DeRosa Should Mean Gateway to Playoffs

I’ve been saying since Wednesday that the Cardinals should consider grabbing Mark DeRosa.  Given their previous history of staying relatively put at deadline, I wasn’t expecting anything.

Since Saturday, I’ve been raving about the great deal the Cardinals got.  Not that the Indians got a bad one.  Looking to 2010, Chris Perez should be a great addition to their ‘pen, and they’ll also get a player later.

But when I heard about the DeRosa trade (which, ironically, I heard about on the Cubs WGN 720 radio), I officially changed my central division pick.  The Cardinals already have a 2.5 game leg up on the Cubs, and now they’ve found the missing piece.

The Cubs will get better when Aramis Ramirez comes back, but their lineup is still weak overall, and the bullpen has been terrible at times.  Meanwhile, the Cards’only real weakness was a significant bat in the lineup to back Albert Pujols.  They got much more than that.

DeRosa can not only hit (13 HRs, 50 RBIs in 2009), but can do anything except pitch and catch.  He can play any infield or outfield position at Gold Glove caliber, he can hit for average, power, hit with runners in scoring position, go the other way, bunt, steal and draw walks.  It’s everything the Cardinals could hope for.  If Pujols needs a day off, DeRosa can anchor first.  If Tony LaRussa needs a leadoff hitter, DeRosa can do that too.

The DeRosa trade also makes it easier to trade Rick Ankiel.  DeRosa can play outfield like he did Sunday and be the backup utility infielder.  Without Ankiel, the Redbirds still have rookie Colby Rasmus, Ryan Ludwick and Chris Duncan in addition to DeRosa.  If they feel like Perez is a big loss, they may deal Ankiel for some bullpen help.  When Kyle Lohse gets healthy, Brad Thompson may move back to the ‘pen too.

The Cardinals have put the ball in the Cubs’court.  Chicago needs something or St. Louis will run away with this division.  Matt Holliday anyone?

NL Buyers and Sellers

Here’s a look at which teams in the NL are buyers and which are sellers with five weeks to go.

NL East

Philadelphia Phillies – Buyers: If it’s not time to push the panic button yet in Philadelphia, it’s getting close.  The Phillies have lost eight of eleven and could be in third place by the end of the week.  The Phillies could use more bullpen help, but another starter wouldn’t hurt either.  No one in the farm system is ready for the majors, so they may look to trade prospects Carlos Carrasco or Michael Taylor.  Giving up reserve Matt Stairs, who will be a free agent after the season, won’t hurt either.

New York Mets – Buyers:  It’s amazing that with Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado on the shelf, they’ve still managed to stay in contention.  They’re the best team in the division when healthy, thanks in large part to the addition of K-Rod.  The problem is getting to him.  Fernando Nieve has emerged as the fifth starter, meaning bullpen help is the only real weakness.  Scott Schoeneweis and Ron Mahay will be available, and if the White Sox and Astros don’t feel they can contend, Octavio Dotel and LaTroy Hawkins could be available as well.

Florida Marlins – Sellers: Two weeks ago I would have said this was a no brainer, but with the Phillies’recent struggles, the Marlins find themselves just three back.  Still, they can’t expect to contend all year, and by mid to late July, they won’t be.  Kiko Calero is having a fine season out of the pen, and is the only marketable Marlins free agent.  They have to like the position they are in for the future.

Atlanta Braves – Sellers: The move for Mark Teixeira was surprising last year, but don’t expect anything like that again.  The Braves probably won’t part ways with Rafael Soriano, but Garret Anderson and Omar Infante are bot having good seasons and could see new uniforms before August.  With the Cardinals landing DeRosa, the Cubs could look at Infante.  The Braves may get an offer from the Yankees for Anderson.

Washington Nationals – Sellers: Nick Johnson is a guy that a lot of teams will have their eye on.  If the Nationals think they can get better, they’ll listen, but it’s hard to say what they will end up doing.  Roni Belliard and Daniel Cabrera have had awful seasons, but they still have potential in a two month run.  Washington can’t get any worse, so a shakeup is a good thing.

NL Central

Milwaukee Brewers – Buyers: Milwaukee lost their two best pitchers and they’re somehow tied for first.  This team has absolutely no pitching, so if the do make a deal it will have to be for a starter.  Most of next year’s free agent starters are playing on contending teams and aren’t likely to get traded, but Erik Bedard, Carl Pavano and Jose Contreras are some names they may consider.  As far as what to give up, Milwaukee has a lot of position player talent on the farm, whereas most teams tend to have a surplus of pitching.

