All Stars of the Week, #3

Since I'm running a weekly mention of Goats o' the Week, I should give credit where credit is due. Here are Baseball's All Stars o' the Week!

Making this week's list are several lesser-known players that jumped out, along with a team that started the season 0-7 but have since climbed back to respectability.

Weekly All Stars are for the week Monday-Sunday, Goats are for Sunday-Saturday.

C: Kurt Suzuki
1B: Kendry Morales
2B: Kelly Johnson
3B: Mark Reynolds
SS: Ryan Theriot
OF: Ryan Braun
OF: Marlon Byrd
OF: Colby Rasmus
Util: Adrian Gonzalez
SP: Roy Halladay
SP: Phil Hughes
SP: Barry Zito
RP: Tyler Clippard
Team: Houston Astros (5-1)

Baseball's Goats of the Week, #3

Baseball is a long season. Not every day is a good one.

You can see the great plays and the highlights on the news. For your entertainment I've pored the box scores for each game each day to find those ones that make you laugh. Each week I'll report on those players that would have done better to stay home for a day. This week we had a day with no goats but the next day made up for it with a whole team qualifying. There were many guys deserving from other games that day, but when a team loses 20-0, what else is there to do?

-Apr 18, Gavin Floyd (CHW): 1 IP, 7 ER
-Apr 19, John Lackey (BOS): 3.1 IP, 8 ER
-Apr 20, Tim Wakefield (BOS): 6 IP, 6 ER, allowed 9 SB
-Apr 22, Pittsburgh Pirates (PIT): lost game 20-0
-Apr 23, Nate LcLouth (ATL): 0-5, 4K
-Apr 24, Wilson Nieves (NYM): 0-6, K

Week 3: Rick Ankiel (KC): 1-17, 9 K

Team: Pittsburgh Pirates (1-5, outscored in the home series vs. the Brewers 36-1)

(legend: IP = innings pitched, ER = earned runs allowed, SB = stolen bases, K = strikeouts)

All Stars of the Week, #2

Since I'm running a weekly mention of Goats o' the Week, I should give credit where credit is due. Here are Baseball's All Stars o' the Week!

Weekly All Stars are for the week Monday-Sunday, Goats are for Sunday-Saturday.

C: Ivan Rodriguez
1B: Carlos Pena
2B: Chase Utley
3B: Ty Wigginton
SS: Derek Jeter
OF: Matt Kemp
OF: Jose Guillen
OF: Shin-Soo Choo
Bench: Dan Uggla
SP: Ubaldo Jimenez
SP: Livan Hernandez
SP: Adam Wainwright
RP: Jonathan Broxton

Team: Tampa Bay (6-0 on road)

Baseball's Goats of the Week, #2

Baseball is a long season. Not every day is a good one.

You can see the great plays and the highlights on the news. For your entertainment I've scoured the box scores for each game each day to find those ones that make you laugh. Each week I'll report on those players that would have done better to stay home for a day. And we've already had our first repeat player.

-Apr 11, Daniel McCutchen (PIT): 3.1 IP, 9 ER
-Apr 12, Jo-Jo Reyes (ATL): 3.1 IP, 9 ER plus 2 inherited runners allowed to score, 10 H, 3 BB
-Apr 13, Justin Upton (ARI): 0-5, 3K, GIDP
-Apr 14, Johnny Peralta (CLE): 0-4, 8 LOB, error
-Apr 15, Lyle Overbay (TOR): 0-5, 4 K, 6 LOB
-Apr 16, Jason Hammel (COL): 1.2 IP, 7ER
-Apr 17, Jason Bay (NYM): 0-7, 4K

Week 2: Mark Teixeira (NYY): 1-20, 9 K

Team: Baltimore Orioles (0-7)

legend: K = strikeouts, LOB = runners left on base, IP = innings pitched, ER = earned runs allowed, GIDP = grounded into double play, BB = walk

NBA Playoffs Prediction

EAST
The East is a two horse race, no doubt about it.
1. Cavaliers: Best player, best team. A Shaq to defend Dwight Howard could be the difference this season from last.
2. Magic: Most 3-pointers in history, and Dwight Howard led the NBA in field goal percentage (along with blocks and rebounds); that's a good combination. Vince Carter has never been a winner before.
3. Hawks: One of the most exciting teams with lots of scorers.
4. Celtics: 27-27 the last 54 games. They play with no energy.
5. Heat: Wade has won before. No Shaq now.
6. Bucks: They are fighting without Bogut but they don't have enough.
7. Bobcats: Congrats on making it this far.
8. Bulls: Rose and Noah = Robin Hood and Little John.

