Blog Archives
E-MAILBAG: Ask the Reports, Wednesday May 18th
Thank you for reading the E-mailbag. Please send all your questions to mlbreports@gmail.com and please include your first name and City/Country.
We will be compiling a list of your questions from our e-mailbag and posting the responses on Wednesdays.
Wednesday May 18, 2011
Q: Have the dimensions of Citi Field been to the detriment of the Mets franchise? From Yair, Bat Yam, Israel
MLB reports: Great question Yair and shalom (hell0) to you in Israel! With the lacklustre play of the Mets the last few seasons, its great to see that they still have so many fans, even internationally. Getting to your question, the topic of Citi Field has been a continuous one since its opening back in 2009. The $850 million structure replaced Shea Stadium and has not played out in the same way that new Yankee Stadium has to say the least. At a capacity of 41,800, the stadium holds 15,000 fewer fans than Shea and was meant to be more intimate. Citi Field has some interesting features in its design. Citi Field’s fences are not the same size, ranging in height from being 15 feet in left field and 18 feet in right. Shea Stadium had outfield fences that were all 8 feet in comparison. The dimensions overall are not far different from Shea, with approximately 335 feet to the field lines and 408 feet to center. Shea was never a great hitters ballpark to begin with and Citi Field is no better. I would attribute the height of the fences as being a major issue for the team in terms of hurting the amount of home runs in the park. As well, the shortage of quality hitters on the current Mets squad is the main reason for any offensive issues. As a ball park, Citi Field ranks 11th currently in terms of home runs but 27th last year. It will be interesting to see how the field plays out this season. But the bottom line, is that the Mets have the same advantages and disadvantages at Citi Field as all opposing teams. As a pitcher’s park, the team needs strong pitching and defense to remain competitive on its home turf, with good timely hitting. This may sound obvious, but team talent and not the stadium will decide the team’s fate at the end of the day.
Q: Ok how about this? I am not yet dropping Derek Jeter from fantasy team. Can I drop Brett Wallace or Mark Trumbo for Yunel Escobar as insurance for Jeter? From Maury, Boston
MLB reports: Hell0 Maury and no, you cannot make this move. As much as Jeter is struggling, dropping talents like Wallace and Trumbo do not make sense at this point. Wallace is hitting .321 in 2011 with 3 home runs and .869 OPS. Trumbo, while starting to struggle somewhat with a .244 AVG has 6 home runs and 18 RBIs. If you must make this move, then drop Trumbo and grab Escobar, who is hitting .295, with 3 home runs and .775 OPS. Quality numbers for a shortstop. But Jeter is still Jeter and will rebound in my estimation. Keep plugging the Yankees captain in your lineup and expect a rebound soon.
Q: Can the Cubs please just leave Starlin Castro in a fixed spot in the lineup? Like, say, leadoff? Hitting him 3rd is (^*&&*%$! From Reuben, parts unknown
MLB reports: I can’t argue with Castro’s numbers to start the season. .327 AVG, .789 OPS, 23 runs scored, 18 runs driven in, 4 stolen bases and 6/14 BB/K ratio. As a leadoff hitter or hitting in the second slot, Castro has strong abilities to get timely hits and create runs. I couldn’t agree with you more that batting Castro in the third slot does not make sense. With one home run this year and three all of last year, the power is not there for the Cubs shortstop. The move to hit him third would be out of desperation than anything else. It is a relection on the Cubs for a lack of other options, than Castro as a new power guy. As the Cubs continue to gel through the season, expect Castro to have a permanent lineup slot soon. Leadoff appears to be most likely his destination.
Q: Do you think Aaron Hill might be enough to protect Bautista in the Jays lineup? I obviously don’t mean full protection, but maybe just enough for the Blue Jays to be a force. Another great article by the way, I enjoyed reading your feature on Jose Bautista! From Nolan, parts unknown
MLB reports: Thank you for reading the reports, I always appreciate the feedback. The Bautista article was a lot of fun to write and I enjoyed giving the readers a look into the Jays home run king (You can click to read our piece on Bautista). As far as AaRon Hill coming back and providing good protection in the lineup, I will admit that I have my doubts to say the least. Hill has missed several games this year due to injury and when he has been able to play, has hit to the tune of a .237 AVG, no home runs and .573 OPS. If you take aside 2009, Hill has never shown to be a really good hitter and in my opinion, that season has been an outlier rather than the standard. Aaron was actually the subject of the first ever article on MLB reports. If you would like to read more about Aaron and his future on the Jays, please click here. But if you want the brief synopsis: Hill is more likely a candidate for a trade/release over the next year than any guarantee of production. I do not have very much faith in him and neither should you.
Thanks for the e-mails and keep them coming! mlbreports@gmail.com
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Interview with Yusuf Carter: Oakland A’s Prospect
MLB reports: In our latest interview feature, we meet Oakland Athletics catching prospect, Yusuf Carter. Yusuf is 26-years-of-age and currently playing AA ball with the Midland RockHounds. Carter has the distinction of being drafted by three different major league teams, the Mariners, A’s and Cubs. Carter ultimately signed with the Cubs and played in their farm system before joining Oakland. The nephew of former major leaguer Joe Carter, Yusuf has graciously agreed to this interview with MLB reports. After speaking with him, I can fully say that you would be hard pressed to find a nicer, more down to earth player than Carter. A terrific human being and baseball player, Yusuf Carter is one of the lucky ones to play professional baseball and appreciates every minute. He is a hard worker, does not take anything for granted and is giving it his all to make it the major leagues. We proudly present: Yusuf Carter, of the Oakland Athletics.
MLB reports: Welcome to MLB reports Yusuf. It is a pleasure to have you join us.
Carter: The pleasure is all mine. Thank you for contacting me and having me on board.
MLB reports: Let’s start off with learning who was your favorite baseball player growing up. Which player did you most idolize and pattern your game after?
Carter: My favorite player growing up was definitely the kid, Ken Griffey Jr. I loved the way he brought style and swagger to the game of baseball! He was the best at hitting long home runs (and pimping them) and making highlight catches seemingly every night! Griffey probably had the most pure talent of any player I have ever seen and I hope that he makes the hall of fame one day.
MLB reports: To flip it around, which current MLB star do you most admire and why?
Carter: The player I most admire now is definitely Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees. I admire the way he goes about his business and plays the game. Jeter works very hard and plays the right way, every day. I am also impressed that Jeter has not let stardom get to his head and has remained humble despite his vast successes in baseball.
MLB reports: Reflecting on your career to-date, what are your proudest accomplishments on the baseball field?
Carter: Well looking at my career so far, I would have to say winning the Florida State League Championship in 2008 with the Daytona Cubs. It was the best feeling I ever had playing baseball. I hit a game-tying home run in a crucial game during the series and that was a pretty awesome feeling.
MLB reports: What are your goals going into the 2011 season?
Carter: My goals are to hit .400 with 50 home runs and 150 RBI’s! They say it is important to dream big, right?! (laughing) Realistically though, I am just going to go out and play hard 
every day and give it my all! I want to look back after every game and know that I never took a night off and never gave away any at bats. As long as I play like that, I am sure that I can achieve at least half of my expected goals. That would be pretty good!
MLB reports: When you first found out you were drafted by three different teams in three years, what were your reactions? Did those reactions change over time? If you can comment on each team and why you chose to re-enter the draft that would be great. Please also tell the story of final signing with the Cubs and how you came to the A’s.
Carter: To be drafted at all is a pretty big deal. After it happened 3 years in a row, I was very happy that different organizations thought I was good enough to play for them and wanted me. That definitely gave me the confidence that I can make it all the way to the big leagues one day and made me work that much harder on every aspect of my game. But each situation was different for me. After considering all the factors, even when I got drafted early, I decided that I didn’t want to rush into signing and starting my career if the situation wasn’t the best fit for me at that particular stage. The best situation was when the Chicago Cubs drafted me in 2005, so I signed with the Cubs and started my baseball career. I played with the Cubs from 2005 -2008. I was picked up by the Oakland A’s in the winter of 2008 in the rule 5 draft and have been with the organization ever since.
