The 2011 All-Division Team, Part 2: NL East

Jose Reyes won the 2011 NL batting title.

Part 2 of 6: National League East


C Brian McCann, ATL (2nd)
Most importantly, McCann avoided becoming a hostage in Venezuela like one of his competition at this spot, Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos.  McCann has been the most consistent catcher over the past half-decade, earning his sixth straight All-Star selection.  His annual production of 20 homers and 70+ RBIs is welcome on a disjointed and aging Atlanta offense that has literally no speed outside of Michael Bourn only one other major power threat, the recent addition of Dan Uggla.  Truth is, the Braves would be lost without McCann, but not even he could carry his tired team into the playoffs as the Braves blew their big wild card lead.  Competition: Josh Thole (NYM), Carlos Ruiz (PHI), Wilson Ramos (WAS), John Buck (FLA).

1B Mike Morse, WAS
Where did this guy come from?  Morse was ironically exactly what the Nationals expected out of Jayson Werth, who was hampered by injury and had a down season.  The 29-year-old Morse got his first full season in 2011, but few expected such a breakout.  Morse had never even hit 20 homers in a minor league season, and he comes out with 31 for Washington.  He also became a team leader along the way.  Competition: Ryan Howard (PHI), Gaby Sanchez (FLA), Freddie Freeman (ATL), and Daniel Murphy (NYM).

2B Dan Uggla, ATL (2nd, first with Braves)
In a season highlighted by a 34-game hitting streak, Uggla batted only .233.  That is probably the last time we will see such a low average from a 30-game hit streak player.  But as stated in the McCann argument, the Braves offense would be near incompetent without Uggla.  The Braves don't really have any other dynamic power hitters, as other pieces like Martin Prado, Chipper Jones, Freddie Freeman and Alex Gonzalez really only have power as an extra bonus to their hitting-for-average skills.  It took Uggla a long time to get going in 2011, but the power was there and kept them afloat in the NL East.

3B Chipper Jones, ATL
In another position smashed by injury, David Wright and Ryan Zimmerman both missed significant time.  Jones, in his age 39 season, is a shadow of the player he once was, which is quite depressing to be honest.  Jones has his job for as long as he wants it out of respect from the Braves, but his offensive skills are limited.  Just 18 homers and 70 RBIs came off his bat in 2011, but he's obviously still a team leader and loved by his fans.  Competition: David Wright (NYM), Ryan Zimmerman (WAS), Greg Dobbs (FLA), Placido Polanco (PHI).

SS Jose Reyes, NYM
Unfortunately, Reyes' season ended in controversy when he got a bunt single in the last game of the season and took himself out of the lineup in the last game of the season to ensure the greatest chance at a batting title. Ryan Braun failed to do the impossible, and Reyes won the first batting title in Mets history.  A return to the Mets looks far fetched, so Reyes is sure to cash in big soon.  Most impressive?  In 586 plate appearances, he walked 43 times and struck out 41 times, an 86% contact rate!  Competition: Ian Desmond (WAS), Hanley Ramirez (FLA), Jimmy Rollins (PHI), and Alex Gonzalez (ATL).

LF Logan Morrison, FLA
Lo-Mo finally was disciplined for his Twitter tendencies in 2011, and his relationship with the front office is unclear.  Morrison was sent to the minors temporarily for bad off-field conduct (specifically, Twitterness) and promptly filed a grievance with the players association.  Trade rumors involving the budding star heated up, but he was a runway model for the Marlins' new uniforms presentation at the new ballpark, confirming his status as an integral part of the team core.  The ever-changing Marlins roster doesn't have much of an established core outside of Hanley Ramirez, but I still believe Lo-Mo will definitely be a Miami Marlin next season.  Competition: Jason Bay (NYM), Raul Ibanez (PHI), Martin Prado (ATL), and Laynce Nix (WAS).

CF Angel Pagan, NYM (2nd)
He doesn't bat as well or walk as much as the ideal leadoff man, but Pagan does a fine job in center field for the Mets.  After being superb defensively in 2010, Pagan really struggled in 2011 at times.  However, 32 steals got the job done in his role behind Reyes.  He serves as a fine table setter at a relatively cheap price.  He's never going to be an All-Star but he fits this team fine.  And finally, his speed role will be magnified with the departure of Reyes next season.  Competition: Shane Victorino (PHI), Chris Coghlan (FLA), Nate McLouth (ATL), and Rick Ankiel (WAS).

RF Mike Stanton, FLA (2nd)
Stanton's home runs soar higher than the voices of the Marlins TV announcers (which is hard to do) with great regularity.  The 21-year-old has all the looks of a major power hitter for years to come.  The Marlins are currently being aggressive in the free agent market for the first time in their history, but if they plan to win, they'll need Stanton, who is already an elite outfielder.  And fantasy draftee.  Competition: Jason Heyward (ATL), Hunter Pence (PHI), Carlos Beltran (NYM), and Jayson Werth (WAS).

SP Roy Halladay, PHI
Dealing with a loss of confidence at the plate?  This Doc won't help with that.  Roy Halladay was the best of three Phillies starters with ERAs below 3.00 and decreased his homer total from 24 to 10.  He threw eight complete games and one shutout with the lowest ERA of his career at 2.35.  Even with ridiculous stamina and decent run support, Halladay failed to win 20 games which could even be seen as a surprise.  However, starting pitcher wins are overrated.  Bottom line: Halladay's a beast for the time being.  Competition: Anibal Sanchez (FLA), R.A. Dickey (NYM), Tim Hudson (ATL), and John Lannan (WAS).

CP Craig Kimbrel, ATL
127 strikeouts.  In 77 innings.  In his first full season as closer, Kimbrel was the best at the position in MLB.  As I've said in earlier posts, Kimbrel didn't allow a run for a stretch of about two and a half months in the middle of summer and only allowed three homers all year.  The Braves have the best bullpen in MLB and actually have three options at closer in Eric O'Flaherty, Jonny Venters, and Kimbrel.  The chances are that any of the three of them would have been the best in the league no matter who was chosen as closer.  For 2011, though, Kimbrel was the best in the business in talent.  Somehow, however, he blew eight saves along the way and the biggest one of the season, the one that would've gotten them to a Wild Card tiebreaker.  Three blown saves in September helped the Braves collapse hard.  Competition: Francisco Rodriguez (NYM), Ryan Madson (PHI), Juan Oviedo (FLA), and Drew Storen (WAS).

