Yes, it’s early. Until hitters get 100 at-bats, scouts don’t start to take stock in the numbers. But the media doesn’t wait. So, with the caveat that "yes, we know there are 150-plus games to go," let’s examine the staying power of early-season trends.
Three that will last
Minnesota’s strong start
Ozzie Guillen once nicknamed the Twins’ offense "piranhas" for its ability to eat away at leads one run at a time. But these Twins have more than speed. They have a lineup stocked with hitters capable of 25-plus homers — Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel/Jim Thome and J.J. Hardy. Who knows, this also could be the year that 24-year-old Delmon Young finds his power. Even without him, the Twins’ offense is in fine shape. "We have some guys who can put the ball in the seats," manager Ron Gardenhire says.
Jon Rauch has been perfect in save opportunities so far.
The bullpen, so far, has overcome the loss of All-Star closer Joe Nathan. Jon Rauch has converted all five of his save chances, but the key has been Matt Guerrier. The 31-year-old righthander might have been named the closer if Gardenhire didn’t value his versatility so much. "He can do so much — get out lefties, pitch multiple innings, pitch in the ninth — that I like him where he is," Gardenhire says.
Despite their fancy new park, don’t think the Twins will change their low-key ways. When Gardenhire named Rauch his closer at the end of spring training, there was no fanfare. On the team’s flight out of Florida, he walked up to Rauch, tapped him on the shoulder and said, "You’re closing."
Seattle’s power woes
Milton Bradley’s big three-run homer Tuesday night could be just what he needs to get on track. More than most, Bradley needs to feel good about himself to play well. The Mariners need him right. They took the plunge on him for his offense more than his defense. But after he had one hit in his first five games, he was dropped in the order. As bad as Bradley has been, however, his two homers represent half of Seattle’s total after its 3-6 start.
Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Sweeney, both in what could be their final seasons, have combined for one extra-base hit. New first baseman Casey Kotchman and shortstop Jack Wilson are playing up to their reputations as defense-first players.
The Mariners’ defense has been as good as advertised for the most part, and the rotation will get a lift when Cliff Lee returns in May. But the offense might have to rely on Ichiro Suzuki and Figgins even more than expected. Bradley’s production — or lack of — could be the key.
The mess that is the Mets
At least the Mets had a positive opening day. They since have settled into last place and are playing like they plan to stay there. Manager Jerry Manuel called his lineup "unprepared" after Livan Hernandez shut them out for seven innings Sunday.
The rotation remains the biggest issue, and personnel changes might be the only way to change that. John Maine typifies the mess. He imploded in Denver on Tuesday night while throwing a fastball that rarely touched 90 mph. Though that was a tick above his velocity in his first start, his struggles are such that Manuel says the righthander’s spot in the rotation no longer is a given. Maine is scheduled to start Sunday night in St. Louis. Another outing like Tuesday night’s and that could be his last for a while.
Three that won’t
The Blue Jays’ lead in the AL East
The Jays, picked to finish last by Sporting News, look better than that. Vernon Wells is off to a strong start and 25-year-old lefthander Ricky Romero is showing the stuff of a No. 1 starter. Even without Roy Halladay, Toronto doesn’t appear ready to allow Baltimore to escape the cellar. But first place? Ahead of the big boys? That spot is about as secure as Manuel’s job.
The lack of a legitimate closer figures to catch up to the Jays, and Alex Gonzalez won’t rank among the home run leaders for long. He already has four homers after hitting eight last season. Travis Snider still looks like a hitter who was rushed to the majors, and the lineup remains thin after Wells and Adam Lind.
One positive: They don’t play the Yankees till June.
Don’t expect Trevor Hoffman’s struggles to continue.
Trevor Hoffman’s blown saves
Hoffman’s past four blown saves have come against the Cardinals, the latest two over the weekend. Credit the first one to the hitter, Matt Stavinoha, who smacked a decent 1-2 changeup over the left-field fence. The second was the result of poor pitching. Instead of relying on his career-defining changeup, Hoffman fed Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday nothing but fastballs, according to a scout in attendance.