MLB reports: Can you give an insight as to why you originally chose not to sign in the 2 previous times you were drafted before signing with the Cubs? Did you have any fear that you may not be drafted again or not have interest if you did not sign each time you chose not to sign?
Carter: I was first drafted out of high school by the Mariners and the offer wasn’t very much. I knew it would be best for my career if I went to college and played more. That way I could gain more experience playing at a higher level, with the chance of increasing my value if I played well. The second time around, I was ironically drafted by the Oakland A’s. I was a draft-and-follow (before they got changed the system and got rid of it). The A’s wanted me to play another year of college ball and come to a decision once the year was over. I decided not to sign with them because they had just drafted a catcher in the 1st round that year and another catcher in the 2nd round. Kurt Suzuki and Landon Powell were both catchers that I knew of and as it turns out, are now the starting and #2 catchers for the A’s today. With such a backlog at the position, I thought I would have a better chance at advancing with a different organization. That’s when the Cubs drafted me and I felt it was a good situation for me and I signed. I definitely had a slight fear each time that I may not be drafted again by not signing. But I was also confident in my abilities and didn’t want to sell myself short just out of fear. I just wanted to play hard and do well and I felt everything would work itself out. Which it did.
MLB reports: What do you consider your greatest baseball skill(s)?
Carter: I would have to say that in my opinion and based on what most people say as well, my best skill would have to be my arm. I like throwing guys out anyway I can. Defense behind the plate attracted me to the position and throwing out would- e based runners is the best part of being a catcher.
MLB reports: What facets of your game do you most wish to improve upon?
Carter: I honestly need to improve on all areas! But I think as a catcher, I need to focus on improving my receiving skills so that I can handle all the different pitchers I work with on a daily basis much better. I have made already strong improvements from this spring to now in that area of my game. As a result, I am feeling a lot more confident as I work towards being a major league catcher one day. But my mindset is that I can always get better!
MLB reports: How do strikeouts and walks figure into your game? Do you see any of these items changing over time and to what degree?
Carter: They play a huge part in my game. When I feel good and comfortable in the box, I see the ball a lot better and I don’t chase many pitches out of the zone. That inevitably leads to more walks and better overall results at the plate. I don’t end up getting myself out as much. But if I’m not seeing the ball as well or I’m in a little funk, like most batters I tend to chase out of the zone and swing at pitches that I should have resisted! That ends up leading to fewer opportunities for success. My approach at the plate is something that I definitely see changing and an aspect of my game that I have to constantly stay on top of.
MLB reports: Long term what position do you see yourself playing? How do you see defense as part of your overall game?
Carter: I have always been a guy that can play multiple positions, which I consider a strength for me. By being versatile, I have more ways to stay in the
line-up and gain experience in the field But I think that if I had a choice, I would choose catching at this point. I know that many people will call me crazy for choosing the most demanding position in the game! But in my view, I see catchers as an important part of the game. I have always thought that if I could master that position and be able to catch at the highest level, I would be very important to my team and organization. As a catcher, defense is the main part of my game which always needs to be sharp! I have to be able to do it all, including stopping easy runs from scoring by base runners advancing on balls thrown in the dirt or stealing, for example. So yes, defense is huge.
MLB reports: A little birdy told us that your uncle happens to be no other than…former MLB star and World Series hero Joe Carter. Is this true?
Carter: Yes, indeed (chuckle). You are correct. Joe is my father’s brother and my uncle. I definitely get my athletic genes from that side of the family. Just to look in comparison, I am probably the “smallest” guy in the bunch at 6’3″ when I am around my dad’s family, including my father, uncles and brothers. My dad is 6’7″ so I got some of his height luckily (chuckle).
MLB reports: What is your relationship like with Joe Carter? Must have been pretty amazing. What kind of influence was Uncle Joe on your baseball career and life?
Carter: Joe and I always have enjoyed a great relationship. He was one of the best uncles a nephew could ever asked for. He has helped me and been there for me in so many ways since I started playing baseball. Joe always gives me hitting advice if I needed it and just to talk baseball sometimes. He always helped get me back on track and improve my game. I had an advantage with Joe Carter as my uncle, as he always gave me good advice at each stage when I was trying to decide when and where to sign professionally. My agent happens to be also his agent that he has been with for 25 years, so I knew that he would have my best interests in mind.
MLB reports: What was it like growing up with Joe Carter as your uncle? I can only imagine the stories that you must have.
Carter: Growing up with everyone knowing that Joe was my uncle was a good thing and a bad thing at times. It was cool because I had a famous uncle to brag about if I wanted! (chuckling) Although I usually didn’t tell people about Joe often. Having such a famous uncle got me a great deal of exposure and extra looks from scouts and teams. The only thing was that I just did not want to be known solely as his nephew though. I wanted to stand on my own and have people see that I could play and had talent as well. But it was always cool going to watch him play whenever he played in New York (my hometown) against the Mets or Yankees! I got to meet a lot of my favorite players after games waiting for him to come out. That was always a treat.
MLB reports: Any memories of your uncle that stick out?
Carter: A cool time that I remember is when Joe was a commentator for the Cubs back in 2003. That was my senior year in high school. He set it up so that I could take batting practice on the field with the Cubs! The team gave me a uniform and everything. I got the chance that day to meet Sosa, Alomar and a lot of guys from both teams . I didn’t hit any out of the park that day, but it was fun! Later, to top it off Joe brought me up to the press box with him and put me on tv with him for a bit! I’m just lucky to have someone of his stature in the game, that has been there and to look out for me. Joe knows what it takes to succeed in life and baseball and has always been there to give me advice and to help me out.
MLB reports: What have you most taken away from Joe Carter the baseball player?
Carter: One thing that I always noticed about him when he played is that he had a constant smile on his face and looked happy to be playing the game. I definitely try to do the same when I’m out there on the field. After all, let’s all never forget that it is still just a game! The more fun that you have out there, the better you will play overall.
MLB reports: I know that you must get this all the time, but we can’t talk about Joe Carter without me asking you: what are your memories from his famous walk-off home run in the World Series?
Carter: A lot of people ask me what I thought about his walk-off home run to win the World Series for the Blue Jays back in the 1990s. The truth is that I respond that I did not know anything about it until I was 12-years-old and started playing organized baseball! So I actually learned about “the home run” 4 years after it happened. Boy, I got a late start! (chuckle)
MLB reports: What were your experiences like growing up as a baseball late bloomer? Please give us an insight as to what your childhood was like and how that affected your playing career.
Carter: I would say my culture or childhood affected me the most as far as playing goes. I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, in a neighborhood where I was fortunate to have many friends of the same age. We were always involved in some type of sports every day. We would literally play all different sports throughout the day, every day. My childhood is definitely where my competitiveness on the field comes from. You never want to lose to another neighborhood at all, so I learned at a young age that you always have to give it your all in sports. That is how I continue to play the game to this day. I joined my first organized baseball team when I was 12 years old. That is a late start for most people but I was lucky to have the raw skills from playing in the streets. From there, I had to learn the game of baseball and the fundamentals that go with it. But I think growing up that way taught me to work hard and always play the game the right way.
MLB reports: How has your general interaction with fans been? As far as autograph requests, cheering, heckling etc. please share insights.
Carter: I always try to interact with the fans any chance I get. I have never been a guy that takes himself too seriously, so I don’t mind small talk or signing autographs for fans if I have time. I especially like to talk to the young kids at the game if I can. It is important to me to make sure that the kids get the most out of their time at the ballpark. In terms of fans cheering, I can take a joke that comes across as a good heckling. I’ll usually laugh in those situations and not get upset. As long as it is nothing personal or disrespectful, it doesn’t get to me.
MLB reports: If you were not playing baseball today, what do you think that you would be doing? When you aren’t playing baseball Yusuf, what do you do for downtime?
