FanPost

MY MLB REVIEW 2 MONTHS

2 MONTH REVIEW

May 28, 2010

I won’t lie; I haven’t followed baseball as close as I usually do. It is kind of disappointing to me that my love for what was once my favorite sport has disappeared. Lately I’ve struggled to watch games on television and then throw in being stationed in Newport, Rhode Island I can’t go to any games. This lack of love though ain’t really new. A lot of my love disappeared last year when my former favorite player, Alex “A-roid” Rodriguez, came out of the steroid closet and then was topped off by the Yankees winning the world. That’s a different story though and has nothing to do with this year so who cares.

You’re probably wondering though; why I posted you in this note/blog? Shit you’re probably wondering why is there a blog up anyways? A few days ago I decided a way to make baseball more interesting again. I’m going to start blogging every so often on the season. I hope it doesn’t bother you me tagging you in the article. I just figured you’d love to talk MLB to. If you want untagged just inform me and I won’t tag you in the next one.

Now to say it has been an interesting first 2 months would defiantly be an understatement. A lot of trade rumors have started and grumbling threw out the league. Teams are slowly starting to come around after slow starts while other “contenders” have proved to just be “April pretenders”. There have been many “surprises” and “disappointments” with players and teams also. To start off we’ll go with the top 5 surprise teams/players...

TEAMS

5) Washington Nationals (24-23/ 3 GB PHI)- I understand it is really a great deal that a team is barely over .500 but come on it’s the Nats! This month we should be seeing Stephen Strasburg and then they’ll add Bryce Harper in the draft possibly. The future ain’t looking to bad in Washington if the system does it right.

4) Pittsburgh Pirates (20-27/7 GB CIN) - Did you think they would not be sitting in the basement of the NL Central. That alone lets them make this list!

3) Tampa Bay Rays (32-15)- Despite being swept at home in the last week of May by the rival Red Sox; Tampa Bay holds onto the best record in baseball along with a 3.5 game lead in the East. Pitching has been the key for TB as they lead the AL in all the major categories.

2) Cincinnati Reds (27-20) - I remember about 5 years ago hearing, “relax and be patient Cincinnati fans! The Reds are building something great come 2010.” Yet when you looked at this team at the beginning of spring training and all through April it didn’t look like it. They just looked like the same old Reds and fans already started counting the days till football season. Then the month of May hit and things started to click. Fast forward to June 1st and look who is sitting on top of the NL Central. Yes it’s only a few games lead but still no one saw this coming. The Reds have done all the little things right and are playing fundamental baseball on the offensive side plus getting great starting pitching night in and night out. Cincinnati also doing something they haven’t done in the past; beating teams they’re post to beat. The only question mark in the month was Cincy bullpen. Despite being second in the MLB with 15 saves no lead seems safe after Nick Masset and Francisco Cordero blew a six run lead in Atlanta. If they can get that figured out though expect the Reds to be serious contenders all year.

1) San Diego Padres (28-18) - As much as my heart wanted to give the Reds the number one spot; this team had to get it. The questions going around the Padres spring training camp was, how long until Adrian Gonzalez and Heath Bell are traded? Will they be able to ship Jon Garland and Chris Young at some point also? Not one person before the season was asking themselves; how can San Diego win the west? Yet after 50 games it is the top question asked. No one is currently asking about trades anymore. Questions now are when will Chris Young be back and can San Diego actually win the west? It is way too early to tell but it sure looks like they’ll be around for the long haul. Only time will tell I guess but with Adrian Gonzalez and Chase Headley hitting like they are watch out!

PLAYERS

5) Mike Leake- If I were to tell you he was the best pitcher on the Reds staff threw 2 months you’d figure that the Reds weren’t even close to first. When I first heard he made the 25 man roster I thought oh shit another Ryan Wagner experiment. Thankfully this one has turned out a lot better than that one.

4) Jose Bautisa- Quick tell me what position he plays? Yeah that’s what I thought! Yes it's only 2 months in but he is leading MLB with 15 HR.

3) Barry Zito- The curveball is back and hitters aren’t able to hit him yet again. Zito has been the most consistent starting pitcher on the Giants staff. Things go as expected though Barry will think he’s back in Oakland with the “Big Three”.

2) Vlad Guerrero- Currently hitting .339 (5th in MLB) with 12 HR (5th in MLB) and 42 RBI (1st in MLB) which makes him the potential "triple crown" winner. You think the Angels miss that bat? To make matters worse for LAA they’re looking up at Vlad and the Rangers.

