Braves Struggle Early, Lose 9th Straight

The Atlanta Braves are now 8-14 following their current 9 game losing streak. This streak, though alarming, shouldn't cause too much panic amongst the Atlanta fans as the opponents they faced(2 losses to Philly, 3 game sweep to Mets, 4 game sweep to Cardinals) are all contenders. Still if you are going to be a contender, you are going to have to perform well against them.

So what is going on with these Braves. Well Jair Jurrjens, a pitcher many believed would be the ace of the rotation is now 0-3 and Kenshin Kawakami has been worse, suffering an 0-4 record. Joining the struggling staff is Derek Lowe with a 5.79 ERA. Somehow he has 3 wins.

Even worse than the pitching staff has been the hitting. Besides Jason Heyward with 5 home runs, no one else has more than 2 homers. Heyward is batting a low .239, despite his clutch hits, and former All Stars Brian McCann and Chipper Jones are batting .250 and .241 respectively. Many thought this would be the year Yunel Escobar emerged alongside Jose Reyes, Jimmy Rollins, and Hanley Ramirez in the elite shortstop division of the NL East, but Escobar has 0 homers and is batting .215 this season. Yikes!

Still the season is early, but in the NL East with teams like the Marlins, the recently surging Mets, and the powerhouse Phillies, you don't want to fall too behind early. The Braves have what it takes to get things going in the right direction, just don't wait too long. Trust in Bobby Braves fans.

Trevor Hoffman: The End of an Overrated Closer

Trevor Hoffman, the long time closer for the San Diego Padres and now current closer for the Milwaukee Brewers, blew the save once again this season on Wednesday vs. the Pirates. This is his 4th blown save this season in 7 attempts. He has allowed 15 earned runs in only 9 innings pitched, leaving him with an ERA of 13.00. 15 earned runs is already more than he had given up last season(11). It is clear that Hoffman is nearing the end of his career, but what will Hoffman be remembered best for?

Trevor is the all-time save leaders with 594. With such a high number of saves and only 46 blown saves, it would seem that Hoffman was destined to go down as the greatest closer of all-time. However, this is not the case.

To call Hoffman not clutch is not the exact term. By definition, coming into a game with a lead anywhere from 1-3 runs means you are in a clutch situation. However, when it is a live or die situation, Hoffman seems to struggle.

See the 1998 World Series vs. the Yankees, Hoffman enters game 3 at home with the lead, and the hopes of the Padres are resting on his shoulders. Hoffman blows the game, and the Padres get swept. Then see the 2006 All Star game. Hoffman enters in the 9th with the NL up by 1 and looking for their first win in a decade. Hoffman blows the game by giving up 2 runs, including a triple to Michael Young and the NL loses. Lastly see the 2007 one game playoff between the Padres and the Rockies. It was a winner-take-all situation. The Padres scored 2 in the top of the 13th, and seemed destine to make the playoffs. That is until Hoffman comes in and blows the game, allowing a sac-fly that scores Matt Holliday on his famous chin-slide to score and beat the Padres.

So Hoffman may be a Hall of Famer, but he is far from the great Mariano. Anyone who can argue that Hoffman is anywhere near Mariano clearly is misinformed about baseball. Rivera has shined in the spotlight for years, while Hoffman goes under the radar in San Diego and then blows big games. Sorry Trevor, but I'm just not a fan.

Mets Give Fans Hope With Great Home Stand

The Mets have now moved into first place in the NL East following a 9-1 home stand including winning the last seven. The Mets took 3 out of 4 from the Cubs and finished with sweeps of the Braves and Dodgers. The impressive run was lead by the pitching staff, but credit has to be given to the Mets management.

Yes, I said it, the Mets management. Two weeks after most were calling for a firing of GM Omar Minaya and manager Jerry Manuel, the Mets have "given hope to the fans" according to Manuel. The call-up of first base phenom Ike Davis and the lineup change that saw Jose Reyes move to the 3-spot has energized this club.

The bright spot for the Mets has to be the fact that they are winning games despite the lack of offense. Jason Bay finally hit his first homer as a Met this week, and Reyes is still not back to form. When and if these bats can get going, along with the return of Carlos Beltran, the Mets lineup can do damage.

Still the pitching is key. Pelfrey has been brilliant so far this season, out-performing even Johan Santana. Can he stay this good? It will be they key for the rest of the season. Maine and Niese have been decent, and Oliver Perez and has been sub-par, so if the Mets want to make a run at the division or wild card, these 3 starters will need to step up.

One concern is the Mets' bullpen. The bullpen has been solid, but I fear that Manuel may be over-working the boys in the pen. Pedro Feliciano has appeared 12 times, Fernando Nieve 14 times, and Jenry Mejia has pitched 10 times; the Mets have only played 22 games. This pace of bullpen usage could have the pitchers too tired for a stretch run. Now the Mets, if they continue to compete will likely be in the market for another reliever, but Manuel needs to keep his pitchers alive.

The Mets head to Philadelphia this weekend for a statement series. If the Mets can continue this surge they can show the Phillies and the rest of the NL that they are a team to be messed with.

Congrats to David Wright on his 1000 career hit.

Warning: Rays are Dangerous

At 14-5 after three weeks, the Tampa Bay Rays have the best record in the MLB. Not far behind are the 12-6 defending World Champions, the New York Yankees, but the Rays look to be the dominant team early.

Despite a mediocre home record of 5-4, the Rays have been able to win on the road, going 9-1. The Rays have also done well against their division foes, going 12-4 against the perennial power that is the AL East.

All the bats for the Rays are coming together nicely so far. All Stars Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria are batting .319 and .324 respectively while sluggers BJ Upton and Carlos Pena each have recorded 4 home runs. However, it has been the pitching that has led them to their stellar record.

In my preseason predictions, I mentioned how David Price and Rafael Soriano were going to need to live up to expectations if the Rays were going to compete in the AL. Well, so far they certainly have. Price is 3-1 with a 2.20 ERA, including a complete game shutout against the Blue Jays on Sunday. Closer Rafael Soriano has been perfect, going 4-4 in save opportunities. Still, are the Rays a team that can beat the Yankees?