Carter: If I wasn’t playing baseball, I would try my luck in acting or something. I would be a bad guy or villain in my movies or the super cool hero! (chuckle) Either an actor or a music producer. I Love music, so that would be a fun role for me. On my free time when I am not playing baseball, I usually try to kick back and relax. Watch tv or catch a new movie that came out. I enjoy my downtime and try to let my mind and body relax and focus. Nothing that involves baseball! (laughing)
MLB reports: On a side note, have you ever met Billy Beane before? If you can give any scoops as to how interactions with Billy were and/or other members of the Oakland management that would be great to give fans the inside feel.
Carter: I don’t have much to share, sorry guys. I have seen him before but haven’t actually met him and interacted with him. But I would say it would be like any interaction with any management or boss. My rule is to always do the right things. Smile, don’t talk too much and laugh at their jokes! (laughing) If you do that, you should be fine!
MLB reports: If you had to look into a crystal ball, when do you see your expected time of arrival in the big leagues and what do you think you need to do most to get there?
Carter: If I had a crystal ball I would definitely try to speed up that process as much as possible! (grin) In my estimation, if I continue to sharpen my receiving skills and work hard on the other parts of my game as well, I think I can be there in the next 1-2 years. Until then, I will continue to work hard and bust my behind to make it happen!
MLB reports: Keep up the great work Yusuf. It was a pleasure meeting and speaking with you. We hope that we can do this again soon and good luck on the rest of the season.
Carter: Thank you for featuring me, you guys are awesome. I read MLB reports all the time and love your articles. This was fun!
***A special thank you to Yusuf Carter for his time in speaking with MLB reports as part of this interview and providing several personal photos. We look forward to Yusuf writing a blog entry for our MLB Guest Blog this season, exclusively on MLB reports. You can also follow Yusuf Carter on twitter***
Please e-mail us at: MLBreports@gmail.com with any questions and feedback. You can follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook . To subscribe to our website and have the daily Reports sent directly to your inbox , click here and follow the link at the top of our homepage.
E-MAILBAG: Ask the Reports, Wednesday May 11th
Thank you for reading the E-mailbag. Please send all your questions to mlbreports@gmail.com and please include your first name and City/Country.
We will be compiling a list of your questions from our e-mailbag and posting the responses on Wednesdays.
Wednesday May 11, 2011
Q: Where do you see the Boston Red Sox finishing this season in the standings? From Jake, Boston
MLB reports: My crystal ball in March said that the Rays would win the AL East, with the Red Sox finishing second in the division and taking the AL Wild Card. I have no reason to deviate from my prediction thus far. Despite the strength of the Yankees, the Red Sox have so much talent that several hot streaks are in store. When playoff tickets go on sale, go ahead and order for the opening round at least.
Q: Fantasy question: Should I dump Jorge Posada for Ryan Doumit, Chris Iannetta, Wilson Ramos, Ryan Hanigan, or Hank Conger? I probably should have done something Monday, as Posada’s .151 AVG is killing my team. From Bonzi, Parts Unknown
MLB reports: I take it that your league counts average, based on your e-mail. Turning 40 this summer, Posada has definitely seen better days. He does have 6 home runs and 14 RBIs, but his numbers overall are fantasy suicide. I can’t believe Iannetta and Doumit are still available in your league. If so, grab them in that order. Iannetta is 28, plays in Colorado, has 5 home runs, 13 RBIs, .398 OBP, .494 SLG. His .250 AVG is nothing to write home about, but as the #1 catcher for the Rockies, Iannetta has the biggest upside. Doumit will be traded to a contender at some point likely but while he has shown a steady bat this season, he is always an injury risk. If Iannetta is not available though, I like Doumit over Posada. Ramos has been a nice player for the Nationals but is still young and likely won’t play at this level all season. I would trust Posada over him. Hanigan and Conger are nice replacement bats for injury but as part-time players offer little upside at this point. If either was starting, they would still rank below Posada this season for me.
Q:Why do teams not pitch Jose Bautista away, away, away ALL the time? Why even try to challenge him inside? From Garrett, Michigan
MLB reports: It is not that simple Garrett, as Bautista has become
such a dangerous hitter that there are not many pitches that he does not get to. Judging by his 100 walks last year, which will be higher this year, Bautista has a great eye at the plate. Based on the damage that he can do, I frankly don’t understand why teams just don’t walk him 4-5 times every game. Being the strongest offensive option currently in the Jays lineup by a country-mile, Bautista is a long-ball threat every at-bat and taking the bat out of his hands likely will be best at minimizing the damage. With not many healthy hitters in the Jays lineup that are threats to drive him in, I agree that opposing pitchers should not give Bautista much to hit…and in my opinion, not even give him the option at all.
Q: Fantasy Trade Evaluation: Aramis Ramirez & Alfonso Soriano for Jason Bay & Brandon McCarthy. Who’s winning? Who’s losing? I have Ryan Zimmerman on DL. I am giving up Bay and McCarthy. From Mike, Brooklyn
MLB reports: This one is a toughy. I wanted to say Bay and McCarthy to keep, but I can’t do it. My factors are as follows. McCarthy is 27 and has great upside. But he is injury prone and cannot be counted on to stay healthy. He can literally drop at a moment’s notice. Plus he is 1-3, despite a 3.26 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. With little wins potential and health concerns, this trade really boils down to Bay for Ramirez and Soriano for me.
Bay has been a disaster since coming to the Mets. Poor production and concussions issues have done him in. With 6 home runs last year and 1 home run this year with a .213 AVG, 7/19 BB/K ratio, Bay is regretting his decision to leave Boston for New York. Bay is already 32 and his window of opportunity is closing. Ramirez and Soriano are no spring chickens either. Ramirez though has a .286 AVG with 14 RBIs, despite only 1 home run and .718 OPS. Soriano has a league leading 11 home runs, 21 RBIs and 18 Runs, with a whopping .550 SLG despite an unsightly .242 AVG and .270 OBP. If you can stomach some of the warts shown by the 35-year-old Soriano and 32-year-old Ramirez, they will still provide much of the stats and comfort that Bay and McCarthy won’t. In some ways this is a headache for headache trade, but by making the deal, you are getting the likely higher returns. Go for it.
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MLB Top Home Run Hitters 2011: Updated
MLB reports: Here at MLB reports, we consistently get fan requests for features on the top home run hitters in the game. We recently ran a feature looking at the top power hitters and appreciate the feedback and responses. As a bonus, for all those of you that dig the long ball, here is a look at the current MLB leader board and analysis on each of the top long ball threats. Some surprises to this point for sure.
T1) Curtis Granderson, Yankees: 11
For all the talk of the Tigers winning the Granderson trade in obtaining Austin Jackson, Granderson has really made the Yankees look good this year. At 30 years of age and healthy this season, Granderson has really enjoyed his second year with the Bronx Bombers. He has hit 11 home runs, to go together with his .283 AVG, .359 OBP and .646 SLG. Add in 2 triples for good measure as Granderson has done it all for the Yankees in 2011. Hitting higher in the order, Granderson will continue to have increased chances of scoring and driving in runs. With a career high of 30 long balls recently in 2009, Granderson is on pace for a new personal best this year. With his lineup and ballpark, the chances are very good if he stays healthy.
T1) Alfonso Soriano, Cubs: 11
Left for dead by many experts, Soriano has come out of seemingly nowhere to rejuvenate his career… power-wise. On pace for 50+ home runs, Soriano is hitting long balls, driving in and scoring runs at a high pace. However note the key red flag: 4 walks to-date with a .273 OBP. These kinds of numbers are simply unacceptable and with 31 strike outs, Soriano better find some plate discipline soon if he hopes to continue to receive regular at-bats. At his late age, Soriano is slowly morphing into an all other nothing home run hitter and his free swinging ways is actually hurting more than helping the Cubs this season.
