Mid-Season Awards

The half way point of the 2014 MLB season is coming up so I thought it would be a perfect time to do midseason awards. There have been some pleasant surprises this season and for Rays and Red Sox fans maybe not so pleasant surprises. With that being said lets get into my midseason picks. These are the players I feel would win the award if the season ended today.

NL MVP – Giancarlo Stanton

This guy has crazy power and has shown it this season. He is striking out at a high rate but he is also being productive, currently hitting over .300. The reason I think Stanton edges out Tulo for this award is because the Marlins are still in contention. They sit just 2.5 games out of the division where the Rockies are 11 games back.

AL MVP – Edwin Encarnacion

His batting average is a little low but he leads the bigs in home runs and RBI. What is more valuable than driving in runs? The Blue Jays are playing great baseball right now and it all starts with EE.

NL Cy Young -  Johnny Cueto

Cueto has been ridiculous this season posting an ERA under 2.00 and a WHIP under 1.00. This might be the best race for the rest of the season with Kershaw throwing so well now but because we are saying the season ends today, Cueto wins.

AL Cy Young – Scott Kazmir

Its so nice to see Kazmir finally healthy and throwing like the player he was once thought to be. King Felix and rookie Masahiro Tanaka are two other pitchers that anyone could make a case for to win this award but Kazmir edges them both out in ERA and WHIP while posting a great 9-2 record.

NL Rookie of the Year – Billy Hamilton

There really wasn’t much to pick from when it came to making this decision. Billy Hamilton has done a decent job in his first full season in the big leagues. He has also hit much better recently and has racked up 31 stolen bases. Polanco has had a great start but he has only played 13 games so you really can’t give him an award with that small of a sample size.

AL Rookie of the Year – Masahiro Tanaka

The American League is the complete opposite of the National League. There are plenty of rookies have great seasons to pick from. I feel Tanaka might not be the best rookie pitcher on his own team but I think because of the fact he is a starter he gets more points than teammate Dellin Betances. You could also make a case for slugger Jose Abreu and no one would think you were crazy.



Zachary Hoffmann - Shaping the minds of America's youth while waiting for an owner to call and offer him a GM job. Don't forget to follow on Twitter @zhoffmann1 @LTRBaseball

Blue Jays Will Win The AL East

Coming into the season I picked the Tampa Bay Rays to take the AL East crown. Well I couldn't be more wrong thus far. They are in dead last and have worst the record in the AL which is actually shocking to everyone. Time to jump on the Blue Jays Bandwagon and don't worry their is plenty of room left.

Yeah the Jays are up 4.5 games, so it might not be that bold but no one is talking about this team. They have the best 3-4 punch in the league right now with Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista. They have a combined 34 HR and 91 RBI going into Wednesdays game. They have been one of the hottest teams in the league and have won 8 out of the last 10 and have started to pull away in the AL East. They can score runs that is no question. The pitching has been the problem in recent years. They are starting to finally get some pitching led my Mark Buerhle who leads the league with 10 wins.

The rest of the division is not as dominate as it used to be. They Rays are done, I think that is safe to say. The Red Sox do not look like the same team they were last year, even though they just won 7 in a row after losing 10 in a row. They are currently 7.5 back of the Jays. Then you have the New York Yankees who we all know went out and spent a boat load of money this offseason. It hasn't really come together for them either. The rotation is actually pathetic besides Tanaka who has been dominant. OH, and they don't have Robinson Cano and Mariano Rivera anymore. Those two are not easy to replace. Yankee fans are starting to learn what life is like without a shutdown closer. They have too many injuries and holes in order to win this division.

The biggest competition the Jays have are the Orioles. Led by Nelson Cruz who has an absurd 21 home runs so far this season. They have a loaded lineup similar to Toronto but it has underperformed this season. Chris Davis who had a monster season last year, is now batting .230 and only has 7 HR after hitting 53 last year. The  rotation for the O's hasn't been great either. They do not have on starter that has an ERA on under 4. Ubaldo Jimenez has been an utter disappointment this season. He has an ERA of 4.39 and a WHIP of 1.48.

This division is not what it used to be, it is sitting right in the hands of the Jays. I believe that this is their year to take the crown. I expect them to lead this division the rest of the way.

Mets Hitting Rock Bottom

After Monday's 5-3 to the Pittsburgh Pirates, there was some immediate moves made after the game. Hitting Coach Dave Hudgens was fired and is being replace by Lamar Johnson. This coming after the Mets once again struggled to hit with runners on. The Mets also released Jose Valverde who let up 4 runs and took the loss on Monday. The Mets called up Vic Black to take his roster spot.

All these moves say to me is, the Mets are an absolute mess once again. Is Dave Hudgens the reason why the Mets have struggled at the dish? No it isn't, it comes down to the players who go out there and perform. The bigger picture is Sandy Alderson and the lack of success he has had in the off-season since taking over as GM.

