MLB
Welcome to the gigantic SOX & Dawgs 2010 MLB preview. Over the next week you will get a team by team look at its key players, new faces, their potential MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year candidates, their possible starting lineup and rotation as well as a quick summary.
This preview was sculpted over a nearly seven week period in January and February with some mild tweaking as we went along prior to publication. It comes from a culmination of reading so many baseball magazines, periodicals, articles and websites that in some cases I may know a team better that its own management.
Yesterday we looked at the NL Central, Sunday was the NL West, Monday was the AL West and today it’s the AL Central.
American League Central
1. Chicago - Manager: Ozzie Guillen(7th year)
The Chicago White Sox are my pick in the American League Central in 2010. The lineup is pretty good but will look better if they had a true DH option other than Tyler Flowers, Mark Kotsay and/or Andruw Jones. The starting rotation is one of the best in baseball and the back end of the bullpen got better by signing reliever J.J. Putz to the bridge to closer Bobby Jenks or even take over for Jenks should he eat his way out of the spot. it could be an exciting summer on the South Side. Look for Carlos Quentin to return to 2008 form and once again be an MVP candidate.
Key Players: Paul Konerko 1B; Gordon Beckham 2B; Alex Rios RF; Carlos Quentin LF; Jake Peavy SP .
MVP Candidate: Carlos Quentin LF and Paul Konerko 1B.
Cy Young Candidate: Mark Buehrle SP.
ROY Candidate: None.
Key Additions: Ramon Castro C (FA-NYM); Juan Pierre CF (Trade-LAD); J.J. Putz RP (FA-NYM); Mark Teahan 3B (FA-KC); Andruw Jones DH/OF (FA-Tex); Omar Vizquel 2B-SS (FA-Tex)
Possible lineup: Pierre CF; Ramirez SS; Konerko 1B; Quentin LF; Rios RF; Pierzynski C; Beckham 2B; Flowers DH; Teahan 3B;
Possible rotation: Buehrle; Peavy; Danks; Floyd; Garcia
2. Minnesota - Manager: Ron Gardenhire (9th year)
The Minnesota Twins will debut a new ball park and open air stadium, Target Field, this season. While it might be cold in April and September the Twins said if they played in the open air in 2009 they would have had no weather related cancellations. The team will once again compete for the division but will reigning AL MVP Joe Mauer, former AL MVP Justin Morneau and veteran DH Jim Thome be enough to help overcome the questions in the starting rotation. The team did a nice job of adding Thome and 2B Orlando Hudson via free agency and SS J.J. Hardy in a deal with the Brewers. Deanrd Spann will get a chance to play everyday now that Carlos Gomez has been dealt and he should provide the team with a quality leadoff man.
Key Players: Joe Mauer C; Justin Morneau 1B; Jason Kubel RF; Orlando Hudson 2B; Pat Neshek RP; Francisco Liriano SP.
MVP Candidate: Joe Mauer C and Justin Morneau 1B.
Cy Young Candidate: None.
ROY Candidate: None.
Key Additions: J.J. Hardy SS (Trade-Mil); Jim Thome DH (FA-LAD); Orlando Hudson 2B (FA-LAD)
Possible lineup: Spann CF; Hudson 2B; Mauer C; Morneau 1B; Thome DH; Kubel RF; Hardy SS; Cuddyer LF; Punto 3B
Possible rotation: Baker; Slowey;Pavano; Blackburn; Liriano
3. Detroit - Manager: Jim Leyland (5th year/19th overall)
The Tigers intrigue me the most in this division they could finish literally anywhere but I’ll tag them for third. While the rotation is full of the power arms that GM Dave Dombrowski covets they had a huge question mark at the top of the order with a pair of rookies, CF Austin Jackson and 2B Scott Sizemore, penciled in to set the table until late February when they inked veteran OF Johnny Damon as a free agent. You can expect Damon, who gives the Tigers a true veteran top of the order guy, to bat leadoff with Sizemore behind him setting the table for the offense. Jackson should still play center but will now hit towards the bottom of the lineup for Jim Leyland. The Damon signing is big for Detroit but I still don't think it gets them past Chicago and Minnesota in the division.
Key Players: Johnny Damon LF; Brandon Inge 3B; Magglio Ordonez RF; Miguel Cabrera 1B; Rick Porcello SP .
MVP Candidate: Miguel Cabrera 1B.
Cy Young Candidate: Justin Verlander SP.
ROY Candidate: Austin Jackson OF and Scott Sizemore 2B.
Key Additions: Johnny Damon LF (FA-NYY); Jose Valverde RP (FA-Ari); Austin Jackson CF (Trade-NYY); Phil Coke RP (Trade-NYY); Max Scherzer P (Trade-Ari); Daniel Schlareth RP (Trade-Ari); Scott Sizemore 2B (Rookie)
Possible lineup: Damon LF; Sizemore 2B; Ordonez RF; Cabrera 1B; Inge 3B; Guillen DH; Laird C; Jackson CF; Everett SS
Possible rotation: Verlander; Porcello; Bonderman; Robertson; Willis
4. Cleveland - Manager: Manny Acta (1st year/4th overall)
When you look at Cleveland’s lineup you want to quote the movie “Major League” and ask “who are these guys?” Once again, Chief Wahoo is rebuilding, it’s the third time in the last 15 years. They did it in the 1990’s with Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Carlos Baerga and Kenny Lofton winning a pair of AL pennants. They did it again in the 2000’s with CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez to become a serious contender. This time they’ll try to do it with rookie LF Michael Brantley, SS Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B Luis Valbuena and P Fausto Carmona. Patience is the key word on the shores of Lake Erie this season for not only 1st year skipper Manny Acta but Tribe fans as well.
Key Players: Grady Sizemore CF; Matt LaPorta 1B/OF; Michael Brantley LF; Travis Hafner DH; Fausto Carmona SP.
MVP Candidate: None.
Cy Young Candidate: None.
ROY Candidate: Carlos Santana C and Michael Brantley LF.
Key Additions: Mitch Talbot RP (Trade-TB); Mike Redmond C (FA-Min); Austin Kearns OF/DH (FA-Was); Michael Brantley LF (Rookie); Carlos Santana C (Rookie); Russell Branyan 1B/DH (FA-Sea); Manny Acta MGR
Possible lineup: Sizemore CF; Cabrera SS; Peralta 3B; Choo RF; LaPorta 1B; Hafner/Kearns/Branyan DH; Brantley LF; Valbuena 2B; Santana C
Possible rotation: Westbrook; Carmona; Masterson; Huff; Sowers
5. Kansas City - Manager: Trey Hillman (3rd year)
The Royals will once again be the bottom feeders in the AL Central. This team needs to do something to bring this once proud franchise back to prominence. Unfortunately George Brett, Hal McRae and Bret Saberhagen are too old to play any longer. This year could go a long way in determining if Trey Hillman will continue as the manager. In order to do so the team has to play hard and be inspired which might be hard when you’re 25 games out in August.
Key Players: Yuni Betancourt SS; Alex Gordon 3B; Jose Guillen DH; Rick Ankiel CF; Zach Greinke SP.
MVP Candidate: None .
Cy Young Candidate: Zack Greinke.
ROY Candidate: None
Key Additions: Rick Ankiel CF (FA-StL); Scott Podsednik LF (FA-CWS); Jason Kendall C (FA-Mil)
Possible lineup: Podsednik LF; Callaspo 2B; Ankiel CF; Butler 1B; Guillen DH;Gordon 3B; DeJesus RF; Betancourt SS; Kendall C
Possible rotation: Greinke; Meche; Hochevar; Davies; Bannister
1. Chicago - Manager: Ozzie Guillen(7th year)
The Chicago White Sox are my pick in the American League Central in 2010. The lineup is pretty good but will look better if they had a true DH option other than Tyler Flowers, Mark Kotsay and/or Andruw Jones. The starting rotation is one of the best in baseball and the back end of the bullpen got better by signing reliever J.J. Putz to the bridge to closer Bobby Jenks or even take over for Jenks should he eat his way out of the spot. it could be an exciting summer on the South Side. Look for Carlos Quentin to return to 2008 form and once again be an MVP candidate.
Key Players: Paul Konerko 1B; Gordon Beckham 2B; Alex Rios RF; Carlos Quentin LF; Jake Peavy SP .
MVP Candidate: Carlos Quentin LF and Paul Konerko 1B.
Cy Young Candidate: Mark Buehrle SP.
ROY Candidate: None.
Key Additions: Ramon Castro C (FA-NYM); Juan Pierre CF (Trade-LAD); J.J. Putz RP (FA-NYM); Mark Teahan 3B (FA-KC); Andruw Jones DH/OF (FA-Tex); Omar Vizquel 2B-SS (FA-Tex)
Possible lineup: Pierre CF; Ramirez SS; Konerko 1B; Quentin LF; Rios RF; Pierzynski C; Beckham 2B; Flowers DH; Teahan 3B;
Possible rotation: Buehrle; Peavy; Danks; Floyd; Garcia
2. Minnesota - Manager: Ron Gardenhire (9th year)
The Minnesota Twins will debut a new ball park and open air stadium, Target Field, this season. While it might be cold in April and September the Twins said if they played in the open air in 2009 they would have had no weather related cancellations. The team will once again compete for the division but will reigning AL MVP Joe Mauer, former AL MVP Justin Morneau and veteran DH Jim Thome be enough to help overcome the questions in the starting rotation. The team did a nice job of adding Thome and 2B Orlando Hudson via free agency and SS J.J. Hardy in a deal with the Brewers. Deanrd Spann will get a chance to play everyday now that Carlos Gomez has been dealt and he should provide the team with a quality leadoff man.
Key Players: Joe Mauer C; Justin Morneau 1B; Jason Kubel RF; Orlando Hudson 2B; Pat Neshek RP; Francisco Liriano SP.
MVP Candidate: Joe Mauer C and Justin Morneau 1B.
Cy Young Candidate: None.
ROY Candidate: None.
