Sorry about no post today, as some of you know there were some wicked storms that passed through the Twin Cities yesterday and sure enough we lost power for quite a while (about 6 hours). So I couldn't get a post up for today, but I hope sometime over the weekend I can get something up.
Go Twins!
July 11, 2008
July 10, 2008
No post tonight, sorry!
Sorry, I'm a little busy so posting will be short. The Twins were absolutely annihilated yesterday against the Red Sox. After jumping off to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, the Twins lost 18-5. And after the 6th inning, the game was still close before a 7-run 7th inning broke the game wide open.
All of our pitchers were terrible.
Livan Hernandez: 4 1/3 innings, 11 hits, 6 runs
Boof Bonser: 1 2/3 innings, 4 hits, 4 runs
Craig Breslow: 1/3 innings, 1 hit, 2 runs
Brian Bass: 1 1/3 innings, 6 hits, 5 runs
Dennys Reyes: 1/3 innings, 1 hit, 1 run
The team had no chance.
Denard Span started in center field and leadoff in place of Carlos Gomez. He went 1-3 with 2 walks. He got thrown out by Josh Beckett in the first inning while trying to steal 2nd (before he even began to move his arm back) and was charged with a throwing error, but I think it was more so Livan Hernandez's fault for not backing up Joe Mauer at home plate. I was impressed with Span's arm strength on the throw. It looked near above average, and after hearing he had a "noodle arm" I'm very impressed.
Joe Mauer & Justin Morneau continued to play well. Jason Kubel & Morneau's homer contest continues to stay close with both at 13 apiece. Delmon Young is now hitting .293 after another 3-hit game. And Nick Punto is continuing to play well both offensively and defensively.
Sorry about the short post. I hopefully will have more time tomorrow.
Game Ball
Joe Mauer - Catcher
Line: 2-3, run, double, RBI, 2 walks
Twins lose, 18-5.
Also make sure to check out the links on my side. And for a good read, head over to the "Bleacher Report" as myself, Andrew Kneeland and Nick Nelson (among others) answer a few "Twins Whatnot" questions.
Have a good day!
All of our pitchers were terrible.
Livan Hernandez: 4 1/3 innings, 11 hits, 6 runs
Boof Bonser: 1 2/3 innings, 4 hits, 4 runs
Craig Breslow: 1/3 innings, 1 hit, 2 runs
Brian Bass: 1 1/3 innings, 6 hits, 5 runs
Dennys Reyes: 1/3 innings, 1 hit, 1 run
The team had no chance.
Denard Span started in center field and leadoff in place of Carlos Gomez. He went 1-3 with 2 walks. He got thrown out by Josh Beckett in the first inning while trying to steal 2nd (before he even began to move his arm back) and was charged with a throwing error, but I think it was more so Livan Hernandez's fault for not backing up Joe Mauer at home plate. I was impressed with Span's arm strength on the throw. It looked near above average, and after hearing he had a "noodle arm" I'm very impressed.
Joe Mauer & Justin Morneau continued to play well. Jason Kubel & Morneau's homer contest continues to stay close with both at 13 apiece. Delmon Young is now hitting .293 after another 3-hit game. And Nick Punto is continuing to play well both offensively and defensively.
Sorry about the short post. I hopefully will have more time tomorrow.
Game Ball
Joe Mauer - Catcher
Line: 2-3, run, double, RBI, 2 walks
Twins lose, 18-5.
Also make sure to check out the links on my side. And for a good read, head over to the "Bleacher Report" as myself, Andrew Kneeland and Nick Nelson (among others) answer a few "Twins Whatnot" questions.
Have a good day!
July 9, 2008
Clubs making moves, what should the Twins do?
Update (11:55 AM): According to Joe Christensen of the StarTrib, the Twins have had "internal discussions" about adding Adrian Beltre, but that they haven't discussed anything with the Mariners. I believe that it's more just to show that they're discussing a few different options, but I doubt anything comes of this. Still Beltre was one of the guys I was going to list, but being that he has a fairly big salary for next year it may be unrealistic. Then again, the Twins have the funds to add his contract and it'd probably mean that the team doesn't have to give up "an arm and a leg" to acquire the 29-year-old third baseman.
Hey everyone. I don't have the desire to talk about yet another gut wrenching loss for the Twins against the Red Sox, so you'll have to settle for something else... SPECULATION!
Longtime readers of the site (if there are any...joking...hopefully) probably know that I'm a huge fan of speculating on things such as potential for minor leaguers as well as possible trades/free agent signings. So with the trade deadline approaching quickly, I think it's appropriate to address what I believe the Twins need and what I think they should do.
Two contending teams in the NL Central have already made huge splashes in acquiring a top-of-the-line starter in both cases. The Brewers acquired Twins nemesis C.C. Sabathia for top prospect Matt LaPorta while the Cubs acquired Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin for a slew of young ML-ready players.
Both teams expect there to be a fight to the finish and the race could come down to the very end. In regards to the AL Central, the Indians and Royals are clearly out of it which leaves the Tigers, White Sox and Twins. The White Sox have had a great first half and figure to continue their success in the second half. There's a reasonable chance that both teams could acquire a difference maker prior to the deadline, as both teams have a history of trading while having the "win now" mentality. If the Twins want to stay with it, I believe that they'll have to do something, although knowing the Twins' history of deadline moves, that seems very unlikely to happen.
Problem: The Bullpen
Since the loss of Pat Neshek, the Twins have had to rely on Matt Guerrier for all of their setup duties (don't laugh at "duties") and I believe this team could really use another setup-type reliever which could allow the Twins to either jettison Boof Bonser or Brian Bass.
Options: (in no particular order)
Doug Brocail, Astros: Although he's 41-years-old, he still has proven to be very effective and would really help bolster our bullpen. It's likely his last season, and with the Astros unlikely to compete for a playoff spot, he could be on the move.
Chad Bradford, Orioles: Bradford would be the perfect addition to our bullpen. With one submarine pitcher on the shelf, we could bring in another in Bradford. The Orioles don't have a chance at contending and Bradford is due $3.5 million next year. He also could be on the move.
Chad Qualls, Diamondbacks: The Diamondbacks probably won't want to get rid of Qualls, but he'd be a good fit for this team. He's about to turn 30-years-old and is still very cheap. He was the centerpiece of the Jose Valverde trade, so it may take a little more to get him.
Problem: Third Base
The Twins signed Mike Lamb in hopes that he'll be at least serviceable until they can find a replacement from their minor leagues (Danny Valencia or Deibinson Romero), but after a terrible first half he has now found himself on the bench and has only played a handful of games in the last month and really has no business on this team anymore. With Brian Buscher playing well and now it looks like he'll be platooning with Brendan Harris while Nick Punto continues to play very well at shortstop, Lamb continues to fall further and further on the depth chart. As much as I've enjoyed watching Brian Buscher he is definitely unlikely to continue playing at a high pace and has already started on somewhat of a downward slide, hitting .192 over his last 7 games.
Options: (in no particular order)
Nomar Garciaparra, Dodgers: Although the Dodgers may now be inclined to keep Garciaparra around due to the lack of health in their middle infielders, he certainly makes sense as a trade candidate. He's always been a favorite player of mine and if he can stay healthy (which I admit is a big "if") then I think he'd provide a great veteran bat in this lineup.