Lets start with this past off-season. The Mets had extremely high strikeout rates last year at the plate. Alderson then went out this offseason, and got not one, but two players who will strikeout 180+ times. It is just baffling to think about. Alderson who is supposed to be all about OBP and being selective did nothing, but make the team even worse in that category. It is now starting to show this month which the Mets are 7-17 in.

Can you actually put the blame on Terry Collins? Again not really, there are times where I question Collins' in game managing decisions and even his starting lineups. What is the guy supposed to do though. He has absolutely nothing to work with. There are only two guys in the lineup that you can really just pencil in everyday, that would be David Wright and Daniel Murphy.


It comes down to how the roster is constructed. Sandy I will do you a favor and tell you that the Mets fans don't care about your plan. The fans don't want to keep waiting and waiting for the team to win. A side note, don't claim you are a legit baseball team in April by sending letters to fans telling them they should come to the game. When I first read the letter, my first reaction was send me this in July. Well all it took was May for the Mets to fall on their face.

This team needs an overhaul in the lineup, and the bullpen. The young arms have really shown potential and it looks like the rotation will be a good one. It is actually a good one now, and it will only get better. When will the Mets ever have a bullpen that won't give the Mets fans the feeling " How will they blow this game?"It is an absolute joke right now. No one wants to watch Lucas Duda anymore, or Chris Young strikeout with guys on. It is time for the Mets to start making a change. David Wright ain't getting any younger and the fans aren't getting any more patient. This team has no shot of sniffing 80 wins, let alone 90 which Alderson said the team had the potential to do.

New York is the biggest baseball market in the league, The Mets currently have the 23rd highest payroll. That is an absolute joke for a team playing in this town. Why should people even go to the game let alone watch the game from their couch at home. I think everyone is tired of waiting, it is time to make moves to win now.

One Thing We Have Learned About Each Team

Arizona Diamondbacks-Our Pitching is brutal

When you get a chance just go take a look at the numbers for the Diamondback starting pitchers. The pitcher with the best ERA in the rotation currently is Josh Collmenter. If you have no idea who that guy is, I don't blame you. Collmenter has an ERA of 3.44 which is nothing to stare at. Not to mention this guy was originally in the bullpen. The next lowest ERA is 4.82 which is held by Wade Miley. Newest addition Bronson Arroyo has not been good either. Maybe Bronson should bring back the cornrows, at least he still has that leg kick.




Atlanta Braves-You can never have enough pitching

The Braves faced a ton of injuries in the rotation early on, but have managed to still have outstanding pitching. Plugging in guys like David Hale, Aaron Harang, and even now Gavin Floyd. All it takes is one pitch and all of a sudden the guy goes under the knife and he is out for a year. Pitching depth will go a long way in this league.

Baltimore Orioles-Nelson Cruz was worth the risk 

Nelson Cruz sat around a while this winter, waiting for the right team to offer him the perfect contract. That never happened because Cruz was coming off a suspension for PEDs. This made a lot of teams nervous about giving him a contract (this didn't stop the Cards to giving Peralta a boatload of money). Cruz signed late in the offseason with O's for only a one-year deal. Well all Cruz has done this season is produce. He has 10 bombs and has driven in 30 runs. It has been well worth it for the Orioles.


Boston Red Sox-We miss Jacoby 

I don't think the Red Sox realized how hard it would be to replace a guy like Jacoby Ellsbury. He was the guy who set the table for the rest of the lineup as the leadoff hitter. Sizemore has been a good story, but he is no Ellsbury. They have already sent down Nava who struggled. Jackie Bradley Jr could be a good player but it doesn't look like he is ready. Lets put it this way, the leadoff spot for the Red Sox has produced a .215 AVG and a .302 OBP. Ellsbury this season is hitting .306 with a .369 OBP, and oh yeah he is playing for the Yankees. That probably makes it worse.

Chicago Cubs-There is hope but it is going to take time 

The Cubs have been one of the worst teams thus far. One thing is for certain though they do have some young talent. Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro have really found their swing this season and looks like they could be apart of the solution. The minor leagues is also loaded with guys like Baez, Bryant and Soler. Especially Javier Baez who I think could be a star in this league. I know waiting and being a Cubs fan seems ironic, because they have been waiting for a long time. Just hang in there it will get better soon. Well it can't get much worse right?

Chicago White Sox-Jose Abreu is a franchise changing player

This is the greatest thing that has happened to the White Sox in quite sometime. Joes Abreu has been as advertised and even more. The dude just hits bombs period. He had 13 of them so far go along with 37 runs driven in. Not to mention he is slugging .610. He has been the main reason why this team has played some decent baseball so far. This guy is a must watch when he steps into the box.




