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
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.
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, thoughtboth 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
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.
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.
Although I had the Brewers picked to go to the playoffs via one of the two Wild Card berths, even I'm a bit surprised about their hot start to the season. The brew crew is 10-2 thus far, and while they're not going to be able to sustain that kind of record the entire season, it wouldn't surprise me to see them win 95 games. Here's why:
A deep lineup
Other than Ryan Braun there really isn't a superstar in this lineup, and just how much he is going to produce in 2014 is still in question as he comes off his suspension for PED's. Names like Jonathan Lucroy, Kris Davis, and Jean Segura may not jump off the page at you, but these are solid big league hitters. The more I look at the Brewers lineup the harder it is to find holes in it. They may not have as many superstars as the Dodgers, but they certainly have a much better balance to their lineup. I put them right up with the Cardinals in terms of toughest lineup to get through in the National League.
A 1-2 punch in the rotation
This is only going to be an asset of the Brewers if 2014 Yovani Gallardo looks more like the 2009-2012 version. He wasn't terrible last season, finishing with a 4.18 ERA, but his strikeout numbers were way down, averaging only 7.2 strikeouts per 9 innings. To be the ace of this rotation he'll have to be more like the strikeout per inning guy he was the previous 4 seasons. The Brewers finally brought Gallardo in some help this offseason though in Matt Garza, which should ease some of the pressure that was previously on him. If these guys are right, they can be one of the best top of the rotation combinations in the NL.
Weak spots
With Kyle Lohse, Wily Peralta, and Marco Estrada behind Garza and Gallardo this rotation should be able to hold its weight. The issue I have with the rotation though is a lack of left handed pitching as they have none. For the regular season this might not matter, but come playoff time it could cause them trouble if they run into a club laden with left handed hitting. Its not the worst weakness a team could have, but its something to keep your eye on.
We have finished another week in the 2014 baseball season.
We have learned some things like the Brew Crew is ready to play and the Marlins
aren’t as good as they lead on. Anything can happen from week to week but those
are two things that we were showed during this week.
The Marlins started out hot winning five out of six games.
Everyone was excited that they may have finally put it together but they have
now lost 7 in a row. They have a lot of young guys that could be good they just
need more time in the bigs. We also found out that Jose Fernandez can actually
get hit around. We all thought that he couldn’t get lit up but the Phillies
tagged him for 6 earned runs, the most he has let up in his career.
The Brewers are the hottest team in baseball winning nine in
a row. They have a 10-2 record which is the best in the majors. I would like it
to be known that I said they Brewers would be good in the beginning of the year
so if anyone would like to join me on the bandwagon there is still a little
room. Ryan Braun’s nerve injury is kind of scary but if he stays in the lineup
the Brewers will compete all year.
The Braves and A’s both lost pitchers to injuries before the
season started and they are both in first place in their divisions. Lots of people,
including myself, thought that those injuries would make it impossible for them
to compete in the tough divisions they play in but it seems like they will make
it a fight all year long.
It’s a long season and this is just week two but we should
be in for an interesting year. There are a lot of injuries happening that may
shift the power a little bit and even out the playing field. I can’t wait to
watch the division races play out this summer.
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
People tend to get very excited for the beginning of the baseball season but when a player is struggling they tend to overreact way too early. There are some guys who will eventually bust out of some slumps but there will be some that never put it together this season. I will breakdown some early season slumps and if there is a reason to panic.
B.J Upton: 4-for-29 (.138 BA) 1 2B 0 BB 13 K
Upton had a miserable season last year and was really looking to turn things around this season. He has done the exact opposite thus far. He has struck 13 times and has not drawn a single walk. Braves fans it is time to PANIC with Upton. This is a slump that has now lasted over a year. Especially since he just signed a five-year $75 million contract just last off-season. I think Braves fans wish they would have kept Broun over Upton.
Allen Craig: 3-for-31 (.097 BA) 3 RBI 1 BB 6K
Unlike Upton, Craig had a great 2013. He has been one of the most clutch hitters in the game the past 2 seasons and led the league in hitting with runners in scoring position with a .454 average. Craig is off to a brutal start to the season. He has only drawn 1 walk and is hitting under .100. With Craig it is too early to panic. He has been a run producer the past 2 seasons and I expect him to break out soon.
Prince Fielder: 6-for-37 (.162 BA) 3 RBI 0 HR 2 BB 5 K
Rangers traded all-star second basemen Ian Kinsler to Detroit and got back Prince Fielder in return. Fielder has been one of the most consistent players in the game. He came into Texas this season with some high expectations hitting in the middle of this stacked lineup. So far Fielder has struggled this season. His power numbers did slip a little in Detroit but I don't think it is a cause for concern. Ranger fans I wouldn't panic just yet, but I would be a little worried if this continues.