T2) Lance Berkman, Cardinals: 10
At the age of 36, Lance Berkman has reclaimed his spot as one of the top hitters in the game for the Cardinals. Healthy and playing like the Puma of old, Berkman has a 1.191 OPS to go together with his 17/16 BB/K ratio. To say that he is paying outstanding baseball would be an understatement. I really liked this signing at the time and playing with Pujols and Holliday has done wonders for Berkman’s bat. With LaRussa as his manager and strong team along for the ride, I see 40+ home runs in the Big Puma’s future…provided he remains healthy of course.
T2) Ryan Braun, Brewers: 10
The Hebrew Hammer just doesn’t let up. The 27-year-old Braun already has 138 career home runs and continues to pile them on. With Prince Fielder protecting him in the lineup, Braun will just continue to be Braun in 2011. Mark him down for 30+ home runs and don’t think twice.
T2) Jose Bautista: 10
As time goes by, Bautista’s numbers slowly but surely are silencing many of his critics. Despite missing games this season with a neck strain and personal leave, Bautista has managed 10 home runs in 88 at bats. Combined with his 30/17 BB/K ratio, .352 AVG, .521 OBP and .773 SLG and you have one of the best, if not the best player currently in the game. Bautista has also produced with Adam Lind and very little else for support in the lineup. The Toronto slugger is proving that he is not a one-hit wonder and here to stay on the MLB home run leader board.
Thank you for reading my feature on the top home run hitters in baseball. Please contact me if you have any questions and suggestions for future topics. The E-mailbag will be posted Wednesday so please be sure to get all your MLB and fantasy baseball questions in by e-mailing me at: mlbreports@gmail.com
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Pujols and Fielder: Where They Will Land in 2012
MLB reports: There are two seasons in baseball: the season in itself with games and statistics to analyze and the offseason, with players moves and signings to report and speculate. I rarely like to combine the two seasons, as fans spend several winter months running through rumors in the winter and are ready for actual baseball come March. I am often told by fans that the MLB season is meant for playing baseball, not running through free agency analysis. Yet, I cannot even begin to count the amount of daily requests I receive asking me on where Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder will sign in 2012. We may not want to discuss it in May, but the truth is that two of the biggest (literally) sluggers that the game has ever seen will be entering free agency at the same time this year. In the back of our minds, we are all curious where each will play. Today, I will help shed some light on the future of Pujols and Fielder.
As I look into the magic crystal ball, the top contending teams for the services of Pujols and Fielder are as follows:
St. Louis Cardinals
I have said from day one that Pujols is not going anywhere and I am sticking to my guns. Pujols leaving St. Louis is like the Babe leaving Boston, franchise crippling (for many…many years at least). The Cardinals, MLB, the fans of St. Louis and even the President of the United States will likely have a say in directing Pujols to re-sign with his current employers. Pujols will get a huge payday, don’t get me wrong, but he does not seem to be the type to take the largest contract offer on the table. Plus with Tony LaRussa at the helm, there will many forces at play to keep Sir Albert (aka “The Great Pujols”) in St. Louis. In the event that the Cardinals lose out on their franchise player, logic dictates that they will make a run at Fielder. I cannot see a fit here, as location and money does not seem to work for Prince. I see the bright lights of the big city ahead for Fielder and with a stable of teams gunning for him, he will be a difficult player to sign.
New York Yankees
Any talk of free agency signings begin and end with the Yankees. They are always a threat to make a run for the top hired guns and often get their way. The Mark Teixeira signing came out of left field and after losing out on Cliff Lee last year, the Yankees are hungry to add more big names to their roster. The top target of the Yankees would be Pujols, but I cannot see him fitting in New York. With a gold glover entrenched at first, Pujols is not and will not sign to be a DH for the balance of his career. The money might be right, but the position and environment does not suit Sir Albert. On the other hand, Prince is a logical candidate for New York. To become the biggest name in baseball, Prince would love to perform on its biggest stage and there is none bigger than New York. Like his dad before him, Prince would look great in pinstripes. Given the strained relationship between father and son, I could see Prince having an added incentive to perform better than his dad did with the Yankees. I am not sure how Prince will take to being a DH but with age, weight and injuries all becoming a risk, I could see Prince getting off the field as a huge bonus for his career. Posada is on the last year of his contract (and leg of his career) and a DH spot is about to open up in New York. But if Prince is determined to keep his glove, then all bets are off.
Kansas City Royals
This team probably comes as a shock to you. Before you start with the angry messages, think about some factors. I had considered this team in the past, but a limited budget and winning prospects left me with many doubts. But after reading some articles on the subject, I began to be swayed. Pujols went to school in the area. Pujols met his wife in Kansas City. Everyone supposedly wants to come home…and perhaps Pujols is the same. The move to the Royals would not be far from his current location. The Royals are a team on the rise with the best farm system in baseball. The signing of Pujols could instantly bring the team to respectability. Even though top prospect Eric Hosmer plays first and Billy Butler is the DH, positions can be realigned for Pujols. The signing of Pujols could be the missing link that the Royals need and I can see this signing as a real possibility. I will give the Royals a 10% chance at best at signing Pujols, but that is 10% better than most teams. As far as Fielder goes, don’t even think about it, Pujols and the Royals are a one-time match only.
San Francisco Giants
The World Series champs have several factors going for them. Money in the bank. Great attendance numbers and incredible pitching. Somehow the Giants won it all in 2010 with weak hitting but if they hope to get back to the fall classic, they will need better hitting. They don’t come better or bigger than Pujols or Fielder. Both players are solid fits for the Giants. Signing with the Giants allows either player to stay in the NL. The ballpark should not be a factor as Pujols and Fielder could launch home runs in San Diego if required. The requirement for offense means the Giants will push heavily to sign one of these guys. Since I see Pujols back in St. Louis, I will not give him much of a chance of signing here. But that being said, it is one of the only credible possibilities. Prince is more likely than Pujols to jump to San Francisco and enjoy the weather and admiration of becoming the next Barry Bonds, sans the steroids. Again unlikely, but one of the only true landing spots for either slugger.
Toronto Blue Jays
Surprised? You shouldn’t be. The Blue Jays have money in the bank and a team on the rise. They shed the huge Vernon Wells contract and despite paying Jose Bautista a king’s ransom, still have room in the budget for the right superstar. Possibly. Let’s not even discuss Pujols here. It is not going to happen as I cannot see a fit for him in terms of market and team. But Prince Fielder is another story. Cecil made his professional debut with the Jays and Prince knows the city well. I remember Prince as a youngster coming to Toronto and hitting home runs at BP when Cecil was with the Tigers. The Jays have a first baseman in Adam Lind that can rotate first and DH with Prince. Together with Jose Bautista, the Jays would have two of the biggest boppers in the game in their lineup. The Rogers Centre, being the launching pad that it is, could see over fifty home runs for Fielder. All the chips could be in place for a Toronto signing in Prince’s future. The issues that I see are that Toronto is not a large enough market, may not hand out the biggest contract, Canadian taxes/visa issues in the minds of players and strength of team on the field. The Jays would be an underdog to sign Fielder, but one of few teams that has the resources and the incentives to lure him away from Milwaukee.
One team that is missing from the discussion is the Milwaukee Brewers, Fielder’s current team. They have been omitted for good reason. The team does not have the finances to sign Prince and does not appear to have the resources to sign either slugger to a long-term contract. With Braun, Weeks, Greinke all locked up, the Brewers are tapped out from the mega-dollars that both sluggers seek. Other teams like the Cubs, Angels and Orioles have the money but do not have the market and/or lineups that Pujols and Fielder will be seeking. The Mets and Dodgers are having ownership issues that will likely limit or eliminate their ability during the next free agency period. So with that being said, the truth is that anything can happen. As we saw last year with Cliff Lee, who went to the Phillies and Mark Teixeira signing with the Yankees before, a mystery team can always emerge. But based on my evaluation and analysis, if you needed a final prediction from me: Pujols to Cardinals, Fielder to Yankees. Final answer.