Casey Blake, Indians: The Indians are most definitely going to "sell" which is evident with the trade of C.C. Sabathia. Casey Blake doesn't seem to be in their long term plans, and just seems like a "Twins-guy." I think he'd fit in very nicely and this team needs guys that can hit against left-handers as the team is currently hitting .261 with a terrible .683 OPS vs. southpaws.
Dallas McPherson, Marlins: He's back on his "power surge" this season as he leads all of the minor leagues with 31 home runs and although the homer happy Marlins probably could use his bat, they have not promoted him due to his terrible defense. He'll likely only be a DH in the majors, but I think he's worth a shot regardless of his defense if his bat is as good as advertised. But buyer beware, he's shown great numbers throughout the minors but hasn't shown up in the majors. Then again, he's had chronic back problems which definitely played a role in his lack of production in the majors.
The team certainly does not have a glaring need at any position, but they certainly could benefit greatly with a couple upgrades. And really, I could get into upgrading nearly every position, but these two are the ones that really worry me.
I doubt the Twins make a big move prior to the deadline. The only moves I could see happening is them making room on their roster by parting with one of the following players:
None of them would surprise me, although I'd prefer to hold onto both Breslow and Bonser. The only reason why I'm mentioning Breslow anyways is because of his lack of playing time and although he's preformed very well, he just isn't being used.
I also think that the club needs to make a few internal changes. Things like changing up the batting order and possibly changing positions.
Carlos Gomez is proving each and every at bat that he does not deserve to bat leadoff, and although the Twins want to give him as many at bats as possible, at this point they need to do what is best for the team and not just Carlos Gomez. Denard Span on the other hand showed that he could bat leadoff while at Rochester this season and is continuing to prove it since his latest promotion. I propose the Twins switching Span and Gomez as I think it'd benefit the entire team.
Also, with Denard Span playing so well both at the plate and in the field, it's going to cause a "problem" when Michael Cuddyer is finally healthy. Now, I know what I'm about to say is not going to sit well with quite a few readers, but I'm just listing it as an option. I propose the Twins to move Cuddyer back to third base and let Span continue to start in right field. Cuddyer was dreadful at third base his first time around, but that was also when he was still unsure of his roster spot (even though he started most of the games). Now his roster spot is 100% secure, which we may or may not agree with, and I think his experience as an everyday player over the last few years would allow him to be at the very least serviceable at the hot corner. Heck, if the Twins were fine with the way Mike Lamb played there, I think Cuddyer would be just fine.
Those are really the two moves I'd like to see the Twins make prior to the deadline, and if they don't seem to be working out, then perhaps make a move which can keep us in contention. However, I expect another very slow trading day for the Twins.
***
Hey everyone. I don't have the desire to talk about yet another gut wrenching loss for the Twins against the Red Sox, so you'll have to settle for something else... SPECULATION!
Longtime readers of the site (if there are any...joking...hopefully) probably know that I'm a huge fan of speculating on things such as potential for minor leaguers as well as possible trades/free agent signings. So with the trade deadline approaching quickly, I think it's appropriate to address what I believe the Twins need and what I think they should do.
Two contending teams in the NL Central have already made huge splashes in acquiring a top-of-the-line starter in both cases. The Brewers acquired Twins nemesis C.C. Sabathia for top prospect Matt LaPorta while the Cubs acquired Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin for a slew of young ML-ready players.
Both teams expect there to be a fight to the finish and the race could come down to the very end. In regards to the AL Central, the Indians and Royals are clearly out of it which leaves the Tigers, White Sox and Twins. The White Sox have had a great first half and figure to continue their success in the second half. There's a reasonable chance that both teams could acquire a difference maker prior to the deadline, as both teams have a history of trading while having the "win now" mentality. If the Twins want to stay with it, I believe that they'll have to do something, although knowing the Twins' history of deadline moves, that seems very unlikely to happen.
Problem: The Bullpen
Since the loss of Pat Neshek, the Twins have had to rely on Matt Guerrier for all of their setup duties (don't laugh at "duties") and I believe this team could really use another setup-type reliever which could allow the Twins to either jettison Boof Bonser or Brian Bass.
Options: (in no particular order)
Doug Brocail, Astros: Although he's 41-years-old, he still has proven to be very effective and would really help bolster our bullpen. It's likely his last season, and with the Astros unlikely to compete for a playoff spot, he could be on the move.
Chad Bradford, Orioles: Bradford would be the perfect addition to our bullpen. With one submarine pitcher on the shelf, we could bring in another in Bradford. The Orioles don't have a chance at contending and Bradford is due $3.5 million next year. He also could be on the move.
Chad Qualls, Diamondbacks: The Diamondbacks probably won't want to get rid of Qualls, but he'd be a good fit for this team. He's about to turn 30-years-old and is still very cheap. He was the centerpiece of the Jose Valverde trade, so it may take a little more to get him.
Problem: Third Base
The Twins signed Mike Lamb in hopes that he'll be at least serviceable until they can find a replacement from their minor leagues (Danny Valencia or Deibinson Romero), but after a terrible first half he has now found himself on the bench and has only played a handful of games in the last month and really has no business on this team anymore. With Brian Buscher playing well and now it looks like he'll be platooning with Brendan Harris while Nick Punto continues to play very well at shortstop, Lamb continues to fall further and further on the depth chart. As much as I've enjoyed watching Brian Buscher he is definitely unlikely to continue playing at a high pace and has already started on somewhat of a downward slide, hitting .192 over his last 7 games.
Options: (in no particular order)
Nomar Garciaparra, Dodgers: Although the Dodgers may now be inclined to keep Garciaparra around due to the lack of health in their middle infielders, he certainly makes sense as a trade candidate. He's always been a favorite player of mine and if he can stay healthy (which I admit is a big "if") then I think he'd provide a great veteran bat in this lineup.
Casey Blake, Indians: The Indians are most definitely going to "sell" which is evident with the trade of C.C. Sabathia. Casey Blake doesn't seem to be in their long term plans, and just seems like a "Twins-guy." I think he'd fit in very nicely and this team needs guys that can hit against left-handers as the team is currently hitting .261 with a terrible .683 OPS vs. southpaws.
Dallas McPherson, Marlins: He's back on his "power surge" this season as he leads all of the minor leagues with 31 home runs and although the homer happy Marlins probably could use his bat, they have not promoted him due to his terrible defense. He'll likely only be a DH in the majors, but I think he's worth a shot regardless of his defense if his bat is as good as advertised. But buyer beware, he's shown great numbers throughout the minors but hasn't shown up in the majors. Then again, he's had chronic back problems which definitely played a role in his lack of production in the majors.
The team certainly does not have a glaring need at any position, but they certainly could benefit greatly with a couple upgrades. And really, I could get into upgrading nearly every position, but these two are the ones that really worry me.
I doubt the Twins make a big move prior to the deadline. The only moves I could see happening is them making room on their roster by parting with one of the following players:
Mike Lamb, 3B
Craig Monroe, OF/DH
Brian Bass, RHP
Boof Bonser, RHP
Craig Breslow, LHP
Craig Monroe, OF/DH
Brian Bass, RHP
Boof Bonser, RHP
Craig Breslow, LHP
None of them would surprise me, although I'd prefer to hold onto both Breslow and Bonser. The only reason why I'm mentioning Breslow anyways is because of his lack of playing time and although he's preformed very well, he just isn't being used.
I also think that the club needs to make a few internal changes. Things like changing up the batting order and possibly changing positions.