Bryce Harper: 6-for-29 (.207 BA), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R , 1 BB, 13 K
Ok we all know that Harper has all the tools to be a star in this league and one of the all time greats. He is still the youngest player in the game and has high expectations. A lot of people were picking him to be the MVP of the NL this year banking on a big year. So far it has not turned out that way. Harper has 13 strikeouts which is extremely high. Even with the slow start fans or fantasy owners should not panic.
Harper will eventually breakout of this slump in a big way. We saw some signs last night when Harper hit his first home run of the year.
Mike Moustakas: 1-for-26 (.038) 1 RBI, 3 BB, 7 K
Coming into this season it was a make or break year for Moustakas who hasn't reached his full potential after being a highly touted prospect in the Royals farm system. Now the Royals are looking to take the next step and Moustakas could be left behind. After a hot spring training and people started to believe this could be the year, he has disappointed thus far. It is time to push the panic button with Moustakas. Looks like soon he will see a decrease in playing time due to his poor start. He better get it going.
Brian McCann: 5-for-33 (.152) 2 RBI, 1 BB, 4K
McCann signed a 5 year-deal worth $85 million this offseason with the Yankees. He has gotten off to a slow start thus far with the Yankees. McCann has been one of the best hitting catchers in the league for a while now and should see an increase in his power numbers now playing in Yankee Stadium. There really should be no panic with McCann. He has been put the ball in play which is a good sign with very few strikeouts. Give it a week or so and we shouldn't be talking about a slump anymore with this guy.
Its always interesting to see how international players adjust when coming to the major leagues, and it looks like Abreu had his breakout moment on Tuesday hitting two home runs. The man who called the "Cuban Barry Bonds" is just the latest Cuban refugee to make a splash in major league baseball following Yoenis Cespedes, Aroldis Champman, and Yasiel Puig.
Clay Bucholtz
Bucholtz was unhittable last season before going on the disabled list with a shoulder injury that cost him three months of action. I think he is the key to the Red Sox rotation this season. I don't expect him to have a sub 2.00 ERA like he did last season, but he has to be better than he was in his first start when he went 4 and 1/3 innings allowing 13 hits.
Game of the Day: Yankees vs Red Sox
If you're not already watching to see how Clay Bucholtz bounces back from his brutal first start then you should tune into MLB Network at least to see the first meeting between these fierce rivals. Michael Pineda won the Yankees fifth starter spot in the spring and did not leave Joe Giradi second guessing that decision by going 6 innings and only allowing 1 run in his first start. And if you don't care about seeing either Pineda or Bucholtz, at least tune in for the chance of a brawl between these two clubs. We're long overdue for one of those.
With all the injuries happening in the early part of this
season you might be trying to find some replacements for your fantasy roster. I
will give you a few names of players that are owned in less than 50 percent of
ESPN fantasy leagues who are worth a look. Lots of guys can put up good numbers
for a week and everyone jumps on them only for them to cool off and get
dropped. I will tell you some players that will continue to play well.
Yangervis Solarte(owned
in 16.6%) – The Yankees believed in
this guy enough to send Eduardo Nunez to the Twins after designating him for
assignment. Solarte is hitting .458 to start the year and has spent most of the
time at third base. In standard leagues he only needs three more games there to
add third base eligibility to his current OF primary position. The Yanks put
him at second base to give Brian Roberts a night off. If he gets enough time
over there and becomes eligible at 2B, 3B, and OF he will be a great guy to
have on your roster. He won’t end the year with a BA over .400 but he hit well
in the minors so he should give you some points to go along with position
flexibility.
Michael Morse(Owned
in 16.1%) – In 2011 Morse hit 31 bombs and had a batting average over .300.
He plays in a big ball park but has the power to hit the ball out of any
stadium. I don’t think he will hit 30 bombs but if he stays healthy than low to
mid 20s sounds reasonable. This will give you solid production for your 4th
or 5th outfield spot.
Adam LaRoche(Owned in
35%) – He always puts up solid numbers and hits in a great lineup so there
should always be RBI opportunities for him. With Ryan Zimmerman’s injury he
might see some more time at first base but if you need depth there than LaRoche
is your guy.
Aaron Harang(Owned in
9.5%) – He was signed by the Braves after they had multiple pitchers go
down with injuries. He has had two good starts for the Braves so far this year
and they have a good enough offense that if he pitches decent he should get a
decent amount of wins.