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The Legend of Sam Fuld: A Star is Born in Tampa Bay
MLB reports: How often does a 29 year-old outfielder with 155 career at-bats in the majors going into a season garner the hype that Sam Fuld has received this year? How about one with 24 career home runs in 6 minor league seasons? Probably not many. With all the attention surrounding Sam Fuld, MLB reports decides to look deeper into the player behind the hype.
Samuel Babson (Sam) Fuld was born on November 20, 1981. Growing up in Durham, New Hampshire, Fuld was a Red Sox fan. Ironic considering that Fuld joined the Rays in 2011 and got his start in Tampa Bay playing alongside childhood idols, Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez. Fuld is 5’10” and weighs 185 pounds, hardly an imposing baseball specimen. Over the course of his 6 minor league seasons, Fuld was a gritty on-base machine in the Cubs system. Fuld was actually drafted twice by the Cubs, in 24th round of the 2003 draft and 10th round in 2004. Fuld’s time in the minors showcased the type of player we could expect to see one day if given the opportunity.
In his 6 seasons in the minors, Fuld hit a combined .285. Very impressive on its own. Consider though that he has a career 302/254 BB/K ratio in the minors and you now have the prototypical “moneyball” player. Fuld has a career .372 OBP in the minors, combined with 106 stolen bases. This is a player that hit 10 triples in 84 games for AAA Iowa in 2009 and 9 more in 2010. Fuld can clearly hit, get on base and run. With 404 runs scored in the minors, Fuld finds a way to generate offense. So why have we not heard of Fuld before this year? Why did the story start so late? The usual story I believe of scouting and stereotypes over numbers and production. As Sam Fuld is showing this year, talented players will eventually produce even when “experts” discount them over the course of their entire careers. All they need is a chance.
The biggest hindrances for Fuld I believe are two-fold. Firstly, his lack of height and stature probably frightened coaches and scouts alike. Big players are seen as having more “tools” and “talent”, which players like Pedroia are starting to change. Secondly, with few home runs in the minors, 218 RBIs and .405 career minor SLG, the Cubs were not prepared to give Fuld a full chance knowing that he would be unlikely to hit for much power in the bigs. Fuld got three cups of coffees with the Cubs, in 2007, 2009 and 2010. He received 6, 97 and 28 at-bats per year respectively. Despite a .252 average, Fuld had a .368 OBP during his time with the Cubs. Fuld also had 23 walks compared to 18 strikeouts. Fuld clearly was able to play his game in Chicago. But one home run and .344 SLG has a way of disappointing a team in a hurry. It is somewhat of a chicken and egg debate, as Fuld’s sample size in Chicago is a small one and with more playing time, perhaps he could have showcased greater numbers. Not known for developing young hitters, the fit in Chicago was not there and Fuld was never going to get an opportunity in Chicago. A change of scenery was in order.
On January 7, 2011, Fuld was essentially a throw-in as part of the blockbuster swap between the Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays. The
Cubs sent uber-prospect pitcher Chris Archer, outfielder Brandon Guyer, catcher Robinson Chirinos, shortstop Hak-Ju Lee and Fuld to the Rays for top starting pitcher Matt Garza, outfielder Fernando Perez and pitcher Zachary Rosscup. Out of options and on a new team, Fuld had a new lease on life. Just one problem remained: The Rays were loaded with hitters in key positions blocking Fuld. With Upton, Zobrist, Joyce and newly acquired Manny Ramirez in the outfield, rotating as the DH with Johnny Damon, and Dan Johnson/Casey Kotchman battling for the first base job, Fuld would need an injury or opportunity to crack the Rays line-up. The stars were going to need to truly align for Fuld and heading into spring training, there was no talk that I can recollect of Fuld becoming the Rays saviour. Sitting in the third week of April, the situation in Tampa Bay could not have unfolded better for Fuld’s career. With the opportunity and off-the-charts production, the Legend of Sam Fuld was born.
First Manny Ramirez retired one week into the season. A player that I expected to be a distraction for the team all season barely completed his time out of spring training before calling it a career. With another apparent failed substance test, Ramirez chose to go home rather than face the music before MLB officials. With Ramirez out of the way, it was time to focus on sorting out the Rays lineup. Going into today’s action, Joyce and Damon have been fairly steady the Rays in 2011. Dan Johnson, Jaso and Zobrist have been very slow out of the gate with averages under .200 each respectively. Upton has also been unable to get his bat going again this year and Longoria played only two games before missing most of the season from an oblique injury and due back sometime in May. Starting the season with a 1-8 record, the Rays needed an ignitor to get the season going. With little offense and the season slipping away, the Rays needed to do something fast. The solution: Sam Fuld.
In 18 games thus far, Fuld has only one home run for the Rays. Funny, but nobody has noticed. Ironically, Fuld hit said home run on April 11th, when he almost hit for the cycle. Almost…as with a home run, triple and double, Fuld hit a second double rather than a single to complete the cycle. That is simply the type of player that Fuld is: heart and hustle (hey, isn’t that the motto for the 2011 Blue Jays?) Fuld is hitting .366 on the season, with a whopping .395 OBP and .549 SLG. Fuld leads the American League with nine stolen bases and while he has only walked four times…he is simply too busy getting base hits. Two triples, six doubles, eleven runs and eight RBIs, Fuld helped the Rays 8-1 surge back to third place in the AL East with a 9-11 record. Last night, in a dramatic 11th inning loss to Toronto, Fuld went 3-5 (including a triple) with three runs scored, one RBI and two stolen bases to boot. It appears that the Rays have found their leadoff hitter for the foreseeable future, as the Legend of Sam Fuld continues to unfold.
We haven’t even touched upon Sam Fuld, the outfielder. The best way to describe Fuld is if Aaron Rowand and Reed Johnson
combined into one super defensive player. If not for the gold-glove calibre play of B.J. Upton, Fuld would be manning center for the Rays. With leaping catches off walls and showing great arm strength, the legend of Fuld’s glove is being well documented. Some people around baseball are already saying that Fuld could play for the Rays just based on his defensive abilities. But with his showing of hitting abilities, patience and speed, Fuld is showing the types of tools that superstars are built on. It is only a shame that he had to wait so long to get his chance to shine. But as the old expression goes: better late than never.
So what does the future hold for Sam Fuld? Looking into my crystal ball, I am seeing a great deal of haze. I remember Kevin Maas and Chris Shelton fans asking me the same type of question back in the day. The response is always the same: once the league has the book on Fuld and he has to face the same teams for the second, third and fourth times around, let’s see we he can do. Can he hit only breaking balls? Will Fuld be able to adjust when teams start to exploit his hitting weaknesses? Only time will tell. Sam Fuld is a great feel-good story. The Legend could continue for the foreseeable future, perhaps for this entire year and beyond. For a fan of the game that has seen too many bright stars burn out, I remain on the fence. While I want to see Fuld succeed, there is something about 2 for 30 stretches at the plate that have a way of lowering a player’s confidence and image. I will give Fuld the benefit of the doubt, but would like to see what he can do over this entire season before casting my vote. In the meantime, just like everyone else, I will continue to watch in awe of the player that has simply become known as: The Legend of Sam Fuld.
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FRIDAY FACEOFF: CARLOS PENA VS. JAMES LONEY
MLB reports: In another first on MLB reports, I will be running a series every Friday titled “Friday Faceoff.” The series will matchup two MLB players at the same position and consist of a five point comparison between them. The player with the most points at the end of the faceoff is victorious. Especially for fantasy baseball players, the faceoff will give you an edge and strategy as to how to fill your fantasy roster and set your lineups.
In the premier edition of the Friday Faceoff, I present James Loney of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Carlos Pena of the Chicago Cubs. Two middle-of-the-road first basemen with the potential to hit the upper tier. Do you have either player on your team? Do you want to have either one in your lineup? Lets begin the Friday Faceoff and find out!