Carlos Gomez is proving each and every at bat that he does not deserve to bat leadoff, and although the Twins want to give him as many at bats as possible, at this point they need to do what is best for the team and not just Carlos Gomez. Denard Span on the other hand showed that he could bat leadoff while at Rochester this season and is continuing to prove it since his latest promotion. I propose the Twins switching Span and Gomez as I think it'd benefit the entire team.
Also, with Denard Span playing so well both at the plate and in the field, it's going to cause a "problem" when Michael Cuddyer is finally healthy. Now, I know what I'm about to say is not going to sit well with quite a few readers, but I'm just listing it as an option. I propose the Twins to move Cuddyer back to third base and let Span continue to start in right field. Cuddyer was dreadful at third base his first time around, but that was also when he was still unsure of his roster spot (even though he started most of the games). Now his roster spot is 100% secure, which we may or may not agree with, and I think his experience as an everyday player over the last few years would allow him to be at the very least serviceable at the hot corner. Heck, if the Twins were fine with the way Mike Lamb played there, I think Cuddyer would be just fine.
Those are really the two moves I'd like to see the Twins make prior to the deadline, and if they don't seem to be working out, then perhaps make a move which can keep us in contention. However, I expect another very slow trading day for the Twins.
Game Ball
Don't feel like blogging about the game. For a good recap, head over to Twins Fix.
Game Ball
Brendan Harris - Third Base
Line: 2-4, 2 runs, double, triple, 2 RBI
Twins lose, 6-5.
Game Ball
Brendan Harris - Third Base
Line: 2-4, 2 runs, double, triple, 2 RBI
Twins lose, 6-5.
July 8, 2008
Did Gardy "Screw the Pooch?"
With respect to a few, the Twins' bats just merely did not show up last night. Daisuke Matsuzaka was working them up, down and all-around the strike zone but yet the Twins again were unable to figure out the 27-year-old Japanese pitcher.
Twice they had the bases loaded, once in the 1st and again in the 8th (he allowed 2 of the base runners before being relieved by Hideki Okajima) and both times they left all the runners on the bases. Matsuzaka's windup disrupts a lot of (inexperienced) batters' timing, and with the Twins having a lot of inexperienced players, there's no wonder why he's been able to just 18 hits (just one home run) in over 22 innings he's pitched against the Twins.
But regardless of how good Matsuzaka is, the Twins missed a few golden opportunities to drive in a few runs and they missed miserably, something this team is not used to when it comes to having runners on base. Delmon Young alone left 7 men on base.
The Twins' Scott Baker had the better game of the two hurlers. The 26-year-old right-hander went 7 shutout innings of 5 hit ball and gave up just 2 walks while striking out 7. Baker was pulled after throwing just 94 pitches, something that Manager Ron Gardenhire probably regrets. After retiring 3 of the 4 batters he faced in the 7th inning, Baker was pulled from the game prior to the 8th inning in place of Brian Bass. Bass ranks last in current pitcher's FIP at 5.20. And as you can guess it, Bass comes in and gives up a double, RBI single, and a walk while just recording one out to give the Red Sox the lead, and ultimately the win. He could have walked Ramirez, who I know (I know) is struggling, but it would have potentially set up the double-play ball for Mike Lowell.
I don't understand Ron Gardenhire's thought process when it comes to putting in some pitchers in pressure-filled situations. Bass is obviously the Twins' worst relief pitcher currently on the roster and really has no business coming into a game against one of the best lineups in all of baseball with the game tied up in the 8th inning, especially when the team hasn't really had to tap into their bullpen for more than 3 innings since they needed to against the Brewers 10 games ago. So Gardenhire can't use the "my bullpen is beat up" excuse for this one, as he could've really gone with just about any of his other relievers besides maybe Matt Guerrier.
And speaking of which, why has he not used Craig Breslow? Unless I'm unaware of a reasoning as to why he isn't being used, Breslow has not pitched in 6 games. In regards to his FIP, he leads the team and although he's only pitched in 10 2/3 innings for the Twins, he has still not allowed a run to cross the plate, meaning that his LOB% is 100%.
Breslow has never faced the Red Sox, but he did throw 1 1/3 perfect innings of relief against the Cleveland Indians, his former team. I'm not going to get into a comparison between the Indians and Red Sox, as obviously the Red Sox and Indians can't really be said in the same sentence this season in regards to offense (unless you say, "the Indian's lineup suck compared to the Red Sox"), but he probably would love a chance to face another of his former teams. Bass has faced the Red Sox, and he gave up 3 walks and two runs (including a home run) in just 1 1/3 innings earlier this season. And in both that and this appearance, he was facing the heart of their batting order. And in both, he was lit up.
Gardenhire's reasoning for Bass to be in there over a guy like Breslow was because he was set to face two right-handers and just one left-hander. However, I also would not buy that excuse as prior to the game Bass had a .303 BAA right-handers and Breslow had just a .171 BAA right-handers.
Even if it wasn't Bass, there were other options that Gardenhire could have used. Nick Nelson gives a few.
Joe Christensen offers a few reasonings for the thoughts behind the decisions made in the game:
Oh well, as the ol' saying goes, "there's always tomorrow" (or I guess in the Twins' case, tonight). However, the Red Sox will send out Jon Lester who is coming off of a complete-game shutout and has been outstanding at home. While the Twins send out Nick Blackburn who although is also coming off of a good performance, has been terrible on the road this year and has gotten hit hard (nearly a .400 average) by the Red Sox in each of his two appearances against the defending World Champions (1 start, 1 relief appearance).
What is your take?
Game Ball
Scott Baker - Starting Pitcher
Line: 7 innings pitched, 5 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts, no decision
Twins lose, 1-0.
Twice they had the bases loaded, once in the 1st and again in the 8th (he allowed 2 of the base runners before being relieved by Hideki Okajima) and both times they left all the runners on the bases. Matsuzaka's windup disrupts a lot of (inexperienced) batters' timing, and with the Twins having a lot of inexperienced players, there's no wonder why he's been able to just 18 hits (just one home run) in over 22 innings he's pitched against the Twins.
But regardless of how good Matsuzaka is, the Twins missed a few golden opportunities to drive in a few runs and they missed miserably, something this team is not used to when it comes to having runners on base. Delmon Young alone left 7 men on base.
The Twins' Scott Baker had the better game of the two hurlers. The 26-year-old right-hander went 7 shutout innings of 5 hit ball and gave up just 2 walks while striking out 7. Baker was pulled after throwing just 94 pitches, something that Manager Ron Gardenhire probably regrets. After retiring 3 of the 4 batters he faced in the 7th inning, Baker was pulled from the game prior to the 8th inning in place of Brian Bass. Bass ranks last in current pitcher's FIP at 5.20. And as you can guess it, Bass comes in and gives up a double, RBI single, and a walk while just recording one out to give the Red Sox the lead, and ultimately the win. He could have walked Ramirez, who I know (I know) is struggling, but it would have potentially set up the double-play ball for Mike Lowell.
I don't understand Ron Gardenhire's thought process when it comes to putting in some pitchers in pressure-filled situations. Bass is obviously the Twins' worst relief pitcher currently on the roster and really has no business coming into a game against one of the best lineups in all of baseball with the game tied up in the 8th inning, especially when the team hasn't really had to tap into their bullpen for more than 3 innings since they needed to against the Brewers 10 games ago. So Gardenhire can't use the "my bullpen is beat up" excuse for this one, as he could've really gone with just about any of his other relievers besides maybe Matt Guerrier.
