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Note To AL East: Better Keep An Eye On The Toronto Blue Jays

Posted by on 8 August 2010, 1:09 am
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Right now, the team playing the best baseball in the AL East Division is without a doubt the Toronto Blue Jays.

In the last week the Blue Jays won series against the two best teams in baseball; first they were in New York winning two of three against the Yankees, then headed home and pounded on the Tampa Bay Rays.

By now this is a broken record in Toronto, the ball club plays well, but is always missing that something to make it into the post-season.

So what is the problem with the Blue Jays?

Thus far in 2010, we know the Blue Jays can hit home-runs. The team leads the majors with 175 as of August 7th.

The sting of losing ace Roy Halladay to the Philadelphia Phillies was just a figure of speech because the Blue Jays have quality young arms that have made his absence almost forgettable. The pitching prospects are top notch, but this group needs to stay together in 2011 for their talent to really start to show.

They can hang in the AL East because they continually prove it.

My theory is all the Jays do is hit home-runs, so the inevitable slumps hit deeper because they don’t play small ball.

Toronto’s starting rotation has given up only 93 home-runs this season, second in the AL behind the Chicago White Sox who have the lowest in the majors with 78.

So, please explain how the team who hits the most home-runs and gives up the lease can’t even contend for the postseason?

Could the Blue Jays stay hot and make a miracle-type of run for October?

Toronto’s typical behavior over the last few seasons is a hot streak that ends just before the All-Star break and that is about it.

This is not the case in 2010, as the Blue Jays are making another go at it and doing it against baseball’s elite.

Hey in sports, you never know what can happen. Maybe Toronto fans should go cheer because the team is surely giving them reason now.

JUST A NOTE….One AL East team has a four game winning streak and it’s the Baltimore Orioles. New skipper Buck Showalter will inspire good things to come in Camden Yard. It’s about time the loyal depressed O’s fans had something real and good to look forward too.


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Two MLB Teams Not To Give Up On

Posted by on 19 July 2010, 10:31 am

MLB’s second-half of the season is officially in full swing.

Thus far, in 2010 is proving to be one for the books. With so many tight division races, fans will have plenty of excitement to keep them occupied.

Still, fans tend to throw in the towel and write-off their teams chances of playing in October. A few teams stand out that might not be division leaders now, but still have the potential not to be counted out yet.

Remember, that pennants are not won in July and baseball can look decidedly different from week to week.

Here, are two teams, one from the AL and the other from the NL that should not be counted out:

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Angels lost their best player for the season, 1B Kenny Morales, which has finally impacted the team. Still, this is a group who has won the AL West six of the last seven years and it would be foolish to consider them out this soon.

Even with the first-place Rangers acquiring SP Cliff Lee, the back of rotation is not significant. The Angels have an ace in Jered Weaver. Weaver beat out Seattle’s King Felix for the third time this season, but the Angels have to give Weaver some run support. The vets need to step it up now specifically Abreau, Hunter and Matsui to stay in the mix.

Truthfully, they are not the same Angels from 2009. They lost a lot of speed on the bases, which played a enormous role in their past successes. The Halos should pick-up a solid bat before the end of July. Rumors that Red Sox Mike Lowell or Orioles Miguel Tejada are possibilities, but are a tad too old to get that excited or could be the difference makers.

The Angels remain just four and a half games out, and the next two weeks are the time to make a move on Texas. Angels are a second-half team, with a proven history and now’s time to prove it.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies, even worse than the Angels, have been hit with injuries. So far 12 players have seen the DL, including three All-Star hitters, the closer, a setup man, two starters and both their starting and backup catchers. Things have been far from sunny in Philadelphia. Continue reading ‘Two MLB Teams Not To Give Up On’ »

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Subway Series: Game Three Preview

Posted by on 20 June 2010, 2:14 am

Another familiar match-up to end the second Subway Series, as  Game three features New York’s ace lefties CC Sabathia (NYY) and Johan Santana (NYM) will face off on the mound on Sunday afternoon.   

Coincidentally, both pitchers have pitched 92 innings and walked 30 batters this season.  

The rest of their season numbers are not much further apart. Thus far, Sabathia has 76 strike-outs, compared to 59 for Santana. Santana has only given up seven home-runs, with a 3.13 era, and Sabathia has been taken deep 12 times, with a 4.0 era.   

Neither southpaws are pitching their best stuff. There is one fact that separates the two and it’s Queens and the Bronx.   

In games where Santana pitched and put the Mets in line for a win, he got absolutely no run support from the Mets hitters.   Continue reading ‘Subway Series: Game Three Preview’ »

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Subway Series: Who’s Gonna Run This Town Tonight

Posted by on 18 June 2010, 7:00 am

The Yankees host the Mets this weekend, for part two of the Subway Series.

With both New York teams are flirting with first place in their respected division, in addition to the usual fan pride, winning this series is essential.

The pitching match-ups are about the only thing that looks the same. The two teams are more evenly matched because the Mets have been playing better as of late.

Coming off a seven game win streak for the Mets is close to a miracle, for a team who has shown little character. Winning against two of the bottom-feeders of the AL, the Orioles and Indians, makes it less threatening.