Matt Garza, James Shields, and David Price are a great 1-2-3 punch in the rotation, but when compared to Sabathia, Burnett, Pettite, I have got to go with the Yanks. The Yankees infield is one of the best of all-time, with two locks for the Hall of Fame on the left side in A-Rod and Jeter. So what do the Rays have going for them? The Yankees are just coming off a World Championship last season, and they might be a little hungover from the win. When you have as many playoff-tested veterans, the regular season becomes less important. The Rays may be hungrier than the Yanks, and if they can establish a division lead early, they may be able to hold off the Yankees late. Still, expect both these teams in the playoffs, one as the wild card and one as the division winner. That would set up a potential exciting ALCS match up.

Week 3 Impressions

- Barry Zito out-dueled Adam Wainwright on Saturday, leading the Giants to a 2-0 win. Zito pitched 8 shutout innings and recorded 10 strikeouts. If Zito can find his form, the Giants will be a very dangerous team.

- Met's pitcher Mike Pelfrey extends his scoreless innings steak to 24 innings, and improves his record to 4-0. If the Mets are going to go anywhere this season, Pelfrey will have to continue to assert himself as a good #2 starter, behind Johan Santana.

- While the Yankees have looked good, the Rays have looked great. Right now the Rays are making a case for the top team in the AL East. Did anyone say Red Sox? Nah never heard of them

- There is trouble in Baltimore, as the Orioles fall to 3-16. The Orioles have yet to win a home game (0-6), and are 2-10 within the AL East.

- Ryan Howard gets paid, signing a 5 year, $125 million contract extension. Howard, one of the most productive players in the league, now becomes one of the highest paid. If Howard is getting paid this much, who knows how much Pujols will make.

Padres Win 8 Straight... What's Up With That?

With a 5-0 win on Saturday, The San Diego Padres, who entered the season with very little expectations, have now strung together their eighth straight win. Following 3-game sweeps of both the Diamondbacks and Giants, the Padres have taken the first 2 games against the Cincinnati Reds.

How are they doing this? Not exactly with offense, scoring more than 5 only twice in this win streak. Adrian Gonzalez has been hot, with 2 homers this week, and catcher Nick Hundley is batting .353 with 2 home runs as well during this time.

Instead, the Padres no-name pitching staff has lead the way to lead them to this streak. Kevin Correia has won both starts during this win streak, allowing only 2 earned runs combined. Other starters John Garland and Mat Latos both provided solid starts and closer Heath Bell has picked up 2 saves.

So are the Padres a team to look for later in the season? They are still waiting for the return of starting pitcher Chris Young from injury and outfielder Kyle Blanks has been a disappointment. With production from these two players, it would instantly improve the team. Still, this run, although impressive, is not likely to last. With tons of talent throughout the division, the Padres anonymous lineup and pitching staff will not be able to keep up with Lincecum's Giants, Tulowitzki's Rockies, Haren's D'backs, and Matt Kemp's Dodgers. Adrian Gonzalez is an all star player, but the Padres are still in rebuilding mode. Don't let this streak fool you, the Padres are still the worst team in the division, and Gonzalez still may be traded by the deadline.

A 20-0 game

Usually your typical baseball score is along the lines of 5-2, or 3-1. Especially in the National League, scores tend to be lower. However, earlier this Thursday, the Brewers destroyed the Pirates by a final of 20-0.

Let's put this score into perspective. In the 9 innings the Brewers tallied 25 hits, scoring 20 runs. Rickie Weeks led the way, touching home plate 4 times. 9 different Brewers had RBIs in this game, including Ryan Braun who was replaced mid-game but still managed 5 RBIs. Braun homered, as did Prince Fielder, Jim Edmonds, and George Kottaras.

The poor Pirates, who are now at 7-8 and have been playing decent ball will now have this loss tarnish their first few weeks of play this season. The Pirates threw 6 different pitchers today, and all six allowed exactly one walk each. Throw in an error by the defense and that is how you give up 20 runs. Daniel McCutchen (no relation to star outfielder Andrew), got rocked allowing 6 ER in 3.2 innings and relievers Carrasco and Hanrahan allowed 4 and 6 runs respectively.

Just as embarrassing as the 20 runs given up is the fact that they couldn't score once to break up the shutout. The Pirates mustered up 8 hits but could not come away with any timely hits.

Basically the Pirates will always be the Pirates, and even though they try hard and are making a good rebuilding effort, they still produce head-scratching moments like these on a consistent basis.

Roy Halladay - Loving the National League

We all knew that Roy Halladay was one of the best pitchers. But now he is playing for Philadelphia, the NL winner the past two seasons and fans get to actually see what this guy is like. Halladay has welcomed the National League and is glad to be away from hockey loving Toronto.

In 4 games as a Philly, Halladay is 4-0 with a 0.82 ERA (oddly the same as Cliff Lee through 4 starts last year), and has two complete games, including one shutout. To put it simply, Halladay has been dominant.

When compared to another former Cy Young winner, switching from the NL to the AL instead, Jake Peavy has been bad this year for the White Sox. Yes, he is coming off injury, but in 3 starts he has 3 no-decisions and a 6.00 ERA. It is amazing how much not having the pitcher bat and instead replacing him with a DH can blow up pitchers numbers.

Halladay is seeing how nice it is to pitch in the NL, and especially for Philly as he now is the ace for the best lineup in the National League. Halladay is putting him early mark on the race for the Cy Young, and what favors him is that he doesn't have to be this dominating all season. Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and co. will provide plenty of run support. All the skeptics of the offseason trade which involved losing Cliff Lee who had been so dominant in the playoffs are now silenced, and fans will soon forget Cliff, and only Roy will matter.

Crazy Lou Piniella

One of the wackiest managers baseball has ever seen has just made another odd move. Lou Pinella has decided to move Carlos Zambrano, the Cub's ace for over 5 years to the bullpen. The big Z will now serve in the setup role for closer Carlos Marmol.