Jose Valverde(Owned
in 39.5%) – With Bobby Parnell down Valverde will get a lot of save chances
if they Mets are leading going into the 9th. If you want cheap saves
you should get Valverde while you still can.
Tanaka will be making his home debut for the Yankees after making his first big league start on the road in Toronto last week. There should be a nice crowd of Yankee faithful in attendance, and it'll be interesting to see how Tanaka handles the pressure of his first home start. The Japanese righty was impressive in his first start going 7 innings while striking out 8 Blue Jays, only giving up 2 runs.
Trevor Bauer
Bauer is one of those guys I have to watch every time he pitches, even though he usually ends up getting rocked. He has a wild motion, a ridiculously long warmup routine, and is a hothead at times, which makes him must see tv. But on a serious note, the Indians really need him to step up in 2014 after losing Ubaldo Jimenez this offseason. And Bauer has the stuff to be a good number two big league starter, if he can put it all together.
Game of the day: Tigers vs Dodgers
We could see these two teams again in October, but this series will be an early measuring stick of where both teams stand. Unfortunately Clayton Kershaw is on the DL, or we could have seen the two reigning Cy Young award winners match up with one another. Nonetheless this should be a great all-around series.
Trumbo has homered in 4 straight games for the Dbacks, and has an impressive total of five in the first week of the season. He will put his streak on the line against new Giants pitcher Tim Hudson. These two have faced each other only 5 times in their careers, but Trumbo does have a home run in one of those at bats.
Yordano Ventura
This kid is going to be fun to watch this year. The 22 year old rookie has an electric fastball that will sit in the upper 90's, and sometimes reach into triple digits. He saw limited action last season, getting 3 starts, but this will be his first opportunity to begin a season in the rotation. I expect him to be in AL Rookie of the Year contention all season. You'll want to flip over to this one when Ventura takes the mound.
Game of the Night: Marlins vs Nationals
The first place Marlins, yes first place Marlins, are traveling to D.C. to take on the prohibitive favorites to win the NL East. The Marlins have made some noise the first week of the season, and if they can come away with a series win against the most talented team in the East then they will really open some eyes. The Marlins offense has been on a tear, they'll need to keep that up in this difficult road series.
Brandon Beachy, Kris Medlen, Jarrod Parker, David Hernandez,
Patrick Corbin, Jameson Taillon, and Bobby Parnell are just some names of
pitchers that have had or are going to have the dreaded Tommy John surgery this
season. According to the list on Baseball Heat Maps, already 16 pitchers have
had the surgery this year and Taillon is not on that list yet so we will eventually
be making it 17 pitchers.
It seems that in the past few years there are more and more
pitchers that are having this surgery. The question everyone is asking is why?
Teams are shutting down their young pitchers towards the end of the year so
their inning count isn’t too high. Teams are also setting pitch counts for
their pitchers and not letting them go deep into ball games. There are so many
things being done to limit pitcher injuries but there has been a huge spike in
surgeries over the last few years.
One executive has recently come out and said he has a
solution; we should cut the length of games to 7 innings. As a baseball purist,
who doesn’t even like the DH, I absolutely hate that idea. We shouldn’t be
messing with the game of baseball especially doing something that extreme. Even
if we were to change the amount of innings that were played I am not sure that
would really help. As I stated before teams are doing all they can to shut
pitchers down and limit their pitches.
I believe there are a few reasons for the spike in injuries.
We live in an era where baseball is being played year round. The older
generation would play other sports rather than just focusing on one. Playing
year round puts more stress on the underdeveloped arms of young ball players. I
also think that pitchers just want to get the surgery out of the way. You will
read articles that say the pitcher opted for the surgery without trying therapy
first. I am completely ok with this because really you are just wasting time
that could go into rehabbing from the surgery because you will probably end up
getting it anyway.
I have some personal experience with this situation. Back in
December I had a MRI and it was found that I had bone chips and a partially
torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). I was scheduled to have elbow
reconstruction surgery (Tommy John surgery) but the day before the procedure I
was called in by the doctor and was told he just wanted to remove the bone
chips. I, like most pitchers, wanted the surgery because I figured my UCL was
torn and I needed it. The doctor explained to me that most pitchers actually
have torn UCLs it just matters how much its torn if they can throw with it or
not. Mine was only partial torn so he said removing the bone chips should allow
me to throw pain free and would only be 3-6 months of rehab rather than 10-12
months.
It’s sad to hear about all these pitchers having to have
this surgery. It really hurts their team’s chances for the year they get it because
of the lengthy rehab but Tommy John surgery has changed the game of baseball.
It is allowing pitchers with these injuries to have a longer career which is
something that everyone wants.