Hoffman’s fastball tops out at around 87 mph on a good day, fast enough to be effective when hitters are focusing on his changeup. Pujols and Holliday, however, aren’t like most hitters. Even when they are thinking changeup, they can adjust and crush a mid-80s fastball. Hoffman found out the hard way. Don’t expect him to keep the changeup in his pocket for long.
The Angels in last
The Angels are no strangers to slow starts. Last year, they overcame early-season injuries that put them in a 6-11 hole. This year, they are adjusting to life without four mainstays lost on the free-agent market. So far, not so good.
Not surprisingly, the offense misses Chone Figgins. Erick Aybar has settled into Figgins’ leadoff spot, but the bottom half of the order isn’t producing. No player has appeared more overmatched than Figgins’ replacement at third, No. 9 hitter Brandon Wood (two singles, one walk in 23 plate appearances). But manager Mike Scioscia won’t let Wood’s struggles get so out of hand that they cost his team. If Wood doesn’t hit, Maicer Izturis easily could slip into the starting role at third.
Still, don’t expect the Angels to run away with the division even when they get right. The Mariners don’t look like the team some (yes, me) thought they’d be, but the Rangers and Athletics are improved. The gap between the top and the bottom of the AL West isn’t as gaping as a year ago.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Yes, it’s early. Until hitters get 100 at-bats, scouts don’t start to take stock in the numbers. But the media doesn’t wait. So, with the caveat that "yes, we know there are 150-plus games to go," let’s examine the staying power of early-season trends.
Three that will last
Minnesota’s strong start
Ozzie Guillen once nicknamed the Twins’ offense "piranhas" for its ability to eat away at leads one run at a time. But these Twins have more than speed. They have a lineup stocked with hitters capable of 25-plus homers — Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel/Jim Thome and J.J. Hardy. Who knows, this also could be the year that 24-year-old Delmon Young finds his power. Even without him, the Twins’ offense is in fine shape. "We have some guys who can put the ball in the seats," manager Ron Gardenhire says.
Jon Rauch has been perfect in save opportunities so far.
The bullpen, so far, has overcome the loss of All-Star closer Joe Nathan. Jon Rauch has converted all five of his save chances, but the key has been Matt Guerrier. The 31-year-old righthander might have been named the closer if Gardenhire didn’t value his versatility so much. "He can do so much — get out lefties, pitch multiple innings, pitch in the ninth — that I like him where he is," Gardenhire says.
Despite their fancy new park, don’t think the Twins will change their low-key ways. When Gardenhire named Rauch his closer at the end of spring training, there was no fanfare. On the team’s flight out of Florida, he walked up to Rauch, tapped him on the shoulder and said, "You’re closing."
Seattle’s power woes
Milton Bradley’s big three-run homer Tuesday night could be just what he needs to get on track. More than most, Bradley needs to feel good about himself to play well. The Mariners need him right. They took the plunge on him for his offense more than his defense. But after he had one hit in his first five games, he was dropped in the order. As bad as Bradley has been, however, his two homers represent half of Seattle’s total after its 3-6 start.
Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Sweeney, both in what could be their final seasons, have combined for one extra-base hit. New first baseman Casey Kotchman and shortstop Jack Wilson are playing up to their reputations as defense-first players.
The Mariners’ defense has been as good as advertised for the most part, and the rotation will get a lift when Cliff Lee returns in May. But the offense might have to rely on Ichiro Suzuki and Figgins even more than expected. Bradley’s production — or lack of — could be the key.
The mess that is the Mets
At least the Mets had a positive opening day. They since have settled into last place and are playing like they plan to stay there. Manager Jerry Manuel called his lineup "unprepared" after Livan Hernandez shut them out for seven innings Sunday.
The rotation remains the biggest issue, and personnel changes might be the only way to change that. John Maine typifies the mess. He imploded in Denver on Tuesday night while throwing a fastball that rarely touched 90 mph. Though that was a tick above his velocity in his first start, his struggles are such that Manuel says the righthander’s spot in the rotation no longer is a given. Maine is scheduled to start Sunday night in St. Louis. Another outing like Tuesday night’s and that could be his last for a while.