Cincinnati Reds-Johnny Cueto is the Ace 

The Reds coming into the season had 5 legitimate pitchers and no one knew who the ace of the staff was.Well I think Cueto has taken over the role. He showed flashes of being that ace last year before some injuries slowed him down. This year Cueto has been one of the pitchers in the game, and someone who no one is really talking about either. His ERA is 1.43 and he is holding opposing lineups to a .138 batting average. He is very much capable of taking the Cy Young this year.

Cleveland Indians-Last year was a fluke 

This team had a magical run last season, and got great production out of some players that had no expectations. They have too many holes to actually make the playoff for the second straight season. Their lineup has been poor besides Michael Brantley who is starting to turn into a dynamic player. They also have one of the most overrated players in the league Nick Swisher who is hitting .203. It also doesn't help that Carlos Santana is hitting .148. They do not have enough fire power to make another run this season.

Colorado Rockies-They are not the same team on the road

The difference between Coors Field and the rest of the parks is very significant. The numbers between away and home show why. Their record itself shows the difference. When the Rockies are at home they are 13-5 and are hitting .355 with 33HR and 136 RBI. On the road they are 10-12 and they are hitting .258 with 24HR and 86 RBI. These stats really do show how big of an impact that ballpark does have on the game. The Rockies have played well this year, just keep an eye on them when they hit the road.

Detroit Tigers-No Fielder No Problem

There was a lot of talk about the Fielder for Kinsler swap this offseason. A lot of people thought it would affect the lineup without that protection in the lineup behind Miggy. The Tigers have not missed Fielder one bit, they have rolled this season so far. Kinsler has been great too, he is hitting .303 with 3HR and 13 RBI. It hasn't affect Miguel Cabrera at all who is starting to kick it into gear. This team will cruise into October, how far they play into October is another story.

Houston Astros-Continue to build the farm

The Astros in my eyes are far away from being a respectable ball club. They have decent young players but they are still ways away and need time to develop. They rushed Springer to the big club and he has struggled since the call up. There aren't many guys on the team, that they can look at and know they are apart of the future. The Astros need to continue to acquire young talent, and draft well if they want to turn this around.


Kansas City Royals-Mike Moustakas is not a major leaguer and Yordano Ventura is one

Well that is kind of two things we have learned about the Royals so far. Moustakas is hitting a brutal .147, but does lead the team in home runs with 4. That is a whole other issue the Royals are dealing with. Moustakas once a highly touted prospect has gotten worse and worse every year. He can not be counted on any longer to be apart of the future of the Royals.A bright spot is my boy Yordano Ventura. He has been electric this year and is going to be a stud in this league for years to come. 42.1 innings with 44 strikeouts to go along with a 2.34 ERA.



Los Angeles Angels-Albert Pujols is back 

This one was way too easy. A lot of people thought Pujols was all but done, and would never put up Pujols type numbers. Well we were all wrong about this one. He has 10 HR to go along with 26 runs driven in. When Hamilton gets back from injury, watch out for the Angels lineup. With those two along with Trout it will be a deadly lineup. Also keep your eye on rookie C.J Cron who has done nothing but rake since getting called up last week.

Los Angeles Dodgers-As long as Puig produces,you gotta live with him

Yeah sometimes Puig makes a play where he makes you scratch your head. He does sometimes play reckless and you wish he can take it down a notch, but why? The guy does go out there and plays 100% every night and just puts up numbers. He has driven 29 RBI, has 7 bombs and is hitting .319. He is also the most exciting player to watch in all of baseball. How do you not love that bat flip? When Puig isn't hitting anymore, that is when his antics will become too much.Dodgers will have to put up with the things that come with Yasiel Puig.



Miami Marlins-They have learned to hit in that big ballpark

The Marlins young lineup has really adapted to their large ballpark. They use all parts of the field and they have had a lot of success at home this year with a 17-5 record. The young guys have really produced, along with that Stanton guy. Even this stadium can't hold his tremendous power. Marlins did just take a big blow, now that Jose Fernandez will be getting Tommy John. The Marlins do have some young talent. I think question is how long until they start trading these guys?

Milwaukee Brewers- They are a contender in the NL 

The Brewers came out of the gate fast, and have been the biggest surprise so far this season. The pitching is deep from top to bottom. Francisco Rodriguez has found himself has the Brewers closer this year. They are a little beat up in the lineup right now, but when they get healthy this team can definitely give the Cards a run for their money. Watch out for the Brew Crew.




Minnesota Twins-Their pitching still sucks

The Twins went into the offseason trying to rebuild their starting rotation. Their first mistake was re-signing Mike Pelfrey. They also picked up Phil Hughes, and Ricky Nolasco in the offseason. Hughes has been ok so far, Nolasco has been awful. The Twins actually have one the leagues highest scoring offenses, but it still has amounted into not a lot of wins because of the lack of pitching. Their arms need to figure it out soon, or it could be some ugly baseball this summer.