Key Additions: J.J. Hardy SS (Trade-Mil); Jim Thome DH (FA-LAD); Orlando Hudson 2B (FA-LAD)
Possible lineup: Spann CF; Hudson 2B; Mauer C; Morneau 1B; Thome DH; Kubel RF; Hardy SS; Cuddyer LF; Punto 3B
Possible rotation: Baker; Slowey;Pavano; Blackburn; Liriano
3. Detroit - Manager: Jim Leyland (5th year/19th overall)
The Tigers intrigue me the most in this division they could finish literally anywhere but I’ll tag them for third. While the rotation is full of the power arms that GM Dave Dombrowski covets they had a huge question mark at the top of the order with a pair of rookies, CF Austin Jackson and 2B Scott Sizemore, penciled in to set the table until late February when they inked veteran OF Johnny Damon as a free agent. You can expect Damon, who gives the Tigers a true veteran top of the order guy, to bat leadoff with Sizemore behind him setting the table for the offense. Jackson should still play center but will now hit towards the bottom of the lineup for Jim Leyland. The Damon signing is big for Detroit but I still don't think it gets them past Chicago and Minnesota in the division.
Key Players: Johnny Damon LF; Brandon Inge 3B; Magglio Ordonez RF; Miguel Cabrera 1B; Rick Porcello SP .
MVP Candidate: Miguel Cabrera 1B.
Cy Young Candidate: Justin Verlander SP.
ROY Candidate: Austin Jackson OF and Scott Sizemore 2B.
Key Additions: Johnny Damon LF (FA-NYY); Jose Valverde RP (FA-Ari); Austin Jackson CF (Trade-NYY); Phil Coke RP (Trade-NYY); Max Scherzer P (Trade-Ari); Daniel Schlareth RP (Trade-Ari); Scott Sizemore 2B (Rookie)
Possible lineup: Damon LF; Sizemore 2B; Ordonez RF; Cabrera 1B; Inge 3B; Guillen DH; Laird C; Jackson CF; Everett SS
Possible rotation: Verlander; Porcello; Bonderman; Robertson; Willis
4. Cleveland - Manager: Manny Acta (1st year/4th overall)
When you look at Cleveland’s lineup you want to quote the movie “Major League” and ask “who are these guys?” Once again, Chief Wahoo is rebuilding, it’s the third time in the last 15 years. They did it in the 1990’s with Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Carlos Baerga and Kenny Lofton winning a pair of AL pennants. They did it again in the 2000’s with CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez to become a serious contender. This time they’ll try to do it with rookie LF Michael Brantley, SS Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B Luis Valbuena and P Fausto Carmona. Patience is the key word on the shores of Lake Erie this season for not only 1st year skipper Manny Acta but Tribe fans as well.
Key Players: Grady Sizemore CF; Matt LaPorta 1B/OF; Michael Brantley LF; Travis Hafner DH; Fausto Carmona SP.
MVP Candidate: None.
Cy Young Candidate: None.
ROY Candidate: Carlos Santana C and Michael Brantley LF.
Key Additions: Mitch Talbot RP (Trade-TB); Mike Redmond C (FA-Min); Austin Kearns OF/DH (FA-Was); Michael Brantley LF (Rookie); Carlos Santana C (Rookie); Russell Branyan 1B/DH (FA-Sea); Manny Acta MGR
Possible lineup: Sizemore CF; Cabrera SS; Peralta 3B; Choo RF; LaPorta 1B; Hafner/Kearns/Branyan DH; Brantley LF; Valbuena 2B; Santana C
Possible rotation: Westbrook; Carmona; Masterson; Huff; Sowers
5. Kansas City - Manager: Trey Hillman (3rd year)
The Royals will once again be the bottom feeders in the AL Central. This team needs to do something to bring this once proud franchise back to prominence. Unfortunately George Brett, Hal McRae and Bret Saberhagen are too old to play any longer. This year could go a long way in determining if Trey Hillman will continue as the manager. In order to do so the team has to play hard and be inspired which might be hard when you’re 25 games out in August.
Key Players: Yuni Betancourt SS; Alex Gordon 3B; Jose Guillen DH; Rick Ankiel CF; Zach Greinke SP.
MVP Candidate: None .
Cy Young Candidate: Zack Greinke.
ROY Candidate: None
Key Additions: Rick Ankiel CF (FA-StL); Scott Podsednik LF (FA-CWS); Jason Kendall C (FA-Mil)
Possible lineup: Podsednik LF; Callaspo 2B; Ankiel CF; Butler 1B; Guillen DH;Gordon 3B; DeJesus RF; Betancourt SS; Kendall C
Possible rotation: Greinke; Meche; Hochevar; Davies; Bannister
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Tomorrow: The NL East no comments
Welcome to the gigantic SOX & Dawgs 2010 MLB preview. Over the next week you will get a team by team look at its key players, new faces, their potential MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year candidates, their possible starting lineup and rotation as well as a quick summary.
This preview was sculpted over a nearly 7 week period in January and February with some mild tweaking as we went along prior to publication. It comes from a culmination of reading so many baseball magazines, periodicals, articles and websites that in some cases I may know a team better that its own management.
Yesterday we looked at the AL West and we started on Sunday with the NL West, today it’s the NL Central.
National League Central
1. St. Louis - Manager: Tony LaRussa (15th year/33rd overall)
In what could be the tighest division race in all of baseball will come down to three teams. Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Louis all have legit chances to grab the division flag but in the end the Cardinals will be crowned Central Division champs because the of dual 1-2 punches of Albert Pujols and Matt Holiday in the lineup and Cris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright on the mound. The Cards finally signed a top of the order guy in free agent 3B Felipe Lopez and he should help immensely in setting the table for its ever dangerous 3-4 hitters. Brad Penny could play a pivotal role if he pitches well enough to be the third starter. Look for Dave Duncan to get him on track toward a 12-14 win season.
Key Players: Albert Pujols 1B; Matt Holiday LF; Brad Penny SP; Kyle Lohse SP; Ryan Franklin RP
MVP Candidate: Albert Pujols 1B and Matt Holiday LF
Cy Young Candidate: Cris Carpenter SP and Adam Wainwright SP
ROY Candidate: David Freese 3B
Key Additions: Brad Penny SP (FA-SF); Felipe Lopez 3B (FA-Mil); David Freese 3B (Rookie)
Possible lineup: Lopez 3B; Rasmus CF; Pujols 1B; Holiday LF; Ludwick RF; Molina C; Schumacher 2B; Ryan SS
Possible rotation: Carpenter; Wainwright; Penny; Lohse; McClelland
2. Milwaukee - Manager: Ken Macha (2nd year/6th overall)
The Brew Crew didn't make any big name pickups in the offseason but who they did come away with should help solidify the middle of the rotation as well as the middle of the infield. Key acquisitions of CF Carlos Gomez in a trade, the promotion of ROY candidate Alcides Escobar at short and the veteran presence of Gregg Zaun behind the plate make the team fairly strong up the middle. If they get any type of contribution from starting pitchers Manny Parra and Jeff Suppan they'll be tough in the division and wild card race.
Key Players: Prince Fielder 1B; Ryan Braun LF; Carlos Gomez CF; Alcides Escobar SS; Randy Wolf SP; Doug Davis SP
MVP Candidate: Prince Fielder 1B
Cy Young Candidate: None
ROY Candidate: Alcides Escobar SS
Key Additions: Randy Wolf SP (FA-LAD); Doug Davis SP (FA-Ari); Alcides Escobar SS (Rookie); Carlos Gomez CF (Trade-Min); Gregg Zaun C (FA-TB); LaTroy Hawkins RP (FA-Hou)
Possible lineup: Gomez CF; Weeks 2B; Braun LF; Fielder 1B; Hart RF; McGhee 3B; Zaun C; Escobar SS
Possible rotation: Gallardo; Wolf; Davis; Parra; Suppan
3. Chicago - Manager: Lou Piniella (4th year/24th overall)
Sorry to disappoint the Northsiders but it will be another year without the Cubs bringing home baseballs holy grail. In a valiant race, I see the Cubbies falling short and finishing third. The biggest news for Cubs fans is that Milton Bradley turned into Marlon Byrd in the off season and he should provide more sock in the middle of the order. They also grabbed OF Xavier Nady and IF/OF Kevin Millar as free agents although Millar will have to compete for a job where I think Nady is a lock for the fourth outfield spot.
Key Players: Geovany Soto C; Aramis Ramirez 3B; Alfonso Soriano LF; Marlon Byrd CF; Carlos Zambrano SP
MVP Candidate: Derek Lee 1B
Cy Young Candidate: None
ROY Candidate: None
Key Additions: Marlon Byrd CF (FA-Tex); Xavier Nady OF (FA-NYY); Kevin Millar 1B/3B/OF (FA-Tor); Carlos Silva SP/RP (Trade-Sea)
Possible lineup: Soriano LF; Theriot SS; Lee 1B; Ramirez 3B; Byrd CF; Soto C; Fukudome RF; Fontenot 2B
Possible rotation: Zambrano; Dempster; Lilly; Wells; Gorzelanny
4. Cincinnati - Manager: Dusty Baker (3rd year/17th overall)
This could be the final season of the Dusty Baker regime. While injuries have played a role in the outcome of the previous seasons it won't be pretty if the Reds don't stay in contention until late in the season. They're counting a lot on their young players like ROY candidate CF Drew Stubbs, RF Jay Bruce and 1B Joey Votto as well as the youngsters in the back of the starting rotation. I think its just too much to ask this season but maybe 2011 will be better.
