The Man On The Left Is a Big Reason That The Man On The Right Ranked So Highly

With the annual MLB GM meetings taking place this week, we here at Foul Pole decided to compile our own list of the top 10 GMs in Major League Baseball. Each of us had our own opinions on who deserved those 10 spots. While some of us tilted towards GMs with experience, some of us put our faith in some of the younger guys. Without further ado, here are our picks for the best GMs in the MLB.

After looking at the rankings, some interesting facts emerged.

• 8 out of the 10 GMs ranked by Marco are from the AL.
• Jack Zduriencik was a popular choice even though he has only been a GM for one season. DRB ranked him the highest, saying “Small sample size alert. However, he seems to understand the value of defense more than most, and the fact that he was able to convince anyone to take Yuniesky Betancourt is amazing, even if that person was Dayton Moore.”
• Andrew Friedman and Theo Epstein were the only 2 GMs to be ranked in everyone’s top 3.
• Only the White Sox fans listed GM Kenny Williams in their top 10.
• I was the only person to leave Tony Reagins off my ballot, but the only person to put Dave Dombrowski on it.
• Both DRB and Monty ranked Andy MacPhail among the top 10, Monty added “O’s first round picks in 2007 and 2008 were Matt Wieters and Brian Matsutz respectively. While neither has been great yet, both are projected big numbers from Baseball Prospectus. MacPhail traded Erik Bedard in one of the best deals of the decade. Baltimore has a lot of good young talent with Reimold and Jones to name a few. It’s tough to say whether the Orioles can compete in the AL East, but MacPhail has given the O’s some great pieces for the present and future.”
• Of everyone, I was the only person to rank Billy Beane in the top 3. While the A’s have struggled recently, Beane has built a ridiculously talented young team that could emerge any day now.
• While Monty worried about ranked Jon Daniels too high, Marco actually ranked him higher. DRB had this to say about Daniels’ ranking “The organization is as strong as any team’’s, and the Teixeira trade was highway robbery. His willingness to let Andrus play as a 20-year-old may have started the young shortstop’s service clock early, but it was a large reason why the Rangers were able to contend this season.”
• Mark Shapiro was in the top 5 of every person’s ballot, he was DRB’s number 1 GM but was only my 5th.
• Oddly enough, each one of us had a different choice for worst active GM.
• Despite having the highest payroll in the league to work with, both Monty and I ranked Brian Cashman in our top 10.
• Despite having to work with some of the lowest payroll in the league, Larry Beinfest/Michael Hill ranked high in each of our ballots.
• Tony Reagins was ranked number 10 by DRB and Monty. Monty had this to say “He got Mark Teixeira cheap and brought in Bobby Abreu and Torii Hunter. He has given the Angels a great chance to compete for a WS in his short time as GM. He will have to deal with Figgins, Vlad and Lackey this off-season and find a way to get the Angels younger. The next few years will reveal more about his ability as a GM.”
• Andrew Friedman was the only GM to get more than 1 top vote. Both Marco and Monty put him number 1.

Think we messed up somewhere? Let us know about it in the comments.

The Phillies Advance Again

The last National League team to win the World Series in two consecutive years is the 1975-76 Cincinnati Reds. In 2009, the Phillies could be the next NL team to repeat. After outscoring the Los Angeles Dodgers 35-16, the Phillies have advanced to the World Series once again. Despite the Dodgers having the highest run differential entering the playoffs, the Phillies pulled off the upset. While the Phillies did have a solid run differential heading into the playoffs, only one of our bloggers picked them to advance to the World Series. Many expected the Phillies to win the NL East this season (I did not, thank you Mets…), however few expected them to have this type of season. Let’s take a look back at how the Phillies have advanced to the World Series.

Career Years?

Ibanez Replaced Pat Burrell Quite Well

In one of the most talked about moves this off-season, the Phillies let Pat Burrell walk and signed Raul Ibanez to replace him. Ibanez responded with somewhat of a career year. While Ibanez had a career high in HRs, SLG, and OPS, his OBP wasn’t great. The other big surprise in the batting order was Jayson Werth. Finally given a chance at +500 ABs, Werth produced in a big way, nearly setting career high in every offensive category. All told, the Phillies had 4 players with 30+ home runs in 2009.

Trouble In The Rotation

One of the biggest issues facing the Phillies in 2009 was a thin starting rotation. While many expected Cole Hamels to continue his growth as an ace, there was little behind Hamels in the rotation. After failed attempts to trade for Roy Halladay, the Phillies turned their attention to Cliff Lee. Lee, who won the AL Cy Young Award in 2008, had pitched pretty well in 2009, but played on an awful Indians team. On July 29th, Lee joined the Phillies in a 6 player deal. Lee wasn’t the only veteran import to join the Phillies. The Phillies also signed Pedro Martinez to help the team down the stretch. Despite low expectations, Pedro performed well (3.63 ERA, 37 Ks to 8 BBs). Let’s take a look at the changes in the Phillies rotation.

