MLB

2013 MLB Season Preview

I was going to write my all too familiar one or two paragraph lead in here.  You know, about the green grass, the excitement in the air, and all that sentimental baseball stuff.  But it’s cold in Boston, the Red Sox are coming off a last place finish, and frankly, nobody in their right mind is excited for 162 freaking baseball games.  The only people excited for April and May baseball are the gamblers.  So I’m going to cut it short.  Like…now.

American League

East Division

1. New York Yankees- Their entire lineup is disintegrating except for Robinson Cano, who just so happens to be in a contract year.  I can already see the Yankees struggling through the first two months before picking up steam (as always) in the summer and before we know it, it’s October 1^st and they’re in first place in the East.  And we’ll all feel terrible about ourselves.

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2. Tampa Bay Rays- The Rays are going to be there at the end of the season, no matter how inept their offense is or who leaves in free agency.  Joe Maddon (right) is the best manager in the game, and David Price and Matt Moore are a pair of southpaw Aces that can beat anyone.  I’ve got them in the wildcard.

3. Baltimore Orioles- A good young roster headlined by Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, and Manny Machado, the O’s could repeat as East champs or sink to the bottom.  I’ve got them right in the middle.

4. Boston Red Sox- The roster isn’t much better than it was last season, and even if Bobby V’s circus has left town, this is still a tough division to rebuild on the fly in.  I don’t think they have the pitching to compete this season.

5. Toronto Blue Jays- They traded for the same big name players that got Miami a fifth place finish last year, as well as a 38-year-old breakout knuckleballer who pitched in the most pitcher-friendly park in the majors in Citi Field.  I’m not buying the Jays.

Central Division

1. Detroit Tigers- They’ve got an elite rotation and the best 3-4 in the league in Cabrera and Fielder.  Easily the cream of the crop in this division.

2. Chicago White Sox- Chris Sale (below) is an Ace, and they can still mash it.  The White Sox are a good, consistent bet to be there until September.

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3. Kansas City Royals- They’re the talk of the spring, but also the Royals.  So I averaged it out to third place.

4. Cleveland Indians- They’ve got some good young players and a solid manager in Terry Francona.  But this division has some good veteran teams and I can’t see Cleveland matching up over the long haul.

5. Minnesota Twins- They’re clearly the worst team in the division on paper.  It’s years like this that they always surprise though.

West Division

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1. Los Angeles/Anaheim Angels- They continued to add big names this offseason, landing Josh Hamilton (right) to join a lineup that already features Pujols, Trout, and Trumbo.  They’re too talented to miss the playoffs again.

2. Oakland Athletics- They’ve got a great rotation of homegrown arms, and a pesky lineup that does enough to get the job done.  Billy Beane has built the model franchise for a small market team.  I’ve got them in the wildcard.

3. Texas Rangers- Hamilton was a loss, but that lineup is still terrific with Cruz, Beltre, Young, Andrus, and Kinsler.  I just don’t know if they’ve got the pitching to match Tampa or Oakland.  They’ll be in the thick of things, but I’ve got them missing the playoffs.

4. Seattle Mariners- Good news, Mariner fans!  The Astros are here, so you won’t come in last!  (also Felix Hernandez isn’t leaving for a while.)

5. Houston Astros- I have nothing to say on this one.  Houston still has a problem in the talent department.

Awards

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-Rookie of the Year- Will Myers, Rays- The Rays didn’t trade James Shields for him to sit in the minors all season.  He’s got pop.

-Manager of the Year- Joe Girardi, Yankees- I’ve got the Yanks defying the odds and winning the East.  It’ll be an easy choice if that happens.

-CY Young- Justin Verlander, Tigers- Can’t go wrong betting on the best pitcher on the planet right now.

-MVP- Robinson Cano (left), Yankees:  I’m expecting a .340/30/100 season in his walk year, and if the Yanks win the division he’ll be hard to beat.

Playoffs

Wildcard- Rays over A’s

Divisional Round- Tigers over Rays, Angels over Yankees

Championship Round- Angels over Tigers.

National League

East Division

1. Atlanta Braves- This offense is downright scary, as I’m expecting Jason Heyward to really step it up this year as a franchise player, and now they have the Uptons too.  Throw in Brian McCann, Freddie Freeman, and some young players all over the roster (they might have the best farm system in the game), and I’m penciling the Braves in to win the East.

2. Washington Nationals- They’re America’s sweethearts right now, and probably the favorites in the National League.  But I can’t see them having the offense to keep up with Atlanta, and young teams are never a sure thing.

