Second(5) to None(1)

   It is time to reveal my top five second basemen in baseball as I continue to move forward with this series. My picks are listed below.

5)    Aaron Hill: Aaron Hill is one of the more underrated players in baseball, and perhaps it is because for a few seasons he struggled in Toronto mightily, which made him a "change of scenery candidate", and the change of scenery has been positive for Hill. Since the trade to Arizona in the middle of the 2011 season, Hill has posted a .302BA, 39HR, and has 142RBI. Hill took a step back in 2013 as he only hit 11HR, compiled a .291BA, and drove in only 41 runs. The numbers were a far cry from his 2012 production when he posted this stat line: .302BA, 26HR, and 85RBI. However, the drop in production can probably be explained by the fact that Hill played in less games in 2013 due to a fractured hand. After spending a significant amount of time on the Disabled List, Hill returned to play in a total 87 games, and it is worth mentioning that the fractured hand was not properly healed once he returned to game action. On the defensive side, Hill has fielded better than the league average second baseman, posting a fielding percentage of .996 compared to the league average of .984. Over his tenure with Arizona, Hill has neither saved nor cost the Diamondbacks any runs. Given his recent production, and solid fielding to go along with a Silver Slugger Award in 2012, Hill is a slots in nicely at the fifth spot on this list.

4)   Brandon Phillips: When baseball fans hear the name Brandon Phillips, they automatically begin thinking about his incredible and "flashy" defensive plays and rightfully so, seeing as Phillips has won four gold gloves over the course of his career. As a matter of fact, three of those gold gloves have been awarded to Phillips in the past four seasons. He won the award in 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2013. Phillips has saved the Cincinnati Reds a total of seventeen runs over the last three seasons. In addition to the seventeen runs saved, Phillips has averaged a fielding percentage of .990 in the last three years compared to the league percentage of .984. So, Phillips is a defensive whiz, but for some reason, Phillips is not known as one of the best hitting Second Basemen in the game. Over the course of his career, Phillips has compiled the following stat line: a .271BA, 166HR, and 704RBI in twelve seasons. So maybe Phillips is not well known for his production at the plate, but he should be. Consider that over the past three seasons, Phillips has compiled the following numbers: a .281BA, 54HR, and 262RBI. That is pretty impresve coming from a middle infielder and keep in mind that Phillips hits anywhere in the Red's lineup, as he fills in wherever he is needed. After looking over the statistics, the three time All-Star is deserving of the fourth spot on this list, and while Phillips is more durable than the next Second Baseman on this list (Phillips has played in at least 140 games or more every year since 2006), there are a few reasons why he places fourth on this list and not third.  

3)   Chase Utley: Chase Utley is my favorite player, so it is fair to consider him landing third on this list as biased. That's great, constructive debate/criticism is a good thing. People may point out that Utley has never won a gold glove glove, and he has not been an All-Star since 2010. Not to mention that Utley has battled a slew of injuries since 2011. In fact in 2013, Utley played in over 115 games for the first time since 2009. There is no disputing that evidence, but hear me out before deciding that Utley made this list (placing third nonetheless) only because he is my favorite player. So aside from winning four Silver Slugger Awards (2006-2009), and five All-Star selections, Utley has never won a Gold Glove or any other award. However, that does not mean that he has not been a deserving candidate at times. Consider that over the course of his career on the defensive side that Utley has saved the Phillies fourteen runs over the course of his career. Now, he did take a step back in 2013 as he cost the Phillies four runs and compiling an appalling .971 fielding percentage compared to the league's .984 as he committed seventeen errors. However over the course of his career he has graded out as just a tick below a league average Second Baseman. On the Offensive side, Utley's career line looks like this: a .287BA, 217HR, and 808RBI. Over the past three seasons Utley has compiled a .266BA, 40HR, and 158RBI. Those numbers are closer to Aaron Hill's production line over the past three seasons than they are to Brandon Phillips. However, consider that over the past three seasons, Utley has a higher OPS, SLG percentage and OBP. Add that to the fact that Utley plays every game as hard as he can and there is no doubt that Utley being third on this list is justifiable, because along with the stats, Utley is a gritty player, but he may not be as gritty as the next player on this list.  

Year	N/A	G	HR	RBI	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2011	N/A	103	11	44	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	.259	.344	.425	.769
2012	N/A	83	11	45	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	.256	.365	.429	.793
2013	N/A	131	18	69	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	.284	.348	.475	.823
11 Yrs    N/A		1323	217	808	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	.287	.373	.498	.871
162 Game Avg.		162	27	99	16	2	67	103	.287	.373	.498	.871

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/26/2013.

