This week I will give my April Awards. The awards are as if the season ended today.
Rangers:
MVP: Adrian Beltre, TEX (.263 AVG, 7 HR, 21 RBI) – Adrian leads the team in both home runs and RBIs, and his batting average is just good enough to allow him to be team MVP.
Runner-up: Michael Young, TEX (.340 AVG, 0 HR, 17 RBI)
Cy Young: Alexi Ogando, TEX (3-0, 2.30 ERA, 21 K) – Alexi is tied for the team lead in wins, and has the best ERA of any Rangers starter, making him the Rangers Cy Young for the month of April.
Runner-up: CJ Wilson, TEX (3-1, 3.35 ERA, 34 K)
Rookie of the Year: Pedro Strop, TEX (1.17 ERA, 9 K, 7.2 IP) – As there are no rookies that have had an at-bat, and only two rookies have pitched 5 innings or more (one of them with a 6.75 ERA), this award became more a process of elimination than anything else.
Runner-up: Cody Eppley, TEX (1-0, 1.93 ERA, 4.2 IP)
AL:
MVP: Robinson Cano, NYY (.319 AVG, 8 HR, 21 RBI) – Cano is tenth in batting average in the American League, second in home runs, and tied for second in RBIs, and, while he may not be the best at anything so far, he is the best all-around player to this point.
Runner-up: Jose Bautista, TOR (.372 AVG, 9 HR, 15 RBI)
Cy Young: Jered Weaver, LAA (6-0, 0.99 ERA, 49 K) – Weaver is a no-brainer. He leads the majors in wins, ERA, strikeouts, and innings pitched, all outright. This guy is ridiculous.
Runner-up: Dan Haren, LAA (4-1, 1.23 ERA, 38 K)
Rookie of the Year: Michael Pineda, SEA (4-1, 2.01 ERA, 30 K) – Pineda has four wins in one month while pitching for the Mariners. That automatically means you get some sort of award, and his 2.01 ERA doesn’t hurt, either.
Runner-up: Zach Britton, BAL (4-1, 2.84 ERA, 19 K)
Manager of the Year: Manny Acta, CLE (17-8, 1st place) – The Indians are a very, very bad team, but right now Manny Acta has gotten the Indians to the best record in the AL.
Runner-up: Joe Maddon, TB (15-12, 2nd place)
NL:
MVP: Lance Berkman, STL (.402 AVG, 8 HR, 22 RBI) – As much as it pains me to say it, Lance Berkman is having a decent year. Okay, he’s having a great year, with an average above .400 and great power numbers.
Runner-up: Ryan Braun, MIL (.362 AVG, 10 HR, 23 RBI)
Cy Young: Josh Johnson, FLA (3-0, 1.06 ERA, 33 K) – Like Jered Weaver in the AL, Josh Johnson is an obvious choice for NL Cy Young at this point. He leads the league in ERA by almost 0.60, which is a huge margin, and is undefeated.
Runner-up: Kyle Lohse, STL (4-1, 1.64 ERA, 24 K)
Rookie of the Year: Darwin Barney, CHC (.321 AVG, 1 HR, 13 RBI) – Barney has had the best season among all National League rookies, and not just because of his name, although I’m sure it plays a part in it. Barney (I love typing his name) is hitting over .300 with a good amount of RBIs.
Runner-up: Craig Kimbrel, ATL (6 SV, 1.59 ERA, 14 K)
Manager of the Year: Edwin Rodriguez, FLA (16-8, 2nd place) – Edwin has the Marlins only one game out of first place and playing above expectations.
Runner-up: Jim Tracy, COL (16-8, 1st place)
Come back next week for part one of my ballpark rankings.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
April All-Stars
This week I will give my All-Star teams for the season to date.
AL:
Starters:
Catcher: Russell Martin, NYY (.314 AVG, 4 HR, 11 RBI) – Russell leads all catchers with his 4 home runs and is tied for the lead with 11 RBIs. He also has a batting average above .300, so it was a no-brainer to have him as the starting catcher.
First Base: Paul Konerko, CWS (.329 AVG, 5 HR, 16 RBI) – Paul’s power numbers are one of the tops at first base, as he is tied for the position lead in RBIs and is tied for 2nd in home runs. His .329 batting average doesn’t hurt, either, and that is what makes him deserving all-around of a starting spot.
Second Base: Robinson Cano, NYY (.303 AVG, 4 HR, 13 RBI) – While Brian Roberts (also an All-Star) has more RBIs than Cano, Robinson has more home runs and a much higher batting average than Roberts, and therefore gets the edge.
Third Base: Alex Rodriguez, NYY (.366 AVG, 4 HR, 10 RBI) – A-Fraud has solid power numbers, but his batting average puts him above all other AL third basemen. A .366 batting average is fantastic, and definitely makes him deserving of the starting 3B spot.
Shortstop: Jed Lowrie, BOS (.426 AVG, 3 HR, 12 RBI) – While Jed will not hit .400 for the year, it is still impressive that he has done it three weeks into the season, and he also has good power numbers, especially for a shortstop.
Outfield: Jeff Francoeur, KC (.329 AVG, 3 HR, 17 RBI) – Jeff leads all American League outfielders in RBIs, has hit a decent amount of home runs, and has a batting average well over .300 as well.
Outfield: Alex Gordon, KC (.361 AVG, 1 HR, 14 RBI) – Gordon’s average is fantastic at .361 and is the second Royals outfielder to earn a starting position. Also, despite his one home run, he has a high RBI total at 14.
Outfield: Carlos Quentin, CWS (.320 AVG, 6 HR, 16 RBI) – Carlos Quentin leads all American League outfielders with 6 home runs and has a good number of RBIs to go with it. He also has a very high batting average.
Designated Hitter: Travis Hafner, CLE (.344 AVG, 4 HR, 10 RBI) – Hafner is having a great April and if he can keep it up, he would be Comeback Player of the Year, no question. He is hitting .344, and has very good power numbers.