As you can see, the Phillies received some surprising performances from J.A. Happ, and Martinez. Even with injuries and ineffectiveness plaguing certain parts of their rotation, the Phillies were able to plug in guys that performed admirably.

Mr. Perfect

This Type Of Thing Has Happened Before

Brad Lidge had a ridiculous season in 2008. He saved 41 of 41 save situations for the Phillies, with an ERA of 1.95 and 92 Ks. 2009 was not too kind to Lidge. While Lidge managed to save 31 games, he also blew 11 games. Lidge’s ERA sits at an ugly 7.21 for the season. However, while Lidge has yet to surrender a run in the 2009 post-season, he is still allowing runners to reach base via the walk. Both Chan Ho Park and Ryan Madson have performed well out of the bullpen, and have been able to pick up the slack for Lidge. Despite his struggles, the Phillies have been able to hang on late in playoff games.

Can They Repeat?

Obviously, anything can happen in a short series, but the Yankees look like the stronger team all around. Then again, people thought the same thing about the Tampa Bay Rays last season, and the Phillies were able to beat them easily. For the Phillies to repeat, everything has to go right for them over the next 4-7 games. Then again, everything they have done thus far has worked. From signing Pedro and Ibanez, to sticking with Lidge as the closer, the Phillies have succeeded despite making questionable moves all season. If they can extend their luck just a few more games, we’ll have our first repeat World Series Champions since the 1999-2000 New York Yankees.

Will The Twins Continue Their Improbable Run?

Season Recap

Despite losing Joe Mauer for the first month of the season, the Twins played .500 baseball throughout the month of April. The addition of Mauer didn’t initially boost the team’s win total, but Mauer took his play to another level this season. While the Twins hung under the radar most of the season, the Twins succeeded when it mattered the most. Despite hovering around .500 throughout the first 6 months of the season, the Twins went 16-11 in September and 5-0 in October. After forcing a tie-breaker for the AL Central, the Twins clinched a playoff berth after defeating the Tigers in the 12th inning.

Rotation

Since Twins ace, Scott Baker, pitched in the tiebreaker last nigh, Brian Duensing gets the start for the Twins. Like most Twins pitchers, Duensing is solid, but not a star. Due to the usage of the Twins better starters, this could be the only opportunity Duensing gets as a starter. Nick Blackburn will pitch game 2 of the series. Blackburn is a solid rotation starter, but not a star. Game three of the series would come down to whether Scott Baker is ready to pitch. He should be on normal rest by game time, but Carl Pavano could get the start based on which pitcher is feeling better (Ron Gardenhire’s words, not mine). Carl Pavano is very inconsistent as a starter. For every game that he goes 7 IP with 8 Ks. there will be another where he doesn’t make it out of the 2nd inning. Scott Baker is the best pitching on the Twins staff, but even his numbers would not stand up against a traditional ace. However, the rotation will rarely kill the Twins chances at winning games which actually makes the staff a strength for this team.

Relievers

Surprise surprise! Another AL playoff team is led by a great closer. Due to the fact that he plays in a small market Joe Nathan might even be a little underrated as a closer. In 2009, he notched another great season with 89 Ks and a WHIP under 1. 00. Francisco Liriano, who struggled through a disappointing season, will pitch out of the bullpen. He hasn’t looked sharp this season, and may not be used in high leverage situations, however. Matt Guerrier and Jose Mijares both had successful seasons in 2009. While Guerrier also carries a WHIP under 1.00, he doesn’t strike out as many players as you might expect.

Lineup

Looking at all the parts in the Twins lineup, it might not seem that impressive. The Twins, however, scored the 4th most runs in the AL this season with 817. That’s more than Detroit, Texas, and Tampa Bay; teams thought to have strong lineups. While the team is led by Joe Mauer, his breakout has taken the attention from some other Twins having spectacular seasons. While Denard Span isn’t a superstar, he actually had an OBP of .392 this season. Orlando Cabrera is known more for his defense, but his bat isn’t all that bad either. The real force behind this team is the middle of the lineup. Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer, and Jason Kubel all had ridiculous years at the plate. Of those three, Mauer actually has the least amount of home runs with 28. The loss of Justin Morneau should hurt the team, but they have been on fire since his injury. Sometimes, baseball just doesn’t make sense.

Defense

The Twins defense isn’t all that bad, however, they are extremely strong at the difficult positions. Joe Mauer is one of the best defenders in the league at the toughest defensive position on the field. Orlando Cabrera provides above average defense at another taxing position. Denard Span is solid, yet unspectacular in center field, and Nick Punto is above average at second base. Add these four together and you have a pretty excellent defense in some of the most difficult defensive positions. In the playoffs, series can be won and lost on big defensive plays, the Twins have the personal to turn some of these series changing plays.