Big Z's Cubs Future

Carlos Zambrano in Atlanta, right after he was thrown out
for throwing at Braves 3B Chipper Jones.

Whether or not he pitches for the Cubs again isn't the real question


The latest blowup by Carlos Zambrano came a year after he took anger management classes as a result of his blowup before that.  Locating his pitches effectively when he returned, Zambrano went 8-0 to finish the season, which had Cubs fans thinking the man had finally reinvented himself.  Instead, he's been inconsistent and generally mediocre all season long, including a dismal strikeout rate.  He now finds himself on the 30-day disqualified list with no pay (not that he needs any) and his future with the Cubs is in jeopardy.  But the real question is, how will he be remembered by the fan base that made him what he is now?

Zambrano vs. Michael Barrett, 2007.

Zambrano's history of emotional temper tantrums goes way back.  His most notable incidents include numerous outbursts in 2006, his dugout brawl with catcher Michael Barrett at Wrigley in 2007, his 2008 attack on the Gatorade cooler at Dodger Stadium after giving up a three-run homer to Matt Kemp, his 2009 performance at Wrigley against Pittsburgh where, after being thrown out, he threw out an umpire then fired a ball from home plate to deep left field, his dugout yelling match with first baseman Derrek Lee over Lee not diving for a ball in 2010 at The Cell, and finally throwing at Chipper Jones twice in the same at-bat after giving up back-to-back homers and five homers in the game.

Zambrano vs. Derrek Lee, 2010.

Throughout all of this, Big Z has actually been a great pitcher over his 11 year career, all with the Cubs.  A homegrown prospect out of Venezuela, he asserted himself into the rotation as a 22-year-old on the 2003 team with a 3.11 ERA.  Eventually he became the ace for most of the mid-2000s despite his emotional problems.  His career record today stands at 125-81 with a 3.60 ERA.  Excellent for a homegrown prospect, no?  But of course, Cubs fans don't think of him in this way.  Instead, we wonder what could have been if he was able to control his problems at a young age.  Could Zambrano have won 20 games and/or a Cy Young?  Most definitely.

The daily warmup ritual with 5'7" Mike Fontenot.

If Zambrano pitches for the Cubs again, I think the fan base would get over this incident to some degree, just like they have all the incidents past.  However Tom Ricketts said on the ESPN broadcast on Sunday night that he has "a hard time seeing that happening," and with good reason.  If Zambrano never pitches in a Cubs uniform again, he will be remembered in a foggy cloud of potential and frustration.  I hope it's the first option.

Once he clears the 30-day disqualified list, I hope the Cubs let him back into the rotation for probably three or four starts, which is all that will be left in the season.  The ending in Atlanta is too abrupt for a veteran like Z, and I think it would be good for the fans and team to let him have one last (peaceful) goodbye before the team moves on.  This offseason, the new GM will probably come in with a no-tolerance-for-misbehavior attitude, and show it off by dumping Zambrano.  Whether this means releasing him or miraculously finding a taker in the trade market, the end will probably come at the end of this season for the big guy.

While I understand the anger fellow Cubbie fans have felt at Zambrano for all of these years of inconsistencies and questionable decisions, I know I'll be one who misses him for many reasons.  The awkward kill-the-ball swing that got him 23 career homers.  Zambrano pinch-hitting at Wrigley to a standing ovation out of entertainment and laughter.  The pointing to the sky coming off the mound which never seemed to help his anger issues.  Firing fastballs past the game's best hitters pack in the old days.  Breaking bats over his knee.  The bunt singles.  The traditional whack-a-mole warmup routine with Mike Fontenot.  The obscure, Red Bull-influenced injuries.  His insistence on wearing the blue alternate jerseys.  Even watching his BP sessions.  The overall energy and character that made the Big Z truly earn himself a place in Cubs history, for bad or (usually) good reasons.  And of course, the no-hitter against the hurricane-relocated Astros in Milwaukee.  Even if they drove us crazy mad, thanks for the good (and bad) times, Carlos.

A great teammate for the most part, smiles and jokes
were always in abundance during a day at the office for Z. 

  

Road Trip Analysis: Atlanta, Houston

Record: 3-3
Final Record: 54-70

This road trip began like many other for the Cubs, as they were mauled on Friday night in Atlanta.  Dan Uggla extended his hitting streak with two homers, both off Carlos Zambrano.  Chipper Jones, Jose Constanza, and Freddie Freeman also homered off Zambrano, who took out his frustration on Jones by throwing at him twice, hitting him the second time.  The Braves won 10-4.

Zambrano was thrown out and walked out on his team, earning him a 30-day suspension on the rarely-used disqualified list which could mark the end of his Cubs career.  Apparently anger management classes last year didn't hold up, and Zambrano started telling everyone in the clubhouse he was going to retire immediately before he cleaned out his locker and beat it.  Later, calling in on Chicago Tribune Live on CSN, he said he was upset that word of his potential retirement escaped the clubhouse and got to the media.  Either way it was a stupid thing to say so he doesn't have much of a right to be mad.

The Cubs won on Saturday thanks to an array of RBI singles and doubles, but Uggla extended his hitting streak to 33 with a home run.  I was impressed at how the Cubs attacked Derek Lowe, knocking him out of the game after six, allowing ten hits.  Final score was 8-4.

They also won on Sunday 6-5, ending Uggla's hitting streak at 33.  The Braves rocked Matt Garza for four runs in the first four innings, but the Cubs fought back and eventually tied the game on a wild pitch. Although Alex Gonzalez got the Braves the lead back on an error in the next half-inning, Carlos Pena blasted a long two-run homer to take the lead.  With the tying run on second base in the ninth, Carlos Marmol got Martin Prado out to take the series 2-1 from the NL's second-best team.

As shocking as that series win was, I was even more excited for the Cubs to head to Houston to play MLB's worst team and hopefully go for the sweep.  The Cubs should've swept too, but the Astros took two one-run games to sneak out the series win.