Pitcher: Jered Weaver, LAA (5-0, 1.23 ERA, 39 K) – This guy is amazing. He leads the majors in wins and strikeouts and leads the American League in ERA. There is no doubt that this guy should be the starting pitcher at this point.
Reserves:
C: Alex Avila, DET (.292 AVG, 3 HR, 11 RBI)
1B: Miguel Cabrera, DET (.333 AVG, 5 HR, 14 RBI)
Mitch Moreland, TEX (.314 AVG, 2 HR, 8 RBI)
2B: Brian Roberts, BAL (.280 AVG, 3 HR, 14 RBI)
Dustin Pedroia, BOS (.314 AVG, 2 HR, 6 RBI)
3B: Adrian Beltre, TEX (.263 AVG, 6 HR, 18 RBI)
Wilson Betemit, KC (.383 AVG, 1 HR, 11 RBI)
Alberto Callaspo, LAA (.303 AVG, 2 HR, 7 RBI)
SS: Asdrubal Cabrera, CLE (.269 AVG, 4 HR, 14 RBI)
Maicer Izturis, LAA (.355 AVG, 2 HR, 9 RBI)
OF: Brandon Boesch, DET (.339 AVG, 1 HR, 12 RBI)
Jose Bautista, TOR (.339 AVG, 5 HR, 8 RBI)
Sam Fuld, TB (.366 AVG, 1 HR, 8 RBI)
DH: Billy Butler, KC (.352 AVG, 2 HR, 9 RBI)
Michael Young, TEX (.359 AVG, 0 HR, 11 RBI)
SP: Dan Haren, LAA (4-1, 1.46 ERA, 33 K)
Justin Masterson, CLE (4-0, 1.71 ERA, 15 K)
Matt Harrison, TEX (3-1, 1.88 ERA, 19 K)
Josh Beckett, BOS (2-1, 1.93 ERA, 28 K)
Gio Gonzalez, OAK (2-1, 1.80 ERA, 23 K)
Michael Pineda, SEA (3-1, 1.78 ERA, 21 K)
Scott Baker, MIN (1-2, 3.24 ERA, 24 K)
RP: Mariano Rivera, NYY (7 SV, 1.93 ERA, 7 K)
Chris Perez, CLE (6 SV, 2.25 ERA, 4 K)
Neftali Feliz, TEX (5 SV, 1.08 ERA, 6 K)
Jose Valverde, DET (4 SV, 1.04 ERA, 9 K)
Jonathon Papelbon, BOS (5 SV, 2.16 ERA, 11 K)
Players per Team:
Texas Rangers – 5
Boston Red Sox – 4 (1 starter)
Cleveland Indians – 4 (1 starter)
Detroit Tigers – 4
Kansas City Royals – 4 (2 starters)
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 4 (1 starter)
New York Yankees – 4 (3 starters)
Chicago White Sox – 2 (2 starters)
Baltimore Orioles – 1
Minnesota Twins – 1
Oakland Athletics – 1
Seattle Mariners – 1
Tampa Bay Rays – 1
Toronto Blue Jays – 1
NL:
Starters:
Catcher: Ramon Hernandez, CIN (.325 AVG, 2 HR, 9 RBI) – Ramon has one of the best batting averages and some of the best power numbers among all NL catchers, and has had the best all-around season among that group.
First Base: Joey Votto, CIN (.394 AVG, 3 HR, 10 RBI, .500 OBP) – Joey has had an incredible season, even though his power numbers aren’t outstanding. He has an OBP of .500 and an average near .400.
Second Base: Brandon Phillips, CIN (.354 AVG, 2 HR, 7 RBI) – Phillips missed a week, but his stats are still good enough to make him the best second baseman so far in the National League. He has decent power numbers for a second baseman, and an outstanding average.
Third Base: Placido Polanco, PHI (.359 AVG, 2 HR, 15 RBI) – Polanco has a lot of RBIs and a really high batting average. While he may not have the best number in the home run column, he still has more RBIs than any other third baseman, and when it really comes down to it, RBIs are more important than HRs.
Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki, COL (.329 AVG, 7 HR, 14 RBI) – Troy has started off the season hot, and leads all of baseball in home runs. That, especially at the shortstop position, pretty much guarantees a spot on the starting squad.
Outfield: Lance Berkman, STL (.349 AVG, 6 HR, 15 RBI) – Lance said that last year the Rangers caught lightning in a bottle, but really, that’s what he’s done the first month of the season. I don’t think he will end up being an All-Star, and I think his final stats won’t be too good, but his April is good enough to make him a starting outfielder at this point.
Outfield: Ryan Braun, MIL (.382 AVG, 6 HR, 15 RBI) – Braun has identical power numbers with Lance Berkman, but a better average, making his season better than Lance’s (take that, Rangers hater!). There is no doubt in my mind that he deserved this starting spot.
Outfield: Matt Kemp, LAD (.403 AVG, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 8 SB) – While Berkman and Braun have had good years, Kemp has probably had the best, with a batting average over .400, and the same number of RBIs as both of the other starting outfielders with 15. And while he may have less homers than both of them, he does have 8 stolen bases to his credit, while the others have a total of…..0.
Designated Hitter: Prince Fielder, MIL (.352 AVG, 3 HR, 19 RBI) – Prince leads all of baseball in RBIs with 19, but is still not having the best year among National League first baseman, as Prince’s average and OBP just don’t compare to that of Joey Votto.
Pitcher: Josh Johnson, FLA (3-0, 1.00 ERA, 27 K) – Josh Johnson has had four starts so far this season, and has almost thrown a no-hitter in three of them. The dude is amazing, and has the best ERA in all of baseball at 1.00.