Three that won’t
The Blue Jays’ lead in the AL East
The Jays, picked to finish last by Sporting News, look better than that. Vernon Wells is off to a strong start and 25-year-old lefthander Ricky Romero is showing the stuff of a No. 1 starter. Even without Roy Halladay, Toronto doesn’t appear ready to allow Baltimore to escape the cellar. But first place? Ahead of the big boys? That spot is about as secure as Manuel’s job.
The lack of a legitimate closer figures to catch up to the Jays, and Alex Gonzalez won’t rank among the home run leaders for long. He already has four homers after hitting eight last season. Travis Snider still looks like a hitter who was rushed to the majors, and the lineup remains thin after Wells and Adam Lind.
One positive: They don’t play the Yankees till June.
Don’t expect Trevor Hoffman’s struggles to continue.
Trevor Hoffman’s blown saves
Hoffman’s past four blown saves have come against the Cardinals, the latest two over the weekend. Credit the first one to the hitter, Matt Stavinoha, who smacked a decent 1-2 changeup over the left-field fence. The second was the result of poor pitching. Instead of relying on his career-defining changeup, Hoffman fed Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday nothing but fastballs, according to a scout in attendance.
Hoffman’s fastball tops out at around 87 mph on a good day, fast enough to be effective when hitters are focusing on his changeup. Pujols and Holliday, however, aren’t like most hitters. Even when they are thinking changeup, they can adjust and crush a mid-80s fastball. Hoffman found out the hard way. Don’t expect him to keep the changeup in his pocket for long.
The Angels in last
The Angels are no strangers to slow starts. Last year, they overcame early-season injuries that put them in a 6-11 hole. This year, they are adjusting to life without four mainstays lost on the free-agent market. So far, not so good.
Not surprisingly, the offense misses Chone Figgins. Erick Aybar has settled into Figgins’ leadoff spot, but the bottom half of the order isn’t producing. No player has appeared more overmatched than Figgins’ replacement at third, No. 9 hitter Brandon Wood (two singles, one walk in 23 plate appearances). But manager Mike Scioscia won’t let Wood’s struggles get so out of hand that they cost his team. If Wood doesn’t hit, Maicer Izturis easily could slip into the starting role at third.
Still, don’t expect the Angels to run away with the division even when they get right. The Mariners don’t look like the team some (yes, me) thought they’d be, but the Rangers and Athletics are improved. The gap between the top and the bottom of the AL West isn’t as gaping as a year ago.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Chris Bahr, Sporting News
What to expect in the major leagues today:
Scott Kazmir wants to pick up where he left off in the 2009 regular season.
Firsts in the finale
Before the Angels catch their flight to Toronto, they will wrap up their series at Yankee Stadium tonight. Left-hander Scott Kazmir, who began the season on the disabled list, will make his 2010 debut for Los Angeles. He will face Phil Hughes, who will make his first start since last May 31. Hughes won the spring competition to be the world champions’ fifth starter but has a 5.22 ERA in 28 career starts (compared to a 1.40 ERA in 44 relief appearances). As for Kazmir, the Angels hope he will perform like he did after they acquired him late last August (1.73 ERA in six starts), as opposed to how he pitched with the Rays before the trade (5.92 ERA in 20 starts).
Working out the wrinkles
Offseason acquisition Ben Sheets will make his third start of the season for Oakland tonight. Sheets has been decent after a year-long layoff, but he has had to pitch his way out of plenty of jams. The right-hander has allowed 21 baserunners in 14 innings and has a poor 7/4 BB/K ratio after two starts. Baltimore is in town tonight for the first of four games, meaning A’s fans will get their first look at former Oakland shortstop Miguel Tejada since 2006. Tejada has hit more homers (83) at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum than any other park during his 14-season major league career.