Two two-run doubles were enough, barely, to beat the Astros 4-3 on Monday night thanks to a save from Kerry Wood, his first as a Cub since 2008.  The loss for the Astros dropped them to 19-41 at home.  On Tuesday night, the Cubs played a solid game and took a 5-2 lead into the ninth.  Tyler Colvin and Aramis Ramirez both hit homers in the game, but Ramirez's shot will be on highlight reels all season long as it landed on the train tracks above the wall in left field, an estimated distance of over 450 feet.  But what will most be remembered from this game will obviously be Brian Bogusevic's walk-off grand slam off Marmol to win the game 6-5.  I bet the Cubs wish they had used Wood again.  Marmol has this remarkable ability to somehow find a way to lose a game, and showed right here.  Brian Bogusevic?  Really??  And did I mention that this was his second career Major League homer, and his first ever at home?

Casey Coleman gave the Astros the lead in the 4th of Wednesday afternoon's game, and they would never give it back.  The Cubs offense was shut out for four innings by the Astros bullpen, which featured David Carpenter, Sergio Escalona, Fernando Rodriguez, and Mark Melancon, only one of whom has thrown more than 40 innings in the Major Leagues.  I might as well just have named four construction contractors.  Added with Bogusevic, and the Cubs lost a series to a team to a team that will be 50 games under .500 by the end of the year because of five nobodies.  Nice going, guys.

Cub fans should be pleased with their effort in Atlanta because they're not an easy team to face at all.  The important thing was that they scored early to avoid having to battle against the bullpen which is, in my opinion, the most dominant in baseball.  Hardthrowers Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel are two of the most toughest pitchers in the league because everything they throw is hard, hard, and harder.  Kimbrel hasn't allowed a run since June.  The results of the Houston series, however, is pretty much unacceptable.  Marmol found a way to lose then so did the offense the next day.  Although these two events probably didn't directly have anything to do with Jim Hendry's dismissal, it definitely didn't cheer up the franchise's outlook at all.

MLB's Best Uniforms, Part 1: Home Uniforms

Robinson Cano and the Yankees
check in at #2.

Because two Mondays ago was Memorial Day, you (might) have known what that meant.  It was time for MLB to roll out this year's version of the Stars and Stripes caps that are worn every year on Memorial Day, July 4th, and September 11th.  In 2008 and 2009, all teams wore the same caps, just with their logo on them and weren't given any choice in the matter.  But in 2010, teams were given the choice to do a red or blue bill and logo outline.  The Cubs took red.

The design of these caps was leaked before the design was released by manufacturer New Era just a few days before Memorial Day.  Leaked, as in the Mets decided to wear the caps earlier than scheduled thanks to the Bin Laden events.  And so, feeling patriotic, the Mets wore these for a home game against the Giants just a while ago.  They appear to be pretty much the same thing as last year's version, except that the back is now the same color as the bill.  They appear to be running out of ideas, to be honest.  It's important to remember that although wearing 'patriotic' caps may seem cool, they only exist for more revenue, which is exactly why they insist on making a new design every year.

Anyways, this gets us to the main subject of this post.  This is the first of a three-post series in which I will count down MLB's top ten of each type of uniform (home, away, and alternate).  This is supposed to start arguments, not end them.  Of course, this is being written in my opinion and I want to point out that, maybe because of my age, I'm much more of a modern style of uniform liker and less traditionalist than most.  This countdown only ranks the top ten out of the 30 current home uniforms.  No throwbacks or retro uniforms.  The top ten:

10. Cincinnati Reds

In the late 90s and early 2000s, the Reds were just another of those teams to go BFBS (black for black's sake), meaning they just added black to their color scheme spontaneously because it was a fad at the time.  In fact, the BFBS revolution probably influenced more teams uniforms than any other color fad, ever.  It began fading in the early to mid 2000s, but the Reds didn't unroll these (photo, left) clean, straight up home unis until 2007.  I think this version rivals all other that the Reds have ever had, and considering that the Reds have been a franchise for nearly 150 years, that's an awfully long time.  The black remains, but in a minor role as the highlight color.


9. Kansas City Royals

The Royals are yet another team that went crazy with black after being a royal blue and gold team for the rest of franchise history.  But in 2006, they dropped all black whatsoever.  All that remained was the core uniform that they've always had.  The Royals as a franchise have made tremendous progress since unveiling the new uniforms, from renovating Kauffman Stadium to developing the best farm system of all time to hosting the All-Star Game next season.




8. Seattle Mariners

This is probably not one you would expect to see on a list like this.  And to be sure, this uniform has its share of flaws.  For one, the script is boring.  For two, this looked a whole lot better when they wore this with a teal cap, which they did from 1993 to 2003.  But the Mariners home uniform makes the top ten because it's just so unique.  The blue they use, which I don't even know what to call, looks great complemented by the teal that has sort of disappeared over the last decade but returned with the new teal alternates they have this season.  The humble style of the uniforms are very much characteristic of the organization.

7. Chicago Cubs

Bias aside, the Cubs pinstripes is one of the greatest uniforms around, and that's not going to change soon.  It's also been improved with minor changes over the years.  It's such a classic look that under the Ricketts' 'administration', the Cubs have worn it exclusively at home.  The blue alternate only appears on the road because of the popularity of this uniform.  Also, it's even better this year with the Ron Santo '10' patch on the right sleeve (can't be seen on this photo).


6. Cleveland Indians

Not one you would expect to see on this list, but the Indians just have great stuff all around.  Great stadium, great uniforms, great logo, great fan base, and this year, a great team.  What really makes these worthy of the top 10 is the cursive script on the chest.  Although the design overall isn't the most classic, it's a good mix of old school (the writing script) and modern (the blue piping down the middle).












5. Baltimore Orioles

Does something look different about this uniform when compared to those of the rest of the league?  Maybe it's that there's no red or blue, making the Orioles one of only a handful of teams that don't choose one.  The Giants are the only other team to venture into black-and-orange territory, but the Orioles do it way better.  For once, the black actually seems to fit the orange very well, as opposed to a lot of other teams where it seems forced.


4. Atlanta Braves

Respect the class!  This uniform has all the ingredients to pull off the retro, classic look that they're going for.  Personally, I love the red bill on the cap.  The contrast there is what makes the entire thing work.  In fact, I wouldn't even be opposed to the Cubs wearing their red-billed cap at home.  But I digress.  The blue sleeves make this uniform an equal mix of blue and red.  And although they aren't the most original as the Braves have changed uniforms quite a bit in their history, it sure looks original.