And speaking of which, why has he not used Craig Breslow? Unless I'm unaware of a reasoning as to why he isn't being used, Breslow has not pitched in 6 games. In regards to his FIP, he leads the team and although he's only pitched in 10 2/3 innings for the Twins, he has still not allowed a run to cross the plate, meaning that his LOB% is 100%.
Breslow has never faced the Red Sox, but he did throw 1 1/3 perfect innings of relief against the Cleveland Indians, his former team. I'm not going to get into a comparison between the Indians and Red Sox, as obviously the Red Sox and Indians can't really be said in the same sentence this season in regards to offense (unless you say, "the Indian's lineup suck compared to the Red Sox"), but he probably would love a chance to face another of his former teams. Bass has faced the Red Sox, and he gave up 3 walks and two runs (including a home run) in just 1 1/3 innings earlier this season. And in both that and this appearance, he was facing the heart of their batting order. And in both, he was lit up.
Gardenhire's reasoning for Bass to be in there over a guy like Breslow was because he was set to face two right-handers and just one left-hander. However, I also would not buy that excuse as prior to the game Bass had a .303 BAA right-handers and Breslow had just a .171 BAA right-handers.
Even if it wasn't Bass, there were other options that Gardenhire could have used. Nick Nelson gives a few.
Joe Christensen offers a few reasonings for the thoughts behind the decisions made in the game:
And even before seeing this, I couldn't place all the blame on Ron Gardenhire and Brian Bass anyways. Had the offense score just one run, there's a reasonable chance that Brian Bass would have never even began to stretch in the bullpen, let alone come into the game. So had the offense score one run, the loss could have (potentially) been prevented.1) Scott Baker threw 94 pitches and was spent after seven innings. The game-time temp was 82 degrees, and it was plenty humid.
“You get a little gassed,” he said. “There’s no breaks [in Boston’s lineup]. It’s almost like a playoff atmosphere in this stadium. You’re letting it fly pretty much the whole game.”
2) Brian Bass had a 1.23 ERA over the previous two weeks.
3) Manny Ramirez batted .161 on Boston’s just completed 3-7 road trip.
4) Righthanded hitters were batting .291 against Hideki Okajima, compared to .220 for lefties.
5) Delmon Young has put the first pitch in play in 57 of his 339 plate appearances this season. He is batting .304 when that happens.
Oh well, as the ol' saying goes, "there's always tomorrow" (or I guess in the Twins' case, tonight). However, the Red Sox will send out Jon Lester who is coming off of a complete-game shutout and has been outstanding at home. While the Twins send out Nick Blackburn who although is also coming off of a good performance, has been terrible on the road this year and has gotten hit hard (nearly a .400 average) by the Red Sox in each of his two appearances against the defending World Champions (1 start, 1 relief appearance).
What is your take?
Game Ball
Scott Baker - Starting Pitcher
Line: 7 innings pitched, 5 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts, no decision
Twins lose, 1-0.
July 7, 2008
Twins rotation is gettin' it done!
The Twins are now 18-3 in their last 21 games and that has a great deal to do with both the offense and pitching finally "clicking" at the same time. The offense has scored 132 runs which is a very good average of 6.3 runs per game while the pitching has given up just 61 runs which is an average of 2.9 runs per game in that time frame.
Before the season started, the biggest concern for the Twins was how their young rotation would handle the loss of both Carlos Silva and Johan Santana. Thus far on the season, the team has a combined ERA of 4.18 which is just slightly behind the league average of 4.17. However when compared to the rest of the American League, the pitching ranks in at 7th and is .11 points lower than the average ERA. But really, the rotation is just as good as it was last season with both Santana and Silva. And to compare it to another time, when the Twins made it to the ALCS in 2002, they did it with an average ERA of 4.12.
Recently the starters have been sensational. In the last 21 games, the starters are a combined 14-2 with a 3.15 ERA. They have 17 quality starts and a 4.2 K/BB ratio and average 6.5 IP per game. In other words, they are on cruise control.
Kevin Slowey has been the anchor. The 24-year-old right-hander is now 4-0 with a 2.05 ERA in his last 5 starts and has pitched with outstanding control which is evident with his 7.5 K/BB ratio. He has also been "homer prone" giving up 9 long balls in his first 43 2/3 innings. But on this current streak, he's given up just 2 in 35 innings. He's showing why he was named the Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2007. His current self is quite "Rochester-like" and he's definitely going to have a big role in the rotation's future and will hopefully continue to develop into the #2 pitcher he's shown potential to have.
None of the starter's ERA's are currently over 3.89 since June 13th. Livan Hernandez's ERA is at 3.00 in 4 starts and is picking himself up and giving himself a significant value boost just prior to the trade deadline which could push the Twins to pursue a possible trade for the 33-year-old veteran. After Hernandez, Nick Blackburn's ERA comes in at 3.37, Scott Baker's comes in at 3.75 and Glen Perkins' comes in at 3.89 in 12 combined starts.
The team regardless of experience is very good in regards to command and they rank 4th in the league with a 2.47 K/BB ratio but yet rank 25th in the league with a 5.86 K/9 ratio. The problem with the rotation thus far has been they are very hittable, they rank 3rd in the majors with a .280 BAA and tied for 10th in the majors in fielding this season. If the pitchers are going to be that hittable, they need to have a strong defense behind them and although the Twins are attempting to improve that area by moving Brendan Harris to third and inserting Nick Punto at shortstop (even for a couple games) is a great way to improve the defense. When the Twins last won the division, they did so by being tied with Oakland for the 3rd lowest amount of errors given up and they did so with a .267 BAA.
The defense needs to improve for this rotation to be successful. Especially with Livan Hernandez on the mound. He has induced nearly 200 ground balls this season, which is 4th most in all of baseball. If the defense improves, there's no doubt in my mind that we'll continue seeing strong starting pitching for the remainder of the season. This is a very young pitching staff, but immensely talented.
Friday's Game Ball
Nick Punto - Second Base
Line: 2-4, 3 runs, double, home run, 4 RBI, walk
Twins win, 12-3.
Saturday's Game Ball
Joe Mauer - Catcher
Line: 1-2, 3 runs, home run, 1 RBI, 3 walks
Twins win, 9-6.
Sunday's Game Ball
Glen Perkins - Starting Pitcher
Line: 7 innings pitched, 7 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, 3 K, win
Twins win, 4-3.
Before the season started, the biggest concern for the Twins was how their young rotation would handle the loss of both Carlos Silva and Johan Santana. Thus far on the season, the team has a combined ERA of 4.18 which is just slightly behind the league average of 4.17. However when compared to the rest of the American League, the pitching ranks in at 7th and is .11 points lower than the average ERA. But really, the rotation is just as good as it was last season with both Santana and Silva. And to compare it to another time, when the Twins made it to the ALCS in 2002, they did it with an average ERA of 4.12.
Recently the starters have been sensational. In the last 21 games, the starters are a combined 14-2 with a 3.15 ERA. They have 17 quality starts and a 4.2 K/BB ratio and average 6.5 IP per game. In other words, they are on cruise control.