Cavs over Bulls in 4
Magic over Bobcats in 6
Hawks over Bucks in 5
Heat over Celtics in 6

Cavs over Heat in 4
Magic over Hawks in 7

Cavs over Magic in 7

WEST
1. Lakers: They are the champs and they've been the favorite from the beginning to repeat. They are not as deep as they have been in years past.
2. Mavericks: This is probably the best Mavs team ever. From Dirk to Beaubois, everyone can score. The midseason trades boosted the defense, too.
3. Suns: Hottest in the NBA.
4. Nuggets: Lots of leaders but George Karl is the team's most important.
5. Jazz: That 3 seed would have been so nice. Kirlenko is hurt so the defense (also without traded Ronnie Brewer) is weak. Offense still runs like a well-oiled machine.
6. Blazers: They've been doing it all year without important pieces, playoff time without Roy will be tough.
7. Spurs: They've been here before, but they are all a bit older now.
8. Thunder: Welcome to the big show, Kevn Durant.

Lakers in 6
Mavs in 6
Suns in 4
Jazz in 6

Lakers in 5
Mavs in 7

Mavs in 7

NBA FINALS
Mavericks over Cavaliers in 6

All Stars of the Week, #1

Okay, since I'm starting a weekly mention of Goats o' the Week, I should give credit where credit is due. Here are Baseball's All Stars o' the Week!

C: Joe Mauer
1B: Albert Pujols
2B: Dustin Pedroia
3B: Placido Polonco
SS: Alex Gonzalez
OF: Matt Holliday
OF: Nelson Cruz
OF: Vernon Wells
Bench: Miguel Cabrera
SP: Roy Halladay
SP: Tim Lincecum
SP: Jorge De La Rosa
RP: Tyler Clippard

Team: New York Yankees

Baseball's Goats of the Week, #1

Baseball is a long season. Not every day is a good one.

Each week I'll report on those players that would have done better to stay home for a day. If you see a name repeating on here, well, I hope he's not on your fantasy baseball team.

-Apr 4, Jacoby Ellsbury (BOS): 0-5, 2 K, 5 LOB
-Apr 5, Carlos Zambrano (CHC): 1.1 IP, 8 ER
-Apr 6, Aaron Rowand (SF): 0-5 (0-10 on the season)
-Apr 7, Josh Hamilton (TEX): 0-4, 4 K
-Apr 8, Albert Callaspo (KC): 0-4, 2 grounded into double plays, K, 8 LOB
-Apr 9, Johnny Peralta (CLE): 0-3, error allowing 3 runs to score to lose the game
-Apr 10, Randy Choate (TB): 0.2 IP, 4 ER

Week 1: Milton Bradley (SEA): 1-21, 9 K, 1 CS

Team: Houston Astros (0-6)

legend: K = strikeouts, LOB = runners left on base, IP = innings pitched, ER = earned runs allowed, CS = caught stealing

two people who need to shut up

1. On Monday, Mark Attanasio, the owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, whined to the USA Today, newspaper “We're struggling to sign (Prince Fielder), and the Yankees infield is making more than our team.” Ahh, what a sad tale.

The response by the Yankees’ president seems appropriate. “I’m sorry that my friend Mark continues to whine about his running the Brewers. We play by all the rules and there doesn’t seem to be any complaints when teams such as the Brewers receive hundreds of millions of dollars that they get from us in revenue sharing the last few years. Take some of that money that you get from us and use that to sign your players. The question that should be asked is: Where has the hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue sharing gone?”