Reserves
C: Brian McCann, ATL (.319 AVG, 2 HR, 10 RBI)
Nick Hundley, SD (.317 AVG, 3 HR, 9 RBI)
1B: Ryan Howard, PHI (.278 AVG, 3 HR, 17 RBI)
Ike Davis, NYM (.290 AVG, 3 HR, 16 RBI)
2B: Danny Espinosa, WAS (.273 AVG, 2 HR, 15 RBI)
Jeff Baker, CHC (.355 AVG, 1 HR, 6 RBI)
3B: Pablo Sandoval, SF (.328 AVG, 5 HR, 13 RBI)
Ryan Roberts, ARI (.349 AVG, 4 HR, 11 RBI)
David Freese, STL (.339 AVG, 2 HR, 10 RBI)
SS: Starlin Castro, CHC (.369 AVG, 1 HR, 7 RBI)
OF: Matt Holliday, STL (.447 AVG, 2 HR, 11 RBI)
Logan Morrison, FLA (.327 AVG, 4 HR, 11 RBI)
Andre Ethier, LAD (.388 AVG, 2 HR, 10 RBI)
Drew Stubbs, CIN (.284 AVG, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 6 SB)
SP: Aaron Harang, SD (4-0, 1.88 ERA, 21 K)
Jaime Garcia, STL (3-0, 1.44 ERA, 24 K)
Kevin Correia, PIT (3-1, 2.48 ERA, 12 K)
Roy Oswalt, PHI (3-0, 1.88 ERA, 21 K)
Shaun Marcum, MIL (2-1, 1.90 ERA, 20 K)
Tim Lincecum, SF (2-1, 1.67 ERA, 32 K)
Brett Myers, HOU (1-0, 2.39 ERA, 14 K)
RP: Logan Ondrusek, CIN (2-1, 0.77 ERA, 13 K)
Heath Bell, SD (5 SV, 1.13 ERA, 5 K)
Jose Contreras, PHI (5 SV, 0.00 ERA, 9 K)
Craig Kimbrel, ATL (5 SV, 1.00 ERA, 14 K)
JJ Putz, ARI (5 SV, 1.13 ERA, 10 K)
Players per Team:
Cincinnati Reds – 5 (3 starters)
St. Louis Cardinals – 5 (1 starter)
Philadelphia Phillies – 4 (1 starter)
Milwaukee Brewers – 3 (2 starters)
San Diego Padres – 3
Arizona Diamondbacks – 2
Atlanta Braves – 2
Chicago Cubs – 2
Florida Marlins – 2 (1 starter)
Los Angeles Dodgers – 2 (1 starter)
San Francisco Giants – 2
Colorado Rockies – 1 (1 starter)
Houston Astros – 1
New York Mets – 1
Pittsburgh Pirates – 1
Washington Nationals – 1
Come back next week for my April Awards.
AL:
Starters:
Catcher: Russell Martin, NYY (.314 AVG, 4 HR, 11 RBI) – Russell leads all catchers with his 4 home runs and is tied for the lead with 11 RBIs. He also has a batting average above .300, so it was a no-brainer to have him as the starting catcher.
First Base: Paul Konerko, CWS (.329 AVG, 5 HR, 16 RBI) – Paul’s power numbers are one of the tops at first base, as he is tied for the position lead in RBIs and is tied for 2nd in home runs. His .329 batting average doesn’t hurt, either, and that is what makes him deserving all-around of a starting spot.
Second Base: Robinson Cano, NYY (.303 AVG, 4 HR, 13 RBI) – While Brian Roberts (also an All-Star) has more RBIs than Cano, Robinson has more home runs and a much higher batting average than Roberts, and therefore gets the edge.
Third Base: Alex Rodriguez, NYY (.366 AVG, 4 HR, 10 RBI) – A-Fraud has solid power numbers, but his batting average puts him above all other AL third basemen. A .366 batting average is fantastic, and definitely makes him deserving of the starting 3B spot.
Shortstop: Jed Lowrie, BOS (.426 AVG, 3 HR, 12 RBI) – While Jed will not hit .400 for the year, it is still impressive that he has done it three weeks into the season, and he also has good power numbers, especially for a shortstop.
Outfield: Jeff Francoeur, KC (.329 AVG, 3 HR, 17 RBI) – Jeff leads all American League outfielders in RBIs, has hit a decent amount of home runs, and has a batting average well over .300 as well.
Outfield: Alex Gordon, KC (.361 AVG, 1 HR, 14 RBI) – Gordon’s average is fantastic at .361 and is the second Royals outfielder to earn a starting position. Also, despite his one home run, he has a high RBI total at 14.
Outfield: Carlos Quentin, CWS (.320 AVG, 6 HR, 16 RBI) – Carlos Quentin leads all American League outfielders with 6 home runs and has a good number of RBIs to go with it. He also has a very high batting average.
Designated Hitter: Travis Hafner, CLE (.344 AVG, 4 HR, 10 RBI) – Hafner is having a great April and if he can keep it up, he would be Comeback Player of the Year, no question. He is hitting .344, and has very good power numbers.
Pitcher: Jered Weaver, LAA (5-0, 1.23 ERA, 39 K) – This guy is amazing. He leads the majors in wins and strikeouts and leads the American League in ERA. There is no doubt that this guy should be the starting pitcher at this point.