Making over $17 million dollars this season, surely Zambrano will be the highest paid setup man ever. How can Lou move the face of his starting rotation into a situational pitching role? Although reports say Zambrano is ok with this role change, I dont think it will be that long until we see Zambrano bashing bats into water coolers in the dugout.

Now Zambrano has been far from All Star form this season, pitching to a record of 1-2 and an ERA of 7.45. This move now makes Ryan Dempster the ace of the rotation. I cannot take the Cubs seriously with Dempster as their number 1 starter.

Pinella claims that this move is only temporary, as the bullpen has been rocky this season and he wants to give time to management to find a suitable option to pitch the 8th inning. However, I'm not sure how many games the Cubbies will win with Dempster, Gorzellany, Silva, and Randy Wells in the rotation.

If this move turns out to be the failure I believe it will be, expect to hear fans calling for Piniella's job, and Lou will once again be searching for a new place to manage.

Carry on my Heyward Son

The most hyped player in the past decade is already living up to his expectations. The Braves' 20-year-old outfielder is responding to the high regards including manager Bobby Cox dubbing him a sure thing Hall of Famer and baseball legend Hank Aaron saying he will be the face of African American baseball. Some criticized the Braves' management for placing Heyward on the opening day roster, as many thought he could use some development in the minors. However, right from the start it was clear that this kid was special.

First at bat, and Heyward comes through with a home run. There is no possible way to start a career better.

A week later, after a few decent performances, some began to doubt that this kid's game was mature enough for the majors. It was time for Jason to prove them wrong again.
Heyward comes up with a 2-out, 2-strike single in which he represented the final out, but instead drove in the winning runs.

In case anyone missed that clutch performance, Heyward decided to come through yet again in his first month in the bigs, when on 4/20 against the Phillies, Heyward homered with 2 outs to tie the game at 3, a game which the Braves would later win in the 10th.

To sum it all up, Jason Heyward is going to be a household name by the end of the season. With 4 homers and 16 RBIs after only 13 Major League games, Heyward is a clutch player who will be the face of the Braves franchise for many years to come.

The Mets take a Gamble on Ike

Shortly after designating first baseman Mike Jacobs for assignment, the Mets made a move that fans had been hoping for: calling up prospect Ike Davis. But is it too early for Davis?

Davis answered all critics in his first MLB game Monday Night vs. the Cubs. Singling in his first at bat, Davis also had an RBI single in the 7th inning. So he's batting .500 after one game, and yes that is a good game, but already Mets fans are calling for him to become the starting first baseman for the rest of the season.

It seems as if fans are putting too much stock into Spring Training, where Davis hit .480. Already fans have forgot about Daniel Murphy, the former Met prospect who converted from the outfield to help fill the void at first base. Murphy batted .266 in 508 at-bats last season. He also had 12 home runs, a stat the Mets severely lacked last season. Murphy is currently on the DL, and until Murphy returns, Davis is the guy at first.

Still, the calling up of Ike Davis seems as a sign of panic for the Mets. Yes Davis was batting .364 in the Minors in this young season, but most MLB teams prefer to develop their young players for much longer than 10 games. See the Nationals and Stephen Strasburg. The #1 overall pick is in the minors, despite his team being in serious need of pitching and excitement in the ballpark. However, others like the Braves and Jason Heyward, have chosen to let the future star develop in the Majors, placing Heyward on the opening day roster.

Still, to this Met fan, I'm worried about this turning into another Fernando Martinez disaster. When injuries popped up in the 2009 season, Martinez, a Mets outfield prospect was rushed to the Bigs, only to show he was clearly over his head. In 29 games, Martinez batted .176 with one homer. Hopefully, for Mets fans, Davis isn't another Fernando Martinez.

The difference between Davis and the previously mentioned Heyward and Strausburg, is the media market he is playing in. At first sign of struggle, the New York media will jump all over Davis and immediately declare him a bust. Hopefully he has the intestinal fortitude to withstand this kind of media, one that Heyward and Strausburg will not face, even though they are already being declared locks for the Hall of Fame.

So where does this leave the Mets? Do they stick with Davis the remainder of the season? Do the wait until Murphy returns? Carlos Delgado?? I think the Mets have made the correct decision with Ike Davis, I'm just worried the Mets will do what the Mets do best, and have it result in another player with potential who under performs. Ike- there is a tremendous amount of pressure on you- You better live up to it!

Week 2 Impressions

Week 2 was a bizarre week in the MLB. A no-hitter, a 20 inning game, and other rarities gave baseball fans something to talk about this early in the season.

-Ubaldo Jimenez is the real deal. Yes he walked 6 guys in his no-hitter this week, but despite over 120 pitches, he still reached 98mph on the radar gun in the ninth inning. Filthy.

-The Mets and Cardinals played a 20-inning game??? Even stranger was the 18 innings of shutout baseball, followed by both teams scoring in the 19th inning. Closer Francisco Rodriguez was saved for the 19th, and blew the save for the Mets, who later won it the next inning. Games this long are stupid, I don't want to see infielders pitching to batters.

-Where is the coming from Livan Hernandez? You seemed to be way past your prime, and were a stiff for the Mets the past few seasons, and now 2010 comes and he looks amazing. 16 innings pitched and 0 runs allowed. I'm just as confused as you are.

-The Phillies trade for Roy Halladay in the off season came with some controversy, but I think fans are close to forgetting Cliff Lee as Halladay has already jumped out to a 3-0 start, with 1.13 ERA and 21 strikeouts. Roy is loving the National League.

-Boston at 4-8?, the Pirates above .500?, and the Nationals not in last place? It's early but still surprising for any baseball fan to see.

- Congratulations to the Astros on winning a game this week after going win-less in the opening week. They now sit on 3-9

World Series Predictions

Following up on my division breakdowns, I now how to finish my predictions with my playoff breakdown.

