Skip to content

2012 MLB Team Preview: Cleveland Indians

Posted by on 2 April 2012, 3:20 am

Cleveland Indians logo; aka 'the Tribe'

The 2011 Cleveland Indians came out of the gate hot last season, and were first in the AL Central up until July 20th having won 51 games.

Following that day, the Tribe only won 29 more games in 2011, and finished the season a distant second with 15 games separating them and the division leading Detroit Tigers.

Every team suffers injuries but in Cleveland players spent a total of 826 days on the DL in 2011, which certainly was higher than normal.

Now, with a new season just days away can a healthy Tribe finish off what they couldn’t in 2011?

Let’s take a look at the Indians heading into the 2012 season….

THE POSITIVES:

The emergence of shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera going from good to All-Stat, hitting 25 homers and 92 RBIs in 2011. The 26-year old ranked first in RBIs and hits out of all AL Shortstops and second in home-runs and doubles, and it earned him his first Sliver Slugger Award. This guy has a really bright future in Cleveland and his natural baseball ability leads many to believe that Cabrera will only get better.

The Indians have to take advantage of the April schedule. The Tigers play the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays and Rangers in the first month so the Indians have to pounce from the start, as the Tigers bats, aka Miguel Cabrera; tend to need a month to warm up before blasting everything out of the park. The Tribe needs to capitalize off every single opportunity if they plan on contending with the Tigers come September.  So, another hot start is in order in Cleveland.

THE NEGATIVES: Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: Cleveland Indians’ »

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
1 Comment

2012 MLB Team Preview: Detroit Tigers

Posted by on 7 March 2012, 2:00 pm

Detroit Tigers Logo

The Detroit Tigers went from being a .500 ball-club in 2010, to winning 95 games and the AL Central in 2011.

In an off-season where they lost Victor Martinez for the all of 2012, Tigers ownership stepped it up big to make sure that the team is still in a place to contend by signing Prince Fielder to a nine-year, $214 million deal. WOW…that is a lot of money.

Still, there are issues here but can the Tigers grind it out again and continue further than the ALCS in 2012?

Let’s take a look…

THE POSITIVES:

Offensively the Tigers will be featuring two of the best hitters in baseball, Miguel Cabrera and the newly signed Prince Fielder, along with Alex Avila and Jhonny Peralta. In my opinion any team with Cabrera on it is a threat, as he can carry a team on his back. He is the best pure hitter in the game today that I have ever seen. Rumor has it that Cabrera came into camp early, a little lighter and more importantly problem free, which is a positive.

The Tigers rotation is led by the AL MVP and CY Young award winner Justin Verlander, and overall the rotation had a decent season in 2011; and I say decent because looking at the rotations overall stats they land in the middle in almost every catagory. The Tigers have the ultimate ace in Verlander, as he won 24 games in 2011 and he is the definition of an innings eater pitcher. Also they are banking on a great full season of Doug Fister, which would help deepen their rotation, but don’t expect a repeat of the 1.79 ERA he posted when he was acquired by the Tigers mid-season in 2011. After Fister comes Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello, who won a combined 29 games in the 2011 season. All five Tiger starters are below the age of 30, which means there is still room to grow here.

THE NEGATIVES: Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: Detroit Tigers’ »

Tagged , , , , , , ,
6 Comments

New York Yankees: Granderson, Cano, CC, Tex, Houdini All On MVP List

Posted by on 21 November 2011, 11:38 pm
Justin Verlander

2011 MVP Winner..Justin Verlander Image via Wikipedia

Much to my dismay (click HERE to read why) , I obviously still extend my sincerest of CONGRATULATIONS to Detroit Tiger ace, and

recent CY Young receipt Justin Verlander for being named the 2011 Most-Valuable-Player.

There was no question that Verlander was the best pitcher across baseball this past season. Verlander finished the regular season 24-5 in 34 starts. He also boosted a 2.40 ERA, had four complete games and two shutouts during the 251 innings he pitched. Verlander gave up 67 earned runs, 24 home-runs, and 57 walks but managed to strike out a whooping out 250 batters of the 969 he faced. That explains why Verlander held opposing hitters to a .192 average and 283 total bases.

Not since Oakland Athletics Dennis Eckersley was named 1992 MVP has baseball given its most coveted award to a pitcher. Eckersley was just the 23rd pitcher in baseball history to win the MVP; and now after a 19 year drought, Verlander becomes #24.

The New York Yankees were represented with five players making the MVP final voting list: Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Granderson, Cano, CC, Tex, Houdini All On MVP List’ »

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,
2 Comments

New York Yankees: Secret To ALDS Success Vs. Detroit Tigers

Posted by on 30 September 2011, 11:17 am

So, what is the New York Yankees secret to success in this ALDS series?