Kevin Slowey has been the anchor. The 24-year-old right-hander is now 4-0 with a 2.05 ERA in his last 5 starts and has pitched with outstanding control which is evident with his 7.5 K/BB ratio. He has also been "homer prone" giving up 9 long balls in his first 43 2/3 innings. But on this current streak, he's given up just 2 in 35 innings. He's showing why he was named the Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2007. His current self is quite "Rochester-like" and he's definitely going to have a big role in the rotation's future and will hopefully continue to develop into the #2 pitcher he's shown potential to have.
None of the starter's ERA's are currently over 3.89 since June 13th. Livan Hernandez's ERA is at 3.00 in 4 starts and is picking himself up and giving himself a significant value boost just prior to the trade deadline which could push the Twins to pursue a possible trade for the 33-year-old veteran. After Hernandez, Nick Blackburn's ERA comes in at 3.37, Scott Baker's comes in at 3.75 and Glen Perkins' comes in at 3.89 in 12 combined starts.
The team regardless of experience is very good in regards to command and they rank 4th in the league with a 2.47 K/BB ratio but yet rank 25th in the league with a 5.86 K/9 ratio. The problem with the rotation thus far has been they are very hittable, they rank 3rd in the majors with a .280 BAA and tied for 10th in the majors in fielding this season. If the pitchers are going to be that hittable, they need to have a strong defense behind them and although the Twins are attempting to improve that area by moving Brendan Harris to third and inserting Nick Punto at shortstop (even for a couple games) is a great way to improve the defense. When the Twins last won the division, they did so by being tied with Oakland for the 3rd lowest amount of errors given up and they did so with a .267 BAA.
The defense needs to improve for this rotation to be successful. Especially with Livan Hernandez on the mound. He has induced nearly 200 ground balls this season, which is 4th most in all of baseball. If the defense improves, there's no doubt in my mind that we'll continue seeing strong starting pitching for the remainder of the season. This is a very young pitching staff, but immensely talented.
Friday's Game Ball
Nick Punto - Second Base
Line: 2-4, 3 runs, double, home run, 4 RBI, walk
Twins win, 12-3.
Saturday's Game Ball
Joe Mauer - Catcher
Line: 1-2, 3 runs, home run, 1 RBI, 3 walks
Twins win, 9-6.
Sunday's Game Ball
Glen Perkins - Starting Pitcher
Line: 7 innings pitched, 7 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, 3 K, win
Twins win, 4-3.
July 3, 2008
Young trying to get out of sophomore slump
When the Twins parted with Matt Garza (and others) last fall for Delmon Young (and others), many believed that this would give the Twins their legitimate right-handed bat that will at some point separate Joe Mauer & Justin Morneau in the batting order, and the first reaction was that the Twins got the better end of the deal. Looking back on that trade, there's no doubt that the Twins traded away great talent. The team parted with Garza, their 24-year-old right-handed pitcher who they selected in the first round of the 2005 draft out of Fresno State. Garza rose through the Twins minor league systems fast and quickly became one of the organizations most talented pitchers. Besides Garza, the Twins also parted with their top relief pitching prospect in Eduardo Morlan and their starting shortstop Jason Bartlett.
There's no doubt that Bartlett and Garza have played major factors in Tampa Bay's spectacular season. Manager Joe Maddon has praised both players and has even praised how Bartlett is the team's leader both on the field and in the clubhouse. Garza has been great this season, sporting a 3.47 ERA and a 7-4 record his WHIP and .37 points lower than last season and his BAA is .66 points better and he's really helped anchor the middle of the Ray's up and coming rotation. Bartlett has not been outstanding, sporting just a .256 average, he is homerless and has a dismal .592 OPS. He has 11 errors, which ranks 2nd most in the AL, but Minnesota fans are familiar with Bartlett's defense to know that his errors generally are not that big of a deal and that his defense is extremely valuable at shortstop in that he can make the most outstanding plays look like his bread and butter while the routine plays look difficult at times
In exchange for the three players, the Twins acquired Young who was the first overall pick in the 2003 draft and the AL's runner-up in the Rookie of the Year voting in 2007. The team also acquired infielder Brendan Harris who was coming off of his best season as a professional and outfield prospect Jason Pridie who the team believed could compete for the starting center field spot. Harris has been very disappointing, and has not been able to catch fire for long enough to make a significant impact on the team. In fact, his starting spot in the lineup has been in question multiple times this season and if it weren't for injuries, there's a good chance that he would've been out of a starting spot in May. Pridie lost the 3-way battle for the starting center field spot to Carlos Gomez and has not faired well in AAA so far. He's hitting just .235 with a .633 OPS and strikes out on average at least once per game. To say he's been a disappointment would be an understatement. But then again, the entire Red Wings team has been a disappointment and he is only partially to blame for their lackluster season.
Young was the centerpiece however, and many believed that it would not take a couple years for the Twins to see production from the 22-year-old outfielder. But as we sit right now, Young is hitting .284 which is very good, but has just 2 home runs and 29 RBI which makes his PECOTA prediction of 17 home runs look ridiculous at this point. And really, I think that Twins fans may be expecting too much, too soon from Young.
He is a self proclaimed slow starter and stated that around May 15th, he'll start heating up. We'll prior to that date he was hitting .270 with just 3 doubles, one triples and zero home runs in 148 at bats. Since then, he's hit .298 with 13 doubles, 3 triples and 2 home runs in 151 at bats. He clearly was correct and as you can see he is definitely starting to turn it around. His power production is still down, but I did not expect all that much (in that department) from him this season anyways. It is definitely discouraging to see a 2nd year player take that big of a dip in terms of power, but it's not unfamiliar to see players get into funks in their sophomore seasons. The NL's 2007 Rookie of the Year runner-up Troy Tulowitzki is also a self-proclaimed slow-starter and has also been stuck in a sophomore slump this season as well, although he has the excuse of being injured. Regardless, he was terrible prior to the injury and is not hitting that well since his return.
Young is starting to heat up, and he's doing it at the right time. In my observation (and to make this clear, I'm no hitting expert and if you believe it's something different please let me know, this is just my observation), his biggest problem is that it's been hard for him to find his timing and that has been his biggest problem this season. I do not believe that he's intentionally trying to push the ball to the right side, I think that his timing is just off and that he is a little late with his swing. I also believe that if levels and shortens his swing up, he could really start hitting the ball farther. And really, those are two very common things for even the best of hitters to struggle with. Whether or not we'll start seeing power production from him is still in question, but if he gets his timing down (which again, I stress is a hard thing for a young player to do), then I expect him to have a great second half like he did in '07, only I see him hitting quite a few more home runs than he did last year after the All-Star Break.
This season he is walking more, striking out less, having better pitch selection and is making more contact then he did last season. Have no fear, he's starting to come around. Hopefully he can start hitting the ball over the fence more, but regardless I've been very impressed with him as of late. With Young, the future is wide open and I for one am still confident that the Twins will get the better end of the trade in the long run. But as of right now, Tampa Bay sure looks to have the advantage.