St. Louis Cardinals – Buyers: Regardless of what happens from now until the deadline, St. Louis has made the best move by filling a desperate need in order to win a division that is up for grabs.  The Cardinals needed a bat and found someone who can play third or supply a right handed outfield bat, as well as a backup for Skip Schumaker when they aquired Mark DeRosa yesterday.  Who knows if they’re done buying yet, but I love the move and it should mean they’re the favorites in the division now.

Cincinnati Reds – Buyers: I’ve heard people say for a while that this would be the year the Reds contend.  While they aren’t playing great baseball, they’re certainly in the thick of the mediocre NL Central race, so they’ll be in the hunt for some players as well.  The rotation and bullpen are good enough, but the lineup can’t get on base.  Nobody hits for average, which is a huge problem when you’re playing in the National League.  A guy like David Eckstein would certainly help, but really any move to improve this team’s batting average would be considered a victory.

Chicago Cubs – Buyers: As bad as the Cubs have played, they’re still right there.  The return of Aramis Ramirez is definitely going to help, and I have a feeling this team hasn’t hit their stride yet.  Reed Johnson’s playing time has been slashed this year because of Milton Bradley, so look for him to be on the block if the Cubs are going to do something big.  Oakland has no reason not to trade Matt Holliday if the Cubs want another outfield bat, but they’ll likely end up looking for bullpen help instead.  Rafael Soriano and Ron Mahay are popular names that a lot of teams, including the Cubs, should have their eye on.

Houston Astros – Sellers: It’s hard to believe they’re only four back, which makes me think they’ll be further back come mid-July.  LaTroy Hawkins won’t be an Astro next year, so shopping him should be a priority, and with the season he’s having there’s bound to be someone that will offer.  Miguel Tejada is having an all star season and could quietly be the biggest name on the hot stove for the right price.  Geoff Blum could help a lot of teams, especially off the bench.  Houston needs to improve a dreadful farm system.

Pittsburgh Pirates – Sellers: It’s no surprise the Pirates are in last, but to only be five out is an unusual position for them.  To follow up the Steelers’and Penguins’championships with one of their own would require the trade(s) of the decade, and they don’t have enough to offer.  Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson both have club options for 2010, but John Grabow could be a silent killer for a contender out of the bullpen.  Adam LaRoche is hitting .275 with 11 HRs and 37 RBIs.  Will anyone offer something up for him?

NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers – Buyers: Many expected the Dodgers to be good, but not this good.  Joe Torre rarely switches the lineup, but so far the eight hitters that play every day are doing the job.  They’re healthy, and the rotation has no holes.  The only problem, if there is one, is getting the ball to Jonathan Broxton in the ninth.  The normal names (Soriano, Mahay, Hawkins) are the ones the Dodgers should be after.

San Francisco Giants – Buyers: The Giants, yes the Giants, would be in the playoffs if the season ended today.  Baseball’s triple-A division suddenly has three contenders, and the Giants have the second best record in the NL and are showing no signs of stepping aside.  If they want to try to trade Rich Aurillia to pursue a first baseman, they won’t have a lot of competition.  Nick Johnson would be a nice addition, or they could try for the wanted Aubrey Huff.

Colorado Rockies – Buyers: The Rockies are the hottest team in baseball this month and find themselves just a half game out of the wild card.  New manager Jim Tracy has this team playing at a new level, turning them from sellers to buyers.  Garrett Atkins and Ian Stewart are platooning third base, but they’re both playing bad.  Adrian Beltre and Hank Blalock are viable options if they want to go that route.  They may want bullpen help instead to get to Huston Street, who is 19 for 20 in save opportunities.

San Diego Padres – Sellers: The season is over for the Padres, so they’ll be looking to retool around newfound slugger Adrian Gonzalez.  Brian Giles will be a free agent, but anyone offering to buy him would be taking a huge risk.  He’s hitting just .191 with 2 HRs and 23 RBIs.  David Eckstein could also be on the block and would be useful for a team looking for middle infield help.  As I mentioned before, the Reds would be interested if the Friars want to deal him.

Arizona Diamondbacks – Sellers: It’s too bad Brandon Webb went down because this team could seriously be in wild card contention with him.  Jon Garland could be on the block in his contract year, and you can bet that teams will be after reliever Scott Schoeneweis because of his solid play.  I still think Arizona has one of the best young teams in the league, and if they make smart moves in the next few weeks, they’ll be back next year.

AL Buyers and Sellers

The trade deadline is five weeks away, so I’ll take my first look at which teams are buyers and which are sellers this season, as well as who may be on the move.