Year	G	HR	RBI	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2011	150	18	82	.300	.353	.457	.810
2012	147	18	77	.281	.321	.429	.750
2013	151	18	103	.261	.310	.396	.706
12 Yrs	1339	166	704	.271	.320	.429	.749
162 Game Avg.	162	20	85	.271	.320	.429	.749

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/26/2013.

2)   Dustin Pedroia: As gritty as Chase Utley is, Dustin Pedroia is possibly more gritty. Pedroia played all of the 2013 season with a torn ligament in his thumb. Played through a torn thumb ligament as in 160 games out of a total of 162 possible games. That in itself gives Pedroia merit to be on this list, but that is only a small reason as to why he is ranked second. In the "injury-plagued" 2013 season for Pedroia (if it can even be called that), the All-Star Second Baseman accumulated the following stats: a .301BA, 9HR and 84RBI. For a Second Baseman that is typically a good season, sure he does not display as much power as the others on this list, but he potentially could have hit as many if not more Home Runs than the other Second Basemen had it not been for the injury. Consider that over the past three seasons, Pedroia's combined stat line looks like this: a .299BA, 45HR, and 240RBI. Across the board he shows the capability to match or exceed the numbers of the aforementioned Second Basemen at this point in his career as he has age on his side (Pedroia is 29, compared to all the other Second Basemen on this list who are in their early to mid-thirties). Aside from his offense and gritty game play, Pedroia is a solid fielding Second Baseman as he has won three Gold Glove Awards throughout the course of his eight year career with the Red Sox (winning the award in 2008, 2011, and 2013). Pedroia has saved the Red Sox ten runs throughout his career and he has saved them an impressive 40 runs in the last three seasons combined. Along with the runs saved throughout the course of his career, Pedroia has posted a fielding percentage of .991 compared to the league average of .985. He has been as equally impressive in the past three seasons (an average fielding percentage of .992 compared to the league's .984). Pedroia was the Rookie of the Year in 2007, the American League Most Valuable player in 2008 when he was also a Silver Slugger, and Pedroia is a four time All-Star. Honestly if I were to have my pick as a General Manager or Manager, Pedroia is the Second Baseman I would want because of his solid production, work ethic, loyalty to his organization, reasonable contract, leadership and tenacity. However, production wise, no second baseman can stack up to the number one on this list, and the production was so impressive that the number one Second Baseman on this list is clearly....    

1)   Robinson Cano: With this career slash line: .309BA, 204HR, and 822RBI, it is tough to deny that Robinson Cano is the top Second Baseman in Major League Baseball currently. Now, the Mariners are more than likely going to regret the back end of that ten year $240 million contract they awarded him this off season, but the mariners did sign the best Second Baseman in baseball. Over the course of the past three seasons, Cano's stat line looks like this: .310BA, 88HR, and 319RBI. Given the stat line, overall, Cano has been the superior offensive Second Baseman for a few years now. Despite the strong offensive output, Cano (unlike Pedroia) has never won a Rookie of the Year Award or an MVP trophy. Cano has however won five Silver Slugger Awards, four of which have come in the last four seasons (2006 and 2010-2013). On the offensive side, it is also worth noting that Cano won the 2012 Home Run Derby. On the defensive side, Cano has also been serviceable, he has won two Gold Gloves (2010 and 2012). During his career, Cano has posted a fielding percentage of .986 compared to the league average of .985. Over the past three seasons, Cano has posted a .990 fielding percentage compared to the league's .984. Being an above average fielder, Cano has saved the New York Yankees two runs over the course of his career, which is nothing to write home about, but over the past three years, he has saved the Yankees nineteen runs. Given the offensive output, solid defensive play and durability (Cano has played in at least 159 games since 2007), the five time All-Star is more than deserving of the number one spot on this list.


Others who were Considered:

Dan Uggla- Massive power, but it has slipped in recent seasons, and he has never hit for much of an average.
Ben Zobrist- Very underrated, but he plays all over the field. He'll make a different list I am compiling. Daniel Murphy- Up and coming underrated Second Baseman for the New York Mets, solid numbers but not strong enough to crack this list.
Neil Walker- Same story as Murphy with slightly weaker numbers.
Jose Altuve- Solid player
Darwin Barney- Defensive whiz, and that is about it.
Ian Kinsler- Another solid player like Murphy.

Whose First on First?

