.

Here are all of the MLB players who were named 2011 Silver Sluggers:

AMERICAN LEAGUE:

NATIONAL LEAGUE:

CONGRATULATIONS to all the  Silver Sluggers for swinging the hottest bats in the 2011 season!!!

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Post tags: American League, Curtis Granderson, New York Yankee, Rawlings Gold Glove Award, Robinson Canó, Silver Slugger Award, Troy Tulowitzki

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CONGRATULATIONS to all the 2011 Gold Glove Winners!

Don’t think I didn’t notice that not one New York Yankee won a Gold Glove for the 2011 season, which makes this award lose a lot credibility, as the results seem awfully lopsided.

I will broach this subject in my next post, as how can the AL team with the best record not get at least one nod.

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• Francoeur, Gordon named finalists for Rawlings Gold Glove (royals.mlblogs.com)
• MLB Rawlings Gold Glove Awards Show To Air On ESPN (thebiglead.com)
• 3 Dodgers, 3 Red Sox Earn Gold Glove Honors (abcnews.go.com)
• Baseball Fans, Don’t Miss the First Ever Mitt Masters on ESPN2! (wedspecializedwriting.wordpress.com)
• 3 Dodgers, 3 Red Sox earn Gold Glove honors (sfgate.com)
• Teixeira, Cano & Gardner finalists for Gold Glove Award (yankeesfansunite.wordpress.com)

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Post tags: Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Joey Votto, National League, New York Yankee, Rawlings Gold Glove Award

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The 2011 World Series kicks off on Wednesday night, with the St. Louis Cardinals hosting the Texas Rangers to start this best of seven series.

Which team has the advantage?

I have watched both teams throughout this postseason and they match up well. So instead of going stat crazy, below are my cut and dry observations of the St. Louis Cardinals.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS:

The Good:

There is no denying that something special is going on in St. Louis. Remember the Cardinals were not supposed to be here. Actually the Cardinals were not supposed to make the post season, beat the Phillies or the Brewers either but this team continually defies the odds. Regardless that the Cardinals have the best player on earth, Albert Pujols, it is a total team effort in St. Louis and this team is hot. And when a team continually believes in themselves when no one else does, that is a team that will be hard to beat.

Also, the over-managing by skipper Tony La Russa has worked on all cylinders this post season. The sometimes-irritating La Russa is now baseball’s Einstein. The mixing and matching of his bullpen, after not one St. Louis starter in the ALCS pitched five innings, was beyond impressive. Not to mention his unconventional genius of carrying eight relievers just to make sure St. Louis didn’t get blown out by the bats of Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder. La Russa has been this team’s MVP this post season.

The Bad:

Thus far, the Cardinals starting pitching has gotten away with doing the bare minimum this post season because the bullpen has saved their behinds, and quite well. Still, the bullpen cannot be the Cardinals crutch, which means the starters have to contribute at least five innings because the relievers could easily run out of steam. This could be the difference maker as the Rangers hard-hitting bats can easily knock out any starter. Also, the Cardinals had a regular season record of 65-42 when a starting pitcher threw six or more innings.(...)
Read the rest of 2011 WS Preview: St. Louis Cardinals

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Post tags: 2011 World Series, Albert Pujols, Milwaukee Brewers, Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, St Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, Tony LaRussa, World Series

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Starters:

Alex Avila (C, Detroit Tigers), Adrian Gonzalez (1B, Boston Red Sox), Robinson Cano (2B, New York Yankees), Alex Rodriguez (3B, New York Yankees), Derek Jeter (SS, New York Yankees), David Ortiz (DH, Boston Red Sox), Jose Bautista (OF, Toronto Blue Jays), Curtis Granderson (OF, New York Yankees) and Josh Hamilton (OF, Texas Rangers).

Reserves:

1B: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers, 2B: Howard Kendrick, Angels, 3B: Adrian Beltre, Rangers, SS: Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians, OF: Michael Cuddyer, Twins, OF: Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox, OF: Matt Joyce, Rays, OF: Carlos Quentin, White Sox, DH: Michael Young, Rangers, C: Russell Martin, Yankees, C: Matt Wieters, Orioles

Pitchers:

RHP: Josh Beckett, Red Sox, RHP: Felix Hernandez, Mariners, LHP: David Price, Rays, RHP: James Shields, Rays, RHP: Justin Verlander, Tigers, RHP: Jered Weaver, Angels, LHP: C.J. Wilson, Rangers, LHP: Gio Gonzalez, Athletics, RHP: Aaron Crow, Royals, RHP: Brandon League, Mariners, RHP: Chris Perez, Indians, RHP: Mariano Rivera, Yankees, RHP: Jose Valverde, Tigers

National League:

Starters:

Brian McCann (C, Atlanta Braves), Prince Fielder, (1B, Milwaukee Brewers), Rickie Weeks (2B), Jose Reyes (SS, New York Mets), Placido Polanco (3B, Philadelphia Phillies), Ryan Braun (OF, Milwaukee Brewers), Lance Berkman (OF, St. Louis Cardinals) and Matt Kemp (Los Angeles Dodgers).