New York Mets-They still need bullpen help

I think everyone knows this , besides the Mets themselves. Being a Met fan and watching the same shitty bullpen everyday is getting a little old. Think about this, the Mets have gotten saves from guys like Kyle Farnsworth, Jose Valverde and Dice-K. That has to be a joke right? Every since Sandy Alderson took over as GM he has done NOTHING to help improve the bullpen. This is something that needs to be addressed ASAP, but I do love having a guy named PAPA GRANDE out there though. Even though he throws 93 right down the pipe.

New York Yankees-They don't have a reliable starter (besides Tanaka)

They have had some injuries like Sabathia and Pineda. C.C before he hit the DL was getting his bell rung out on the mound. He is just not the same pitcher anymore, let alone a decent one. Kuroda is starting to show his age, so they have the likes of David Phelps and Vidal Nuno. One thing that is a bright spot is Tanaka who has been worth every penny so far. The Yanks will definitely be in the market for starting pitching come trade deadline or even sooner if they continue to lose




Oakland Athletics-Who is even on this team?

Most people have no idea who is actually on this baseball team. That usually means the team is horrible, well it is the complete opposite. This team is always in first place and they need to be taken seriously. They have no big name stars, but they have some guys who can play baseball. Their pitching staff has the lowest ERA with a 2.96. Led by Sonny Gray who has been a dominant pitcher this year. The combination of Gray, Kazmir (hurts to say that name), and Chavez (WHO?) have been deadly. The Chavez I speak of, no its not Eric Chavez. Jesse Chavez a late addition to the rotation after the A's lost 2 pitchers to Tommy John, is 3-1 with a 2.44 ERA.

Philadelphia Phillies-The "old guys" have found the fountain of youth

The trio of Rollins, Utley and Howard look like they have plenty left in the tank. Many thought they were all but done. They started to find some of their old mojo this season. Especially Chase Utley who is hitting .326. Unfortunately they don't have many other baseball players on the team and it only has resulted in a 17-19 record. Makes me think their value will never be higher than it is right now. I could definitely see Rollins and Utley on the move when the trade deadline rolls around.


Pittsburgh Pirates-They need help in the lineup

I have the solution to this problem the Pirates have here, CALL UP GREGORY POLANCO. Polanco is a top prospect who is currently in Triple-A currently and he is tearing it up down there. He is batting .361 5 HR 32 RBI and 8 SB. This guy needs to be plugged into the lineup in the big leagues. The Pirates can keep preaching patience, but when the team is 7.5 GB already in May it is time to make a move.


San Diego Padres-Andrew Cashner is a stud

Padres need to hold on to Cashner, because he is a legit ace. He has pitched well this season to a 2.86 ERA in 8 starts. The sad part about this, he has a record of 2-5, that says something about their lineup. Cashner in my mind has not even reached his full potential yet, he will continue to get better and better as he racks up innings. Keep your eye on this kid out in San Diego and plus he has the sickest beard.



San Francisco Giants-Tim Hudson and Bumgarner are the best pitchers on the staff

I don't think anyone can figure out what happened to Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum. They were once the most dominant pitchers in the game, now they are no more than a 4 or a 5 starter in the rotation. Matt Cain also hit the DL because he cut himself making a sandwich. It hasn't stop the Giants from winning though. Hudson and Bumgarner have carried the rotation this season, with ERAs under 3. At this point if they get any production out of Cain and Lincecum it is a bonus.




Seattle Mariners-They need to help out Cano 

The Mariners went out and signed Cano to a giant contract this season. It has no doubt made the team better, as they sit over .500 right now with a 20-19 record. They still need more hitting behind him if they want to take the next step. Cano has only 1 HR but has driven 22 so far and is hitting over .300. They have some decent bats like Seager and Smoak, but those guys are nothing to be afraid of. Why would you give Cano anything to hit with the rest of that lineup. Get another bat, and get your moneys worth with Cano.



St. Louis Cardinals-No timely hitting this year

Last year the Card's bread and butter was hitting with runners in scoring position. They had a .330 RISP last year which was unreal. Coming into the year obviously you can't expect numbers like that again. That number has dropped significantly this year. Their RISP this year is .233 with has led them to being 11th in NL in scoring. That is too low for a team that is expected to be World Series contenders. The hits should start to come a little bit more, but it is something to keep your eye on as the Cards sit in second place 5.5 GB.

Tampa Bay Rays-No longer have dominant pitching 

The Rays the last couple years always had young arms that would carry the team. That is no longer the case anymore. It doesn't help that Matt Moore got bit by the Tommy John bug this year, but they used to be able to replace injuries with another young arm. It has finally caught up to them. They have Erik Bedard in the rotation, that right there says it all. Even though Bedard actually has even pitched that bad. Their team ERA is 4.32 which is not Ray like. Some of the young guys like Archer and Odorizzi have really struggled this year with ERAs both over 5. With no pitching it could be a long year for the Rays.