   Late August was the last time that I updated my best at each position series. Now that another MLB season has passed, some more players are now under consideration that previously were not. Before I dive into the best first basemen, here is a reminder of the qualifications to make my list. Also, please remember that just because a player does not make my top five, does not mean they are a bad player, it is hard to narrow the list down sometimes, especially at first base. A player must have played in the league a minimum of three season, and spent the majority of that time at the stated position, except in rare instances where it is reasonably justifiable. My list seeks to to recognize the top position players over the past few seasons, as well as give a potential preview of what may be to come from a given player. Anyhow, here are my top five first basemen:

5)    Freddie Freeman: Freddie Freeman appears to be a quick rising star at first base. Freeman is probably currently the face of the Atlanta Braves franchise, and he is definitely a fan favorite. In 2011, Freeman was the runner up for rookie of the year to teammate Craig Kimbrel. Freeman has posted three consecutive seasons of over twenty homeruns from 2011-2013 (posting 21,23, and 23 respectively). At age 23, Freeman has already compiled 68HR. Aside from the power numbers, Freeman has also produced a batting average of .285 over his short career, and entering his prime while coming off a season where he batted .319, hit 23 HR, and compiled 109 RBI shows that he has great potential in the future. Over his career Freeman has accumulated the following stat line: 68 HR, 280 RBI, and a .285 BA. Aside from his batting, Freeman grades out around as an average fielding first baseman as evidenced by his fielding percentage of .993 fielding percentage compared to the league's .994 fielding percentage. Freeman also made his first All-Star appearance in 2013, which along with his short but productive career stats, as well as his potential going forward is what lands Freeman fifth on this list ahead of other potential candidates.
  

4)    Albert Pujols: So, Albert Pujols has not lived up to that lucrative contract that he signed with the Los Angeles Angels in the 2011-2012 off season, and he probably is not going to. However, that does not mean that Pujols is not a valuable first baseman. Over the past three seasons, Pujols has compiled a BA of .281, amassed 84 HR, and had 268 RBI. Last year was an injury shortened season for Pujols. It was a dismal season at that, as the 33 year old slugger hit a meager .258 with only 17 HR and 64 RBI. However, if healthy, it is conceivable that Pujols will rebound in 2014, after all his career line looks like this: .321BA, 492HR and 1,498 RBI. Aside from his batting, Pujols has also won a few Gold Glove Awards, compiled nine All-Star appearances and last year was the first time ever that he did not finish in the top twenty in MVP voting. Pujols has scuffled to find his way after leaving the St. Louis Cardinals after the 2011 season, but he is still an elite first baseman who should hit at least hit 600HR in his career and maybe just maybe even break the all time HR record.
      

3)    Prince Fielder: Prince Fielder took a step back in 2013, but he is still very much a productive first baseman. This season, Fielder posted a respectable .279BA, with 25HR and 106RBI. The aforementioned numbers are still good, but they were a step back from Fielder's 2012 season in which he posted a .313BA, 30HR, and tallied 108RBI. Over the past three seasons, Fielder has a BA of .297, amassed 93HR, and totaled 334RBI. Fielder gets knocked for  his defense and rightfully so as according to advanced stats, Fielder has cost his team 10 runs defensively, but the eye test says that is a bit harsh. Fielder is a five time All-Star and has appeared each of the past three years. Put that with his career line of a .286BA, 285HR, and 870RBI, he is deserving of a spot on this list and since Fielder has been more consistent than Pujols recently and has a longer productive track record than Freeman he slots in front of them on this list. Fielder will be a good productive pick-up for the Texas Rangers and should have five or more productive years left.

2)    Joey Votto:Joey Votto sets himself apart from the other first basemen on this list in that he bats for a high average and has power, but his underrated asset is his ability to get on base. Over the past three seasons, Votto has accumulated a BA of .317 hit 67HR, and tallied 232RBI. Here is Votto's real value though, he has lead the National League in walks each of the past three seasons (110, 94, and 135) and in OBP the past four (.424,.416,.474, and.435). While he does not drive in as many runs as other first basemen, he gets on base a ton and is a huge power threat all while sustaining a batting average well over .300. Over the course of his career, Votto has compiled these stats: a .314BA, a .419OBP, 157HR, and 530RBI. Votto is a league average fielder, but he has a gold glove to his credit. As long as he stays healthy, Votto will be a productive first base slugger and OBP machine for years to come.

