The goal, as has been the case for more than the past decade, is to finish .500. Pittsburgh’s streak of 17 consecutive losing seasons is a record not only for MLB, but for the NFL, NBA and NHL. The last time the Pirates finished above .500 was 1992 — Barry Bonds’ final season with the team. The 2010 Pirates have a lineup that is good enough to reach .500, but the rotation is a question mark.
Up-and-comer for the 2010 season? Andrew McCutchen.
Three questions
1. How good is center fielder Andrew McCutchen?
McCutchen was drafted 11th overall in 2005, just after Cameron Maybin and right before Jay Bruce. The Pirates’ prospect took longer to reach the majors than Maybin or Bruce, but he clearly had the best 2009 season. "The trade of Nate McLouth to the Braves opened the door for the speedy outfielder and he didn’t look back," MLB Network analyst Dan Plesac said. "He’s a five-tool player who hit three home runs in one game last season. He could be a 30-30 (player) in the very near future."
In 108 games as a rookie last season, McCutchen had 12 homers, 22 stolen bases and 54 RBIs (second on the team) from the leadoff spot. Although McCutchen wasn’t pleased with the pace of his rise though the minors, the Pirates wanted to make sure he was ready when they brought him up for good. McCutchen is closer to being an All-Star than a minor leaguer again.
2. What about Pedro Alvarez?
If McCutchen is Mr. Right Now, Alvarez is The Next Big Thing. Although he might be ready for the majors offensively, there is little chance the Pirates will break camp with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2008 draft on their roster.
Between advanced Class A and Class AA last season, Alvarez hit .288 with 27 homers and 95 RBIs. "At the end of the day, I don’t think he performed as poorly at Lynchburg or as exceptional at Altoona as it appeared on paper," Pirates director of player development Kyle Stark said. Alvarez should start 2010 at Class AAA, where he will refine his approach at the plate and continue to work on his defense at third base. A midseason call-up is possible.
3. What about the other McCutchen?
Daniel McCutchen — no relation to Andrew — is a candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation. The 27-year-old came to the Pirates’ organization in the trade that sent Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to the Yankees in 2008. McCutchen posted a 4.21 ERA in six starts with Pittsburgh last season after going 13-6 with a 3.47 ERA at Class AAA.
His primary competition is Kevin Hart, who was 1-8 with a 6.92 ERA in 10 starts for the Pirates in 2009. Hart, also 27, has a 5.26 ERA in 47 games (14 starts) in his five-season major league career.
Projected lineup
1. CF Andrew McCutchen: Led team with 74 runs, 22 SBs.
2. 2B Akinori Iwamura: Career .354 OBP with Rays.
3. RF Garrett Jones: 21 HRs, .938 OPS in 82 games.
4. C Ryan Doumit: .318 AVG, 15 HRs when healthy in ’08.
5. 3B Andy LaRoche: Only Pirate to play more than 133 games last season.
6. LF Lastings Milledge: .167 AVG with Nats, .291 with Pirates in ’09.
7. 1B Jeff Clement: HRs, 90 RBIs, .850 OPS at Class AAA.
8. SS Ronny Cedeno: .208 AVG with Mariners, Pirates in ’09.
Projected rotation
1. LHP Paul Maholm: At least 29 starts past 4 seasons.
2. LHP Zach Duke: One-time All-Star in ’09; led N.L. with 16 losses.<
3. RHP Ross Ohlendorf: 3.92 ERA was rotation’s best in ’09.
4. RHP Charlie Morton: 6.15 ERA for Braves in ’08; 4.55 for Pirates in ’09.
5. RHP Kevin Hart: .60 ERA with Cubs; 6.92 ERA with Pirates in ’09.
Projected closer
RHP Octavio Dotel: 22 saves in ’04; 19 since.
Grades
Offense: D. The Pirates’ offense is on an upward trend but finished last in the majors in runs scored in 2009. McCutchen and Garrett Jones brought life to the lineup, and Akinori Iwamura provides an established presence to the top of the order. Having Ryan Doumit healthy in the cleanup spot would be a big boost.
Pitching: D. Although the top three starters combined to win only 30 games last season, they all had an ERA under 4.50. The back end of the rotation has questions, however. Octavio Dotel almost certainly will be better as a closer than Matt Capps was last season; Capps lost eight games and had a 5.80 ERA.
Bench: C. There isn’t much power off the bench, but the Pirates have a more experienced group of reserves than they have had in recent seasons. Ryan Church can play all three outfield positions, and Bobby Crosby has learned to become valuable around the infield with his glove
Manager: B. There is more talent on this Pirates team than in the past several years, so the expectation is for Russell, in his third season, to lead the group above the 70-win plateau for the first time.
Sporting News prediction: If the pitching can produce, the offense has the ability to help this team to a .500 finish. However, the Pirates’ best-case scenario is about 75 wins.
Coming Tuesday: Angels preview
Ryan Fagan is a staff writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com.
The goal, as has been the case for more than the past decade, is to finish .500. Pittsburgh’s streak of 17 consecutive losing seasons is a record not only for MLB, but for the NFL, NBA and NHL. The last time the Pirates finished above .500 was 1992 — Barry Bonds’ final season with the team. The 2010 Pirates have a lineup that is good enough to reach .500, but the rotation is a question mark.
Up-and-comer for the 2010 season? Andrew McCutchen.
Three questions
1. How good is center fielder Andrew McCutchen?
McCutchen was drafted 11th overall in 2005, just after Cameron Maybin and right before Jay Bruce. The Pirates’ prospect took longer to reach the majors than Maybin or Bruce, but he clearly had the best 2009 season. "The trade of Nate McLouth to the Braves opened the door for the speedy outfielder and he didn’t look back," MLB Network analyst Dan Plesac said. "He’s a five-tool player who hit three home runs in one game last season. He could be a 30-30 (player) in the very near future."
In 108 games as a rookie last season, McCutchen had 12 homers, 22 stolen bases and 54 RBIs (second on the team) from the leadoff spot. Although McCutchen wasn’t pleased with the pace of his rise though the minors, the Pirates wanted to make sure he was ready when they brought him up for good. McCutchen is closer to being an All-Star than a minor leaguer again.
2. What about Pedro Alvarez?
If McCutchen is Mr. Right Now, Alvarez is The Next Big Thing. Although he might be ready for the majors offensively, there is little chance the Pirates will break camp with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2008 draft on their roster.
Between advanced Class A and Class AA last season, Alvarez hit .288 with 27 homers and 95 RBIs. "At the end of the day, I don’t think he performed as poorly at Lynchburg or as exceptional at Altoona as it appeared on paper," Pirates director of player development Kyle Stark said. Alvarez should start 2010 at Class AAA, where he will refine his approach at the plate and continue to work on his defense at third base. A midseason call-up is possible.
3. What about the other McCutchen?
Daniel McCutchen — no relation to Andrew — is a candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation. The 27-year-old came to the Pirates’ organization in the trade that sent Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to the Yankees in 2008. McCutchen posted a 4.21 ERA in six starts with Pittsburgh last season after going 13-6 with a 3.47 ERA at Class AAA.
His primary competition is Kevin Hart, who was 1-8 with a 6.92 ERA in 10 starts for the Pirates in 2009. Hart, also 27, has a 5.26 ERA in 47 games (14 starts) in his five-season major league career.
Projected lineup
1. CF Andrew McCutchen: Led team with 74 runs, 22 SBs.
2. 2B Akinori Iwamura: Career .354 OBP with Rays.
3. RF Garrett Jones: 21 HRs, .938 OPS in 82 games.
4. C Ryan Doumit: .318 AVG, 15 HRs when healthy in ’08.
5. 3B Andy LaRoche: Only Pirate to play more than 133 games last season.
6. LF Lastings Milledge: .167 AVG with Nats, .291 with Pirates in ’09.
7. 1B Jeff Clement: HRs, 90 RBIs, .850 OPS at Class AAA.
8. SS Ronny Cedeno: .208 AVG with Mariners, Pirates in ’09.
Projected rotation
1. LHP Paul Maholm: At least 29 starts past 4 seasons.
2. LHP Zach Duke: One-time All-Star in ’09; led N.L. with 16 losses.<
3. RHP Ross Ohlendorf: 3.92 ERA was rotation’s best in ’09.
4. RHP Charlie Morton: 6.15 ERA for Braves in ’08; 4.55 for Pirates in ’09.
5. RHP Kevin Hart: .60 ERA with Cubs; 6.92 ERA with Pirates in ’09.
Projected closer
RHP Octavio Dotel: 22 saves in ’04; 19 since.
Grades
Offense: D. The Pirates’ offense is on an upward trend but finished last in the majors in runs scored in 2009. McCutchen and Garrett Jones brought life to the lineup, and Akinori Iwamura provides an established presence to the top of the order. Having Ryan Doumit healthy in the cleanup spot would be a big boost.
Pitching: D. Although the top three starters combined to win only 30 games last season, they all had an ERA under 4.50. The back end of the rotation has questions, however. Octavio Dotel almost certainly will be better as a closer than Matt Capps was last season; Capps lost eight games and had a 5.80 ERA.
Bench: C. There isn’t much power off the bench, but the Pirates have a more experienced group of reserves than they have had in recent seasons. Ryan Church can play all three outfield positions, and Bobby Crosby has learned to become valuable around the infield with his glove
Manager: B. There is more talent on this Pirates team than in the past several years, so the expectation is for Russell, in his third season, to lead the group above the 70-win plateau for the first time.
Sporting News prediction: If the pitching can produce, the offense has the ability to help this team to a .500 finish. However, the Pirates’ best-case scenario is about 75 wins.
Coming Tuesday: Angels preview
Ryan Fagan is a staff writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com.