AL East

Boston Red Sox – Buyers:  The Red Sox have opened up a five game lead in the division and don’t appear to be slowing down.  The lineup has no holes, and they’ve found their answer at short with Nick Green.  Dice K has been awful, but Justin Masterson has filled in nicely.  With Brad Penny and Josh Beckett pitching well lately, it’s unlikely they’ll go after another starter.  Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon anchor a solid ‘pen.  They don’t really need anything, but they’ll have to make at least a minor move to show the players that they’re series about winning another World Series.

New York Yankees – Buyers: The Yankees will do something big – they always do.  Five games out of first, the Bronx Bombers will need help to catch the Red Sox.  Chien-Ming Wang’s return in late May hasn’t done anything to help this team.  Phil Hughes has been moved to the bullpen, but the Yankees may want to consider switching him with Wang.  If not, they may go after a starter.  Erik Bedard is an option, but with OF issues and Greg Halman not ready for the majors, Seattle would likely ask for Xavier Nady if he can rebound from his elbow injury.  If they go after a bat, Aubrey Huff and Garret Anderson are options.

Toronto Blue Jays – Buyers:  If Toronto really thinks they’re in contention in late July, they may be buyers.  We all know they can score, but they have platooned their fifth starter all season.  One more solid arm might be the missing piece that can keep them hanging around.  The problem is, they can’t afford to give anyone up at the major league level and expect to stay in contention, and they don’t have any big name prospects.  Is it worth butchering the farm system for one run at the two Goliaths?

Tampa Bay Rays – Sellers: The Rays won’t repeat the 2008 magic, but they have a nice young team that should keep them away from the AL East doormat for a while.  They have the best farm system in the league, and it may only get better if they decide to sell this season.  Carl Crawford and Akinori Iwamura both have 2010 options, so it’s unlikely they will go.  What they should do is get a bullpen makeover by dumping Jason Isringhausen and Troy Percival, but neither has any value with lengthy DL stints.  Wade Davis and Jeremy Hellickson could step into the ‘pen this year.

Baltimore Orioles – Sellers: The futility continues this season in Baltimore.  After a brief first place stint, the Orioles have dropped 11 back.  Catcher Matt Weiters is the real deal and could soon be the face of the franchise, meaning Gregg Zaun probably won’t get his 2010 option picked up.  If the O’s are smart, they’ll try to trade him now.  The Tigers, Phillies and Brewers will be calling if they do.  Next to Tampa Bay, Baltimore has the best farm system in the league, and it’s loaded with good pitching.  They’ll need to get some good hitting prospects for Aubrey Huff.

AL Central

Detroit Tigers – Buyers: The Tigers are the class of the worst division in baseball, but they’ll have to make a move if they have any hopes of getting out of the ALDS.  Miguel Olivo would be a nice fit, but Kansas City won’t let him stay in the division.  If the Tigers miss out on Zaun, they may go after Benji Molina at catcher.  The bullpen isn’t great, but it will have to do because getting a starter is more important.  Dontrelle Willis can’t be trusted to stay healthy and Zach Minor is not a starter.  Expect them to go aggressively after Erik Bedard knowing they need a lefty.  They have a better set of outfielders to trade than the Yankees if Seattle is interested.

Minnesota Twins – Sellers: The Twins have always built from within the organization, and that won’t change this year.  They’re in contention once again, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to make any kind of move.  Signing Joe Crede to a one year deal in the offseason was a risk, but he’s been surprisingly healthy.  Still, he’s hitting only .230, and if the right team makes an offer, the Twins may take it.  Same goes for Mike Redmond.  He’s a solid backup catcher to have on any team, but the Twins need to improve a farm system that has grown weak over the past few years.  They’ll be all ears in July.

Chicago White Sox – Sellers: General Manager Kenny Williams usually sets off the fireworks with a big move, but not this season.  The Sox have failed to produce consistently at the plate, keeping them from being a real threat in the division.  Jermaine Dye has built up his trade value over the past three years, and the Sox should get some solid farm help for him.  Jim Thome will also be a free agent at the end of the season.  If the Yankees are looking for a two month bat, don’t rule it out of the question.

Kansas City Royals – Sellers: The Royals have a lot of players who will be free agents after this season.  The pitching seems to have finally arrived in Kansas City, so the focus should be on improving their lineup.  Miguel Olivo has the most trade value, but some teams may call for Coco Crisp as well.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re both in different uniforms in August.  Ron Mahay has been decent out of the ‘pen, but his big appeal is the fact that he’s a lefty.  The Brewers may have an eye on him.

