Skip to content

2012 MLB Power Rankings – Week 6

Posted by on 18 May 2012, 3:09 am

The 2012 MLB season is about to hit the quarter mark, and a lot of teams who were considered ‘playoff contenders’ are still struggling to find their footing.

A lot of baseball fans are counting out the Phillies, Yankees, Red Sox, Angels and Tigers but be warned, there is a ton of baseball left to play and all five of these teams will lean on their experience to pull through in the end.

Still, it is week 6 and Orioles, Indians and Nats fans are living the dream so far. I hope they don’t get to ahead of themselves just yet, but can also enjoy their team’s moment in the spotlight.

Inter-league play is up next and that always makes things more interesting.

AL pitchers love to hit; and NL teams can take advantage of adding a DH to their line-ups.

Overall, the 2012 season has been a blast even if my Yankees are a pain in the RISP….

Here are my power rankings for week 6…..ENJOY!!

And always feel free to give your opinion in a comment.

Lady Loves Pinstripes - MLB Power Rankings - Week 6 - #1-15

Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Power Rankings – Week 6’ »

Tagged , , , , , ,
Comment

New York Yankees: Are the bats the problem?

Posted by on 16 May 2012, 3:44 am

Cano - Cano - Cano don't you know?

After watching CC Sabathia struggle and the Yankees lose pathetically, 5-2, to the Baltimore Orioles last night I realized that the pitching was not the problem here.

Even with a bad start, Sabathia allowed four runs to score but the Yankee hitters can easily beat that number; and this reminded me of a something MLB veteran Andy Van Slyke once said:

“Every season has its peaks and valleys. What you have to try to do is eliminate the Grand Canyon.”

Now, the Yankees have not quite hit Grand Canyon level but the ups and downs are now a recurring theme.

While injuries have become a viable problem, it is not an excuse for the level of doubt but the staggering offense is.

The Yankees bats are arguably are the best in the Bigs, on paper. Up and down the order is supposed to be feared but for some reason the vibe is not coming across like it has in seasons past.

And other than Brett Gardner, the batting order is relatively healthy minus Mark Teixeira’s chest infection, which could very well be whooping-cough, and still they can’t seem to hit a stride.

So, what is the problem with the offense?

Multiple times this season the Yankees bats looked to be breaking out, only to be blanked the very next night; and usually by a pitcher they have not seen much of, or at all.

The Yankees beat Mariners King Felix but not Kevin Millwood; and they lose to the Rays Jeff Neimann but not aces David Price or James Shields. They get blanked by Orioles Jake Arrieta (2-4; 5.21 ERA) for eight innings but beat reining MVP and CY Young winner Tigers Justin Verlander. Catch my drift?

Actually finding a reason as what is happening here probably has a lot has to do with experience, or lack-of, if anything. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Are the bats the problem?’ »

Tagged , , , , , , ,
2 Comments

New York Yankees: Wounded but winning

Posted by on 15 May 2012, 12:39 am
Mark Teixeira swings at a pitch during a game ...

Mark Teixeira swings at a pitch during a game between the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles on August 28, 2011 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As if there weren’t enough already, the New York Yankees suffered even more injuries during their big, 8-5 win against the Baltimore Orioles last night.

The wounded Bombers are literally dropping like flies, and it is going to make it tough for skipper Joe Girardi to give Mark Teixeira, who was hacking up a lung after his big two-run homer, a much-needed day off.

So, here is a quick list of the Yankees latest casualties with the most updated DL list from MLB.com.

-       Starting pitcher Ivan Nova had to leave the mound in Camden Yard and was diagnosed with a bruise and a sprain of his right ankle but MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch did report the x-rays came back negative. I presume that means Nova didn’t really damage anything but he is obviously still hurt.

-       Lefty reliever Clay Rapada faced two batters, and finished his outing but had to be helped to the locker-room, as he has a viral infection.

-       DH/LF Raul Ibanez got hit with a pitch in the right elbow but still managed to get on first due to a defensive error but was immediately replaced with a pinch runner. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Wounded but winning’ »

Tagged , , , , , , ,
Comment

Yankees vs. Orioles: You need to beat the birds

Posted by on 14 May 2012, 5:00 pm

The New York Yankees are in Baltimore to face the first-place Orioles for two quick games starting tonight.

New York Yankees at Baltimore Orioles April 24...

New York Yankees at Baltimore Orioles April 24, 2011 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The O’s have been playing some great baseball lately but the Yankees have won four of the six times the two AL East rivals have faced each other.

Can the Orioles make the playoffs for the first time since 1997?

Well, I know Orioles fans have ripped me lately for not ranking them higher in my weekly power rankings. But until I see Buck and his birds sustain the top spot all the way to the All-Star break, I am not convinced this the O’s pitching can last that long.

For now, the Yankees can use these two games to jump up in the divisional standings but it won’t be easy as the O’s would love to tie up their season record vs. New York by winning both games.

PITCHING MATCH-UPS:

Ivan Nova vs. Jason Hammel

This game favors Hammel, but not by much.

Both team’s bats have had success against the other’s pitcher. Hammel’s is coming off an injury, and missed his last start but has a 4-1 record with a 2.08 ERA on the season. Hammel’s one loss was against New York but Hiroki Kuroda was on the hill for the Yankees and he blanked the O’s.

