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2012 MLB Team Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers

Posted by on 31 March 2012, 1:51 am

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: Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers’ »

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2012 MLB Team Preview: San Francisco Giants

Posted by on 18 March 2012, 2:12 pm

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 25th 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: Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: San Francisco Giants’ »

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2012 MLB Team Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks

Posted by on 8 March 2012, 11:03 am

Old-School D-backs Logo.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are coming off their most successful season since 2007, finishing up with a 94-68 record and easily stole the NL West away from the 2010 World Series Champion San Francisco Giants who were eight games back.

Losing the NLCS to the Brewers in five games was certainly a quicker exit than the D-backs had hoped for, but with a new season on the horizon only one question remains.

Can Manager Kirk Gibson get his D-backs back into October in 2012 for a second year in a row?

Let’s have a look…

THE POSITIVES:

In order to stay a contender in the NL West the D-backs needed to solidify their starting rotation. The division is pitching heavy with the Giants and Dodgers, and the D-Backs’ run-of-the-mill but good rotation needed a boost. And trading for Oakland Athletics ace Trevor Cahill certainly gave them that, as he will compliment Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson nicely in the third spot. In 2011 Cahill finished with a 12-14 record, posting a 4.16 ERA, with 147 strikeouts and threw 207 innings in total but that is not the Cahill the D-backs are hoping to see. They want the Cahill who finished 18-8 in 2010, with a 2.97 ERA but the best bet is that he will fall somewhere in middle. Still, that is enough to make the D-backs rotation complete and better than they were in 2011.

Led by All-Stars Justin Upton and Miguel Montero, the D-backs already had an impressive offense in 2011 and all are coming back again. They did acquire Twins Jason Kubel to a 2-year, $15 million with an option for a third, which brings another lefty bat to the D-backs outfield. The signing presumably means that 24-year old Gerardo Parra is out of a job, which made little sense since Parra has hit 60 homers in his three seasons with the D-backs and won a Gold Glove in 2011. Regardless, having either guy as a back-up outfielder is not a bad thing and Kubel is coming off an injury from last season, which held him to play in just 99 games.

Last season the bullpen got better over time, and it features a dominant closer in JJ Putz who had 49 saves, with an ERA of 2.17 in 2011. And adding relievers Takashi Saito and Craig Breslow in the off-season only makes them better.

THE NEGATIVES: Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks’ »

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2011 MLB Team Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers

Posted by on 30 March 2011, 12:04 pm

From an internal mess, to Manny being Manny, to key players hitting the DL, was reality for the 2010 Los Angeles Dodgers.

Talk about a ruff regular season, and then having to watch your bitter rivals win the World Series definitely put the icing on the cake for the Dodgers.

Overall, not a good year for such a talented ball-club, whose loyal fans show up game, after game, year after year. If anything the Dodger fans deserve better, and if that isn’t enough to motivate a team, last year should be.

The Dodgers are skilled enough to compete and this is the year to do it, but will they step it up? Let’s take a look at the Los Angeles Dodgers heading into 2011.

Positives:

Even though skipper Joe Torre said goodbye last season, his timing couldn’t have been better to hand the reigns over to his most loyal employee Don Mattingly. Mattingly knows a thing or two about working hard, after spending his entire career in Yankee pinstripes and never playing in a World Series. Mattingly was a fearless player, an absolute role model and the definition of a true team player.

Growing up watching Mattingly, I can guarantee he will bring the same attitude to his role as the Dodgers skipper; and without question, the players will respond.

The Dodgers have a certifiable ace in lefty Clayton Kershaw, who will be 23 at the start of 2011 season. Last season, in the midst of a mess, Kershaw posted a 2.91 ERA, struck out 212 batters, gave up just 13 home-runs, threw one complete, one shut-out and pitched just shy of 205 innings total.

Following Kershaw, is another young and talented pitcher named Chad Billingsley. Billingsley has the stuff of an ace, as he proved in 2007-2008 with a  record of 28-15, but the last two seasons he has been inconsistent and careless. At just 26, Billingsley needs to pitch to his potential again and surely has the chip on his shoulder to do it.