Bench

The Twins, much like the Yankees, also took three catchers on their lineup in case of injuries or substitutions. Utility player, Brian Buscher, was left off the roster in favor of more pitching. The Twins carried 12 pitchers, which means there are very few positions players on the bench. Carlos Gomez will provide excellent speed and range in the outfield should he see any playing time.

Coaching

Year after year, Ron Gardenhire succeeds despite the low payroll and low expectations. His players always seem to exceed expectations, and his teams are always in the playoff race in the AL Central. Gardenhire has to be one of the best managers in baseball and has chance to win the AL Manager of the Year award for the first time in his eight year career. He has finished 2nd four times.

Reason why they will win the WS

The Twins success likely relies on the success of Mauer, Cuddyer, and Kubel. The Twins are built so that their pitching won’t kill them and it will most likely be up to the offense to carry this team past the Yankees in the first round. Unfortunately, the Yankees lineup features 9 guys that can destroy pitching on any given day. If the Twins pitching can continue to surprise, they could be in for a deep run this year. They also enter the post-season as the hottest team in baseball. While that doesn’t always guarantee a World Series victory, a team with momentum is a dangerous team in the playoffs.

Reason why the won’t win the WS

There is the New York Yankees, for starters. However, even if the Twins pull off a huge upset, this is a team that hasn’t been able to rest it’s star players in weeks. At what point does fatigue set in for the Twins? Outside of the big three in the middle of the lineup, there is no player on this team that strikes fear into the opponent. Not to mention, the Twins barely won the weakest division in baseball and won only 87 games, the lowest amount among playoff teams.

The Yanks Haven't Won It All Since 2000

For years now, the Yankees have been baseball’s most loved and most hated franchise. While fans of the team will point to the number of championships and playoff appearances, those playoffs appearances have not amounted to a World Series victory since 2000. For most fans, this would be acceptable. For Yankees fans, this is a travesty. Rival fans, however, take issue with the ways in which the Yankees build their teams. Owner, George Steinbrenner (assisted now his sons Hank and Hal), has never been afraid to spend money on free agents. For years now, the Yankees have led MLB with the highest payroll. During the 2008-2009 off-season, Steinbrenner once again spent money on three of the premiere talents on the free agent market. While the high payrolls have not led to a Championship in quite some time, this could be the year the Yankees start a new dynasty.

Season Recap

After signing free-agents CC Sabathia (7 years 161 million), Mark Teixiera (8 years 180 million), and AJ Burnett (5 years 82.5 million) the Yankees seemed to have the most talented team in baseball. Much was made of the Yankees early struggles, especially against the Boston Red Sox. Mark Teixiera only hit .200 in April with 3 home runs, and Alex Rodriguez spent most of his time on the DL. The Yankees fell to 0-8 against the Red Sox on the season. However, Teixiera turned it on in May hitting 13 home runs with a .748 slugging percentage. Alex Rodriguez came off the DL and had another 30 home runs season, and Derek Jeter found the fountain of youth. The Yankees really started to dominate immediately after the All-Star Break. Following the break, the Yankees won 8 straight games. The second half success continued, as the Yankees dominated the Red Sox and evened the season series at 9-9 following the 0-8 start against their rivals. Derek Jeter set the Yankees all time hits record on September 11, and 10 days later the Yankees became the first team to clinch a playoff berth in 2009. On September 27th, the Yankees won the AL East title. The Yankees led all of baseball with 103 wins, and had the highest run differential in the AL with +162.

Rotation

With the off-season acquisitions of CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett, the Yankees bolstered a large weakness. Sabathia is one of the game’s best pitchers. While his walks have been on the rise in recent years, he has started at least 28 games in each of his seasons since 2001. There are, however, two major concerns about Sabathia heading into the post-season, and they might be related. Sabathia has pitched a lot of innings in his career, and his workload could be a concern. This may be one of the major reasons for Sabathia’s struggles in the post-season (7.92 ERA, 22 walks in 25 IP). If Sabathia breaks down again in the post-season, the Yankees may not have enough to get by without him. AJ Burnett has had an inconsistent, and injury plagued career, but he has been healthy the last two seasons. Burnett had another solid season in 2009, and will be caught by Jose Molina and not Jorge Posada during the playoffs. Andy Pettitte is a durable, veteran starter on the team that still pitches effectively. Of the three, Pettitte has the most post-season experience. Sabathia, as mentioned before, has struggled, while Burnett has never appeared in the playoffs. If the Yankees were to advance to the ALCS, it is unclear who would start Game 4 at this time.