Reserves:
C: Alex Avila, DET (.292 AVG, 3 HR, 11 RBI)
1B: Miguel Cabrera, DET (.333 AVG, 5 HR, 14 RBI)
Mitch Moreland, TEX (.314 AVG, 2 HR, 8 RBI)
2B: Brian Roberts, BAL (.280 AVG, 3 HR, 14 RBI)
Dustin Pedroia, BOS (.314 AVG, 2 HR, 6 RBI)
3B: Adrian Beltre, TEX (.263 AVG, 6 HR, 18 RBI)
Wilson Betemit, KC (.383 AVG, 1 HR, 11 RBI)
Alberto Callaspo, LAA (.303 AVG, 2 HR, 7 RBI)
SS: Asdrubal Cabrera, CLE (.269 AVG, 4 HR, 14 RBI)
Maicer Izturis, LAA (.355 AVG, 2 HR, 9 RBI)
OF: Brandon Boesch, DET (.339 AVG, 1 HR, 12 RBI)
Jose Bautista, TOR (.339 AVG, 5 HR, 8 RBI)
Sam Fuld, TB (.366 AVG, 1 HR, 8 RBI)
DH: Billy Butler, KC (.352 AVG, 2 HR, 9 RBI)
Michael Young, TEX (.359 AVG, 0 HR, 11 RBI)
SP: Dan Haren, LAA (4-1, 1.46 ERA, 33 K)
Justin Masterson, CLE (4-0, 1.71 ERA, 15 K)
Matt Harrison, TEX (3-1, 1.88 ERA, 19 K)
Josh Beckett, BOS (2-1, 1.93 ERA, 28 K)
Gio Gonzalez, OAK (2-1, 1.80 ERA, 23 K)
Michael Pineda, SEA (3-1, 1.78 ERA, 21 K)
Scott Baker, MIN (1-2, 3.24 ERA, 24 K)
RP: Mariano Rivera, NYY (7 SV, 1.93 ERA, 7 K)
Chris Perez, CLE (6 SV, 2.25 ERA, 4 K)
Neftali Feliz, TEX (5 SV, 1.08 ERA, 6 K)
Jose Valverde, DET (4 SV, 1.04 ERA, 9 K)
Jonathon Papelbon, BOS (5 SV, 2.16 ERA, 11 K)
Players per Team:
Texas Rangers – 5
Boston Red Sox – 4 (1 starter)
Cleveland Indians – 4 (1 starter)
Detroit Tigers – 4
Kansas City Royals – 4 (2 starters)
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 4 (1 starter)
New York Yankees – 4 (3 starters)
Chicago White Sox – 2 (2 starters)
Baltimore Orioles – 1
Minnesota Twins – 1
Oakland Athletics – 1
Seattle Mariners – 1
Tampa Bay Rays – 1
Toronto Blue Jays – 1
NL:
Starters:
Catcher: Ramon Hernandez, CIN (.325 AVG, 2 HR, 9 RBI) – Ramon has one of the best batting averages and some of the best power numbers among all NL catchers, and has had the best all-around season among that group.
First Base: Joey Votto, CIN (.394 AVG, 3 HR, 10 RBI, .500 OBP) – Joey has had an incredible season, even though his power numbers aren’t outstanding. He has an OBP of .500 and an average near .400.
Second Base: Brandon Phillips, CIN (.354 AVG, 2 HR, 7 RBI) – Phillips missed a week, but his stats are still good enough to make him the best second baseman so far in the National League. He has decent power numbers for a second baseman, and an outstanding average.
Third Base: Placido Polanco, PHI (.359 AVG, 2 HR, 15 RBI) – Polanco has a lot of RBIs and a really high batting average. While he may not have the best number in the home run column, he still has more RBIs than any other third baseman, and when it really comes down to it, RBIs are more important than HRs.
Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki, COL (.329 AVG, 7 HR, 14 RBI) – Troy has started off the season hot, and leads all of baseball in home runs. That, especially at the shortstop position, pretty much guarantees a spot on the starting squad.
Outfield: Lance Berkman, STL (.349 AVG, 6 HR, 15 RBI) – Lance said that last year the Rangers caught lightning in a bottle, but really, that’s what he’s done the first month of the season. I don’t think he will end up being an All-Star, and I think his final stats won’t be too good, but his April is good enough to make him a starting outfielder at this point.
Outfield: Ryan Braun, MIL (.382 AVG, 6 HR, 15 RBI) – Braun has identical power numbers with Lance Berkman, but a better average, making his season better than Lance’s (take that, Rangers hater!). There is no doubt in my mind that he deserved this starting spot.
Outfield: Matt Kemp, LAD (.403 AVG, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 8 SB) – While Berkman and Braun have had good years, Kemp has probably had the best, with a batting average over .400, and the same number of RBIs as both of the other starting outfielders with 15. And while he may have less homers than both of them, he does have 8 stolen bases to his credit, while the others have a total of…..0.
Designated Hitter: Prince Fielder, MIL (.352 AVG, 3 HR, 19 RBI) – Prince leads all of baseball in RBIs with 19, but is still not having the best year among National League first baseman, as Prince’s average and OBP just don’t compare to that of Joey Votto.
Pitcher: Josh Johnson, FLA (3-0, 1.00 ERA, 27 K) – Josh Johnson has had four starts so far this season, and has almost thrown a no-hitter in three of them. The dude is amazing, and has the best ERA in all of baseball at 1.00.
Reserves
C: Brian McCann, ATL (.319 AVG, 2 HR, 10 RBI)
Nick Hundley, SD (.317 AVG, 3 HR, 9 RBI)
1B: Ryan Howard, PHI (.278 AVG, 3 HR, 17 RBI)
Ike Davis, NYM (.290 AVG, 3 HR, 16 RBI)
2B: Danny Espinosa, WAS (.273 AVG, 2 HR, 15 RBI)
Jeff Baker, CHC (.355 AVG, 1 HR, 6 RBI)
3B: Pablo Sandoval, SF (.328 AVG, 5 HR, 13 RBI)
Ryan Roberts, ARI (.349 AVG, 4 HR, 11 RBI)
David Freese, STL (.339 AVG, 2 HR, 10 RBI)
SS: Starlin Castro, CHC (.369 AVG, 1 HR, 7 RBI)
OF: Matt Holliday, STL (.447 AVG, 2 HR, 11 RBI)
Logan Morrison, FLA (.327 AVG, 4 HR, 11 RBI)
Andre Ethier, LAD (.388 AVG, 2 HR, 10 RBI)
Drew Stubbs, CIN (.284 AVG, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 6 SB)
SP: Aaron Harang, SD (4-0, 1.88 ERA, 21 K)
Jaime Garcia, STL (3-0, 1.44 ERA, 24 K)
Kevin Correia, PIT (3-1, 2.48 ERA, 12 K)
Roy Oswalt, PHI (3-0, 1.88 ERA, 21 K)
Shaun Marcum, MIL (2-1, 1.90 ERA, 20 K)
Tim Lincecum, SF (2-1, 1.67 ERA, 32 K)
Brett Myers, HOU (1-0, 2.39 ERA, 14 K)
RP: Logan Ondrusek, CIN (2-1, 0.77 ERA, 13 K)
Heath Bell, SD (5 SV, 1.13 ERA, 5 K)
Jose Contreras, PHI (5 SV, 0.00 ERA, 9 K)
Craig Kimbrel, ATL (5 SV, 1.00 ERA, 14 K)
JJ Putz, ARI (5 SV, 1.13 ERA, 10 K)
Players per Team:
Cincinnati Reds – 5 (3 starters)
St. Louis Cardinals – 5 (1 starter)
Philadelphia Phillies – 4 (1 starter)
Milwaukee Brewers – 3 (2 starters)
San Diego Padres – 3
Arizona Diamondbacks – 2
Atlanta Braves – 2
Chicago Cubs – 2
Florida Marlins – 2 (1 starter)
Los Angeles Dodgers – 2 (1 starter)
San Francisco Giants – 2
Colorado Rockies – 1 (1 starter)
Houston Astros – 1
New York Mets – 1
Pittsburgh Pirates – 1
Washington Nationals – 1
Come back next week for my April Awards.