Texas Rangers-Maybe they should of kept Kinsler 

When the Rangers first traded for Fielder, my first thought was wow that is going to be a great move for the Rangers. Well so far the Tigers look like they have made out in this deal. Fielder has really struggled this season. He is hitting .243 with only 3 HR. In that ballpark Fielder should be an auto lock for at least 35 bombs. It is still early in the season, but it looks like the Tigers got rid of Fielder at the right time especially with that large contract he is still under until 2020.


Toronto Blue Jays-They are contenders in the AL East

Coming into the season it looked like the Blue Jays would be a good, but with not much of a chance in that loaded division. Well so far this year, no one has really showed to be an elite. All the teams have huge flaws and every team can be beat. Well why not the Blue Jays this season. Jose Bautista looks like he could be an MVP candidate this year. The Jays are 20-20 in second place and a 1.5 behind the O's. They have bats up and down the lineup, and they could be even if better if they can get a healthy Jose Reyes. The staff has been lead by Mark Buehrle who has been lights out this season. He is 7-1 with a  2.04 ERA. Look out for the Blue Jays.

Washington Nationals-They need to get healthy 

You can say this about every team, but the National's lineup has been depleted with injuries. Currently Harper, Zimmerman and LaRoche are all on the DL. This team has the best rotation in baseball and the lineup can also be dynamic. The Nats are just hoping their pitching can help keep them afloat while they wait for some reinforcements. They just need to hang around the top of the division.

Ways Every Team In The NL West Can Improve

Arizona Diamondbacks -Call up Randy Wolf  and dump Trevor Cahill

The D-Backs have struggled through the first part of this season. Especially the starting, calling the rotation bad would be an understatement. Maybe something like beyond awful could describe them. Top Prospect Archie Bradley has struggled in Triple-A and is now on the DL. Randy Wolf is sitting in Triple-A right now. He hasn't really been great either. He is 4-1 with a 4.18 ERA. The 38 year-old is no stud, but you know you will get out of him. He is a girzzled Vet and will give the D-Backs quality starts and he will actually give them a chance to win when he is on bump. Hey and the fans could bring back the Wolfpack. As for Cahill, he just sucks. If no one wants to take a flier on him, just designate him for assignment.







San Diego Padres-Wait for Carlos Quentin 

The Padres do not really have any bats in the minors that could really help in the big leagues. Their offense as been brutal. Just take a look at a box score and look down the average column. This team can not score. Before they get crazy, Carlos Quentin is on a rehab assignment right now and they need to wait for him to get into the lineup. He will immediately make this team better, and provide some power in the middle of the lineup. Lets just hope he doesn't go out and starting smashing collarbones.

Los Angeles Dodgers- Call up Zach Lee and put him in the rotation

The Dodgers haven't really been bad statistically. Their record isn't as great as we all thought it would be, they are sitting at 19-18 4.5 games out of first. They just got Kershaw back which will help a ton. Ryu is currently on the DL and is somewhat close to returning in a few weeks. Their fifth starter is currently Paul Maholm who has not been great this year with a 1-3 record and a 4.71 ERA. The Dodgers have top prospect Zach Lee waiting in Triple-A to get his shot. Call him up and give him a start or two. It will give him the taste of the big leagues, and he will provide better starts than Maholm. Then he can go back down when Ryu returns. It gives him a little bit of experience in case he is needed down the stretch because of injury.


Colorado Rockies-Call the Padres and trade for Dale Thayer 

The Rockies have got off to an amazing start to the season. They have one of the deepest lineups in the game right now. It always come down to pitching with this team. The rotation definitely has some potential and they have performed pretty well. They could use a boost in the pen. Dale Thayer is a nice middle reliever, and he is due for a pay raise after this season. He is definitely someone who is available, the Padres should be willing to part with him in exchange for some minor league talent.



San Francisco Giants-Trade for Rickie Weeks 

The Giants have been great and are currently in first place in the NL West. One hole they have right now is second base. Marco Scutaro is struggling with a back injury and has yet to play this season. If he does come back, it will be question if he can still produce. Brandon Hicks is playing at second right now and he is hitting .192. Rickie Weeks has fell out of the lineup in Milwaukee and is due for a change of scenery. Not too long ago Weeks did hit 29 Home runs and drove in 83 runs. He probably won't put up  numbers like that, but if they can get some of that guy he will be an extreme upgrade over Hicks.

Weekly Wrap Up

Last week we saw more people hit the DL as Brandon Marrow, Ryan Braun, and Hyun-Jin Ryu all went on the list. Both the Giants and Tigers finished the week undefeated. On the other end the Braves failed to win a game this week losing their last 6 and cutting their division lead to only half a game.

Colorado played well this week. They are trying to show people they are real contenders. If they can get some pitching they very well might be. Kansas City has been very disappointing this year so far and they continue to play bad baseball dropping their last 4 to end the week.

