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2012 MLB Team Preview: New York Mets

Kate — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 06:34:25 +0000

New York Mets logo.

Since their infamous 2007 collapse, the New York Mets just can’t seem to get a break.

Last season the Mets finished fourth in the NL East winning with a 77-85 record, which is not so bad considering the team was riddled with injuries.

The Mets and their fans have to believe that things will get better as I don’t know what else could go wrong.

So, can Mets fans start believing again or will 2012 prove to be another bust in Queens?

Let’s take a look….

THE POSITIVES:

Skipper Terry Collins could not be more perfect a leader for the Mets. Collins truly believes in the team and he manages with passion. The players respect and want to win for Collins because of the energy he brings day in and day out. As Collins heads into his second season in New York, the Mets will once again look for him to be their guide and he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. As ex-Met Carlos Beltran once said, “He is a good man.” And the Mets could not be luckier for it.

Welcome back Johan Santana! The Mets finally have their ace back and the even better news is that Santana has looked good in Spring Training. The last time Mets fans saw the two-time CY Young winner was September 2, 2010 so it will be a treat to have him take the mound at Citi-Field on Opening Day vs. the Braves. If Santana stays healthy and is pitching like he is capable, the Mets have a certified star at the top of their rotation again and he will win games.

Also take note that first baseman Ike Davis is back too after missing almost all of 2011; and this kid can rake. Baring that his ankle holds up and his Valley Fever doesn’t become an issue look for a big year from a seriously talented Davis.

THE NEGATIVES:(...)
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Post tags: Bernard Madoff, Citi Field, Fred Wilpon, Johan Santana, Mets, New York City, New York Mets, Wilpon

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2012 MLB Team Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers

Kate — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 05:51:12 +0000

Los Angeles Dodgers logo.

Last season the Los Angeles Dodgers dominated headlines for everything other than baseball.

The team was still at the mercy of now ex-owner Frank McCourt, whose divorce was a literal soap opera and the team took the fall too.

Still, the team put up an 82-79 record thanks to a great second-half of 2011, and finished a respectable third place in the NL West.

The fact that the Dodgers pulled it together and played just shy of .600 baseball after the 2011 All-Star break largely flew under the radar due to the off the field mess.

So, now this leaves the question of whether the Dodgers can carry that stellar second-half surge into 2012 season?

Let’s take a peek…

THE POSITIVES:

The Dodgers finally got sold and not just to any old group of rich-guys. The new ownership group, which includes ex-Lakers star and local hero Magic Johnson, paid north of $2 billion dollars to own one of the most historic franchises in sports. This has already boosted ticket sales, as the timing could not have been more perfect and deserved. The Dodgers have suffered under reckless ex-owner Frank McCourt for way to long already, so this can only give the players a boost out of Spring Training.

Not many teams have the current CY Young recipient, and arguably MVP winner both on their rosters. The Dodgers have this luxury with ace Clayton Kershaw and superstar Matt Kemp. Both are young, healthy, play hard and love being wearing the Dodger uniform. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Can the Dodgers finish what they started? After the 2011 All-Star break the Dodgers went 41-28, which flew under the radar as the media had turned their attention completely on McCourt’s nasty divorce battle, after going 41-51 in the first-half.

So, while everyone else had written them off, the team quietly put together a solid effort, and at best hope that continues into 2012. Motivation is something no team can ever have enough of, and playing through adversity is never easy so lets the players can thrive without it too.

THE NEGATIVES:(...)
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Post tags: Clayton Kershaw, Dee Gordon, Dodger, Frank McCourt, Hiroki Kuroda, James Loney, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Matt Kemp

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2012 MLB Team Preview: Philadelphia Phillies

Kate — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 06:01:18 +0000

Philadelphia Phillies logo.

The Philadelphia Phillies have been a force in Major League Baseball, winning 102 games in 2011.

Over the past five years the Phillies have built a résumé that includes NL East champs five times; 2008 World Series Champs, almost repeating again in 2009; and played in the NLDS the last two seasons.

This ball-club is a perennial favorite and has been the gold standard in the National League; and no doubt the pressure is on for this team once again. The Phillies fans have officially adopted the Yankees mantra, which is World Series or bust.

So the only question remaining is whether the Phillies can live up to expectations again in 2012?