Saturday, April 09, 2011
Elvis Andrus Interview
Before the season started, I was able to conduct a brief interview with Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus.
Me: Is there anything specific you’ve been working on in the off-season and, if so, what is it?
Elvis: My body. I want to be in shape the whole season.
Me: What is the biggest adjustment you had to make when you started facing major-league pitchers?
Elvis: Trying to swing at strikes and be ready.
Me: Out of all the minor league stadiums you’ve played in, what was your favorite and why?
Elvis: Myrtle Beach because it’s pretty all around.
Me: What ballpark is your favorite to play in throughout the majors and why (not including the Rangers)?
Elvis: Fenway Park for the history of the ballpark.
Me: What were your favorite parts of the All-Star game and the activities around the game last year?
Elvis: I think the red carpet. You felt like a movie star (laughs).
Me: In 2009, when you were named to the Sally League All-Star team, were you happy to be on the team, or would you rather have had the days off?
Elvis: You’re always happy when you get the call for an All-Star game.
Me: Which Futures Game did you enjoy more, 2007 or 2008, and why?
Elvis: 2008 because it was the last year of the old Yankee Stadium.
Me: Do you think being so young made it harder or easier to adjust to major league life?
Elvis: It depends. For me, it was easy because all my teammates and family helped me out every day.
Me: What is the Arizona Fall League like? Are there many fans? What’s the overall experience like?
Elvis: It’s a great league to grow as a player. Nope, there's no fans and the whole experience is great.
Me: Who are the three toughest pitchers you’ve faced and why?
Elvis: Felix Hernandez, Tim Lincecum and Erik Bedard, because they’re tough.
Me: Who are your three favorite teammates since you joined the Rangers organization and why?
Elvis: Ian (Kinsler), Michael (Young) and Nelson (Cruz) because they helped me out every day and they’re always there for me.
Me: What adjustments did you make in 2007 after you were traded, as you hit .244 before the trade, and .300 after it?
Elvis: I think the desire to play soon in the bigs.
Me: What’s been the best game so far of your professional career and why?
Elvis: Game 5 against Tampa Bay because it was the key game for the team.
Me: What is the toughest thing about major league life and why?
Elvis: The consistence every day on and off the field.
Me: What is the worst injury you’ve ever had and why?
Elvis: I broke my finger in Double-A Frisco. Because I love to play, not to watch.
Me: What sports did you play growing up and which were you best at?
Elvis: Soccer. I just love it.
Me: What was your favorite team growing up and why?
Elvis: The Indians because my idol was there - Omar Vizquel.
Me: What are your hobbies?
Elvis: Music and keeping myself happy.
I would like to thank Elvis for giving me some of his time and agreeing to do this interview.
Me: Is there anything specific you’ve been working on in the off-season and, if so, what is it?
Elvis: My body. I want to be in shape the whole season.
Me: What is the biggest adjustment you had to make when you started facing major-league pitchers?
Elvis: Trying to swing at strikes and be ready.
Me: Out of all the minor league stadiums you’ve played in, what was your favorite and why?
Elvis: Myrtle Beach because it’s pretty all around.
Me: What ballpark is your favorite to play in throughout the majors and why (not including the Rangers)?
Elvis: Fenway Park for the history of the ballpark.
Me: What were your favorite parts of the All-Star game and the activities around the game last year?
Elvis: I think the red carpet. You felt like a movie star (laughs).
Me: In 2009, when you were named to the Sally League All-Star team, were you happy to be on the team, or would you rather have had the days off?
Elvis: You’re always happy when you get the call for an All-Star game.
Me: Which Futures Game did you enjoy more, 2007 or 2008, and why?
Elvis: 2008 because it was the last year of the old Yankee Stadium.
Me: Do you think being so young made it harder or easier to adjust to major league life?
Elvis: It depends. For me, it was easy because all my teammates and family helped me out every day.
Me: What is the Arizona Fall League like? Are there many fans? What’s the overall experience like?
Elvis: It’s a great league to grow as a player. Nope, there's no fans and the whole experience is great.
Me: Who are the three toughest pitchers you’ve faced and why?
Elvis: Felix Hernandez, Tim Lincecum and Erik Bedard, because they’re tough.
Me: Who are your three favorite teammates since you joined the Rangers organization and why?
Elvis: Ian (Kinsler), Michael (Young) and Nelson (Cruz) because they helped me out every day and they’re always there for me.
Me: What adjustments did you make in 2007 after you were traded, as you hit .244 before the trade, and .300 after it?
Elvis: I think the desire to play soon in the bigs.
Me: What’s been the best game so far of your professional career and why?
Elvis: Game 5 against Tampa Bay because it was the key game for the team.
Me: What is the toughest thing about major league life and why?
Elvis: The consistence every day on and off the field.
Me: What is the worst injury you’ve ever had and why?