Expectations have changed in Milwaukee. The Brewers finished 80-82 last season, a disappointment after making the playoffs in 2008. However, it was the Brewers’ third consecutive season with at least 80 wins (that hadn’t happened since 1987-89). With sluggers Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun in the middle of the lineup and burgeoning ace Yovani Gallardo in the rotation, expectations remain high for 2010. Beyond those three young stars, however, there are questions.
New Brewer Randy Wolf will be atop the rotation.
Three questions
1. Are the veteran lefthanders the solution for the rotation?
Massive upgrades were needed for a Milwaukee rotation that finished last in the majors with a 5.37 ERA in 2009. The Brewers aggressively pursued Randy Wolf and signed him to a three-year deal. Wolf was very efficient for the Dodgers last year, though his 3.23 ERA and 1.10 WHIP resulted in only 11 wins. He fits in nicely with Gallardo, the rotation’s lone bright spot last year. Milwaukee also signed Doug Davis, a former Brewer who went 9-14 with a 4.12 ERA for Arizona last season. That trio is solid, though not overwhelming.
The three starters battling for the final two spots are big question marks. Manny Parra was an enigma last season. In five starts against the Cardinals, Parra had a 2.33 ERA. In his 22 starts against everyone else, he posted a 7.33 ERA. Jeff Suppan is in the final season of his four-year deal; the $12.5 million he will earn this season is a more compelling reason to keep him in the rotation than his 5.29 ERA from 2009. Dave Bush had a career 4.45 ERA heading into last season, then stumbled to a 6.38 ERA.
"We need to commit to be more effective pitching to the bottom of the strike zone," new pitching coach Rick Peterson said, detailing his plan for improvement.
2. Will Corey Hart, Carlos Gomez and Rickie Weeks bounce back?
If those three — who disappointed for different reasons last season — play to their abilities, the Brewers should have a very good offense. Even with down/injury-plagued seasons from Hart and Weeks, the Brewers managed to win 80 games with an awful rotation.
Gomez can impact the game with his speed, but getting on base has been his biggest problem — and the primary reason the Twins gave up on him. His on-base percentages by month last season: .250, .303, .286, .323, .295, .231. Gomez will hit toward the bottom of the Brewers’ lineup, which should relieve some of the pressure he might have felt leading off in Minnesota.
3. Is Milwaukee wasting the Braun-Fielder combo?
It isn’t as if the Brewers aren’t trying to win. General manager Doug Melvin has been aggressive when it comes to adding impact players — the trade for CC Sabathia and subsequent $100 million offer to retain him proved that — but the Brewers don’t enter 2010 as favorites to participate in the postseason. Braun is signed through 2015, but Fielder is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2011 season. Another disappointing season in 2010 won’t convince him to pass up free agency.
Projected lineup
1. SS Alcides Escobar: .298 AVG at Class AAA last season, .304 in MLB.
2. 2B Rickie Weeks: Staying healthy is priority No. 1.
3. LF Ryan Braun: Elite bat: 32 HRs, 114 RBIs in ’09.
4. 1B Prince Fielder: Career bests in ’09: 141 RBIs, 1.014 OPS.
5. 3B Casey McGehee: 16 HRs, .301 AVG in surprising ’09.
6. RF Corey Hart: New goggles could improve batting eye.
7. CF Carlos Gomez: .229 AVG, 14 SBs for Twins in ’09.
8. C Gregg Zaun: 1 season with more than 110 GP in 15-year career.
Projected rotation
1. LHP Randy Wolf: 3.23 ERA, career-high 34 starts for Dodgers in ’09.
2. RHP Yovani Gallardo: 3.73 ERA, 1.31 WHIP led rotation in ’09.
3. LHP Doug Davis: Also started NL-best 34 games last season.
4. RHP Jeff Suppan: 29 wins, 4.93 ERA in three seasons with Brewers.
5. LHP Manny Parra: 10 wins, 4.39 ERA in ’08; 11 wins, 6.36 ERA in ’09.
Projected closer
RHP Trevor Hoffman: 1.83 ERA, 0.91 WHIP as 41-year-old last season.
Grades
Offense: B. The 3-4 combo of Braun and Fielder matches up with any in baseball. But there are issues. Will Hart and Weeks bounce back? Can Casey McGehee repeat his ’09 production? Can Zaun handle an increased workload? Can Gomez boost his on-base percentage above .300?
Pitching: C. The staff is improved from last season, when Gallardo and Hoffman were the only things keeping it from an F. Parra has the ability to become a No. 2 or 3 starter; if he finds that type of consistency, it really would improve the rotation. Trevor Hoffman is solid, as always, in the ninth inning.
Bench: C. Jody Gerut can play all three outfield positions but is better as a regular than as a spot starter. Craig Counsell hit .285 in 130 games last season and had a .542 on-base percentage as a pinch hitter. Mat Gamel has a good bat but is a defensive liability at third.
Manager: B. In his previous four seasons as manager, all with the A’s, Ken Macha’s teams had finished at least 14 games above .500. Last season, the Brewers finished two games under .500, though it is hard to place blame on Macha for the demise of his rotation.
Sporting News prediction: The Brewers have the look and balance of a .500 squad again. That should result in another third-place finish in the NL Central — unless the young Reds overtake them.
Coming Thursday: Reds preview.
Ryan Fagan is a staff writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com.
Expectations have changed in Milwaukee. The Brewers finished 80-82 last season, a disappointment after making the playoffs in 2008. However, it was the Brewers’ third consecutive season with at least 80 wins (that hadn’t happened since 1987-89). With sluggers Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun in the middle of the lineup and burgeoning ace Yovani Gallardo in the rotation, expectations remain high for 2010. Beyond those three young stars, however, there are questions.
New Brewer Randy Wolf will be atop the rotation.
Three questions
1. Are the veteran lefthanders the solution for the rotation?
Massive upgrades were needed for a Milwaukee rotation that finished last in the majors with a 5.37 ERA in 2009. The Brewers aggressively pursued Randy Wolf and signed him to a three-year deal. Wolf was very efficient for the Dodgers last year, though his 3.23 ERA and 1.10 WHIP resulted in only 11 wins. He fits in nicely with Gallardo, the rotation’s lone bright spot last year. Milwaukee also signed Doug Davis, a former Brewer who went 9-14 with a 4.12 ERA for Arizona last season. That trio is solid, though not overwhelming.
The three starters battling for the final two spots are big question marks. Manny Parra was an enigma last season. In five starts against the Cardinals, Parra had a 2.33 ERA. In his 22 starts against everyone else, he posted a 7.33 ERA. Jeff Suppan is in the final season of his four-year deal; the $12.5 million he will earn this season is a more compelling reason to keep him in the rotation than his 5.29 ERA from 2009. Dave Bush had a career 4.45 ERA heading into last season, then stumbled to a 6.38 ERA.
"We need to commit to be more effective pitching to the bottom of the strike zone," new pitching coach Rick Peterson said, detailing his plan for improvement.
2. Will Corey Hart, Carlos Gomez and Rickie Weeks bounce back?
If those three — who disappointed for different reasons last season — play to their abilities, the Brewers should have a very good offense. Even with down/injury-plagued seasons from Hart and Weeks, the Brewers managed to win 80 games with an awful rotation.
Gomez can impact the game with his speed, but getting on base has been his biggest problem — and the primary reason the Twins gave up on him. His on-base percentages by month last season: .250, .303, .286, .323, .295, .231. Gomez will hit toward the bottom of the Brewers’ lineup, which should relieve some of the pressure he might have felt leading off in Minnesota.
3. Is Milwaukee wasting the Braun-Fielder combo?
It isn’t as if the Brewers aren’t trying to win. General manager Doug Melvin has been aggressive when it comes to adding impact players — the trade for CC Sabathia and subsequent $100 million offer to retain him proved that — but the Brewers don’t enter 2010 as favorites to participate in the postseason. Braun is signed through 2015, but Fielder is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2011 season. Another disappointing season in 2010 won’t convince him to pass up free agency.
Projected lineup
1. SS Alcides Escobar: .298 AVG at Class AAA last season, .304 in MLB.
2. 2B Rickie Weeks: Staying healthy is priority No. 1.
3. LF Ryan Braun: Elite bat: 32 HRs, 114 RBIs in ’09.
4. 1B Prince Fielder: Career bests in ’09: 141 RBIs, 1.014 OPS.
5. 3B Casey McGehee: 16 HRs, .301 AVG in surprising ’09.
6. RF Corey Hart: New goggles could improve batting eye.
7. CF Carlos Gomez: .229 AVG, 14 SBs for Twins in ’09.
8. C Gregg Zaun: 1 season with more than 110 GP in 15-year career.
Projected rotation
1. LHP Randy Wolf: 3.23 ERA, career-high 34 starts for Dodgers in ’09.
2. RHP Yovani Gallardo: 3.73 ERA, 1.31 WHIP led rotation in ’09.
3. LHP Doug Davis: Also started NL-best 34 games last season.
4. RHP Jeff Suppan: 29 wins, 4.93 ERA in three seasons with Brewers.
5. LHP Manny Parra: 10 wins, 4.39 ERA in ’08; 11 wins, 6.36 ERA in ’09.
Projected closer
RHP Trevor Hoffman: 1.83 ERA, 0.91 WHIP as 41-year-old last season.
Grades
Offense: B. The 3-4 combo of Braun and Fielder matches up with any in baseball. But there are issues. Will Hart and Weeks bounce back? Can Casey McGehee repeat his ’09 production? Can Zaun handle an increased workload? Can Gomez boost his on-base percentage above .300?