3. San Diego Padres

It seems as if most Padres fans prefer the old lame brown and mustard uniforms, but I beg to ask why a change is even necessary.  The current home uniforms are perfect for all that San Diego is.  Not including sealife like Marlins and (Devil) Rays, the Padres are the only team in the league with a specific ocean reference.  The theme in their logo is the script as a wave and it's terrific.  In fact, the Padres script on the home uniform is hands down the best script in baseball.  Besides that, the uniforms are simple and great.  It's basically navy-on-white with a hint of sand.




2. New York Yankees

This one is a total no-brainer.  Like the Yankees, hate the Yankees, but either way the Yankee pinstripes is one of the most legendary uniforms in the history of sports.  When considering this uniform, consider all that it's meant for baseball as a whole in pop culture and everyday life.  This is one of those aspects about the league that makes it what it is today.  As far as I know, the Yankees have never had an alternate uniform and they've never had to because this is all the franchise will ever need.  It is perhaps the most famous pinstriped uniform, as well as the thickest; technically, the Yankee uniform's pinstripes are wider than those of any other teams'.  Could this be symbolic of the importance of the pinstripes?






1. Los Angeles Dodgers       

Much like the Yankees, the Dodgers have kept things the same uniform wise for quite a while in Chavez Ravine.  Except for this weird one-year experiment back in the late-90s, the Dodgers haven't used hardly any home alternates.  Technically, the white fabric that the Dodgers use is actually the brightest white fabric used on any uniform in MLB.  The Dodgers have done experimenting with taking names off the jerseys, but even now that they do the script is small and a lot less noticeable that most uniforms.  So the Dodgers, much like the Cubs, have done minor tweaks to the uniform but ultimately have kept the same uniform alive for many years.  The result?  A modern, classic and clean looking uniform that goes great with some late-arriving Dodger Dog-eating Dodger fans at good ol' Dodger Stadium.





Thank you for reading my countdown!  Do you agree or disagree with any of the rankings?  Definitely shoot me an email right here.  Happy summer; it could be a long one with these Cubs, so get outside or celebrate the fall of the Miami Heat!        

Cubs Sign Braden Looper, Augie Ojeda

The Cubs have signed Braden Looper and Augie Ojeda to Minor League contracts with invites to Spring Training.  Neither will probably make the Opening Day roster, but there's nothing wrong with a little competition.  Looper could be an emergency starter for the Cubs in the event of widespread injury or vast ineffectiveness by the current rotation corps.  I don't think hardly any level of incompetency by the Cubs infielders could land Ojeda a Major League job, however.  The Cubs are deep in the middle of the infield and will (should) call up prospects waiting in Iowa, like Darwin Barney, before Ojeda.

Looper, 36, became a starter in 2007 after relieving for the entirety of his Major League career before that, including closing games for the Marlins and Mets in the early 2000s.  Looper last pitched in 2009 with the Brewers, earning a 14-7 record but, interestingly, had a bad 5.22 ERA and lead the league in homers and earned runs allowed.  That was his worst of his three seasons as a starter, the best being in 2008 with the Cardinals in which he went 12-14 with a 4.16 ERA.  He should pitch in the minors and set an example for the young arms down there, but who knows if he will be able to gain the respect necessary to do that.  Also, nobody will really listen to an old veteran serving up meatballs, so he'll need to pitch well to gain that respect.  That might be a challenge.

Ojeda, also 36, is a former Cub who reached the Majors in 2000.  Ojeda hit an underwhelming .196 in four partial seasons with the Cubs, with his 359 plate appearances between those years equaling about two thirds of a full season's worth.  To me, Ojeda is one of those guys where you look at his stat page and just wonder what anyone ever saw in him to believe he could play at the Major League level.  He is an awful hitter, owning a .234 career batting average in the Majors and .261 in the Minors.  In his entire career, he has a 0.6 WAR, including a -0.6 WAR last season alone.  He used to be a good defender but has lost that with his age, and has a career -0.5 WAR batting, so he's legitimately hurting teams with his bat.  I don't see the value in his signing.

Both of these signings seen uncharacteristic of the Cubs.  Both signings are somewhat unnecessary, as the Cubs have the depth in the Minors to compensate for any lack of players at the moment.  The rookies would certainly do better than these two, because neither have an impressive career and not much can be expected out of either.  The reason it seems uncharacteristic of the Cubs is that, for one, the Cubs' oldest player last year was 35 so they weren't a veteran team and, for two, it isn't typical of the Cubs front office to go after these formerly mediocre veterans who now have little to no value.  The Sox did that with Omar Vizquel and Andruw Jones and actually got contributions out of them, but I don't think the Cubs will be quite as lucky with Looper and Ojeda.  

Hot Stove Buzz #5

NOTE: This is the 100th post in the history of the Cubs Insider blog!  Thank you!

-If there's Cubs news out there, it should come first.  And here it is.  Reed Johnson, the defensive whiz Cub fans love from his tenure at Wrigley between 2008 and 2009, has been signed by the Cubs to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training.  Despite seeing action in just 174 games and getting just 560 plate appearances between the two seasons due to injury and his bench role, he still quickly became a fan favorite for his hustle and unbelievable otherworldly defensive skills.  While his arm isn't the best by any means, he covers a lot of ground and almost seems to enjoy diving and crashing into stuff to make a catch.  For intense Cub fans, the catch he made in the top photo will be remembered for quite some time.  Actually, so will the photo below that.  The bottom line is, it looks like the Cubs have their fifth outfielder.  Fernando Perez looked like the favorite to be the team's fifth outfielder if five outfielders where going to make the roster; that being in spite of the fact that Perez likely needs more seasoning in the minors.  It will be hard to find Johnson playing time in a five man rotation with four guys already dying to play everyday, but don't be surprised to see Johnson sneak his way in the lineup from time to time.
-In other news, baseball's all-time saves leader in Trevor Hoffman retired today.  With 601 saves, he is the only man to reach the 600 mark but likely will be overpassed by Mariano Rivera, who got 500 in June 2009 and has 559 heading into 2011.  Hoffman had a really, really bad 2010 and although he was able to get to the big 600 mark, it's sad to see players once so great struggle like this.  Ken Griffey, Jr. went through the same thing in 2010, and it's just sad to see players who used to mean so much to fans just kind of fade off into retirement after a bad year and few people wanting them to come back.
-The Yankees have been looking at outfielder Andruw Jones for a while.  Jones went way under the radar in 2010, hitting only .230 but also hitting 19 homers in slightly more than half a season's worth of at-bats.  If he were given the keys to a starting job, with the Yankees or the also-rumored Rays, I believe he could shine once again just like back in the day.  He's only 33 and has shown he has a lot of power still.  I worry though, that at his age and that he has played in an average of only 88 games per season since 2008, he could lose interest and confidence in baseball if he doesn't get the chance to contribute to a winning team.  At 407 career home runs, he could easily make it to 500 with a few good seasons.
-The Cardinals are "hopeful" that they can resign first baseman Albert Pujols to a big deal before the season starts, at which time Pujols will no longer negotiate until after the season.  If the Cardinals don't get a deal done this spring, they will have a very short exclusive time to negotiate in the fall before Pujols hits the open market- a scary thought to all Cardinals fans.  Well I think they'd better hurry up and give the man the money he wants or just not do it at all, because he has made the franchise over the last decade and should be given the decency to know his fate.
-The Tigers will gamble on starter Brad Penny for $3.3 million, most likely filling their #5 spot in the rotation.  The Tigers could use a reliable veteran in the rotation, and Penny did well in nine starts for the Giants in 2010.  After five good years with the Dodgers, Penny was a bust for the Red Sox in 2009, but has always pitched well in his season and a half for San Francisco.  The question that remains is, how will he adjust to this change?  We'll see soon enough.