CARLOS PENA VS. JAMES LONEY: THE FRIDAY FACEOFF BEGINS
1) Home runs/Power: This is an automatic win for Pena. James Loney in his last three major league seasons has averaged a paltry twelve home runs. In his last two years, Loney has shown a SLG under .400. Acceptable numbers for a catcher or second baseman maybe, but certainly not from a first baseman. While he had forty-one doubles last year, Loney simply did not have enough extra base hits as required from a power position. Carlos Pena, for all his faults has been consistently solid in his department. In 2007 at forty-six home runs, Pena had almost the same amount of home runs in one year as Loney has hit in his whole career. Last year, Pena hit twenty-eight long balls in a “down year”. With a career SLG of .490, considering the slow start to his career, Pena clearly has power in abundance. Last year interestingly, Pena had a SLG of .407. But considering he hit under .200, we should cut him some slack. Another note on James Loney, in 2009 he managed only one home run at home all year. Neither player has set the world on fire to start the year, Loney with one home run and Pena with zero. But based on history, the winner is: Carlos Pena.
2) Batting Average: A statistic long in dispute, but for what its worth Loney has the clear advantage here. With a .288 lifetime average, Loney is far ahead of Pena’s .241 career mark. Carlos has a career high of 138 hits in 2007 and ony 95 hits in an entire season last year. Loney since 2008 has averaged over 160 hits per season. While Pena has the power, Loney gets the more consistent hits. Not the standard for a first baseman, but if average counts in your fantasy league, then congrats if you have the winner in round two: James Loney.
3) On-Base: With Loney’s career OBP mark of .348 and Pena at .351, the difference between the player is negligible. As Loney has the hits as shown above, Pena has the walks. Pena since 2007 has walked 103 times, 96, 87 and again 87 times. Loney had 70 walks in 2009 but otherwise walks approximately 50 times per year. Pick your choice, if you need your first baseman to get on-base consistently, as this round ends in a tie.
4) Durability: A difficult factor to predict given the strains of playing 162 baseball games, Loney and Pena are examples of a contrast in measuring health. Carlos Pena will be turning 33 this year and is starting to show his age. While being fairly durable in his career, Pena has averaged approximately 140 games and 480 at bats in the last four years. Loney over the last three years has missed 6 games in total. Loney has also averaged close to 590 at bats over that time. Entering his prime this year at 27, if you want to hedge your bets on who will be healthiest this year, your winner is: James Loney.
5) Speed: Stolen bases is something that you rarely look for from your first baseman in fantasy baseball but will take as a bonus. If your league counts steals, you will be very interested to find who wins this round. Pena has twenty-three steals over his ten major league seasons, with five steals actually coming last year. With several seasons of zero and one steal per year, Pena is not someone you would exactly call a speed demon. Loney on the other hand had ten stolen bases last year, with seven steals each year for the previous two seasons. At a younger age and playing on an aggressive running team with Davey Lopes on board, expect Loney’s thefts to rise in a run-and-gun offense. In the final round, another win for: James Loney.
THE VERDICT: Going into this article, I fully expect to be handing a trophy to Carlos Pena in the first ever faceoff. But sometimes number crunching can differ from expectations and in this case, the results were not as I had predicted. Carlos Pena, for all of his home runs and walks does not offer most fantasy players the same consistency on the same number of levels as James Loney. Despite lower power totals, Loney has the durability, batting average and speed advantage. At this point in their careers, Pena and Loney appear to be on different tracks. Pena is starting to be on the downside of his career while Loney should be entering his prime. After two weeks into the season, both players have shown little so far. But as the weather heats up, both should similarly get their games going. But based on the Friday Faceoff, with a 3-1 record and 1 tie, James Loney is the fantasy first baseman of choice on this night. While both players are truly average choices at first with many better options available, if the faceoff is an indication, you can do worse than having James Loney on your squad.
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THE MYSTERY OF GEOVANY SOTO
MLB reports: Rewind to the 2010 season. If I told you there was a 27 year old catcher that hit .280 with 17 home runs in only 105 games that year, I bet that you would be impressed. Add in 62 walks, a .393 OBP and .497 SLG and I would fathom that you would be very high on this player. The same player that in 2008 hit 23 long balls in 141 games and managed a .285 average, with a .364 OBP and .504 SLG. Again, very impressive for a catcher, as top hitting catchers are hard to find in baseball. Yet this same player, who was an 11th round pick in 2001, was the same player that hit .218 in 2009, with 11 home runs in 102 games, with a measly .321 OBP and .381 SLG. Fast forward to 2011 and this player is hitting an embarrassing .189 with 1 home run. Confused? Many baseball experts are. Welcome to the mystery that is Geovany Soto, catcher for the Chicago Cubs.
In 2006 and 2007, Soto had barely a sip of coffee in his brief appearances in the show. Having showcased some good pop though in 2007, Soto was handed the job in the 2008 season and ran with it. At the conclusion of that season, the sky was the limit for Soto. Entering the 2009 season, Soto was selected to play for his native Puerto Rico in the 2nd edition of the World Baseball Classic. However, the discovery of marijuana use during the WBC tainted Soto’s reputation and results for that baseball season. The mystery surrounding Soto was whether he had suffered a mere relapse or was already hitting a decline. Reports indicated immaturity and laziness on his part and Soto’s play and results on the field were indicative of his reputation. Much like Russell Martin was due for a change of scenery in leaving the Dodgers this past offseason, experts questioned whether Soto still had a future as a Cub going into 2010. A rebound was in order.
2010 turned out to be a bounce-back year for Soto, despite reports of a hurt shoulder and various ailments that caused him to miss over 50 games in the season. Having alternated good and bad seasons, 2011 represents Soto’s chance at redemption by showing consistency in consecutive outstanding seasons. That would be the hope if one is a Soto and/or Cubs fan. However, as his slow start has indicated, the future of Soto remains unsettled to this day. How Geovany Soto performs remains a mystery to us all, let alone what the next few years have in store for the stocky catcher. If I had to look into a crystal ball though, I would predict big things still for the Cubs backstop.
For all the doubts surrounding Geovany Soto, I propose that the potential is there and has never left this underrated talent. 2009 was a strange year for Soto that never seemed to get untracked. The marijuana story created a distraction for Soto as part of the WBC and then in the MLB regular season. Embarrassed I am sure for the negative exposure in his native country, Soto ended up having one of those years that just need to be written off. After all, Tim Lincecum faced similar charges and scandal this past offseason and his reputation seems to have recovered more than ok. As long as Soto is healthy, the opportunities should still be there for him and all Soto has to do is work hard and play the game the right way. The Cubs are a team in desperate need of leadership, both on and off the field. Geovany Soto can finally make the Cubs “his team” and help the team rise as a result.
As long as Albert Pujols is hitting .150 (already up to over .200 with a strong game tonight), Soto can be allowed a slow start to the 2011 season. Having shown that he can produce in the past, there is no reason why Soto should not succeed this year. Hitting in the middle of the lineup in the cozy confines of Wrigley, Soto is of the right age and experience tha a monster season should be coming. I truly believe that Geovany Soto has all the talent in the world and that we are just scratching the surface as to what he can do. Why he has taken step backs and where he is headed may be a mystery, but there is no doubt that the potential and promise is still there. In my opinion, any so called “baseball expert” that can write off a catcher with power and patience like Soto is foolish. Jason Varitek is a name that often comes to my mind when I think of Geovany Soto. Their style of play, bats and hustle are cut from the same cloth. The Cubs would be thrilled if Soto could grow into the captain of their team one day. With a breakthrough year this year, I think the Soto that was expected will emerge that will dominate and likely erase all the negative images of his past. If all goes according to plan, by the all-star break can erase the mystery portion of his life and create a positive image and results for himself. Gut feel, I can see this coming together for him soon.
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MLB Opening Day Preview: Schedule and Pitching Previews
MLB reports: With the 2011 MLB season about to commence, literally hours away at this moment- my thoughts continue to centre on the Holy Grail: Opening Day. This year, there are 12 teams playing on Thursday March 31st with the remaining teams playing the next day. For each MLB fan rooting for their respective team, there are 15 different opening day games that will be the focal point for them. Regardless of the city you live in or the team you root for, the first game of the year is the most exciting. It is time to shake the snow off your boots, grab your jersey and tickets and get ready for the start of baseball. For you, the diehards, I present the matchups and probable pitchers for each game.