In the National League:
(NLDS)
St Louis Cardinals(#1) vs Atlanta Braves(WC)
Analysis: The Braves will have battled in NL East all season and will not be ready to give up this early in the playoffs. Although the Cardinals have a great setup for a 5 game series, in Wainwright and Carpenter, I feel that Braves' Hanson and Jurrjens are not far behind. Coming down to it, Derek Lowe will be the difference maker, and if he can pitch well in the playoffs, the Braves will be set.
Pick: Braves in 5

Philadelphia Phillies(#2) vs San Francisco Giants(#3)
Analysis: The Phillies are the most feared team in the National League, but can their pitching help them make another World Series appearance? Halladay clearly is an ace, but can Hamels and the rest of the starters/bullpen out duel Lincecum, Cain, and company?
Pick: Giants in 5

(ALDS)
New York Yankees(#1) vs Chicago White Sox(#3)
Analysis: The Yankees are often faced with the winner of the AL Central in the playoffs, and often they prevail. I see no reason why the Yankees wouldn't do the same this year, with a 3 man rotation of Sabathia, Burnett, and the experienced Pettite, the Yanks will cruise past the first round.
Pick: Yankees in 3

Seattle Mariners(#2) vs Tampa Bay Rays(WC)
Analysis: After seeing what Cliff Lee did in the playoffs for the Phillies last year, it is difficult to pick against the Mariners, especially in a short series. Don't forget they also have my AL Cy Young favorite in Felix Hernandez to likely make 2 starts in this series.
Pick: Mariners in 4

(NLDS)
San Francisco Giants vs Atlanta Braves
Analysis: This is where I believe the wheels finally fall off for the Braves. It is hard to advance far in the playoffs with stars that don't have much MLB experience (Heyward,Hanson). The Giants, behind their staff and the bats of Mark DeRosa and Pablo Sandoval will battle and reach their first World Series since Barry Bonds in 2002.
Pick: Giants in 6

(ALDS)
New York Yankees vs Seattle Mariners
Analysis: I mentioned that the Yankees had a great rotation for a 5-game-series, but they just so happen to have a great rotation for a 7-game-series as well, as now Javier Vasquez would be thrown into the mix. Jeter, A-Rod, and the gang will step up and lead this team to another World Series appearance.
Pick: Yankees in 5

(World Series)
San Francisco Giants vs New York Yankees
Analysis: The Giants would have been riding their aces through this point, but against the Yankees offense, runs will need to be produced by the Giant offense. In the end, the Yankees have too many future Hall of Famers in the lineup to allow the Giants to steal the World Series. The monkey is now off A-Rod's back and he'll deliver again.
Pick:Yankees in 6

NL Award Predictions

The Awards in the NL are a little more predictable, as the same guys have been winning in recent years (Albert Pujols, Tim Lincecum). But this year, will the trend continue?

MVP: It would be too easy to pick Albert for yet another win, so I am going to take his division rival, who also plays first base. With a big contract waiting him, a huge year is ahead for this royal figure.
Winner- Prince Fielder (Brewers)
Contenders- Albert Pujols(Cardinals), Pablo Sandoval(Giants), David Wright(Mets)

Manager of the Year: With a number of legendary managers now in the National League, it is difficult to decide between them as to who will win. That is why instead, I'm choosing a veteran manager with not as much career success.
Winner- Bruce Bochy(Giants)
Contenders- Tony LaRussa(Cardinals), Bobby Cox(Braves), Charlie Manuel(Phillies)

Cy Young: This is the most difficult of the awards to choose, but like my choice for MVP, I'm not going to go too predictable and take Lincecum.
Winner- Adam Wainwright(Cardinals)
Contenders- Tommy Hanson(Braves), Tim Lincecum(Giants), Johan Santana(Mets), Yovani Gallardo(Brewers)

Reliever of the Year: The NL is filled with many big contract closers who haven't lived up to their contracts. My pick, is a closer on the rise.
Winner- Jonathan Broxton(Dodgers)
Contenders- Francisco Rodriguez(Mets), Ryan Franklin(Cardinals), Matt Capps(Nationals)

AL Award Predictions

It's time for me to give my thoughts on the end of season awards in the American League. Who will win?

MVP: With so many superstars in the American League, it is hard to pick a winner. It is very difficult to repeat as winner, so there goes Mauer's chances. Then I look at the teams I project to be at the top, and the Yankees seem to have atleast 5 candidates for the award.
Winner- Mark Teixeira(Yankees)
Contenders- Joe Mauer(Twins), Alex Rodriguez(Yankees), Nelson Cruz(Rangers), Ichiro(Mariners)

Manager of the Year: With the Yankees, Red Sox, Twins, and Angels perennial contenders, it is hard for their managers to win the award. Therefore it usually goes to an up-and-coming team who surprised many.
Winner- Don Wakamatsu(Mariners)
Contenders- Joe Maddon(Rays), Joe Girardi(Yankees), Ozzie Guillen(White Sox)

Cy Young: Just as I predict the Mariners to be good, if they are going to be contending, then this guy will have to lead the way.
Winner- Felix Hernandez(Mariners)
Contenders- CC Sabathia(Yankees), Justin Verlander(Tigers), John Lackey(Red Sox)

Reliever of the Year: Nothing really needs to be said here. The man is a legend

Winner- Mariano Rivera(Yankees)
Contenders- Jonathan Papelbon(Red Sox), Rafael Soriano(Rays), Jose Valverde(Tigers)

NL West Preview

The NL West is a division that has not seen one team dominate over the past decade. All five teams have made the playoffs in the past ten years, and the winner of the division often comes down to the final games. Who will it be this year?

5.) San Diego Padres
The Padres are the obvious weak link in the division.
Jake Peavy was traded last season and there is much speculation around other stars such as closer Heath Bell and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez also getting traded. So what does that leave the team with? Pretty much nothing as the rotation features John Garland (a fifth starter at best) and the oft-injured Chris Young as the 1-2 punch. One of the few bright spots lies in left field as young-gun Kyle Blanks has the talent to put up monster power numbers.

4.) Colorado Rockies
The Rockies are a good team, but to win this division, you are going to have to be better than good. Troy Tulowitzki and Brad Hawpe are all star caliber players, and the youth of Dexter Fowler and the old ways of Todd Helton make this lineup a threatening one. Ubaldo Jimenez is proving himself as a star pitcher and Aaron Cook and Jorge De La Rosa help solidify this rotation. Franklin Morales is a question mark as closer and will try and prove himself this season. Like I said, good team, but nothing special.