Current division leaders:

New York Yankees

Detroit Tigers

Oakland Athletics

Atlanta Braves

Milwaukee Brewers

San Francisco Giants

 

Zachary Hoffmann – Shaping the minds of America’s youth just waiting for an owner to call and give him a job as their GM. Don’t forget to follow him on twitter @zhoffmann1

Weekly Wrap Up

There was some bad baseball played this week. A lot of teams fell in the division standings. The Rays went all the way to the bottom of the division after finishing 2-4 for the week. The Dodgers also went 2-4 on the week but this dropped them out of first place into third in the NL West.

Some teams did stay hot this week as both Atlanta and San Francisco have won their last 4 games. Also Milwaukee continues to play great baseball. They seem to be here to stay and should be a big problem for the Cards when they finally decide to start playing good baseball.

Jose Abreu continued his quest for Rookie of the Year (I picked him) by hitting 5 home runs, including a walk off grand slam, and driving in 14 runs. He is now on pace to finish the year with 62 home runs and 193 RBI. Not that I think he will keep up his current pace but he should have a great year.

 

Zachary Hoffmann – Shaping the minds of America’s youth just waiting for an owner to call and give him a job as their GM. Don’t forget to follow him on twitter @zhoffmann1

Buy or Sell

The Pirates will be able to turn their season around after a 9-15 start.

I am SELLING this. The Pirates did make the playoffs after a fantastic season and a great run ending a long draught in Pittsburgh. The lineup has not been good this year and is ranked in the bottom half of most hitting categories. Their division is no easy task with teams like the Reds,Cards and now the Brewers. The Bucs need a spark and it should come from prospect Gregory Polanco. He is raking in Triple-A and is deserving of a call up right now.

Jose Abreu will win the AL Rookie of the Year.

BUY this one big time. The only competition Abreu will have this year is Royals flamethrower Yordano Ventura and I guess Tanaka even though I don't consider him much of a rookie. Abreu is off to a outstanding start and is tied with Pujols in the league lead in homers with 9. He is also tied for the lead league in RBI with 27. If he keeps up numbers like this it will be a lock that he wins the ROY.


The Brewers are the best team in baseball.

This is a tough one to judge buy I am BUYING the Brew Crew. The Brewers are off to a 17-6 and show no reason why they can't play this well all season long. They really do not have any holes in their lineup top to bottom. They have power, speed and they can get on base. The bullpen has been tremendous led by Francisco Rodriguez who leads the league in saves with 10. Don't forget about the rotation which has been also lights out. They might not have that one Ace, but they have 5 guys who can take the ball and win you a big game.

                                                                                 Aaron Harang will continue to pitch this well.

Harang is 3-1 with a 0.85 ERA this season. SELL. I mean come on it is Aaron Harang. He has been in the league for 13 seasons and has a career ERA of 4.22. Now that sounds more like the Aaron Harang I know. He has had some good years in the past. A good year for him is usually 13-9 with a 3.80 somewhere around there. He still may give the Braves some solid starts and a solid year overall. Just don't expect more outings like his first couple starts.

Weekly Wrap Up

Another week has passed for the 2014 baseball season and we have learned Carlos Gomez still has a temper. We also learned that losing two of your top starting pitchers doesn’t really mean anything to some teams.

The most exciting thing that happened this week was the bench clearing brawl between the Brewers and the Pirates. Of course Carlos Gomez was the instigator. Thinking he got all of the ball Gomez stood in the box a little too long and flipped his bat before starting to run. When he ended up on third Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole had some words for him. It quickly escalated to a bench clearing brawl where Gomez, Travis Snider, and Brewers bench coach Jerry Narron were ejected. Suspensions haven’t been issued but I am sure there will be some.

Even with losing some of their top starters before the year began the Oakland Athletics and the Atlanta Braves sit atop their respective divisions. A lot of people, including myself, thought  both teams would struggle out the gate until they found replacements for their starters but apparently they already have.

After a decent start the M’s played terrible this week losing six in a row dropping to forth in the West ahead of only the Astros who are losers of their last seven games. Miami continues to play streaky baseball winning their last 3 games.

It will be interesting to see what happens when we get deeper into the season. The division races should start to heat up.

Zachary Hoffmann – Shaping the minds of America’s youth just waiting for an owner to call and give him a job as their GM. Don’t forget to follow him on twitter @zhoffmann1

Ike Davis Out of New York

Yesterday about 2 hours before first pitch Ike Davis was traded to Pittsburgh for Zack Thornton and a player to be named later. Everyone had a feeling that something was going on because it was about 5 o'clock and the lineup was still not posted. The Mets also had to make a move somewhere because Chris Young was expected to be activated from the DL.

The era of Ike Davis as the Mets first basemen comes to a dissapointing end even though it had started off with such promise. After being drafted in the 1st Round of the 2008 draft by the Mets, there was some high expectations. Also after a great Rookie season it looked like Ike was the future of the Mets. In 2011 Ike started the season off to a hot start before suffering an ankle injury that cost him the rest of the year. Even though in 2012 he hit 32 HR it seemed like his swing was never the same.