Cleveland Indians – Sellers: The Indians made the biggest sell of the year last season by trading C.C. Sabathia and essentially giving Milwaukee the wild card.  This year that big name is Cliff Lee.  He does have an option for 2010, but the Cy Young winner may end up somewhere else for the right price.  Will Milwaukee be willing to make a second straight deal for him?  The Cubs also have a lot to offer for him.  Meanwhile, Mark DeRosa is sure to find a home somewhere.

AL West

Los Angeles Angels – Sellers: It’s hard to imagine the Angels selling when they’re tied for first, but in this case selling doesn’t mean giving up.  If they want to trade Bobby Abreu, who they signed in the offseason, they can get sme serious majorv league talent for him.  Chone Figgins has been a part of trade rumors for years, and the Angels will likely lose him at the end of the year if they don’t explore.  They may try to trade one of those two for a fifth starter.  I still expect them to win the division.

Texas Rangers – Buyers:  The pitching has finally arrived in Arlington to compliment an always explosive offense.  They could be another team in hot pursuit of Aubrey Huff at first, or see what Washington would want for Nick Johnson.  Hank Blalock will be a free agent at the end of the year, and he’s expendible if needed.  They have a deep farm system with a lot of big names they can use to trade, so if there is a season to go for it all, this is the one.

Seattle Mariners – Sellers: Amazingly, the Seattle Mariners are .500 and just 2.5 games out of first place.  Unfortunately, that’s about as close as they’ll get.  They may still think they’re in contention, but they should end up being sellers.  Erik Bedard will be one of the best pitchers available if Seattle lets his contract run dry, so they’ll surely try to get something for him.  The Tigers and Yankees are the top offerings, but the Cubs could make a move for him once Aramis Ramirez returns.  Seattle might want to think about exploring options for Adrian Beltre, who is a Scott Boras client and would leave for more money at the end of the year.  The farm system is worst in the AL and could use some young prospects.

Oakland Athletics – Sellers: The move for Matt Holliday hasn’t turned out like Oakland had hoped.  Holliday is hitting just .270 with only eight home runs.  Still, there would be a number of teams interested in having his bat for the stretch run, and Oakland can still get a lot for him.  They have an excellent farm system, and their top four prospects (Cahill, Anderson, Cunningham, Gonzalez) coming into 2009 are already in the majors.  This team is headed in the right direction by grooming homegrown talent.  Jason Giambi and Orlando Cabrera could also be on the trading block.

Coming tomorrow – NL Buyers and Sellers

My All-Star team

Nearly 70 games are in the books for most MLB teams, so it’s time to seriously start thinking All Stars.  Here’s my All-Star team as of right now (note: I’m only taking 11 reserves instead of 12 because there is no DH):

American League

Starters

C – Joe Mauer: After missing the first month of the season due to injury, Mauer came back and has been on a non-stop tear.  A .407 average and 14 home runs gives him the nod over Victor Martinez.

1B – Justin Morneau: The hardest position to pick in the AL is first base.  Morneau, Mark Teixeira, Miguel Cabrera and Kevin Youkilis all deserve to be in St. Louis, but Morneau has combined power (16 HR, 57 RBIs) with average (.320), so he starts.

2B – Aaron Hill: If you’re reading this and thinking ‘you’re crazy for picking Hill over Dustin Pedroia, Ian Kinsler, Mark DeRosa and Robinson Cano,’hear me out.  Of the five, Hill is the only one in the top two in average, home runs, RBIs, and plate appearances.  Sadly, he’ll likely end up fifth of the five in voting.

SS – Derek Jeter: Many have criticized the Yankee captain in the past for only making the team because of his name and not his numbers.  This year he has the numbers.  A .301 average, nine HRs, 30 RBIs and 14 stolen bases is a big reason why the Yankees are keeping pace with Boston.

3B – Evan Longoria: Sophomore slump?  Try MVP.  The second year stud is tearing the cover off the ball.  Despite a recent slump, he’s still hitting .309 with 16 HRs and 61 RBIs.  His 66 strikeouts don’t look good, But A-Rod’s early injury gives Longoria no competition at third.

OF – Jason Bay: Bay came over last season in the three way deal that sent Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers and has made Boston quickly forget about the dreadlocked goofball.  Bay’s 66 RBIs leads the AL, and although his average is low, his 46 walks gives him a .393 on basec percentage.

OF – Torii Hunter: Hunter has done everything right in center for Los Angeles.  We know what he can do with the leather, but his .316 average, 16 HRs and 12 stolen bases has lead the way for an Angels run that has them back in the division race.

OF – Carl Crawford: Crawford continues to produce for Tampa Bay, hitting .307 with and astonishing 37 stolen bases already.  If the National League can’t get him out, Joe Maddon will have him running circles around the Arch.