Relievers

Mariano Rivera continues to be, perhaps, the best closer in baseball. Even at the age of 39, he still dominates hitters consistently. He piles up strikeouts and is extremely stingy with his command. Phil Hughes thrived once he was moved to the bullpen. The 23 year old began pitching like everyone thought he would with a 1.40 ERA and 65 Ks in 51.1 innings. Hughes wound up as one of main setup men in front of Mariano Rivera in 2009. Alfredo Aceves also blossomed this season, and should be counted on almost as much as Hughes. The biggest surprise in the post-season could be Joba Chamberlain’s role in the bullpen. In the ALDS, it appears that Chamberlain will pitch out of the pen. He was fantastic out of the bullpen two seasons ago, but was inconsistent as a starter in 2009. If he can regain his form from 2007, the Yankees will be a handful in the late innings.

Lineup

While Sabathia is the clear anchor of the pitching staff, the Yankees have a slew of superstars in their everyday lineup. Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, and Nick Swisher all had resurgences in 2009. Mark Teixiera, Alex Rodriguez, and Hideki Matsui all performed as expected. As a matter of fact, the Yankees lineup measures pretty highly in some key statistics.

As you can see from the table, more than half of the Yankees starting lineup ranks within the top 30 at all some very important offensive measures. This is a team that gets on base, but also is able to hit for power. Outside of Jeter and Brett Gardner, the Yankees don’t have too much speed on the base paths. Although, Johnny Damon, Melky Cabrera, and Alex Rodriguez all managed to accumulate double digit steals in 2009.

Defense

Here is one area that the Yankees struggle with. The Yankees rank 28th in the entire MLB in UZR heading into the playoffs. This shouldn’t come as a big surprise, but that makes them the worst defensive team in the 2009 playoffs. While there were reports that Jeter actually improved defensively this season, there are still a number of old veterans that don’t have the range they used to.

Bench

There aren’t too many players on the Yankees ALDS bench as they took 11 pitchers on the team. Jerry Hairston Jr and Eric Hinske will provide infield protection, but neither are huge assets off the bench. Hairston should provide some speed off the bench and Hinske will contribute a little bit of power. In the outfield, the Yankees carried Brett Gardner as a reserve. Gardner stole 26 bases in 2009, and is one of the fastest players on the team. In perhaps the most surprising move, the Yankees elected to carry three catchers on the roster for the ALDS.

Coaching

Joe Girardi leads the Yankees into the playoffs for the first time in his young managerial career. He was named the NL Manager of the Year in 2006 despite the fact that the Marlins fired him after the season. He was also criticized that year for his handling of the young pitchers on Florida’s staff. However, Girardi took over a team where less is probably more. There is little need to bunt and play small ball when more than half of your team has ridiculous slugging percentages. As a former catcher, Girardi is believed to know how to handle his pitching staff.

Reason why they will win the WS

The Yankees have the best offense in baseball. Almost every player in the lineup is a threat to hit a home run. However, the Yankees have great plate discipline and can wear out opposing starters when they need to. The back of the bullpen is loaded with young talent that emerged this season. Not to mention, Joba Chamberlain might regain his form as a dominant reliever. Mariano Rivera will shut you down in the 9th. While Sabathia has struggled and Burnett lacks experience in the post-season, both can completely dominate a team on any given day.

Reason why they won’t win the WS

Well, Sabathia’s workload could wind up being a problem in the post-season. He hasn’t pitched particularly well in the seasons his teams have advanced. While “defense wins championships” is a phrase you hear more in football, the Yankees poor defense could lead to their defeat in the post-season. With their bench as small as it is for the ALDS, an injury to one of the regulars could be a problem. Then again, this team clearly has the talent to overcome most of their weaknesses.

So with a very rocky early season, the Angels have proven time and time again that they can rise above adversity. They have found the “it factor” for the season. The “it factor” being the driving force behind their triumph thus far, playing for Nick Adenhart.

The Angels won the American League West, with competition that seemed to be hopeful near the beginning of the season. The Texas Rangers came out fierce, as did the Seattle Mariners. The Angels were dealing with a tragic loss of a teammate, and their ace, John Lackey not being able to pitch for the first six weeks. However, when John Lackey was finally able to stand on the mound after a strained forearm injury, he was ejected after throwing only two pitches. He threw a ball behind batter, Ian Kinsler from the Texas Rangers, and the very next pitch he hit him. Kinsler hit two homeruns the night before against the Angels, and umpire Bob Davidson thought it was intentional and the two teams had built animosity against each other. Davidson did not issue a warning against Lackey after the first pitch . . . some people say it was unfair and others agree with the call. Whichever way we look at it, the Angels star pitcher was going to have an uphill climb the entire season.

