The Weekly MLB Rundown: 05.30.08: Two Months, Too Soon
Posted by A.J. Stevens on 05.30.2008
Wow, has that much of the season gone by already? Inside, let's take a look at how my predictions are doing, plus the in-depth analysis you've come to expect from the most popular baseball column among my readers!
Hello again baseball fans! It's been a great week, with lots of news and lots of exciting games. We're coming up on the All-Star break, which means that the contenders are starting to be separated from the pretenders. There's trade talk in the air, calls for managers' heads, and celebrations in unlikely places. Let's get to it, shall we?
NEWS OF THE WEEK
Denver mugged by Philadelphia
20-5, 7-4, 6-1. I'm reminded of the first time I heard Dan Davis (of ESPN radio fame) give a SportsCenter update. He described one game as a "paste-age." I wasn't expecting this sort of language from a professional newsman. I am grateful that he was able to add this word to my personal lexicon, as this describes the Rox being outscored by a total of 23 runs this past series.
This just in: the Rockies are horrible this year. Actually, this is more "surprising" than "news". Actually, fifty-odd games into the season, it's more sad than surprising. Two months ago, it was common consensus that the NL West was going to be the most competitive division in baseball. Instead, it seems like the teams are competing for most disappointing. Denver fans were anxious to see their team repeat the magic that carried them to the World Series last October. What they got so far is a team so frustratingly bad that there are already rumors that the team that brought Denver fame for the first time in 10 years isn't going to be the same come the end of July.
Jekyll-and-Hyde-mondbacks
I am sitting on my couch (in my mother's basement? YOU DECIDE) waiting for the Diamondbacks game to start in an hour or so. The Snakes have lost their last three games, and seem to have forgotten for the most part what it's like to actually hit a baseball. Poor Justin Upton, one of the most highly touted prospects, emerged last night from a 0-for-27 slump. Fan "favorite" (I use this term loosely because he has been hit-or-miss, mostly "miss", ever since signing that contract extension last year) Eric Byrnes has thankfully been sent to the DL to rest his sore hamstrings, giving playing time to a platoon that can actually hit the ball, Chris Burke and Jeff Salazar. The pitching staff has been very effective this year, but has been suffering from a lack of run support. Brandon Webb pitched his usual game on Saturday, but was not given much run support, and was thus denied the chance to become the first pitcher since Andy Hawkins to start his season 10-0.
Tonight, the Diamondbacks are facing the pitcher who has pretty much been the antithesis of Webb: Barry Zito. Zito is currently 1-8 with an ERA of somewhere around a jillion. He's been unmotivated and ineffective for a couple of years now, and has to go against Randy Johnson. Hopefully, this puts the Diamondbacks back in the win column, and gives them the psychological boost they'll need to go out and slaughter the visiting Nationals this weekend.
Jose Guillen uses some "Royal" blue language
After the Royals' tenth straight loss, where they have up six runs in two innings to lose by one run, Jose Guillen had this to say about the loss, and the team in general:
"Too many (bleep) babies here. They (bleep) don't know how to play the (bleep) game (bleep) and win the game right, the way it's supposed to be (bleep) played. (Bleep, bleep). And that's the problem (bleep) here. Now I (bleep) (bleep) know why this (bleep) organization's been (bleep) losing for a while. Now I know. [Manager Trey Hillman] cares more than anyone here about winning. That guy cares. Every single day. It's killing him. (Bleep). We've just got to be smart and know what we need to do to win (bleep) games. (Bleep) (Bleep). That's (bleep) it. There's too many (bleep) guys that won't do this, do that, like they've given up, like they don't care. (Bleep)."
My word. I mean, just, wow. What else is there to say? OK, well, I'll try, seeing has how you're reading this column for something that resembles insightful commentary.
Jose Guillen has played for nine teams in his 11-year career. During that time, he has acquired a reputation for being, well, a little disruptive to his team's personality. That said, sometimes jerks have their place. Having a hard-nosed motivator on the team is a good thing, especially if you're someone like the Royals. Nothing against Trey Hillman, who is by all accounts doing the right thing with this club. I think Guillen is a good fit for the Royals and a good counterbalance to the other personalities on the team. It will take someone like Hillman to channel Guillen's energy and turn it into something more constructive for the team.
WALKOFFS OF THE WEEK
Robinson Cano, Yankees, vs. Baltimore, 5/22/08
Matt Holliday, Rockies, vs. New York (NL), 5/23/08
Jason Bay, Pirates, vs. Chicago (NL), 5/24/08
Jeff Francoeur, Braves, vs. Arizona, 5/24/08
Evan Longoria, Rays, vs. Baltimore, 5/25/08
Carlos Quentin, White Sox, vs. Los Angeles (AL), 5/25/08
Dan Uggla, Marlins, vs. San Francisco, 5/25/08
Andre Ethier, Dodgers, vs. St. Louis, 5/25/08
Adrian Gonzalez, Padres, vs. Cincinnati, 5/25/08
Jason Bay, Pirates, vs. Chicago (NL), 5/25/08 (two in a row? WALK THIS MAN TO GET TO ADAM LAROCHE PLEASE)
Felipe Lopez, Nationals, vs. Milwaukee, 5/25/08 (walk-off wild pitch)
Garret Anderson, Angels, vs. Detroit, 5/26/08 (walk-off 4-pitch walk)
Alex Cintron, Orioles, vs. New York (AL), 5/27/08
Gary Matthews Jr., Angels, vs. Detroit, 5/27/08
Jose Lopez, Mariners, vs. Boston, 5/27/08
Mike Cameron, Brewers, vs. Atlanta, 5/27/08
Fernando Tatis, Mets, vs. Florida, 5/28/08
Alfonso Soriano, Cubs, vs. Los Angeles (NL), 5/28/08
PREDICTIONS VS. STANDINGS
How's this year shaping up so far? For the record, here are my predictions, made almost two months(!) ago:
AL East: Boston, New York, Toronto, Tampa Bay, Baltimore
AL Central: Detroit, Cleveland, Minnesota, Chicago, Kansas City
AL West: Los Angeles, Seattle, Oakland, Texas
NL East: Philadelphia, New York, Atlanta, Washington, Florida
NL Central: Chicago, Milwaukee, Houston, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh
NL West: Arizona, San Diego, Colorado, Los Angeles, San Francisco
And here are the current standings:
AL East: Tampa Bay, Boston*, Toronto, Baltimore, New York
AL Central: Chicago, Minnesota, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City
AL West: Los Angeles, Oakland, Texas, Seattle
NL East: Florida, Philadelphia, Atlanta, New York, Washington
NL Central: Chicago, St. Louis*, Houston, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh
NL West: Arizona, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Colorado
* = Wild Card leader
Definitely some surprises here. I don't think anyone expected either Florida team to be in first place one-third of the way through the season. Kansas City started off strong, but currently find themselves mired in a losing streak that has pushed them to the cellar in the AL Central. Thankfully, there is a team out there playing worse baseball than Detroit right now. I knew the Yankees didn't have much chance of making the playoffs this year, but last place at this point in the season? I'm sure if Steinbrenner the Elder was still running the team, there would be many, many heads rolling at this point. Seattle has quietly slunk down to the worst record in baseball, although they've had some stiff competition from last year's contenders the Padres and the Rockies.
CLOSING IT OUT
Will Willie Randolph still be Mets manager this time next week? Who is leading the All-Star voting? What will be the fate of YOUR favorite team after the all-star break? Tune in next week for the answers to these questions and more!
In the meantime, drop me a line at 411baseball@gmail.com to talk some baseball, or leave a comment below.