Reserves

C – Victor Martinez: A great comeback year for Martinez, who is hitting .330 with 12 HRs and 53 RBIs.  He’s played almost every day, and his strikeout to walk ratio is 1:1.  Too bad Mauer can’t cool off.

1B – Miguel Cabrera: The hamstring has bothered him throughout the month of June, so we’ll see what Jim Leyland’s advice will be.  Cabrera should at least get offered a spot with 14 HRs, 44 RBIs and a .333 average.

1B – Mark Teixeira: Kevin Youkilis is having a nice season, but has done so in fewer than 200 at bats.  Meanwhile, Mark Teixeira has 20 HRs, 56 RBIs and a .387 OBP.  Being a lefty in Yankee Stadium helps.

2B – Dustin Pedroia: The 2008 AL MVP is hitting only .286 this season, but has 35 walks and only 19 strikeouts to go along with 12 stolen bases.

2B – Robinson Cano: Cano’s .305 average is good, and he plays almost every day for New York.  12 HRs and 42 RBIs don’t hurt either.

2B – Ian Kinsler: It’s tough to leave out a leadoff hitter who has 18 HRs and 48 RBIs, so Kinsler gets my last 2B spot.  Still, he’s hiting only .267 and has 41 strikeouts.

3B – Michael Young: The numbers don’t jump out at me, but recent All-Star success and a .312 average makes him worthy.  Even though Young is playing third this year, Maddon will need someone to replace Jeter at shortstop.

3B – Chone Figgins: A-Rod’s early season injury keeps him out of the game, leaving room for Chone Figgins, who has hit .327 with a .403 OBP and 22 stolen bases.

OF – Ichiro Suzuki: Normally his .358 average would be good enough for a start, but if you play OF and can’t hit for power, you have to steal bases.  Ichiro hasn’t done either this season.

OF – Jacoby Ellsbury: Ellsbury is putting together a nice season for the Red Sox.  As the sparkplug of the order, he’s swiped 29 bags to go with a .301 average.

OF – Adam Jones: I’m using Baltimore’s manditory All-Star spot on Jones, who’s hitting .316 with 12 HRs and 43 RBIs.  For the record, I want that rule repealed.  Apologies to Nelson Cruz, who would have been my other outfielder.

Pitchers

SP – Zack Greinke: Greinke got off to a white hot start, then cooled off and still has managed a razor-thin 1.96 ERA.  He has 106 strikeouts in 101 innings to go along with an 8-3 record.  He’s my starter in his home state, and watch out National League.  He can do damage with the bat too.

SP – Roy Halladay: Arguably the best pitcher in baseball, Halladay leads the AL in wins with 10 and has a 2.53 ERA.  He’s currently on the DL, so who knows if he’ll make it to St. Louis.  For now he’s on my team.

SP – Justin Verlander: Verlander’s resurgance is a huge reason why the Tigers are in first place.  He is 8-3 with a 3.31 ERA and leads the majors with 118 strikeouts.

SP – Felix Hernandez: Hernandez is 7-3 with a 2.74 ERA, keeping Seattle in contention for now.  He’s pitched over 100 innings and has walked just 31.

SP – Jered Weaver: Weaver is 7-3 with a 2.53 ERA for the Angels.  With Ervin Santana and John Lackey battling health issues, the Angels have needed Weaver’s good season.

RP – Jonathan Papelbon: Papelbon has a miniscule 1.80 ERA with 16 saves and 32 strikeouts in 30 innings.  He’s made it very easy for the Red Sox when they lead after eight innings.

RP – Frank Francisco: After a brief DL stint, Francisco is refreshed.  A 0.44 ERA is best among AL closers, and he has 22 strikeouts in 20 innings.  With the Rangers struggling, he hasn’t seen a whole lot of innings.

RP – Matt Thornton: Thornton is the lone White Sox all star, but this isn’t a pity invite.  His 2.05 ERA leads the team, and he has 35 strikeouts in 26 innings while being a reliable setup man for Bobby Jenks in the pen.

RP – J.P. Howell: Howell’s been a stud in the Tampa Bay pen, netting 42 strikeouts while holding opponents to an under .200 average and posting a 1.82 ERA.

RP – Andrew Bailey: Oakland’s lone all star is their new closer.  Although he’s blown four saves, Bailey has struck out 50 in 44 innings and has only walked 18 with a 2.23 ERA.

RP – David Aardsma: Aardsma has finally found his stuff this season in Seattle.  In 33 innings, Aardsma has a 1.62 ERA and 14 saves.  His 20 walks are high, but 41 strikeouts gives him a 2:1 ratio.

