Category: MLB (Page 405 of 448)

      What the hell happened to the Cardinals?

      May 21, 2007 /

      I held off doing a post on this subject until the season settled in, but after being swept by the Detroit Tigers this past weekend I must ask: What is going on in St. Louis?

      As of Monday, the Cardinals are 16-25 and 9.5 games back of first place Milwaukee. The reigning champs are just 7-11 at home, have lost 7 of their last 10 and five straight. Left fielder Chris Duncan is virtually their entire offense, leading the club in batting average (.290), home runs (7), runs (24) and on base percentage (.864). You mean to tell me no other Cardinal is hitting over .290? Albert Pujols has struggled mightily at the plate, although he seems to be heating up after going 4 for 4 day in a 14-4 loss to the Tigers last Friday.

      The real issue seems to be the pitching, however. Obviously not having Chris Carpenter (elbow surgery) in the rotation has been detrimental, but Anthony Reyes (5.84), Adam Wainwright (6.34) and Kip Wells (6.75) all have ERA’s well over 5.00, and Brandon Looper (3.27) – the Cards best pitcher thus far – is still over 3.00.

      Maybe St. Louis is the Yankees of the NL right now in that things will eventually turn around, but both teams are struggling where it counts the most – on the mound.

      General Sports, MLB

      Yankees being ridiculous with Giambi

      May 21, 2007 /

      Last Thursday New York Yankees 1B/DH Jason Giambi made comments to the media that MLB should apologize to fans because of its problems with performance enhancing drugs. This past weekend, rumors came out that the Yankees might now try to void his contract because of his remarks.

      I can’t take credit for having these thoughts because a friend and a few other media outlets have already expressed this, but would the Yankees be this enamored with trying to void Giambi’s contract if they were 30-13 like the Red Sox instead of 19-23? How about if Giambi was hitting .330 instead of .268 and had 15 home runs instead of five? No, it would be, “Well, we’re looking into Jason’s remarks, but he has a right to express his feelings.”

      Now granted, the Yankees tried to void Giambi’s contract a few years ago, so them looking into his comments might be legit. However, one has to wonder if this would even be an issue if Giamriod were on a tear right now.

      General Sports, MLB

      Rocket heading back to NY

      May 6, 2007 /

      Roger Clemens announced he will return to the Yankees during the seventh inning stretch of New York’s game against the Mariners at Yankee Stadium Sunday. Apparently he’s due to receive an annual salary of $28 million and will have the same perks as he did in Houston as far as not traveling for road games.

      This is hardly a surprise to anyone who follows baseball. Did anyone really believe Clemens was going to say no to Joe Torre, Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte or George Steinbrenner’s checkbook? The Yankees are in dire need of starting pitching, so one has to wonder how high they would have gone as far as a salary to get him. Steinbrenner wasn’t going to take no for answer and it is amazing Clemens is going to get the same deal as far as not traveling. Talk about having teams by the balls.

      Fantasy Baseball, MLB

      Rookie phenom Lincecum set to throw tonight on national TV

      May 6, 2007 /

      Many outside Giants fans – and maybe fantasy baseball owners – haven’t heard of right-handed pitcher Tim Lincecum. After tonight, however, maybe more baseball fans will remember the name.

      The 22-year-old Lincecum will make his major league debut tonight against the Philadelphia Phillies on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. He was 4-0 with a phenomenal 0.29 ERA and limited hitters to a .119 average in 31 innings at Triple A Fresno. He was the tenth overall selection in last June’s draft after leading college baseball in strikeouts. Perhaps the most amazing feature about Lincecum is his outstanding velocity despite his 5’11”, 160-pound frame and Japanese-type pitching motion.

      Interested in rookie phenoms like Francisco Liriano or Dice-K? Then you might want to check out Lincecum tonight, because he might surprise.

      Update: Lincecum got beat up and was overall schooled by the Phils’ Cole Hamels…the phenom of Philadelphia if you will. Lincecum got taken deep twice (including a two-run blast by Ryan Howard) in the Phillies 8-5 victory.

      Fantasy Baseball, MLB

      A-Rod tearing it up as Yanks-Sox renew rivalry this weekend

      April 20, 2007 /

      In just 57 at bats this season, Yankees’ third baseman Alex Rodriguez has 10 home runs, 26 RBI and 17 runs scored. He’s also hitting .357, which leads many to wonder, are Yankee fans ready to embrace A-Rod?

      The MLB season is long and daunting, so to say New York fans are ready to throw their arms around Rodriguez would be a bit premature. However, what’s often the knock on A-Rod? Many complain of the way his numbers always seem hallow because he only hits when he’s not in a pressure-cooker situation. Two of his 10 home runs this season have been walk offs, so maybe he’s starting to get used to hitting in the oven that is New York City.

      Rodriguez and the Yankees travel to Boston this weekend for a three game series. Besides A-Rod’s sudden set of berries while hitting in crucial situations, something to keep an eye on is Andy Pettitte vs. Curt Shilling Friday night, as well as Dice-K’s first career appearance against the Yankees on Sunday.

      Will the Red Sox get a measure of revenge on the Yankees after the Bronx Bombers hammered them in Boston towards the end of last year? Will Rodriguez prove that is early season numbers are not a fluke? Let the games begin.

      MLB

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