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
1. Detroit Tigers (4-1) Detroit opened the season in dramatic fashion with 2 walk-off wins in their first two games of the season. They got great starting pitching and production from all over the lineup. Most noteably from veteran Tori Hunter who can still rake. He put up 3 bombs and 7 RBI showing that he can still play. Expect the Tigers to be atop this list most of the year.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (5-3) Dodgers opened the season strong over in Australia taking both games from the D-Backs. They did lose Kershaw to a back injury but he should be back soon. The thing to take from this week was Kemp hitting two home runs on Sunday. If Kemp can stay healthy and play like that, this team will be playing deep into October.
3.St. Louis Cardinals (3-3) The Cards opened the season on the road against division rivals and were able come out .500. They were shut down in the Rubber game by Volquez on Sunday. The Cards are loaded with arms and bats. They might not be flashy but will be solid all year.
4.Washington Nationals (4-2) Nats started the season strong by sweeping the Mets on the road and lost 2 out of 3 to the Braves over the weekend. They took a hit losing Ramos to an hand injury that will cost him over a month. Strasburg, and Harper both struggled this week but Nats fans shouldn't worry it is too early for that.
5.San Francisco Giants (5-2) This might be a bit surprising but I think the Giants will be back this year. Opened the season against the Diamondbacks and Dodgers on the road. They were able to go 5-2 and it is just the start they needed. Brandon Belt looks like he found his swing and the pitching looked solid. This team will be a handful for the Dodgers.
6. Boston Red Sox (2-4) The defending champs did not have a good weekend. They were swept at home by the Brewers. They will have a target on their back and teams will be playing them hard every night. It is always tough to repeat and Red Sox will have to find that mojo again.
7.Texas Rangers (3-3) The Rangers pitching questions became even more of a question mark this week after giving up 14 runs on opening day, but they scored 11. On Sunday Darvish came off the DL to dominate the Rays and settle the team down. This team is loaded with the bats, if they can get some pitching behind Darvish they will be fine.
8.Tampa Bay Rays (4-3) This is just a good baseball team and they will be there all year long. Good pitching and solid hitting. They had a good showing this weekend taking 2 of 3 from the Rangers. They will be battling for the division crown of the AL East.
9.Oakland A's (3-3) No one ever really knows who is on this team but they always find ways to win. They had a rough start to the season losing Parker to Tommy John but they have plenty of arms to fill this void. They have a deep lineup with plenty of power and this team once again will go about their business.
10.Pittsburgh Pirates (4-2) Pirates are looking to build off their great season last year. They got off to great start this week after winning both of their series'. The most notable event was Edison Volquez's gem on Sunday vs the Cards. They need him to find himself if they want to replace A.J Burnett.
11. Atlanta Braves (4-2) Everyone was talking about the injuries to the starting rotation so all the Braves did was have lights out pitching this week. They also have Ervin Santana waiting to make his debut while he is stretching his arm out after being signed in late March. We also saw Alex Wood throw and he looks like the real deal. If the pitching holds up look out for them.
12. Baltimore Orioles (2-4) They have in my opinoin one of the best lineups in baseball. The problem is the pitching with this team. It is going to be tough to out hit their opponent every night. They just need decent pitching and they will win games. They opened 2-4 but in their defense they did play the Red Sox and Tigers which is no easy task.
13. Cincinnati Reds (2-4) They are dealing with a lot of injures especially in their bullpen. They will have one of the best rotations in the league and a good lineup. The question is do they have a Center Fielder? Billy Hamilton looked all but lost at the plate this week. They need this guy to figure out how to get on base.
14. New York Yankees (3-3) The Yankees season started off not like they expected. They lost the first two to the Astros. They then won 3 of their next 4. The key with this aged team is health. They already just lost Mark Tex to a hammy. They might have found a gem in Solarte who had a monster week. Who would have thought that he would be a piece to the puzzle.
15. Kansas City Royals (2-3) I think this is the year the Royals just bust out. They have a good lineup with some decent pitching. One arm in particular Yordano Ventura who we haven't see yet because of a rain out. If this kid is what he is supposed to be keep your eye on the Royals.
16. Seattle Mariners (4-2) This is another team who could be a sleeper this year. They got off to a great start after sweeping the Angels. The lineup is improved and the rotation has potential. Felix was Felix this week but Paxton looked great in his start as well. They also have Iwakuma who is on the DL who was one of the best pitchers in the game last year.
17. Los Angeles Angels (2-4) The season started off pretty miserable for the Angels by getting swept at home by the Mariners. If they want to contend they need Pujols and Hamilton in the worse way. Even with them it will be tough to compete in the American League.