3. Philadelphia Phillies- They have a pretty God-awful offense, and Doc Halladay hasn’t looked himself thus far.  But just about anyone could finish in third in this division.

4. New York Mets- The Mets had a pretty quiet offseason, with the exception of the R.A. Dickey trade.  Good to see they aren’t going to destroy any careers this year.

5. Miami Marlins- This.

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Central Division

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1. St. Louis Cardinals- No matter who they lose, they’ll always be good.  They’re like the opposite of the Mets in that regard.  A safe bet to be there in October, they’re my pick in this division.

2. Cincinnati Reds- The Aroldis Chapman (right) starter thing is the story to watch here.  I’m saying the Reds will contend for the division and the wild-card, but narrowly miss out on both.

3. Milwaukee Brewers- If Ryan Braun ever actually gets reprimanded for using PEDs they’ll be in trouble.  Til then, they’re competitive.

4. Pittsburgh Pirates- I’ll believe they’re good when I see it.

5. Chicago Cubs- The sky is blue, the ball is white, and the Cubs aren’t going to win the World Series.  My three guarantees for 2013.

West Division

1. Arizona Diamondbacks- I’m loving the D’Backs this year.  Read my piece on their spring training stuff.  They’ve got great pitching, and good karma for being covered by me for a week.

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2. San Francisco Giants- They still have the best pitching in the league, and Bruce Bochy is pretty smart.  Put it this way, they won the World Series last year and Lincecum wasn’t even Lincecum.  I’ve got them in the wild-card.  

3. Los Angeles Dodgers- They spent a lot of money.  That doesn’t equate to wins.  Too many injury-prone guys in that lineup, namely Kemp (left) and Ramirez.

4. San Diego Padres- In honor of Spanish Heritage month I’m not slotting the Padres in 5^th.

5. Colorado Rockies- Can you name one pitcher on the Rockies?  Neither can I.

Awards

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-Rookie of the Year- Julio Tehran, Braves- The Braves’ fifth starter is a former top prospect who seems to have his head back in a good place.  He’ll be an X-Factor in their quest for the East.

-Manager of the Year- Kirk Gibson, Diamondbacks- Do you believe… what you just saw?

-CY Young- Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers- Like Verlander, it’s just easy to go with the best pitcher in the league in this spot.

-MVP- Jason Heyward, Braves- I’ve got an inkling Heyward finally busts through this year.  35 homers, 120 RBI, and 25 steals with a .300 average?  I can see it coming.

Playoffs

Wildcard- Nationals over Giants

Divisional Round- Nationals over Braves, Cardinals over Diamondbacks

Championship Round- Cardinals over Nationals

World Series Pick

Angels over Cardinals

WS MVP:  Mike Trout

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JR240 Fifth Blog

For my next assignment for my Sports Reporting class, I was asked to follow a Major League Baseball team of my choosing for a week and prepare a Gammons-esque "Notes" column on the team.  The team I chose was the Arizona Diamondbacks, because I didn't want to pick a team that a lot of people follow (no offense to D'Backs fans).

Sunday Notes- 3/17

Venezuelan D’Backs back in camp after WBC Letdown

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Starting Catcher Miguel Montero, starting Third Baseman Martin Prado, and fourth Outfielder Gerrardo Parra were back in camp on Tuesday, but they weren’t necessarily thrilled to be back so soon.  The three Venezuelan players had been in Puerto Rico representing their country in the World Baseball Classic.

Venezuela was one of the favorites to win this year’s WBC but was eliminated in the first round of group play.  They lost their first two games to the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico respectively, then beat Spain in their final game, finishing 1-2.

A Plethora of Options for 5^th Rotation Spot

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The race for the fifth and final spot in the starting rotation looks like it could come down to the very end of spring training.  21-year old lefty Tyler Skaggs (left) is the top prospect in the organization and looks like a future top-end starter, but is likely to begin the season in the minors to continue to develop.  The top two candidates for the spot are Tyler Corbin and Randall Delgado. 

Corbin, 23, is the slight favorite and has pitched the best of the three candidates so far this spring.  The southpaw has a lethal 2-seam fastball that has dominated left-handed hitters this spring, and D-Backs manager Kirk Gibson has noticed, saying “"He's got to keep pushing to get better and better and better." 

