30. Chicago Cubs (16-27)*
Pitcher Jeff Samardzija is second in the National League in ERA, but has yet to earn a win, going 0-4 in his nine starts. Since 1914, only Whitey Ford and he have gone nine starts, each allowing three or less runs, without getting a win. That goes to show how hard it is for the Cubs to score some runs and win ballgames consistently. 29. Houston Astros (17-29)* Offseason acquisition Dexter Fowler has been the main cog in the offensive attack for the Astros, leading the team in OPS+, on base percentage, and runs scored. Overall, the Astros rank second-to-last in the American League in batting average, last in runs scored, and fourth-to-last in OPS. It's been a tough season all the way around for Houston. 28. Pittsburgh Pirates (18-26)* The Pittsburgh Pirates cannot find that same spark that took them all the way to the postseason last year. Part of the reason could be the play from outfielder Starling Marte, who's OPS+ took a big hit, from 121 to 108. There is reason for hope in Pittsburgh. Their team batting average has gone up 22 points since the beginning of May, but their pitching staff has brought it's ERA up too. Losing five of their last seven does not help, either. 27. Philadelphia Phillies (20-22)* The Phillies are seeing on-and-off play from third baseman Cody Asche so far this season. He has 16 hits and a .333 batting average in the month of May, but seven of those 16 hits have come in the last three games. Without those at bats and hits, Asche would be batting just .250. The Phillies offense has been just like Asche, inconsistent. The Phillies have been shut out five times in May, but have averaged 3.8 runs a game, higher than their April mark of 3.7. 26. Tampa Bay Rays (19-27)* I am not really sure what has gone wrong with the Rays to begin this season. They have scored an adequate amount of runs, have an average American League ERA of 4.20, but are sitting at the bottom of the American League East at 19-26. Injuries seem to be the main issue. Matt Moore is going to miss the entire season, Ben Zobrist has a dislocated thumb, and Jeremy Hellickson recently had right elbow surgery. It does not get much worse than that. 25. Chicago White Sox (23-24)* Jose Abreu is now on the disabled list. He leads the American League in home runs, RBI, slugging percentage, and total bases. He has been the heart and sole of the White Sox. Without him, it looks like they could be falling down this list, and fast. But for now, they are holding their own at number 25, despite losing six of their last eight games. 24. San Diego Padres (21-25)* I expected more from the San Diego Padres going into this season. They really have not been meeting expectations, and injuries have slowed them more than ever. Like the Rays, many of their stars are currently hurt and on the disabled list, including Andrew Cashner and Josh Johnson. In order for the Padres to make a move, their offense has to pick up the pace. They rank second-to-last in the National League in runs scored, but rank second in ERA. 23. Arizona Diamondbacks (18-29)* The Arizona Diamondbacks made a fantastic hire in Tony LaRussa to lead their baseball operations. They have been able to string some wins together in May, going 9-6 thus far, scoring 0.6 more runs per game this month than they have all season. The light is finally starting to be seen at the end of this long dark tunnel. Their pitching is starting to figure it out as well, posting a 3.81 ERA in the month. 22. Cleveland Indians (21-25)* Lonnie Chisenhall has been the Indians best producer this season, posting a .912 OPS, 162 OPS+, and a .364 batting average, all leading the team. Chisenhall has played in only three games against a left-handed pitcher, compared to 31 against righties, causing much uproar across the web. Over his career, Chisenhall has just a .205 batting average against lefties. 21. Texas Rangers (21-24)* Prince Fielder has a herniated disk in his neck, which is just even more great news for Rangers fans. They have 13 players on the disabled list to begin the season, and even Fielder, who had played in 547 straight games, is now going to be on the sidelines, adding yet another player to the lengthy list of names of Rangers that are injured (although Fielder will not be going on the disabled list).
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On April 15, 1947, the Boston Braves were playing the Dodgers in Brooklyn. In the bottom of the first, Jackie Robinson stepped to the plate against the Braves' Johnny Sain. Robinson grounded out to third base, and the rest is history. He was the first African American to ever play Major League Baseball. As for the rest of the game, Robinson went 0-for-3 with a run scored.