1) Ubaldo Jimenez- Many people knew who he was and knew he was the ace of the Rockies staff. Yet no one saw these numbers coming from Ubaldo. In 71.3 innings pitched, Ubaldo has only allowed 42 hits, walked 24, struck out 61, and currently leading all of the MLB in wins with 9 and ERA of .88! He is easily the Cy Young winner this year so far.

ALMOST MADE THE LIST: Stephen Strasburg (I know he hasn’t played in the MLB yet but seriously did you think you’d be seeing him already this month), Scott Rolen (the trade doesn’t look to bad now. Also leading the Reds in HR w/ 11(had that many combined last 2 years) and leading the team by example), Andrew Jackson (AL ROY so far; set record for most hits for a rookie in first 2 months), Jose Guillen (looking like all star form of a few years back), Oakland A’s (currently sitting in 2nd and showing strength of young talent), Carlos Silva (currently only thing going right in CHI rotation)

Now onto the top 5 disappointing teams/players…

TEAMS

5) Milwaukee Brewers (18-28/8.5 GB CIN) - Should of listened to Ryan Braun when he said they need starting pitching bad! Now in the predicament do they spend money on first baseman Prince Fielder or do they trade him knowing that it’s not in the “systems” style.

4) San Francisco Giants (23-22/4.5 GB SD) - Don’t have to say much here besides they’re lucky they are in the division they are. How they’re only 1 game above .500 with the staff they have is beyond me.

3) Chicago Cubs (22-25/5 GB CIN) - One of the top payrolls in baseball and best coaches in MLB history yet it seems like time has finally run out in Chicago. The age is showing and maybe it’s time to start the “youth” movement for the loveable losers.

2) Chicago White Sox (20-26/6 GB MN) - A mix and match of the two teams above. Have an excellent pitching staff on paper, along with a great lineup, and hall of fame coach yet can’t seem to figure it out.

1) Seattle Mariners (18-28/7.5 GB TX) - King Felix and Cliff Lee was supposed to give them a top 5 1-2 punch. Then the addition of Milton Bradley and the outstanding gloves in the field were supposed to make them contenders in the West. . Instead Milton Bradley has been nothing but a problem. The team was split by two players saying plus “The Kid” was sleeping in the locker room when he should have been pitch hitting. To top it all off Cliff Lee wasn’t healthy enough to pitch till mid May and his agent already stated he won’t be resigning in Seattle this offseason. As of a result they’re in the basement of the west with the third worst record in the AL.

PLAYERS

5) Trevor Hoffman- 5 blown saves, 3 loses and an ERA above 10! You've got to wonder if it’s time for the career saves leader to hang it up.

4) Mark Teixeira- after helping the NYY win a world series Marks struggled to stay above .200 (currently at .216)

3) CHIC SP- Former all star and supposed number one Carlos Zambrano is now in the pen. If you take away Carlos Silva 6 wins, the rotation has only totaled up only 10 wins with 18 loses and a ERA just above 4. Again can I state Carlos Silva is currently there number one with 6-0 record and 3.52 ERA in 9 games.

2) Josh Beckett- expected to be the ace of the staff after signing his new contract, instead been a huge disappointment that has Boston fans questioning the signing. Currently on the 15 day DL with problems. In 8 games this year Josh is 1-1 with an ERA above 7 and opponents batting average of .305.

1) Chone Figgins- was supposed to be the perfect number 2 hitter to put behind Ichiro. Unfortunately Chone is batting .194 while striking out 45 times. He also only has 9 extra base hits and has been caught stealing 3 times. In order for SEA to catch TX and move from the #1 spot for most disappointing teams Chone will need to start hitting.

ALMOST MADE THE LIST: Boston Red Sox (turned it on the last week in May to avoid being #1), Houston Astros (worst record in baseball & refusing to trade longtime Astros Roy Oswalt), St. Louis Cardinals (should run away with the central yet looking up at the Reds), Aramis Ramirez (injury big hits again average below .200), Alex Gordon (remember the comparison to George Brett? Don’t think Brett ever was sent to AAA.), Edison Volquez (steroid bust), & Gordon Beckham (somphmore slump)

I know there still a long way to go and anything can happen in America’s pastime. Should defiantly be an interesting month of June and maybe some things will start shaping out. Hope you enjoyed the read and will read next month’s blog to. Defiantly love to hear your opinion on what I think and so forth. I’ll leave you with the 2 months in awards…

CY YOUNG: Ubaldo Jimenez and David Price

MVP: Andre Ethier and Vlad Guerrero

ROY: Mike Leake and Austin Jackson

COMEBACK: Barry Zito and Vlad Guerrero

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of MLBDD's writers or editors.

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