Pitching: C. The staff is improved from last season, when Gallardo and Hoffman were the only things keeping it from an F. Parra has the ability to become a No. 2 or 3 starter; if he finds that type of consistency, it really would improve the rotation. Trevor Hoffman is solid, as always, in the ninth inning.
Bench: C. Jody Gerut can play all three outfield positions but is better as a regular than as a spot starter. Craig Counsell hit .285 in 130 games last season and had a .542 on-base percentage as a pinch hitter. Mat Gamel has a good bat but is a defensive liability at third.
Manager: B. In his previous four seasons as manager, all with the A’s, Ken Macha’s teams had finished at least 14 games above .500. Last season, the Brewers finished two games under .500, though it is hard to place blame on Macha for the demise of his rotation.
Sporting News prediction: The Brewers have the look and balance of a .500 squad again. That should result in another third-place finish in the NL Central — unless the young Reds overtake them.
Coming Thursday: Reds preview.
Ryan Fagan is a staff writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com.
The Jackie Robinson Foundation will honor Selig at its awards banquet tonight in New York with a Robie Award, given to "individuals who embody the humanitarian ideals of Jackie Robinson." Selig, a self-described American history buff who calls Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier in 1947 "one of the most important moments of the 20th century," recently spoke about the honor — and its namesake — with Sporting News’ Ryan Fagan.
Bud Selig has been baseball commissioner since 1992.
Sporting New: How big of an honor is this for you?
Bud Selig: I’ve often said that I think baseball’s proudest, most meaningful moment was April 15, 1947. When I think what Branch Rickey did, who I have deep admiration for, after all, think about this: He did it before the Civil Rights movement, per se, he did it before Harry Truman desegregated the United States Army, he did it before the famed Brown vs. the Board of Education decision. It’s remarkable.
And Jackie, under incredible pressure, pressure that — I’ve talked to a lot of people about this over the years — was just stunning. And he made it, and it was just a remarkable chapter in baseball history.
So here, a man that I admire so much and to get their historic lifetime achievement award, given how I feel, I must tell you, is a wonderful honor. And I’m really deeply touched by it.
SN: Baseball retired Robinson’s number in 1997. Where does that rank on the list of accomplishments during your time as commissioner?
BS: Very high. I’m very proud of the wild card and revenue sharing the interleague play and the whole restructuring of the game, and our Internet company and our channel. But the favorite part of my career, which is 45 years old now, is what I call the sociological part.
The impact that this sport has in society is remarkable, absolutely remarkable. Its history is revered like no other history. Here’s the whole Jackie Robinson situation, which I don’t think had been really properly honored. So that was a decision, when you look back on it, you wonder why there was ever any hesitation. I’m obviously very proud of it.
‘It was remarkable what a great athlete he (Jackie Robinson) was,’ Selig says.
SN: What’s the first thing that pops into your mind about Jackie Robinson?
BS: Courage. I did something way back when in my career; I talked to a lot of people who played with him, played against him or had roles in either a negative sense or who had been sorry for what they had done. I wanted to hear from people who witnessed the abuse that he took, witnessed the pressures.
I don’t think he’d mind if I tell you, but Dixie Walker, who was with the Milwaukee Braves in the ’60s when I was just breaking in — I got to know Dixie real well. I used to talk to him about that because I was fascinated back then about Jackie Robinson. I was fortunate to see him here, and in Brooklyn, I went to some games in the late ’40s, and I saw him play in Chicago. I saw him play in Wrigley Field in 1947, the first trip in. A friend of mine went down to the game, as we often did.
I must tell you, one thing I say about (Jackie), and against the Braves, even against the great players like (Warren) Spahn and (Lew) Burdette … he was the most electrifying player I’ve ever seen. He wasn’t the greatest player I’ve ever seen, but certainly a Hall of Famer. And think about this, what a great athlete he was. Didn’t get his chance in the big leagues until I believe he was 28. But in football, there were people who said he was better than Kenny Washington. Think about that. Kenny Washington was a great player, and he was just … it was remarkable what a great athlete he was.
SN: What else comes to mind?
BS: He took a lot of abuse, even in the service. You read the stories — and I’ve read every book on Jackie Robinson, and I’ve talked to (his wife) Rachel about it — about the trip in ’46 when he first went to get ready for the International League season, and how they had to ride buses and they were rejected out of homes they had to live in.
But think of the pressure on him, and because he made it, there was a Hank Aaron, who happens to be a very close friend of mine as you probably know, and Willie Mays and Bob Gibson and Willie Stargell and on and on and on. He really changed America in so many ways. To get an honor like this from the Jackie Robinson Foundation is very, very meaningful.
Ryan Fagan is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com, and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ryan_fagan.
The Jackie Robinson Foundation will honor Selig at its awards banquet tonight in New York with a Robie Award, given to "individuals who embody the humanitarian ideals of Jackie Robinson." Selig, a self-described American history buff who calls Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier in 1947 "one of the most important moments of the 20th century," recently spoke about the honor — and its namesake — with Sporting News’ Ryan Fagan.
Bud Selig has been baseball commissioner since 1992.
Sporting New: How big of an honor is this for you?
Bud Selig: I’ve often said that I think baseball’s proudest, most meaningful moment was April 15, 1947. When I think what Branch Rickey did, who I have deep admiration for, after all, think about this: He did it before the Civil Rights movement, per se, he did it before Harry Truman desegregated the United States Army, he did it before the famed Brown vs. the Board of Education decision. It’s remarkable.
And Jackie, under incredible pressure, pressure that — I’ve talked to a lot of people about this over the years — was just stunning. And he made it, and it was just a remarkable chapter in baseball history.
So here, a man that I admire so much and to get their historic lifetime achievement award, given how I feel, I must tell you, is a wonderful honor. And I’m really deeply touched by it.
SN: Baseball retired Robinson’s number in 1997. Where does that rank on the list of accomplishments during your time as commissioner?
BS: Very high. I’m very proud of the wild card and revenue sharing the interleague play and the whole restructuring of the game, and our Internet company and our channel. But the favorite part of my career, which is 45 years old now, is what I call the sociological part.
The impact that this sport has in society is remarkable, absolutely remarkable. Its history is revered like no other history. Here’s the whole Jackie Robinson situation, which I don’t think had been really properly honored. So that was a decision, when you look back on it, you wonder why there was ever any hesitation. I’m obviously very proud of it.
‘It was remarkable what a great athlete he (Jackie Robinson) was,’ Selig says.
SN: What’s the first thing that pops into your mind about Jackie Robinson?
BS: Courage. I did something way back when in my career; I talked to a lot of people who played with him, played against him or had roles in either a negative sense or who had been sorry for what they had done. I wanted to hear from people who witnessed the abuse that he took, witnessed the pressures.
I don’t think he’d mind if I tell you, but Dixie Walker, who was with the Milwaukee Braves in the ’60s when I was just breaking in — I got to know Dixie real well. I used to talk to him about that because I was fascinated back then about Jackie Robinson. I was fortunate to see him here, and in Brooklyn, I went to some games in the late ’40s, and I saw him play in Chicago. I saw him play in Wrigley Field in 1947, the first trip in. A friend of mine went down to the game, as we often did.
I must tell you, one thing I say about (Jackie), and against the Braves, even against the great players like (Warren) Spahn and (Lew) Burdette … he was the most electrifying player I’ve ever seen. He wasn’t the greatest player I’ve ever seen, but certainly a Hall of Famer. And think about this, what a great athlete he was. Didn’t get his chance in the big leagues until I believe he was 28. But in football, there were people who said he was better than Kenny Washington. Think about that. Kenny Washington was a great player, and he was just … it was remarkable what a great athlete he was.
SN: What else comes to mind?
BS: He took a lot of abuse, even in the service. You read the stories — and I’ve read every book on Jackie Robinson, and I’ve talked to (his wife) Rachel about it — about the trip in ’46 when he first went to get ready for the International League season, and how they had to ride buses and they were rejected out of homes they had to live in.
But think of the pressure on him, and because he made it, there was a Hank Aaron, who happens to be a very close friend of mine as you probably know, and Willie Mays and Bob Gibson and Willie Stargell and on and on and on. He really changed America in so many ways. To get an honor like this from the Jackie Robinson Foundation is very, very meaningful.
Ryan Fagan is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com, and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ryan_fagan.
Kansas City Royals preview By Ryan Fagan
The 2009 season was a different kind of disappointment for the Royals. Coming off a 75-win campaign in 2008 — their highest win total since 2003 — there was hope that they would contend in the wide-open AL Central. When Kansas City started 18-11 and held a three-game lead on May 7, it looked like the franchise finally was turning the corner. But the Royals went 5-16 to end May and finished in a last-place tie in the division.
Will Zack Greinke have a better supporting cast this year?
Three questions
1. What impact will the free agents have?
Rick Ankiel, Jason Kendall and Scott Podsednik join the starting lineup. Kendall is a below-average hitter who was brought in to improve the defense behind the plate. Podsednik revived his career with the White Sox last season (.353 on-base percentage) and will lead off. Ankiel will take over center field.
"Obviously we have a lot of acreage in our ballpark in the outfield, and we need a player who’s experienced and has good reads and good routes," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "Rick has shown that in his short center field career. And he helps us if we can get his bat back to his offensive numbers of a couple of years ago." Ankiel hit 25 homers in 2008 and was just starting to heat up in 2009 before crashing into the outfield wall at Busch Stadium. He posted just a .285 on-base percentage last season and hit .110 (10-for-91) in his first at-bat against that game’s starting pitcher.
2. Will the supporting cast be more supportive?
The Royals have a trio of promising young stars in Zack Greinke, Joakim Soria and Billy Butler. Greinke, 26, is the reigning AL Cy Young award winner. Soria, who turns 26 in May, is 72-for-78 in save opportunities the past two seasons. Butler, who turns 24 in April, led the Royals in homers (21), RBIs (93), batting average (.301), on-base percentage (.362), OPS (.853) and doubles (51).