3.) Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers are no longer the class of the NL West. Manny will always be Manny, but he is old now. James Loney are good bats, Russell Martin struggled last year with the bat, and Casey Blake and Rafael Furcal are getting up there in years. Matt Kemp is the star of the team, but are his talents enough to carry this team? I'd say no. Jonathan Broxton is emerging as one of the best closers in the MLB but with Vincente Padilla as your opening day starter, the rotation is lacking. Still, if Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw can pitch to their potentials, then the Dodgers will be very competitive.

2.) Arizona Diamondbacks
This young team knows it has the talent to compete in the National League. Led by All Star Justin Upton and third baseman Mark Reynolds, this young and exciting lineup will put up runs. Chris Young, Stephen Drew, Miguel Montero, and Conor Jackson will help put many runs up on the board for this team. But the strength of the team is their starting pitching. The rotation features 3 very solid starters, led by Dan Haren. Brandon Webb missed the entire season last year, but he if can return to form, he will be one of the best #2 starters in baseball. The #3 pitcher is Edwin Jackson, who was traded from the Tigers in the off season. Closer Chad Qualls will have to show he is a capable closer for this team to succeed.

1.) San Francisco Giants
Pitching wins championships. That is why the Giants are my pick to win the division despite a questionable lineup. Veterans fill the roster, as Aaron Rowand, Mark DeRosa, Aubrey Huff, Bengie Molina, and Edgar Renteria each have seen their fair share of seasons in the MLB. A young star has emerged at third base though, and its Pablo Sandoval. If Sandoval can pick up where he left off last season, the "Kung-Fu Panda" can lead this team to a division win. Now to the two big guns: Lincecum and Cain. Tim Lincecum has won two consecutive Cy Young awards and yet there are some who think Matt Cain might have better stuff than his teammate. The disappointing Barry Zito needs to try and live up to the size of his contract, and if he proves to be a suitable third starter, the Giants will be more than fine.

NL Central Preview

And thus it is time to unveil my predictions for the largest division in baseball, the NL Central. Despite having six teams in the division, it is not a tough job to pick the division winner.

6.) Houston Astros
I am going to reward the Pirate's management by not giving them the 6th place honor. The Astros have fallen a long way from their World Series trip in 2005. Yes Lance Berkman is still an elite player, and Carlos Lee can still hit homers, but when your infield consists of Feliz, Manzella, Matsui, and Blum, your offense is lousy. Roy Oswalt is not the ace he once was and although there is hope for Wandy Rodriguez to emerge as an ace, the rest of the rotation of Paulino, Myers, and Norris is suspect. Throw in the bullpen full of guys who failed in other locations: Matt Lindstrom and Brandon Lyon, and the team shouldn't expect to go too far this season.

5.) Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates are moving in the right direction, its just a slow moving process. The team features a outfield on the rise including Lastings Milledge, Garret Jones, and future star Andrew McCutchen. One of the better catchers, Ryan Doumit, can also be seen in this lineup, and at second base Aki Iwamura brings a good glove to the infield. The pitching rotation has some ability, but their youth and experience in the reason for my 5th place projection. Maholm and Duke are a solid 1-2 combo and Dotel should be a decent closer.

4.) Cincinnati Reds
This team has so many players who have been hyped up, but have yet to come close to these expectations. Whether its outfielder Jay Bruce, first baseman Joey Votto, or pitchers Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey, if this team is to compete, they need these guys to step up. Unfortunately, ace Edinson Volquez starts the season on the 60 day DL, so veterans Arroyo and Harang will have provide quality starts until he returns.

3.)Chicago Cubs
Let it be known, the streak of years without a World Series will continue again this year as the Cubs are not a contender. Yes, they have money and guys with pricey contracts, but that does not take away from the fact that these players are old, injury prone, and overpaid. Think about their roster, Derrek Lee, Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukodome, Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Zambrano, and many others and you can apply old, injured, or overpaid to almost everyone. Still despite these issues, these players can still make up a middle-of-the-pack team. Maybe next year Cubs fans.

2.) Milwaukee Brewers
When it comes to the Brewers, it comes down to two names Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun. 2 of the best players in the MLB carry this lineup which also holds Corey Hart and speedster Carlos Gomez. A key to this offense is going to be Rickie Weeks who looked to have finally reached his potential before suffering a season-ending injury last year. Led by ace Yovanni Gallardo, and new addition Randy Wolf, the Brewers have a pretty solid rotation and have veteran closer Trevor Hoffman to finish games off. The Brew Crew should be fighting for the Central and a Wild Card birth all season long.

1.) St. Louis Cardinals
Do I even have to say more than Albert Pujols? Well they re-signed Matt Holliday and still have former Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter. Adam Wainwright has emerged as a great starter and with the best manager in baseball, Tony LaRussa, it is likely that this team will win the division. Albert is that good.

Impressions of the first week

Here are my thoughts on the first week of baseball in the 2010 season.

- Nelson Cruz looks like the real deal, hitting four home runs. If he plays at an all star level all season, we may see Texas in the playoffs.

- Vernon Wells has fully embraced the idea that the Blue Jays are His team as he also has 4 home runs in the first week.

- Big time sluggers continue where they left off last season as Ryan Howard and Albert Pujols both have 3 home runs.

- Great starts by Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera led the team to a 5-1 start, with Ordonez batting .476 and Cabrera batting .450.

- Closers already in trouble after Frank Francisco and Mike Gonzalez may have lost their jobs already. Jon Rauch of the Twins, has stepped up in Joe Nathan's place, already recording four saves.

NL East Preview

A division that had been the Braves' division for so long now belongs to another team, the Phillies. Winning the World Series in 2008 and making the World Series in 2009, the Phils have shown why they are the most feared team in the NL. Still, the NL East has some fire power and has a few teams that can give the Phillies a run for their money, and also compete for the NL Wild Card.