There's no doubt that Bartlett and Garza have played major factors in Tampa Bay's spectacular season. Manager Joe Maddon has praised both players and has even praised how Bartlett is the team's leader both on the field and in the clubhouse. Garza has been great this season, sporting a 3.47 ERA and a 7-4 record his WHIP and .37 points lower than last season and his BAA is .66 points better and he's really helped anchor the middle of the Ray's up and coming rotation. Bartlett has not been outstanding, sporting just a .256 average, he is homerless and has a dismal .592 OPS. He has 11 errors, which ranks 2nd most in the AL, but Minnesota fans are familiar with Bartlett's defense to know that his errors generally are not that big of a deal and that his defense is extremely valuable at shortstop in that he can make the most outstanding plays look like his bread and butter while the routine plays look difficult at times
In exchange for the three players, the Twins acquired Young who was the first overall pick in the 2003 draft and the AL's runner-up in the Rookie of the Year voting in 2007. The team also acquired infielder Brendan Harris who was coming off of his best season as a professional and outfield prospect Jason Pridie who the team believed could compete for the starting center field spot. Harris has been very disappointing, and has not been able to catch fire for long enough to make a significant impact on the team. In fact, his starting spot in the lineup has been in question multiple times this season and if it weren't for injuries, there's a good chance that he would've been out of a starting spot in May. Pridie lost the 3-way battle for the starting center field spot to Carlos Gomez and has not faired well in AAA so far. He's hitting just .235 with a .633 OPS and strikes out on average at least once per game. To say he's been a disappointment would be an understatement. But then again, the entire Red Wings team has been a disappointment and he is only partially to blame for their lackluster season.
Young was the centerpiece however, and many believed that it would not take a couple years for the Twins to see production from the 22-year-old outfielder. But as we sit right now, Young is hitting .284 which is very good, but has just 2 home runs and 29 RBI which makes his PECOTA prediction of 17 home runs look ridiculous at this point. And really, I think that Twins fans may be expecting too much, too soon from Young.
He is a self proclaimed slow starter and stated that around May 15th, he'll start heating up. We'll prior to that date he was hitting .270 with just 3 doubles, one triples and zero home runs in 148 at bats. Since then, he's hit .298 with 13 doubles, 3 triples and 2 home runs in 151 at bats. He clearly was correct and as you can see he is definitely starting to turn it around. His power production is still down, but I did not expect all that much (in that department) from him this season anyways. It is definitely discouraging to see a 2nd year player take that big of a dip in terms of power, but it's not unfamiliar to see players get into funks in their sophomore seasons. The NL's 2007 Rookie of the Year runner-up Troy Tulowitzki is also a self-proclaimed slow-starter and has also been stuck in a sophomore slump this season as well, although he has the excuse of being injured. Regardless, he was terrible prior to the injury and is not hitting that well since his return.
Young is starting to heat up, and he's doing it at the right time. In my observation (and to make this clear, I'm no hitting expert and if you believe it's something different please let me know, this is just my observation), his biggest problem is that it's been hard for him to find his timing and that has been his biggest problem this season. I do not believe that he's intentionally trying to push the ball to the right side, I think that his timing is just off and that he is a little late with his swing. I also believe that if levels and shortens his swing up, he could really start hitting the ball farther. And really, those are two very common things for even the best of hitters to struggle with. Whether or not we'll start seeing power production from him is still in question, but if he gets his timing down (which again, I stress is a hard thing for a young player to do), then I expect him to have a great second half like he did in '07, only I see him hitting quite a few more home runs than he did last year after the All-Star Break.
This season he is walking more, striking out less, having better pitch selection and is making more contact then he did last season. Have no fear, he's starting to come around. Hopefully he can start hitting the ball over the fence more, but regardless I've been very impressed with him as of late. With Young, the future is wide open and I for one am still confident that the Twins will get the better end of the trade in the long run. But as of right now, Tampa Bay sure looks to have the advantage.
Game Balls for Detroit Series
Monday's Game Ball
Glen Perkins - Starting Pitcher
Line: 6 1/3 innings pitched, 7 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts
Twins lose, 5-4
Tuesday's Game Ball
Craig Monroe - Designated Hitter
Line: 2-3, 3-run home run, walk
Twins win, 6-4
Wednesday's Game Ball
Nick Blackburn - Starting Pitcher
Line: 7 innings pitched, 3 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, win
Twins win, 7-0
Glen Perkins - Starting Pitcher
Line: 6 1/3 innings pitched, 7 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts
Twins lose, 5-4
Tuesday's Game Ball
Craig Monroe - Designated Hitter
Line: 2-3, 3-run home run, walk
Twins win, 6-4
Wednesday's Game Ball
Nick Blackburn - Starting Pitcher
Line: 7 innings pitched, 3 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, win
Twins win, 7-0
July 2, 2008
MY AL All-Stars
Catcher: Joe Mauer, Twins
This is a pretty easy pick. Mauer leads the AL in hitting. And he leads all catchers with an .856 OPS and 34 RBI. There is not other catcher in the AL that can carry Mauer's jock and he's the easy choice. Honorable Mention: A.J. Pierzynski, White Sox
First Base: Justin Morneau, Twins, Twins
Morneau & Youkilis have both had great seasons, but I have to go with Morneau due his run production. He has 63 RBI which is second in the AL. Morneau is also on pace for almost 200 hits. He is having a great season despite having lower power numbers than he'd like. However, he can always turn it on in the second half although he usually is a first-half power hitter. Regardless, he's having a great season thus far. Honorable Mention: Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
Second Base: Ian Kinsler, Rangers
Kinsler is one of the more underrated players in baseball. He is first in the majors with 113 hits. He also leads all AL second basemen with 13 home runs, 50 RBI, and OPS. And he is 2nd in average and stolen bases. His glove is definitely not great, but he is such a versatile offensive player that he is a great threat at the top of the order. Honorable Mention: Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
Third Base: Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
Alex Rodriguez is the most scrutenized player in all of baseball, yet he continuosly puts up spectacular numbers year in and year out. Behind Albert Pujols, I view Rodriguez as the best hitter in the game and this season Rodriguez continues to prove this point. He's hitting .322/.408/.601 with 16 home runs and has 44 RBI. He's on pace for his lowest RBI total since 1997 but I don't think there's even a question that he's the best third baseman so far this season in the AL. Honorable Mention: Evan Longoria, Rays
Shortstop: Michael Young, Rangers
Young leads all AL shortstops with 97 hits, a .285 average, and 43 RBI. He is also second with 7 home runs and a .755 OPS. He is not the hitter he once was, but he's still one of the best in the AL. Besides Young, it really comes down to Derek Jeter and Jhonny Peralta. However, this 31-year-old slugger is still the best pick. He is on pace for 14 home runs with 85 RBI. The AL is not blessed with great middle infielders like the NL, but Young is the best right now. Honorable Mention: Jhonny Peralta, Indians
Outfield: Josh Hamilton, Rangers
The Rangers acquired Hamilton in the off-season and I don't think anyone expected him to play this well, at least not this soon. He's quickly emerged as the A.L.'s top slugger this season and he's definitely the most deserving of an All-Star nod. He is on pace for 37 home runs and 155 RBI. His average has taken quite a dip, but he's still the A.L.'s best chance at winning the Triple Crown (this season).
Outfield: Carlos Quentin, White Sox
Quentin (like Hamilton) was also acquired in the off-season, only Quentin was acquired for a next to nothing (respectfully speaking). Although Chris Carter is a good prospect, the Diamondbacks got hosed on the deal as Quentin is another of the A.L.'s top sluggers this season. He has 61 RBI which ranks him second in the AL for outfielders. He is also tied for first with Hamilton and the next outfielder with 19 home runs.