No mercy for Mets
The woes continue for the last-place Mets, who are in the third game of a 19-game stretch against teams that finished 2009 with winning records. This afternoon, they will finish a three-game series at Coors Field before heading to St. Louis. The good news for New York: Shortstop Jose Reyes is healthy and third baseman David Wright already has more homers than he did last April (one).
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
Chris Bahr, Sporting News
What to expect in the major leagues today:
Scott Kazmir wants to pick up where he left off in the 2009 regular season.
Firsts in the finale
Before the Angels catch their flight to Toronto, they will wrap up their series at Yankee Stadium tonight. Left-hander Scott Kazmir, who began the season on the disabled list, will make his 2010 debut for Los Angeles. He will face Phil Hughes, who will make his first start since last May 31. Hughes won the spring competition to be the world champions’ fifth starter but has a 5.22 ERA in 28 career starts (compared to a 1.40 ERA in 44 relief appearances). As for Kazmir, the Angels hope he will perform like he did after they acquired him late last August (1.73 ERA in six starts), as opposed to how he pitched with the Rays before the trade (5.92 ERA in 20 starts).
Working out the wrinkles
Offseason acquisition Ben Sheets will make his third start of the season for Oakland tonight. Sheets has been decent after a year-long layoff, but he has had to pitch his way out of plenty of jams. The right-hander has allowed 21 baserunners in 14 innings and has a poor 7/4 BB/K ratio after two starts. Baltimore is in town tonight for the first of four games, meaning A’s fans will get their first look at former Oakland shortstop Miguel Tejada since 2006. Tejada has hit more homers (83) at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum than any other park during his 14-season major league career.
No mercy for Mets
The woes continue for the last-place Mets, who are in the third game of a 19-game stretch against teams that finished 2009 with winning records. This afternoon, they will finish a three-game series at Coors Field before heading to St. Louis. The good news for New York: Shortstop Jose Reyes is healthy and third baseman David Wright already has more homers than he did last April (one).
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
What to expect in the major leagues today:
Petco production
Tommy Hanson looks to try to quiet the suddenly hot Padres bats in San Diego.
Prior to Monday’s 17-run outburst in their home opener, the Padres had scored 19 runs in six games this season. Eight of San Diego’s 25 extra-base hits this season also came in that blowout win. Surprisingly, the Padres’ bats came to life against Jair Jurrjens, the Braves’ 24-year-old righthander who finished fifth in the majors last season with a 2.60 ERA. Seeking to get back to .500, Atlanta will throw another young ace, 23-year-old Tommy Hanson, this evening. Hanson also finished last season with a sub-3.00 ERA but allowed an uncharacteristic two homers in first outing this season. The only other time Hanson allowed multiple homers in a start was his major league debut in 2009.
Some help for C.J.
Confident that he could make a successful transition from reliever to starter, Rangers lefthander C.J. Wilson had a successful 2010 debut. He struck out nine Blue Jays in seven scoreless innings in his first start since 2005. Wilson was denied a win, however, thanks to poor run support and closer Frank Francisco’s first blown save. Working in Wilson’s favor tonight in Cleveland: Nelson Cruz and Neftali Feliz. In his past four games, Cruz is 7-for-14 with three homers and six RBIs. Feliz, who has five strikeouts and no runs allowed in his past three outings, has taken over the ninth-inning duties.
Wells at Wrigley
This afternoon, the Cubs will try to get to .500 for the first time this season behind the right arm of the man who delivered their first win of the season. Randy Wells, who tied for the team lead in wins (12) as a rookie in 2009, blanked the Braves over six innings last week. The Brewers, also 3-4 this season, will counter with righthander Dave Bush, who had his share of problems (6.20 ERA) in four starts against Chicago last season.
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
What to expect in the major leagues today:
Petco production
Tommy Hanson looks to try to quiet the suddenly hot Padres bats in San Diego.