Key Players: Joey Votto 1B; Brandon Phillips 2B; Scott Rolen 3B; Jay Bruce RF; Aaron Harang SP
MVP Candidate: None
Cy Young Candidate: None
ROY Candidate: Drew Stubbs CF
Key Additions: Orlando Cabrera SS (FA-Min); Drew Stubbs CF (Rookie); Aaron Miles IF (Trade-Oak)
Possible lineup: Stubbs CF; Cabrera SS; Votto 1B; Phillips 2B; Rolen 3B; Gomes LF; Bruce RF; Hernandez C;
Possible rotation: Harang; Arroyo; Volquez; Cueto; Bailey
5. Houston - Manager: Brad Mills (1st year)
First year manager Brad Mills brings the winning ways of the Boston Red Sox to Houston as he gets his first chance to pilot a MLB club. Mills is a smart guy and learned a lot along the way as a bench coach in Montreal and Boston but this team is a ways away from making any kind of splash in a pennant race. The left side of the infield is new with the additions of rookie SS Tommy Manzella and free agent 3B Pedro Feliz. I just don't think their pitching will hold up for them and Brandon Lyon just is not a quality anchor in the pen.
Key Players: Lance Berkman 1B; Pedro Feliz 3B; Carlos Lee LF; Roy Oswalt SP; Brandon Lyon RP
MVP Candidate: None
Cy Young Candidate: Roy Oswalt SP
ROY Candidate: None
Key Additions: Pedro Feliz 3B (FA-Phi); Brett Myers SP (FA-Phi); Matt Lindstrom RP (Trade-Fla); Brandon Lyon RP (FA-Det); Tommy Manzella SS (Rookie); Brad Mills MGR
Possible lineup: Bourn CF; Matsui 2B; Berkman 1B; Lee LF; Feliz 3B; Pence RF; Manzella SS; Towles C
Possible rotation: Oswalt; Rodriguez; Myers; Norris; Moehler
6. Pittburgh - Manager: John Russell (3rd year)
Make it 18 losing seasons seasons in a row for Bucs. There isn't a lot here and what is will be wearing a different uniform by September 1. Newly acquired Akinori Iwamura and Bobby Crosby will provide the young team with some leadership but unfortunately they can't help with the pitching. All is not lost in the Steel City though as the Pirates sport one of the most exciting young players in the game in CF Andrew McCutheon and have a potential ROY candidate in Pedro Alvarez but he'll need to bump Andy Laroche to the bench or another team in order to make a splash.
Key Players: Aki Iwamura 2B; Andrew McCutchen CF; Lastings Milledge LF; Paul Maholm SP; Octavio Dotel RP
MVP Candidate: None
Cy Young Candidate: None
ROY Candidate: Pedro Alvarez IF
Key Additions: Aki Iwamura 2B (Trade-TB); Brendan Donnelly RP (FA-Fla); Bobby Crosby IF (FA-Oak)
Possible lineup: McCutchen LF; Iwamura 2B; Jones 1B; Doumit C; Moss RF; LaRoche 3B; Milledge LF; Cedeno SS
Possible rotation: Maholm; Duke; Ohlendorff; Morton; Hart
1. St. Louis - Manager: Tony LaRussa (15th year/33rd overall)
In what could be the tighest division race in all of baseball will come down to three teams. Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Louis all have legit chances to grab the division flag but in the end the Cardinals will be crowned Central Division champs because the of dual 1-2 punches of Albert Pujols and Matt Holiday in the lineup and Cris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright on the mound. The Cards finally signed a top of the order guy in free agent 3B Felipe Lopez and he should help immensely in setting the table for its ever dangerous 3-4 hitters. Brad Penny could play a pivotal role if he pitches well enough to be the third starter. Look for Dave Duncan to get him on track toward a 12-14 win season.
Key Players: Albert Pujols 1B; Matt Holiday LF; Brad Penny SP; Kyle Lohse SP; Ryan Franklin RP
MVP Candidate: Albert Pujols 1B and Matt Holiday LF
Cy Young Candidate: Cris Carpenter SP and Adam Wainwright SP
ROY Candidate: David Freese 3B
Key Additions: Brad Penny SP (FA-SF); Felipe Lopez 3B (FA-Mil); David Freese 3B (Rookie)
Possible lineup: Lopez 3B; Rasmus CF; Pujols 1B; Holiday LF; Ludwick RF; Molina C; Schumacher 2B; Ryan SS
Possible rotation: Carpenter; Wainwright; Penny; Lohse; McClelland
2. Milwaukee - Manager: Ken Macha (2nd year/6th overall)
The Brew Crew didn't make any big name pickups in the offseason but who they did come away with should help solidify the middle of the rotation as well as the middle of the infield. Key acquisitions of CF Carlos Gomez in a trade, the promotion of ROY candidate Alcides Escobar at short and the veteran presence of Gregg Zaun behind the plate make the team fairly strong up the middle. If they get any type of contribution from starting pitchers Manny Parra and Jeff Suppan they'll be tough in the division and wild card race.
Key Players: Prince Fielder 1B; Ryan Braun LF; Carlos Gomez CF; Alcides Escobar SS; Randy Wolf SP; Doug Davis SP
MVP Candidate: Prince Fielder 1B
Cy Young Candidate: None
ROY Candidate: Alcides Escobar SS
Key Additions: Randy Wolf SP (FA-LAD); Doug Davis SP (FA-Ari); Alcides Escobar SS (Rookie); Carlos Gomez CF (Trade-Min); Gregg Zaun C (FA-TB); LaTroy Hawkins RP (FA-Hou)
Possible lineup: Gomez CF; Weeks 2B; Braun LF; Fielder 1B; Hart RF; McGhee 3B; Zaun C; Escobar SS
Possible rotation: Gallardo; Wolf; Davis; Parra; Suppan
3. Chicago - Manager: Lou Piniella (4th year/24th overall)
Sorry to disappoint the Northsiders but it will be another year without the Cubs bringing home baseballs holy grail. In a valiant race, I see the Cubbies falling short and finishing third. The biggest news for Cubs fans is that Milton Bradley turned into Marlon Byrd in the off season and he should provide more sock in the middle of the order. They also grabbed OF Xavier Nady and IF/OF Kevin Millar as free agents although Millar will have to compete for a job where I think Nady is a lock for the fourth outfield spot.
Key Players: Geovany Soto C; Aramis Ramirez 3B; Alfonso Soriano LF; Marlon Byrd CF; Carlos Zambrano SP
MVP Candidate: Derek Lee 1B
Cy Young Candidate: None
ROY Candidate: None
Key Additions: Marlon Byrd CF (FA-Tex); Xavier Nady OF (FA-NYY); Kevin Millar 1B/3B/OF (FA-Tor); Carlos Silva SP/RP (Trade-Sea)
Possible lineup: Soriano LF; Theriot SS; Lee 1B; Ramirez 3B; Byrd CF; Soto C; Fukudome RF; Fontenot 2B
Possible rotation: Zambrano; Dempster; Lilly; Wells; Gorzelanny
4. Cincinnati - Manager: Dusty Baker (3rd year/17th overall)
This could be the final season of the Dusty Baker regime. While injuries have played a role in the outcome of the previous seasons it won't be pretty if the Reds don't stay in contention until late in the season. They're counting a lot on their young players like ROY candidate CF Drew Stubbs, RF Jay Bruce and 1B Joey Votto as well as the youngsters in the back of the starting rotation. I think its just too much to ask this season but maybe 2011 will be better.
Key Players: Joey Votto 1B; Brandon Phillips 2B; Scott Rolen 3B; Jay Bruce RF; Aaron Harang SP
MVP Candidate: None
Cy Young Candidate: None
ROY Candidate: Drew Stubbs CF
Key Additions: Orlando Cabrera SS (FA-Min); Drew Stubbs CF (Rookie); Aaron Miles IF (Trade-Oak)
Possible lineup: Stubbs CF; Cabrera SS; Votto 1B; Phillips 2B; Rolen 3B; Gomes LF; Bruce RF; Hernandez C;
Possible rotation: Harang; Arroyo; Volquez; Cueto; Bailey
5. Houston - Manager: Brad Mills (1st year)
First year manager Brad Mills brings the winning ways of the Boston Red Sox to Houston as he gets his first chance to pilot a MLB club. Mills is a smart guy and learned a lot along the way as a bench coach in Montreal and Boston but this team is a ways away from making any kind of splash in a pennant race. The left side of the infield is new with the additions of rookie SS Tommy Manzella and free agent 3B Pedro Feliz. I just don't think their pitching will hold up for them and Brandon Lyon just is not a quality anchor in the pen.
Key Players: Lance Berkman 1B; Pedro Feliz 3B; Carlos Lee LF; Roy Oswalt SP; Brandon Lyon RP
MVP Candidate: None
Cy Young Candidate: Roy Oswalt SP
ROY Candidate: None
Key Additions: Pedro Feliz 3B (FA-Phi); Brett Myers SP (FA-Phi); Matt Lindstrom RP (Trade-Fla); Brandon Lyon RP (FA-Det); Tommy Manzella SS (Rookie); Brad Mills MGR
Possible lineup: Bourn CF; Matsui 2B; Berkman 1B; Lee LF; Feliz 3B; Pence RF; Manzella SS; Towles C
Possible rotation: Oswalt; Rodriguez; Myers; Norris; Moehler
6. Pittburgh - Manager: John Russell (3rd year)
Make it 18 losing seasons seasons in a row for Bucs. There isn't a lot here and what is will be wearing a different uniform by September 1. Newly acquired Akinori Iwamura and Bobby Crosby will provide the young team with some leadership but unfortunately they can't help with the pitching. All is not lost in the Steel City though as the Pirates sport one of the most exciting young players in the game in CF Andrew McCutheon and have a potential ROY candidate in Pedro Alvarez but he'll need to bump Andy Laroche to the bench or another team in order to make a splash.
Key Players: Aki Iwamura 2B; Andrew McCutchen CF; Lastings Milledge LF; Paul Maholm SP; Octavio Dotel RP
MVP Candidate: None
Cy Young Candidate: None
ROY Candidate: Pedro Alvarez IF
Key Additions: Aki Iwamura 2B (Trade-TB); Brendan Donnelly RP (FA-Fla); Bobby Crosby IF (FA-Oak)
Possible lineup: McCutchen LF; Iwamura 2B; Jones 1B; Doumit C; Moss RF; LaRoche 3B; Milledge LF; Cedeno SS
Possible rotation: Maholm; Duke; Ohlendorff; Morton; Hart
——————————————————————–
Tomorrow: The AL Central. no comments
&qWelcome to the gigantic SOX & Dawgs 2010 MLB preview. Over the next week you will get a team by team look at its key players, new faces, their potential MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year candidates, their possible starting lineup and rotation as well as a quick summary.