Reserves:

1B: Gaby Sanchez, Marlins, 1B: Joey Votto, Reds, 2B: Brandon Phillips, Reds, 3B: Chipper Jones, Braves, SS: Starlin Castro, Cubs, SS: Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies, OF: Jay Bruce, Reds, OF: Matt Holliday, Cardinals, OF: Hunter Pence, Astros, OF: Justin Upton, D-backs, C: Yadier Molina, Cardinals

Pitchers:

RHP: Matt Cain, Giants, RHP: Roy Halladay, Phillies, LHP: Cole Hamels, Phillies, RHP: Jair Jurrjens, Braves, LHP: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers, LHP: Cliff Lee, Phillies, RHP: Tim Lincecum, Giants, RHP: Ryan Vogelsong, Giants, RHP: Heath Bell, Padres, RHP: Tyler Clippard, Nationals, RHP: Joel Hanrahan, Pirates, LHP: Jonny Venters, Braves, RHP: Brian Wilson, Giants

Related articles

• 2011 All-Star rosters | MLB.com: News (fanup.wordpress.com)
• All-Star Game Official Roster (yankeesfansunite.wordpress.com)
• Tigers catcher Alex Avila makes starting All-Star roster (deetowntigers.com)
• 2011 MLB Mock Draft: Do Red Sox Target Pitching With No. 19 Pick? (bleacherreport.com)
• 2011 Minor League Ball Community Mock Draft: Supplemental Round (minorleagueball.com)

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Post tags: Atlanta Braves, Clayton Kershaw, Jacoby Ellsbury, Lance Berkman, New York Yankee, Philadelphia Phillies, Pitcher

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There has been a continuing debate between media, fans, players etc. whether MLB should change the rules that apply during Interleague Play about the Designated Hitter and strength of schedule.

Just in case let’s look at the factors:

What is interleague play?

Interleague play is a Major League Baseball term that indicates when regular season games are played between teams that live in different leagues, so American League Teams play National League Teams.

• Started in 1997 but was limited to divisions playing their counterparts in the opposite league only. (i.e. AL West vs. NL West; flip-flopping home field site)

• Five seasons later, in 2002 the rules expanded which allowed for the divisions to rotate playing each other. This meant that one year the NL West would play the AL Central teams, the next year the AL East and then the AL West.

• All interleague games are played in June, but the scattered series between cities with more than one team. (i.e. Chicago, New York, Los Angeles etc.).

• The rules used during Interleague regular season games are the same as the World Series and the All-Star game that is, the home team’s league rules apply. So, when an AL team visits an NL Stadium, there is no designated hitter and the pitcher bats, as National League rules dictate.

• The scheduling for Interleague Series is very unbalanced due to the unbalanced in the two leagues, with 14 in the AL and 16 in the NL; and the inter-city rivalries each are featured to play six games (or two series) against each other.

What is the Interleague Play debates or biggest complaints?

There are two issues that are complained about year after year, but both are relevant and have legit reasoning on either end:

1) The scheduling is very unfair, as it is lopsided. ESPN reporter Jayson Stark sums up the scheduling issues, which are quite complicated in an article written called Interleague play’s greatest problem. It has to do with the AL West having just four teams and the NL Central having six ball-clubs; as well as making sure city’s with two teams, in opposite leagues play each other six times for fans, which makes sense.

2) The rule that AL teams cannot a DH in NL stadiums, which in turn means the pitcher has to bat. It makes injuries are a major concern because AL pitchers do not take BP (batting practice) and are not used to running the bases, something NL pitchers are accustomed too. The All-Star Game and the World Series play by the rules of the hosting team, so why should Interleague Play be any different?

What is your opinion on Interleague Play?

Do you think it should stay as is, or that changes need to be made?

Should the DH be implemented in National League Parks during Interleague games? Basically, should AL rules be used across the board?

Should MLB Commissioner move one of the NL Central teams into the AL West? Or what is the alternative to keeping it unbalanced?

Opinions From Around The League:

Mark Gonzales of Chicago Tribune reported that White Sox slugger Adam Dunn had this to say about Interleague Play:

“It does suck, yes. But that’s another reason why I’m anti-interleague. It’s not fun … The interleague thing is just awful. It just ruins everything. Especially if you look at Boston. People like Ortiz. He’s having a great year, but now he’s going to have to sit a couple of games and screw up the mojo.”

Detroit Tigers skipper Jim Leyland made his opinion clear to Tom Gage of the Detroit Free Press:

“It has run its course. I just don’t like it. First of all, at some point we have to get baseball back to the same set of rules. I don’t know why more people don’t talk about it. No other sport plays different rules (regarding the DH). I don’t care what they do. Whatever way they go is fine with me, but the rules should be the same.”

 

Related articles

• Interleague play creates a DH dilemma for AL squads (aol.sportingnews.com)
• MLB Evaluating Realignment Plan – Long Time Coming? (prosportscolorado.com)
• Quote of the Day: Adam Dunn on interleague play (hardballtalk.nbcsports.com)
• On Baseball: Owners and Players Weigh a Future Without Divisions (nytimes.com)
• Sore foot bothers Izturis, but leadoff man plays (mlb.mlb.com)
• Rockies welcome interleague play as Detroit Tigers arrive (denverpost.com)
• Realignment worth talk, but too confusing for fruition (cbssports.com)

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Post tags: American League, Designated hitter, Interleague play, Jim Leyland, Los Angeles, Major League Baseball, National League, Sports, World Series

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