Elvis: I broke my finger in Double-A Frisco. Because I love to play, not to watch.
Me: What sports did you play growing up and which were you best at?
Elvis: Soccer. I just love it.
Me: What was your favorite team growing up and why?
Elvis: The Indians because my idol was there - Omar Vizquel.
Me: What are your hobbies?
Elvis: Music and keeping myself happy.
I would like to thank Elvis for giving me some of his time and agreeing to do this interview.
Sunday, April 03, 2011
Season Predictions
This week, I’ll provide my predictions for the 2011 season.
AL East:
1. Boston Red Sox – I really like Lester and Buchholz at the top of the Red Sox rotation, but, at least in my opinion, it gets shaky after that. It’s a good thing their line-up is so good.
2. New York Yankees – The Yankees starting pitching is very thin, but you can get away with that in the regular season if you have the offense that the Yankees have. However, that does not bode well for the playoffs.
3. Toronto Blue Jays – The Blue Jays have loads of young talent on their team, with Ricky Romero and Kyle Drabek in their rotation, JP Arencibia behind the plate, and Travis Snider in left field. I think that the Jays have a bright future, but as far as 2011 goes, ‘future’ is the key word in that statement.
4. Tampa Bay Rays – I really don’t like anything about this Rays team. After David Price, their rotation is very questionable, their bullpen is awful, and, with their lineup, they will probably average about a run per game. They are better than the Orioles, though.
5. Baltimore Orioles – The O’s added come nice pieces this offseason, like Vladimir Guerrero, Mark Reynolds, Kevin Gregg, JJ Hardy, Derrek Lee, and Justin Duchscherer. They also have plenty of young prospects on the team. Despite their improvement and youth, however, they still will struggle, especially in this division.
AL Central:
1. Minnesota Twins – While the Twins don’t have an ace, their entire rotation is composed of solid pitchers, with Pavano, Liriano, Blackburn, Baker, and Duensing, and solid pitching is all you need to make it through the regular season.
2. Chicago White Sox – The White Sox could very possibly have an amazing rotation, but it is just as possible that it will be very mediocre. Buehrle and Danks are going to be very good pitchers as always, but then there is Edwin Jackson, who could be amazing, or could be mediocre, at #4 there is Gavin Floyd, and he is another guy who could be awesome or could struggle. And then who knows if Jake Peavy will stay healthy.
3. Detroit Tigers – The Tigers made a couple of big moves this offseason, signing Victor Martinez and Joaquin Benoit. But they didn’t do anything to help their starting rotation, which is what needed the most help. After Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, the Tigers have Rick Porcello, who has loads of talent and had a very good rookie season in 2009, but then followed that year up with an ERA near 5.00 in 2010. They finish out the rotation with Brad Penny and Phil Coke, which is a very uninspiring 4 and 5.
4. Kansas City Royals – The Royals are not a good team. The average baseball fan could probably name about …… 0 players on the Royals roster. After Billy Butler, their second best hitter is probably Jeff Francoeur, and on most teams he would be a 4th outfielder. Their Opening Day starter had a 4.81 ERA last year. This team is bad.
5. Cleveland Indians – As bad as the Royals are, the Indians are worse. Their infield looks like a Triple-A squad, and their starting rotation is terrible. They have some good pieces, with Shin-Soo Choo and Carlos Santana, but those are about their only good pieces.
AL West:
1. Texas Rangers – The Rangers can hit like crazy. The line-up contains 5 players that hit 20+ home runs last year (Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre, Michael Young, Nelson Cruz, and Mike Napoli), and another guy who has hit as many as 31 homers in a season (Ian Kinsler). The starting rotation may not be great, but it is good enough to get the Rangers their second straight division title.
2. Oakland Athletics – The A’s have fantastic young pitching. They have a good bullpen. Their overall pitching is phenomenal. But they have absolutely no hitting. Nobody on their team hit more than 21 home runs last year. However, since they have no power, they make up for it with their lack of contact and their mediocre speed.
3. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – The Angels rotation could be very, very good, but I wouldn’t count on it. Jered Weaver will be an ace, but Dan Haren is getting older and struggled last year, Ervin Santana is extremely inconsistent, and Scott Kazmir seems to have lost it. And, on top of that, their lineup consists of old men on the downside of their careers.
4. Seattle Mariners – The Mariners have the reigning Cy Young winner in Felix Hernandez. They have one of the best hitters in baseball in Ichiro Suzuki. And that’s about it. Aside from those two players, there is no way to put it other than this: They’re a bad team.
AL MVP: Adrian Gonzalez, BOS
Runner-up: Robinson Cano, NYY
AL Cy Young: Clay Buchholz, BOS
Runner-up: CC Sabathia, NYY
AL Rookie of the Year: JP Arencibia, TOR
Runner-up: Brent Morel, CWS
NL East:
1. Philadelphia Phillies – With the signing of Cliff Lee, no one has a better starting rotation than the Phillies. They are far and away better than anyone else in that category. But once you get past their rotation, they are shaky. Their bullpen isn’t very good, and they will struggle to score.
2. Atlanta Braves – The Braves have a very good rotation, with Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson, Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens, Brandon Beachy (who had a 0.90 ERA this spring), and have some good hitters in a solid lineup, even if it doesn’t blow you away.
3. Florida Marlins – It seems like every year, I pick the Marlins as a surprise team. Well, they never come through for me, and I am done picking them. I like their rotation, and I think their offense has potential, but I’ve learned my lesson. They’re underperformers.
4. New York Mets – The Mets are awful. Their rotation stinks, their offense is old, slow, and injury-prone, and their only good bullpen pitcher beat up his girlfriend’s dad. This franchise has many more bad years in its future.
5. Washington Nationals – Livan Hernandez was the Opening Day starter. Ian Desmond is leading off. I think that says enough. They’ll be doing well if they win 50 games this year.
NL Central:
1. Cincinnati Reds – Even though they have no ace, the Reds probably have the deepest rotation in baseball, with 6 proven big league starters in Edinson Volquez, Bronson Arroyo, Travis Wood, Johnny Cueto, Homer Bailey, and Mike Leake. Oh, and by the way, they also have one of the best lineups in all of baseball.