5.) Washington Nationals
Obviously, the Nats are the fifth team. Sure they went out and tried spending money, and the squad is improved. They are now a respectable team, but are still miles away from being a competitive squad in the NL East. With a back end of the rotation featuring Stammen, Mock, and Livan Hernandez (even the Mets didn't want him back), the Nats will give up a lot of runs. Sure Zimmerman and Dunn will score runs, but not nearly enough to make this team win.

4.) Florida Marlins
I hesitate to put the Marlins this low as they always seem to play above their ability. Obviously, the Marlins feature one of the game's top players, Hanley Ramirez. The rotation is pretty solid, with ace Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco coming of a great season. The bullpen could be the issue that cripples this team, as Leo Nunez enters the season as the closer. It will also be interesting to watch Cameron Maybin in centerfield and see if he can progress into the star he was expected to be.

3.) New York Mets
After a terrible 2009 season, and a rocky off season, the Mets still have one of the better lineups in the National League... that is when they are healthy. Jason Bay, Jose Reyes, David Wright, and Carlos Beltran are all big time bats, but the rest of the lineup is filled with questions. However, despite a star-filled lineup, the pitching rotation is a mess. Sure Johan Santana is a great guy to have at the top of the rotation, but Pelfrey, Maine, Niese, and Perez have given no indication that they can step-up and be a #2 starter. The season rests on those 4 guys, and if no one can, expect a worse than third place finish.

2.) Atlanta Braves

One of baseball's most well known managers is retiring after this season, and I know the Braves will not let Bobby Cox go home without a good run this season. The league will get to see Tommy Hanson for a full season and Jason Heyward, the highly regarded prospect starts the season in right field. Besides Hanson in the rotation, the Braves have Jair Jurrjens, Derek Lowe, and Tim Hudson. This staff along with perennial all start Chipper Jones and former all stars Troy Glaus and Nate McLouth in the lineup will have the Braves fighting with the Phillies and for a NL wild card birth. Biggest question: Can the Braves get Billy Wagner to return to his old form, or will the Wagner signing be a fail?

1.) Philadelphia Phillies
What is there really to say, but this team is the clear favorite in the division and the National League. The most feared lineup in the NL, with Howard, Utley, Rollins, and an all star outfield, the Phillies dont even need good pitching. Oh wait, they traded for Roy Halladay in the offseason too. If the Phils can get Cole Hamels and Brad Lidge to return to form, we will likely see this team back in the World Series for the third straight year.

AL West Preview

The smallest division in baseball is often one of the most competitive, but in recent years it has been the Angels' division. However, it is always a hot debate as to who will come up on top in the West every season. I am a believer that things will change this year in the division.


4.) Oakland Athletics
Sorry A's fans, but I cant see a scenario where this Oakland team can come up with a division win. However, GM Billy Beane is never one to doubt, as he always seems to create a team with virtually no funds. When you are banking on Ben Sheets, who hasn't pitched in over a year to be the ace of your staff, problems are ahead. It'll be fun to see if Sheets can return to All Star form, and the reigning Rookie of the Year, Andrew Bailey is set to be the closer. Still with old stiffs like Kurt Suzuki, Mark Ellis, and Eric Chavez (how long has he been on this team?) in the lineup, this team is going to struggle to compete.

3.) Anaheim Angels
Yes, I did it. I picked against Mike Scioscia and the Angels. I don't care how good of a manager Scioscia is, the team is just not good enough. The reign is over for the Angels. K-Rod is two years removed, Garrett Anderson is gone, and they start their first season in a long time without Vlad Guerrero, John Lackey, and Chone Figgins. Look for Kendry Morales to either prove he is an All Star and fade fast. Regardless, this is finally not the Angels year.

2.) Texas Rangers
The Rangers have a lethal lineup, featuring Michael Young, Josh Hamilton, and Ian Kinsler. Throw in new addition Vlad Guerrero and the rising star shortstop Elvis Andrus and this team will score tons of runs. The success of the season will depend on their starting rotation. Will Rich Harden get back to his old form and can CJ Wilson successfully convert to a starter? With a fire-throwing bullpen featuring Frank Francisco and Neftali Feliz, this team will be in the race all season.

1.) Seattle Mariners

The Mariners showed that they want to win it with their very active offseason. Signing both Milton Bradley and Chone Figgins adds to the lineup featuring Jose Lopez, Franklin Guitierrez, and All Star Ichiro Suzuki. However, the most notable move was the trade for former Cy Young winner, Cliff Lee. Lee, acquired from the Phillies gives the Mariners a tremendous 1-2 punch featuring Felix Hernandez along with Lee. These offseason moves give the team the edge in the division this season.

Washington: Still not the Place for the NATIONAL Pastime

As I walked into Nationals Park for the first time this season to see the Nats faceoff against the Phillies on Wednesday, it sure felt like I wasn't in DC. Greeted by a sea of red jerseys, not Zimmerman and Dunn's but Howard and Utley's. The Phils would go on to topple the Nats 8-4 and upon leaving the game there was a standing ovation for the visiting team! There is a reason baseball has failed multiple times in the nation's capital, fans just do not care.

Now I understand that the Nationals are relatively new to the area and have yet to make the playoffs in DC (or come anywhere close to doing so), but the ballpark is full of people who honestly could not care less if the Nationals won or lost. After visiting half of the current MLB ballparks, I cannot say that I have ever heard the opposition get 10x the amount of cheers than the home team does. Yes, the Phillies have won two consecutive National League titles, but come on Nationals fans, this is pathetic.

The Nationals roster is no longer the joke of the National League. Featuring Josh Willingham, Adam Dunn, Ryan Zimmerman, and Nyjer Morgan, this team can score runs. Management showed that they are willing to spend some money as Jason Marquis, Matt Capps, and Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez were signed in the off season. Still, playoff hopes are already slim to none and it seems as if all fans have to look forward to is the coming of the savior Stephen Strasburg. Until then, the Nationals need to find a way to bring some excitement into Nationals Park, or baseball in DC will be a failure once again.

AL Central Preview

The AL Central is annually a very close division that comes down to the wire. Tell that to the Minnesota Twins who have had to play a one game playoff each of the past two seasons, losing the playoff to the White Sox in 2008 and defeating the Tigers in a game for the ages in 2009. So what will 2010 hold for the division? It is likely that the division will be just as close, and just as mediocre.