1)    Miguel Cabrera: Miguel Cabrera falls under my exception rule. He was moved to third base two seasons ago in order to accommodate the signing of Prince Fielder, but now that Fielder is with the Rangers, Cabrera will most likely be moving back across the diamond to play first base. Seeing as he will be playing at first going forward and that he has played there primarily throughout his career is why I am classifying him as a first baseman. So other than explaining why he is on this list, the only other thing that I should have to say is Miguel Cabrera. Seriously though, everyone knows that Miguel Cabrera won the Triple Crown in 2102, and had he not played injured for a good portion of the 2013 season, he may have repeated as a Triple Crown winner. However, the best hitter in baseball had to settle for his second consecutive American League MVP Award. Over the past three seasons, Cabrera has posted a BA of .341, hit 118HR, and amassed 381RBI. For his career, Cabrera is a .321 hitter, has compiled 365HR, and has accumulated 1,260RBI. Along with the two MVP Awards, he has appeared in eight All-Star games, and has always placed on the MVP ballot in each of his eleven seasons. Cabrera is serviceable with the glove, but since he is such an outstanding hitter, that is easy to overlook. Hopefully Miggy is back to full health for 2014, if so, he should be productive for many years to come, and at age 30, he may even have the chance to set/shatter some of Major League Baseball's Records.

Others who were under consideration (No particular order):

Paul Konerko- Konerko is getting some age on him, and had it not been for his injury plagued 2013, he probably would have made this list at number five.

Paul Goldschmidt- Not quite enough service time, but an underrated young player who is a major power threat for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and looks to be a solid all around player going forward.

Anthony Rizzo- The power and affordable contract are there, the average may never be however, but has good power nonetheless.
Mark Texeria- Great switch hitter with power, but injuries are troubling.
Adrian Gonzalez-Could have potentially replaced Freeman and been ahead of Pujols on this list, and rightfully so, but as mentioned above ranking the top five first baseman in the MLB is no easy task.
Ryan Howard-Sorry, could not pass this opportunity up, but maybe The Big Piece will have a big 2014.

The Best Halladay

    It is diheartening that Roy Halladay has retired from Major Leauge Baseball. However, his legacy will be remembered not only as a pitcher but as a person as well.

   I knew there was a possibility that Roy Halladay would retire after the 2013 season, but I honestly did not think that he would. I figured Roy Halladay would try to pitch at least one more year, if for no other reason than just to attempt to prove to himself one more time that he could still compete. I figured he would get around a $5 million deal for a year with incentives that could escalate the value of the deal to $10 million or more. So when I read that Halladay would be retiring, I was a little shocked. I quickly got on my laptop and pulled up the live video stream to watch Halladay's live press conference(some highlights can be seen here). As I sat watching the press conference, I felt a sense of sadness, because it seemed like Roy Halladay of all players deserved a better ending than this, but upon hearing Halladay's comments, I could not help but smile, because it sounded as if for the first time in a long time he was at peace with himself. Roy Halladay deserved a World Series Ring and maybe one day he will be in the Hall of Fame, but make no mistake about it, Halladay went out on his own terms.

   Halladay was described by other players as a fierce competitor, and his workouts and preparation for games were known for being legendary. That competitive edge combined with skill is what made Roy Halladay the best pitcher of the past decade, it's why he deserved a ring, and it is why Halladay was a pitcher/player people rooted for no matter what.

   Excluding the first three years and last two years of his career, Halladay was the best pitcher of the past decade, and there is little in the way of disputing that. Consider that from 2001-2011 Halladay led the league in the following categories at least once: wins(twice:2003 & 2010), winning percentage(2006), games started(2003), complete games(seven times:2003,2005, & 2007-2011), Shut-Outs(four times:2003,& 2008-2010), Innings Pitched(four times:2002,2003, 2008 & 2010), Whip(1.053) and SO/BB(five times:2003 & 2008-2011). Halladay also led various other categories, was an eight time All-Star, finished as a top ten MVP twice and collected two CY Young awards. He won the American League CY Young in 2003, and he won the National League CY Young award in 2010. Counting the two CY Young award wins, Halladay also finished in the top five seven times within the span of the decade. Also noteworthy is the fact that Halladay threw a Perfect Game against the Florida Marlins in 2010, and he threw a no-hitter in his first play-off start against the Cincinnati Reds in 2010 as well.



   Over the span of those eleven years, Halladay compiled the following stats: 175 wins, a 2.97 ERA, 64 Complete Games, 19 Shut-Outs, Pitched an even 3,000 Innings, Struck Out 1,790 batters, a WHIP of 1.121, and a SO/BB of 4.815. Halladay no doubt has an impressive resume, especially over that eleven year span. However, because Halladay only won 203 games during his career, many have speculated he may not be a first ballot Hall of Famer, or a HOF at all, but he at least deserves consideration. Based on the eleven year dominance though, one day Halladay should be enshrined in Cooperstown, in baseball illustrious HOF group, where he belongs.