First off, does Attanasio think Prince Fielder is headed to New York? They already have this guy Mark Teixeira locked up for a while at first base. Second, the Twins and Rays have been successful, the Marlins have won two championships recently, and we’ve had 8 different champions the last 9 seasons. It takes more than just spending money to win a championship (look at the Mets and Cubs). Next, who exactly is he trying to draw sympathy from? In any other business do you hear the head of a company whine that because other companies are spending more money he can’t be successful? Grow up! You own a baseball team! You are receiving luxury tax money, what are you using it for? The Yankees are doing nothing wrong. They are spending more money than any other team. Why is that a problem? They haven’t gone bankrupt yet so it seems to be working (hint hint to Mr. Attanasio). Like anything in life, you usually get what you pay for. Meanwhile, the Pirates have a team payroll of $35 million and that thrifty budget has produced 17 consecutive losing seasons. Seems like penny-pinching isn't very effective. Finally, why is Prince Fielder struggling to sign with the Brewers? Why won’t Adrian Gonzalez sign an extension with the Padres? Why don’t NFL players want to play for the Browns? Why didn’t Donovan McNabb want to sign with the Raiders? Why doesn’t Coach Mike Krzyzewski want to leave Duke to coach the NBA Nets? Crappy organizations aren’t very attractive. It’s not the Yankees fault that nobody wants to play for the Brewers the rest of their career.

This is also coming from the same team that is paying Jeff Suppan $12.5 million this year, a guy who is on the DL already after hurting his neck sleeping with a rolled-up towel for a pillow.

I just love how no matter the problem or the cause, let’s all blame it on the Yankees.

2. And speaking of the Yankees, league umpire Joe West did some whining of his own, complaining that the Red Sox and Yankees play too slow.

"They're two of the best teams in baseball. Why are they playing the slowest? It's pathetic and embarrassing. They take too long to play." "This is embarrassing, a disgrace to baseball."

a) I find it a little ironic coming from an umpire, considering the whole world witnessed a pathetic, disgraceful and embarrassing performance by the umpire crews recently, making about a dozen bad calls in the playofs and starting this season off where they left off. There is a reason why the issue of instant replay has been such a hot topic: the umpires make too many bad calls.

b) How much extra time does it take when a manager like Lou Piniella has to come out to argue after the umps missed Nate McLouth drop the ball? Or for the ump to throw out Bobby Cox after the ump messed up a batter hitting the catcher during his throw to second that cost the game?

c) In the words of an unnamed Yankee, "What would happen if we called their crew pathetic and embarrassing?" one Yankee said. "We would get fined, big-time." Joe Girardi: "We're not going to ask our hitters to change their approach to speed the game up," Joe Girardi said. "We're not going to do it. We're trying to win games, not trying to see how quick we can play." And from Derek Jeter: If it's 20 minutes shorter, it's not pathetic or embarrassing? At what point is it not embarrassing? You'd have to ask him. If you go over 3:12, it's embarrassing?"

d) I'll be honest: I don't mind long baseball games, especially Bombers vs. Sox. They are dramatic, exciting, intense, strategic, important.

e) Yankees and Red Sox games on TV get the best ratings. This week the Yankees were on ESPN, FOX, and TBS, along with YES. Every other team raises their ticket prices when they come to town. The fans don't seem to mind.

f) West is expressing a bias, uncalled for by a league umpire.

g) How much pressure are the players in? What will be the headlines on the nation's biggest newspapers if they play poorly?

h) Like West said, these are the best teams in baseball. If he doesn't like calling their games then he can go call Pirates vs. Reds and stay home for the playoffs and World Series.

i) Baseball is the only major sport that doesn't involve an official timer. So why is it the only sport that is making the biggest deal over the use of time?

Why I Love Opening Day

My Top Ten highlights for the day

1. Jayson Heyward. The hype is for real: 3-run homer in his first major league at bat.

2. Aces on the table. Roy Halladay, Tim Lincecum, Johan Santana, Mark Buehrle, Ubaldo Jimenez, Zach Greinke, and Dan Haren show that pitching is king as they combine for an ERA of 0.98 over 46 innings pitched.

3. Albert Pujols. 4 for 4, 2 home runs. Here comes another MVP year.

4. Yankees vs. Red Sox. What a way to start the season. Another exciting game from start to finish.

5. Walk off win. Jared Saltalamacchia base hit with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth wins it for the Rangers.

6. Mark Buehrle. Check this out

7. Inside the park home run. Stephen Drew runs around the bases.

8. Same faces bring big smiles to new places: Hideki Matsui, Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco, Marlon Byrd, and Mark DeRosa all homer in their first game with their new team. Roy Halladay wins his first start for Philadelphia.

9. Pirates. In first place.

10. Baseball is here.

Expectations, 2010 edition

Spring is the most wonderful time of the year. It doesn't matter where you live and what team you root for, optimism flows freely.