The backend starts with veteran Ted Lilly, who is finally healthy again and should have a big year. After only making 12 starts in 2010, where Lilly managed to record 77 strikeouts over 77 innings pitched, this season he should be back to his innings eating regular self. After Lilly, the Dodgers have Jon Garland and Hiroki Kuroda who both just chip away at innings and are as solid a backend as any team could want.

The Dodgers line-up underachieved to say the least in 2010. Matt Kemp, James Loney and Andre Eithier are three studs that need to grow up now and play to their potential. With Mattingly, comes Donnie Baseball and his attitude should light the fire for the trio. In my opinion, the fact that Kemp hit 28 homeruns and Eitheir was a 2010 All-Star, which leads me to believe the reason for last year’s second-half slump is purely because they stopped loving the game.

Negatives:

Closer Jonathan Broxton second half of 2010 has to make everyone question his ability to be effective. Even with the team’s internal drama, Broxton imploded and his lack of confidence was evident. This is not a trait any closer can have, as believing that game is over when you tae the ball, along with a little anger are key characteristics for any player in this role.

The only reason Broxton is under the negatives, is because he does not have the track record of the core hitters. Also, in a division like the NL West where games outcomes are decided daily by just one or two runs, a team’s closer has to be a one-man army that no matter what will not mentally collapse and be able to fake it on the occasional off-day.

Players To Watch:

OF Matt Kemp numbers dropped so much in 2010 it was disturbiana (LOL). Now that he is not dating super-singer Rihanna anymore, it is time for Kemp to get back to baseball. Kemp is a five-tool player and expect Kemp’s pathetic .249 batting average from 2010 to jump back to what the 26 year-old is capable of, which is .300+. Continue reading ‘2011 MLB Team Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers’ »

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2011 MLB Team Preview: Colorado Rockies

Posted by on 26 March 2011, 5:22 pm

The Colorado Rockies just missed the post season last year, unlike in 2009 when the Rockies slipped in as the Wild Card team or back in 2007 when the franchise made its first World Series appearance.

Point being is that the Rockies never seem to live up to their potential, as they love to leave everything to hanging to the last minute. They are a younger franchise, in a great city with a loyal group of fans just waiting for their first World Series win.

Could 2011 be the year for the Rockies? Let’s take a look.

The Positives:

Not a busy off-season outside of the organization, but internally the Rockies made it a priority to lock up two of the best players in baseball, SS Troy Tulowitzki and OF Carlos Gonzalez.

Locking up both Tulo and Gonzalez for the next seven years at the price of $134 million and $80 million respectively, gives the Rockies a solid core for the next few seasons. Gonzalez played in 145 games, hitting 34 home-runs, 111 RBIs and he almost snagged the NL MVP from Reds Joey Votto. Tulo posted a .315 batting average, hitting 27 homers and driving in 95 RBIs.

Considering that these twos’ bats make up for about a third of the team’s overall run production, it is easy to see why Tulo and Gonzalez went from important to vital. Overall, solid move making sure these two remain in Denver for the long haul.

In the first half of 2010, Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez was the talk of baseball. Jimenez threw the Rockies first no-hitter in April and finished the month 5-0 in five starts. He also pitched just shy of 26 straight innings without a run scoring until it got broken up May 3rd. So, Jimenez just went on another hitless marathon topping 33 innings straight through July of last season.

The second half of 2010 was not so pretty as Jimenez came back down to earth, but finished with a 19-8 record, posting a 2.88 ERA and pitched a total of 221.2 innings over 33 starts. It would be hard to repeat the historical first half of last year, but Jimenez is the staff’s ace and needs to win 19 games for the team to contend in 2011.

The pressure was completely on Jimenez last season, but a finally healthy Jorge De La Rosa should provide the needed relief. De La Rosa is a solid lefty who had a middle finger issue last season, which kept him on the DL for 12 of his scheduled starts, but in 2009 he won 16 games and expect the same or better in 2011.