He struggled in 2013 and even saw a stint in the Triple-A after being sent down. Going into the last offseason the Mets really tried to trade Ike but could not find the right deal. This trade was just waiting to happen, it was only a matter of time before Ike was on his way out.

The trade will hopefully help the Mets and Lucas Duda. Duda now knows he is the everyday first basemen. He doesn't have to worry about if he is playing tomorrow after he has a bad game. This will be a boost of confidence for Duda and hopefully he takes off and nails down the job.

This will also give Davis a clean slate and a fresh start. New York is not a easy place to play especially when you and the team are struggling. Going to Pittsburgh and the opportunity for ABs and consistent playing time will be good for Davis. The Pirates are looking for some pop in the middle of the order and someone they can consistently run out to first base. Watching Ike's swing he shows flashes of power but I just don't know he can find that stroke he had when he first came up in the league.

The player the Mets received was minor leaguer  Zack Thornton. A 25 year-old right hander reliever who was pitching in Triple-A. The Mets see him as someone who could potentially be a piece in the bullpen. Sources are reporting that the player to be named later is the significant piece in the deal who is expected to be a 2013 draftee.

Power Rankings Week 2

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (Last Week No. 2) (9-5)-No Clayton Kershaw, no problem. The Dodgers showed this week they will be able to get by with the pitching they have right now. They split with the Tigers and easily swept the Diamondbacks. The lineup is stacked and the pitching is deep even with Clayton on the shelf. Imagine when he gets back into the rotation. WOW

2. Detroit Tigers (Last Week No.1) (6-4)- Detroit has played ok so far this season. Cabrera has yet to get going and they had a bit of a rough time with the Padres this weekend. They are in first place and will most likely not look back. Just wait until this team is running on all cylinders. 

3.St. Louis Cardinals (Last Week No.3) (7-5)- The Cards had a good week taking 2 out of 3 from both the Reds, and Cubs. There is a little bit of panic right now with Peralta who is coming off the juice. The rotation has yet to really get going. Looks like they might have some company though with the Brewers. 

4. San Francisco Giants (Last Week No.4) (8-5)-The Giants have quietly got off to a good start this season. They have gotten great starts from Bumgarner and Hudson. Hudson is still doing it and it could be one of the best free agent signings at the end of the year.

5.Oakland A's (Last Week No.9) (8-4)- Jumping up 4 spots from last after going 5-1 this week. Getting great production from the rotation especially Sonny Gray who has been lights out. Another team who is always under the radar. Jim Johnson already has lost the closer job but it doesn't look like it will be much off a problem because they have plenty of arms in the pen.

6.Millwauke Brewers (Last Week No.18) (10-2)- I might be buying into this team a little too early but, why not. The Brew Crew have won 9 straight and has won in every way. The pitching has been unreal and the bats are starting to click. They are the hottest team right now and definitely have the potential to stick around. 

7.Atlanta Braves (Last Week No.11) (8-4)-Well so far so good with the Braves injury riddled rotation.The biggest story might be Aaron Harang who has dazzled so far this season. Yes that Aaron Harang who hasn't been relevant in a while. Breaking news Freddie Freeman can hit just check the numbers.

8. Washington Nationals (Last Week No.4) (7-5)-This team has been hit with the injury bug this season. Last week they lost Wilson Ramos and now have lost Ryan Zimmerman to injury. They are going to have to get buy. Harper found his swing the last couple days and Anthony Rendon has been a machine at the dish watch out for this kid. 

9. Boston Red Sox (Last Week No.9) (5-8)-The Bo Sox break the top 10 because,well they won the World Series last year. They have struggled out of the gate so far. Losing 3 out of 4 from the Yanks really hurts. They haven't gotten the same pitching they got last year from their rotation. Also Dustin Pedroia hitting .236 doesn't help. They should be able to put it together. 

10.Texas Rangers (Last Week No.7) (6-6)- Rangers have not played up to their full potential so far this season. They lost Adrian Beltre this week to an injury which leaves a huge hole in the middle of the lineup. It also doesn't help that Prince Fielder is hitting .149 and has yet to go deep. Just like some other teams,they are going to have to hang around until they get healthy.

11.New York Yankees (Last Week No.14) (7-6)-What a huge weekend for the Yanks. They get a huge confidence boost by taking 3 of 4 from the Red Sox. Brian McCann found his swing this weekend and along with most of the lineup. If the lineup can hit and stay healthy they will continue to climb up the power rankings. 

12.Tampa Bay Rays (Last Week No.8) (7-6)- They Rays slip down the rankings because of injury. They lost Matt Moore to Tommy John Surgery and he will be lost for the year. Now Alex Cobb has hit the shelf. Pitching is the strength for this team,but it is now turning into a weakness. Lets just say Erik Bedard is in the rotation now. In that division they have to avoid big losing streaks. 