This season the Angels seemed to have the bats swinging hard with the help of their key hitters: Kendry Morales, Juan Rivera, Bobby Abreu and of course Chone Figgins. As for the pitching lineup, they needed a lot of work. John Lackey was dealing with trying to get back into the groove of things, while Brian Fuentes seemed to have lost that “closing feeling.” The pitching staff needed work, and lots of it. Arte Moreno, the owner of the Angels, always has his eye on the playoffs, and he will make changes for the good of the team. He recently picked up Scott Kazmir from the Tampa Bay Rays, and gave up one of their top prospects, middle infielder, Sean Rodriguez. Although, Rodriguez has immense potential in the major leagues, the Angels had to make an immediate and much needed decision with the playoffs on their way.

Let’s begin with the breakdown of what makes the Angels “World Series worthy”:

Starting Pitchers:

John Lackey – Has been in the MLB since 2002, so he has the experience to deal with the pressure of facing off against Red Sox star pitcher Jon Lester. At 6’6” and 245 pounds, he has the power to man handle any batter who approaches the plate. This season he is 11-8 with an ERA of 3.83, has only given up 17 homeruns compared to 26 last season. Remember, Lackey helped pitch the Angels to a World Series Title against the Giants as a rookie. He is going to come out strong against the Red Sox . . . but be ready for an intense and exciting pitcher duel.

Jered Weaver – Right hander who made his debut in 2006 has been a consistent pitcher. He is 16-8 with an ERA of 3.75. With the amount of confidence Weaver has paired with his “even keel” attitude, he will most likely be successful in the playoffs this season against the Sox. Nick Adenhart was one of his best friends, in fact, he was planning on moving in with Weaver and becoming roommates, so you can bet that Weaver is going to be coming out strong and will have a little more determination backing him up.

Scott Kazmir – Left hander who got traded from the Rays to the Angels for top prospect Sean Rodriguez. In 2009 with Tampa Bay he was 8-7 with an ERA of 5.92. Now with the Angels he has pitched six games and is 2-2 with two no decisions and an ERA of 1.73. Against the A’s on Saturday October 3rd he pitched a shutout with three strikeouts in five innings, only gave up three hits and one walk. This was his 10th win of the season. Seems like a great way to end the regular season and enter the ALDS. The late season acquisition, was not only because he is an effective pitcher, but particularly, his track record against the Red Sox is strong.

Joe Saunders – Left hander who started his career with the Angels back in 2005, is now seeing much more playing time. He is 15-7 with an ERA of 4.62. During Spring Training he was experiencing shoulder issues, but he felt obligated to pitch since John Lackey and Ervin Santana were also experiencing arm problems. Saunders is a strong competitor who never gives up. He will be fun to watch during the match up against Red Sox.

Relievers:

Darren Oliver – The best reliever the Angels have this season. He has an ERA of 2.67, and is 16-17 in hold opportunities. Although he seems to be under the radar, this will be a secret weapon that will give the Angels a better chance facing off against the Red Sox.

Jason Bulger – He is 6-1 with an ERA of 3.56. He recently had a shoulder issue, but he seems to have recovered pretty efficiently from it. Manager Mike Scioscia likes the way the bullpen is coming together. Scioscia will most likely limit him to 30 pitches a game. This means Bulger must come out of the bullpen ready for battle if he is going to be successful in this role.

Matt Palmer – With an MLB debut in 2008, one can say he doesn’t have much experience. However, with the Angels this season he is 11-2 with an ERA of 3.93. September 30th against the Rangers, Palmer had five shutout innings allowing only one hit and two walks.

Ervin Santana – Sent down to the minors since the organization thought it would be able to help him get back on track. He debuted with the Angels in 2005. I have always liked Santana, and enjoyed watching him pitch, but he just needs to learn how to relax on the mound. He was a starting pitcher with the Angels; however, just got moved to be a reliever. Good decision. As of now with an ERA of 5.10 and who is 8-8, he might not be starter-worthy. Just give him some time, and he will bounce back to become what he was made out to be, a starter.

Sean O’Sullivan – Born in 1987, and just debuted with the Angels this season, he has a 5.92 ERA and is 4-2. Although young, he can bring the power behind that 6’2” 230 body of his. It will be interesting to see how he handles his first ever playoff jitters.

Brian Fuentes (closer) – Traded from the Rockies, Fuentes has had a semi-rocky season with the Angels. With a few poor outings this season, he is going to place all of those times behind him and concentrate on the now. Even though he has a higher than usual ERA of 3.93 for a closer, he has had 48 saves this season. I have more confidence in Fuentes this post season than I did with Francisco Rodriguez last season.

Lineup:

Chone Figgins – The quickest player the Angels have on their roster. If Chone Figgins is able to get on base, he is more than likely to make an impact on the game. This season he has 182 hits, 101 walks, and 30 doubles. His batting average is just under.300. Figgins is surely a game changer.

