July 9, 2007

Tuesday's Thoughts

First-Half Awards (Part 1): American League

With it being the All-Star Break and the season is just over half done, here are my award winners for the first half of the season.


American League Cy Young

Player: Dan Haren, Oakland Athletics
Position: Pitcher
Throws: Right
Bats: Right
Age: 26
Season: 10-3, 2.30 ERA, 101 K, 32 BB, 129.1 IP, 33 ER, 19 G/GS



Dan Haren has the best pitcher in the majors for the first half of the season. His great control (3:1 K:BB ratio) and low ERA have helped him win 10 games so far this season. Another nice stat is that he’s holding left-handed hitters to a .167 avg., compared to the .245 avg. against righties. He had an ERA of 1.91 through June, which is almost unheard of in this game these days. He’s currently sitting with an ERA of 2.30, which shows that he’s dropped off the last couple starts. But none the less, he’s still proving that he’s one of baseball’s best.
Runner Up: Josh Beckett
End of season prediction: Johan Santana


American League Rookie of the Year

Player: Daisuke Matsuzaka, Boston Red Sox
Position: Pitcher
Throws: Right
Bats: Right
Age: 26
Season: 10-6, 3.84 ERA, 123 K, 38 BB, 119.2 IP, 51 ER, 18 G/GS



Dice-K has been a great pick up for the Boston Red Sox, thus far. His 10 wins and 123 strikeouts put him near the top in both categories. He might have had the most pressure on him before the beginning of the season, due to the large fact that the Boston Red Sox spent upwards of $50 Million just to talk to the 26 year old Japanese native. He has showed everyone so far that he’s worth that and more with his good control and respectable 3.84 ERA.
Runner Up: Jeremy Guthrie
End of season prediction: Daisuke Matsuzaka


American League Most Valuable Player

Player: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
Position: 3rd Base
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Age: 31
Season: .317 avg., 30 HR, 86 RBI, .413 OBP, .665 SLG%



Alex Rodriguez has been the talk of the league since he signed his 10-year $252 Million deal with the Texas Rangers in 2000. Some of the talk has been good, but for the most part, it’s been negative. ARod has been on fire this season, and is on pace to hit close to 60 HR’s and 160+ RBI. If that isn’t an MVP pace, then I don’t know what is. Everyone knew it was going to be a special season for this Yankee after he hit 14 HR’s, 34 RBI’s, and had an average of .355. Alex Rodriguez is on pace to have the best season of his career, all doing it under the pressure of playing in New York City.
Runner Up: Magglio Ordonez
End of season prediction: Alex Rodriguez


Wednesday, I will show my NL Award Winners.



Minor League Notes

Rochester Red Wings
No Game Scheduled.


New Britain Rock Cats lost to the Reading Phillies, 8-5.
Winner: Allen Davis (1-0) (4.76)
Loser: Jesse Floyd (4-7, 4.67)
Save: Chris Key (9)
Notes: Despite having out hitting the Phillies 12-9, the Rock Cats could put enough runs on the table after Jesse Floyd struggled to get through the 4th inning. Matt Allegra hit 2 solo home runs on Monday to bring his season total to 12. Felix Molina had 3 hits and an RBI. Brok Peterson and Matt Moses also drove in a run each.


Ft. Myers Miracle lost to the Clearwater Threshers, 8-4.
Winner: Alex Concepcion (1-0, 4.76)
Loser: David Shinskie (4-3, 3.96)
Notes: Ed Ovalle & Chris Woodward both went 2-3 with a solo home run on Monday. Alex Smit continued to struggle going just 2 innings giving up 3 runs on 5 hits.


Beloit Snappers vs. the Swing of the Quad Cities
Postponed due to storm.


GCL Twins
No Game Scheduled.


Elizabethton Twins beat the Greenville Astros, 18-0.
Winner: Mike Tarsi (2-0, .069)
Loser: Augustin Pinales (1-2, 10.95)
Notes: What a blowout. Michael Tarsi continued to impress going 5 strong innings giving up 4 hits while striking out 7. But the story of the game was the bat of Diebinson Romero. The 20-year old 3rd baseman went 4-5 with 3 HR's (1 grand slam and 2 2-run HR's) and 10 RBI's. Starling De Los Santos led the team scoring 5 runs. Ozzie Lewis had 3 RBI's to go along with his 3 hits. Rene Leveret had 3 runs and an RBI while going 2-5.

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