CP – Joe Nathan: Nathan continues to be one of the best closers in baseball.  He won’t overpower you, but he has pinpoint control.  He’s allowed just two home runs while picking up 16 saves in 26 innings of work.  His ERA of 1.69 barely gives him the nod over Papelbon to close.

Last men out:  Mark DeRosa, Kevin Youkilis, Nelson Cruz

National League

Starters

C – Brian McCann: Injuries have slowed down the highly touted Braves catcher, but in a league without any standouts, McCann is still my starter.  He’s hitting .325, does have 28 RBIs and has even stolen two bases.

1B – Albert Pujols: The league leader in Hrs and RBIs is having another Pujols-like season.  He’s on pace for 60 HRs right now, he’s drawn 52 walks and has a .329 average.  He’s the best player in baseball.

2B – Chase Utley: His average dipped below .300 this week during the Phillies’slump, but his 15 HRs and 45 RBIs are still good enough to be best in the NL.

SS – Miguel Tejada: The closest race in my book is at NL shortstop.  Tejada and Hanley Ramirez are nearly tied in every offensive and defensive category.  The only major difference is strikeouts.  Haney has 41, Tejada has just 18.

3B – David Wright: Wright is hitting .349 for the Mets and is on base 44 percent of the time.  He has 39 RBIs despite not being a power hitter, so he’s getting it done with runners in scoring position.  His 69 strikeouts is an eyesore though.

OF – Raul Ibanez: Ibanez is the breakout player of the year, hitting .317 with 22 HRs and 59 RBIs.  His strained left groin, which currently has him on the DL, will have to heal in time.

OF – Ryan Braun: Braun is having another great season for the Brewers, hitting .320 with 15 HRs and 50 RBIs.  He strikes out a lot, but also walks a lot hitting in the middle of a powerful lineup.

OF – Carlos Beltran: Beltran is back.  The power numbers are down a little bit, but the .336 average shows he can still hit.  He has more walks than strikeouts, and he’s 11 for 12 in stolen bases.

Reserves

C – Yadier Molina: Yadi is the best of the average, hitting .284 with 23 RBIs.  He has six more walks than strikeouts, and let’s not forget how good he is defensively.

1B – Prince Fielder: I can’t believe Price Fielder is hitting .300.  Well, it’s .299 actually, but the free-swinging slugger has found a way to hit for average and still pound 17 HRs and 67 RBIs.

1B – Adrian Gonzalez – Gonzalez is following up last year’s breakout campaign with another solid season.  His 23 HRs and 45 RBIs makes him a legitimate threat in the Padres lineup.  And because he’s the only threat in San Diego, he’s also drawn 57 walks – tops among first basemen.

2B – Brandon Phillips: Phillips actually has more RBIs than Utley, and is in the middle of a surprising Cincinnati lineup that is keeping them in contention.  He has more walks than strikeouts – 26 to 25 and is hitting .279.

2B – Freddy Sanchez: Sanchez is the Pirates only rep, and he’s a good one.  The former NL batting champ has a .319 average with 23 doubles and a .358 OBP.

SS – Hanley Ramirez: Ramirez is having an outstanding season, and he could very well end up starting.  A .328 average, 9 HRs, 36 RBIs and nine stolen bases are the kind of numbers fantasy players were hoping to get out of him when picking him in the top five overall this season.

3B – Chipper Jones: Last season was a great comeback for Chipper Jones, and he’s having another wonderful year this year.  His OBP is .412, and he has seven more walks than strikeouts.

3B – Pablo Sandoval: Sandoval is hitting .336 with 8 HRs and 33 RBIs.  Of his 79 hits, 20 have been doubles.

OF – Matt Kemp: Kemp is hitting .318 with 8 HRs and 37 RBIs to go along with 18 SB for the Dodgers.  Everyone talks about Pierre stepping up in Manny’s absense, but Kemp has quietly had a nice season.

OF – Adam Dunn: Someone has to represent the lowly Nationals in the All Star game, so I’m giving Dunn the nod.  His .267 average is higher than it’s been in previous years, and his OBP is .402 thanks to his 55 walks.  He also has 18 HRs and 49 RBIs.

OF – Brad Hawpe: Colorado’s representative is having a great season, hitting .332 with 10 HRs and 50 RBIs.  His OBP is .406, and the Rockies have won 17 of 18.

Pitchers

SP – Chris Carpenter: Carp’s early season injury set him back, but he’s healthy now and is 5-1 with a 1.53 ERA.  Opponents are hitting just .163 off him.  He doesn’t have the same zip he used to, striking out only 43 through 58 innings this year.  The game is in St. Louis, and Carpenter should be on the mound to start in front of his fans.