Prior to Monday’s 17-run outburst in their home opener, the Padres had scored 19 runs in six games this season. Eight of San Diego’s 25 extra-base hits this season also came in that blowout win. Surprisingly, the Padres’ bats came to life against Jair Jurrjens, the Braves’ 24-year-old righthander who finished fifth in the majors last season with a 2.60 ERA. Seeking to get back to .500, Atlanta will throw another young ace, 23-year-old Tommy Hanson, this evening. Hanson also finished last season with a sub-3.00 ERA but allowed an uncharacteristic two homers in first outing this season. The only other time Hanson allowed multiple homers in a start was his major league debut in 2009.
Some help for C.J.
Confident that he could make a successful transition from reliever to starter, Rangers lefthander C.J. Wilson had a successful 2010 debut. He struck out nine Blue Jays in seven scoreless innings in his first start since 2005. Wilson was denied a win, however, thanks to poor run support and closer Frank Francisco’s first blown save. Working in Wilson’s favor tonight in Cleveland: Nelson Cruz and Neftali Feliz. In his past four games, Cruz is 7-for-14 with three homers and six RBIs. Feliz, who has five strikeouts and no runs allowed in his past three outings, has taken over the ninth-inning duties.
Wells at Wrigley
This afternoon, the Cubs will try to get to .500 for the first time this season behind the right arm of the man who delivered their first win of the season. Randy Wells, who tied for the team lead in wins (12) as a rookie in 2009, blanked the Braves over six innings last week. The Brewers, also 3-4 this season, will counter with righthander Dave Bush, who had his share of problems (6.20 ERA) in four starts against Chicago last season.
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
Sporting News staff reports
Prince Fielder wants a hefty raise in his next contract — perhaps to as high as $200 million over eight years, SI.com’s Jon Heyman reports.
Heyman, citing unnamed sources who are "familiar with the talks," says the Brewers’ slugging first baseman and his agent, Scott Boras, are using the contracts of Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira (also a Boras client) and Twins catcher Joe Mauer as starting points in negotiations. The sides have been discussing a long-term extension, but those demands would seem to discourage getting a deal done.
Fielder, 25, can become a free agent after the 2011 season, and the Brewers have explored the idea of trading him if they can’t re-sign him.
Milwaukee owner Mark Attanasio has not been shy about locking up the team’s young stars to lengthy, albeit team-friendly, deals. He signed left fielder Ryan Braun to a seven-year, $45 million pact in 2008 and ace right-hander Yovani Gallardo to a five-year, $30 million contract last week. There’s also talk that the club wants to work out a deal with second baseman Rickie Weeks.
Sporting News staff reports
Prince Fielder wants a hefty raise in his next contract — perhaps to as high as $200 million over eight years, SI.com’s Jon Heyman reports.
Heyman, citing unnamed sources who are "familiar with the talks," says the Brewers’ slugging first baseman and his agent, Scott Boras, are using the contracts of Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira (also a Boras client) and Twins catcher Joe Mauer as starting points in negotiations. The sides have been discussing a long-term extension, but those demands would seem to discourage getting a deal done.
Fielder, 25, can become a free agent after the 2011 season, and the Brewers have explored the idea of trading him if they can’t re-sign him.
Milwaukee owner Mark Attanasio has not been shy about locking up the team’s young stars to lengthy, albeit team-friendly, deals. He signed left fielder Ryan Braun to a seven-year, $45 million pact in 2008 and ace right-hander Yovani Gallardo to a five-year, $30 million contract last week. There’s also talk that the club wants to work out a deal with second baseman Rickie Weeks.
Ralph Kiner was on the phone a few weeks ago, telling stories about his contract negotiations with then-Pirates general manager Branch Rickey. The Hall of Fame outfielder pointed out that he was forced to take a pay cut because his team had finished in last place in 1952 — despite the fact that he led the National Leagues with 37 home runs.
Unthinkable now, right? "That’s the way it was in those days," Kiner said.
These days — as in, the first week of the season — some pretty unthinkable things have transpired, too. The Blue Jays and A’s are first-place teams. Alex Gonzalez entered the week tied for the major league lead in home runs. Martin Prado and Edgar Renteria entered the week ranked 1-2 in the majors with .542 and .524 batting averages, respectively.