Still, the Royals finished with just 65 wins. Five of the nine players in this season’s projected lineup hit .245 or worse last season. Of the five projected starters, four had ERAs of 4.73 or higher. Those performances must improve for Royals to contend past May.
3. Will Alex Gordon claim the third base job?
The Royals would like Gordon to win the job with a huge spring, then establish himself as a rising star during the season. One AL scout thinks that is possible: "Gordon has a chance to be that (breakout) guy this year. He had a chance to be that guy last year, except for the injuries." The No. 2 overall pick of the 2005 draft, Gordon hit .247 with 15 homers as a rookie in 2007, then .260 with 16 homers in ’08. In an injury-marred ’09, Gordon hit .232 with six homers in 49 games.
Gordon is the front-runner at third, but the Royals have a backup plan in Josh Fields. Fields hit 23 homers in just 100 games for the White Sox as a rookie in 2007. He spent much of 2008 in the minors and began 2009 as the starter. But he lost the job to rookie Gordon Beckham after struggling offensively (.222 average).
Projected lineup
1. LF Scott Podsednik: .304 AVG, 30 SBs for White Sox in ’09.
2. 2B Chris Getz: .261 AVG, 25 SBs as White Sox rookie last season.
3. RF David DeJesus: ’08: 12 HRs, 73 RBIs; ’09: 13 HRs, 71 RBIs.
4. 1B Billy Butler: 1.027 OPS at home; .679 on road.
5. CF Rick Ankiel: HRs dropped from 25 in ’08 to 11 in ’09.
6. DH Jose Guillen: Injuries limited him to 81 games, 9 HRs.
7. 3B Alex Gordon: Career .250 AVG in three MLB seasons.
8. SS Yuniesky Betancourt: Impatient: career high is 21 BBs.
9. C Jason Kendall: Has hit .242, .246, .241 past three seasons.
Projected rotation
1. RHP Zack Greinke: Cy Young winner had 2.16 ERA, 242 K’s.
2. RHP Gil Meche: 5.09 ERA, only 23 starts in injury-marred season.
3. RHP Brian Bannister: 3.66 ERA in first half; 6.63 ERA after break.
4. RHP Luke Hochevar: 5.17 ERA at home; 8.14 on the road.
5. RHP Kyle Davies: Righthanders hit .284 vs. him; lefties hit .239.
Projected closer
RHP Joakim Soria: Career 2.09 ERA, 10.0 K’s per 9 IP.
Grades
Offense: D. The Yankees had a team .362 on-base percentage last season; Butler’s .362 OBP led the Royals. Alberto Callaspo, who hit .300 with a team-high 79 runs and had more walks (52) than strikeouts (51) will move to the bench in favor of Chris Getz, a superior defensive player. There is much work to do.
Pitching: C. Even with A-plus guys Greinke and Soria, this unit is a concern. If Gil Meche is healthy, that would be a big plus; he won 23 games with a 3.82 ERA in his first two seasons with K.C. Trying to convert Kyle Farnsworth from a setup man to a reliever is a long shot at this point in his career.
Bench: B. Callaspo should be an offensive asset, assuming the demotion doesn’t affect him. Brian Anderson and Mitch Maier can cover all three outfield spots, and Willie Bloomquist and Mike Aviles — when healthy — can play multiple infield spots.
Manager: C. After the 75-win season and the strong start to the 2009 season, things came crashing down for Trey Hillman. The challenge this season is to not only get off to another strong start, but to learn from the mistakes of last season and maintain it.
Sporting News prediction: The Royals have a great young core with Greinke, Butler and Soria, but there aren’t many other reasons to expect better than a fourth-place finish in the AL Central.
Coming Monday: Cardinals preview.
Ryan Fagan is a staff writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com.
Kansas City Royals preview By Ryan Fagan
The 2009 season was a different kind of disappointment for the Royals. Coming off a 75-win campaign in 2008 — their highest win total since 2003 — there was hope that they would contend in the wide-open AL Central. When Kansas City started 18-11 and held a three-game lead on May 7, it looked like the franchise finally was turning the corner. But the Royals went 5-16 to end May and finished in a last-place tie in the division.
Will Zack Greinke have a better supporting cast this year?
Three questions
1. What impact will the free agents have?
Rick Ankiel, Jason Kendall and Scott Podsednik join the starting lineup. Kendall is a below-average hitter who was brought in to improve the defense behind the plate. Podsednik revived his career with the White Sox last season (.353 on-base percentage) and will lead off. Ankiel will take over center field.
"Obviously we have a lot of acreage in our ballpark in the outfield, and we need a player who’s experienced and has good reads and good routes," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "Rick has shown that in his short center field career. And he helps us if we can get his bat back to his offensive numbers of a couple of years ago." Ankiel hit 25 homers in 2008 and was just starting to heat up in 2009 before crashing into the outfield wall at Busch Stadium. He posted just a .285 on-base percentage last season and hit .110 (10-for-91) in his first at-bat against that game’s starting pitcher.
2. Will the supporting cast be more supportive?
The Royals have a trio of promising young stars in Zack Greinke, Joakim Soria and Billy Butler. Greinke, 26, is the reigning AL Cy Young award winner. Soria, who turns 26 in May, is 72-for-78 in save opportunities the past two seasons. Butler, who turns 24 in April, led the Royals in homers (21), RBIs (93), batting average (.301), on-base percentage (.362), OPS (.853) and doubles (51).
Still, the Royals finished with just 65 wins. Five of the nine players in this season’s projected lineup hit .245 or worse last season. Of the five projected starters, four had ERAs of 4.73 or higher. Those performances must improve for Royals to contend past May.
3. Will Alex Gordon claim the third base job?
The Royals would like Gordon to win the job with a huge spring, then establish himself as a rising star during the season. One AL scout thinks that is possible: "Gordon has a chance to be that (breakout) guy this year. He had a chance to be that guy last year, except for the injuries." The No. 2 overall pick of the 2005 draft, Gordon hit .247 with 15 homers as a rookie in 2007, then .260 with 16 homers in ’08. In an injury-marred ’09, Gordon hit .232 with six homers in 49 games.
Gordon is the front-runner at third, but the Royals have a backup plan in Josh Fields. Fields hit 23 homers in just 100 games for the White Sox as a rookie in 2007. He spent much of 2008 in the minors and began 2009 as the starter. But he lost the job to rookie Gordon Beckham after struggling offensively (.222 average).
Projected lineup
1. LF Scott Podsednik: .304 AVG, 30 SBs for White Sox in ’09.
2. 2B Chris Getz: .261 AVG, 25 SBs as White Sox rookie last season.
3. RF David DeJesus: ’08: 12 HRs, 73 RBIs; ’09: 13 HRs, 71 RBIs.
4. 1B Billy Butler: 1.027 OPS at home; .679 on road.
5. CF Rick Ankiel: HRs dropped from 25 in ’08 to 11 in ’09.
6. DH Jose Guillen: Injuries limited him to 81 games, 9 HRs.
7. 3B Alex Gordon: Career .250 AVG in three MLB seasons.
8. SS Yuniesky Betancourt: Impatient: career high is 21 BBs.
9. C Jason Kendall: Has hit .242, .246, .241 past three seasons.
Projected rotation
1. RHP Zack Greinke: Cy Young winner had 2.16 ERA, 242 K’s.
2. RHP Gil Meche: 5.09 ERA, only 23 starts in injury-marred season.
3. RHP Brian Bannister: 3.66 ERA in first half; 6.63 ERA after break.
4. RHP Luke Hochevar: 5.17 ERA at home; 8.14 on the road.
5. RHP Kyle Davies: Righthanders hit .284 vs. him; lefties hit .239.
Projected closer
RHP Joakim Soria: Career 2.09 ERA, 10.0 K’s per 9 IP.
Grades
Offense: D. The Yankees had a team .362 on-base percentage last season; Butler’s .362 OBP led the Royals. Alberto Callaspo, who hit .300 with a team-high 79 runs and had more walks (52) than strikeouts (51) will move to the bench in favor of Chris Getz, a superior defensive player. There is much work to do.
Pitching: C. Even with A-plus guys Greinke and Soria, this unit is a concern. If Gil Meche is healthy, that would be a big plus; he won 23 games with a 3.82 ERA in his first two seasons with K.C. Trying to convert Kyle Farnsworth from a setup man to a reliever is a long shot at this point in his career.
Bench: B. Callaspo should be an offensive asset, assuming the demotion doesn’t affect him. Brian Anderson and Mitch Maier can cover all three outfield spots, and Willie Bloomquist and Mike Aviles — when healthy — can play multiple infield spots.
Manager: C. After the 75-win season and the strong start to the 2009 season, things came crashing down for Trey Hillman. The challenge this season is to not only get off to another strong start, but to learn from the mistakes of last season and maintain it.
Sporting News prediction: The Royals have a great young core with Greinke, Butler and Soria, but there aren’t many other reasons to expect better than a fourth-place finish in the AL Central.
Coming Monday: Cardinals preview.
Ryan Fagan is a staff writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com.
An AL scout spoke with Sporting News’ Ryan Fagan about three of the division’s biggest questions:
Q: Which contender has the best rotation?
Scout says: "The Royals go (Zack) Greinke, (Gil) Meche, (Luke) Hochevar — he could have a breakout year — but it’s the Tigers, definitely. With (Max) Scherzer sliding into that rotation with (Justin) Verlander and (Rick) Porcello, that’s only going to make them stronger. They’re going to have a really tough rotation. If their bullpen can step up and their offense can do what they need to do … "
Q: Where does Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera rank among the game’s best hitters? Has he hit his ceiling?