Outfield: Grady Sizemore, Indians
Sizemore is on pace for the most productive season of his career. He is a huge threat at the top of the Indian's lineup and hurts teams with his outstanding baserunning. His average is a little low, but his .878 OPS would be his second best in his career. Sizemore is just 25-years-old but is still one of the best all-around outfielders in the game. Honorable Mention: Jermaine Dye, White Sox
Designated Hitter: Milton Bradley, Rangers
Another player acquired in the off-season, Bradley was brought in through free agency. He had knee problems which frightened teams, but his attitude is probably the only thing that's ever held him back. He's finally producing and is off to a great start. He's been banged up a little this season, but he's still put up great numbers. He leads all AL DH's (who qualify at least) with 49 RBI and a 1.039 OPS and is tied for 1st with 16 home runs. If David Ortiz was healthy, he might have been the most deserving, but with him being injured Bradley is the easy choice. Honorable Mention: David Ortiz, Red Sox
Starting Pitcher: Cliff Lee, Indians
Lee got off to a terrific start this season and is clearly the best pitcher in the AL thus far. He has a ridiculous 11-1 record and a 5.6 K/BB ratio. If the Indians offense was better, he'd probably have another 2-3 wins which is absurd to think of a pitcher having 13-14 wins halfway through the season. Joe Saunders, Roy Halladay, Justin Duchscherer and John Danks have all had great seasons but Lee is clearly the AL's best. Honorable Mention: Roy Halladay, Blue Jays
This is a pretty easy pick. Mauer leads the AL in hitting. And he leads all catchers with an .856 OPS and 34 RBI. There is not other catcher in the AL that can carry Mauer's jock and he's the easy choice. Honorable Mention: A.J. Pierzynski, White Sox
First Base: Justin Morneau, Twins, Twins
Morneau & Youkilis have both had great seasons, but I have to go with Morneau due his run production. He has 63 RBI which is second in the AL. Morneau is also on pace for almost 200 hits. He is having a great season despite having lower power numbers than he'd like. However, he can always turn it on in the second half although he usually is a first-half power hitter. Regardless, he's having a great season thus far. Honorable Mention: Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
Second Base: Ian Kinsler, Rangers
Kinsler is one of the more underrated players in baseball. He is first in the majors with 113 hits. He also leads all AL second basemen with 13 home runs, 50 RBI, and OPS. And he is 2nd in average and stolen bases. His glove is definitely not great, but he is such a versatile offensive player that he is a great threat at the top of the order. Honorable Mention: Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
Third Base: Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
Alex Rodriguez is the most scrutenized player in all of baseball, yet he continuosly puts up spectacular numbers year in and year out. Behind Albert Pujols, I view Rodriguez as the best hitter in the game and this season Rodriguez continues to prove this point. He's hitting .322/.408/.601 with 16 home runs and has 44 RBI. He's on pace for his lowest RBI total since 1997 but I don't think there's even a question that he's the best third baseman so far this season in the AL. Honorable Mention: Evan Longoria, Rays
Shortstop: Michael Young, Rangers
Young leads all AL shortstops with 97 hits, a .285 average, and 43 RBI. He is also second with 7 home runs and a .755 OPS. He is not the hitter he once was, but he's still one of the best in the AL. Besides Young, it really comes down to Derek Jeter and Jhonny Peralta. However, this 31-year-old slugger is still the best pick. He is on pace for 14 home runs with 85 RBI. The AL is not blessed with great middle infielders like the NL, but Young is the best right now. Honorable Mention: Jhonny Peralta, Indians
Outfield: Josh Hamilton, Rangers
The Rangers acquired Hamilton in the off-season and I don't think anyone expected him to play this well, at least not this soon. He's quickly emerged as the A.L.'s top slugger this season and he's definitely the most deserving of an All-Star nod. He is on pace for 37 home runs and 155 RBI. His average has taken quite a dip, but he's still the A.L.'s best chance at winning the Triple Crown (this season).
Outfield: Carlos Quentin, White Sox
Quentin (like Hamilton) was also acquired in the off-season, only Quentin was acquired for a next to nothing (respectfully speaking). Although Chris Carter is a good prospect, the Diamondbacks got hosed on the deal as Quentin is another of the A.L.'s top sluggers this season. He has 61 RBI which ranks him second in the AL for outfielders. He is also tied for first with Hamilton and the next outfielder with 19 home runs.
Outfield: Grady Sizemore, Indians
Sizemore is on pace for the most productive season of his career. He is a huge threat at the top of the Indian's lineup and hurts teams with his outstanding baserunning. His average is a little low, but his .878 OPS would be his second best in his career. Sizemore is just 25-years-old but is still one of the best all-around outfielders in the game. Honorable Mention: Jermaine Dye, White Sox
Designated Hitter: Milton Bradley, Rangers
Another player acquired in the off-season, Bradley was brought in through free agency. He had knee problems which frightened teams, but his attitude is probably the only thing that's ever held him back. He's finally producing and is off to a great start. He's been banged up a little this season, but he's still put up great numbers. He leads all AL DH's (who qualify at least) with 49 RBI and a 1.039 OPS and is tied for 1st with 16 home runs. If David Ortiz was healthy, he might have been the most deserving, but with him being injured Bradley is the easy choice. Honorable Mention: David Ortiz, Red Sox
Starting Pitcher: Cliff Lee, Indians
Lee got off to a terrific start this season and is clearly the best pitcher in the AL thus far. He has a ridiculous 11-1 record and a 5.6 K/BB ratio. If the Indians offense was better, he'd probably have another 2-3 wins which is absurd to think of a pitcher having 13-14 wins halfway through the season. Joe Saunders, Roy Halladay, Justin Duchscherer and John Danks have all had great seasons but Lee is clearly the AL's best. Honorable Mention: Roy Halladay, Blue Jays
July 1, 2008
My NL All Stars
Catcher: Brian McCann, Braves
After breaking out in 2006, McCann had a good season for a catcher in '07, but not for him. So far this season, he's hitting .295 and has a .900 OPS. He has 14 home runs, just 4 behind his total from a year ago and is on pace for just under 30 long balls with 90+ RBI. Honorable Mention: Russell Martin, Dodgers
First Base: Lance Berkman, Astros
Berkman also had a down 2007 season compared to a standout '06 campaign. He hit .278 which was the lowest of his career and also had the lowest OPS of his career as well. However, this season he is on pace to break nearly all of his career highs. He currently is hitting .364 (2nd in the NL) with a 1.135 OPS (1st in NL) and 21 HR's (T-3rd in NL) to go along with 67 RBI (2nd in NL). Honorable Mention: Adrian Gonzalez, Padres
Second Base: Chase Utley, Phillies
Chase Utley has become the household name when thinking of the best second baseman in not just the National League, but in all of Major League Baseball. His bat would stand out at any position, but the fact that he's hitting 23 home runs before the mid-way point of the season while playing second base is just that much more impressive. Utley has competition as another power-hitting second baseman named Dan Uggla from the Marlins also has 23 home runs, but Utley has better numbers than him in nearly every other category which makes Utley easy to choose. Honorable Mention: Dan Uggla, Marlins
Third Base: Chipper Jones, Braves
Washed up? Yeah right! Chipper Jones just gets better with age as he's improved every year since 2004. This 36 year old is still chugging along, and although there's a chance he will miss the All-Star Game due to being injured, he still deserves the nomination. Jones is hitting just under .400 (.394) and has a 1.115 OPS and is on pace for his best season since 2001. Honorable Mention: David Wright, Mets
Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez, Marlins
When you talk about the complete package (at least offensively), Ramirez's name should be next to it. He's the best shortstop in the game and at just 24-years-old, he's on pace for almost 200 hits and 36 home runs. This is a future Hall of Famer in the making and it's a good thing the Marlins locked him up long-term early at a fairly cheap price because he would get absurd amounts on the open market whenever he'd be eligible for free agency (which I'm aware wouldn't be for a few more years regardless). Honorable Mention: Jose Reyes, Mets
Outfield: Ryan Braun, Brewers
Ryan Braun is becoming one of the best hitters in all of baseball. In just 113 games (451 at bats), Braun hit 34 home runs with 97 RBI and on hitting line of .324/.370/.634 in his Rookie year. And he definitely has not fallen into a sophomore slump this season. He is currently hitting .287 with a respectable .874 OPS and is on pace for 40 home runs and 117 RBI. It's clearly not as good as his Rookie campaign, but really expecting anything more from him than he did in '07 would be unfair. Not because he should not have to improve, but because he did so good in '07 that he really set himself up for a disappointing '08 season. But I think he's without a doubt the best outfielder in the NL right now.