First Basemen Front and Central

The first basemen of the central divisions of baseball may be as stacked as they ever have been in the history of baseball.  Ferocious power hitters and tenacious defenders, these guys have their names all over the offensive leaderboards.  All eleven of the eleven central teams have a great first baseman.

National League
The first basemen of the NL Central have combined for 69 homers this season, including 15 by Albert Pujols and Joey Votto each, 10 by Garrett Jones and Derrek Lee each, 6 by Lance Berkman and 13 by Prince Fielder.  St. Louis' Pujols, a three-time MVP of the NL, can be counted on for consistent power production like this for years to come.  Votto is one of the NL's top young stars, leading the Reds in their push for first at age 26.  Fielder, also only 26, has had great power for years now and became one of few Milwaukee Brewers to hit 50 home runs in a season back in 2007.  Derrek Lee, who mashed 46 HR in 2005 and 35 HR in 2009 on the Cubs, really hasn't hit as well as anyone would've liked him to in 2010 but he got hot this last weekend and looks to keep his roll going.  Lance Berkman is on the downside of his career at 34 but still is the main run producer for a failing Houston Astros offense.  Jones took Pittsburgh by storm in 2009 after his summer call-up, a thrilling young talent who, with Andrew McCutchen, has given something for Pirates fans to root for.

American League
The first basemen of the AL have combined for 65 home runs, including 7 by Billy Butler, 17 by Paul Konerko, 8 by Travis Hafner, 19 by Miguel Cabrera, and 14 by Justin Morneau.  Butler is the offensive face of the Kansas City franchise, a young slugger with dominant power still in developing stages.  Paul Konerko is having a big comeback year, flashing back to his 40 HR days of old.  Morneau is leading the AL in walks and has become a perennial fixture for the Twins.  Hafner's career has been damaged much by injury, and he hasn't played a full season since 2007 but could be getting back to his old productive self.  Cabrera has been the best offensive player in the American League in 2010.  If the Tigers make the playoffs, he is my surefire MVP.  His 19 HR and 60 RBI lead the AL, and the .328 AVG ain't too bad either.

Significance?  69 HR by NL 1B, 65 HR by AL 1B.  What's the big deal?
Well, many scouts and baseball personnel like Ryne Sandberg agree, power at the corners is crucial.  Ryno's theory is simple: power in the corners (1B, 3B, RF, LF) and speed and defense up the middle (C, 2B, SS, CF).  There is more power in the Central than any other division in both leagues, where there are 59 HR from the NL East (Ryan Howard, Ike Davis, Adam Dunn, Gaby Sanchez, and Troy Glaus) and 44 HR from the NL West (James Loney, Aubrey Huff, Todd Helton, Adam LaRoche, Adrian Gonzalez).  In the AL, there are 49 HR from the AL East (Kevin Youkilis, Mark Teixeira, Carlos Pena, Lyle Overbay, and Garrett Atkins) and 26 HR from the AL West (Daric Barton, Mike Napoli filling in for Kendry Morales, Justin Smoak, and Casey Kotchman).  While steals are on the rise in today's game, the home run ball is becoming underrated as the home run in critical in the winning formula.  With no power, there are no wins.  With no power, you get the 2010 Seattle Mariners who are last in the league in home runs and their home run leaders are Milton Bradley and Mike Sweeney with a whopping six.

The Final Home Run Stats
AL East: 49
AL Central: 65
AL West: 26

NL East: 59
NL Central: 69
NL West: 44

Want more on home runs?
Check out hittrackeronline.com and tatertrottracker.com for all the stats you want.

Road Trip Wrapup: Pittsburgh, Houston, Milwaukee

Final Record: 27-33
Trip Record: 3-6
Games Behind First: 7.5

It could be a long summer for these Cubs.  The Cubs, who can't live up to winning expectations, haven't been able to beat even the bad teams the last two years.  This road trip should have swung momentum in the opposite way it actually did, and with a 6-3 or 7-2 record the Cubs would be pumped to play the Sox to resume the interleague dockett.  But here we are again, asking questions about how guys like Felipe Paulino can overwhelm the Cubs offense for the majority of a game. 

The first two games in Pittsburgh were frustrating, but the way the Cubs played gave me an indication that they brought the winning attitude with their luggage this time.  The lead on Monday, May 31 slipped off a rare bad outing by Sean Marshall, including a Garrett Jones homer.  Hopefully Cub fans had something nice to do on this Memorial Day than allow themselves get stressed by this loss.  The next one, however, on the next night, was nothing short of heartbreaking for me.  It was one of the hardest losses to take this year, because of how fundamentally well the Cubs had been playing all evening.  Like mentioned in an earlier post, it was Neil Walker who drove the Ted Lilly pitch out for a huge go-ahead homer in the bottom of the 8th, and before the Cubs could react it was game over.  The next game was postponed, but on Monday the next week Carlos Silva squeaked out a quiet 6-1 win.

