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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: 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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Yankees Vs. Royals: How Are Things In Kansas City?

Posted by on 10 May 2011, 7:01 am
KANSAS CITY, MO - APRIL 21: Melky Cabrera #53...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

The New York Yankees are back home to host the Kansas City Royals for three games.

Let’s take a look at what Kansas City has been up in 2011 before the series starts:

2011 Kansas City Royals:

The Royals have won six of their last 10 games and are currently in second place in the AL Central with an 18-16 record.

This is not the same Royals team as the past few seasons, that is as long as they are in Kansas City where their 15 home-wins leads the majors. You don’t have to be a genius to figure out that they have won just three road games in 2011 and are coming into New York determined to improve on baseball’s worst road record.

The Royals could be two different teams with a 3.51 ERA at home compared to a 5.91 ERA on the road. Skipper Ned Yoast said his Royals had a bad road trip, but when the stats are so severely divided there has to be major concern unless the Royals can turn it around on the road quick.

‘It’s still so early in the season’ excuse has almost run its course for 2011; and for the Royals not winning outside of Kansas City just ain’t going to cut it much longer.

Two Thing Yankee Fans Should Look For:

1) What do the Royals have that Yankee fans miss….Got Melk? The Yankees old pal Melky Cabrera who is off to a hot start posting a .283 batting average, with 21 RBIs, 10 doubles, three home-runs, two triples and five walks so far this season.

The Melk-man would love nothing more to remind the Yankees front office just what they missed out on by not re-signing him this past off-season. Especially since Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez pleaded and begged the Yankee brass but they said no thanks.

My guess is the Melk-man is looking to have a big series against his old team; my fear is that Melk-man might deliver his ninth career walk-off hit this week in the Bronx. Expect loud cheers for Melky from the New York crowd when he steps to the plate, as he was a big part of the 2009 Championship team.

2) Royals have the best farm system in baseball (watch SUGAR on HBO on-demand) and Yankee fans should get a glimpse at two future stars. The first is 1B Eric Hosmer, who just got to the bigs on May 5th and ranks in the top 10 prospects in baseball. The other is middle reliever Aaron Crow, who has a slider that almost touches 90 mph and the Yankees will try to avoid having to face him at all costs.

Overall, the Royals are just out matched in this series, but they should put up a good fight and it will be a fun series to watch.

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Believe It Or Not The Yankees Secret Weapon

Posted by on 7 May 2010, 8:30 am

PLAYER PROFILE: BRETT GARDNER #11 CF, LF

Standing just shy of 5’10, at first glance Brett Gradner does not look like much a weapon.

Garder was deemed to small, not talented enough for the main-stage and critics baffled his life on the all-star roaster of the New York Yankees would be shorter, than sweeter.

Well, I beg to differ right from the start.

Appearing by name in 2009, Gardner’s rookie season landed him in a foursome of rotating outfield, sharing time largely in center with Melky Cabrera.

Even though he was steady on both offense and defense, Gardner was more of a substitute player. Gardner knew his appeal was his speed.

Not being an everyday player, in addition to nearly two months, on the DL with fractured left thumb, Gardner still racked up 26 steals but was only caught five times.

So far 2010 all we have witnessed is a better Brett Gardner.

Regardless of batting last  (9th) in the line-up, Gardner is a tough out for any pitcher. He has a natural instinct for pitches and when he swings at something it usually touches wood.

In 81 at-bats, Gardner has 28 hits, 9 RBIs, 11 walks and 13 steals, and caught just one time. The real diamond in the rough is his OBP is .430. That goes along with .346 average; translation…this kid gets on base, a ton. Continue reading ‘Believe It Or Not The Yankees Secret Weapon’ »

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Letting Godzilla Move To Matsui-land

Posted by on 6 April 2010, 8:18 pm

New York Yankees DH Nick Johnson went 0-3 on Sunday, walked twice and stuck out. Up goes his OBP, and didn’t help the Yankees who lost 9-7 in Fenway Park.

A day later, on the West Coast, the World Series MVP Hideki Matsui went 2-3, driving in two runs in the fifth and a solo blast in the eighth leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 6-3 win against the Minnesota Twins.

Matsui once again showed his clutch DH bat was the difference maker.

Looking back to the Yankees loss on Sunday, makes me miss our MVP and wonder how Godzilla ever was allowed to move to Matsiland.

Matsui replacement, Nick Johnson raised his On Base Percentage with two walks but explain how that’s going to help win games. Johnson can not steal, and his 8 home-runs and 62 RBIs from 2009 are subpar stats for the second slot behind in the batting order. Continue reading ‘Letting Godzilla Move To Matsui-land’ »

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Javier Vazquez’s Chance To Make New Ending

Posted by on 15 March 2010, 9:11 am

The grand slam heard round the world during the 2004 ALCS, caused Yankees Universe to collapse. Unfairly, yet certainly that pitcher was blamed. Now that jar is back in the Bronx for a second time.

That in a nutshell is Javier Vazquez‘s reality.

Vazquez aquired from a trade with the Atlanta Braves for fan favorite Melky Cabrera and some decent young prospects, which is not adding to his popularity.

Admittedly this first seemed silly of GM Brian Cashman. As we go deeper into Spring Training, it looks more to be a favorable move.

In his 10 years employment, Vazquez has at least pitched 198 innings and at least won 10 games each season.

Coming off his best season in 2009, Vazquez went 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA, and his 238 strikeouts were the fourth-most in the majors. He was fourth in voting for the NL Cy Young Award.

For a fourth starter in a rotation, it sounds pretty sweet.

Questions remain if Vazquez can fair in the AL again, on a team where past baggage looms and in the new homer-friendly Yankee stadium.

In Vazquez’s corner, round two is an opportunity to prove himself again. The cards align for his success entering a sequence led by CC, AJ and Andy and a team fresh off a championship season.

Its time to let bygones be bygones.

So whether anyone agrees or not with their respective teams GM, the realities of a new season are now. The time is over for criticizing off-season moves, as whats done is done.

To practice what I just preached becomes much easier when the new player makes the team better.

Javier Vazquez, welcome back.

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Sitting In The Upper Deki, With A Case Of The Melky Blues

Posted by on 2 February 2010, 9:49 am

Sitting In The Upper Deki, With A Case Of The Melky Blues.

Got Melk, because fans are still thirsty?

Thrilla for Godzilla, isn’t that monster a native New Yorker in the first place?

- The Yankee Blues

April 13th 2010, is the home opener for the Bombers. Keeping with tradition the Champs will be presented with the World Series rings, the last celebration on victory lane.

Players, who are no longer in pinstripes might be playing elsewhere and will be missed by the team. Is it just luck that fans and teammates will have the opportunity to share this with Hideki Matsui?

It is more of a blessing. This is definitely proves there is a first time for everything, as Yankee players and fans will welcome the Angels into the stadium that day with open arms.

Hideki Matsui and Melky Cabrera were fan favorites and this departure hurts in places that Yankee fans have not dealt with in a while. Wearing another teams colors is not the same as retiring to be with family.

It is riddled with jealousy because Yankee fans  know how good it can get and the 2009 New York Yankees played with more heart and dignity. Makes it very hard not to miss, and our M & M boys were part of that family.

For our M&M boys, New York is always here for you. Wishing you success is pointless because it is inevitable wherever you go. The Braves and the Angels might sign your paychecks, but Yankees fans gave you our hearts and that will never change.

It was an honor for the pinstripes to be worn by two such talented athletes, but also both extraordinary men. Thank you.

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