Top Catchers in MLB Right Now

   I have finally gotten back to my series of blog posts which feature the top five players in baseball at each position respectively. When it comes to the catching position, defense and game calling are the most important aspects. If a catcher can hit for average and/or power, that is a bonus. So, below are my top five catchers:


5)    Carlos Ruiz: Ruiz had a career year in 2012. The Philadelphia Phillies catcher hit .325 with a 16HR. Both of which were career best for the then 33 year old catcher. However, to begin the 2013 season, Ruiz was suspended 25 games for reportedly testing positive for a banned stimulant a second time. The stimulant was believed to be Aderall. So far this year in 62 games for the Phillies, Ruiz has hit .265, and  he has hit three home runs this season. Despite the down season, Ruiz has been a fairly good hitter throughout his career, batting .274, with 313 RBI and 55HR over a career spanning parts of eight seasons. Despite Ruiz's respectable hitting, he makes my list basically because of his defense. He has caught 28% of base stealers throughout his career and has a career .995 fielding percentage. While there are no stats for such a thing, Ruiz's most valuable asset is his game calling which make arguably the best in the Majors.

4)    Brian McCann: McCann had a down season in 2012 as he battled shoulder issues throughout the season. In 2012, McCann hit a meager .230, but he also still managed to hit 20HR with 67 RBI. Typically, these are good power numbers for a catcher, but the 20HR were the fewest McCann had hit since 2007, when he hit 18HR. Additionally, the 67 RBI's were the fewest of McCann's career in a full season. Fortunately, McCann is having an excellent bounce back season thus far. He is currently batting .272 with 18HR and 47 RBI in 76 games. McCann has never been regarded as an excellent defender, but he has caught 24% of base stealers(28% league average), while posting a .991 fielding percentage. McCann's career fielding percentage is just a tick below the league average of .992. Regardless, McCann is one of the best catchers in all of baseball.
 

3)   Joe Mauer: Mauer is one of the best, if not the best hitting catcher in baseball period. Mauer bounced back in a huge way in 2012 as he hit .319 with 10HR and 47RBI. He played in 147 games last season(not all as a catcher), and he led the American League in On Base Percentage, posting a .416 clip. For his career, Mauer has posted a .323BA, 105HR and 634RBI. Mauer is a great defender as well. Mauer, has thrown out 33% of base stealers throughout his career(27% league average), while putting up a fielding percentage of .995 for his career which exceeds the league average of a .991 fielding percentage. Mauer for some reason seems to be largely underrated throughout the game of baseball, despite the fact that he won the American League MVP Award in 2009 and being a six time All-Star.

2)   Buster Posey: In just three seasons, Posey has already been named NL MVP(2012), NL Rookie of the Year(2010); not only has Posey earned these prestigious honors, but he has already been part of two World Series Championship Teams(2010 & 2012) with the San Francisco Giants. After rebounding from a season ending injury in 2011, Posey posted astounding numbers in 2012. In 2012, Posey hit .336(leading the NL), smashing 24HR and driving in 103 runners. For his career, Posey has posted a .303BA, hit 60HR and accumulated 252 RBI. Posey possesses a strong throwing arm, catching 32% of base runners in his short career. He has however been knocked for his defensive ability and plays pretty reguarly at first base, but Posey is one of the best backstops in the game, and at the age of 26 he has plenty of time to add to his already promising career.


1)   Yadier Molina: There is no better all-around catcher in baseball than Yadier Molina. Molina has a phenomenal throwing arm, is a great game-caller, and he has figured out how to hit to top it all off. In 2012, Molina hit a robust .315, notching 22HR and knocking in 76 runners. For his career, Molina has hit .284 with 86HR while accumulating 522RBI. Unlike Posey, Molina does not have an MVP Award to his credit, but he does have two World Series Rings(2006 & 2011). He has managed to throw out an astounding 45% of would be base stealers in his ten year career, and he has five consecutive gold gloves to show for his incredible catching skills. Put it all together and Molina is on his way to being one of the better catchers to ever play the game, and that is why he tops this list.

Others:

A.J. Pierzynski, Matt Wieters, J.P. Arencibia, Etc.

A link between Derek Jeter and Chase Utley

   It's been awhile since I have updated my blog, and I am currently working on a post about the top five catchers in the game right now, but with the trade deadline quickly approaching, I wanted to take the time to talk about that. This is not one of my typical blog posts with lots of stats/predictions/comparisons. This post has a specific purpose, I am not going to focus much on trades that have happened and how the market is shaping up. I mean in essence, Matt Garza has been traded to the Rangers, Jesse Crain to the Rays, Scott Downs to the Braves, Alfonso Soriano to the Yankees and so on. I am not saying that these trades are minute; the trades will all clearly help determine games down the stretch and during the playoffs. However, I posted about the Phillies last year and will do the same this year. Unlike last year though, I am not going to focus on the whole team, but rather on my favorite player, Chase Utley.