This preview was sculpted over a nearly 7 week period in January and February with some mild tweaking as we went along prior to publication. It comes from a culmination of reading so many baseball magazines, periodicals, articles and websites that in some cases I may know a team better that its own management.
Yesterday we looked at the NL West, today it’s the AL West.
American League West
1. Seattle - Manager: Don Wakamatsu (2nd year)
Just a two short seasons after losing 101 games the Seattle Mariners are officially back and will be my pick to win the AL West in 2010. A new general manager in Jack Zduriencik and new manager in Don Wakamatsu have changed the attitude and the direction in just over 1 year. Zduriencik went out and signed SP Felix Hernandez to a new 5 year deal, traded for SP Cliff Lee, 1B Casey Kotchman and LF Milton Bradley and signed free agent 3B Chone Figgins away from divisional rival Los Angeles. The pitching is solid, the lineup is good and the leadership is strong. Look for the Mariners to get into the playoffs and make some noise this team might be the best team no one knows about.
Key Players: Ichiro Suzuki RF; Chone Figgins 3B; Milton Bradley LF; Cliff Lee SP .
MVP Candidate: Ichiro Suzuki RF.
Cy Young Candidate: Felix Hernandez SP.
ROY Candidate: None.
Key Additions: Cliff Lee SP (Trade-Phi); Milton Bradley OF (Trade-Chi); Chone Figgins 3B (FA-LAA); Casey Kotchman 1B (Trade-Bos); Ryan Garko 1B/DH (FA-SF).
Possible lineup: Suzuki RF; Figgins 3B; Bradley LF; Griffey DH; Lopez 2B; Kotchman 1B; Johnson C; Gutierrez CF; Wilson SS
Possible rotation: Hernandez; Lee; Rowland-Smith; Snell; Olsen/Bedard
2. Los Angeles - Manager: Mike Scoscia (11th year)
uot; height="281" />The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’s dominance of the American League West will come to a halt this season and they’ll finish second but should contend with Boston and Tampa Bay for the AL Wild Card. The off season acquistions of DH Hideki Matsui, SP Joel Piniero and the promotion of 3B Brandon Wood will not overcome the free agent losses of Vladimir Guerrero, John Lackey and Chone Figgins like Kendry Morales did in covering the loss of Mark Teixeira in 2009. The loss of Figgins maybe felt the most as he remained in the division and they lost their top of the order spark plug. The loss of Lackey made a very good rotation much more closer to average and they will need Scott Kazmir to return to his old form.
Key Players: Kendry Morales 1B; Brandon Wood 3B; Torii Hunter CF; Hideki Matsui DH: Scott Kazmir SP; Joel Piniero SP.
MVP Candidate: Torii Hunter CF.
Cy Young Candidate: None.
ROY Candidate: Brandon Wood 3B.
Key Additions: Hideki Matsui DH (FA-NYY); Joel Pineiro SP (FA-StL); Fernando Rodney RP (FA-Det); Brandon Wood 3B (Rookie).
Possible lineup: Aybar SS; Kendrick 2B; Abreau RF; Hunter CF; Matsui DH; Morales 1B; Wood 3B; Rivera LF; Napoli C
Possible rotation: Santana; Weaver; Kazmir; Saunders; Pineiro
3. Texas - Manager: Ron Washington (4th year)
I had a hard time deciding where to put the Rangers. I love their lineup but I’m not sold on the rotation. Neftali Feliz has a cannon for an arm and could be the number two starter before seasons end. It’s just that I have too many questions about Scott Feldman, Brandon McCarthy and Tommy Hunter to say this team is a legit threat for the division title or even the Wild Card spot. If they’re in the picture in mid-July Nolan Ryan will need to give GM Jon Daniels permission to get a third arm in the rotation to compliment rich Harden and Feliz. The question is are they deep enough to make a deal like that without mortgaging the immediate future.
Key Players: Ian Kinsler 2B; Michael Young 3B; Josh Hamilton CF; Vlad Guerrero DH; Rich Harden SP.
MVP Candidate: Ian Kinsler 2B.
Cy Young Candidate: None.
ROY Candidate: Neftali Feliz SP.
Key Additions: Vlad Guerrero DH (FA-LAA); Rich Harden SP (FA-Chi); Neftali Feliz SP (Rookie).
Possible lineup: Borbon CF; Kinsler 2B; Young 3B; Hamilton RF; Guerrero DH; Cruz LF; Davis 1B; Teagarden C; Andrus SS
Possible rotation: Harden; Feldman; Feliz; McCarthy; Hunter
4. Oakland - Manager: Bob Geren (4th year)
The Oakland A’s are going nowhere this year that’s a given but they have a stable of good young arms on the pitching staff and added veteran SP Ben Sheets via free agency in February. Sheets should help the youngsters and closer Andrew Bailey should only get better with time. The problem I see with the A’s lineup there is not a lot there this season but hopefully rookie OF Michael Taylor turns out to be as advertised and SS Cliff Pennington looks like a good young player so there is some hope in the future.
Key Players: Mark Ellis 2B; Kevin Kouzmanoff 3B; Coco Crisp CF; Ben Sheets SP; Justin Duchscherer SP; Andrew Bailey RP.
MVP Candidate: None.
Cy Young Candidate: None.
ROY Candidate: Michael Taylor OF.
Key Additions: Coco Crisp OF(FA-KC); Ben Sheets SP (FA-Mil); Kevin Kouzmanoff 3B (Trade-SD); Michael Taylor OF (Trade-Tor).
Possible lineup: Crisp LF; Ellis 2B; Cust DH; Barton 1B; Kouzmanoff 3B; Sweeney RF; Suzuki C; Pennington SS; Taylor CF
Possible rotation: Sheets; Duchscherer; Cahill; Anderson; Gonzalez
1. Seattle - Manager: Don Wakamatsu (2nd year)
Just a two short seasons after losing 101 games the Seattle Mariners are officially back and will be my pick to win the AL West in 2010. A new general manager in Jack Zduriencik and new manager in Don Wakamatsu have changed the attitude and the direction in just over 1 year. Zduriencik went out and signed SP Felix Hernandez to a new 5 year deal, traded for SP Cliff Lee, 1B Casey Kotchman and LF Milton Bradley and signed free agent 3B Chone Figgins away from divisional rival Los Angeles. The pitching is solid, the lineup is good and the leadership is strong. Look for the Mariners to get into the playoffs and make some noise this team might be the best team no one knows about.
Key Players: Ichiro Suzuki RF; Chone Figgins 3B; Milton Bradley LF; Cliff Lee SP .
MVP Candidate: Ichiro Suzuki RF.
Cy Young Candidate: Felix Hernandez SP.
ROY Candidate: None.
Key Additions: Cliff Lee SP (Trade-Phi); Milton Bradley OF (Trade-Chi); Chone Figgins 3B (FA-LAA); Casey Kotchman 1B (Trade-Bos); Ryan Garko 1B/DH (FA-SF).
Possible lineup: Suzuki RF; Figgins 3B; Bradley LF; Griffey DH; Lopez 2B; Kotchman 1B; Johnson C; Gutierrez CF; Wilson SS
Possible rotation: Hernandez; Lee; Rowland-Smith; Snell; Olsen/Bedard
2. Los Angeles - Manager: Mike Scoscia (11th year)
uot; height="281" />The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’s dominance of the American League West will come to a halt this season and they’ll finish second but should contend with Boston and Tampa Bay for the AL Wild Card. The off season acquistions of DH Hideki Matsui, SP Joel Piniero and the promotion of 3B Brandon Wood will not overcome the free agent losses of Vladimir Guerrero, John Lackey and Chone Figgins like Kendry Morales did in covering the loss of Mark Teixeira in 2009. The loss of Figgins maybe felt the most as he remained in the division and they lost their top of the order spark plug. The loss of Lackey made a very good rotation much more closer to average and they will need Scott Kazmir to return to his old form.
Key Players: Kendry Morales 1B; Brandon Wood 3B; Torii Hunter CF; Hideki Matsui DH: Scott Kazmir SP; Joel Piniero SP.
MVP Candidate: Torii Hunter CF.
Cy Young Candidate: None.
ROY Candidate: Brandon Wood 3B.
Key Additions: Hideki Matsui DH (FA-NYY); Joel Pineiro SP (FA-StL); Fernando Rodney RP (FA-Det); Brandon Wood 3B (Rookie).
Possible lineup: Aybar SS; Kendrick 2B; Abreau RF; Hunter CF; Matsui DH; Morales 1B; Wood 3B; Rivera LF; Napoli C
Possible rotation: Santana; Weaver; Kazmir; Saunders; Pineiro
3. Texas - Manager: Ron Washington (4th year)
I had a hard time deciding where to put the Rangers. I love their lineup but I’m not sold on the rotation. Neftali Feliz has a cannon for an arm and could be the number two starter before seasons end. It’s just that I have too many questions about Scott Feldman, Brandon McCarthy and Tommy Hunter to say this team is a legit threat for the division title or even the Wild Card spot. If they’re in the picture in mid-July Nolan Ryan will need to give GM Jon Daniels permission to get a third arm in the rotation to compliment rich Harden and Feliz. The question is are they deep enough to make a deal like that without mortgaging the immediate future.
Key Players: Ian Kinsler 2B; Michael Young 3B; Josh Hamilton CF; Vlad Guerrero DH; Rich Harden SP.
MVP Candidate: Ian Kinsler 2B.
Cy Young Candidate: None.
ROY Candidate: Neftali Feliz SP.
Key Additions: Vlad Guerrero DH (FA-LAA); Rich Harden SP (FA-Chi); Neftali Feliz SP (Rookie).
