Before I get into the NL West, I'll talk briefly on the Tigers/Twins game last night, which I got to watch most of. The Tigers looked crisp - that lineup can lay out some damage and it's in no small part due to Jhonny Peralta and Alex Avila. Peralta was solid last night and has been through the series, even if he is being thrown some hittable pitches, as the Twins broadcasters pointed out (then again, they also called Max Scherzer "Matt" all game long). Miguel Cabrera looked off though - a lot of his swings were coming late, hence his fouls. Not sure what to make of that, could be nothing. The Twins looked decidedly mediocre. Nothing else to say - they played like the club I think they are - a middle-of-the-division club that'll get hot sometimes, but realistically lacks the tools to win the division.
For you Twins fans, here's an end-of-season experiment for you - compare Mauer's end-of-season batting stats when he plays 1B vs. when he plays catcher. Just a thought.
The Twins front office really needs to wake up and start selling. They have the core to be competitive and win next year; they could bolster that significantly by trading some expiring contracts for prospects or help. Imagine if the Twins picked up James Shields, for example, although I imagine the Rays want prospects, or at least a contract that has more than two months on it. But there's no reason they should waste this season by trying to compete in a race they can't win - they need to isolate the areas they need help (an ace pitcher, relief pitching) and make trades this season to acquire them. They're not winning the division this year, but with some savvy moves, they could again next year.
The NL West - Where the defending champs reign.
(Standings as of July 23rd)
San Francisco - 57-43
Arizona - 53-47 (4 GB)
Colorado 48-52 (9 GB)
San Diego 44-56 (13 GB)
Los Angeles 43-56 (13.5 GB)
In all honesty, a two-team race, with San Francisco appearing to have a significant edge. Both the NL and AL West always strike me as the least exciting divisions - both tend to wrap up early, and the AL West is a four-team division anyway (and why is that, with a six-team division in the NL Central? Couldn't Houston get moved to the AL West? Or the NL West, then move Colorado to the AL or something). Anyway - this is San Francisco's and Arizona's race. Colorado is up-and-down this year and really not threatening anyone. With rampant speculation that Ubaldo Jimenez is on the market, the Rockies appear to be sellers, indicating they know better than to challenge the Giants this year (Twins, learn a lesson here).
The Dodgers and Padres have both been in the heaviest trade rumors I've heard so far. There's strong belief to think that Hiroki Kuroda is available, his 3.19 ERA making him as solid a starter as any on the market this season. Kuroda would have to waive his no-trade clause, though. I've heard Andre Ethier's name come up, too, but I'd be surprised if he goes anywhere. If he is available, though, the Dodgers could command a high price for both players and end up with a good haul - it might be worthwhile. The Padres appear to be trying to move Heath Bell, their stud closer, who has 28 saves and a 2.45 ERA. Aaron Harang's name has also come up lately, he of an 8-2 record and 3.29 ERA - like Kuroda, perhaps even moreso, he'd be a welcome addition to any contender's rotation. The Padres are in full sell mode, it would seem - trade rumors have swirled around set-up man Mike Adams and outfielder Ryan Ludwick, also. They'll hold out for good deals, though, and could easily rake in a good haul of prospects at the deadline.
As for the Rockies, as mentioned above, Jimenez is the only player many trade rumors are swirling around. Nine games back, they seem to be ready to sell. They've had a down year and it's in no small part because Jimenez has struggled mightily through it. His 6-8 record and 4.00 ERA are not indicative of the pitcher who has been nothing short of stunning in recent years. Without Jimenez anchoring the rotation, the Rockies have fallen on hard times, but if they can get a solid package for Jimenez, given their strong batting order, they could end up in decent shape next year.
So let's talk Diamondbacks. Kirk Gibson's team looks solid - they're searching for a fifth starter, but their top four at the moment all have ERAs under 4.00, with Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson topping 10 wins and 100 strikeouts. Their batting order is mediocre - Justin Upton leads with a .289 and second baseman Kelly Johnson brings up the rear with a .218. Number that can get it done with a pitching staff that holds a sub-4.00 ERA. But I don't think it's enough to challenge the Giants this year. I like the Diamondbacks squad, but they're a year or two off. With their name virtually absent from any trade discussions, it makes me think they're going to stand pat, continue to develop as a team and work on their young guys, and try to position themselves for a stronger 2012 run. If they win this division, I don't think it'll be because they go on a tear - it'll be because the Giants fall off.