18.Milwaukee Brewers (4-2) The sweep of the defending champs in Boston is just what the Brew Crew needed. This team does have some potential. Yovani looks like he is starting to find his old self and with the addition of Matt Garza will help the rotation. This could be a sneaky team in the NL wild card race.
19. Cleveland Indians (3-3) For a team that did in fact make the playoffs last year most people aren't expecting a repeat. They don't have a great lineup and they have some questions marks in the rotation. They lost 2 out of 3 to the Twins at home. One guy to watch though is Danny Salazar who will be key if they want to repeat last years success.
20.Miami Marlins (5-2) They have the best record in baseball I guess I have to put them in the top 20. The Marlins have come out the gates to a hot start. It looks like this team has some arms behind Jose Fernandez who is just straight up nasty. They also got 10 RBI from Casey Mcagahee and production from Ozuna. Stanton also looks like he is poised for a big year. We will keep our eye on them.
21. Toronto Blue Jays (3-4) The season couldn't get off to a worse start for the Blue Jays. Jose Reyes played half an inning and left the game for with a…….hamstring. They need a healthy Reyes if they want to hang around in that brutal division.
22. Colorado Rockies (3-4) Just like every other year it comes down if they pitch and if their stars can stay healthy. This team will score and with the NL Wild Card wide open they could be there late in the season. Look out for Blackmon who went 6-6 on Saturday.
23. New York Mets (2-4) Well the Mets lost their closer Bobby Parnell to Tommy John on the first day of the season after he blew a save. It looks like the rotation will be solid but the Bullpen is a mess. They are now relying on Jose Valverde to close games. They also have holes in the lineup but it looks like Juan Lagares is going to be some player for the Mets. They got swept by the Nats but were able to take 2 of 3 from the Reds.
24. Arizona Diamondbacks (2-7) Not a good start whatsoever for the D-Backs. They lost Corbin for the year and started the year 0-4. They have gotten great production from Trumbo but their pitching hasn't been good especially the bullpen. This team is better than what they showed. It is early, lets see if they can turn it around.
25. San Diego Padres (2-4) This could be another long season from the Padres. Josh Johnson is already on the DL and Chase Headley is struggling again. They don't have great pitching or hitting and their division is not an easy one to play in. After starting the season off with a bang on Opening night they lost 4 of their next 5.
26.Chicago White Sox (3-3) Thanks to Chris Sale and De Aza the White Sox come out of the week .500. This team doesn't have much expectations. This team strikes out too much and don't have enough pitching behind Sale.
27.Philadelpia Phillies (3-3) Not a bad week from the Phils but this team will not be that good this year. They were able to take 2 of 3 from a bad Cubs team and finish .500 this week. With Hamels on the shelf they will be relying on guys like Roberto Hernandez or (Fausto Carmona). We will see if the veterans can find some youth and make some noise or just be competitive.
28.Chicago Cubs (2-4) Cubs fans have things to look forward too but not much this year. They have plenty of top prospects who are trying to make the jump to the bigs. Everyone is waiting for Javier Baez who is going to be a stud. Emilo Bonafacio made some noise this week with some monster numbers. Never expect anything like that again from him.
29. Houston Astros (3-3) Astros again a team who is waiting for some young talent to develop. They were able to take 2 from the Yankees. This still isn't going to be a good year for the Astros. At least we know they won't lose 162 games.
30. Minnesota Twins (3-3) Besides Joe Mauer there is not much talent on this roster. The rotation is awful and the lineup isn't that great either. I think they will be the worst team in the league all year long. Who knows maybe they will prove me wrong.
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced yesterday that young prized pitching prospect Jameson Taillon will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the entire 2014 season. Not only does this put Taillon's promising career in jeopardy, it could derail the Pirates hopes of making the playoffs for a second consecutive season. Mlb.com ranks Taillon as the 16th best overall prospect in the majors, and the second rated prospect in the Pirates system behind Gregory Polanco.
There's no doubt in my mind that if he were healthy, the Pirates would have called up Taillon as some point during the season in order to help them make a playoff push, similar to the what Gerrit Cole did in 2013. Having Taillon on the cusp of coming up to the big leagues was also likely something the Pirates took into consideration in the offseason when they decided not to resign A.J. Burnett, or any other big name starting pitcher. Now with Ervin Santana having signed in Atlanta, there are virtually no free agent pitchers left.
I seriously doubted whether the Pirates had enough pitching as it is to make the playoffs, now I think their playoff hopes even more slim. If they hope to content with the Cardinals, Brewers, and Reds they are going to have to make a trade for at least one more starting pitcher to compensate for losing Taillon for the season.
