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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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2012 MLB Team Preview: Washington Nationals

Posted by on 6 March 2012, 10:57 pm

Washington Nationals Logo

As the Washington Nationals head into their eighth season, they finally have something to get excited about.

What started last off-season by signing Jason Werth, the ownership has continued that they want this team wants to contend now.

The franchise’s best divisional finish was in 2011, as they placed third place in the NL East with an 80-81 record just a game short of .500. The Nats did go 81-81 in 2005, but that was only good enough for last place that season.

Even though the Nationals have brought little success, the organization seems to be headed in the right direction but is it enough for the team to compete in 2012? Or is it another season of continual rebuilding?

THE POSITIVES:

Being the worst is finally paying-off…. Since becoming the Nationals in 2005, the team has been the literal bottom feeders of the NL East, until finishing in third last season. From 2008-2010 the team only won a combined 187 games, which did give the Nationals a lot first round draft picks and now the results are starting to emerge.

The Nationals starting rotation has much improved by trading for Gio Gonzalez and signing Edwin Jackson in addition to Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmerman.

Gonzalez is coming off a great 2011 with the Oakland Athletics, as he went 16-12, with a 3.12 ERA and those numbers should get better coming from the AL.  As for Jackson, who inked a one-year deal with the Nationals, is presumably hoping to hit the free agent market again following 2012, so expect him to want to perform as best he can. Last season he went 12-9 splitting time between the White Sox and the Cardinals, and pitched just shy of 200 innings.

The Nationals bullpen was already good with duo Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen but they went out and solidified it by signing now ex-Phillies closer Brad Lidge. This should pose for few problems at the end of the games, and having a solid group of relievers is so vital for a team down the stretch; and especially since it takes pressure off the starters a bit, which the Nats can benefit from.

THE NEGATIVES: Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: Washington Nationals’ »

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New York Yankees hot stove: Who is Jorge Soler?

Posted by on 15 February 2012, 6:05 am

With all of New York City under complete Lin-Sanity, any Yankees news has been put on the back burner.

Who is JORGE SOLER??

As pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training this coming Sunday, technically the off-season hot stove is still in session.

And the latest player rumored to be on the Yankees radar is a 19-year old, Cuban outfielder named Jorge Soler.

Now, if you are like me you might be wondering who is this Jorge Soler?

Soler is the other highly talented Cuban player who got overshadowed this off-season by fellow countryman Yoenis Cespedes.

Cespedes is five years older than Soler, and is considered more Major League ready because of it.

Now that Cespedes has signed a four-year, $36 million deal with the Oakland Athletics; the focus has started shifting to Soler and what he can bring to a team.

Soler make-up is of a five-tool player, but whether he will actually become the next Justin Upton is a whole different story.

The one advantage Soler has is time. At 19, Soler will have ample time to work his way up in the minor leagues, which is a luxury of added experience Cespedes will not be getting. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees hot stove: Who is Jorge Soler?’ »

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New York Yankees Hot Stove: Billy Beane Are You Kidding Me

Posted by on 18 December 2011, 11:22 pm
Gio Gonzalez

A's Gio Gonzalez - Image via Wikipedia

Rumors about Oakland A’s pitcher Gio Gonzalez being on the market have swirled since the start of the off-season.

Moneyball and A’s GM Billy Beane is asking for the riches of Solomon for Gonzalez, which is not surprising coming from Beane but reality is you are banking on potential talent.

Gonzalez is 26-years old, and doesn’t hit free agency until after 2016. That is appealing, as it makes him cheap moneywise but according to ESPN New York Andrew Marchand, in exchange the A’s want Yankee prospects Jesus Montero, Mason Williams and either Manny Banuelos or Dellin Betances.

Beane is obviously reaching for the stars here, as no one in his or her right mind would make that trade. Bob Klapisch of the Boston Globe reported that GM Brian Cashman didn’t know whether to be offended or amused after he heard Beane’s trade demands.

Gonzalez is a good pitcher, clocking over 200 innings in his last two seasons with an ERA under 3.25.

There is no denying that the potential is there but that depends heavily on getting the 183 walks Gonzalez totaled in his first two full season way down, as he led the league with 91 in 2011.

Also, the 175 hits allowed last season is alarmingly high, which explains why his hits/per-nine-innings average is around eight and a WHIP of 1.317.

If Gonzalez did not fan 197 batters in 2011 to offset the walks, we would not even be talking about him. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Hot Stove: Billy Beane Are You Kidding Me’ »

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“Too Much Moneyball” The Story of the New York Yankees

Posted by on 7 October 2011, 10:55 am

Ok Yankee fans, I know last night was not the ideal outcome…at all.

Trust me I feel you; and let me say that I was at the Stadium for Game 5 yesterday and all I can say is the fans were rocking. If anything the Yankee players know the fans had their backs, but it just wasn’t enough to get one run to tie it up.

It was the Detroit Tigers night, as it was the Yankees game to lose so you have to congratulate them on a great series and good luck in the ALCS.

Now something to make you laugh a little….

Thanks to the guys over at Midwest Sports Fans, I can share this hysterical video clip of New York Yankees type Moneyball.

It is really funny….so enjoy!!

“TOO MUCH MONEYBALL”

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New York Yankees: September Schedule

Posted by on 8 September 2011, 4:17 am

The New York Yankees are off to an ideal start so far this September winning six of seven games.

The rest of September will test the Yankees to the fullest extent. Instead of going on about just how tough the Bronx Bombers have it…. take a look for yourself.

 

“Losers quit when they’re tired. Winners quit when they’ve won.” – Author Unknown

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New York Yankees: Hurricane Irene Got Nothing On The Bronx Bombers

Posted by on 26 August 2011, 11:17 pm

Up in the Bronx on Thursday afternoon, the New York Yankees started a hurricane with their bats.

Not only did their bats beat the Oakland Athletics 22-9, they also made baseball history along the way. As Robinson Cano, Russell Martin and Curtis Granderson all hit grand slams during the game, which is the first time that has ever happened in the history of the baseball.

The Yankees are in Baltimore to play five games in four days against the bottom feeding Orioles. Problem is that Hurricane Irene didn’t come soon enough to save pitcher AJ Burnett.

The right-hander had another night to forget to add to an ever-growing list, as he gave up six runs in the second inning. Unfortunately, for Burnett, the bats didn’t have a repeat performance in the 12-5 loss.

Regarding Burnett, I am one of the few not worried so much about him righting himself. Burnett’s determination to fix himself is genuine, and he is working hard to make sure that happens. I believe the encouragement from both his teammates, as well as the coaching staff and GM will boost Burnett back to a respectable level again very soon.

**Hurricane Irene is heading up the coast so it is doubtful the weekend games will be played, which includes the double-header scheduled for Saturday that has already been postponed. The latest news on MLB.com is the Yankees/Orioles will play two on Sunday pending on the weather. The Yankees were hoping to get two games in on Friday or one very early Saturday morning but the Orioles wouldn’t do it. Go figure….

On – Off-The-Field Gossip:

Even though I discourage turning athletes personal lives into Hollywood gossip, exceptions are made when it affects a player’s performance on the field.

So, the recent gossip conveyed on JustJared.com that Derek Jeter dumped Minka Kelly is applicable because the Captain’s boosted level of play since the All-Star break has been remarkable; and getting out of a stressful relationship has to play a part. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Hurricane Irene Got Nothing On The Bronx Bombers’ »

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