Jayson Hammel will most likely follow De La Rosa, who was second, behind Jimenez in strikeouts with 141 last season and threw just shy of 180 innings in 30 starts. The back end will be Jhoulys Chacin and Aaron Cook who broke his finger before Spring Training, so he won’t be available right away.

The Rockies bullpen was sans closer Hudson Street who missed 70 games with should injury, but still had 20 saves in 44 games. In 2009, Street had 35 saves so hoping for a comeback season to close out some wins in the ninth inning.

The Negatives:

It is hard to imagine that a team with two powerhouses, such as Tulo and Gonzalez biggest disadvantage would be offense. Finishing 19 games below .500 in 2010 is unacceptable for any team looking for long-term success.

For a team who plays at such a high altitude, but the problem was not at home where they led the league in batting average with .298. It was anywhere other the fun-hitting Coors Field, where the team’s batting average went from first to last with a .226.

Oh we are not done yet, as there are two even bigger concerns lingering from 2010. The team ranked at the bottom with a .223 batting average with the bases loaded and came in as the third-worst in strikeouts per game averaging eight for a total of 1,274 on the season.

Tulo and Gonzalez are coming into their primes but they have absolutely zero support on either side of them. The Rockies don’t look much different from 2010, as the only external off-season move was a trade for 2B Jose Lopez. Continue reading ‘2011 MLB Team Preview: Colorado Rockies’ »

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2011 MLB Team Preview: The Champion San Francisco Giants

Posted by on 24 February 2011, 6:03 am

As the reigning champs, the San Francisco Giants have a lot more to lose in 2011.

If the team thought last season was tough, get ready for life to get harder repeating it all over again.

Unlike being crowned champs, keeping that title again successfully is when a team becomes a dynasty.

For the Giants it would cement them in sports history; as no National League team since the 75’-76’ Cincinnati Reds, also known as ‘The Big Red Machine” has been able to accomplish the feat of repeat.

Well, the Giants do have their own ‘Machine’ whose ass is whiter than Powder. Still, whether San Fran’s version can keep his thong for 162 games is a whole different story.

Let’s take a look at the self-proclaimed ‘Castoffs and misfits’:

The Positives:

PITCHING

The young staff is lead by 26-year-old Tim Lincecum, who in his first four seasons has been an All-Star three times and won back-to-back CY Young Awards in 08’ and 09’. This guy is called ‘the freak’ because he is that good; posting career stats that read 907 strikeouts, a 3.04 ERA over a total of 811 innings pitched.

Look for Lincecum to only get better with the added experience and a newly added slider that debut in September to be thrown for a full season. As the saying goes, “where there’s dope, there’s hope.”

Three more youngsters in Jonathan Sanchez, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner follow Lincecum and if they can all maintain 2010 performances that would be welcomed. It would be ideal and more likely that they all take steps forward this rotation is not one any team will want to face.

The bullpen is pretty solid. Closer Brian Wilson racked up a major league-leading 48 saves last season and my dreams say he remains one of the best in baseball again.

BUSTER POSEY IS THE REAL THING

Catcher Buster Posey is a player that doesn’t come around often, as haven’t heard “the Giants version of Derek Jeter” said about anyone. Posey is just 23 and only became the full time Giants catcher on July 1, 2010, but that was all the time needed.

In 108 games, Posey posted a .305 batting average; hit 18 homeruns, 23 doubles, 67 RBIs and 124 hits. He also guided the pitching staff and the team to a record of 63-37, with 11 being postseason wins. Posey’s stats without question go from great to superior, but that is not why he is already a household name.

Posey displays a personality well beyond his years. He is a leader, humble, not attention seeking but holds guys accountable, as well as himself. Posey has baseball fans everywhere watching him for all the right reasons; he is what every team dreams to find. Well, the Giants certainly have found theirs in Posey.

THE FANS

The City of San Francisco hadn’t seen a playoff game since 2003 and since the team’s arrival in 1969 the city had never won a World Series Championship until last season.