Howie Kendrick - A second baseman who shares positions with Maicer Izturis. This will be a toss up as to who starts. Kendrick has 109 hits, 61 runs, 61 RBIs and has a batting average of .295. He just hit his 10th homerun against the Rangers on September 20th.

Bobby Abreu – Bats lefty and has a batting average of .295 with 165 hits, 96 runs, 102 RBIs, and 15 homeruns. This Venezuelan comes equipped with all the power and patience a third spot batter needs to be successful in the playoffs.

Vladimir Guerrero – Eight-time All Star, Vlad has the experience and the biggest strike zone that I believe, will benefit him during the playoffs. Even though, he is getting older and slowing down, he still has a heck of a swing that can reach half a foot outside of the strike zone in the dirt or up high. He just needs to realize that not every ball thrown towards the ground is hittable. With a batting average of .295, 113 hits, 59 runs, 15 homeruns, and 50 RBIs seems to be a sign this is a downward fall in his career. We just need him to bring everything he’s got when it comes playoff time.

Torii Hunter – Hit a slump in September, but hopefully he’ll be able to find the Torii we know he is capable of being. He has a batting average of .295, 73 runs, 134 hits, 22 homeruns, and 25 doubles. He is the leader of this team, if and when his bat starts to wake up, the Red Sox will have a lot to worry about.

Kendry Morales – He is one of my favorite players to watch on this team. He was riding the pine when Casey Kotchman was playing and when Mark Teixeira was traded to the Angels. Not only does this show he loves the game of baseball, he knows he can help the team win, in any way possible. His biggest attribute is patience. This switch hitter is powerful, packed with finesse and has a batting average of .306 with 86 runs, 172 hits, 34 homeruns, and 107 RBIs he is a major factor for the Angels success . . . Teixeira who?

Juan Rivera – Another Venezuelan who can hit extremely well. Sometimes he gets overlooked for his big hitting capabilities. He has a batting average of .287 with 72 runs, 151 hits, 25 homeruns, and 88 RBIs. Rivera is consistent and will help the Angels stay calm and collective.

Erick Aybar – Debuted with the Angels in 2006. He is quick and can usually find a way to get on base. As a switch hitter he has a batting average of .307 with 69 runs, 154 hits, 23 doubles, and 58 RBIs. His speed is going to stir things up around the bases.

Jeff Mathis – Shares position with catcher Mike Napoli. The reason I think Mathis is going to start over Napoli, is because Mathis is a better defensive catcher. Although his hitting is somewhat slacking with a batting average of .213, has 26 runs, 50 hits, 5 homeruns, and 28 RBIs. I will give him the benefit of the doubt and say the reason he has such a low average is because he was not a consistent starter. With his confidence high going into the playoffs, this can improve his hitting (that is, if the Angels let him hit).

The Angels defense is packed with talent. With Erick Aybar making near to impossible plays at shortstop and Torii Hunter stealing homeruns from his opponents, the Angels have nothing to worry about regarding defense. Chone Figgins, although not the biggest player on the field, plays huge. His arm is unbelievable and his speed is remarkable to watch. Kendry Morales is a great defensive first baseman; he’s got the reach, the versatility and the determination to always look for that double play opportunity. Whether it be Howie Kendrick or Maicer Izturis at second, both are extreme athletes and can get the job done. Defense is the least of my worries for the Halos beating the Red Sox.

The powerful duo of owner Arte Moreno and Manager Mike Scioscia makes the Angels one of the best organizations to be a part of. They are respected amongst their players and will make risky decisions that are season changing. Scioscia keeps a close eye on his players because he is truly concerned about their well-being and their future success. Gary Matthews Jr. is starter-worthy in the outfield, except he is not playing. We haven’t heard an outburst or any negative media coverage from him about his lack of playing time. Scioscia has taught his players to play as a team, even if that means to swallow their pride.

The Angels have a history of bad luck in the playoffs. (Except in 2002 when they won the World Series, of course.) They have made a post season appearance four out of the last five years. The Red Sox have been their archenemy for years. Dating back to 1986, the Red Sox have won eleven consecutive playoff games against the Angels. It just seems as though the Angels fall apart in the playoffs. However, this might be the year to snap the losing streak. A few Red Sox players are battling injuries: Josh Beckett (back), Jon Lester (knee), Kevin Youkilis (back), and Mike Lowell (hip). The Sox are entering the playoffs having been swept by the Yankees in New York, and also by the Blue Jays at Fenway. Great news for the Angels. The Angels have a very powerful offense; they are first in batting average, second in runs and second in hits. The only thing that has me second guessing myself is the Angels pitching. They have had 14 different players start games this year. Brian Fuentes leads the American League with 48 saves this season; however more importantly, he has blown seven saves. Pitching is going to be the key aspect as to which team will continue on during post season.