Delgado, 23, has shown flashes of brilliance and has shown why he was a key part of the Justin Upton trade with the braves this offseason.  After pitching four shutout innings Wednesday against the Brewers, Gibson called the performance “as good as we've seen this spring out of our staff.  He looked really good, had good velocity, all his pitches were working. He got into some trouble early and got out of it. That's the kind of guy that we were hoping we'd get."

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Booty to the Minors

Former baseball player turned football player turned reality show winner Josh Booty was optioned to minor league spring training by the D’Backs Wednesday night as part of roster cuts.  The 37-year-old Booty was a non-roster spring training invitee to camp after winning MLB Network’s “The Next Knuckler” reality show last month.

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D’Backs manager Kirk Gibson said Booty has worked hard and lost 15 pounds to get into shape, but still isn’t ready for big league competition.  Booty was drafted with the 5^th overall pick by the Marlins in 1994 and spent five seasons in their organization.  He then decided to focus on football, where he played Quarterback at Louisiana State University for two seasons before having a brief NFL career.  Booty is technically still Marlins property, but they are fine with him being optioned to the minors to get more opportunities to pitch.

"I think if he can continue to improve, he'll have an opportunity to stay here and play in extended spring training," Gibson said. "If he doesn't, and the organization doesn't have a spot for him, I'd encourage him to go to independent ball and do it."

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Three D’Backs Return from Team USA

Utility Infielder Willie Bloomquist (right) and Relief Pitchers David Hernandez and Heath Bell returned to spring training this weekend after playing for the United States in the World Baseball Classic.

The United States went 2-1 in the first round of group play but was eliminated when they lost 2 of their 3 second round group games.

Sunday Injury Report

• Starting Pitcher Daniel Hudson threw long toss and then a 20-pitch session from flat ground on Tuesday as he continues his rehab from Tommy John surgery.  He is expected back midseason.
• Starting Pitcher Wade Miley was scratched from his start Tuesday with left bicep discomfort, but threw a bullpen session Friday and appears to be fine.
• Starting Pitcher Ian Kennedy was taken out of Saturday’s game after being struck in the left leg by a line drive in the fourth inning.  Kennedy has a minor contusion but it shouldn’t hinder his pitching at all.
• Outfielder Cody Ross is no longer scheduled for weight training on Monday or Tuesday, and his status for opening day could be in doubt as he recovers from a lower left leg strain.

Jack's MLB Free Agent Grader- Updated 1/7/13

Phillies sign RP Mike Adams, 2 years, $12 million: Grade B-:  Adams is a great setup man but at 39, it's only a matter of time before he starts to fade, and a two year deal seems excessive.

Twins sign RP Kevin Correia, 2 years, $10 million: Grade D: I'm confused by this.  the 32-year-old Correia has never been more than an average middle reliever and has had a negative WAR for the past three seasons.  Where is the $5 million reliever in there?

Red Sox sign SP Ryan Dempster, 2 years, $26.5 million: Grade D:  Dempster was told to go home last September by the Rangers, who had acquired him for the stretch run only to see him implode.  Naturally the Red Sox gave him a ridiculous contract.

Red Sox sign SS Stephen Drew, 1 year, $9.5 million:  Grade C- :  Drew is not going to wind up being worth the money, as he is a bad hitter and I'm not sure how he upgrades over prospect Jose Iglesias.  At least it's only a one year commitment.

Dodgers sign SP Zack Grienke, 6 years, $147 million: Grade C+ : Welcome to the world of MLB free agency, where you have to pay a pitcher double what he's actually worth to sign him.  Grienke is going to be a great #2 starter next to Kershaw, but $24.5 million over 6 years is pretty asinine for a pitcher with anxiety and a 2 month track record in LA.

Angels sign OF Josh Hamilton, 5 years, $123 million:  Grade B- :  This deal will be good for the Angels if Hamilton produces AND they have enough money to keep Trumbo and Trout with all the money invested in Hamilton and Pujols.  There's a lot of things that could go wrong, so I'll give this a good but skeptical grade.

Rays sign SP Roberto Hernandez, 1 year, $3.25 million:  Grade B+ :  The artist formerly known as Fausto Carmona is headed to Tampa on a low risk one year contract that will be a steal if he performs up to his potential.

Dodgers sign RP J.P. Howell, 1 year, $2.85 million:  Grade B:  Howell is a pretty solid reliever and this contract is low-risk for the free-spending Dodgers.

Cubs sign SP Edwin Jackson, 4 years, $52 million:  Grade C:  Jackson is a solid starter, but I'm skeptical because he's bounced around a ton recently.  I think if he were a $50 million starter someone would have held onto him by now.