The Houston series was pathetic.  I don't care to recap Friday except that Felipe Paulino 'dealing.'  The Astros plastered together three runs, and that's it.  Aramis Ramirez and Tyler Colvin both homered Saturday night and the Cubs responded well pouring on eight runs.  Ryan Dempster went a strong 6.1 IP with 7 K, which made me think we were going to turn it around on the trip.  But no, as Carlos Lee hit a two-run homer in a three run first inning off Randy Wells on Sunday.  The Cubs left town having lost two of three. 

After playing the makeup game Monday in Pittsburgh, the Cubs headed to Miller Park where they are already 3-0 in 2010.  Two of the three games there were Pittsburgh-esque heartbreaking, as the Cubs fell in the opener because of a two blown leads in as many innings.  There were no runs until a Cubs rally in the 8th, but a Corey Hart homer gave that lead away on one pitch.  In the ninth, the Cubs put up another run only to put men on and Carlos Marmol surrended a go-ahead, walk off two run single to Casey McGehee.  ESPN carried Wednesday's game, and the inconsitent Cubs offense put up nine including five homers coming from three hitters.  The 9-4 win set the stage for a disaster Thursday.  Xavier Nady hit a two-run homer earlier in the game, but blew it anyway in the bottom of the 10th.  In a 4-4 game, Craig Counsell sacrificed Carlos Gomez to second with none out, but Gomez just kept going all the way to third.  Nady made a dumb throw, a very ill-advised action in youth baseball, and the throw got away, scoring Gomez and ending the game.  The whole thing happened so fast, it was unbelievable.  Here's my question: Nady was at first because Derrek Lee had the day off.  Understandable.  But the fact that Lee is a three-time gold glover who hates days off and was ready to go merits the question of why wasn't Lee, in a big extra inning game, inserted for defensive purposes over a perennial DH in Nady?

The Cubs really screwed up this time.  They played great baseball in seven of nine games, and easily could have won those seven.  If the Cubs can't beat these teams, then who can they?

(Marlon) Byrd's the Word

Guaranteed amusement comes from the famous Family Guy episode where Peter Griffin basically has a seizure about the Bird is the Word.  If you haven't seen it a million times, there's a first for everything: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WNrx2jq184.  The Cubs have a Byrd in center field.  He swoops over the grass and takes flight to catch fly balls, animal instincts few center fielders possess.  I was thrilled at a Qdoba Restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin when the ESPNEWS ticker informed me a linebacker had just been signed by the Cubs. 

Marlon Byrd, all 6'0", 245 lbs. of him, became a popular figure in Cubdom from his first Cubs at-bat by hitting a three-run homer, just like Starlin Castro.  He has been very consistent and very important in the 29 games since then.  Byrd has already bonded well with Fukudome and Soriano in the outfield and has proven himself so far to a fan base that, because of hotheaded outfielders past, has become quick to pounce on and criticize outfielders.  His 23 RBI and .339 BA in 30 games make up a big part of the following stats in the next paragraph.

Despite the inconsistencies of the team altogether, the Cubs have gotten their offense closer to 2008 levels than 2009 levels.  The Cubs have (MLB rank followed by NL rank): 148 runs scored (10th of 30, 5th of 16), 280 hits (7th, 4th), 37 HR (5th, 2nd), 455 Total Bases (5th, 3rd), 146 RBI (7th, 4th), .273 BA (7th, 3rd), .348 OBP (6th, 2nd), .444 SLG PCT (6th, 3rd), and 113 BB (9th, 4th).

I mentioned in an earlier post that center field is the most important position on the field, in my opinion.  The Cubs haven't really had great leaders at center the last few years (Corey Patterson, Juan Pierre, Jacque Jones, Felix Pie, Jim Edmonds, and Kosuke Fukudome), even if some were good players.  Byrd is an aggressive player and undoubtedly the commander the outfield.  When you have a guy like that, it spreads and everyone wants to be in on the fun.  Tyler Colvin must be getting a lesson from him and regulars Fukudome and Alfonso Soriano must be enjoying themselves more than before.  Marlon is such a positive influence I bet he would increase 'Fun' for the Cubs if that was a baseball stat.  Go Cubs! 

Milwaukee Massacre

For the second time in three years, the Cubs have brought down Miller Park (Wrigley Field North).  I haven't ever seen the Cubs beaten this badly, but still I don't have much sympathy for the Brewers.  They are the team with the big, league-leader type stars and they are always labeled as underrated.  They can hit but they can't pitch, the type that fans like but those teams can become frustrating.  8-1, 5-1, and 12-2 the final scores, the Cubs outscoring them 25-4.  Each game was a blowout and the pitching was unbelievably good.  The Cubs pitching has certainly been a strength and they showed it in Milwaukee.  This was the weekend that they put everything together.  Tyler Colvin and Kosuke Fukudome both had two homers over the weekend, and Derrek Lee and Geovany Soto each added one on Sunday.  Carlos Zambrano allowed a run in his relief appearance, but it didn't matter and he otherwise looked sharp.  I really had a hard time seeing the Cubs rotation being as good as they used to be with Zambrano, Dempster, Lilly, Harden, and Marquis of 2008, by far the best rotation the Cubs have put out in decades.  With only two of those remaining, I thought the rotation wouldn't be as good, but it has been amazing lately.  Like I said, everything is coming together.  This is the way the Cubs need to win baseball games this season: great pitching, good, patient offense, and efficient defense.  We have an easy part of the schedule coming up, with Washington, Arizona, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati over the next two weeks.  I see us coming out in first.

Chicago teams (Cubs, White Sox) went 6-0 over the weekend with different styles of play.  The Sox won on three go-ahead homers in the 8th or 9th, first a walk-off by Andruw Jones, then a walk-off by Alex Rios, then a go-ahead homer in the 8th by Paul Konerko.  Despite their attempts at smallball, I think this will be the same fill-em-up-and-homer-em-in team that they have been for so long.  Konerko has been a nice surprise for them, but they do have plenty of struggles.  Jake Peavy can no longer pitch.  One thing I know for sure, is that Seattle isn't too happy with their bullpen.