Every April 15 since 2004, Major League Baseball celebrates "Jackie Robinson Day," which is a day completely dedicated to Robinson and his achievements. Every player will wear number 42 (Jackie's number), and for the first time ever, there are no active players wearing 42 on a regular basis. That stopped with the retirement of Mariano Rivera in 2013, whom was grandfathered in when the number was retired from the entire Major Leagues in 1997. Robinson was a fantastic player over his ten year career with the Dodgers. He hit a .311/.409/.883 slash line with 137 home runs, 734 RBI, and 197 stolen bases over his career. Robinson drove in 124 runs and stole 37 bases in 1949, which was arguably his best season ever. Now today, on April 15, 2014, celebrate and embrace the toughness of Robinson, and how his perseverance changed the baseball world forever. I really enjoyed watching the movie 42, which showed Robinson's struggles and how he got to the Major Leagues. Even if your favorite team may be rained out, just enjoy one of baseball's greatest moments, the debut of the world-renowned Jackie Robinson. We know speed kills in baseball, but boy is Billy Hamilton going to make opposing pitchers and ball-clubs mad. Take today's fifth inning for instance. (The Reds were playing the Cardinals.) Hamilton singled to left, stole second base, moved to third on a sacrifice fly, and scored on a fly ball to shallow right that Kolten Wong (the Cardinals SECOND BASEMAN) almost caught. Don't believe me? Here is the video clip: Hamilton had three hits in the game, and his hitting .192 (5-for-26) on the season. That stolen base was his first of the year, and likely the first of many more to come.
The MLB season is just minutes away from kicking off, and I have come with the predictions that you have all been waiting for, my postseason and award picks! After giving a short preview for each team in my division rankings (they are linked in the post), here are my postseason picks! National League East -- Washington Nationals (3) Central -- St. Louis Cardinals (1) West -- Los Angels Dodgers (2) Wild Card -- Philadelphia Phillies (4) Wild Card -- Arizona Diamondbacks (5)
Rookie of the Year: Billy Hamilton, Cincinnati Reds Cy Young: Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins MVP: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals Breakout Team: Milwaukee Brewers National League Champion: Washington Nationals American League East -- New York Yankees (2) Central -- Detroit Tigers (1) West -- Los Angeles Angels (3) Wild Card -- Oakland Athletics (4) Wild Card -- Tampa Bay Rays (5)
Rookie of the Year: Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees Cy Young: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers MVP: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels Breakout Team: Kansas City Royals American League Champion: Detroit Tigers 2014 World Series Prediction Washington Nationals in seven games. The Nationals have the best roster in all of baseball, and after a tough season last year, they will be playing with a chip on their shoulder. With a rotation that includes Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Doug Fister, and Jordan Zimmermann, the Nationals may not have the best regular season record, but can cruise through the postseason. Bryce Harper, my MVP pick, is going to hit 40 or more home runs. Jayson Werth will post a really good average, and Ian Desmond will the fantastic shortstop he is. The Nationals are built to win this World Series, and after having a good off season, there is no doubt in my mind that they do not win it.
The case for the Tigers: The Detroit Tigers offense might just be a little bit better then the Nationals', and they could easily defeat the team with their pitching as well. They have way more postseason experience after having played in the last three consecutive, and they are also built to win a championship as well. Their rotation is just as good as the Nationals', and they've got more star power in their lineup to perhaps beat them. The countdown to Opening Day is getting smaller. The Opening Series has begun, and only nine days to Opening Day. Every few days from now to the beginning of the season, I will be previewing one division, leading up to my postseason picks on Opening Night. After doing the National League East, we will continue with the National League Central division today. 1. St. Louis Cardinals -- 2013 Record: 97-65; Projected Record: 98-64 The Cardinals have a very similar team to the one that led them to the World Series last season against the Boston Red Sox. In fact, they have probably improved their team with their off season moves. They also have a young pitching staff and a fantastic lineup. With that team, it has to be the Cardinals at the top of the National League Central division this season. They are going to go deep into the postseason, and will put up a good fight with the Nationals to represent the National League in the World Series. This off season, the Cardinals improved their team, by signing shortstop Jhonny Peralta and trading for outfielder Peter Bourjos. They will both be upgrades at their respective positions. Peralta, in a PED suspension shortened season, posted a 119 OPS+, and Bourjos posted a 102 OPS+ and stole 6 bases in 55 games. He should add some speed to the top of St. Louis' lineup, and should also be a force in the outfield. In general, the Cardinals have a great lineup that includes the likes of Yadier Molina, Allen Craig, and Matt Holliday, and a great rotation that includes Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, Michael Wacha, and Joe Kelly. They should be in a great position to finish at the top of the National League Central division. In other words, the Cardinals are at the top, and everyone else is looking up. 2. Cincinnati Reds -- 2013 Record: 90-72; Projected Record: 87-75 The Cincinnati Reds did not do that much to improve their team this