So the dream of every team is to win the World Series, right? And that means that the season was a failure and utter disappointment for the other 29 teams who don't?

Let's be realistic. There is no parity in baseball. Teams and owners have different resources, different markets, different opportunities, and different goals. Along with that, teams are at different stages, such as the rebuilding Blue Jays versus the always competitive Red Sox. The season can still be a success for many teams.

Here are realistic goals that can produce a successful season for each team, ranked in order of prestige. In October/November, look back on these benchmarks to get a realistic picture on the success or failure of your team. I would also like to point out that it is possible for teams to surpass these expectations, like the Braves or Rockies winning the World Series, as some sports writers are picking.

WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP
Phillies, Cardinals, Cubs, Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, Angels

WORLD SERIES APPEARANCE
Dodgers, Rockies, Braves, Mets, Giants

WIN A PLAYOFF SERIES
Marlins, Diamondbacks, Twins, Tigers, White Sox, Mariners

MAKE THE PLAYOFFS
Brewers, Astros, Reds, Rangers, Athletics

82 WINS (.500+)
Pirates, Royals, Orioles

75 WINS (RESPECTABILITY)
Nationals, Padres, Blue Jays, Indians

To summarize, 23 teams could consider this season successful by getting to the World Series, even if they don't win it.

Total Baseball Preview, 2010

Welcome to my baseball season guide. You will find (in reverse order):
-division-by-division preview
-team success monitor
-standings predictions
-postseason picks
-awards
-all star predictions


There will be some great division races. The Angels and Rangers play 7 times the last two weeks. Rockies and Dodgers have a series the last week. The White Sox play 21 September games against the Red Sox, Tigers, Angels, and Twins. The Braves have 9 games the last two weeks against the Phillies and Marlins. Red Sox and Yankees meet 6 times in the last ten days.

I didn't add up all the w/l numbers to see if they equate but it's a good general idea.

AL EAST
Yankees 104-58
Red Sox 94-68
Rays 91-71
Orioles 76-86
Blue Jays 68-94

AL CENTRAL
Tigers 87-75
White Sox 85-77
Twins 85-77
Royals 68-94
Indians 64-98

AL WEST
Angels 92-70
Rangers 90-72
Mariners 87-75
Athletics 75-87
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

NL EAST
Phillies 96-66
Marlins 88-74
Braves 86-76
Nationals 72-90
Mets 69-93

NL CENTRAL
Cardinals 89-72
Astros 84-78
Brewers 83-79
Reds 79-83
Cubs 78-84
Pirates 59-103

NL WEST
Rockies 92-70
Dodgers 89-73
Diamondbacks 87-75
Giants 85-77
Padres 58-104

PLAYOFFS
Yankees over Tigers
Red Sox over Angels
Yankees over Red Sox

Phillies over Dodgers
Rockies over Cardinals
Phillies over Rockies

WORLD SERIES
Yankees over Phillies (again)

AWARDS (runner-up/consolation pick)
World Series MVP: Alex Rodriguez

AL MVP: Mark Teixeira (Evan Longoria)
NL MVP: Albert Pujols (Troy Tulowitzki)
AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez (CC Sabathia)
NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay (Dan Haren)
AL Rookie: Neftali Feliz (Brian Matusz)
NL Rookie: Jayson Heyward (Aroldis Chapman)
AL Manager: Mike Scoscia
NL Manager: Jim Tracy


AL Leaders
Home Runs: Alex Rodriguez (45)
Batting: Joe Mauer (.350)
RBI: Mark Teixeira (130)
Wins: John Beckett (20)
ERA: Felix Hernandez (2.30)
Strikeouts: Zach Greinke (265)
Saves: Mariano Rivera (45)

NL Leaders
Home Runs: Albert Pujols (49)
Batting: Ryan Braun (.343)
RBI: Prince Fielder (136)
Wins: Roy Halladay (23)
ERA: Dan Haren (2.20)
Strikeouts: Tim Lincecum (270)
Saves: Jonathan Broxton (45)

Preseason All Star Predictions
AL
C: Joe Mauer, Victor Martinez
1B: Mark Teixeira, Kevin Youkilis
2B: Robinson Cano, Ian Kinsler
3B: Alex Rodriguez, Evan Longoria
SS: Derek Jeter, Ben Zobrist
OF: Ichiro, Adam Lind, Carl Crawford, Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton
SP: Felix Hernandez, CC Sabathia, Justin Verlander, Zach Greinke