It is a pretty simple formula…. winning Game 1 and beating Justin Verlander.

Appropriately in Game 1, both skippers’ Joe Girardi and Jim Leland, have their aces taking the hill. This is almost a prerequisite for all teams competing in the five-game ALDS series, as it allows an ace to pitch twice if needed.

First off all, winning Game 1 of the postseason is never a bad thing, as for any team it sends an abrupt message that you came to play. For the Yankees, defying the odds is something the players seem to relish in and when they get hot, they usually stay that way but the same is true when they get beat.

Now let’s look at Verlander, Sabathia and my specific prediction for the outcome of the ALDS Game 1….

Verlander vs. Sabathia

Justin Verlander:

It is easy to start with Tigers Justin Verlander, as be is a shoe-inn for the AL CY Young Award and is in serious contention for the AL MVP Award, which a pitcher hasn’t won since Roger Clemens was on the juice.

Regardless, Verlander is nasty. The righty finished the regular season with a 24-5 record, which included four complete games and two shutouts. Over the total of 251 innings he pitched, Verlander fanned 250 batters, posted a 2.40 ERA and opposing hitters averaged .192 against him. His arsenal includes a wicked curveball, slider and change-up to compliment his 100+ mph fastball.

To put it politely the Yankee bats will have their hands full, but it is not a total lost cause. Verlander gave 24 home-runs and 57 walks, which is a higher number than expected. Hitters have fared a lot better against him then the stats would make out to believe, but not by much.

In his career, the Yankee Captain has hit .357 off Verlander. And now I understand why Girardi is DH-ing Jorge Posada as he is not far behind Jeter posting .333 vs. the Tiger’s ace. Swisher has three career homers against Verlander, while Tex, Chavez and Cano have all gone yard once vs. Verlander.

Even with the future crowned 2011 CY Young winner on the mound, the Yankee hitters have an enormous amount of plate patience and it could frustrate Verlander. The only thing is that Verlander is a workhorse and can through well over 130 pitches, so that almost eliminates the Yankees advantage over the Tigers relievers.

CC Sabathia:

When you consider that Sabathia gave up 17 home-runs and 61 walks in total, it makes Verlander seem more mortal and if any lineup in baseball can bring a pitcher back down to earth it is the Yankees. It also reminds baseball fans that Sabathia is no slouch.

It is no secret that Sabathia struggled this past August. The decline happened at the same time Girardi went to a six-man rotation and the extra day between starts might have thrown the ace off schedule.

My guess it at some point Sabathia will have to swallow his pride by intentionally walking Tigers slugger and 2011 AL Batting Title winner Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera is the best hitter I have ever seen, and he has owned Sabathia. In his 16-career at-bats vs. CC, Cabrera has 11 RBIs, two home-runs, one double; four walks and posts a .563 batting average. So this move would be smart.

The Yankees bullpen is dominate, and if Sabathia can throw six solid innings without letting runs score that would be enough.

WHO HAS THE PITCHING ADVANTAGE? Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Secret To ALDS Success Vs. Detroit Tigers’ »

Tagged , , , , , , ,
2 Comments

2011 Opening Day Temps Don’t Freeze Hot New York Yankees

Posted by on 1 April 2011, 12:39 am

Now that I have finally de-thawed after attending the coldest game of my life at Yankee Stadium, I can tell you that the New York Yankees looked good in their first win of the season.

Beating the Detroit Tigers to open the season 6-3 at home is the best way to start a season.

Let me tell you that Tiger line-up is frightening, with the new Miguel Cabrera sandwich of Magglio Ordonez and Victor Martinez. Cabrera drunk, sober or stoned really doesn’t matter because this guy can hit. Even after the numerous times I have been to a Tigers/Yankees game, Cabrera still amazes me with his natural talent.

Does it remind me of Robinson Cano?

Yes, but Cabrera is better, which is tough to proclaim considering Cano’s numbers but it is the truth.

In his first at-bat today against CC Sabathia, Cabrera hit a bullet of a line drive. Cabrera luckily only made to to first-base, which any in-shape player would have turned into a double.

Sabathia managed to get through six innings and the Yankees ace looked great.

After CC, the Yankees bullpen shutdown the Tigers bats Joba in the seventh, Soriano to Mariano in the eighth and ninth. This is a bullpen in charge, with dominance not seen in over a decade when Rivera was Garland’s set-up back in the mid-90’s.