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

THE POSITIVES:

Phillies starting pitching is terrifying for any hitter to think about. The front three of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels could all easily be the ace of any other team, posting a combined 50-23 record and an ERA under 2.80 in 2011. Then there is 24-year old sensation Vance Worley, who made 21 starts in his first season, finishing with an 11-3 record and held opposing batters to a .237 average. I presume that the Phillies are planning to use Joe Blanton in the fifth spot, but does it really matter with a front four like that?

Signing now ex-Boston Red Sox, closer Jonathan Papelbon during the off-season was a good move. Papelbon is legit and knows how to win, as he played a vital role in the Red Sox winning the 2007 World Series. Papelbon signed a 4-year, $50 million deal and should thrive in the NL East, as he averages 37 saves a season.

THE NEGATIVES:(...)
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Post tags: Chase Utley, Howard, Hunter Pence, Jimmy Rollins, John Mayberry, Philadelphia Phillies, Phillies, Utley

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2012 MLB Team Preview: Atlanta Braves

Kate — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 13:28:42 +0000

Atlanta Braves logo.

Heading into 2011, the Atlanta Braves were a championship caliber team and played that way for the first five months of the season.

The Braves were the NL’s version of the Red Sox, arriving in September with an 8.5 game lead for the wild card only to blow it and land in a jam. The Braves had to win the last game left in the regular 2011 season just for a chance to play the St. Louis Cardinals for the NL Wild Card but that never happened because the Braves lost again, and their October dreams went down the toilet.

It was ugly and while maybe not as embarrassing as the Red Sox, for any team who won 89 games the implosion surely must have humbled them.

The Braves did next to nothing in the off-season to improve, which means Atlanta is confident they can win with what they have. The question remains is the 2011 team determined enough to prevent another season with no October baseball?

Let’s take look….

THE POSITIVES:

The Braves had all-around strong pitching last season finishing with the fourth best ERA (3.48), while pitching the most innings (1479.2) in the NL; and minus Derek Lowe being traded to the Indians the same group returns in tact in 2012. Starting rotation looks to be featuring Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens , Mike Minor and Brandon Beachy. All are but 36-year old Hudson are 26 or younger and the veteran ace will be starting the season on the disabled list as he is coming back from off-season back surgery. They also had a recent blow this spring when top-pitching prospect Arodys Vizcaino had to have Tommy John surgery and will be out till 2013. The Braves were expecting big things from Vizcaino this season, especially with Hudson still recovering. Luckily the Braves have some depth in the minors and 21-year old top prospect Julio Teheran will luckily step in until Jones gets healthy.

The bullpen looks rock solid with Johnny Venters setting up for the 2011 Rookie of the Year recipient closer Craig Kimbrel, who posted a 2.10 ERA, over 77 innings in 2011. He tied for second most saves in baseball with 46 and that was because he struck out 127 batters. Expect big things from this 23-year old in 2012.

THE NEGATIVES:(...)
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Post tags: Atlanta, Atlanta Braves, Brandon Beachy, Braves, Chipper Jones, Dan Uggla, Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward, Michael Bourne, Run batted in

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2012 MLB Team Preview: Cincinnati Reds

Kate — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 01:08:43 +0000

Coming into 2011, the Cincinnati Reds were coming off a 91-game winning season and were the NL CentralChampions.

Cincinnati Reds logo.

Yes, the 2010 Reds finish came as a surprise but no one thought their luck would run out like it did in 2011.

Last year the Reds finished in third place in the NL Central with a 79-83 record, 17 games behind the first place St. Louis Cardinals. One difference between 2010 is that the Reds were 8-7 compared to 6-12 in 2011 interleague play; and teams they had feasted, like the Pirates and Mets that helped them win the division in 2010 crushed them in 2011.

Overall the 2011 Reds looked nothing like the team who led the NL in homers, batting average, RBIs, hits and runs just a season before.

The team’s numbers dropped in almost every stat but they did hit 183 homers in 2011, which is just five less than 2010. The rotation’s ERA barely moved going from 4.01 to 4.16 and their strikeout total scarcely fell from 1130 to 1114. So, at least the team still has power in their bats and it would seem that the pitching is fixable.

Now the question is are the Reds good enough to bring baseball glory back to Cincinnati in October 2012?

Let’s take a peak….