   Derek Jeter was the player who really got me into baseball, as I watched him play stellar defense and hit with the best of them. Despite the fact that Jeter got me into watching MLB heavily in 2006, it was ultimately Utley who made me appreciate baseball even more. Utley was the one player that I learned the most from by watching, and the player that I realized played baseball the way that it should be played. As cliche as it sounds, Utley hustles during every play no matter the score or inning, never gives up an at bat and is a leader not only on the field but off the field as well. The Phillies have become sellers as they have lost eight straight and fallen seven games below .500 and fallen back to third in the NL East. As a fan of the Phillies I realize that it is time to sale anyone who may not be a fit for this team over the next few seasons. If the price is right, I am not against the Phillies trading Cliff Lee or anyone else for that matter. I would except whatever they could get for Delmon Young or Michael Young, because this team needs to be restructured. However, selfishly, I want the Phillies to hang onto Utley for the rest of his career. The reason simply being that Utley is the player I modeled my own game after, a player I have tons of respect for, and the reason I became a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies in the first place. 

   At the same time, if the Phillies cannot reach a reasonable extension with Utley, say 2 or 3 years/12million per year(at most) with a club or vesting option, then they should entertain offers for their All-Star Second Baseman. I mean, Utley will be 35 in December, and he has a chronic knee condition. Now the condition has not hampered him this year as he has hit 13HR, has 36RBI and a .274BA, which are solid numbers. But, his leg condition is not going away, it may even get worse and he is not getting any younger. If the Phillies were to trade Utley, they would need to get at least the value of a compensation pick back in next years draft if not more. The Phillies should not just "give" Utley away. 

   If Utley wants to stay, be traded or walk at the end of the season, he has earned the right. A trade may even be in Utley's best interest as well. I know the Phillies are currently working on an extension for Utley, but who knows what the outcome may be. Utley may have played his last game as a Phillie yesterday afternoon or may have many more to come. Either way, Utley will always be a Phillie to me  my favorite player, and I will follow his career no matter what the outcome is.    

World Series Predictions, MVP, ROY & CY Young

   I should have done this awhile back, but I'll predict the playoffs by using my previous entries and revealing who I believed would win certain awards at the beginning of the season.

Wild Card Round (AL): Texas Rangers vs. Toronto Blue Jays-Rangers  win the game.

Wild Card Round (NL): Atlanta Braves vs. Loa Angeles Dodgers-Braves win the game.

ALDS: Los Angeles Angels vs. Texas Rangers-Rangers in four.

ALDS: Detroit Tigers vs. Tampa Bay Rays-Tigers in five.

NLDS: Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals-Nationals in five.

NLDS: Cincinatti Reds vs. San Francisco Giants-Reds in four.

ALCS: Texas Rangers vs. Detroit Tigers-Tigers in six.

NLCS: Washington Nationals vs. Cincinati Reds-Reds in seven.

World Series: Cincinati Reds vs. Detroit Tigers-Tigers in five.

Here are links to my previous entries:

AL/NL East, AL/NL Central, AL/NL West


AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera

NL MVP: Joey Votto

AL RoY: Aaron Hicks

NL RoY: A.J. Pollock

AL CY Young: Justin Verlander

NL CY Young: Clayton Kershaw

   In my next blog I will talk about the best catchers currently playing.

Predicting the AL Central and NL Central

   Both Central Divisions improved drastically over the course of the offseason and during Spring Training. My thoughts:



AL Central: The Indians and Royals made intriguing trades, the Twins dealt from an area of strength to help strengthen weaker areas of their roster, the White Sox flamed out in September last year and Detroit still looks like a force to be reckoned with.

1) Detroit Tigers (92-70): Let's make this short and simple. The Tigers scuffled at times during the 2012 season, but let's face it. They have a stellar rotation, offense, along with solid defense and a solid bullpen. The players feature the likes of Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder and Tori Hunter. The Achilles hill for this team may be not having a set established closer, but they'll manage as they did in the 2012 postseason.

2) Chicago White Sox (84-78): The White Sox played solid baseball for the most part in 2012, before flaming out down the stretch. Still this should be a decent team if Chris Sale repeats his 2012 success, Jake Peavy has really regained his Ace form and the bullpen and offense produce like they should. Time will tell, but don't count the White Sox out.