Nova has been so-so vs. Baltimore, but the O’s do have a .330 batting average against him. In his two starts this season vs. the O’s, Nova is 1-1 and has given up four homers. Nova looked better in his last start and will be looking to continue that tonight.

This game will be decided by to the offenses….and I think the Yankees are looking to make a statement. Continue reading ‘Yankees vs. Orioles: You need to beat the birds’ »

Tagged , , , , , , ,
Comment

New York Yankees: Latest on Brett Gardner’s elbow

Posted by on 24 April 2012, 2:46 pm
Brett Gardner makes a outstretched catch durin...

Brett Gardner makes a outstretched catch during a game between the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles on April 24, 2011. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The New York Yankees have been noticeably without out-fielding speedster Brett Gardner for the last week.

Gardner made a dynamic, diving catch last Tuesday night, which resulted in him injuring his right arm and being put on the 15-day DL immediately following an MRI that revealed it was bruise and strained elbow.

According to skipper Joe Girardi the elbow was good news, as at first glance it was thought to be his wrist.

“We thought it was his wrist at first, which came up a little bit sore but he landed right [on his elbow] and it got tucked under. The big thing is that we don’t have a setback — that the first time he swings, he doesn’t feel it.”

The latest update is that Gardner feels good and he hopes to back on the field immediately following his DL stint on May 3, when the Bombers will be in Kansas City to fact the Royals for four games.

As usual, Girardi is more optimistic about rushing the 2011 AL stolen base leader (49) back as he told MLB.com’s Jason Mastrodonato:

“My thought is he will [be ready],” Girardi said. “If it takes a few more days, it takes a few more days.”

Gardner started doing some throwing and running yesterday down in Arlington, and has had no issues. And the NY Post reported that Gardner won’t take until this Friday when the team is back in New York.

Veterans Raul Ibanez and Andruw Jones have filled the void in left field with no significant issues as of yet, but everyone knows that Gardner is irreplaceable.

So far this season, Gardner is posting a .321 batting average, with two doubles, three RBIs, five walks and two steals.

Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Latest on Brett Gardner’s elbow’ »

Tagged , , , , , , ,
7 Comments

2012 MLB Team Preview: Baltimore Orioles

Posted by on 4 April 2012, 10:24 pm

Baltimore Orioles logo.

Since 2008 the Baltimore Orioles have been the bottom feeders of the toughest division in baseball, the AL East.

Last season the O’s finished with a 69-93 record, which marked the franchise’s 14th consecutive losing season.

The O’s did end 2011 on a positive note, winning 11 of their last 18 games and eliminated the Red Sox from the post season by beating Boston on the last day of the regular season.

So, will is another long season at Camden Yard in 2012?

Let’s take a look…

THE POSITIVES:

In 2011 the O’s bats were not so bad finishing fourth in homers (191), and 10th in slugging (.413). The line-up has some serious power with Mark Reynolds, Adam Jones and J.J. Hardy, who combined for 92 homers in 2011. Reynolds led with 37 bombs, but he struck out 196 times and posted a .221 batting average. Shockingly, last season was Reynolds lowest strikeout number in the last four seasons, as it was 15 less than 2010 and if he can cut off 20 more in 2012 it could do wonders for the line-up.

Skipper Buck Showalter is entering his second full season in Baltimore after taking over mid-2010 and he is perfect for the job.  Schowalter no nonsense guy and he is good at getting the most out of young talent. He reminds me of a better version of Rex Ryan and the players respect him. Schowalter holds everyone accountable and he brought a needed sense of urgency for winning to an Orioles clubhouse who gave up way too easily.

THE NEGATIVES:  Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: Baltimore Orioles’ »

Tagged , , , , , , ,
1 Comment

New York Yankees: Thank You Red Sox

Posted by on 10 September 2011, 7:53 pm

A big thank you to the Boston Red Sox is in order.

Upon arriving in Los Angeles, after losing two in a row to the bottom feeding Baltimore Orioles, the Yankees got stumped once again. This time it was to the Halos of Anaheim with a final score of 2-1.

Certainly not an idyllic way to begin a West Coast visit, as the Bronx Bombers bats have lost some life recently and couldn’t muster up more than a run on the scoreboard behind a solid seven inning outing by Bartolo Colon. The one run was off the bat of Yankees rookie phenom Jesus Montero, who hit it out of the park off CY Young candidate Jared Weaver.

Now in an official slump, the Yankees need to wake-up. Not to mention the pending elbow injury to outfielder Nick Swisher, who was not in the line-up vs. Anaheim because he was waiting to see the Angels team doctor instead.

The NY Post’s George E. King III reported that Swisher said this of the injury:

“It’s a sharp pain, scary. I’m not a guy who likes to take too many days off.”

Yikes! That is not what Yankee fans want to hear about their All-Star right fielder. I can promise you that the Yankee brass knows more than they are sharing.

Even with so little of the season remaining, things don’t get any easier for the Yankees.
There is no excuse more pathetic and whiney than blaming a hectic schedule for lack of effort. Especially envisioning the chic way in which the Yankees travel, which is about ten times nicer than what you imagine it to be.

Regardless it is September baseball and the Yankees have luckily not been the only team limping now. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Thank You Red Sox’ »

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5