THE POSITIVES:

Improved weaknesses…At first I was stunned when the news broke that the Reds had traded for Padres pitcher Mat Latos because of the amount of talent the Reds surrendered, three of their top 10 prospects and Edinson Volquez. Latos joins a pitching rotation that features emerging-ace Johnny Cueto who went 9-5, 2.31 in 24 starts last season, Bronson Arroyo, Mike Leake, and Homer Bailey. Latos is a 24-year old righty, who threw 194 innings with 185 strikeouts in 2011. Latos has kept opposing hitters to a .226 batting average and posted a 3.37 ERA in his three-year career. In hindsight the trade now looks like a rather smart deal considering the free agent market and the potential for Latos to become consistently dominate.

The bullpen also got a needed boost by signing closer Ryan Madson to a one-year, $8.5 million deal, and trading for a rock-solid left-handed reliever Sean Marshall. Madson save 32 games for the Phillies in 2011 and will be looking to make an impression in 2012 so he can secure a bigger contract; and Marshal pitched 75 innings, posted a 2.26 ERA with 79 strikeouts for the Cubs last season.

THE NEGATIVES:(...)
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Post tags: Bronson Arroyo, Cincinnati, Cincinnati Reds, Joey Votto, Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, National League Central, Ryan Madson

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2012 MLB Team Preview: San Francisco Giants

Kate — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 18:12:35 +0000

San Francisco Giants logo.

Coming into 2011 the San Francisco Giants were the World Series Champions, but just as I predicted defending their title proved to be too much for this self-proclaimed band of misfits.

One Showtime reality show later and a 86-76 record, the Giants embarrassingly missed the playoffs in 2011. The party was over for San Francisco as nobody cared about last year’s team anymore.

And if the Giants players didn’t know that repeating as champs is how you get remember, they do now because all they did was verify what I already presumed…. that is 2010 was a bona fide fluke.

So the question now is was losing as champs enough motivation for the Giants players need to get back to élite status in 2012, or not?

Let’s take a look…

THE POSITIVES:

The return of slugging catcher Buster Posey is big for the anemically offensive Giants. Posey had been sidelined after breaking his left ankle on May 25^th in a controversial collision as he was blocking the plate. The 24-year old happens to fall under that rare breed of player that doesn’t come around often, as I haven’t heard “the Giants version of Derek Jeter” said about anyone. Still, the team relies so much on Posey bat and it must be very stressful to have to hold your breath that he doesn’t get injured.

Giants’ starting pitching is impressive. Led by staff ace Tim Lincecum who posted a 2.74 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 220 strikeouts in 2011. Following Lincecum is another 27-year old Matt Cain and he is just as much and a #1 himself. Cain posted a 2.88 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 179 K’s last season. Rounding out the last three spots are Madison Bumgarner, Ryan Vogelsong, and prospect Eric Surkamp.

THE NEGATIVES:(...)
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Post tags: Buster Posey, Eric Surkamp, Matt Cain, Melky Cabrera, Posey, Ryan Vogelsong, San Francisco Giants, Tim Lincecum

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2012 MLB Team Preview: Chicago Cubs

Kate — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:36:16 +0000

Old-school Chicago Cubs Logo

The Chicago Cubs were in dire need for a big change, as they hit rock bottom in 2011.

The Cubs couldn’t score runs, had the most errors in baseball with 134 in total and finished the season 71-91. Everything bad that happened did and looking at the bigger picture maybe this was the best thing that could have happened in Chicago because ownership stopped trying to fix things on the field and realized things needed to be changed starting with the front-office structure.

So, is this the season that the Cubs get back on track or will things crash and burn again in Wrigley Field?

Let’s take a peak….

THE POSITIVES:

The Cubs ownership realized that they needed to shake this club and remold it from the top. And that is what they did when they hired former Red Sox’s GM Theo Epstein to be the team’s president of baseball operations and if anyone in baseball can fix a broken team it is Epstein. Epstein brought over Jed Hoyar to serve as the team’s GM, as like Epstein is an analytical-minded thinker and he knows the importance of scouting. Hoyar did a tremendous job revamping the Padres farm system and should thrive in Chicago.

Epstein also hired Dale Sveum to be the team’s skipper. Sveum is the perfect fit for a team that needs to get back to the fundamentals, while maintaining a positive and respectful atmosphere. Word on the street is that Sveum is already making a huge difference down in Spring Training camp, and that must music to Cubs fans ears.

In the grand scheme of things, one-way to look at 2012 is that things couldn’t get any worse than 2011.

THE NEGATIVES:(...)
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Post tags: Chicago, Chicago Cubs, Chris Volstad, Cub, Dale Sveum, Starlin Castro, Theo Epstein, Wrigley Field

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