Phillies sign SP John Lannan, 1 year, $2.5 million:  Grade C+ :  the Phillies are adding depth to their pitching ranks, nothing to see here.

Pirates sign Sp Francisco Liriano, 2 years, $14 million:  Grade B+  :  Liriano has the ability to be a top lefty in the league when healthy and on track  but he's injury prone and inconsistent.  For a pitching-desperate team like Pittsburgh this is a good gamble and not a huge one at only 2 years.

Twins sign SP Mike Pelfrey, 1 year, $4 million:  Grade A:  Pelfrey is a low risk, high upside signing for Minnesota.  If they keep him healthy he can be a quality third starter.

Rangers sign C A.J. Pierzynski, 1 year, $7.5 million:  Grade B+ :  Pierzynski is a proven vet who will do wonders for Texas' pitching staff.  On a one year deal he should be a great pickup.

Angels sign SP Joe Blanton, 2 years, $15 million: Grade D: Blanton has never been very good, but has been on the back end of some famous rotations.  A bad contract for the Angels.

Diamondbacks sign 3B Eric Chavez, 1 year, $3 million: Grade C: Chavez can't field much anymore, and his offensive numbers will suffer away from the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium.  A high price for a pinch hitter off the bench.

Cardinals sign RP Randy Chaote, 3 years, $7.5 million: Grade B: I'm not a fan 3 year deals for relievers, but Chaote is consistent and can help the Cardinals as they figure to continue to contend.

Rockies re-sign SP Jeff Francis, 1 year, $1.5 million: Grade C- : Once the top prospect in the sport, francis is 31 and never panned out.  I think it's time the Rockies let him move on.

Cubs sign RP Kyuki Fujikawa, 2 years, $9 million: Grade N/A : Fujikawa is a 32 year old reliever coming over from Japan.  I don't know enough to give this a grade.

Nationals sign SP Dan Haren, 1 year, $13 million: Grade B+ : I like Haren, and this contract has little risk despite the price tag.  He has a major injury risk that scared the Angels away, but for a contender like the Nats, it's a calculated risk.

Diamondbacks sign OF Eric Hinske, 1 year, $1.35 million: Grade B: Hinske is a versatile bench player who is a great clubhouse veteran.  Worth the chump change Arizona gave him.

White Sox sign 2B Jeff Keppinger, 3 years, $12 million: Grade B- : Keppinger is coming off a career year, and the White Sox are buying high.  This contract isn't too bad though.

Rays sign 1B James Loney, 1 year, $2 million: Grade B- : Loney is a mediocre first baseman, but this is a low risk contract and he should benefit fromthe small market after wilting in Los Angeles.

Reds re-sign OF Ryan Ludwick, 2 years, $15 million: Grade A: Ludwick is consistently close to a .900 OPS and the Reds brought him back on a steal of a contract.

Diamondbacks sign SP Brandon McCarthy, 2 years, $15.5 million: Grade B: McCarthy is a very efficient pitcher but this contract is a bit risky as he is coming off a head injury.  Very high upside to theis signing though.

Orioles re-sign OF Nate McClouth, 1 year, $2 million: Grade C+ : McClouth is a solid fourth outfielder who the Orioles love having in their clubhouse.

Cubs sign C Dionner Navarro, 1 year, $1.175 million: Grade B- : Navarro is a solid hitter for a catcher and is one of the better backups in the league.  A solid signing.

Rays re-sign RP Joel Peralta, 2 years, $6 million: Grade C- : Joel Peralta is an average reliever who doesn't merit a multi-year deal, or $6 million.

Marlins sign OF Juan Pierre, 1 year, $1.6 million: Grade B: Juan Pierre should help Miami's young clubhouse, and could win a starting job in spring training.

Yankees re-sign RP Mariano Rivera, 1 year, $10 million: Grade A: Mo is the best closer of all time, and regardless of his injury this is a one year deal for the Yankees at a fair salary.

Cubs sign Of Nate Schierholtz, 1 year, $2.225 million: Grade C: Schierholtz is a part time player, the Cubs slightly overpaid.

Giants re-sign 2B Marco Scutaro, 3 years, $20 million: Grade D: Marco Scutaro is a good utility guy who had a career year for the Giants and won World Series MVP.  That said, at 37, to give him a contract like this is asinine.  the Giants continue to overspend to keep their role players.