NL
C: Brian McCann, Miguel Montero
1B: Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder
2B: Chase Utley, Rickie Weeks
3B: Ryan Zimmeran, David Wright
SS: Troy Tulowitzki, Hanley Ramirez
OF: Ryan Braun, Matt Holliday, Justin Upton, Matt Kemp, Jayson Werth
SP: Roy Halladay, Tim Lincecum, Josh Johnson, Dan Haren

Baseball Preview, #6

The National League West was the only division with three teams that won at least 88 games. Teams in the division have done pretty well in the playoffs recently, as they have won 5 postseason series in the last 3 years. This season the NL West has four teams that could all make a legitimate charge at the division title.

NL WEST
Dodgers
The Dodgers have made it to the NLCS two years in a row where they've been beaten by the Phillies both times. Despite concerns about their starting rotation they had the best team ERA in all of baseball, and the offense led the NL in batting average and on-base percentage. That's a good combination. The team is led by rising stars Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw, celebrity slugger Manny Ramirez, and hefty closer Jonathan Broxton. Los Angeles has had the most distracting offseason of any club as the team owner is going through a messy divorce; as a result, the Dodgers added no key players and did not improve anywhere. Vicente Padilla is their Opening Day starter (not someone I would skip school to go see pitch) and none of their pitchers has set themself apart as a true ace. You have to wonder whether Rafael Furcal, Manny, Russell Martin and Casey Blake can be healthy and productive. Still, they do have a pretty good rotation with Kershaw, Billingsley, Padilla and Kuroda, and their nucleus of outfielders should still improve from last year. But the Dodgers seem to just be floating along.

Rockies
When Jim Tracy stepped in as head coach the Rockies turned around and became one of the better teams in the NL, coming all the way back to win the Wild Card. Long known as hitter's paradise and pitcher's nightmare, the Rockies have suddenly built a solid 1-5 rotation, including Jeff Francis who missed all of last year recovering from surgery. Troy Tulowitzki, who had a miserable 2008, is a real candidate for breakout player and MVP. While Todd Helton has lost his power stroke he still stays on the hitting leaderboard, eclipsing .320 average for the 9th time. The top of the order has blooming hitters Carlos Gonzalez and Dexter Fowler. This team has a lot of strengths and no real weaknesses or question marks.

Giants
Tim Lincecum, have you heard of him? Matt Cain is pretty solid, too. Pablo Sandoval had a nice breakout season a year ago. That's about where it ends for the Giants. They have the weakest lineup of any contender. To address the need the best they could do was add Mark DeRosa and Aubrey Huff, but those two are borderline starters anywhere else and don't improve the lineup here very much. The bullpen is also weak. Tim the Freak is awesome and fun to watch but I don't see the Giants doing any better than a year ago when they got third in the West.

Diamondbacks
Things were looking good in the southwest until Brandon Webb stopped progressing. They made some moves to their rotation, bringing in Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy but without Scherzer (traded to Detroit) and Webb they are a bit shorthanded. Much of the optimism for the season sits with the #1 draft pick from a few years ago, Justin Upton, who displayed abilities to hit for power, average, and speed. Mark Reynolds also made a huge leap in power and speed (and strikeouts). Adam LaRoche is now on his 4th team in two seasons, and he also has some long-ball abilities. Catcher Miguel Montero had a breakout year and could make his first All Star team. Add a return to form by Stephen Drew and you have a pretty nice lineup. That's great news for ace Dan Haren, who had a great season a year ago but couldn't get any run support. If Brandon Webb gets healthy quick and Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy perform (jumping from AL to NL has that effect), then the Diamondbacks could be one of the most improved teams in the National League.

Padres
The only challenging the Padres should do is with the Pirates for the basement of the league. Adrian Gonzalez is surrounded by zero talent and will likely be gone before the trade deadline. The starting rotation is similarly thin, but with the possibility that Chris Young can return to the dominance he once showed before injuries hit (literally). In a very talented NL West, the Padres will be out of the playoff race by mid-May. Enjoy the beach.

Season Forecast
Rockies 92-70
Dodgers 89-73
Diamondbacks 87-75
Giants 85-77
Padres 58-104

MVP: Troy Tulowitzki
Best Pitcher: Tim Lincecum
Breakout Player: Carlos Gonzalez