Scout says: "He’s arguably top five. The one thing Miggy takes a lot of pride in, that was a concern early, is his body. He’s done a great job taking care of his body and gets a bit upset about the criticism (of his weight). People forget, really, how young he still is (he turns 27 on April 18). This is a guy who is as prolific as they come, and he’s going to be an impact hitter for years. He hasn’t hit his ceiling."
Q: Who will be the division’s breakout player?
Scout says: "I mean this when I say it: (Royals third baseman) Alex Gordon has a chance to be that guy this year. He had a chance to be that guy last year, except for the injuries. For me, he’s a guy who’s got a chance to be truly impactful."
This story first appeared in Sporting News magazine. If you are not receiving the magazine, subscribe today, or pick up a copy, available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets.
An AL scout spoke with Sporting News’ Ryan Fagan about three of the division’s biggest questions:
Q: Which contender has the best rotation?
Scout says: "The Royals go (Zack) Greinke, (Gil) Meche, (Luke) Hochevar — he could have a breakout year — but it’s the Tigers, definitely. With (Max) Scherzer sliding into that rotation with (Justin) Verlander and (Rick) Porcello, that’s only going to make them stronger. They’re going to have a really tough rotation. If their bullpen can step up and their offense can do what they need to do … "
Q: Where does Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera rank among the game’s best hitters? Has he hit his ceiling?
Scout says: "He’s arguably top five. The one thing Miggy takes a lot of pride in, that was a concern early, is his body. He’s done a great job taking care of his body and gets a bit upset about the criticism (of his weight). People forget, really, how young he still is (he turns 27 on April 18). This is a guy who is as prolific as they come, and he’s going to be an impact hitter for years. He hasn’t hit his ceiling."
Q: Who will be the division’s breakout player?
Scout says: "I mean this when I say it: (Royals third baseman) Alex Gordon has a chance to be that guy this year. He had a chance to be that guy last year, except for the injuries. For me, he’s a guy who’s got a chance to be truly impactful."
This story first appeared in Sporting News magazine. If you are not receiving the magazine, subscribe today, or pick up a copy, available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets.
The Tigers held a seven-game lead in the AL Central on Sept. 6 last season, but they went 11-16 down the stretch and lost a one-game playoff for the division title in Minnesota. Detroit entered spring training with the goal of erasing that memory, and the additions of several impact-type players — Johnny Damon, Max Scherzer, Scott Sizemore and Austin Jackson — should help the team do just that.
Three questions
Johnny Damon provides some answers, but also lots of questions, for the Tigers.
1. How does Damon change things?
Damon provides a leadoff alternative for manager Jim Leyland, who will give Jackson, the rookie center fielder, an opportunity to win that job this spring. However, Jackson never has played in a major league game, let alone while hitting in the pressure-packed leadoff spot. Damon isn’t the spry leadoff man he once was. He still delivers a good on-base percentage, but he is more of an opportunistic basestealer now. Remember, the Yankees moved him to the No. 2 hole last season in favor of Derek Jeter.
Also up for debate: Damon’s projected productivity at Comerica Park. Last season, Damon hit 17 homers with a .915 OPS at hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium and seven homers with a .795 OPS on the road. It might be a stretch to expect more than 15 homers, 10 stolen bases and a .275 average now that he is out of Yankees Stadium — and out of that powerful Yankees lineup.
2. Can they get/stay healthy this season?
There is no shortage of health-related questions early this spring. Is Scott Sizemore, the rookie replacement for Placido Polanco at second base, 100 percent after breaking his ankle in the Arizona Fall League? When will third baseman Brandon Inge, who hit 27 homers last season, be fully recovered from offseason surgeries on both knees? Will Carlos Guillen, who has played in just 194 of Detroit’s 325 games the past two seasons, be able to stay in the lineup now that he is a DH? Will Magglio Ordonez, the 36-year-old right fielder who missed 32 games in 2009, avoid injuries?
3. Who will be the Nos. 4 and 5 starters?
The fourth spot belongs to Jeremy Bonderman, but there are concerns about whether he will be able to stay there. He has battled shoulder problems the past couple of years but says he is healthy. His return would be a huge boost to the rotation. The fifth spot is more muddled. The Tigers have two highly paid — but wildly inconsistent — lefthanders in the mix: Dontrelle Willis ($12 million this year) and Nate Robertson ($10 million). The competition also includes Eddie Bonine, Phil Coke and Armando Galarraga, who was Detroit’s best starter in 2008 (13-7, 3.73 ERA) but its worst (6-10, 5.64 ERA) in 2009. Willis has the most dominating stuff, but he hasn’t been able to consistently find the strike zone since 2005. Ideally, he will show improved command and win the job this spring.
Projected lineup
1. CF Austin Jackson: .300 AVG, 24 SBs for Yankees’ Class AAA team.
2. LF Johnny Damon: 100-plus runs 10 times in career.
3. RF Magglio Ordonez: 9 HRs, 50 RBIs marked huge drop-off.
4. 1B Miguel Cabrera: Averaged .308 AVG, 36 HRs, 115 RBIs past two seasons.
5. DH Carlos Guillen: .242 AVG in forgettable ’09.
6. 3B Brandon Inge: .226 AVG, .697 OPS past three seasons.
7. 2B Scott Sizemore: ’09 in minors: .308 AVG, 17 HRs, 21 SBs.
8. C Gerald Laird: .225 AVG in first season with Detroit.
9. SS Adam Everett: Had AL-high 15 sacrifice hits.
Projected Rotation
1. RHP Justin Verlander: Led AL in wins, IP, K’s.
2. RHP Rick Porcello: 5-2, 3.07 ERA after Aug. 1.
3. RHP Max Scherzer: 9.2 K/9 for Arizona last season.
4. RHP Jeremy Bonderman: Only 13 starts since ’08.
5. LHP Nate Robertson: 3.86 ERA as SP; 7.48 as RP in ’09.
Projected closer
RHP Jose Valverde: 2.33 ERA, 1.13 WHIP for Arizona in ’09.
Grades
Offense: C. Adding Damon will help, and Miguel Cabrera is an elite hitter who will be part of the MVP conversation. The Tigers, though, finished 10th in the AL in runs scored, and there are four returning starters who hit .242 or worse in 2009.
Pitching: B. No other team’s rotation features a top three quite like the Tigers’ trio. Justin Verlander, Rick Porcello and Max Scherzer are all power righthanders, and all three are locked up for the foreseeable future. If Jose Valverde can make the adjustment to the AL, the bullpen will have a reliable anchor. There are questions elsewhere on the staff, though.
Bench: B. Adding Damon pushes Ryan Raburn (.291 average, 16 homers in just 261 at-bats in ’09) to a valued reserve role. Jim Leyland will use Raburn in the outfield, and he can play third base, too. Clete Thomas can play all three outfield positions, and Ramon Santiago is a versatile infield defender.
Manager: B. There is no questioning Leyland’s resume. The longtime baseball man has a World Series title to his credit, and his Tigers have finished second in three of his four years in Detroit. However, last season’s September slide was a little disconcerting.
Sporting News prediction: There undoubtedly is star power on this team, led by Cabrera and Verlander. Ultimately, bounce-back candidates (Bonderman, Guillen) and unproven rookies (Jackson, Sizemore) will determine the Tigers’ success. Detroit will be a factor, but there are too many questions to expect more than a third-place finish.
Coming Wednesday: White Sox preview.
Ryan Fagan is a staff writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com.
The Tigers held a seven-game lead in the AL Central on Sept. 6 last season, but they went 11-16 down the stretch and lost a one-game playoff for the division title in Minnesota. Detroit entered spring training with the goal of erasing that memory, and the additions of several impact-type players — Johnny Damon, Max Scherzer, Scott Sizemore and Austin Jackson — should help the team do just that.
Three questions
Johnny Damon provides some answers, but also lots of questions, for the Tigers.
1. How does Damon change things?
Damon provides a leadoff alternative for manager Jim Leyland, who will give Jackson, the rookie center fielder, an opportunity to win that job this spring. However, Jackson never has played in a major league game, let alone while hitting in the pressure-packed leadoff spot. Damon isn’t the spry leadoff man he once was. He still delivers a good on-base percentage, but he is more of an opportunistic basestealer now. Remember, the Yankees moved him to the No. 2 hole last season in favor of Derek Jeter.
Also up for debate: Damon’s projected productivity at Comerica Park. Last season, Damon hit 17 homers with a .915 OPS at hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium and seven homers with a .795 OPS on the road. It might be a stretch to expect more than 15 homers, 10 stolen bases and a .275 average now that he is out of Yankees Stadium — and out of that powerful Yankees lineup.
2. Can they get/stay healthy this season?
There is no shortage of health-related questions early this spring. Is Scott Sizemore, the rookie replacement for Placido Polanco at second base, 100 percent after breaking his ankle in the Arizona Fall League? When will third baseman Brandon Inge, who hit 27 homers last season, be fully recovered from offseason surgeries on both knees? Will Carlos Guillen, who has played in just 194 of Detroit’s 325 games the past two seasons, be able to stay in the lineup now that he is a DH? Will Magglio Ordonez, the 36-year-old right fielder who missed 32 games in 2009, avoid injuries?
3. Who will be the Nos. 4 and 5 starters?
The fourth spot belongs to Jeremy Bonderman, but there are concerns about whether he will be able to stay there. He has battled shoulder problems the past couple of years but says he is healthy. His return would be a huge boost to the rotation. The fifth spot is more muddled. The Tigers have two highly paid — but wildly inconsistent — lefthanders in the mix: Dontrelle Willis ($12 million this year) and Nate Robertson ($10 million). The competition also includes Eddie Bonine, Phil Coke and Armando Galarraga, who was Detroit’s best starter in 2008 (13-7, 3.73 ERA) but its worst (6-10, 5.64 ERA) in 2009. Willis has the most dominating stuff, but he hasn’t been able to consistently find the strike zone since 2005. Ideally, he will show improved command and win the job this spring.