Rangers re-sign C Geovany Soto, 1 year, $2.75 million: Grade D: Soto is a horrible hitter and actually had a negative WAR last season.  giving him a major league contract is tough to comprehend.

Red Sox sign Of Shane Victorino, 3 years, $39 million: Grade C- : Victorino has long been one of baseball's most overrated players since he played on great teams in Philly and got a lot of national exposure.  He's coming off a down year offensively but he's still only around an .800 OPS guy to begin with.  Plus defender and good on the bases.

Red Sox sign C/1B Mike Napoli, 3 years, $39 million: Grade B+ : The Red Sox continue to accumulate Catchers but apparently plan on playing Napoli primarily at first base.  His offensive numbers aren't as valuable there, but Napoli seems like a perfect fit for Fenway Park and despite his high K rate and low average will likely club 40+ homers next season.  A solid signing, with a fair contract.

Giants sign OF Angel Pagan, 4 years, $40 million: Grade D : Like the Guthrie signing, a D for Dreadful here (and only because I'm not giving out any F's).  Pagan is 31, has never hit more than 11 home runs or driven in more than 69 runs in a season, his stolen bases are on the decline, and for all his defense (remember he saved Matt Cain's perfect game), $10 per over 4 years is a ludicrous contract.

Braves sign CF B.J. Upton, 5 years, $75 million: Grade D- : Yes, B.J. Upton is one of the best defensive outfielders in the game, and has some pop in his bat and speed on the bases, but for all that talent he's a nuisance in the clubhouse and a surprisingly unproductive offensive player.  He strikes out a ton and takes very few walks (and hits for a low average) and is pretty reliable for a .750 OPS, which is comical for a $15 million a year player even before factoring in his immaturity. 

Pirates sign C Russell Martin, 2 years, $17 million: Grade C: Martin is a great game caller and an average catcher at the plate, so Pittsburgh is obviously hoping he helps mold their young pitching staff.  That said, it's a big contract for a guy who contributes more intangibles than production.

Reds re-sign RP Jonathan Broxton. 3 years, $21 million: Grade C : The Reds re-signed Broxton to be their closer as they try to convert Aroldis Chapman to the starting rotation again. I've never been crazy about Broxton, and paying big for closers not named Rivera usually backfires.  Broxton had a nice year last year but has already lost a closer job once before when he was a Dodger.
Yankees re-sign SP Andy Pettitte, 1 year, $12 million: Grade C+ : Pettitte is 40 but still pitching well enough for the Yankees to bring him back for one more year.  While I like Pettitte and money isn't much of an issue for the Yanks, eventually they are going to need to move on from Pettitte as a viable option in their starting rotation.

Red Sox sign OF/DH Jonny Gomes, 2 years, $10 million: Grade B- : Gomes was brought in to platoon in the outfield and be a pinch hitter off the bench, as well as for clubhouse chemistry.  He's a productive offensive player despite striking out a lot, and he fills a few needs the Red Sox had at a satisfactory but not overly valuable price.

White Sox re-sign OF Dwayne Wise, 1 year, $700,000: Grade B- : Wise is a situational player at best and at his age (34) this is a fair price for the White Sox to pay.

Giants re-sign RP Jeremy Affeldt, 3 years, $18 million: Grade C+ : The Giants re-signed their top left handed setup man in Affeldt, but I'm weary of giving this a high grade because he's their third best reliever when Brian Wilson comes back, and that's a steep contract to pay a setup man.  I know the financials between closers and setup guys are going to both undergo changes and be closer to one another, but Affeldt is not a Rafael Soriano type where he can be expected to be an elite closer if the need arises.

Blue Jays sign OF Melky Cabrera (Giants), 2 years, $16 million: Grade B+ : The Jays landed the controversial Cabrera to add to an already bold offseason by GM Alex Anthropoulos.  I like the short contract that the Jays can escape from in two years if Cabreara struggles post-PED scandal.  This is a good flier for them to take if they're serious contenders, which, based off the money they're spending, they think they are.  The only downside is if this team flops like the Marlins last year, Cabrera will be a tough contract to move because he isn't a very popular player in the wake of his positive test.

A's re-sign SP Bartolo Colon, 1 year, $3 million: Grade C : Billy Beane seems determined to get bang for his buck in the 39-year-old Colon, who also failed a drug test and missed 50 games last season.  It's a pretty low risk contract. but I give it a C because Bartolo Colon is D-O-N-E.