Now that fact is just ancient history, and the City by the Bay has caught baseball fever. Nothing inspires a team more than the fans.

A lot has been written that it is the Giants team chemistry that is the glue, but who doesn’t get along when you’re winning? Fact, the fans are the oil when chemistry causes rust.

QUICK NOTES

Look for Giants top prospect 1B Brandon Belt to debut mid-season, as he is major league ready.

Following a dreadful 2010, Pablo Sandoval got to work in the off-season. Sandoval dropped 38 pounds and if he can get back to 2009 form of hitting 25 homeruns, that is good news.

The Negatives:

NO MOVES IS BAD NEWS

There was no comfort provided by the Giants only off-season moves of adding Miguel Tejada to be their shorting shortstop, resigning Pat the Bat and handing Audrey Huff $22 million bucks for two more seasons for what he did in 2010.

Pat Burrell might lose his regular outfield spot to Huff and we have all witnessed how unproductive Pat is with the bat as a DH. Huff’s deal prolongs seeing 1B prospect Brandon Belt promotion, and Tejada playing the most athletic position on the field for $6.5 million bucks….need I say more? Actually yes, it was a big waste of money, except Burrell inking a 1 for $1 million.

Wouldn’t getting an extra starting pitcher in case of injury have been a smarter move?

THE PHILLIES AND ROCKIES

Fact is the Phillies got much better and I don’t think they meant to lose to the Giants in the 2010 NLCS. Actually, the Phillies should have won because they were better last season. If the Giants want to look at an NL team as models for success, look to all aspects of what goes on in Philadelphia.

The Rockies off-season was even better than Philadelphia’s by inking stars SS Troy Tulowitzki and OF Carlos Gonzalez to long-term deals. Also, the Rockies were injury riddled last season and seemed more determined than ever. The Rockies bullpen is awesome, pitching is good enough and the bats can hit which makes for a very competitive team.

TOO MUCH ATTENTION

Champions draw media attention, but when players are acting more Hollywood than athlete it doesn’t fare well. Look I am all for having a personality, growing a beard and even a ‘Machine’ for a mascot, but having Showtime cameras documenting a team’s every move for a reality show will not fare well. Especially, in addition to the added media interest that comes with every championship team. Continue reading ‘2011 MLB Team Preview: The Champion San Francisco Giants’ »

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2010 World Series: Getting To Know The San Francisco Giants

Posted by on 27 October 2010, 2:51 pm

As a New York Yankees fan it is easy to get to know the players in the American League.

Due to geographical circumstances and interleague play, I have learned more about some of the teams in the National League, like the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Over the past few seasons, the San Francisco Giants have not come to the Bronx and have not factored in the postseason.

The Giants actually resided in New York City from 1930-57, in which the franchise won five World Championships and 17 pennants. Since making the move to San Francisco, the city still awaits for their Giants to bring a World Series title to the Bay.

Mainly known as the home to starting ace Tim Lincecum (“The Freak”), who has won the Cy Young Award the past two seasons, the Giants are another team residing in the NL West along with the Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

The organization’s biggest star, Barry Bonds disgraced the team’s mainstay. It seemed that the last special baseball moment for the Giants was Bonds hitting for his home-run record. It is his record because MLB can’t count it as baseball history when it was unauthentic.

Other than a cheat and a freak, there wasn’t much reason to get to the Giants over the last five seasons, until now.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

After watching a few Giants games I understand their team’s appeal. The Giants players are scrappy, good, fundamental baseball players who are darn fun to watch because they never seem to give up.

STRENGTHS:

The team’s biggest asset is pitching. Three aces: Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner, follow Lincecome.

The Giants starters finished the regular season with a 3.36 ERA, which was the lowest in baseball. The Giants rotation also tossed a total of 1461 innings, gave up the least hits with 1279, 546 earned runs, and struck out the most batters.

All stats led the majors for 2010. They tied for third place with the Dodgers and Marlins for the least home-runs allowed with 134 in total. Continue reading ‘2010 World Series: Getting To Know The San Francisco Giants’ »

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