Welcome to the Doghouse

John Grabow and Esmailin Caridad are the first to enter my doghouse on the Cubs.  The Cubs returned from their six game road trip to begin the season with a 2-4 record, although that mark should be 5-1.  On Wednesday in Atlanta, Grabow prevented the Cubs from getting their first win by allowing a two-run, go-ahead homer to Chipper Jones.  Just two nights later Drew Stubbs destroyed Caridad's offering into center field to blow the 3-1 lead.  Another two nights and another blown effort by the Cubs.  This time it was Grabow again, with the help of Alfonso Soriano.  In the 7th with Tom Gorzelanny still pitching, Soriano messed up a routine catch like no one else could and this resulted in the bases loaded with one out.  Miguel Cairo then singled off Sean Marshall to drive in a run, but the tied score didn't last long.  An inning later in the 8th, John Grabow loaded the bases, and Esmailin Caridad walked Ramon Hernandez to walk in a run.  After a Jonny Gomes sac fly, the Cubs were left staring at the scoreboard in disbelief for the third time in five games.

I don't see what has happened with Grabow and Caridad.  I really hope this is something they get over, but the Cubs offense wasn't playing too well on the road trip and the starters were just doing a fantastic job (exception: Carlos Zambrano).  For any of that to matter, the bullpen needs to do their job even if they don't get the big thanks for it.  As we saw, the Cubs were unable to do that.  I haven't seen a stretch like that for the Cubs ever, where the bullpen blows it three out of five nights in the 7th or later.  Hopefully I won't see that again.

I had confidence in this bullpen heading into the season.  Actually, I still do.  This was just a wake up call, and it should stay that way to all Cub fans.  The bullpen is young, and young instability is not really a problem the Cubs have had to deal with in the last few years.  Thankfully, we are young now but we need to be able to hand the ball to someone who can get outs.  This is not easy with young guys.  One night, Caridad might be firing fastballs past everyone, and the next night he's serving up meat balls obliterated all around the park.  Marmol could strike out the side, or he could walk the bases loaded and force in runs.  The main idea with all of this is that not too much should be expected from the bullpen, although there is plenty of upside.

Atlanta Starts New Era

Cub fans watching the Cubs' futile attempt at a season opener saw something that hasn't been seen for a long time: Atlanta as a baseball city.  Although the Atlanta Braves hat and the city abbreviation 'ATL' have become extremely popular in the rap and hip hop industry, the Braves and their fan base have been not so cool in recent years.  Turner Field can seat 54,357, behind only Yankee Stadium, but their attendance in 2009 was 15th at 29,304 a game.  Attendance has stayed below 34,000 a game every year since 2002.  Why did this happen?  I think it became fairly obvious.  Bobby Cox and the Braves marched to the playoffs 14 times in a row.  14 times!  However, they only got to five World Series, including none the last six years from 2000-2005.  They lost in the LDS the last four years, which grew frustrating for fans realizing their time as a winning team wouldn't last forever.  The last three of those LDS all included losing the win or go home Game 5 at home.

So what does this have to do with Opening Day 2010?  Here's my theory.  The Braves, rocketing into the 2003 playoffs with a 101-61 record and a lineup filled with all stars, met the Cubs in the first round.  The Braves were heavily, heavily favored against a Cubs team which still had issues the whole season and were a team that didn't seem like it was supposed to be there.  However, the Braves were surprised when the Cubs put up a good fight.  The Cubs even took a 2-1 lead in the series and the chance to move on at home, but the pitching of Russ Ortiz and a homer by Andruw Jones in Game 4 at Wrigley sent the series back to Turner Field.  Now, everything was favoring the Braves again to go play the upstart Marlins in the NLCS, but the shocked sellout crowd watched as Kerry Wood and Joe Borowski shut down the hitters to one run and five hits while Aramis Ramirez and Alex Gonzalez hit home runs.  Unbelievably, the Cubs would head back to Wrigley in the NLCS.  The Braves went home.  That, ladies and gentlemen, is the moment Atlanta went into a baseball slumber.  The only cities I know that could go into such a slumber while still fielding playoff teams are Atlanta and New York, specifically the Yankees.  And yet it happened, so even though the Braves would win 96 and then 90 games the next two years, the damage was done.  Any excitement still around was taken when Andruw Jones, Atlanta's baseball son, packed his bags after 2007.

The Braves would go on to lose for most of 2006, 2007, 2008 and some of 2009, but the transformation is happening again.  There were some glimpses last season of the future of Atlanta's baseball.  The new radius of guys revolves around some new stars, like Brian McCann, Derek Lowe, and of course super prospect Jason Heyward.  And as I watched the Braves destroy the Cubs for 16 runs in front of a sellout crowd on Opening Day, I saw the vision of another era of winning baseball.  I don't know if it starts this year or 2011 or ever, but I definitely saw the group of guys capable of the job.  Yunel Escobar, Martin Prado, Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson, and Jason Heyward look like the same style homegrown group that started the last era of Andruw Jones, John Smoltz, Greg Maddux, Chipper Jones, Tom Glavine, and Mike Hampton.  One problem with the Braves right now is that there doesn't appear to be one face of the franchise-yet.  For me, it's only a matter of time before Hanson becomes the staff ace, Heyward picks up where Andruw Jones left off, and Escobar and Prado become a premier double play duo.  What Atlanta does at the end of an era can't be called rebuilding.  I call it retooling, because there is never no talent somewhere in the system.  Even through all of the struggles the last half-decade, Brian McCann was there as the new young talent.  Then came Escobar in 2007, Prado and Jurrjens in 2008 (although not technically homegrown, Jurrjens was traded from Detroit as a young prospect), and Hanson in 2009.  It's fair to say Atlanta has woken up.

This kind of transformation is really great for the game.  It's the way the game should be won.  Not the Cubs have ever played it this way or anything, but I guess anything is possible with the Ricketts now.  The Braves, in Boston, Milwaukee, and now Atlanta, is one of baseball's longest tenured and proudest franchises.  A return to winning form is spectacular for the future of baseball and the city of Atlanta.   

Half-Decade In Review: Outfielder Breakdown!

Have you ever noticed anything about most of the Cubs' big signings in the last half-decade? I have. Mostly outfielders, the Cubs pour money into these guys imagining they will be 10 year mainstays at their position with no controversy. This couldn't be farther from what happens almost every time. In fact, every year since 2005 has seen a change in the regular starter in at least one outfield position. Here is my breakdown of each acquisition:

Jeromy Burnitz, RF, 2005: This quickly-aging veteran was signed to erase memories of Sammy Sosa, whom the city had turned its back on. Burnitz had received MVP votes after clubbing 37 homers in 2004, which led Cub fans to believe they were getting a high-level slugger. Burnitz was a slight disappointment, as was most of that 2005 team, by hitting only 24 homers and a .322 OBP. Right Move? It might have been the right move because he didn't have a bad injury record (had played at least 126 games each year after first becoming a starter in 1997), was still a power threat, and was a durable lefty who regularly batted more than 600 ABs. However, his rising age (36 in 2005) should have added some red flags by his name.