The San Francisco Giants are the defending champs and are playing like it, holding a 4-game lead in the division, one that isn't likely to be relented. They have a smattering of minor injuries plaguing them right now, leading to many position players getting extra off days to heal up or going on short stints on the DL - Miguel Tejada for an abdominal strain, Aubrey Huff with back tightness, Pablo Sandoval with sore quads and so on. A four-game lead gives them the opportunity to rest these guys as necessary and not push too hard on the injured. It also helps that all of their position players who have seen action in 20+ games this year are batting over .200, with all of their more regular players (50+ games) batting over .230. It should be noted that no member of the Giants team has hit more than 9 home runs yet this year, which means that like most contenders, their strength is their pitching. Starter Jonathan Sanchez is their only injury on the pitching staff at the moment, expected to be back off the 15-day DL by the end of the month. His is the highest ERA of the five starters - at 3.81. Ryan Vogelsong has the best of them, with a 2.02. Barry Zito, who has been making starts for the Giants as well, has the highest ERA on the team, at 4.78 - of their active pitchers, only he has an ERA over 4.00. That kind of pitching staff is staggeringly good and the reason the Giants can win without smashing the ball all over. Much like the Diamondbacks, I don't hear the Giants mentioned in many trade rumors - they're certainly not selling and seem happy with the team they have, although their clear lack is that of a big bat, so they're sometimes mentioned alongside Carlos Beltran. This team will be in the playoffs again this year, defending their World Series title and repeating as NL West champs.
Around the MLB -
Chi. Cubs 4, Houston 2 - All it took was the fifth inning for the Cubs to notch the four runs they needed to win, backing up a Big Z's nerve-wracking, but otherwise solid, start (he loaded the bases twice with no outs).
LA Angels 6, Baltimore 1 - Ervin Santana took a no-hitter five innings and went almost-eight with only one earned run. Vernon Wells' grand slam in the ninth sealed the game.
Chi. White Sox 3, Cleveland 0 - Carlos Quentin's three-run HR backed almost-eight fantastic shutout innings by Gavin Floyd to take the first of a crucial AL Central series.
NY Yankees 17, Oakland 7 - The Yankees only scored in four innings, but they scored seventeen times, savaging Trevor Cahill and select members of the A's bullpen. Phil Hughes allowed all seven A's runs for the Yankees.
Philadelphia 3, San Diego 1 - Cole Hamels struck out ten and went eight innings of one-run ball on the way to his 12th victory.
St. Louis 6, Pittsburgh 4 - Chris Carpenter pitched eight innings, allowing four runs, while the Cards bats backed him up with three home runs that accounted for the five runs needed to win.
Atlanta 6, Cincinnati 4 - Dan Uggla's pinch-hit home-run in the top of the ninth ended up being the tie-breaking shot that decided the game.
NY Mets 7, Florida 6 - David Wright returned to the Mets, picking up two doubles and two RBIs and also scored what would end up the winning run in the eighth.
Boston 7, Seattle 4 - Felix Hernandez pitched well until he met with struggles in the seventh, when the Red Sox took control of the game to bolster John Lackey's seven-inning start to the win.
Texas 12, Toronto 2 - Nelson Cruz had a career night, netting 8 RBIs, while Colby Lewis held the Jays hitless for six innings as the Rangers led a decisive rout.
Detroit 8, Minnesota 2 - Jhonny Peralta continued his dominance in this series, notching 4 RBIs in this game (and 3 last night, for 7 so far on the series), hitting a triple shy of the cycle for the second straight night, to back up Max Scherzer's seven-inning, one-run start.
Kansas City 10, Tampa Bay 4 - The Royals bats came alive, tearing up Wade Davis and the Rays bullpen en route to the win after Tampa forced Luke Hochevar's exit with a 3-run sixth.
Colorado 8, Arizona 4 - The Rockies bats put up 10 hits and five runs against Daniel Hudson, giving him his first loss since May and securing Aaron Cook his first win of the season.
Washington 7, LA Dodgers 2 - Hiroki Kuroda saw another quality start turn into a loss as the Dodgers' bats let him down and the Nationals ravaged their bullpen for a four-run ninth.
Milwaukee 4, San Francisco 2 - Shaun Marcum outdueled Matt Cain after a 3-run second inning gave him some leeway after allowing a run in the first.
No comments:
Post a Comment