Projected lineup
1. CF Austin Jackson: .300 AVG, 24 SBs for Yankees’ Class AAA team.
2. LF Johnny Damon: 100-plus runs 10 times in career.
3. RF Magglio Ordonez: 9 HRs, 50 RBIs marked huge drop-off.
4. 1B Miguel Cabrera: Averaged .308 AVG, 36 HRs, 115 RBIs past two seasons.
5. DH Carlos Guillen: .242 AVG in forgettable ’09.
6. 3B Brandon Inge: .226 AVG, .697 OPS past three seasons.
7. 2B Scott Sizemore: ’09 in minors: .308 AVG, 17 HRs, 21 SBs.
8. C Gerald Laird: .225 AVG in first season with Detroit.
9. SS Adam Everett: Had AL-high 15 sacrifice hits.
Projected Rotation
1. RHP Justin Verlander: Led AL in wins, IP, K’s.
2. RHP Rick Porcello: 5-2, 3.07 ERA after Aug. 1.
3. RHP Max Scherzer: 9.2 K/9 for Arizona last season.
4. RHP Jeremy Bonderman: Only 13 starts since ’08.
5. LHP Nate Robertson: 3.86 ERA as SP; 7.48 as RP in ’09.
Projected closer
RHP Jose Valverde: 2.33 ERA, 1.13 WHIP for Arizona in ’09.
Grades
Offense: C. Adding Damon will help, and Miguel Cabrera is an elite hitter who will be part of the MVP conversation. The Tigers, though, finished 10th in the AL in runs scored, and there are four returning starters who hit .242 or worse in 2009.
Pitching: B. No other team’s rotation features a top three quite like the Tigers’ trio. Justin Verlander, Rick Porcello and Max Scherzer are all power righthanders, and all three are locked up for the foreseeable future. If Jose Valverde can make the adjustment to the AL, the bullpen will have a reliable anchor. There are questions elsewhere on the staff, though.
Bench: B. Adding Damon pushes Ryan Raburn (.291 average, 16 homers in just 261 at-bats in ’09) to a valued reserve role. Jim Leyland will use Raburn in the outfield, and he can play third base, too. Clete Thomas can play all three outfield positions, and Ramon Santiago is a versatile infield defender.
Manager: B. There is no questioning Leyland’s resume. The longtime baseball man has a World Series title to his credit, and his Tigers have finished second in three of his four years in Detroit. However, last season’s September slide was a little disconcerting.
Sporting News prediction: There undoubtedly is star power on this team, led by Cabrera and Verlander. Ultimately, bounce-back candidates (Bonderman, Guillen) and unproven rookies (Jackson, Sizemore) will determine the Tigers’ success. Detroit will be a factor, but there are too many questions to expect more than a third-place finish.
Coming Wednesday: White Sox preview.
Ryan Fagan is a staff writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com.
What was the best moment of the Mets’ 2009 campaign? Probably the last moment — the final out of a season in which so many things went wrong that it would have been comical if it weren’t so sad. But that is over, and the Mets have reason for optimism in 2010. Jason Bay signed a four-year deal with the club, and Jose Reyes, arguably baseball’s most exciting player before he landed on the disabled list, is healthy and ready to go.
Three questions
A healthy and productive Oliver Perez is key to the Mets’ postseason hopes.
1. Is Bay the solution to the great power outage of 2009?
Daniel Murphy led the Mets with 12 homers last season. Every other major league team had at least two players with 12 or more homers, and 27 of the 30 teams had at least four players with 12 or more homers. There were a number of factors that contributed to the Mets’ MLB-worst 95 homers: the new ballpark, injuries to Reyes and Carlos Beltran and an unexplained drop in power from David Wright. The third baseman went from 33 homers in 2008 to 10 in 2009 despite playing in 144 games.
Bay certainly will help the offensive production — he clubbed 36 homers and drove in 119 runs for the Red Sox last season — but he isn’t a savior. To get back into the playoff conversation, the Mets need Reyes, Beltran and Wright to stay healthy and produce at their historical levels.
2. What should they expect from Oliver Perez?
If you don’t expect anything, you can’t be disappointed, right? That is the ideal way for Mets fans — and the front office — to approach Perez in 2010, but it isn’t realistic. Mets fans know that a healthy and productive Perez is key to any sort of playoff push. Members of the team’s front office will agree with that sentiment, and they owe Perez $24 million over the next two seasons. Therefore, the Mets have pulled out all the stops to get him back on track, including lining up tutoring sessions with the great Sandy Koufax this spring.
"(Perez is) a back-end-of-the-rotation-type starter," one NL scout said. "He was bothered nearly all season by his right knee, which required surgery. … That injury hampered his velocity and diminished his already questionable control. Perez had been able to throw strikes early in games, but the tendinitis prevented him from having the delay in his delivery, impacting the control and limiting his velocity."
3. Can they survive Beltran’s absence?
Beltran was hitting .336 with a .952 OPS when he was forced to the disabled list because of a knee injury in late June. He returned in September, long after the Mets were out of contention, and appeared to be healthy. But Beltran will miss at least the first month of the 2010 season after offseason knee surgery.
Manager Jerry Manuel likely will drop Reyes to the No. 3 spot in the batting order, and Angel Pagan and Gary Matthews Jr. will compete for the center field job. With the Phillies favored to win a third consecutive NL East title and the Braves and Marlins expected to contend for the wild card, there isn’t much margin of error for the Mets. One bad month might be too much to overcome.
Projected lineup
1. CF Angel Pagan:.306 AVG in 88 games in ’09.
2. 1B Daniel Murphy: Hit .291 after July.
3. SS Jose Reyes: Hamstring limited him to 36 games.
4. 3B David Wright: Career-low .837 OPS last season.
5. LF Jason Bay: 36 HRs, 119 RBIs were career bests.
6. RF Jeff Francoeur: .311 AVG after trade to Mets.
7. C Rod Barajas: 19 HRs, 71 RBIs for Blue Jays.
8. 2B Luis Castillo: Bounce-back season (.387 OBP) in ’09.
Projected rotation
1. LHP Johan Santana: Run support (3.89) was 9th-worst in MLB.
2. RHP Mike Pelfrey: Led team in starts (31), IP (184 1/3).
3. RHP John Maine: 4.01 career ERA with Mets (88 games).
4. LHP Oliver Perez: 6.92 ERA, 1.92 WHIP in 14 starts.
5. RHP Fernando Nieve: 3.12 ERA in seven ’09 starts.
Projected closer
RHP Francisco Rodriguez. Career-worst 3.71 ERA last season.
Grades
Offense: C. It was anemic (671 runs) last season, but the addition of Bay and the return of Reyes — and the eventual return of Beltran — will help. If Reyes and Beltran are healthy and if Wright rediscovers his power stoke, this could be an A-type group.
Pitching: C. The ever-effective Johan Santana leads a rotation that has more questions than certainties. Mike Pelfrey was the only Met to start more than 25 games last season, but the team didn’t upgrade the rotation by acquiring an established starter in the offseason. Closer Francisco Rodriguez was effective — but far from dominant — in his first season with the Mets.
Bench: B. Fernando Tatis and Mike Jacobs will provide some pop. Assuming Pagan wins the temporary center field job, Matthews will give the bench a solid defensive outfielder who can play all three spots. Alex Cora is one of the majors’ best backup middle infielders.
Manager: C. Considering all of the injuries with which his club had to deal, it is hard to accurately judge the job Manuel did in his first full season as Mets manager. And he will have his hands full early this season, juggling the lineup until Beltran returns.
Sporting News prediction: If healthy, the Mets’ offense should improve dramatically. The pitching staff has too many questions, however, to expect anything more than a third-place finish in the NL East.
Coming Friday: Nationals preview.
Ryan Fagan is a staff writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com.
What was the best moment of the Mets’ 2009 campaign? Probably the last moment — the final out of a season in which so many things went wrong that it would have been comical if it weren’t so sad. But that is over, and the Mets have reason for optimism in 2010. Jason Bay signed a four-year deal with the club, and Jose Reyes, arguably baseball’s most exciting player before he landed on the disabled list, is healthy and ready to go.
Three questions
A healthy and productive Oliver Perez is key to the Mets’ postseason hopes.
1. Is Bay the solution to the great power outage of 2009?
Daniel Murphy led the Mets with 12 homers last season. Every other major league team had at least two players with 12 or more homers, and 27 of the 30 teams had at least four players with 12 or more homers. There were a number of factors that contributed to the Mets’ MLB-worst 95 homers: the new ballpark, injuries to Reyes and Carlos Beltran and an unexplained drop in power from David Wright. The third baseman went from 33 homers in 2008 to 10 in 2009 despite playing in 144 games.
Bay certainly will help the offensive production — he clubbed 36 homers and drove in 119 runs for the Red Sox last season — but he isn’t a savior. To get back into the playoff conversation, the Mets need Reyes, Beltran and Wright to stay healthy and produce at their historical levels.
2. What should they expect from Oliver Perez?
If you don’t expect anything, you can’t be disappointed, right? That is the ideal way for Mets fans — and the front office — to approach Perez in 2010, but it isn’t realistic. Mets fans know that a healthy and productive Perez is key to any sort of playoff push. Members of the team’s front office will agree with that sentiment, and they owe Perez $24 million over the next two seasons. Therefore, the Mets have pulled out all the stops to get him back on track, including lining up tutoring sessions with the great Sandy Koufax this spring.