Possible lineup: Borbon CF; Kinsler 2B; Young 3B; Hamilton RF; Guerrero DH; Cruz LF; Davis 1B; Teagarden C; Andrus SS
Possible rotation: Harden; Feldman; Feliz; McCarthy; Hunter
4. Oakland - Manager: Bob Geren (4th year)
The Oakland A’s are going nowhere this year that’s a given but they have a stable of good young arms on the pitching staff and added veteran SP Ben Sheets via free agency in February. Sheets should help the youngsters and closer Andrew Bailey should only get better with time. The problem I see with the A’s lineup there is not a lot there this season but hopefully rookie OF Michael Taylor turns out to be as advertised and SS Cliff Pennington looks like a good young player so there is some hope in the future.
Key Players: Mark Ellis 2B; Kevin Kouzmanoff 3B; Coco Crisp CF; Ben Sheets SP; Justin Duchscherer SP; Andrew Bailey RP.
MVP Candidate: None.
Cy Young Candidate: None.
ROY Candidate: Michael Taylor OF.
Key Additions: Coco Crisp OF(FA-KC); Ben Sheets SP (FA-Mil); Kevin Kouzmanoff 3B (Trade-SD); Michael Taylor OF (Trade-Tor).
Possible lineup: Crisp LF; Ellis 2B; Cust DH; Barton 1B; Kouzmanoff 3B; Sweeney RF; Suzuki C; Pennington SS; Taylor CF
Possible rotation: Sheets; Duchscherer; Cahill; Anderson; Gonzalez
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Tomorrow: The National League Central no comments
Welcome to the gigantic SOX & Dawgs 2010 MLB preview. Over the next week you will get a team by team look at its key players, new faces, their potential MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year candidates, their possible starting lineup and rotation as well as a quick summary.
This preview was sculpted over a nearly seven week period in January and February with some mild tweaking as we went along prior to publication. It comes from a culmination of reading so many baseball magazines, periodicals, articles and websites that in some cases I may know a team better that its own management.
I hope you enjoy this look at the upcoming season. I know everyone will not agree with me and that’s fine put it in the comments. But I can assure you I have an argument for each and every objection you could possibly raise. It was a lot of work but a lot of fun compiling this preview and starting today we will take a look at the National League West.
The rest of the schedule follows with a different division being profiled each day and the final day will bring you my winners, my award selections and a list of managers who have a lot to prove in 2010 if they want to be on the bench in 2011. Tomorrow you will get the American League West preview followed by the NL Central, AL Central, NL East and AL East.
National League West
1. Los Angeles - Manager: Joe Torre (3rd year/29th overall)
The National League West should once again belong to Joe Torre and the Los Angeles Dodgers. They return nearly their entire starting line up from 2009 and have a young but talented rotation at the top in Clayton Kershaw, a hard throwing lefty, and Chad Billingsley. They just need the back end of the rotation to be slightly better than average and they win the division. The biggest thing the Dodgers did in the off season was to re-formulate their bench and they did so by signing free agents Reed Johnson, Jamey Carroll and veteran Brian Giles.
Key Players: Andre Ethier CF; Matt Kemp RF; Russell Martin C; Manny Ramirez LF; Clayton Kershaw SP; Chad Billingsley SP
MVP Candidate: Andre Ethier CF
Cy Young Candidate: Clayton Kershaw SP
ROY Candidate: None
Key Additions: Reed Johnson OF (FA-Chi); Jamey Carroll IF (FA-Cle); Russ Ortiz SP (FA-Hou); Brian Giles OF (FA-SD)
Possible lineup: Furcal SS; Belliard 2B; Ethier CF; Ramirez LF; Kemp RF; Blake 3B; Loney 1B; Martin C
Possible rotation: Kershaw; Billingsley; Kuroda; Padilla; Ortiz
2. Arizona - Manager: A.J. Hinch (2nd year)
The Arizona Diamondbacks are my pick for second place in the division. They reworked the middle of the rotation with trades for Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy and acquired a new right side of the infield through free agency by grabbing Adam LaRoche and Kelly Johnson. The lineup is powered by up and coming superstar RF Justin Upton, the younger brother of Tampa Bay's B.J. Upton, who should contend for MVP if the D-Backs find themselves in the playoff chase.
Key Players: Justin Upton RF; Mark Reynolds 3B; Conor Jackson LF; Chris Young CF
MVP Candidate: Justin Upton RF
Cy Young Candidate: Dan Haren SP
ROY Candidate: None
Key Additions: Adam LaRoche 1B (FA-Atl); Kelly Johnson 2B (FA-Atl); Edwin Jackson SP (Trade-Det); Ian Kennedy SP (Trade-NYY); Aaron Heilman RP (Trade-Chi)
Possible lineup: Drew SS; Johnson 2B; Upton RF; Reynolds 3B; LaRoche 1B; Jackson LF; Montero C; Young CF
Possible rotation: Haren; Webb; Jackson; Kennedy; Buckner
3. Colorado - Manager: Jim Tracy (2nd year/9th overall)
Last seasons comeback kids, the Colorado Rockies, won't get back to the post season and will finish 3rd in the West. The lineup doesn't scare you and the rotation needs Aaron Cook and Jeff Francis to have great seasons and I just don't see it. They didn't seem to do much to improve over the winter where Arizona and LA did.
Key Players: Troy Tulowitzki SS; Dexter Fowler CF; Eric Young Jr LF; Aaron Cook SP; Jeff Francis SP
MVP Candidate: None
Cy Young Candidate: None
ROY Candidate: Eric Young Jr LF
Key Additions: Melvin Mora IF (FA-Bal); Eric Young LF (Rookie); Miguel Olivo C (FA-KC); Justin Speier RP (FA-LAA);
Possible lineup: Fowler CF; Barmes 2B; Helton 1B; Tulowitzki SS; Hawpe RF; Stewart 3B; Iannetta C; Young Jr LF
Possible rotation: Jimenez; Cook; Francis; De La Rosa; Hammel
4. San Francisco - Manager: Bruce Bochy (4th year/16th overall)
Okay so you got back-to-back Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum and you have Matt Cain behind him but you're counting on too much from Barry Zito, rookie Madison Bumgarner and Jonathan Sanchez, who threw a no-no last season in a replacement start, to get you into the race. The lineup will have key contributions from Adam Rowand, Pablo Sandoval and Aubrey Huff but I just don't see the Giants competing without a big power bat in the everyday lineup.
Key Players: Pablo Sandoval 3B; Buster Posey C; Aaron Rowand CF; Aubrey Huff 1B; Matt Cain SP; Brian Wilson RP
MVP Candidate: None
Cy Young Candidate: Tim Lincecum SP
ROY Candidate: Buster Posey C and Madison Bumgarner SP
Key Additions: Aubrey Huff 1B (FA-Det); Mark DeRosa LF (FA-Stl); Buster Posey C (Rookie); Madison Bumgarner SP (Rookie)
Possible lineup: Rowand CF; Renteria SS; Sandoval 3B; Huff 1B; Sanchez 2B; Molina C; DeRosa LF; Schierholtz RF
Possible rotation: Lincecum; Cain; Zito; Bumgarner; Sanchez
5. San Diego - Manager: Bud Black (4th year)
The San Diego Padres were dreadful last season and will be again in 2010. Pads fans should enjoy Adrian Gonzalez while he's there because come the July trade deadline he will be one of the top commodities on the trade market and look for the Boston Red Sox to come calling offering some prime chips from their farm system. Young players Chase Headley, Tony Gwynn Jr and Kyle Blanks will get plenty of time to grow and learn for upcoming seasons.
Key Players: Adrian Gonzalez 1B; Chase Headley 3B; Tony Gwynn Jr CF; Chris Young SP
MVP Candidate: None
Cy Young Candidate: None
ROY Candidate: None
Key Additions: Yorvit Torrealba C (FA-Col); Jerry Hairston Jr (Trade-Oak); Radhames Liz RP (Waivers-Bal); Jon Garland SP (FA-LAD)
Possible lineup: Cabrera SS; Eckstein 2B; Gonzalez 1B; Headley 3B; Hundley C; Gwynn Jr CF; Blanks LF; Venable RF
Possible rotation: Young; Garland Correia; Richard; Latos
1. Los Angeles - Manager: Joe Torre (3rd year/29th overall)
The National League West should once again belong to Joe Torre and the Los Angeles Dodgers. They return nearly their entire starting line up from 2009 and have a young but talented rotation at the top in Clayton Kershaw, a hard throwing lefty, and Chad Billingsley. They just need the back end of the rotation to be slightly better than average and they win the division. The biggest thing the Dodgers did in the off season was to re-formulate their bench and they did so by signing free agents Reed Johnson, Jamey Carroll and veteran Brian Giles.
Key Players: Andre Ethier CF; Matt Kemp RF; Russell Martin C; Manny Ramirez LF; Clayton Kershaw SP; Chad Billingsley SP
MVP Candidate: Andre Ethier CF
Cy Young Candidate: Clayton Kershaw SP
ROY Candidate: None
Key Additions: Reed Johnson OF (FA-Chi); Jamey Carroll IF (FA-Cle); Russ Ortiz SP (FA-Hou); Brian Giles OF (FA-SD)
Possible lineup: Furcal SS; Belliard 2B; Ethier CF; Ramirez LF; Kemp RF; Blake 3B; Loney 1B; Martin C
Possible rotation: Kershaw; Billingsley; Kuroda; Padilla; Ortiz
2. Arizona - Manager: A.J. Hinch (2nd year)
The Arizona Diamondbacks are my pick for second place in the division. They reworked the middle of the rotation with trades for Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy and acquired a new right side of the infield through free agency by grabbing Adam LaRoche and Kelly Johnson. The lineup is powered by up and coming superstar RF Justin Upton, the younger brother of Tampa Bay's B.J. Upton, who should contend for MVP if the D-Backs find themselves in the playoff chase.