As for the Yankees, just when you think their getting hot again they lose. It is hard to make sense of what is going on right now in the Bronx.

Not many teams beat-up on Roy Halladay like the Yankees did on Tuesday night. It seemed surreal for about a 47 seconds, until Jamie Moyer brought the Yankees back down to earth. Scorching hot to freaking freezing is not typical for the Yankees.

All in all, getting a unbelievable performance from Andy Pettitte yesterday to go and lose the game is disgusting. Phillies Kyle Kendrick pitched very well, but this Jeter, Arod and Teixeira nonsense has to stop now. Continue reading ‘Subway Series: Who’s Gonna Run This Town Tonight’ »

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Jamie Moyer Pitches Solid Bullshit To Beat The Yankees

Posted by on 17 June 2010, 2:33 am

After Roy Halladay got smoked 8-2 by the New York Yankees on Tuesday night, Philadelphia Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel made another pitching change.

Manuel swapped Kyle Kendrick and Jamie Moyer‘s starts. So, Kendrick would face Andy Pettitte on Thursday, and uber-veteran Jamie Moyer would start against AJ Burnett on Wednesday night.

Manual’s reasoning made no sense, nor difference to me. It seemed a tad ridiculous. Did Manuel think it was October 2009 again?

Maybe Manuel was living in the past. It did seem desperate, but can you blame Manuel?

Thinking about how bad the Phillies have been playing, you can’t call Manuel crazy because the Phillies won.

It is ridiculous that Moyer’s breaking ball looked, (excuse me, was) more toxic than Halladay’s cutter. Odds are it’s the last time that will ever happen again.

Majority of MLB media predicted that the Yankees would take BP (batting practice) on Jamie Moyer no matter when he started.

Moyer is 47 years old and his fastball‘s mph is not much higher. The difference is time has not affected Moyer, because speed was never his forte.

It is common knowledge that Moyer’s breaking ball causes hitters to acquire strike early in the counts. The whole pitch is false, but plenty of batters think it’s true, making it worthwhile enough.

With the Yankees being the most patient hitters in all of MLB, they see pitches just like Moyer’s breaking ball, but don’t fall for it’s bullshit. Moyer has been in the majors since 1986 so no shortage of footage on him.

In no way am I trying to take away from Moyer’s 265th career win. It is pretty amazing to flank the Yankees for eight innings, allowing only three hits at his age. Continue reading ‘Jamie Moyer Pitches Solid Bullshit To Beat The Yankees’ »

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New York Yankees Ruin A Perfect Halladay

Posted by on 16 June 2010, 5:37 pm

Every MLB team lives in fear of facing Phillies stud Roy Halladay.

As a Toronto Blue Jay, Halladay had crushed the New York Yankees for 12 seasons.

So, when Halladay was traded to the Phillies last season, it was a huge relief and very happy farewell for the Yankees. AL hitters practically packed Roy’s bags to get him into the National League ASAP. Finally, no more recurring nightmares of Doc’s cutter.

Everyone was so sure that Halladay was going to wreck havoc on a line-up sans Alex Rodriguez and a useless Mark Teixeira, that it had already been accepted as not fate, but fact.

Who knew the Yankees planned to host a mini home-run derby against the mighty and feared Phillies ace Roy Halladay?

No one would have believed the Yankees after such a shaky month of May.

To be honest, sweeping the Houston Astros didn’t provide much reassurance. The Yankees should beat any team playing .385 baseball, not just the Orioles. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Ruin A Perfect Halladay’ »

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Pitching Preview: Champion New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies Game 2

Posted by on 14 June 2010, 2:10 pm

Pitching Preview: Champs vs. Phillies Game 2 focuses on the game two match-up, in this 2009 World Series revival between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees.

Game 2:

Yankees, AJ Burnett will face the Phillies Kyle Kendrick on Wednesday night in the Bronx. Both pitchers are coming off horrible starts, so it’s safe to say both want to turn it around for this game.

Kyle Kendrick had a 2.79 ERA over his last six starts, until he bombed against the Marlins in his last start on June 8. Kendrick got moved in the roaster so Halladay could pitch against Sabathia on Tuesday, so Kendrick threw out of the bullpen for two innings on June 11th to keep his arm warm. This youngster is a Yankees virgin, which is to his advantage, as the Yankees do not fair well against foreign pitchers. He has to figure out to rattle guys the Yankees from the start and keep them on their toes. Kendrick’s main job is to locate his fastball well, because it lacks speed. Kendrick’s doom against the Yankee bats is if he becomes predictable. He has a solid sinker, a good change-up and a newly added cutter (thanks to Halladay). His career ERA against lefties is 7.02, so he has to be careful with switch hitters like hotter-than-hell Posada and Swisher. Kendrick has to keep his confidence in a very intimidating place, against a line-up that could be it’s own all-star roaster.

AJ Burnett, another pitcher whose cutter comes via Roy Halladay. Even Halladay admits that Burnett’s cutter is the best in the game, but only if he can maintain control. This is the same old song for Burnett. Continue reading ‘Pitching Preview: Champion New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies Game 2’ »

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