offseason, cupped with the loss of Shin-Soo Choo to the Texas Rangers. Overall, they have still got a great team, and they will be right in the mix for the National League Central. The Reds have a good ball-club, and will definitely give the Cardinals a run for their money. It's just that they will not finish first. Yes they've got a good core with Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips, and rookie Billy Hamilton, but they did not do a good enough job to contend with the Cardinals. The lone "major" move the Reds made was trading Ryan Hanigan to the Rays in a three-team trade that sent David Holmberg (minors) from the Diamondbacks back to Cincinnati. However, as I said earlier, Billy Hamilton is getting ready to become an everyday starter for the Reds. He could be that new addition that really sparks this team. In five minor-league seasons, Hamilton has 395 stolen bases in just 502 games. If he can continue to get on base (.350 OBP in MiLB), Hamilton will be a force in the Reds lineup. Overall, the Reds outlook looks pretty good. They will be in the running for a Wild Card spot, and might just well be playing in the one game playoff come October. For that to happen, Billy Hamilton has to be their x-factor and come through for them. The loss of Shin-Soo Choo might be too tough to handle, but if Hamilton can do similar things to what he did in the minors, the Reds won't nearly be as effected. We will have to see if Hamilton can come through in 2014. 3. Milwaukee Brewers -- 2013 Record: 74-88; Projected Record: 84-77 I like the Brewers more than the Pirates for two reasons. First, their off season was much better than the Pirates', who made no major moves to improve their team. Second, their pitching staff could be one of the most underrated in the National League, especially after that free agent addition of Matt Garza. Yovani Gallardo, Wily Peralta, and Kyle Lohse are as good as anyone, even though they finished 22nd in the MLB in starter's ERA last season. It's not just the rotation that could make the Brewers a surprise contender; they boast an offense that includes an entire season of Ryan Braun, All Star Carlos Gomez, and Jonathan Lucroy just to name a few of their players. In short, the Brewers are as good as anybody, but their overall finish depends on their execution. One player that must execute is Matt Garza, the Brewers lone major signing this off season. Garza's performance could determine how well the Brewers play, if he plays well, they could be a surpriser, or if he doesn't, they could fall back into the depths of the NL Central. The Brewers season could go in many different ways. But for now, I am going to go with a realistic prediction, and have them finishing third in the National League Central. As I said, they could be a surpriser, and they could make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2011. A few things have to go right for that to happen, but it is not impossible. The Brewers will be the team to watch from the National League Central in 2014. 4. Pittsburgh Pirates: 2013 Record: 94-68; Projected Record: 81-81 The Pirates do not have a pitching staff to hold up their offense. That is why they will finish dead even, at a .500 winning percentage. The loss of A.J. Burnett to the Phillies, and likely unsustainable seasons from Jeff Locke and Charlie Morton will lead to the quick fall of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They will be back, but this just is not shaping up to be their year. The Pirates did nothing this offseason. Absolutely nothing. Their biggest signing was of Chris Dickerson to a minor-league deal. They have still got a great offense with Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez, and Neil Walker, but the number of off season moves, plus a run down pitching staff could lead to the Pirates downfall in the National League Central this upcoming season. It does not seem like they will be able to compete at the same level with the Cardinals, Reds, or Brewers, who all have better pitching staffs. Even the greatest offensive teams need pitching to back them up. If the Pirates get repeat performances from Locke and Morton, they could be back in the playoffs. It just seems like that is becoming unlikely, and after refusing to bring in anyone this offseason, let alone a pitcher, it seems like the Pirates are destined for a down season. As I keep saying, their offense isn't a problem, it just does not look like they have a pitching staff to support it. 5. Chicago Cubs -- 2013 Record: 66-96; Projected Record: 70-92 When I say the Cubs will be better next year, I really mean that. They have got my favorite farm system, and it will not be long before they rebound and rise to the top of the NL Central. However, it looks like it will be another bleak season for Cubs fans. They did make some nice small moves this off season, which could be key to their success, but I just cannot see the playoffs happening for the Cubs this season. They have Kris Bryant and Javier Baez crushing home runs in the minors. They have Mike Olt, who might just return to somewhere near the top prospect that he was not too long ago. But, what they do have in the Major Leagues is not that great. They have Starlin Castro, who is getting ready for a breakout season. They have Anthony Rizzo, who was one of the few bright spots for the team. But besides that, they have very little to work with this season. A new manager, some minute off season moves, and another last place finish seems to be the Cubs destiny. Cubs fans, it will not be long before you are back on top. I really have enjoyed watching your patience over these past few (many) years. But for now, it looks like you will be finishing last in the National League Central division this season. Just one more year, and the Cubs could be right smack in the middle of my predictions, but they are dead last this season. It does not look like much could change that. |