3) Kansas City Royals (80-82): This is a revamped ball club. The Royals have decided to go for it in 2013. They traded top prospect Will Meyers and other notable prospects to the Tampa Bay Rays in order to solidify their rotation with James Shields and Wade Davis. The rotation looks solid, and the bullpen and offense are underrated, so don't take this prediction with a grain of salt, but despite the aforementioned information, I do not see the Royals returning to the postseason for the first time in over two decades.

4) Cleavland Indians (74-88): This prediction seems like a knock on the Indians who spent big on the free agent market, signing Michael Bourn, Nick Swisher and others. However, I just believe that the three teams above are that solid. The Indians' offense should be much improved, even with the trade of Shin Soo Choo. But, the bullpen can be shaky and a question mark, and will need to be improved if the Indians want to taste postseason baseball in 2013.

5) Minnesota Twins (70-92): I believe the Twins will be better than most are giving them credit for, but I don't think they are going to shock the baseball world by clinching the AL Central. The rotation does not feature an Ace, but rather quite a few solid starting pitchers. The Twins should have a decent offense and bullpen, but the defense is questionable. They traded from an area of strenghth when trading Denard Span to the Nationals to acquire young starting pitcher Alex Meyer, and Ben Revere to the Phillies for Vance Worley and prospect Trevor May. The Twins improved their roster, however, they sacraficed defense to do so. While I would not just dismiss this team, I don't see them regaining the dominant form they once displayed about four years ago. 2013 is just not it for the Twins.

Overview of Division: Really, the Twins are the only team that would shock me if they won the division, or even made the playoffs, and it still would not surprise me all that much. That said, this should be a fun division to watch in 2013.



NL Central: This division is just as competitive if not more so than the AL Central. The Reds and Cardinals are the dominant forces, but the Cubs, Pirates and Brewers could easily give the top two a run for their money.

1) Cincinnati Reds (93-69): This is a very sound team with very few holes. The offense, starting rotation, bullpen and defense are all stellar. The rotation seems to get better every year, there are a few gold glovers on the team, and the offense is stacked with All-Star potential.

2) St. Louis Cardinals (89-73): If their is a franchise that seems to consistently be in the postseason or close to being in the post season, this is the team. They have won more Championships than any other National League Franchise, and they are solid much like the Reds are. The rotation is solid even without Kyle Lohse, the offense was just fine without Albert Pujols last year, and the bullpen can dominate from time to time. The Cardinals know how to play baseball, and they'll prove it again in 2013.

3) Pittsburgh Pirates (83-79): Look at the record I predicted, that's right, I believe that the Pirates will finish above .500 in 2013. But in order for that to happen, Andrew Mccutchen needs to continue to evolve and players like Garrett Jones and Pedro Alvarez need to step up. The defense will most likely be solid, but the starting rotation and bullpen are both seemingly huge question marks.

4) Milwaukee Brewers (81-81): This team is a little bit down to begin 2013. They are missing Corey Hart and Matt Gamel for at least the first few months, and the offense will take a hit because of it. However, they still have Ryan Braun and Aramis Ramirez and as long as they hit, the offense will tread water. The rotation looks better than it did two weeks ago, as the Brewers have added Kyle Lohse to coplement Shaun Marcum, a nice 1-2 punch. However the rest of the rotation is largely unestablished. The defense should at least be average, but the bullpen needs to outperform expectations if the Brewers want to go to the postseason or anything better.

5) Chicago Cubs (79-83): This club has improved a good bit, I still believe they'll be a losing ball team in 2013, but they are at least headed in the right direction. They added Edwin Jackson to stabilize their rotation, which is better than most realize, but it does not help that Matt Garza is on the DL. The defense is probably below average, especially with gold glover Darwin Barney on the DL. The bullpen has some potential, but the Cubs need Carlos Marmol to be the good Marmol, not the Marmol who has no command. This is a team with some young players who have huge upside, and I think within two years this team will make a run at the division crown, but that's in 2015 and this is 2013. However, that is not to say that the Cubs can't/won't be a winning ball team this year.

Overview of Division: It is a long season and this is a competitive division. If things pan out right for a few of these teams and the others struggle, any one of these teams could take the NL Central.

Predicting the AL West and NL West

   As the Rangers and Astros open the 2103 MLB Season tonight, here are my thoughts on how the AL West and NL West will shape up. Beginning with the AL West.


AL West: This is a stout division, then again, all the divisions look tougher than they have in the past.