2. Milwaukee Brewers – Yes, they can hit. Yes, the top three in their rotation are very, very good. But they still have one of the worst bullpens in baseball, and that is why I don’t think they are good enough to be a playoff team.
3. St. Louis Cardinals – I don’t think the Cards would have won with Wainwright, but without him, they don’t have much of a chance. Their lineup has a total of two good hitters, and their rotation without Wainwright isn’t very good.
4. Chicago Cubs – Come on, it’s the Cubs. They’re old. They underperform. They’re hotheads. And they lose. The rotation could be good, but it won’t be. The offense could be good, but it won’t be. That’s the way the Cubs work, and that’s the way it will go in 2011.
5. Houston Astros – The Astros are terrible. It’s a good thing they have a good farm system. Oh, wait, they don’t have that either. It’s a good thing they’re in a good ownership situation. Oh, wait, that’s wrong. Well, there’s always 20 years from now, Houston.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates – The team slogan for the year for the Pirates is: ‘Pride. Passion. Pittsburgh Pirates.’ There is nothing for this team to be proud about, as their #1 starter had a 5.31 ERA last year, and they don’t hit the ball well.
NL West:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers – I really like this Dodgers team. They have a deep rotation like the Reds, but unlike the Reds, they have an ace. They have six starting pitchers who have proven they can pitch well in the majors in Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Ted Lilly, Hiroki Kuroda, Jon Garland, and Vicente Padilla. And while they won’t score too many runs, they’re offense is good enough to win ballgames.
2. San Francisco Giants – The Giants still have a great rotation, but I think that their hitting will be even worse than last year, and I just don’t see them going back to the playoffs, as while their rotation is very good, it’s not all that deep, and an injury would be terrible for this team.
3. Colorado Rockies – This Rockies team will hit the ball, but I think that they will get hit hard as well. After Ubaldo Jimenez, I’m not a big fan of their rotation, and I just don’t think that they are good enough to be ahead of either the Dodgers or the Giants.
4. San Diego Padres – I said this last year and it was wrong, so maybe it will be wrong this year, too, but the Padres have a bad team. They have okay pitching, and they will struggle to score runs offensively.
5. Arizona Diamondbacks – Every time I see their roster, I am surprised at how bad it is. Aside from Justin Upton and Chris Young, they don’t hit well, and there is not one pitcher in their rotation that you can count on to be good this year. This team has last place written all over it.
NL MVP: Ryan Braun, MIL
Runner-up: Jay Bruce, CIN
NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay, PHI
Runner-up: Cliff Lee, PHI
NL Rookie of the Year: Freddie Freeman, ATL
Runner-up: Brandon Belt, SF
ALDS:
Boston Red Sox over Minnesota Twins
Texas Rangers over New York Yankees
NLDS:
Philadelphia Phillies over Los Angeles Dodgers
Cincinnati Reds over Atlanta Braves
ALCS:
Boston Red Sox over Texas Rangers
NLCS:
Philadelphia Phillies over Cincinnati Reds
World Series:
Philadelphia Phillies over Boston Red Sox
Come back next week for a brief interview with Elvis Andrus
AL East:
1. Boston Red Sox – I really like Lester and Buchholz at the top of the Red Sox rotation, but, at least in my opinion, it gets shaky after that. It’s a good thing their line-up is so good.
2. New York Yankees – The Yankees starting pitching is very thin, but you can get away with that in the regular season if you have the offense that the Yankees have. However, that does not bode well for the playoffs.
3. Toronto Blue Jays – The Blue Jays have loads of young talent on their team, with Ricky Romero and Kyle Drabek in their rotation, JP Arencibia behind the plate, and Travis Snider in left field. I think that the Jays have a bright future, but as far as 2011 goes, ‘future’ is the key word in that statement.
4. Tampa Bay Rays – I really don’t like anything about this Rays team. After David Price, their rotation is very questionable, their bullpen is awful, and, with their lineup, they will probably average about a run per game. They are better than the Orioles, though.
5. Baltimore Orioles – The O’s added come nice pieces this offseason, like Vladimir Guerrero, Mark Reynolds, Kevin Gregg, JJ Hardy, Derrek Lee, and Justin Duchscherer. They also have plenty of young prospects on the team. Despite their improvement and youth, however, they still will struggle, especially in this division.
AL Central:
1. Minnesota Twins – While the Twins don’t have an ace, their entire rotation is composed of solid pitchers, with Pavano, Liriano, Blackburn, Baker, and Duensing, and solid pitching is all you need to make it through the regular season.
2. Chicago White Sox – The White Sox could very possibly have an amazing rotation, but it is just as possible that it will be very mediocre. Buehrle and Danks are going to be very good pitchers as always, but then there is Edwin Jackson, who could be amazing, or could be mediocre, at #4 there is Gavin Floyd, and he is another guy who could be awesome or could struggle. And then who knows if Jake Peavy will stay healthy.
3. Detroit Tigers – The Tigers made a couple of big moves this offseason, signing Victor Martinez and Joaquin Benoit. But they didn’t do anything to help their starting rotation, which is what needed the most help. After Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, the Tigers have Rick Porcello, who has loads of talent and had a very good rookie season in 2009, but then followed that year up with an ERA near 5.00 in 2010. They finish out the rotation with Brad Penny and Phil Coke, which is a very uninspiring 4 and 5.
4. Kansas City Royals – The Royals are not a good team. The average baseball fan could probably name about …… 0 players on the Royals roster. After Billy Butler, their second best hitter is probably Jeff Francoeur, and on most teams he would be a 4th outfielder. Their Opening Day starter had a 4.81 ERA last year. This team is bad.
5. Cleveland Indians – As bad as the Royals are, the Indians are worse. Their infield looks like a Triple-A squad, and their starting rotation is terrible. They have some good pieces, with Shin-Soo Choo and Carlos Santana, but those are about their only good pieces.