This is the Angels year to conquer the past demons with the Boston Red Sox and to win the World Series. They have a prevailing purpose to win, which lies in the heart of the entire team. As center fielder Torii Hunter stated when asked about Nick Adenhart’s memorial, “We had a little closure. We realized Nick was a competitor, and he would want us to win. We started getting better, and now look at us. We carry his jersey wherever we go, we kept his locker intact. We never forgot him. We just chose to play with him” (latimes.com). I truly believe this is their year. They’ve got the motivation, the heart and the passion to win the World Series; not just for the organization, but for their dear friend Nick Adenhart. Nick, this one’s for you buddy.

Angels celebration dedicated to Adenhart.

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Jake Peavy delivers during the first inning against the Detroit Tigers

The White Sox are mathematically eliminated from this year’s postseason, but it may not stop them from playing spoiler. The Sox could be the key factor in determining the AL Central winner as they play the Tigers five more times before the season ends.

In Friday night’s game the Tigers bats struggled against recently activated starter Jake Peavy. Peavy threw seven scoreless innings, striking out eight. That game could be a taste for the White Sox future. Alex Rios scored on a Gordon Beckham home run, leading the offense, Jake Peavy had a great start, and Matt Thornton closed out the game.

The Sox are 6-7 vs. the Tigers this year, but the Sox have owned the Tigers over the previous five years, so it is very possible for the White Sox to give Detroit trouble down the stretch.

The Twins have won 9 of their last 10 and play the Tigers four more times and the Royals five more times. Although Minnesota trails Detroit by two games it’s very possible that the Twins win the AL Central without Justin Morneau, Kevin Slowey, Boof Bonser and Pat Neshek.

ESPN.com has the Tigers at a 71.7 percent chance of winning the AL Central compared to the Twins 28.3 percent chance.

Finally, Minnesota is 9-5 vs. Detroit this year.

Will the real Mike Fontenot please stand up?

This article can be found at my blog: marcoradenkovich.com

Continuing the examinations, I wanted to check out what happened to Mike Fontenot this season.

The one position the Cubs could improve for 2010 is 2B.  Do they have to go outside of the organization?  Or, can Mike Fontenot be counted on for 350 at-bats?

This is what I said on October 23, 2008 regarding the Cubs 2B situation:

I’d like to see more Mike Fontenot. Comparing him with Utley isn’t apples and oranges. Calling him a poor man’s Chase Utley definitely works.

Fontenot .305/.390/.514
Utley .292/.380/.534

You don’t give Fontenot many at bats vs. lefties, but playing him more makes the whole team better.

Yikes.

Well, what has changed?  ZiPS was bearish on Fontenot, saying he’d post a .336 wOBA but Bill James said .355 would be a good projection for him.  His wOBA so far this year is .306.  And it has some to do with his at-bats vs. left-handed pitching, but not as much as you’d think.

His wOBA has dropped because his OBP is down.  His LD% dropped from an unsustainable 24.1% to 17.9%, his BABIP fell from .355 to .288, his slugging has fallen .209 and his ISO has dropped 62 points.  That’s not even taking his 4% drop in walks into account.  I make all of these points rather than saying his BABIP fell by 67 points because I really don’t know what to think about BABIP.

BABIP is commonly referred to as luck.  I think that it’s appropriate to term it “luck” in some instances.  But, when every major stat fell this year, it’s easy to see that he hasn’t hit the ball hard.  Luck isn’t the problem with Mike Fontenot –squaring up the baseball is.

Thankfully, he’s hit the ball harder the last month.  Over the last 28 days, he has a .412/.450/.529 line.  This is encouraging because he’s bringing his metrics up to where they should have been all year.

It may paint a completely different picture, too.  We always point to pitchers that see a significant bump in their playing time, but we never say anything about position players.  Is the boost of 100+ plate appearances hurting Fontenot’s effectiveness?  Last year, he saw 284 plate appearances in a 119 game span.  This year, he’s seen 400 in a 127 game span.  So, is he a super utility player that holds more value when he isn’t played everyday?

My final idea could be that Lou Piniella messed with his confidence after Aramis Ramirez went down with his dislocated shoulder.  Fontenot was bounced around from 2B to 3B up until mid-July.  Mid-July was when Ramirez returned and Fox/Baker played the games Ramirez needed days off.  In the 49 games after the All-Star break, Fontenot’s posted a line of .261/.310/.452 and rising, while primarily playing one position, 2B.

Despite the position switching, his defense hasn’t been affected.  He’s always shown outstanding range at 2B, as noted by his 10.0 career UZR.  I used career UZR because it’s often been said UZR needs about 1,000 innings to work well.  He was also average at 3B in the 360 innings he logged this season.  He’s also been on Web Gems many times, for what it’s worth.