SP – Tim Lincecum: Lincecum is 6-2 with a 2.72 ERA but hasn’t had much run support.  Last year’s Cy Young winner has 112 strikeouts in just 96 innings pitched.

SP – Matt Cain: Lincecum’s teammate is having an even better season.  Cain is 9-1 with a 2.28 ERA.  He’s not as dominant, but has the best control in baseball and keeps the ball off the plate.  Teams don’t win many series’against the Giants when they’re both pitching.

SP – Dan Haren: The Arizona pitcher hasn’t been helped by his team’s offense, but he’s 6-4 with a 2.23 ERA and clearly Arizona’s best player.  The Diamondbacks aren’t contenders this season with Brandon Webb out, but they’ll be back.

SP – Josh Johnson: It’s hard to leave Billingsley out of this game, but Johnson has pitched seven more innings, has a lower ERA (2.66) and opponents are hitting worse against him (.219).  Billingsley has eight more strikeouts but 19 more walks.

RP – Heath Bell: The San Diego closer has been nearly flawless this season, saving 19 games while posting a 1.19 ERA.  He has 34 strikeouts and only 10 walks in 30 innings.

RP – Trevor Hoffman: The all-time saves leader did not give up a run until June 14.  He has 16 saves for Milwaukee, has walked just three and has a 1.31 ERA.

RP – Ryan Franklin: After blowing more saves than any other team in baseball last season, the Cardinals have finally found a closer.  Franklin has 17 saves, a 1.00 ERA and only five walks.

RP – Rafael Soriano: The Braves’setup man has been as reliable as any in the league.  Soriano has overpowered hitters with a 1.42 ERA and 42 strikeouts in just 31 innings.

RP – Angel Guzman: The Cubs only all-star is Guzman, who’s been a relief in a revamped Cubs bullpen.  Guzman is 2-1 with a 2.53 ERA.

RP – Jonathan Broxton: Broxton has been outstanding for the Dodgers.  He has 17 saves and a 2.29 ERA.  What’s more impressive is his 56 strikeouts in 35 innings, and he’s only walked 13.

CP – Francisco Rodriguez: Guess who.  K-Rod has been unstoppable for the Mets, netting 18 saves with 36 strikeouts in 33 innings.  He has a 1.07 ERA.

Last men out:  Chad Billingsley, Ryan Howard, Carlos Lee

Sosa Scandal Should Surprise No One

Sammy Sosa tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Gasp!  The cat is out of the bag now.

The world found out Tuesday when the New York Times published a report saying that he was among 104 major leaguers who failed a drug test in 2003. But it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Sosa’s name came up.  In fact, I’m surprised nothing was made official until now.  Everyone was thinking it 11 years ago during the infamous McGwire/Sosa home run race.  Not to mention the fact that he had hit more than 40 in a season before the 66 home run campaign.

Few people are going to be surprised by this.  McGwire’s reputation has already been tarnished.  Now it’s Sosa’s turn.  Nothing pleases me more than to see these idiots finally get embarrassed for cheating the game of baseball.  Baseball is too beautiful a sport for guys to cheat, and guys like Roger Clemens, Miguel Tejada, Rafael Palmeiro, Barry Bonds, Manny Ramirez, McGwire, Rodriguez and Sosa are now suffering the hard way as they should.

Sosa’s surge of 30ish homers a year to all of a sudden three seasons of 60+ in four years should have been a sign.  If not, compare pictures of him in a Chicago White Sox uniform and a Chicago Cubs uniform.  Night and day.  I had a feeling he was beefed up on something.

Baseball is doing a great job of cleaning up the game and making these players suffer.  Although I wish the MLB would come down harder on active players, I still smile and chuckle at the public embarrassment they all get.

Shaq Speaks (or Tweets) Out

What you know is that the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA Finals last night by defeating the Orlando Magic 99-86 in game five.  This effectively ends the long debate about whether or not Kobe Bryant can win a championship without Shaquille O’Neal.

What you may not know is what Shaq had to say about it.  Not to the media.  Not to Kobe or the Lakers.  But instead on Twitter, the social networking site.

Minutes after the buzzer sounded, Shaq posted his first of many NBA Finals-related Tweets.  This one said:

“Congratualtions kobe, u deserve it. You played great . Enjoy it my man enjoy it. And I know what yur sayin rt now “Shaq how my ass taste “

From that, we learned a few things about Shaq:

#1 – He can’t spell.  Maybe his fingers are too big for his phone keys.
#2 – At some point in time, there may have been an exchange of anal fluids between Kobe and him.