Jacque Jones, RF, 2006: Jones was one of the most under-appreciated players of the 2006 season. Jones was highly-criticized for his lackluster defensive play in right especially early in the season, but he finished the year with 27 homers (tying a career high) and a .285 BA. Right Move? Yes. After Burnitz left town, the Cubs once again needed a right fielder. Jones added pop and around 10 stolen bases a year, which was preferred over Burnitz' all-or-nothing style of play. Jones struggled offensively early in 2007 but became one of baseball's best hitters in the second half despite never getting his power back. He was traded to the Tigers for 2008 and then the Marlins, having not appeared in an MLB game since.

Juan Pierre, CF, 2006: Derrek Lee's monster 2005 campaign complete with a batting title (.335 BA) and home run bash fest (46) came with one disappointing and confusing figure. He had just 107 RBI because the hitters ahead of him did a horrible job of getting on base. Enter Pierre. Pierre was a stolen-base machine, 167 bases in just three seasons in Florida. The plan worked because he led MLB in at-bats (699), hits (204), and games played (162). Lee missed 112 games due to a wrist injury however, and Pierre now was on base with not enough to drive him in. Right Move? Absolutely! The Cubs were very lucky to land this speedster and it was very unfortunate his all-out play was only seen in the Cub uniform during the lost season of 2006. Pierre moved on to the Dodgers where he became a critical part of their outfield rotation.

Alfonso Soriano, LF, 2007: Soriano was likely the best player available on the free agent market in this offseason after cranking up a 40-40 season with the Washington Nationals even playing in cavernous RFK Stadium. He was given the biggest contract in Cubs history, with good reason. It was clear after 2006 that more offense was need and better defense should be a bigger emphasis with a big roster turnover including the change at manager. The converted infielder's unconventional play in left was fine as long as he was making plays, which he was. His arm was a cannon and he was among the league leaders in assists. Right Move? Remains to be seen. Soriano has shown big flashes of the player he was, but here we are in Year Four and Cub fans have yet to see a full, healthy season from him. Missing over a month in 2007, he still hit 33 homers. However, his homers and average have decreased since then, and he has not even hit 20 steals in any season with the Cubs. Much pressure on this man should be expected in 2010, and rightly so after the Cubs put a no-trade clause in his contract making him stuck to the Cubs for eight years, or four more after 2010.

Kosuke Fukudome, RF, 2008: Another right fielder, this time imported from Japan. Fukudome, the former MVP with the Chunichi Dragons, was profiled as a mix between an Ichiro and a Hideki Matsui. He was the Cubs' first Japanese player. Right Move? Yes. This one took some thinking. Offensively, the main reason the Cubs broke open and scored the most in the NL was because of their new-found patience at the plate. Fukudome inspired the rest of the team with his natural patience, and the Wrigley Field crowd went crazy for Kosuke through the first half of 2008. However, his season ended badly in 2008 and he was more consistent after being moved to center field in 2009. Contrary to popular belief, he statistically plays better defense in center rather than right, but he has admitted to being more comfortable in right and he can make more big plays in right.

Jim Edmonds, CF, 2008: A midseason acquisition in May, Edmonds came from the rival Cardinals and fans were intrigued to see his performance on the other side of the I-55 Rivalry. Edmonds had always been a smart ballplayer, good power hitter, and great defender. He had won eight Gold Gloves, including six consecutively from 2000-2005. Right Move? Yes. Good thinking on Jim Hendry's part to look past his age and poor early performance with the Padres to see what he could bring to Chicago. Worst case scenario would have been a platoon role with Felix Pie and Reed Johnson, making CF a weak spot but not terrible. On that 2008 team, there was no need for production out of that position. Edmonds was a free agent in 2009 but is targeting a comeback in 2010.

Milton Bradley, RF, 2009: Bradley (above, #21) had a few repeating themes in his career: tirades, gifted hitting ability, team jumping, a bad clubhouse influence, injury problems, and more off-field issues. Bradley was an injury risk for sure when he was signed, and many Cub Nation questioned why the Cubs couldn't have signed Raul Ibanez or Pat Burrell instead of a big risk. Bradley, however, led the AL in OBP in 2008 and was always a patient hitter with pop. Right Move? NO. Another move of this caliber will have Jim Hendry fired. Bradley got in trouble from his first at-bat in Wrigley Field, getting suspended for making contact with an umpire while arguing a third strike in a crucial pinch-hit situation against the Cardinals April 16th. The rest of the season was filled with slamming quotes, broken bats, and benching. Lou Piniella had to confront Bradley and sent him home during the middle of a game against the White Sox due to bad behavior. Offensively and defensively he was a big disappointment, hitting only 40 RBI and he will live on in Chicago sports lore for one of the worst defensive plays of the decade. He famously threw the ball into the stands with one out which allowed a run to score and another runner to move up after forgetting how many outs there were to the disgust of the sold-out crowd at Wrigley Field including me.

Marlon Byrd, CF, 2010: Fukudome gets to move back to his natural position after Byrd (above, #22) was signed from Texas on New Year's Eve. Byrd had somewhat of a breakout year in 2009, collecting 155 hits, 43 doubles, 20 homers, 89 RBI, 599 PA, and 262 total bases, all career highs. He can steal a few bases and play great defense. Right Move? YES! I have always known Byrd would be a great fit for the Cubs. The Cubs are now looking for a fourth outfielder like Jermaine Dye, Xavier Nady, Johnny Gomes, etc...and a role with Byrd is exactly what the Cubs need. Rudy Jaramillo will continue to make him a more patient hitter, and Jaramillo's magical ways will win over these hitters. The Cubs are looking to improve on defense, and Byrd helps that in the outfield (especially with Soriano now turned into a liability on defense) as well as being a plus clubhouse influence.

The bottom line is although the Cubs have learned plenty of lessons about outfielders, they look pretty set for 2010 with three able dudes. Byrd is a team chemistry guy, and I foresee a bond between him, Fukudome, and Soriano.