Key Players: Justin Upton RF; Mark Reynolds 3B; Conor Jackson LF; Chris Young CF
MVP Candidate: Justin Upton RF
Cy Young Candidate: Dan Haren SP
ROY Candidate: None
Key Additions: Adam LaRoche 1B (FA-Atl); Kelly Johnson 2B (FA-Atl); Edwin Jackson SP (Trade-Det); Ian Kennedy SP (Trade-NYY); Aaron Heilman RP (Trade-Chi)
Possible lineup: Drew SS; Johnson 2B; Upton RF; Reynolds 3B; LaRoche 1B; Jackson LF; Montero C; Young CF
Possible rotation: Haren; Webb; Jackson; Kennedy; Buckner
3. Colorado - Manager: Jim Tracy (2nd year/9th overall)
Last seasons comeback kids, the Colorado Rockies, won't get back to the post season and will finish 3rd in the West. The lineup doesn't scare you and the rotation needs Aaron Cook and Jeff Francis to have great seasons and I just don't see it. They didn't seem to do much to improve over the winter where Arizona and LA did.
Key Players: Troy Tulowitzki SS; Dexter Fowler CF; Eric Young Jr LF; Aaron Cook SP; Jeff Francis SP
MVP Candidate: None
Cy Young Candidate: None
ROY Candidate: Eric Young Jr LF
Key Additions: Melvin Mora IF (FA-Bal); Eric Young LF (Rookie); Miguel Olivo C (FA-KC); Justin Speier RP (FA-LAA);
Possible lineup: Fowler CF; Barmes 2B; Helton 1B; Tulowitzki SS; Hawpe RF; Stewart 3B; Iannetta C; Young Jr LF
Possible rotation: Jimenez; Cook; Francis; De La Rosa; Hammel
4. San Francisco - Manager: Bruce Bochy (4th year/16th overall)
Okay so you got back-to-back Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum and you have Matt Cain behind him but you're counting on too much from Barry Zito, rookie Madison Bumgarner and Jonathan Sanchez, who threw a no-no last season in a replacement start, to get you into the race. The lineup will have key contributions from Adam Rowand, Pablo Sandoval and Aubrey Huff but I just don't see the Giants competing without a big power bat in the everyday lineup.
Key Players: Pablo Sandoval 3B; Buster Posey C; Aaron Rowand CF; Aubrey Huff 1B; Matt Cain SP; Brian Wilson RP
MVP Candidate: None
Cy Young Candidate: Tim Lincecum SP
ROY Candidate: Buster Posey C and Madison Bumgarner SP
Key Additions: Aubrey Huff 1B (FA-Det); Mark DeRosa LF (FA-Stl); Buster Posey C (Rookie); Madison Bumgarner SP (Rookie)
Possible lineup: Rowand CF; Renteria SS; Sandoval 3B; Huff 1B; Sanchez 2B; Molina C; DeRosa LF; Schierholtz RF
Possible rotation: Lincecum; Cain; Zito; Bumgarner; Sanchez
5. San Diego - Manager: Bud Black (4th year)
The San Diego Padres were dreadful last season and will be again in 2010. Pads fans should enjoy Adrian Gonzalez while he's there because come the July trade deadline he will be one of the top commodities on the trade market and look for the Boston Red Sox to come calling offering some prime chips from their farm system. Young players Chase Headley, Tony Gwynn Jr and Kyle Blanks will get plenty of time to grow and learn for upcoming seasons.
Key Players: Adrian Gonzalez 1B; Chase Headley 3B; Tony Gwynn Jr CF; Chris Young SP
MVP Candidate: None
Cy Young Candidate: None
ROY Candidate: None
Key Additions: Yorvit Torrealba C (FA-Col); Jerry Hairston Jr (Trade-Oak); Radhames Liz RP (Waivers-Bal); Jon Garland SP (FA-LAD)
Possible lineup: Cabrera SS; Eckstein 2B; Gonzalez 1B; Headley 3B; Hundley C; Gwynn Jr CF; Blanks LF; Venable RF
Possible rotation: Young; Garland Correia; Richard; Latos
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Tomorrow: The American League West no comments
With many publications taking some time to crank out their MLB All-Decade Team for the 2000's, I thought it was time to do the same here at SOX & Dawgs. Some of the picks are pretty obvious, some might be borderline but I'll do my best to express why that player has earned the right to be on the team.
I'll give you all 8 regular fielders, a DH a five man starting rotation, closer, manager and finish with the Player of the Decade. The only real rule is they had to have played in at least part of 6 seasons or more.
I'd love to hear your thoughts and who you'd put there and why so as always feel free to comment.
First Base
There many good first baseman in this category. Mark Teixeira who played with the Braves, Rangers, Angels and Yankees; Astros 1B Lance Berkman and Rockies legend Todd Helton but it's pretty hard to over look the man who will be a first ballot Hall of Famer, a guy who is re-writing the record books and an obvious candidate for Player of the Decade and that's Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols. He hit .344 with 366 HR and 1112 RBI, who the 2001 NL Rookie of the Year, was an 8-time All-Star and won 3 NL MVP Awards, 1 Gold Glove, 5 Silver Sluggers, 1 batting title, lead the league in hits once and total bases four times. He is the hands down UNANIMOUS choice at first base.
Second Base
Possibly the hardest position to pick. Do you take the guy who is in his prime in Phillies 2B Chase Utley or do you go for former Dodgers, Astros and Giants 2B Jeff Kent? They both had a solid decade. Kent hit around .295 with 216 HR and 850 RBI, he won 1 NL MVP, won 4 Silver Sluggers and was a 4-time All-Star. Utley also hit .295 but had only 161 HR with 585 RBI and won 4 Silver Sluggers and was a 4-time All-Star and won a championship with Philadelphia in 2008. In Utley's defense he played only 43 games in 2003 and 94 games in 2004. Their 162 averages are remarkably similar so it comes down to do you favor the "team guy" in Utley or a more "me first" attitude guy in Kent? I believe in team and therefore Utley is my choice at 2B.
Shortstop
Yet another argument would you rather have Yankees SS Derek Jeter, Orioles, A's and Astros SS Miguel Tejada or Giants, Indians and Rangers SS Omar Vizquel? If you're looking at it from a purely defensive standard than your choice is Vizquel. Other than Ozzie Smith, Omar maybe the most incredible shortstop I ever saw play and has 4 Gold Gloves in the decade. Tejada won an AL MVP with Oakland, was a 6-time All-Star and won 2 Silver Sluggers. While Jeter was an 8-time All-Star, won 4 Gold Gloves and 4 Silver Sluggers and was a part of two championship teams that played in 4 World Series in the decade. Jeter hit well over .300 for the decade with 161 HR and 727 RBI and who knows how many clutch hits which makes his the shortstop on the All-Decade Team.
Third Base
When you talk about third baseman in the decade for the me the argument starts and stops with New York's Alex Rodriguez. He is a 9-time All-Star, won 7 Silver Sluggers, 2 Gold Gloves (while at SS) and 3 MVPs and finally got his championship ring in 2009 despite revelations that he used PEDs during his career. He led the league in slugging pct 4 times, OPS 3 times, total bases 3 times, RBI twice and HRs five times hitting 50 or more three of those times. He hit over .300 for the decade and added 435 HR and 1243 RBI with those numbers he is not only the third baseman but a candidate for Player of the Decade.
Left Field
Well which mine field would you prefer to step into? Barry Bonds or Manny Ramirez who are hands down the only two you can really consider here. Ramirez, who played for the Indians, Red Sox and Dodgers in the decade is a hitting savant. I really think at times Manny makes himself look like an idiot at that plate just so that when he counts he is in the pitchers head. An 8-time All-Star and winner of 7 Silver Sluggers, the man with the dreads was a part of two World Series Championships in Boston last decade and was a World Series MVP (2004). In nearly 8 seasons with Boston he hit .312 with 274 HR and 868 RBI, in one season in Cleveland he hit .352 with 38 HR and 122 RBI and in a little over a year in LA he hit .327 with 36 HR and 116 RBI for a decade total of 348 HR and 1096 RBI and one suspension for PED use. Bonds, on the other hand, became baseball's All-Time HR Leader (762), single season HR record holder (73 in 2001) and perhaps sports most vilified athlete of our time for his alleged PED use and boorish behavior towards the fans and media. In the decade Bonds won 4 of his 7 MVPs and finished 2nd another time, was on 6 All-Star teams, won 5 Silver Slugger Awards, 2 batting titles, led the league in HRs once, 5 times in walks including a record 232 in 2004, 6 times in OBP, 4 times in slugging and 4 times in OPS. Bonds is my choice for LF and is a candidate for the Player of the Decade.
Center Field
Yet another position with a few choices (Jim Edmonds, Andruw Jones) but the two most obvious are Twins and Angels CF Torii Hunter and Royals, Astros, Mets CF Carlos Beltran. Do you want the better offensive numbers in Beltran or more of mix with better defensive numbers in Hunter? Beltran was better offensively as he drove in and scored 100 runs in a season six times in the decade plus he stole bases at a 90% success rate, he had 3 Gold Gloves and hit 251 HRs while driving in 910. He also earned two Silver Sluggers and was a four time All-Star. Hunter, was a three time All-Star, won 9 Gold Gloves, hit 224 HRs and drove in 842. and neither player won a World Series or an MVP. Maybe I am biased being an American League guy and I've seen Hunter up close and personal were I've haven't seen Beltran as much that I'm going to give the advantage to Hunter. He's just always seemed like a guy I wanted on my team who plays with heart and conviction where to me Beltran knows he's good and at times doesn't appear to put forward his best effort ala J.D. Drew.
Right Field
Ok do you want the guy with a cannon for an arm who made 9 All-Star appearances, won 3 Silver Sluggers, a ROY, a MVP, 9 Gold Gloves is a .333 lifetime hitter, has never had less than 206 hits in a season, lead the league in hits 6 times and twice broke the record for most hits in a single season or do you want the guy with a cannon for arm, a hitting zone from his head to his toes, the best bad ball hitter possibly of all-time, who made 7 All-Star teams, won a MVP and has 6 Silver Sluggers while hitting .321 with 315 HRs and 1037 RBI? I think I'm going with the hit machine, Seattle RF Ichiro Suzuki over Angels and Expos and Angels RF Vlad Guerrero. And not only that, I think Suzuki deserves a nomination for Player of the Decade as well.