5.) Cleveland Indians
The Indians have the talent to be better than the fifth best team in the division, but their pitching rotation is more than suspect. Carmona, Westbrook, Talbot, Masterson, and Huff... that is who will be trotting out to the mound for the Indians this year. Still will Grady Sizemore, Jhonny Peralta, Travis Hafner, and Asdrubal Cabrera in the lineup, the team will likely keep things interesting through most of the season.

4.) Kansas City Royals

The Royals went out and signed a few notable free agents this off season, so therefore I will reward them with a spot other than the typical 5th spot in the Central most would give the team. Signing outfielders Scott Podsednik and Rick Ankiel add some excitement to the batting order. Don't forget the reigning AL Cy Young winner, Zack Greinke and a few other decent starts in Bannister and Davies. The Royals are no longer the laughing stock of the American League, but that doesn't mean they are ready to win the division either

3.) Minnesota Twins
Now I am writing this with the privilege of knowing that closer Joe Nathan is likely out the entire season. However, even if I had wrote this two months ago, I still am unsure about this Twins squad. The big worry: will the new ballpark effect the team? Target Field opens this season, after decades of playing indoors on the turf at the Metrodome. The Twins had perfected a way to win on that surface and had a true home advantage and it will be interesting to see how this effects them.
Still Mauer + Morneau = chance to win the division.

2.) Detroit Tigers
After coming so close to the playoffs last season and falling short in an epic collapse, it will be hard to move past the ghosts of the 2009 season. Miguel Cabrera: stud, and Inge and Magglio will contribute to a popping offense. The late addition of Johnny Damon bolsters the lineup but questions still surround the rotation. We know Verlander is very talented, but can the Tigers get contributions out of pitchers like Dontrelle Willis or Jeremy Bonderman who have potential, but have failed to live up to it in a Detroit uniform. One thing is for sure: the save situation is much better then it has been in recent years as Jose Valverde, one of the games best closers, will now come in for saves.

1.) Chicago White Sox
A mixture of youth and experience spreads across the White Sox lineup, as young guns like Alexei Ramirez, Gordon Beckham, and Carlos Quentin have veterans like AJ Pierzynski, Paul Konerko, and Juan Pierre to help guide them. The trade many people have forgotten: Jake Peavy is a White Sox... Remember?? Peavy plus Mr. Perfect game, Mark Buehrle makes up one of the most devistating 1-2 pitching combos in all of baseball. The rest of the rotation is shaky, but the team is definetely a contender in the Central, and I place my trust in Manager Ozzie Guillen to lead this team to a division title.

AL East Preview

The American League East has been a division of dominance for a few decades now, with obvious heavyweights the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox leading the chrage. Coming into the 2010 season, it appears as if the division is up for grabs, as 3 excellent team all vie for the top spot. The ultimate division winner is difficult to decide, but there is one thing for certain: The Blue Jays will finish in last.

5.) Toronto Blue Jays
Known as the team with Roy Halladay for most of the decade, they will have to find a new identity as they traded their ace Halladay to the Phillies during the offseason. Alex Rios is now playing for the White Sox and the team seems all but destined for a cellar-dweller season. Vernon Wells claims the team is his team, but looking at the roster this is only because their is no one else on the team. With starters field players such as Buck, Lind, Ruiz,Bautista, and other anomalies,and a staff whose supposed ace is Sean Marcum, the Blue Jays will remain in rebuilding mode for a while.

4.) Baltimore Orioles
It hurts to put the Orioles only fourth, as they are clearly a team on the rise, but in this division in 2010, it's as far as they can go. With Allstar outfields Adam Jones and Nick Markakis, infielders Miguel Tejada and Brian Robets, and the much-hyped catcher Matt Wieters, this can be a feared offense. Throw in off-season acquisition Mike Gonzalez to close games and this team looks good. Then you remember their pitching staff of Kevin Millwood and Jeremy Guthrie and realize why this team is stuck in the 4 spot for now.

3.) Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox are the grandparents of the division, as their lineup seems old and beatup. David Ortiz, Mike Cameron, JD Drew, Victor Martinez, and Adrian Beltre would have been an awesome lineup... in 2005. These players have a lot of experience, but injury prone players that are fading out of their prime are never the key to championships. The addition of John Lackey will help, but Beckett of late has not been the Josh Beckett we know of from 2003, and Wakefield has to break down at some point. The talent is there, but can they last a full 162 to be able to compete with the next two teams? I doubt it.

2.) Tampa Bay Rays
As we saw 2 years ago, the Rays are a young team with a lot of talent. Lead by MLB 2K10 coverboy Evan Longoria, the Rays also feature Allstars Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena. An offense filled with both speed and power, and a solid rotation, the Rays should be cotending all season. Two key players that may determine the Rays position this year are David Price and newly acquired closer Rafael Soriano. Price was a former number 1 overall pick who showed glimpses of genius in a relief role against the Red Sox in 2008. However, he is currently slotted as the number 4 starter. Will he raise his game to the potential he has, or be just another fourth starter? The Rays have been known for the inconsistentcy in the bullpen and Rafael Soriano was brought in to solve this problem. If he can establish himself as a dominant closer, the Rays should be real good.

1.) New York Yankees
It's often said that you are the champs until someone beats you, and there is no reason to assume that will occur. Despite losing Matsui and Damon, the Yankees have replaced them with arguably better players in Nick Johnson and Curtis Granderson. The trade for Javier Vasquez gave the Yankees an unbelievable rotation for this year, lead by C.C. Sabathia and AJ Burnett. The best news for the Yanks, however, is the amount of returning stars from their World Series win last season, as the entire all-star infield, as well as Pettite, Posada, and the great Mariano Rivera will all be on the squad and be contributing to what could be another Yankee division win.

Mets Among Offseason Losers

While Yankees fans celebrated in the streets, some fans began hoping their team’s next season was better than last, while others were left scratching their heads following the moves — or lack of moves — made by management.