AL West:
1. Texas Rangers – The Rangers can hit like crazy. The line-up contains 5 players that hit 20+ home runs last year (Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre, Michael Young, Nelson Cruz, and Mike Napoli), and another guy who has hit as many as 31 homers in a season (Ian Kinsler). The starting rotation may not be great, but it is good enough to get the Rangers their second straight division title.
2. Oakland Athletics – The A’s have fantastic young pitching. They have a good bullpen. Their overall pitching is phenomenal. But they have absolutely no hitting. Nobody on their team hit more than 21 home runs last year. However, since they have no power, they make up for it with their lack of contact and their mediocre speed.
3. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – The Angels rotation could be very, very good, but I wouldn’t count on it. Jered Weaver will be an ace, but Dan Haren is getting older and struggled last year, Ervin Santana is extremely inconsistent, and Scott Kazmir seems to have lost it. And, on top of that, their lineup consists of old men on the downside of their careers.
4. Seattle Mariners – The Mariners have the reigning Cy Young winner in Felix Hernandez. They have one of the best hitters in baseball in Ichiro Suzuki. And that’s about it. Aside from those two players, there is no way to put it other than this: They’re a bad team.
AL MVP: Adrian Gonzalez, BOS
Runner-up: Robinson Cano, NYY
AL Cy Young: Clay Buchholz, BOS
Runner-up: CC Sabathia, NYY
AL Rookie of the Year: JP Arencibia, TOR
Runner-up: Brent Morel, CWS
NL East:
1. Philadelphia Phillies – With the signing of Cliff Lee, no one has a better starting rotation than the Phillies. They are far and away better than anyone else in that category. But once you get past their rotation, they are shaky. Their bullpen isn’t very good, and they will struggle to score.
2. Atlanta Braves – The Braves have a very good rotation, with Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson, Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens, Brandon Beachy (who had a 0.90 ERA this spring), and have some good hitters in a solid lineup, even if it doesn’t blow you away.
3. Florida Marlins – It seems like every year, I pick the Marlins as a surprise team. Well, they never come through for me, and I am done picking them. I like their rotation, and I think their offense has potential, but I’ve learned my lesson. They’re underperformers.
4. New York Mets – The Mets are awful. Their rotation stinks, their offense is old, slow, and injury-prone, and their only good bullpen pitcher beat up his girlfriend’s dad. This franchise has many more bad years in its future.
5. Washington Nationals – Livan Hernandez was the Opening Day starter. Ian Desmond is leading off. I think that says enough. They’ll be doing well if they win 50 games this year.
NL Central:
1. Cincinnati Reds – Even though they have no ace, the Reds probably have the deepest rotation in baseball, with 6 proven big league starters in Edinson Volquez, Bronson Arroyo, Travis Wood, Johnny Cueto, Homer Bailey, and Mike Leake. Oh, and by the way, they also have one of the best lineups in all of baseball.
2. Milwaukee Brewers – Yes, they can hit. Yes, the top three in their rotation are very, very good. But they still have one of the worst bullpens in baseball, and that is why I don’t think they are good enough to be a playoff team.
3. St. Louis Cardinals – I don’t think the Cards would have won with Wainwright, but without him, they don’t have much of a chance. Their lineup has a total of two good hitters, and their rotation without Wainwright isn’t very good.
4. Chicago Cubs – Come on, it’s the Cubs. They’re old. They underperform. They’re hotheads. And they lose. The rotation could be good, but it won’t be. The offense could be good, but it won’t be. That’s the way the Cubs work, and that’s the way it will go in 2011.
5. Houston Astros – The Astros are terrible. It’s a good thing they have a good farm system. Oh, wait, they don’t have that either. It’s a good thing they’re in a good ownership situation. Oh, wait, that’s wrong. Well, there’s always 20 years from now, Houston.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates – The team slogan for the year for the Pirates is: ‘Pride. Passion. Pittsburgh Pirates.’ There is nothing for this team to be proud about, as their #1 starter had a 5.31 ERA last year, and they don’t hit the ball well.
NL West:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers – I really like this Dodgers team. They have a deep rotation like the Reds, but unlike the Reds, they have an ace. They have six starting pitchers who have proven they can pitch well in the majors in Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Ted Lilly, Hiroki Kuroda, Jon Garland, and Vicente Padilla. And while they won’t score too many runs, they’re offense is good enough to win ballgames.
2. San Francisco Giants – The Giants still have a great rotation, but I think that their hitting will be even worse than last year, and I just don’t see them going back to the playoffs, as while their rotation is very good, it’s not all that deep, and an injury would be terrible for this team.
3. Colorado Rockies – This Rockies team will hit the ball, but I think that they will get hit hard as well. After Ubaldo Jimenez, I’m not a big fan of their rotation, and I just don’t think that they are good enough to be ahead of either the Dodgers or the Giants.
4. San Diego Padres – I said this last year and it was wrong, so maybe it will be wrong this year, too, but the Padres have a bad team. They have okay pitching, and they will struggle to score runs offensively.
5. Arizona Diamondbacks – Every time I see their roster, I am surprised at how bad it is. Aside from Justin Upton and Chris Young, they don’t hit well, and there is not one pitcher in their rotation that you can count on to be good this year. This team has last place written all over it.
NL MVP: Ryan Braun, MIL
Runner-up: Jay Bruce, CIN
NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay, PHI
Runner-up: Cliff Lee, PHI
NL Rookie of the Year: Freddie Freeman, ATL
Runner-up: Brandon Belt, SF
ALDS:
Boston Red Sox over Minnesota Twins
Texas Rangers over New York Yankees
NLDS:
Philadelphia Phillies over Los Angeles Dodgers
Cincinnati Reds over Atlanta Braves
ALCS:
Boston Red Sox over Texas Rangers
NLCS:
Philadelphia Phillies over Cincinnati Reds
World Series:
Philadelphia Phillies over Boston Red Sox
Come back next week for a brief interview with Elvis Andrus
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