13.Pittsburgh Pirates (Last Week No.10) (6-6)-The Pirates were expecting to be battling the Cards all year for the NL Central but it looks like they will have their hands full with the Brewers. They got swept by the Brewers this past weekend. The bats are struggling right now to produce runs. The Bucs are in desperate need for a first basemen. 

14.Baltimore Orioles (Last Week No.12) (5-7)-There is no doubt that this team is going to be able to put numbers up on the scoreboard. Comes down to pitching with this team, and so far not so good. Tilman has look reliable but everyone else looks like a question mark. Especially Ubaldo Jimenez who has been getting torched after getting paid this offseason. 

15.Cinncinatti Reds (Last Week No.13) (4-8)-Even with the 4-8 record this is one of the most talented teams in the league. They are not full healthy as they wait for Chapman to recover from getting hit in the face with a line drive. Once Votto and Bruce get going this team will get back into the thick of things. 

16.Los Angeles Angels (Last Week No.17) (6-6)- That guy they got Mike Trout he is pretty good. Pujols is showing some flashes of his old self. They did lose Josh Hamilton to injury who got off to a great start. Garret Richards has looked dominant, but the bullpen has been a disaster. They need to patch that up if they want to contend. 

17.Kansas City Royals (Last Week No.15) (4-7)-Even with the slow start I still think the Royals will be in the playoffs this year. Getting swept by the Twins doesn't help though. Whenever Yordano Ventura is on the bump it is a must watch. I think they will get it going with some favorable match ups against the Astros and Twins.

18.Seattle Mariners (Last Week No.16) (6-5)-The Mariners offense struggled this week with a .190 batting average. They have some good arms but they need to put up some more run support if they want to get to the next level. 

19.Cleveland Indians (Last Week No.19) (6-7)-The Indians are now waiting on Michael Bourn to get back into the lineup. They are in a interesting situation because Nyjer Morgan who was supposed to just play until Bourn was ready, has hit .348 and has been the most important bat in the lineup. 

20.Toronto Blue Jays (Last Week No.20) (7-6)-Mark Buerhle has been lights out for this team with a 3-0 record and a ERA of 0.86. He has kept the Jays going while the offense has struggled. They did seem to break out yesterday by scoring 11 runs over the O's. 

21.Colorado Rockies (Last Week No.21) (6-7)-The bad news is the Rockies have yet to win 2 games in a row,the good news they have yet to lose back to back games. The lineup looks good and so does the bullpen. The rotation looks unstable, hopefully the return of Tyler Chatwood will help. 

22.Chicago White Sox (Last Week No.26) (7-6)-The team has been carried by Alexi Ramirez who is the A.L Batting leader. He also hit a walk off home run in the 9th to knock off the Indians. The loss of young Avisail Garcia really puts a hole in their corner outfield position. Jose Abreu is also legit.

23.New York Mets (Last Week No.23) (5-7)- The bright spot for the Mets has been Juan Lagares who is on a 8-game hitting streak and is arguably best defensive outfielder in the league. The bullpen was not as bad this week. They are going to need more from Wright and Granderson to help support the pitching staff. 

24.Philadelphia Phillies (Last Week No.27) (6-6)-Chase Utley has really carried the Phillies lineup this season. They are hoping to get some more production from the rest of the lineup while they wait for the rotation get healthy. 

25.Miami Marlins (Last Week No.20) (5-8)-I was cautious of jumping on the bandwagon after week 1, but I didn't think they would fall this fast. They lost all six games this week while getting outscored 37-18. They are a really young team so they will go through some ups and downs. When Stanton is in the box please stay in your seat.

26.Minnesota Twins (Last Week No.30) (6-6)-The Twins get a huge sweep of the Royals this weekend to climb back to .500. The offense has been scorching so far. They are somehow second in the AL in runs scored. Anchored by Chirs Colabello who has been driving in runs. Lets see how long this offensive outburst lasts.

27.San Diego Padres (Last Week No.25) (5-7)-They need more production from their lineup if they want to be competitive this year. The middle of the order Venable, Gyorko,and Headley have all struggled so far this year. That is not a recipe for success. 

28.Houston Astros (Last Week No.29) (5-8)- The Astros have surprisingly have gotten some good pitching from their rotation and bullpen. Unfortunately their lineup has been dreadful.They are batting an MLB-worst .189. 

29.Chicago Cubs (Last Week No.29) (4-8)-The Cubs have struggled as expected this season. They have yet to win a series this year. Expect more of that the rest of the season. I still love what the Cubs are doing down on the farm. Cubs fans just wait for Javier Baez. 

30.Arizona Diamondbacks (Last Week No.24) (4-11)- The D-backs easily have the worst record in baseball so far. I never expected to this see team this low on a power rankings list this season. The pitching has been he main reason why they have been the worst team.