In my brief analysis of each game, I have taken a slight twist in my analysis. I have decided not to crunch the numbers and take the stats route. To predict the outcomes of games, most stat-heads tend to look at historical opening day numbers for each team, head-to-head records, home/away records, day/night games, etc. This article contains none of the above. I am simply looking at the teams, taking a feel for each lineup and starting pitcher for each team, in performing my discussion. I was planning to post this article in a couple of days but with the enthusiasm of opening day on the horizon, I simply could not wait. Thus MLB fans, I present to you: The breakdown of the MLB Opening Day lineup. (Note: all game times are EST. Starting pitchers are subject to change, especially for injuries. Games may be delayed due to weather conditions)
Thursday March 31, 2011
1) Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals:
1:05pm: Derek Lowe vs. Livian Hernandez
There will be 2 games to start the year on Thursday at 1:05pm and this will be the first game previewed. America’s team, the Braves vs. the Nationals in the Nation’s capital. The Nationals are a nice, young exciting team with a great deal of buzz surrounding the team. Unfortunately, neither of its 2 brightest stars-to-be, Strasburg and Harper will not be a part of the opening day lineup. The Braves have a strong, young team led by Heyward and Freeman. Derek Lowe is an experienced veteran who gets the opening day nod out of respect. Livian Hernandez, on the other hand, is the opening day starter by default. The Nationals fans will be likely going home disappointed on this day, as the Braves will be the victors in a high scoring opener.
2) Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees
1:05pm: Justin Verlander vs. C.C. Sabathia
The next opening game of the year to start the year comes from new Yankee Stadium, as 2 historical teams matchup in what should be an excellent pitching matchup. Verlander and Sabathia are 2 of the strongest pitchers in the majors and should go toe-to-toe in this game. While I see the hitters having the advantage in this game while the pitchers break into the season in a strong hitting park, smart money is the Yankees taking the win in their home park.
3) Milwaukee Brewers at Cincinnati Reds
2:10pm: Yovanni Gallardo vs. Edinson Volquez
This game is the one that will catch my attention the most on Thursday. Two of the most exciting offensive teams in the majors, each led by their young strikeout artists. Gallardo and Volquez are cut from the same mold: when on, both are untouchable. When both are having difficulties, they can be time bombs. In the Cincinnati bandbox, I am predicting a high scoring game and a Reds victory. I am a big Gallardo supporter, but I can’t see opening in Cincinnati working well for him.
4) L.A. Angels at Kansas City Royals
4:10pm: Jered Weaver vs. Luke Hochevar
On paper this matchup looks very easy to analyze and in reality, it is. Weaver is a stud hurler for the Angels, a team with strong defense and fairly balanced offense. The Royals have Cabrera and Francouer in the outfield and Hochevar as their “ace”. The Royals fans are fortunate to be opening the season at home. This will be the last of their fortunes on this day as Weaver and the Angels should easily have their way with a Royals team in their final year of rebuilding as respectability begins for them in 2012.
5) San Diego Padres at St. Louis Cardinals
4:15pm: Tim Stauffer vs. Chris Carpenter
The young and surprising Padres bring their smoke and mirror show to St. Louis to face the Cards and Chris Carpenter. With one of my hyped young hurlers Matt Latos on the shelf, Tim Stauffer gets the nod for the opener for the Padres. With Adrian Gonzalez in Boston, the Padres will find a difficult time to score runs this year. Stauffer, stellar in the bullpen and spot starts for the Padres in 2010, is now moved into the rotation full time this year. Carpenter, one of the best pitchers in the game, will prove to be stingy at home. Regardless of how many runs the Cardinals score on this day, 2 runs will be enough for the Cardinals to start their year with a win.
6) San Francisco Giants vs. L.A. Dodgers
8:00pm: Tim Lincecum vs. Clayton Kershaw
This will be a premier matchup, as the World Series champions Giants face their arch-rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lincecum vs. Kershaw will be a pitching matchup for the ages. I see these pitchers battling all night, with the Dodgers emerging victorious. Opening night will be exciting for the Giants, but the hangover effect on the road leans to an advantage to L.A. on this night.
Friday April 1, 2011
7) Houston Astros at Philadelphia Phillies
1:05pm: Brett Myers vs. Roy Halladay
Day 2 of Opening Day finds Brett Myers coming back to his old stomping grounds to face Halladay and the Phillies. I don’t want to formally go on record and say that Halladay will throw a no-no in the opener…so….let’s just say, I have already said enough. The Phillies fans will be smelling blood and it should not take long for Myers to be shaken as the Phillies hitters have their way with him. Houston goes down quietly and quickly in this one.
8) Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs
2:20pm: Kevin Correia vs. Ryan Dempster
Unless you are a Pirates or Cubs fans…I imagine that only the diehards will be watching this one. Kevin Correia in my estimation was a solid pickup for the Pirates and with decent run support will win at least 12 games in Pittsburgh. Dempster, as a steady pitcher for the Cubs will prove to be a worthy adversary. This game will boil down to which team gets the better pitching and my crystal balls sees a Pirates victory in this one.
9) Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Indians
3:05pm: Mark Buehrle vs. Fausto Carmona
In the seemingly never-ending Opening Day matchup between the Chisox and Indians, Buehrle and Carmona face off in Cleveland. As most White Sox fans will attest, Buehrle can be steady at the best of times and extremely frustrating in others. The Opening Day nod was given to Buehrle by Ozzie out of respect and years of service, which is well deserved and applauded. But with the hot hand of Fausto going into the opener, the Indians will squeak out a victory in the opener in one of the few bright moments that will likely shine in Cleveland’s otherwise rebuilding 2011 season.
10) Boston Red Sox at Texas Rangers
4:05pm: Jon Lester vs. C.J. Wilson
I would have loved to be at this game, as this game features the matchup of two of the best MLB offenses and dynamic left-handed pitchers. This game is being in played Texas, which tends to favor the hitters in the summer…but alas, this game is being played in April. The Red Sox will be buzzing with excitement with the additions of Gonzalez and Crawford, with the home return of Salty. After falling short in the World Series, I foresee the Rangers coming to the game focused and determined. Wilson will be on his game as the Rangers start 2011 with a hard fought victory over the Red Sox in a low scoring game.
11) Arizona Diamondbacks at Colorado Rockies
4:10pm: Ian Kennedy v. Ubaldo Jimenez
One word: Ubaldo. The man with what, a 0.70 ERA in the first half of last year? Ubaldo translates from Spanish to English to mean unhittable. The Rockies take this game in 2 hours or less.
12) Minnesota Twins at Toronto Blue Jays
7:07pm: Carl Pavano vs. Ricky Romero
My live Opening Day game is in Toronto, Canada as Pavano and the Twins take on Romero and the Jays. Both pitchers come into this game after difficult final outings in their last respective spring training games. I was impressed with the Pavano re-signing with the Twins, as there is an excellent fit for him with this team. Romero, while a young exciting pitcher, is still growing into his role as ace on an up-and-coming Toronto team. While game 2 of this series features the true exciting pitching matchup of Liriano and Drabek, the fans attending opening day will have to settle to watch a decent game which will feature a victorious Twins team.
13) Baltimore Orioles at Tampa Bay Rays
7:10pm: Mark Guthrie vs. David Price
David Price, who will prove to be a serious Cy-Young candidate this year, faces the Orioles at home. My preseason favorites to win the AL East, this game should be a cake walk for the Rays and Price. While the Orioles will have a .500 team this year, Opening Night will not be their night.
14) New York Mets at Florida Marlins
7:10pm: Mike Pelfrey vs. Josh Johnson
Josh Johnson, when healthy, is one of the top pitchers in baseball. Mike Pelfrey, pitching for the bottom-feeder Mets, is like a lamb being led to the slaughter. Playing their final opener in their current home park, the soon-to-be Miami Marlins will give the Mets the first of their likely 90+ losses of the year. Not even close.