Catcher
While Yankees backstop Jorge Posada had a longer body of work it's hard to over look what Twins C Joe Mauer has done in the short time he has been around including a AL ROY, AL MVP and winning three batting titles becoming the first AL catcher in history to win even 1 batting crown. In 2009 he led the AL in hitting, OBP and slugging and he has won also added two Gold Gloves, 3 All-Star appearances and 3 Silver Slugger awards. Not bad for a guy who won't be 27 until the 2010 season starts.
Designated Hitter
While considering the options of who the DH of the decade is I think you really only have to consider one name and that's Twins and Red Sox DH David Ortiz. 307 HRs, 1016 RBI, 5 All-Star games, 4 Silver Sluggers and 2 World Series titles along with some of the biggest and baddest clutch hits anyone this side of Andre Either can recall. He led the AL in HR once, RBI twice, BB twice and extra base hits three times. Not bad for a guy the Twins thought was done in 2003 and released only to be signed by Boston and become a Back Bay legend. In 2009 Ortiz faced questions about a possible failed PED test conducted by MLB back earlier in the decade and like most of the others, some on this list, who also faced the questions of PED usage the issue has faded into the background.
And now if we were considering a lineup for these guys, this is how I see it shaping up.
Ichiro, RF; Bonds, LF; Ortiz, DH; Pujols, 1B; ARod, 3B; Mauer, C; Utley, 2B; Hunter, CF; Jeter, SS
Starting Rotation (in order)
You'd have to be an idiot to suggest that anyone other than the Yankee's Mariano Rivera is the Closer of the All-Decade team. Don't get me wrong their were some other good closers in the 2000's Trevor Hoffman of the Padres, Twins Joe Nathan, Red Sox Jonathan Papelbon, Eric Gagne when he was in LA but no one is or has been as consistent as the great Rivera. He was an 8-time All-Star, twice was in the Top 3 in Cy Young voting, twice led the league in saves and twice was on the mound when his team won a World Series this decade. He is a sure fire Hall of Famer and a nominee for Player of the Decade.
Manager
The candidates here are incredible, some even legendary. Yankees and Dodgers boss Joe Torre, Cardinals skipper Tony LaRussa, Braves manager Bobby Cox, Angels boss Mike Scoscia and Phillies and Red Sox leader Terry Francona. All six have had a good decade but to me winning is the key and only Cox didn't even win a National League pennant this decade. Torre has been to the playoffs all ten seasons 3 times to the World Series but how can we forget the historic choke job his 2004 team pulled. Scoscia's team made a fantastic playoff run in 2002 to win it all and LaRussa got his second title in 2006, but when you count rings this decade there's only one guy on that list with two over the last ten years and that's Francona who is my Manager of the Decade.
Player of the Decade
The Candidates...Pujols, Bonds, Rodriguez, Rivera and Ichiro. Those are the final five but to me Bonds and A-Rod get left out because of the PED issues. While no one has changed the game more than Mariano Rivera in the last 12 or 13 seasons he finishes third in this horse race because when people come to the park, while they might want to see the "Great Mariano" lock one down they buy the tickets to watch guys like Ichiro and Pujols. One is power, the other finesse and you can make an argument either way, for either guy. But when one guy hits for average and power and does things either no one in the game has ever done or does things that haven't been done since the 1940's or 50's I think the choice is pretty obvious and that St. Louis 1B Albert Pujols in the MLB Player of the Decade for the 2000's.
Coming up on Sunday, we'll start our rundowns of each division. We'll start with the NL West and move forward each day. The whole series will culminate with awards predictions for the 2010 season. So be on the lookout starting Sunday for that.
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There many good first baseman in this category. Mark Teixeira who played with the Braves, Rangers, Angels and Yankees; Astros 1B Lance Berkman and Rockies legend Todd Helton but it's pretty hard to over look the man who will be a first ballot Hall of Famer, a guy who is re-writing the record books and an obvious candidate for Player of the Decade and that's Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols. He hit .344 with 366 HR and 1112 RBI, who the 2001 NL Rookie of the Year, was an 8-time All-Star and won 3 NL MVP Awards, 1 Gold Glove, 5 Silver Sluggers, 1 batting title, lead the league in hits once and total bases four times. He is the hands down UNANIMOUS choice at first base.
Second Base
Possibly the hardest position to pick. Do you take the guy who is in his prime in Phillies 2B Chase Utley or do you go for former Dodgers, Astros and Giants 2B Jeff Kent? They both had a solid decade. Kent hit around .295 with 216 HR and 850 RBI, he won 1 NL MVP, won 4 Silver Sluggers and was a 4-time All-Star. Utley also hit .295 but had only 161 HR with 585 RBI and won 4 Silver Sluggers and was a 4-time All-Star and won a championship with Philadelphia in 2008. In Utley's defense he played only 43 games in 2003 and 94 games in 2004. Their 162 averages are remarkably similar so it comes down to do you favor the "team guy" in Utley or a more "me first" attitude guy in Kent? I believe in team and therefore Utley is my choice at 2B.
Shortstop
Yet another argument would you rather have Yankees SS Derek Jeter, Orioles, A's and Astros SS Miguel Tejada or Giants, Indians and Rangers SS Omar Vizquel? If you're looking at it from a purely defensive standard than your choice is Vizquel. Other than Ozzie Smith, Omar maybe the most incredible shortstop I ever saw play and has 4 Gold Gloves in the decade. Tejada won an AL MVP with Oakland, was a 6-time All-Star and won 2 Silver Sluggers. While Jeter was an 8-time All-Star, won 4 Gold Gloves and 4 Silver Sluggers and was a part of two championship teams that played in 4 World Series in the decade. Jeter hit well over .300 for the decade with 161 HR and 727 RBI and who knows how many clutch hits which makes his the shortstop on the All-Decade Team.
Third Base
When you talk about third baseman in the decade for the me the argument starts and stops with New York's Alex Rodriguez. He is a 9-time All-Star, won 7 Silver Sluggers, 2 Gold Gloves (while at SS) and 3 MVPs and finally got his championship ring in 2009 despite revelations that he used PEDs during his career. He led the league in slugging pct 4 times, OPS 3 times, total bases 3 times, RBI twice and HRs five times hitting 50 or more three of those times. He hit over .300 for the decade and added 435 HR and 1243 RBI with those numbers he is not only the third baseman but a candidate for Player of the Decade.
Left Field
Well which mine field would you prefer to step into? Barry Bonds or Manny Ramirez who are hands down the only two you can really consider here. Ramirez, who played for the Indians, Red Sox and Dodgers in the decade is a hitting savant. I really think at times Manny makes himself look like an idiot at that plate just so that when he counts he is in the pitchers head. An 8-time All-Star and winner of 7 Silver Sluggers, the man with the dreads was a part of two World Series Championships in Boston last decade and was a World Series MVP (2004). In nearly 8 seasons with Boston he hit .312 with 274 HR and 868 RBI, in one season in Cleveland he hit .352 with 38 HR and 122 RBI and in a little over a year in LA he hit .327 with 36 HR and 116 RBI for a decade total of 348 HR and 1096 RBI and one suspension for PED use. Bonds, on the other hand, became baseball's All-Time HR Leader (762), single season HR record holder (73 in 2001) and perhaps sports most vilified athlete of our time for his alleged PED use and boorish behavior towards the fans and media. In the decade Bonds won 4 of his 7 MVPs and finished 2nd another time, was on 6 All-Star teams, won 5 Silver Slugger Awards, 2 batting titles, led the league in HRs once, 5 times in walks including a record 232 in 2004, 6 times in OBP, 4 times in slugging and 4 times in OPS. Bonds is my choice for LF and is a candidate for the Player of the Decade.
Center Field
Yet another position with a few choices (Jim Edmonds, Andruw Jones) but the two most obvious are Twins and Angels CF Torii Hunter and Royals, Astros, Mets CF Carlos Beltran. Do you want the better offensive numbers in Beltran or more of mix with better defensive numbers in Hunter? Beltran was better offensively as he drove in and scored 100 runs in a season six times in the decade plus he stole bases at a 90% success rate, he had 3 Gold Gloves and hit 251 HRs while driving in 910. He also earned two Silver Sluggers and was a four time All-Star. Hunter, was a three time All-Star, won 9 Gold Gloves, hit 224 HRs and drove in 842. and neither player won a World Series or an MVP. Maybe I am biased being an American League guy and I've seen Hunter up close and personal were I've haven't seen Beltran as much that I'm going to give the advantage to Hunter. He's just always seemed like a guy I wanted on my team who plays with heart and conviction where to me Beltran knows he's good and at times doesn't appear to put forward his best effort ala J.D. Drew.
Right Field
Ok do you want the guy with a cannon for an arm who made 9 All-Star appearances, won 3 Silver Sluggers, a ROY, a MVP, 9 Gold Gloves is a .333 lifetime hitter, has never had less than 206 hits in a season, lead the league in hits 6 times and twice broke the record for most hits in a single season or do you want the guy with a cannon for arm, a hitting zone from his head to his toes, the best bad ball hitter possibly of all-time, who made 7 All-Star teams, won a MVP and has 6 Silver Sluggers while hitting .321 with 315 HRs and 1037 RBI? I think I'm going with the hit machine, Seattle RF Ichiro Suzuki over Angels and Expos and Angels RF Vlad Guerrero. And not only that, I think Suzuki deserves a nomination for Player of the Decade as well.
Catcher
While Yankees backstop Jorge Posada had a longer body of work it's hard to over look what Twins C Joe Mauer has done in the short time he has been around including a AL ROY, AL MVP and winning three batting titles becoming the first AL catcher in history to win even 1 batting crown. In 2009 he led the AL in hitting, OBP and slugging and he has won also added two Gold Gloves, 3 All-Star appearances and 3 Silver Slugger awards. Not bad for a guy who won't be 27 until the 2010 season starts.