What a nice weapon for skipper Joe Girardi to have in his pocket. If the bullpen stays healthy, Yankees starters can pitch six-inning games. Continue reading ‘2011 Opening Day Temps Don’t Freeze Hot New York Yankees’ »

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
1 Comment

2011 MLB Team Preview: Detroit Tigers

Posted by on 22 March 2011, 4:17 pm

The 2010 season did not pan out the way the Detroit Tigers had planed and that is putting it kindly.

Injury-ridden across the board, it is a miracle within itself that the Tigers managed to finish with an 81-81 record. The Tigers are not a .500 team and going forward

Is 2011 the year of the Tigers? Hey anything it possible, so let’s take a look at Detroit heading into the regular season.

The Positives:

The Tigers off-season easily ranks as one of the most productive in baseball, with the additions of catcher Victor Martinez, RHP Joaquin Benoit and RHP Brad Penny.

The big splash was signing Martinez to a 4-year deal worth $50 million. Martinez is one of the best hitting catchers in the game and in my guess is he will hit fifth, right behind arguably the best hitter in the game, Miguel Cabrera. This is a huge upgrade behind the plate, as Martinez is that good.

The Tigers are looking forward to the return of OF Magglio Ordonez, after he broke his ankle in 2010. Ordonez is the top half of the Cabrera sandwich hitting in the third spot. Ordonez is 37 years old and entering his 15th season, but his first 14 years makes an average season of 38 doubles, 27 home-runs and 111 RBIs. If Ordonez can get anywhere near those numbers, watch out.

Rookie OF Austin Jackson came to the Tigers as part of the Curtis Granderson trade with the Yankees right at the start of 2010 season. Jackson finished second in the Rookie-of-the-Year voting and had a great first season. As the Tigers lead-off expect big things from Jackson, who hit in over a 100 runs, stole 27 bases and finished up with a batting average just shy of .300. Jackson needs to cut down on his 170 strikeouts from 2010, but that will come with time.

Detroit’s infield also has 3B Brandon Inge who is like a fine wine, he keeps getting better over time. Next to Inge at shortstop is Johnny Peralta who is all around solid both offensively and with the bat.

This is a really good group of bats that will compliment the Tigers’ equally talented pitching rotation.

Led by team ace Justin Verlander, who is the definition of an innings eater pitching just shy of 230 total last season. Verlander posted a 3.37 ERA, with 219 strikeouts and an 18-9 record. Max Scherzer, who pitched 195 innings total, with a 3.50 ERA, follows Verlander in the two spot. Rounding out the rotation is Rick Porcell, Phil Coke and Brad Penny. This will be Coke’s first season in the bigs as a starter and his performance could impact the team big time.

Closer Jose Valverde is healthy again and with the Tigers new addition of Benoit to be his 8th inning guy sets Valverde up to get a lot of save opportunities.

The Tigers look good all around and are determined that this is their year.

The Negatives:

The off-field behavior of Cabrera is a great concern, as it should be. Cabrera has had problems with alcohol for quite some time, but after the trouble he caused at the end of 2009 things seemed to be on track. So, at the start of Spring Training it came as quite a shock to hear the Cabrera had been arrested for a DWI again and resisting arrest. The Tigers had no problem letting Cabrera come into camp, which I hope was not for selfish reasons. Cabrera is obviously not well and without professional help, like going to a rehab, it is almost certain he will find trouble again soon.

With the team looking healthy again, the Tigers have to improve their record on the road. Last season going 29-52 is disgraceful, after going the reverse 52-29 at home. If they want to contend they have to win more away from Detroit or they can forget the playoffs. Continue reading ‘2011 MLB Team Preview: Detroit Tigers’ »

Tagged , , , , , , ,
Comments Off

Breaking News: Tigers All-Star Miguel Cabrera Gets DWI In Florida

Posted by on 17 February 2011, 9:32 am

I first heard the sad news on ESPN’s Mike and Mike radio show, that five time All-Star, Miguel Cabrera was arrested and charges for a DWI down in Port St. Lucie, FL. Here is the story from the Associated Press.

Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera charged with DUI in Fla.

The Associated Press
Thursday, February 17, 2011; 8:51 AM

FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera has been arrested on drunken driving charges in Florida.

The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office says the 27-year-old’s car engine was smoking alongside a road late Wednesday when a deputy spotted the vehicle.

According to the arrest report, Cabrera smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and took a swig from a bottle of scotch in front of a deputy.

Police say Cabrera repeatedly refused to cooperate, saying, “Do you know who I am, you don’t know anything about my problems.”

In 2009, the All-Star first baseman got into a fight with his wife after a night of drinking, right before his team surrendered the American League Central Division title to the Twins.

Cabrera posted $1,350 bond and was released Thursday.

Related articles

Tagged , , , , , , ,
1 Comment
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2