15) Seattle Mariners at Oakland Athletics
10:05pm: Felix Hernandez at Trevor Cahill
The final game of the year features the “Moneyball” Oakland A’s hosting King Felix and the Mariners. The A’s will have an exciting young team that has some of the strongest pitching in the AL with an improved offense that should finish 2nd in the AL West, with the chance of a division win. The Mariners, a young team in rebuild mode, have the reigning AL Cy Young winner on the hill. Despite many bumps ahead in their season, I would never bet against King Felix. Opening Day ends with a Mariners victory and the season being completely underway.
As you, I cannot wait for the season to start. Spring training has been exciting and now it is time for the game and stats to count. While March has been about the hitters and pitchers to get their innings and at-bats in, Opening Day means that the games will be played the way they are meant to. It’s a long MLB season, with 162 games ahead for each of our teams. But with all the teams starting with a 0-0 record, everyone has an equal chance of success. With that in mind and knowing the matchups, let’s get ready for 3 more nights of sleep and then it will be time to play ball. Have a great season everyone; I have a feeling 2011 will be one of the best MLB seasons of all time.
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MILTON BRADLEY – “I can fix him”
MLB reports: Milton Bradley. The name just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?
The board game references are endless and I’m sure Milton has heard and seem them all. For me, if I had to draw a comparison, having Milton Bradley on a team is like playing operation. You have to hold the tweezers gently and play very carefully. Once false move and watch out, ZAP! Game over. Over the years, since 2000 to be exact, 8- count them 8, major league teams have played the baseball version of operation by employing Milton Bradley on their respective teams. The history is well-known by all MLB fans, but here is a recap for those of you new to the game:
Team 1 – Montreal Expos 2000-2001: Drafted Milton and traded him to the Indians for Zach Day.
Team 2 – Cleveland Indians 2001-2003: Bradley’s longest tenured team (NO joke). Bradley had an altercation with then Indians’ manager Eric Wedge in spring training of 2004, Bradley is then subsequently traded to the Dodgers for Franklin Gutierrez and Adrian Brown.
Team 3- Los Angeles Dodgers 2004-2005: Bradley and then teammate, future hall of famer Jeff Kent trade barbs in the media, essentially Bradley accused Kent of a lack of leadership and not knowing how to deal with black people. With all due respect to Kent, dealing with Bradley and Bonds is a difficult task regardless of race, gender or ethnicity. Bradley is later traded with Antonio Perez to the Oakland Athletics for Andre (gulp) Ethier. Definitely not one of Billy Bean’s finer moments. Sorry Billy.
Team 4- Oakland Athletics 2006-2007: Oakland represented Milton’s last team run beyond 1 year, but just barely. On June 21, 2007 Bradley was designated for assignment by the A’s and was traded subsequently with cash to the San Diego Padres for the infamous Adrian Brown. Quite the distinction of twice being traded for one another.
Team 5- San Diego Padres 2007: Bradley in September of 2007 had his famous run-in with an umpire which caused his manager at the time Bud Black to restrain him and Bradley ended up tearing his ACL in the process. Bradley ends up leaving Padres as free agent and signing with Rangers.
Team 6- Texas Rangers 2008: While with the Rangers, Bradley had his most celebrated season in the majors, leading the AL with a 1.036 OPS. Despite a lofty season capped by an all-star appearance, Bradley has one known incident where he sought out Royals broadcaster Ryan Lefebvre to “discuss” comments Lefebvre made about Bradley during that tame. At the end of the season, Bradley signs with the Cubs as a free agent for a whopping 3 years, $30 million.
Team 7 – Chicago Cub 2009: The Milton Bradley era in Chicago lasted a grand total of 1 year in Chicago, with Bradley fighting with everyone that was anyone that year and making his heavily criticized contract seem well, very ….very…..very bad. The tables started to really turn on Milton in June of that year, first from a suspension relating to an umpire bumping and later Sweet Lou blowing up at Bradley and sending him home during a game. The Bradley Cubs era unofficially came to an end on September 20, 2009 when the Cubs suspended Bradley for the rest of the season for disparaging remarks made by Bradley about the Cubs and city of Chicago. Lovely exit. Officially on December 18, 2009, Bradley was traded to the Mariners for Carlos Silva in a “your junk” for “my trash” deal.
Team 8- Seattle Mariners 2010 -?: The Mariners acquired Bradley in the hopes of rejuvenating a stagnant offence and instantly inserted Bradley as their cleanup hitter. The low-pressure stage of Seattle was to have a calming effect on Bradley with many experts expecting a comeback season, yours truly included by drafting Milton in the 15th round of my fantasy draft that year. In May 2010 Bradley removed himself from a game and took a two-week leave of absence for “personal reasons” which have not been explained to-date to my knowledge. The rest of the year was a fairly meek one for Bradley, with neither his bat or his team ever getting on track. As of the new year, Bradley was arrested on January 18, 2011 for allegedly uttering criminal threats to a female patron in his home.
Given his track record of incidents and altercations, my question is: how can so many teams and related executives have continued to give this man so many chances and employ him in baseball? It appears that Bradley wore out his welcome in almost every city he played in and lasted only 1-2 years at a time at most stops. The lifetime statistics are good- .272 average, .366 obp, .443 slg, but not great. Bradley though was never a particular strong home run hitter, did not drive in or score many runs and did not steal many bases. He did a lot of things, but none exceptionally well. A constant malcontent and injury prone player, team after team acquired him only to be left with egg on their faces.
Then again I ask, why the fascination with Bradley? How did he manage to have a career that lasted this long? Simple. Everyone wants to be considered a genius, to have a breakthrough. Imagine the person that is able to motivate, settle down Bradley and extract all the talent out of him and turn out the results that were expected of him. That executive would succeed where all else have failed and that is saying a lot. One by one some great minds in baseball set out to achieve this result and one by one, each failed. The closest achieved result was in Texas, where the Rangers led by Ron Washington were able to get an all-star year out of Bradley where he kept his nose clean for the most part and produced. Did the Rangers lock him up that offseason. No. They thanked their stars for getting the results they did and left the relationship on a high note. The result? Bradley I read in reports contacted the Cubs during that offseason and expressed his desire to play for Chicago. The Cubs were apparently so moved by his sincerity and gesture that they chose to sign Bradley over other available similar free agents Raul Ibanez and Adam Dunn. Yikes.
When news spread of the Cubs signing of Bradley to his monster contract, people in the industry were floored. The common theme that arose was “nothing good can come of this” and sure enough, nothing did.
As we are now in the year 2011 and Bradley has paid his bail and is now back resting at home, the reality is that this is a baseball player at the end of his rope. He has now played and been blacklisted on 26% of the MLB teams and the other 74% have taken note. We have entered a new era of major league baseball, one where speed, defence and youth has a higher premium than it did compared to recent years. Older, slower, defensively inclined players have been pushed aside for younger, cheaper talent. As we stand today, Manny Ramirez, Vlad Guerrero and Johnny Damon are still looking for work. I’m sure the Mariners have a team of lawyers working as we speak trying to find a way to void Bradley’s contract. If unsuccessful, we will probably see a release of him as the final footnote to his career. If Vlad can still be unemployed given his strong showing last year the Rangers, teams will equally have no issue leaving Bradley dangling on the waiver wire.
In my era we have seen Joey/Albert Belle, Carl Everett, Manny Ramirez and now Milton Bradley sideshows in baseball. Train wrecks that people criticize but can’t stop watching. I believe executives are getting smarter and more sophisticated in judging character and personality before drafting and promoting players. As we stand in the new MLB, we will see fewer, if any, Milton Bradleys in baseball. Baseball executives will choose not to play “operation” with their teams and their own baseball careers. Happy trails Milton Bradley. The game will continue, just with a different player in your place.
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