Royals re-sign SP Jeremy Guthrie, 3 years, $25 million: Grade D: I'm not giving out any F's because you just never know with baseball players, but this contract looks pretty ridiculous to me.  Guthrie has a 55-77 lifetime record and has never posted an ERA below 3.83 for a full season.  He's pretty much an average starting pitcher whose been an "ace" for some awful awful teams.  Like the 2013 Royals.

Tigers sign OF Tori Hunter (Angels), 2 years, $26 million: Grade A- : Hunter and Detroit seem to be a perfect fit.  Both are chasing a World Series NOW at this point, as Hunter is probably retiring at the end of this contract, and the Tigers have spent the money to mold one of the American League's best rosters.  Hunter is still a plus defender at 37 and swings a good but not great bat.

Mariners re-sign SP Hisashi Iwakuma, 2 years, $14 million: Grade B : Iwakuma posted a 9-5 record with a 3.16 ERA as a 31-year-old MLB rookie last year.  Ths contract clearly comes with some risk, as we haven't seen him do much over any stretch of time, but it will be a great deal for Seattle should Iwakuma continue to post a sub 3.5 ERA.

Blue Jays sign SS Maicer Izturis (Angels), 3 years, $10 million: Grade C+ : Izturis was a solid part time player in L.A., and figures to have a similar role as a utility man/shortstop in Toronto.  Another piece of the Jay's spending spree, this grade is a C+ because Izturis isn't really the type of guy who should be getting 3 year deals.  He's 32 and not a full time starter.

Red Sox sign C David Ross (Braves), 2 years, 6.2 million: Grade C : Ross is a valued backup catcher who calls a great game but can't hit much at all.  the Red Sox gave him a little more money than I'd say he's worth, but the real problem is that this means either Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Ryan Lavarnway is going to have to be traded or play out of position.  Both of those players have a lot more upside for Boston than Ross.

Yankees sign SP Hiroki Kuroda, 1 year, $15 million: Grade A : Kuroda was the Yankees most consistent pitcher last year and decided to return for one more season.  At $15 million, he's fairly priced as a solid #2 starter and his deal has no risk being one year long.  

10/3 

Why Miguel Cabrera is NOT the AL MVP, and other MLB Awards, Playoff Picks

Miguel Cabrera made history this season for the Detroit Tigers, winning the first Triple Crown in baseball since 1967.  He finished the season with a .330 average, 44 home runs, and 139 RBI.  Truly a season for the ages.  But if I had an MVP ballot he'd be #2 on my list.  I just don't think Miguel Cabrera is as valuable as Mike Trout.

Trout, the Angels young phenom, posted a .326, 30, 83 line and rejuvenated the Angels upon his call-up in May.  He stole 49 bases and will almost certainly win a Gold Glove for his magnificent defense in center field.  Disregarding his age (21), he had a season that any player would be proud of. 

It's a shame there is going to be an NL MVP this year.  None of the candidates in that league would even sniff a first or second place vote in the AL.  Trout and Cabrera have been that good.  But only one can win the illustrious award, so here's my breakdown of how I deemed Trout more valuable.

Offensive Production:  the category that I think best defines the offensive prowess of a player is OPS.  It takes a player's on base percentage and adds it to his slugging percentage, essentially accounting for a players ability to get around the bases faster and more often than other players (which, last I checked, is how a player scores a run to help his team.)  So while Miggy edges Trout .999 to ,963 in OPS, I would request you check out the results if we included steals in a modified OPS.  After all, hitting a single and stealing second is equally as valuable as a double.  And I'll be fair and penalize caught stealings as essentially making an out, so I'll use steals-caught stealings to add bases to each players output.  The results:

Cabrera:  380 bases in 622 at bats s, 66 walks, OPS Adjusted to 1.0039

Trout: 359 bases in 559 at bats, 67 walks, OPS Adjusted to 1.0412

The Verdict: Advantage Trout

Defense:  Not going to waste anyone's time with this.  Trout is much, much better.

Team Success:  The Tigers won their division and made the playoffs at 88-74.  The Angels went 89-73 in the toughest division in the league and missed the playoffs.  The Angels were also 6-14 before Trout arrived, and went 83-59 with him, which percentage wise would have resulted in a 94.7 win season.  The AL West winners were the Oakland A's with 94 wins and the wildcards (Orioles, Rangers) had 93 apiece.

Verdict:  We'll never know, but I don't think the Tigers are a better team than the Angels.