1) Los Angeles Angels (94-68): The Angels look like the clear cut winner of this division, but it also looked that way in 2012 after they signed Albert Pujols. However, this is probably the most powerful lineup in the AL West with Pujols, Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton among others. The bullpen is looks solid but lacks a lot of household names. However, the defense should be a strength for this team. Despite all the positives, the rotation is questionable aside from Jarred Weaver, because C.J. Wilson is returning from an injury plauged 2012 and the rotation includes average pitchers in Tommy Hanson, Jason Vargas and Joe Blanton. Here though, the pros outweigh the cons.

2) Texas Rangers (90-72): The Rangers lost players like Michael Young, Josh Hamilton and Mike Napoli. However, they also added valuable pieces in A.J. Perzinski and Lance Berkman. The rotation should be a strength as they will rely on Matt Harrison, Derek Holland, Yu Darvish heavily. Their defense should be solid in the outfield and infield as well.

3) Oakland Athletics (88-74): It's tough to put the defending AL West Champions third in my rankings, but a lot went right for the Athletics last year, and they clenched the division on the final day of the season. The rotation worked like a revolving door last year and it worked, but I wouldn't count on it working as well in 2013. Still, the Athletics have a nice young rotation which features Jarrod Parker, Tommy Milone and others. They also boast solid defense and a young offensive core.

4) Seattle Mariners (80-82): The Mariners recently inked staff Ace Felix Hernandez to a mega contract. Which is a good start for the Mariners, and they also added to their offense by acquiring Michael Morse and Kendrys Morales. They also boast a decent bullpen and an average starting rotation. This should be a good team in a few years, but 2013 does not look like their year. Still, I believe that this is an improved team that will win more games in 2013 than they did in 2012.

5) Houston Astros (62-100): The newest team in the AL West, the Houston Astros have brought in some veteran players like Carlos Pena, but 2013 is not the year of the Astros. This is a team that is young and that is starting to build a solid young core around players such as, Jose Altuve, Bud Norris and Luca Harell. This team has a nice young rotation, bullpen and offense which will actually look dominant at times, but will struggle due to inexperience. And despite that they are beating the Texas Rangers in the sixth as I type this, I can't see this team finishing anywhere but in last place. However, I do believe they will outperform most peoples' expectations.

Overview of Division: I believe any of the top three teams could possibly win this division, but hey, it's baseball and perhaps the Astros and Mariners could somehow by a miracle capture the division crown.



NL West: This division features the defending World Series Champs, and a free spending team along with three teams who showcase All-Stars in their own right.

1) San Francisco Giants (94-86): If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? Well, the Giants basically kept their 2012 World Series team in tact, and they played sound baseball throughout 2012. If the pitching staff lives up to it's potential, the defense is solid, the offense scores just enough, and the bullpen is lights out again, this team will capture the division title for the third time in three years.

2) Los Angeles Dodgers (90-72): It would be easy to say the Dodgers will win the division. I mean, they have the highest payroll in the MLB and are loaded with All-Stars at nearly every defensive position, as well as a strong looking starting rotation headlined by Clayton Kershaw and Zack Grienke. While they have a solid looking team, they are competing with the defending champs, and chemistry may not mix so I give the edge to the Giants.

3) San Diego Padres (80-82): Chase Headley had a breakout season last season but will miss the first few weeks of the 2013 season. However, aside from Headley, the Padres look like they could be competitive this year. They have an underrated bullpen, but it is a solid pen nonetheless with the likes of Luke Gregerson and Houston Street. The offense may surprise some skeptics, as the fences will be moved in, and the teams young stars seem to be adjusting to the pace in the Majors. This may be the surprise team of 2013.

4) Arizona Diamondbacks (78-84): The Diamondbacks lost some star power with their trade of Justin Upton and Chris Johnson to the Atlanta Braves, but the acquired some solid talent in the deal and probably the most underrated player in baseball in Martin Prado. The offense does not look as potent as it used to, but the offense should be ok. However, if the Diamondbacks are tobe competitive, they will need to lean heavily on the likes of Ian Kennedy, Wade Miley and Brandon McCarthy, along with their solid bullpen.

5) Colorado Rockies (65-97): The Rockies have some good players on their roster such as, Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowiski (Tulo), and some players who have upside like Josh Rutledge. However, while the offense looks solid and the defense should at least be league average, the starting rotation is a major concern. Especially in their home ballpark. Perhaps within the next few seasons, the Rockies will contend, but this is probably not their year.

Overview of Division: It is possible that any of the top four teams could capture the NL West Division crown, and the Giants vs. Dodgers Rivialry should be a fun rivalry to watch.

   Tomorrow I will put up my predictions for the NL Central and AL Central up, but until then baseball fans, enjoy opening night.