Outfield: Nate McLouth, Pirates
Nate McLouth was considered one of the "sleeper picks" to bust out this season and have a great season and he's done just that. McLouth's average has taken a dip in each month so far, but his overall numbers are still very good. He has 15 home runs to go along with his .280 average. He also leads all NL Outfielders with 59 runs scored.
Outfield: Carlos Lee, Astros
Carlos Lee is one of the most feared hitters in all of baseball, but still seems to be an underrated player. He currently has 18 home runs and 62 RBI to go along with his .853 OPS. His average has slowly been getting better over the course of the season and this 3 time NL All-Star definitely deserves a 4th consecutive appearance in the All-Star game. Honorable Mention: Ryan Ludwick, Cardinals
Designated Hitter: Albert Pujols, Cardinals
Since the NL doesn't have a DH, I have to go with the next players who I thought of that should also be starting. Pujols is having a spectacular season despite there being rumors before the season that he'd likely be slowed down by an injured elbow. However, that doesn't seem to be the case. He has a 1.123 OPS and is hitting .356 and has 17 home runs to along with 45 RBI. Honorable Mention: Aramis Ramirez, Cubs
Starting Pitcher: Edison Volquez, Reds
The Rangers and Reds made a trade prior to the season which was very similar to the Twins-Rays trade taht brought Delmon Young to the Twins and Matt Garza to the Rays. However, the two players in the Reds-Rangers deal have both emerged as top players and potential MVP candidates while the players in the Twins-Rays trade have not made nearly the kind of impact that either of these two players have. Regardless, Volquez is withoutadoubt the best pitcher in the National League this season. He leads the N.L. with a ridiculous 2.08 ERA and is tied for second wins (10) and is second in strikeouts (110). Honorable Mention: Tim Lincecum, Giants
After breaking out in 2006, McCann had a good season for a catcher in '07, but not for him. So far this season, he's hitting .295 and has a .900 OPS. He has 14 home runs, just 4 behind his total from a year ago and is on pace for just under 30 long balls with 90+ RBI. Honorable Mention: Russell Martin, Dodgers
First Base: Lance Berkman, Astros
Berkman also had a down 2007 season compared to a standout '06 campaign. He hit .278 which was the lowest of his career and also had the lowest OPS of his career as well. However, this season he is on pace to break nearly all of his career highs. He currently is hitting .364 (2nd in the NL) with a 1.135 OPS (1st in NL) and 21 HR's (T-3rd in NL) to go along with 67 RBI (2nd in NL). Honorable Mention: Adrian Gonzalez, Padres
Second Base: Chase Utley, Phillies
Chase Utley has become the household name when thinking of the best second baseman in not just the National League, but in all of Major League Baseball. His bat would stand out at any position, but the fact that he's hitting 23 home runs before the mid-way point of the season while playing second base is just that much more impressive. Utley has competition as another power-hitting second baseman named Dan Uggla from the Marlins also has 23 home runs, but Utley has better numbers than him in nearly every other category which makes Utley easy to choose. Honorable Mention: Dan Uggla, Marlins
Third Base: Chipper Jones, Braves
Washed up? Yeah right! Chipper Jones just gets better with age as he's improved every year since 2004. This 36 year old is still chugging along, and although there's a chance he will miss the All-Star Game due to being injured, he still deserves the nomination. Jones is hitting just under .400 (.394) and has a 1.115 OPS and is on pace for his best season since 2001. Honorable Mention: David Wright, Mets
Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez, Marlins
When you talk about the complete package (at least offensively), Ramirez's name should be next to it. He's the best shortstop in the game and at just 24-years-old, he's on pace for almost 200 hits and 36 home runs. This is a future Hall of Famer in the making and it's a good thing the Marlins locked him up long-term early at a fairly cheap price because he would get absurd amounts on the open market whenever he'd be eligible for free agency (which I'm aware wouldn't be for a few more years regardless). Honorable Mention: Jose Reyes, Mets
Outfield: Ryan Braun, Brewers
Ryan Braun is becoming one of the best hitters in all of baseball. In just 113 games (451 at bats), Braun hit 34 home runs with 97 RBI and on hitting line of .324/.370/.634 in his Rookie year. And he definitely has not fallen into a sophomore slump this season. He is currently hitting .287 with a respectable .874 OPS and is on pace for 40 home runs and 117 RBI. It's clearly not as good as his Rookie campaign, but really expecting anything more from him than he did in '07 would be unfair. Not because he should not have to improve, but because he did so good in '07 that he really set himself up for a disappointing '08 season. But I think he's without a doubt the best outfielder in the NL right now.
Outfield: Nate McLouth, Pirates
Nate McLouth was considered one of the "sleeper picks" to bust out this season and have a great season and he's done just that. McLouth's average has taken a dip in each month so far, but his overall numbers are still very good. He has 15 home runs to go along with his .280 average. He also leads all NL Outfielders with 59 runs scored.
Outfield: Carlos Lee, Astros
Carlos Lee is one of the most feared hitters in all of baseball, but still seems to be an underrated player. He currently has 18 home runs and 62 RBI to go along with his .853 OPS. His average has slowly been getting better over the course of the season and this 3 time NL All-Star definitely deserves a 4th consecutive appearance in the All-Star game. Honorable Mention: Ryan Ludwick, Cardinals
Designated Hitter: Albert Pujols, Cardinals
Since the NL doesn't have a DH, I have to go with the next players who I thought of that should also be starting. Pujols is having a spectacular season despite there being rumors before the season that he'd likely be slowed down by an injured elbow. However, that doesn't seem to be the case. He has a 1.123 OPS and is hitting .356 and has 17 home runs to along with 45 RBI. Honorable Mention: Aramis Ramirez, Cubs
Starting Pitcher: Edison Volquez, Reds
The Rangers and Reds made a trade prior to the season which was very similar to the Twins-Rays trade taht brought Delmon Young to the Twins and Matt Garza to the Rays. However, the two players in the Reds-Rangers deal have both emerged as top players and potential MVP candidates while the players in the Twins-Rays trade have not made nearly the kind of impact that either of these two players have. Regardless, Volquez is withoutadoubt the best pitcher in the National League this season. He leads the N.L. with a ridiculous 2.08 ERA and is tied for second wins (10) and is second in strikeouts (110). Honorable Mention: Tim Lincecum, Giants
(All stats are as of games played before 6/30)
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