Strong Finish:  Cabrera finished the season stronger, no doubt.  He came from behind in the home run race and won the quietest triple crown maybe ever.  Trout was inhuman over the summer but faded to just extraordinary in the final month and a half.  I'll concede:

Verdict:  Advantage Cabrera

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Triple Crown Factor:  Overrated.  I'm not going to use any stats about Triple Crown winners winning MVPs when we have no data from the last 45 years to look to.  But Cabrera's .330 batting average is the 4th worst among AL Batting Champions in the last 40 years (I'm not going to discount his HR and RBI numbers since the steroid era skewed those stats).  When I said quietest triple crown ever, I meant it.

Advantage:  Cabrera, but not significant.  

Lasting Impression:  On the quiet triple crown note, Cabrera will have his spot in the record books this year.  But Mike Trout owned this season.  He had people wondering if he could develop into the greatest baseball player ever this summer.  He got a Tebow-esque following once ESPN realized he's way better than Bryce Harper (which is not a slight, Harper is another young superstar).  I'll always remember the 2012 MLB season for my team thinking Bobby Valentine could manage and for Mike Trout arriving on the scene as the best player in the sport at age 21.  I don't think Cabrera deserves the MVP because of the triple crown.  If he had hit .005 points lower and 2 fewer home runs he would have only one one leg of the triple crown.  And .325, 42, 139 looks just like .330, 44, 139.  So, no, for the reasoning that Mike Trout was more valuable offensively and defensively, as well as the fact that he was baseball's best all around player, I believe triple crown winning Miguel Cabrera should finish second in the MVP Voting.

Other Picks

NL MVP- Buster Posey

AL Cy Young- Justin Verlander

NL Cy Young- Craig Kimbrel

World Series- Momentum, Pitching Prevail and we get a Bay Bridge Series between Oakland and San Fransisco.  A's all the way.

9/3 Why the Nationals are Making the Right Move with Stephen Strasburg

Photo Rights to CBSSports.com

Perhaps the hottest storyline in baseball this September is the Innings Limit on Washington Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg.  Strasburg (left) missed nearly all of last season after blowing out his elbow in September 2010 and undergoing Tommy John Surgery.  Tommy John is a very common surgery in today’s game, as more and more players need it each year, and results have been mixed for players looking to rebound from the procedure.  The Nationals, smack middle in the National League Pennant Race, have pledged to shut down their 23-year old phenom after his September 12 start against the New York Mets, presumably at around 175 innings (he is at 160.1 as of his start on September 2nd).  This decision has created a rift in the fans, some of whom want to “go for it now” while others are concerned about the long-term future of Strasburg and the team.  I believe the Nationals did their homework in making this decision, but just to make sure, let’s investigate.

Ben Sheets and Erik Bedard are former aces who have become journeymen looking for a team to take a shot on them after struggling to bounce back from TJ.  However, they are tough to compare to Strasburg because they were older at the time of their surgeries and they never really made a full recovery, as both have been battling other nagging arm woes for years.

Photo Rights to CBSSports.com

Kris Benson, like Strasburg, was a former #1 overall pick, and he missed his third season with TJ.  Benson never panned out into an ace, but also was not nearly as dominant as Strasburg prior to going under the knife.  There isn’t enough evidence to use him as a comparison.

The Cardinals have made it known that their ace, Adam Wainwright (right), who missed the 2011 season after TJ, is not going to face any sort of innings limit.  Wainwright, 30, pitched 230+ IP in each of the two seasons leading up to his surgery.  Thus, he is also too old and proven durable to compare to Strasburg.

AJ Burnett had TJ in 2003 at age 26.  He threw 173.1 innings in 2001 and 204.1 IP (innings pitched) in 2002.  In 2002 he had a 3.330 ERA, best in career before or since.  He followed that with 120 IP in 2004, his first year sans TJ, and 209 IP in 2005.  However, he battled some injuries in the next 2 seasons (135.2 IP in 2006, 165.2 IP in 2007) before becoming healthy for basically rest of his career to this point.  Perhaps 209 innings in 2005 was pushing it on Burnett, but he by and large recovered and has had a successful career.  Burnett is a pretty good comparison to make to Strasburg, but he is not as perfect as the next fellow.

Photo Rights to cleveland.com

The pitcher who Strasburg is almost mirroring right now is Kerry Wood.  Wood (left) was the hottest young pitcher in the game, and struck out 20 batters in one game in 1998 as a 21-year old rookie.  Like Strasburg, Wood missed his second season after needing TJ, and entered his third season as a 23-yer old ace in the making.  Returning midseason, he pitched 137 innings that year (2000), then followed it up with 174.1 IP in 2001, 213.2 in 2002 and 211 in 2003.  Essentially, Wood and his elbow returned to full strength, only to have a barrage of injuries hamper his career from midseason 2004 on. 