This offseason had two major themes. The first was the rich got richer. Most of the major moves involved playoffs team from last year, starting with the defending champion Yankees. They made a big splash by acquiring All-Star outfielder Curtis Granderson in a three-team deal involving the Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks. The Yankees signed first baseman Nick Johnson, re-signed starter Andy Pettitte and traded for starting pitcher Javier Vazquez. Despite losing World Series MVP Hideki Matsui to the Los Angeles Angels and failing to sign Johnny Damon yet, the Yankees still appear to be the team to beat.

As for their World Series foe, the Philadelphia Phillies shook the baseball world with one move. It was the trade everyone had been waiting for, the one where Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay was finally moved. Despite Cliff Lee’s dominating performance throughout the playoffs, the Phillies refused to be intimidated by the Yankees and brought in arguably the best pitcher in the majors. In a four-way deal, the Phillies brought in Halladay and parted ways with Lee.

Another Yankee rival, the Red Sox also made efforts to bolster their squad. The Red Sox went out and signed star pitcher John Lackey to a five-year deal and then gave deals to veteran outfielders Mike Cameron and Adrian Beltre. Other playoff teams from 2009 made moves as well, with the St. Louis Cardinals re-signing Matt Holliday, the Angels signing Joel Pineiro and the Los Angeles Dodgers exercised the option on Manny Ramirez’s contract.

The second theme of the MLB offseason was the economy’s apparent effect on signings. Proven veterans are having to choose between a one-year deal or continuing to remain on the free agent market.

Former All-Stars, such as outfielder Vlad Guerrero, pitcher Ben Sheets, outfielder Hideki Matsui, designated hitter Jim Thome and catcher Bengie Molina all accepted one-year offers. Others waited for the call for seemingly the entire offseason, including outfielder Johnny Damon, infielder Orlando Hudson, outfielder Jermaine Dye, and first baseman Carlos Delgado and pitcher Pedro Martinez remain unsigned. While all of these players have talent, concerns over age and injuries have prevented some teams from throwing years of investment into these players. With contracts in baseball, unlike the NFL where they are guaranteed, teams cannot afford to make poor investments.

Some terrible teams have taken this opportunity to sign players who would normally not be attracted to play on these teams. The Washington Nationals were able to sign starter Jason Marquis and catcher Pudge Rodriguez, and the Nats are the favorite to sign Hudson. Despite the team possessing a rather pedestrian roster, they understand that money has to be spent to get fans to the ballpark.

While not as bad as Washington, the perennial underachieving Kansas City Royals were able to sign outfielder’s Scott Podsednik and Rick Ankiel. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Orioles obtained pitcher Mike Gonzalez, third baseman Garrett Atkins and infielder Miguel Tejada. Hopefully for the O’s, this will help create more of an even playing field in a league where big markets tend to dominate.

After all of the moves, the Seattle Mariners are the team that came out on top. A sure sign of a good team is one that can develop its own players and then make the necessary trades as well as signings to bring around star players.

The Mariners appear on the right track. Seattle re-signed stud pitcher Felix Hernandez and brought in playoff star Lee. That one-two top of the rotation is certainly one of the best in the MLB. Throw in the signing of third baseman Chone Figgins for four years, the re-signing of both DH Ken Griffey Jr. and shortstop Jack Wilson and the release of the disaster that is catcher Kenji Johjima, the Mariners are immediately in contention in the American League West.

On the other end of the spectrum sit the New York Mets. While half of the New York fans are still celebrating their 27th ring, Mets fans are instead shaking their heads in shock. In an offseason filled with hope and promise, the Mets leave with Jason Bay and a myriad of minor league contracts.

Because the team refused to throw money at pitcher Joel Pineiro, the Mets wound up with pitcher Josh Fogg, catcher Chris Coste, pitcher Elmer Dessens and utility player Fernando Tatis. That sounds like a quality Triple-A team, but it will not cut it in a market like New York. General Manager Omar Minaya and owner Jeff Wilpon continue to hold their dollars and as a result the Mets have become an afterthought.

As pitchers and catchers prepare to report to camp and the final free agents are signed, only one thing is for certain: it is a long season. It will be 162 games before we know who truly had a good offseason. As of right now however, the fans of orange and blue in New York should brace for a rough season and the teal and gray faithful in Seattle should have lots of optimism.

Out With the Old, In with the New Mets

The Mets opener against the Marlins was a sign that last year was behind them. Following a 2009 campaign plagued with injuries, an offseason of disappointment and injuries, and a spring training filled with injuries, the Mets came out and gave their fans something they can believe in... atleast for now. Sure Reyes, Murphy, and Beltran were out, but all other parts were in motion for the Metropolitans on Monday afternoon as the Mets defeated Florida 7-1.

With so many questions marks surrounding David Wright and his power capabilities, Wright delivered, blasting a 2-run homer in his first at-bat of the season. Jason Bay, the team's most significant offseason acquisition, even came through with 2 hits, including a triple. With a history of big-name bust signings (see Mo Vaughn, Roberto Alomar, and many more), it was nice to see a big name stepping into the spotlight. Mets fans though hope this isn't just another Kaz Matsui, who homered in his first at-bat as a Met, only to have a less than stellar career with the team.
Even Gary Matthews Jr. contributed with 2 hits and 2 runs. Maybe GM Omar Minaya really is a genius?

Still, all eyes were on the ace Johan Santana. Coming off such a disappointing previous season, fans just wanted to see their ace in action, especially coming off surgery. Fans got to see the ace they hoped for as Santana dazzled for 6 innings allowing 1 run on 4 hits and 2 walks. With the rest of the rotation an enigma, having a solid start from the ace was critical. Francisco K-Rod Rodriguez also pitched 1 shutout inning in a non-save situation.

So yes this was just April baseball, but to the Mets it was more than that. With stadium upgrades including a new Mets Hall of Fame/Museum, Citi Field finally feels like a New York Mets ballpark and gives the team some much needed identity. So celebrate Mets fans, for you are now ahead of the Yankees, tied with the Phillies, and all your dreams are coming true. If only Johan could pitch everyday.