"(Perez is) a back-end-of-the-rotation-type starter," one NL scout said. "He was bothered nearly all season by his right knee, which required surgery. … That injury hampered his velocity and diminished his already questionable control. Perez had been able to throw strikes early in games, but the tendinitis prevented him from having the delay in his delivery, impacting the control and limiting his velocity."
3. Can they survive Beltran’s absence?
Beltran was hitting .336 with a .952 OPS when he was forced to the disabled list because of a knee injury in late June. He returned in September, long after the Mets were out of contention, and appeared to be healthy. But Beltran will miss at least the first month of the 2010 season after offseason knee surgery.
Manager Jerry Manuel likely will drop Reyes to the No. 3 spot in the batting order, and Angel Pagan and Gary Matthews Jr. will compete for the center field job. With the Phillies favored to win a third consecutive NL East title and the Braves and Marlins expected to contend for the wild card, there isn’t much margin of error for the Mets. One bad month might be too much to overcome.
Projected lineup
1. CF Angel Pagan:.306 AVG in 88 games in ’09.
2. 1B Daniel Murphy: Hit .291 after July.
3. SS Jose Reyes: Hamstring limited him to 36 games.
4. 3B David Wright: Career-low .837 OPS last season.
5. LF Jason Bay: 36 HRs, 119 RBIs were career bests.
6. RF Jeff Francoeur: .311 AVG after trade to Mets.
7. C Rod Barajas: 19 HRs, 71 RBIs for Blue Jays.
8. 2B Luis Castillo: Bounce-back season (.387 OBP) in ’09.
Projected rotation
1. LHP Johan Santana: Run support (3.89) was 9th-worst in MLB.
2. RHP Mike Pelfrey: Led team in starts (31), IP (184 1/3).
3. RHP John Maine: 4.01 career ERA with Mets (88 games).
4. LHP Oliver Perez: 6.92 ERA, 1.92 WHIP in 14 starts.
5. RHP Fernando Nieve: 3.12 ERA in seven ’09 starts.
Projected closer
RHP Francisco Rodriguez. Career-worst 3.71 ERA last season.
Grades
Offense: C. It was anemic (671 runs) last season, but the addition of Bay and the return of Reyes — and the eventual return of Beltran — will help. If Reyes and Beltran are healthy and if Wright rediscovers his power stoke, this could be an A-type group.
Pitching: C. The ever-effective Johan Santana leads a rotation that has more questions than certainties. Mike Pelfrey was the only Met to start more than 25 games last season, but the team didn’t upgrade the rotation by acquiring an established starter in the offseason. Closer Francisco Rodriguez was effective — but far from dominant — in his first season with the Mets.
Bench: B. Fernando Tatis and Mike Jacobs will provide some pop. Assuming Pagan wins the temporary center field job, Matthews will give the bench a solid defensive outfielder who can play all three spots. Alex Cora is one of the majors’ best backup middle infielders.
Manager: C. Considering all of the injuries with which his club had to deal, it is hard to accurately judge the job Manuel did in his first full season as Mets manager. And he will have his hands full early this season, juggling the lineup until Beltran returns.
Sporting News prediction: If healthy, the Mets’ offense should improve dramatically. The pitching staff has too many questions, however, to expect anything more than a third-place finish in the NL East.
Coming Friday: Nationals preview.
Ryan Fagan is a staff writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com.
An NL scout spoke with Sporting News’ Ryan Fagan about three of the division’s biggest questions:
Which Met is more likely to bounce back after a disappointing 2009: David Wright or Oliver Perez?
Scout says: "Wright is more likely to bounce back. Wright has a good compact swing with strong, quick hands. (He) tried to do too much last season with several of their key guys on the disabled list, and he was expanding the strike zone. Perez has a high-maintenance delivery; he can get out of sync fast and continues to be off and on with command of his pitches."
Who’s the ace of the division: Roy Halladay, Johan Santana or Josh Johnson?
Scout says: "The ace of the division is Roy Halladay. He had another fantastic season for the Jays (in 2009), including a career-high 208 strikeouts. He’s escaped the AL East, but he landed in a more hitterfriendly home park. I still expect Cy Young-caliber performances from him, and his bids for individual and team hardware will be stronger as he’ll have an excellent chance at winning 20-plus games with a better team behind him in Philadelphia."
Which Cole Hamels will show up this season?
Scout says: "Cole Hamels will be much better than he was in 2009, though it will be very hard to match his 2008 season. He began last year with some arm soreness, and his ERA went from 3.09 in 2008 to 4.32 in 2009. He needs to revive his curveball to get back to his 2008 form."
This story first appeared in the Feb. 15, 2010, edition of Sporting News magazine. If you are not receiving the magazine, subscribe today, or pick up a copy, available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets.
Ryan Fagan is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com, and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ryan_fagan.
An NL scout spoke with Sporting News’ Ryan Fagan about three of the division’s biggest questions:
Which Met is more likely to bounce back after a disappointing 2009: David Wright or Oliver Perez?
Scout says: "Wright is more likely to bounce back. Wright has a good compact swing with strong, quick hands. (He) tried to do too much last season with several of their key guys on the disabled list, and he was expanding the strike zone. Perez has a high-maintenance delivery; he can get out of sync fast and continues to be off and on with command of his pitches."
Who’s the ace of the division: Roy Halladay, Johan Santana or Josh Johnson?
Scout says: "The ace of the division is Roy Halladay. He had another fantastic season for the Jays (in 2009), including a career-high 208 strikeouts. He’s escaped the AL East, but he landed in a more hitterfriendly home park. I still expect Cy Young-caliber performances from him, and his bids for individual and team hardware will be stronger as he’ll have an excellent chance at winning 20-plus games with a better team behind him in Philadelphia."
Which Cole Hamels will show up this season?
Scout says: "Cole Hamels will be much better than he was in 2009, though it will be very hard to match his 2008 season. He began last year with some arm soreness, and his ERA went from 3.09 in 2008 to 4.32 in 2009. He needs to revive his curveball to get back to his 2008 form."
This story first appeared in the Feb. 15, 2010, edition of Sporting News magazine. If you are not receiving the magazine, subscribe today, or pick up a copy, available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets.
Ryan Fagan is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com, and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ryan_fagan.
No National League franchise has made three consecutive trips to the World Series since the St. Louis Cardinals turned the trick from 1942-44. With the league’s best lineup and Roy Halladay added to the top of the rotation, this year’s Phillies squad is a serious threat to duplicate the Cardinals’ feat. Philadelphia also should challenge the 100-win plateau, which it has reached just twice in franchise history (1976-77).
Brad Lidge is looking to bounce back after struggling in 2009.
Three questions
1. Will the bullpen be better?
It isn’t that the bullpen as a whole was bad last season — the 3.91 ERA ranked ninth among 16 NL teams — but closer Brad Lidge must be much better than he was in 2009. Manager Charlie Manuel stuck with Lidge, who was nearly unhittable in 2008, despite his 7.21 ERA, 0-8 record and 11 blown saves. Lidge converted all three of his save chances in the postseason, though, and will have a good-sized leash as he attempts to prove 2009’s disaster was a fluke.
As for the rest of the bullpen, 2009 mainstays Scott Eyre, Clay Condrey and Chan Ho Park are gone, and veterans Danys Baez and Jose Contreras are in. Baez, the more known quantity of the two, had a 4.02 ERA in the Orioles’ bullpen last season. Contreras has only made five relief appearances — all last year after he joined the Rockies — since his rookie season. There could be an adjustment period as he settles into the ‘pen full-time.
2. Which Cole Hamels will show up?
The lefthander failed to meet expectations created by his dominant performance in the 2008 postseason, posting a middling 4.32 ERA and 1.29 WHIP — both career-worsts — last season. Hamels can relax now that Halladay is in town to take that "ace" designation away from him.
"I believe that Cole Hamels will be much better than he was in 2009, though it will be very hard to match his 2008 season," an NL scout said. "He began last year with some arm soreness and his ERA went from 3.09 in 2008 to 4.32 last season. He needs to revive his curveball to get back to his 2008 form."
Without that precise curveball in his arsenal, Hamels’ changeup was less effective, and hitters were more comfortable in the batter’s box. Opponents hit .273 against Hamels in 2009 — they hadn’t hit better than .237 against him in his previous three seasons.
3. How will Placido Polanco’s return to Philly play out?
Taking a long-term view, the decision to sign Polanco will be beneficial for the Phillies, but there could be some growing pains. Switching from second base to third base on a full-time basis will be a challenge; he hasn’t played more than 25 games at the hot corner in one season since 2002.
And all indications are that Polanco will take over the No. 2 spot in the Phillies’ lineup, which could upset a grouping that produced very good results last year. The Phillies will lose some speed at the top, with Shane Victorino, who has 98 stolen bases over the past three years — Polanco has 71 in his 12-season career — moving to the lower third of the order. Hitting between Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley should help Polanco, but it could hurt Victorino. He hit .307 in the No. 2 spot in the lineup but just .222 everywhere else.
Projected lineup
1. SS Jimmy Rollins. Career-low .296 OBP in ’09.
2. 3B Placido Polanco. Career-high 72 RBIs with Tigers.
3. 2B Chase Utley. 93 RBIs were lowest total since ’04.
4. 1B Ryan Howard. Averaging 50 HRs, 143 RBIs since ’06.