After this year, Fontenot’s future with the club is in doubt.  He probably won’t be traded, but the number of at-bats he receives next year is still in question.  Jim Hendry and Lou Piniella have a big decision to make with the four middle infielders they have — Ryan Theriot, Andres Blanco, Jeff Baker and Fontenot.  Who gets playing time?

But this much we know is true — Hendry will find a way to sign at least three more middle infielders this off-season.

Let me hear your thoughts.

The Rockies won 4-3 and there was a runner on third base when Schierholtz struck out.

The Giants lost to the Rockies by one run in what turned out to be quite a dramatic game Wednesday night. Rockies led 4-0 heading into the bottom of the 9th, behind a great start by Jorge De La Rosa, and were all set to walk out of San Francisco with a 3 ½ game lead in the Wild Card, and snap their 4 game losing streak.

Well the Giants had other ideas. They cut the lead to 4-3 including a defensive gaffe and some poor pitching by Franklin Morales, before Nate Schierholtz struck out to end the game.

Thanks Fangraphs for the game log, according to win probability, for last night’s game.

>>According To ESPN.com

I will also note that the Marlins have a 4.8% chance and the Braves a 5.6% chance of making the playoffs. The Giants trail Colorado by 3.5 games and don’t have an easy schedule down the stretch having to play at LA and host the Cubs.

San Francisco has a lot of work to do between now and the end of the season if they want to catch Colorado for that last playoff spot. If they pulled off last night’s game, they might not have as much of an uphill climb as they do now.

I’ll keep track of this game if this race stays close down the stretch.

*On a completely unrelated note, with the Rangers losing three straight games, they have a better statistical chance of winning the AL West, than they do of winning the Wild Card, according to ESPN.com’s percentages of making the playoffs.

Buehrle is 1-4 with a 4.92 ERA and a .880 OPS against him since the perfect game.

Mark Buehrle picked up his first win yesterday since his perfect game on July 23rd. That’s 8 starts! Was he unlucky? Somewhat, he had three quality starts since the perfecto, including a shutout through 8 innings in Seattle. That leaves 5 starts of non-quality start baseball, including getting beaten up by Kansas City, Baltimore and Cleveland.

Buehrle went 0-4 with a 5.44 ERA and opponents slugging .911 against him, in the time after his perfect game until yesterday’s game, ouch! The White Sox fans and the media have given Buehrle a pass on his poor performances since his perfect game. I understand why people wouldn’t want to go after Buehrle this season, but at the same time, the Sox needed him to be good to stay in the race.

Currently the White Sox have a 3.1% chance of making the playoffs at 7.5 GB of Detroit.

By no means is Buehrle the main reason the Sox are no longer in the AL Central race, far from it. Their terrible defense and lack of fundamentals have done more to prevent them from winning this division than anything else. All I’m saying is that Buehrle hasn’t pulled his weight since the PG, in a time where the White Sox needed him too. Sure you can point at several other players that added more to the demise of the White Sox, but I’m not here to address all their shortcomings this year.

As a White Sox fan it is hard to blame Buehrle for anything this year, but it’s a team sport and you need everyone to play to their abilities. Granted, this point may be moot, but it is interesting to think if the Sox would still be in the division race if Buehrle had pitched to his career ERA of 3.80 instead of his 4.92 since the perfect game.

People always talk about Boston and New York being the biggest rivalry in all of sports, but I refuse to believe that after this Cubs-Sox game. The Cubs went up early on a two-run homer in the bottom of the second and I was thrilled. The Sox fans not so much, as they started lambasting their own pitcher. Not much excitement after that until about the 6th inning.

Cubs still up 2-0 when a Sox player slides into third obviously safe, but the ump, to my delight, called him out. The Sox manager lost it. Ran out onto the field screaming and cursing. Some of the words coming out of his mouth I have never heard before (maybe cause I couldn’t understand him). Everything was F this and F that, needless to say he was asked to leave the premises.

Move on to the top of the 8th inning. Cubs now down 3-2 when a fight breaks out in the crowd. A drunken Cub fan starts talking to his wife and remarks how the Sox pitcher is absolutely horrible. A sox fan catches wind of the comment and precedes to punch the Cub fan in the face. A brawl breaks out between the two guy with the Sox fan easily winning.

Bottom 9, Cubs still down 3-2 but have men on 2nd and 3rd with only 1 out. The number 3 hitter comes up and the Sox decide to walk him to load the bases. Great move by the assistant coach. The Sox closer on the first pitch throws a hanging slider and the 4th hitter goes Yahtzee and the Cubs win 6-3. As he is rounding the bases though, the third basemen trips him. A brawl to end all brawls break out. The game is called and two players go to the hospital for injuries.

Tell me that this is not the biggest rivalry in all of sports. After the game I turned around and walked back home.

You see the little league field is right behind my house.