The Wood/Strasburg comparison probably doesn’t sit well with Nationals fans knowing how Wood’s career turned out.  However, the Kerry Wood career track is fine for Strasburg.  Wood’s elbow was not the reason he had an injury-plagued career, bad luck and a bad shoulder were the biggest factors.  The Nationals cannot control anything other than how they try and maintain the recovery of Strasburg’s throwing elbow, and with an innings limit nearly identical to what Wood had in his first full season after TJ in 2001, history is on the side of caution with Strasburg.

8/26 Breaking Down the Red Sox/Dodgers Trade

The Red Sox and Dodgers have completed one of the most stunning and unique trades in baseball history, a 9 player deal that sends 1B Adrian Gonzalez (top left in photo), OF Carl Crawford (bottom right), SP Josh Beckett (top right), and INF Nick Punto (bottom left) to L.A. and 1B James Loney, SP Rubby De La Rosa, three prospects, and a pair of players to be named later to Boston.  The Sox managed to dump clubhouse bad boy Beckett as well as clear over a quarter of a billion dollars in payroll for the future, while also acquiring some young talent.  The Dodgers are clearly all-in on this season where the National League is wide open, but I have to give the edge in this trade to Boston, simply because they tool an overpaid, underacheiving roster and completely overhauled it in one trade.

Photo rights to CBS Sports

First Post: I'm not a huge baseball guy, but I'll update this page with my thoughts as the postseason heats up.  For now, here's a short piece I wrote a few years ago when Ken Griffey Jr. retired from baseball.

Griffey Belongs in the Pantheon of Baseball

By Jack Andrade

Junior makes a phenomenal catch-and separates his shoulder in the process-one of many injuries that would derail him in his career.

Quick- who's the best center fielder in MLB history?  Willie Mays?  Mickey Mantle?  Mike Cameron? (whoops... Theo Epstein alert).  Most baseball experts believe Mays is the best all-around player ever, and the Mick ranks right up there too.  Well it's time for those two to slide over and make room for the final member of their holy trinity:  Ken Griffey Jr.  Yes, the guy most people born 1995 or later know as that guy who always gets hurt, or the guy who couldn't pinch hit because he was sleeping in the clubhouse.  The fact of the matter is Griffey was the best player in baseball from 1993-2000.  Better than A-Rod.  And McGwire and Sosa.  And better than Barry Bonds.  Though he was hurt in 1995, Griffey still had unbelievable numbers from those 8 years.  Consistently hitting 40-56 home runs, driving in over 100 runs and hitting above .300, it was a prime that was flat out astounding.  Griffey was a clean player in a steroid-infested league, and if not for The Juice there's no doubt he would've stood out more.  He was a perfect 5-tool player, with the sweetest swing of the time, and all that's left of poor Griffey are those fond memories.  Sure, his career numbers (630 home runs, 1836 RBI, 10 gold gloves, an MVP award) suggest Griffey was an incredible player, but he could've been so much more.  From 2001-2005, when he was ages 30-35, Griffey missed the equivalent of 2 and a half seasons.  Let's be modest and assume that in 2.5 years, Griffey would hit about 90 homers and drive in 275 runs.  We'll award him two more gold gloves and add three more All-star games to his resume.  Take a look at this.

720 Home Runs (more than Ruth, third all time if you count Bonds)
2111 RBI (third all time)
12 Gold Gloves
14 legitimate All-Star caliber seasons
1997 AL MVP

That's insane!  Those numbers clearly define Griffey as one of the two best players ever (along with Mays) and Griffey is forever remembered as the guy who dominated baseball for 12 straight seasons.  Instead, injuries derailed him to the point that most fans forget just how good he was when he was healthy.  It's the most unfortunate health-related decline of an athlete in history, yet it gets no credit as such.  Simply put, we got robbed.  While Bonds was hitting his 73 homers in 2001, Griffey could have gone out and put up a .320/50/135 year with a gold glove in Cincy and stolen the MVP.  Instead, baseball trudged through the steroid era in shame, with every major power hitter being busted.  Griffey could've been the exception, the guy who did it the right way, the true standard.  Instead, we as fans had 5 quality years of one of the best ever stolen from us by the injury Gods.  And the only person who was deprived of more than us was Junior himself.