5. RF Jayson Werth. 60 HRs, 40 steals over past 2 years.
6. LF Raul Ibanez. 13 HRs at home, 21 HRs on road.
7. CF Shane Victorino. Career-high 62 RBIs, .358 OBP.
8. C Carlos Ruiz. Career-best .780 OPS in ’09.
Projected rotation
1. RHP Roy Halladay. 25 CGs past 3 years; Phillies have 17 in that span.
2. LHP Cole Hamels. 1.80 ERA in ’08 playoffs; 7.58 ERA in ’09 playoffs.
3. RHP Joe Blanton. Career-best 7.5 K/9 in ’09.
4. LHP J.A. Happ. 2.93 ERA for SN’s top NL rookie.
5. LHP Jamie Moyer. Must prove he is healthy/effective.
Projected closer
RHP Brad Lidge. Ryan Madson is nice safety net.
Grades
Offense: A. There isn’t a lineup in baseball with a better power/speed dynamic; the Phillies return five players who hit at least 20 homers (four hit 30-plus) last year and four who stole at least 20 bases. And Polanco (.348 career on-base percentage) will replace Pedro Feliz (.293 career OBP) at third base.
Pitching: B. The 1-2 punch of Halladay and Hamels is elite, but there are questions about the No. 5 starter. Can Jamie Moyer or Kyle Kendrick hold the spot? And Lidge’s performance last year doesn’t exactly inspire confidence heading into 2010.
Bench: B. Ben Francisco is an ideal fourth outfielder — a guy who can play all three outfield positions for extended stretches, if needed. Juan Castro is a veteran defensive-minded infielder who can play second, shortstop and third. Greg Dobbs is the resident lefthanded bat off the bench.
Manager: A. Hard to find faults with a man who has led his team to back-to-back World Series appearances. Charlie Manuel might not always follow the conventional lines of thinking, but he knows the abilities of his players well and gets them to play their best baseball in the second half of the season.
Sporting News prediction: The Phillies, the most complete NL squad entering the season, will meet the Yankees in a World Series rematch. And will suffer a similar fate.
Coming Tuesday: Marlins preview.
Ryan Fagan is a staff writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com.
No National League franchise has made three consecutive trips to the World Series since the St. Louis Cardinals turned the trick from 1942-44. With the league’s best lineup and Roy Halladay added to the top of the rotation, this year’s Phillies squad is a serious threat to duplicate the Cardinals’ feat. Philadelphia also should challenge the 100-win plateau, which it has reached just twice in franchise history (1976-77).
Brad Lidge is looking to bounce back after struggling in 2009.
Three questions
1. Will the bullpen be better?
It isn’t that the bullpen as a whole was bad last season — the 3.91 ERA ranked ninth among 16 NL teams — but closer Brad Lidge must be much better than he was in 2009. Manager Charlie Manuel stuck with Lidge, who was nearly unhittable in 2008, despite his 7.21 ERA, 0-8 record and 11 blown saves. Lidge converted all three of his save chances in the postseason, though, and will have a good-sized leash as he attempts to prove 2009’s disaster was a fluke.
As for the rest of the bullpen, 2009 mainstays Scott Eyre, Clay Condrey and Chan Ho Park are gone, and veterans Danys Baez and Jose Contreras are in. Baez, the more known quantity of the two, had a 4.02 ERA in the Orioles’ bullpen last season. Contreras has only made five relief appearances — all last year after he joined the Rockies — since his rookie season. There could be an adjustment period as he settles into the ‘pen full-time.
2. Which Cole Hamels will show up?
The lefthander failed to meet expectations created by his dominant performance in the 2008 postseason, posting a middling 4.32 ERA and 1.29 WHIP — both career-worsts — last season. Hamels can relax now that Halladay is in town to take that "ace" designation away from him.
"I believe that Cole Hamels will be much better than he was in 2009, though it will be very hard to match his 2008 season," an NL scout said. "He began last year with some arm soreness and his ERA went from 3.09 in 2008 to 4.32 last season. He needs to revive his curveball to get back to his 2008 form."
Without that precise curveball in his arsenal, Hamels’ changeup was less effective, and hitters were more comfortable in the batter’s box. Opponents hit .273 against Hamels in 2009 — they hadn’t hit better than .237 against him in his previous three seasons.
3. How will Placido Polanco’s return to Philly play out?
Taking a long-term view, the decision to sign Polanco will be beneficial for the Phillies, but there could be some growing pains. Switching from second base to third base on a full-time basis will be a challenge; he hasn’t played more than 25 games at the hot corner in one season since 2002.
And all indications are that Polanco will take over the No. 2 spot in the Phillies’ lineup, which could upset a grouping that produced very good results last year. The Phillies will lose some speed at the top, with Shane Victorino, who has 98 stolen bases over the past three years — Polanco has 71 in his 12-season career — moving to the lower third of the order. Hitting between Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley should help Polanco, but it could hurt Victorino. He hit .307 in the No. 2 spot in the lineup but just .222 everywhere else.
Projected lineup
1. SS Jimmy Rollins. Career-low .296 OBP in ’09.
2. 3B Placido Polanco. Career-high 72 RBIs with Tigers.
3. 2B Chase Utley. 93 RBIs were lowest total since ’04.
4. 1B Ryan Howard. Averaging 50 HRs, 143 RBIs since ’06.
5. RF Jayson Werth. 60 HRs, 40 steals over past 2 years.
6. LF Raul Ibanez. 13 HRs at home, 21 HRs on road.
7. CF Shane Victorino. Career-high 62 RBIs, .358 OBP.
8. C Carlos Ruiz. Career-best .780 OPS in ’09.
Projected rotation
1. RHP Roy Halladay. 25 CGs past 3 years; Phillies have 17 in that span.
2. LHP Cole Hamels. 1.80 ERA in ’08 playoffs; 7.58 ERA in ’09 playoffs.
3. RHP Joe Blanton. Career-best 7.5 K/9 in ’09.
4. LHP J.A. Happ. 2.93 ERA for SN’s top NL rookie.
5. LHP Jamie Moyer. Must prove he is healthy/effective.
Projected closer
RHP Brad Lidge. Ryan Madson is nice safety net.
Grades
Offense: A. There isn’t a lineup in baseball with a better power/speed dynamic; the Phillies return five players who hit at least 20 homers (four hit 30-plus) last year and four who stole at least 20 bases. And Polanco (.348 career on-base percentage) will replace Pedro Feliz (.293 career OBP) at third base.
Pitching: B. The 1-2 punch of Halladay and Hamels is elite, but there are questions about the No. 5 starter. Can Jamie Moyer or Kyle Kendrick hold the spot? And Lidge’s performance last year doesn’t exactly inspire confidence heading into 2010.
Bench: B. Ben Francisco is an ideal fourth outfielder — a guy who can play all three outfield positions for extended stretches, if needed. Juan Castro is a veteran defensive-minded infielder who can play second, shortstop and third. Greg Dobbs is the resident lefthanded bat off the bench.
Manager: A. Hard to find faults with a man who has led his team to back-to-back World Series appearances. Charlie Manuel might not always follow the conventional lines of thinking, but he knows the abilities of his players well and gets them to play their best baseball in the second half of the season.
Sporting News prediction: The Phillies, the most complete NL squad entering the season, will meet the Yankees in a World Series rematch. And will suffer a similar fate.
Coming Tuesday: Marlins preview.
Ryan Fagan is a staff writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com.
An AL scout spoke with Sporting News’ Ryan Fagan about three of the division’s biggest questions:
Will Javier Vazquez have more success in his second stint with the Yankees?
Scout says: "There’s less pressure for him to anchor that staff than there was the last time he was there (4.91 ERA in 2004). He’s obviously going to have a little more run support than last year in Atlanta, a bit better ballclub and a little less pressure every five days. When you put him in that rotation with that ballclub, he’s going to be a great complement."
Now that third baseman Adrian Beltre is out of cavernous Safeco Field and at hitter-friendly Fenway Park, will he see a big uptick in his offensive production?
Scout says: "Yes, and not only from the different ballpark but from the guys that will surround him this year. His supporting cast in Boston is going to allow him to make a big impact. And some may make light of this, but the travel is going to be less for him, and that’ll help, too."
Will Rays starter David Price rebound from a sophomore slump?
Scout says: "I don’t think it was a slump. It’s a situation where a young guy was coming out of the bullpen, where he’d had a lot of success in short looks vs. hitters. But the league tends to do a lot of study on pitchers and makes adjustments. This guy is one of the best young pitchers in the game. He’ll be fine."
This story first appeared in the February 15 edition of Sporting News magazine. If you are not receiving the magazine, subscribe today, or pick up a copy, available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets.
Ryan Fagan is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com, and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ryan_fagan.
An AL scout spoke with Sporting News’ Ryan Fagan about three of the division’s biggest questions:
Will Javier Vazquez have more success in his second stint with the Yankees?
Scout says: "There’s less pressure for him to anchor that staff than there was the last time he was there (4.91 ERA in 2004). He’s obviously going to have a little more run support than last year in Atlanta, a bit better ballclub and a little less pressure every five days. When you put him in that rotation with that ballclub, he’s going to be a great complement."
Now that third baseman Adrian Beltre is out of cavernous Safeco Field and at hitter-friendly Fenway Park, will he see a big uptick in his offensive production?
Scout says: "Yes, and not only from the different ballpark but from the guys that will surround him this year. His supporting cast in Boston is going to allow him to make a big impact. And some may make light of this, but the travel is going to be less for him, and that’ll help, too."
Will Rays starter David Price rebound from a sophomore slump?
Scout says: "I don’t think it was a slump. It’s a situation where a young guy was coming out of the bullpen, where he’d had a lot of success in short looks vs. hitters. But the league tends to do a lot of study on pitchers and makes adjustments. This guy is one of the best young pitchers in the game. He’ll be fine."
This story first appeared in the February 15 edition of Sporting News magazine. If you are not receiving the magazine, subscribe today, or pick up a copy, available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets.
Ryan Fagan is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com, and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ryan_fagan.