Designated Hitter
While considering the options of who the DH of the decade is I think you really only have to consider one name and that's Twins and Red Sox DH David Ortiz. 307 HRs, 1016 RBI, 5 All-Star games, 4 Silver Sluggers and 2 World Series titles along with some of the biggest and baddest clutch hits anyone this side of Andre Either can recall. He led the AL in HR once, RBI twice, BB twice and extra base hits three times. Not bad for a guy the Twins thought was done in 2003 and released only to be signed by Boston and become a Back Bay legend. In 2009 Ortiz faced questions about a possible failed PED test conducted by MLB back earlier in the decade and like most of the others, some on this list, who also faced the questions of PED usage the issue has faded into the background.
And now if we were considering a lineup for these guys, this is how I see it shaping up.
Ichiro, RF; Bonds, LF; Ortiz, DH; Pujols, 1B; ARod, 3B; Mauer, C; Utley, 2B; Hunter, CF; Jeter, SS
Starting Rotation (in order)
You'd have to be an idiot to suggest that anyone other than the Yankee's Mariano Rivera is the Closer of the All-Decade team. Don't get me wrong their were some other good closers in the 2000's Trevor Hoffman of the Padres, Twins Joe Nathan, Red Sox Jonathan Papelbon, Eric Gagne when he was in LA but no one is or has been as consistent as the great Rivera. He was an 8-time All-Star, twice was in the Top 3 in Cy Young voting, twice led the league in saves and twice was on the mound when his team won a World Series this decade. He is a sure fire Hall of Famer and a nominee for Player of the Decade.
Manager
The candidates here are incredible, some even legendary. Yankees and Dodgers boss Joe Torre, Cardinals skipper Tony LaRussa, Braves manager Bobby Cox, Angels boss Mike Scoscia and Phillies and Red Sox leader Terry Francona. All six have had a good decade but to me winning is the key and only Cox didn't even win a National League pennant this decade. Torre has been to the playoffs all ten seasons 3 times to the World Series but how can we forget the historic choke job his 2004 team pulled. Scoscia's team made a fantastic playoff run in 2002 to win it all and LaRussa got his second title in 2006, but when you count rings this decade there's only one guy on that list with two over the last ten years and that's Francona who is my Manager of the Decade.
Player of the Decade
The Candidates...Pujols, Bonds, Rodriguez, Rivera and Ichiro. Those are the final five but to me Bonds and A-Rod get left out because of the PED issues. While no one has changed the game more than Mariano Rivera in the last 12 or 13 seasons he finishes third in this horse race because when people come to the park, while they might want to see the "Great Mariano" lock one down they buy the tickets to watch guys like Ichiro and Pujols. One is power, the other finesse and you can make an argument either way, for either guy. But when one guy hits for average and power and does things either no one in the game has ever done or does things that haven't been done since the 1940's or 50's I think the choice is pretty obvious and that St. Louis 1B Albert Pujols in the MLB Player of the Decade for the 2000's.
Coming up on Sunday, we'll start our rundowns of each division. We'll start with the NL West and move forward each day. The whole series will culminate with awards predictions for the 2010 season. So be on the lookout starting Sunday for that.
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Guys are you stuck on an idea for Valentine’s Day? Ladies does your man like sausages? Is your significant other a Brewers fan? If they are, you just might be in luck for a real one of a kind gift.
MLB Auctions is actually auctioning off Milwaukee’s Racing Sausages.
That’s right, said tubular mounds of meat could be headed your way to deliver your special gift of love to your Valentine. In addition to the five sausages, well actually dudes dressed like sausages, you get two club level seats to a Brewers-Pirates game in April AND a special Miller Park scoreboard message for your sweetie.
The only hitch is you need to be within 45 miles of Milwaukee in mid-February. Hey there’s always a catch right?
The actual value is listed at $850.00 (damn how expensive are those club seats in April? Is that a “premium” game?) with bids starting at $300.00. You can get in on it by visiting brewers.com.
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Already a member of the Carl Everett's Crazy Hall of Fame here on the site for a fight while a member of the Long Island Ducks, Jose Offerman has once again done something asinine.
He punched an umpire during a Dominican winter league game.
Something tells me that Offerman may need to take some anger management classes. Either that or be locked up a in a padded cell for a very long time.
Update 1/18: Offerman has been suspended by the Dominican winter league for life.
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Here's the statement made to the AP by former St. Louis Cardinals stud and current hitting coach Mark McGwire in which he admits using steroids, including during his record breaking 1998 season.
"Now that I have become the hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals, I have the chance to do something that I wish I was able to do five years ago.
I never knew when, but I always knew this day would come. It's time for me to talk about the past and to confirm what people have suspected. I used steroids during my playing career and I apologize. I remember trying steroids very briefly in the 1989/1990 off season and then after I was injured in 1993, I used steroids again. I used them on occasion throughout the '90s, including during the 1998 season.
I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era.
During the mid-'90s, I went on the DL seven times and missed 228 games over five years. I experienced a lot of injuries, including a ribcage strain, a torn left heel muscle, a stress fracture of the left heel, and a torn right heel muscle. It was definitely a miserable bunch of years and I told myself that steroids could help me recover faster. I thought they would help me heal and prevent injuries, too.
I'm sure people will wonder if I could have hit all those home runs had I never taken steroids. I had good years when I didn't take any and I had bad years when I didn't take any. I had good years when I took steroids and I had bad years when I took steroids. But no matter what, I shouldn't have done it and for that I'm truly sorry.
Baseball is really different now -- it's been cleaned up. The commissioner and the players' association implemented testing and they cracked down, and I'm glad they did.
I'm grateful to the Cardinals for bringing me back to baseball. I want to say thank you to Cardinals owner Mr. DeWitt, to my GM, John Mozeliak, and to my manager, Tony La Russa. I can't wait to put the uniform on again and to be back on the field in front of the great fans in Saint Louis. I've always appreciated their support and I intend to earn it again, this time as hitting coach. I'm going to pour myself into this job and do everything I can to help the Cardinals hitters become the best players for years to come.
After all this time, I want to come clean. I was not in a position to do that five years ago in my congressional testimony, but now I feel an obligation to discuss this and to answer questions about it. I'll do that, and then I just want to help my team."
It's scary to think back to this because it was McGwire and Sammy Sosa who put baseball back on the map in 1998 due to the fallout from the 1995 strike. And now of course it's tainted. But then again that whole era was.
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"Now that I have become the hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals, I have the chance to do something that I wish I was able to do five years ago.
I never knew when, but I always knew this day would come. It's time for me to talk about the past and to confirm what people have suspected. I used steroids during my playing career and I apologize. I remember trying steroids very briefly in the 1989/1990 off season and then after I was injured in 1993, I used steroids again. I used them on occasion throughout the '90s, including during the 1998 season.
I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era.
During the mid-'90s, I went on the DL seven times and missed 228 games over five years. I experienced a lot of injuries, including a ribcage strain, a torn left heel muscle, a stress fracture of the left heel, and a torn right heel muscle. It was definitely a miserable bunch of years and I told myself that steroids could help me recover faster. I thought they would help me heal and prevent injuries, too.
I'm sure people will wonder if I could have hit all those home runs had I never taken steroids. I had good years when I didn't take any and I had bad years when I didn't take any. I had good years when I took steroids and I had bad years when I took steroids. But no matter what, I shouldn't have done it and for that I'm truly sorry.
Baseball is really different now -- it's been cleaned up. The commissioner and the players' association implemented testing and they cracked down, and I'm glad they did.
I'm grateful to the Cardinals for bringing me back to baseball. I want to say thank you to Cardinals owner Mr. DeWitt, to my GM, John Mozeliak, and to my manager, Tony La Russa. I can't wait to put the uniform on again and to be back on the field in front of the great fans in Saint Louis. I've always appreciated their support and I intend to earn it again, this time as hitting coach. I'm going to pour myself into this job and do everything I can to help the Cardinals hitters become the best players for years to come.
After all this time, I want to come clean. I was not in a position to do that five years ago in my congressional testimony, but now I feel an obligation to discuss this and to answer questions about it. I'll do that, and then I just want to help my team."
It's scary to think back to this because it was McGwire and Sammy Sosa who put baseball back on the map in 1998 due to the fallout from the 1995 strike. And now of course it's tainted. But then again that whole era was.
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Jocketty said the team really got involved in a significant way to sign Chapman just before Christmas. The Reds stayed in touch the whole time and negotiations really started heating up over the last 4 to 5 days. “You have to make bold moves from time to time,” Jocketty said.The Red Sox were involved early on in the process having made a $15.5 million offer to Chapman. But according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com, the Red Sox pulled the offer when Chapman switched agents. On the baseball side of things, it's good to see a small market team get involved and take a chance. Now if more of those small market teams took a risk like this, we might not see as much parity in baseball like we do now. no comments
| Player | Total Votes | Percentage |
| Andre Dawson | 420 | 77.90% |
| Bert Blyleven | 400 | 74.20% |
| Roberto Alomar | 397 | 73.70% |
| Jack Morris | 282 | 52.30% |
| Barry Larkin | 278 | 51.60% |
| Lee Smith | 255 | 47.30% |
| Edgar Martinez | 195 | 36.20% |
| Tim Raines | 164 | 30.40% |
| Mark McGwire | 128 | 23.70% |
| Alan Trammell | 121 | 22.40% |
| Fred McGriff | 116 | 21.50% |
| Don Mattingly | 87 | 16.10% |
| Dave Parker | 82 | 15.20% |
| Dale Murphy | 63 | 11.70% |
| Harold Baines | 33 | 6.10% |
| Andres Galarraga | 22 | 4.10% |
| Robin Ventura | 7 | 1.30% |
| Ellis Burks | 2 | 0.40% |
| Eric Karros | 2 | 0.40% |
| Kevin Appier | 1 | 0.20% |
| Pat Hentgen | 1 | 0.20% |
| David Segui | 1 | 0.20% |
| Mike Jackson | 0 | 0% |
| Ray Lankford | 0 | 0% |
| Shane Reynolds | 0 | 0% |
| Todd Zeile | 0 | 0% |