Okay, so maybe that’s taking it too far.  Who really knows what that last bit is all about, or if the compliment is even sincere.  At least give him credit for making the most of his 140 character limit.  Fact is, Kobe won a title without O’Neal, although his supporting cast of Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol, Trevor Ariza and others was pretty good.

As for Shaq, he wasn’t done.  Here are his next set of Tweets:

Shaq: “Congrats to you to phil jackson. When the general doesn’t panic the troops don’t panic. You are the greatest now.”

My analysis:  Sincere and well-deserved – Jackson is the greatest coach.  However, he looks 30 years older now than he did in Chicago, and he sounded drunk/sick in his post game speech last night.

Shaq: “Congrats to u to d fish, big shots the other day. Enjoy my man enjoy”

My analysis:  Seems sincere, Fisher was clutch in game four.  Proof that Shaq watched the whole series.

Shaq: “Congrats in spanish pau gasol, muchas gracias pappacito”

My analysis:  Muchas gracias means thank you, not congratulations.  Nice try Shaq.  Also, Gasol can not only read English, he can understand it and actually speaks it very well.

Shaq: “‘Congratulations to the orlando magic, a worthy and respectable eastern conference champion’ David stern”

My analysis:  Shaq should be a journalist.  Or a transcriber.  Because his playing days are numbered.

Shaq: “Congrats to you to, mbengaaaaaaaa”

My analysis:  Shaq spilled something on his phone, it dried, got sticky and his finger got stuck on the ‘a’key.  Or it could be a “random act of Shaqness.”

But I think my favorite Tweet is one that came two hours after all the rest:

Shaq: “O yea congrats to u to adam morrison”

Just when you thought the big man was sincere, he has to go and do that.  I know he isn’t sincere with this one, but rather ripping on a player who got no playing time during LA’s run to the finals.  You may remember Morrison and J.J. Redick battling for Naismith Player of the Year in 2006.  Three years later, they battled for the NBA championship.  Morrison won both.  He must be better, that’s why he gets all kinds of playing time.

As for Shaq, you should follow him on Twitter.  He’ll make you roll your eyes or shake your head at least once every day.

The NBA is back

For those of you sports fans not currently following the NBA because you think it’s “boring,” “lazy,” “lacks passion,” or any other number of reasons, think again.  Last night’s NBA finals game put a cap on a great 2009 playoff season.  And it’s not even over yet.

Many people close to me say the college game is better to watch, and it’s hard to argue against that.  However, don’t lose sight of the pro game, because these guys are pretty good, and the 2009 NBA playoffs are a perfect example.

Look no further than the first round, which featured seven overtimes in a seven game series between the Bulls and Celtics.  Five of the seven games were decided by three points or less.  Two electric young points guards, Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose, took over the series at times.  Oh, and that Ray Allen guy can still shoot.  Bulls center Brad Miller was quoted saying “I’ve seen enough Ray Allen threes with less than five seconds left to last a lifetime.”  Yes, there were a number of game changers in that series.

And then Boston played Orlando.

Another back-and-forth series featured three road wins, a Celtics buzzer beater that did not come from Allen or Paul Pierce, a 14 point fourth quarter comeback, and the elimination of the champions in seven games.

The Lakers had their share of troubles out west.  Pushed by a fiesty Houston team, L.A. needed seven to close out the Rockets.

Don’t forget about Carmelo Anthony, who, with one second left in game three against Dallas, calmly sank a three pointer with his team down two after the other nine players on the floor stopped playing because they thought a foul would be called.  Mark Cuban exploded after the game, Dallas never recovered, and Denver earned a ticket to the West finals.

How about those conference finals?  The first two games of each series (four games total) were decided by a combined seven points.  In the East, Orlando stole game one in Cleveland after the Cavs cruised through the first two rounds.  Rashard Lewis hit a three pointer in the closing seconds to give Orlando a one point win.  Not to be outdone, Lebron James cued up some “magic” of his own, hitting an off-balance prayer at the buzzer in game two to give Cleveland a one point win.  In the West, Denver had double digit leads in each of the first four games, but only won two of them.

The only thing that would have made this spectacular playoff season better is if we had seen the Lebron vs Kobe matchup in the finals.  It was not to be however, as Orlando took care of Cleveland in game six.  The Magic had a chance to win game 2 of the finals last night, but a missed layup at the end of regulation proved costly in a five point overtime loss.

The finals may belong to the Lakers, but everyone had their chance to shine in the playoffs.  I’d keep watching if I were you.  There’s this guy named Blake Griffin that will join the NBA next year.  I hear he’s pretty good.