That’s the way it is these days.
Which is why this first power poll of the season won’t resemble the one we see when September rolls around. This poll is mostly concerned with a team’s production so far this year, with preseason expectations used to split hairs.
1. Phillies. Two starts, two wins, two walks, 16 innings, 17 strikeouts. So much for the thought that there might be an adjustment period as Roy Halladay joins the National League. The 0.56 ERA and 0.938 WHIP are shiny, too.
2. Giants. In the least shocking start to the season, back-to-back Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his first two games. In a more surprising development, the revamped San Francisco offense averaged 5.2 runs in the first six games. The Giants averaged 4.1 runs all of last year.
Alex Gonzalez comes out swinging and helps the Jays get off to a surprising start.
3. Blue Jays. There were so many bright spots in the opening week — Gonzalez and his homers, Vernon Wells and his homers, Shaun Marcum’s return to the rotation, the outstanding starts by Dana Eveland and Ricky Romero. Hard to choose just one.
4. Twins. Apparently the Twins can turn any reliever into a rock-solid closer. When Joe Nathan, who held various roles with the Giants but flourished when he arrived in Minnesota, went down this spring, the Twins gave the job to Jon Rauch, who had held various roles with his three previous teams. Rauch is 4-for-4 in save opportunities this year.
5. Yankees. Some teams started with easy schedules — we’ll get to the Tigers in a minute — but not the Yankees. They opened with three games in Boston and three games at Tampa Bay, which makes their 4-2 record pretty impressive.
6. Athletics. Speaking of rough openings, the A’s hosted the Mariners — the "it" team of the offseason — for four games, then played three road games against the Angels. Tough slate for a team predicted by most to finish last in the AL West, which makes their 5-2 start pretty impressive.
7. Cardinals. When Matt Holliday signed a long-term deal this offseason, Cardinals fans had visions of the damage the 3-4 combo of Holliday and Albert Pujols could do against the NL. So far, those visions have come true — Holliday entered the week hitting .423 with three homers; Pujols was at .375 with four homers.
8. Marlins. The Marlins finished the opening week with a 4-2 record despite two very mediocre starts from ace Josh Johnson. The 10 RBIs from Jorge Cantu and 3 1/3 scoreless innings from new closer Leo Nunez have been huge.
9. Tigers. The scheduling folks did their best to give the Tigers a gentle nudge into the season, scheduling Detroit’s first seven games against the Indians and Royals, the two teams expected to battle for last place in the AL Central.
10. Red Sox. Entering the week, leadoff man Jacoby Ellsbury had yet to draw a walk; his average of 3.40 pitches per at-bat was 183rd in the majors. Last year, he saw 3.77 pitches per at-bat.
11. Rays. New closer Rafael Soriano has a win and a save in his first two appearances, but he also has allowed five baserunners in those two innings.
12. Diamondbacks. After their forgettable 70-win campaign in 2009, the D-backs will gladly take their 4-2 start to the season, even if it came against the Padres and Pirates. The much-maligned Chris Young is hitting .292 with three homers and 11 RBIs.
13. Braves. Derek Lowe is 2-0 this season despite allowing 10 walks and nine hits in 12 innings covering two starts. (Don’t worry; there will be plenty of time to talk about Jason Heyward …)
14. Rockies. Catchers Miguel Olivo and Chris Iannetta split the first six games. Olivo hit .455 with a 1.500 OPS; Iannetta hit .083 with a .583 OPS.
15. Rangers. Nelson Cruz is angling for a return trip to the home run derby. Cruz, who was the derby runner-up last year, hit four homers in the opening week to go with nine RBIs and a .450 batting average.
16. Brewers. The 42-year-old closer (Trevor Hoffman) has given up three homers and six runs in four appearances. The catcher (Gregg Zaun), who turns 39 on Wednesday, has started the season 0-for-14. The 40-year-old outfielder (Jim Edmonds) has a measly .610 OPS through his first five games. Aside from that, the Brewers are doing just fine.
17. Reds. Cincinnati starting pitchers are a combined 4-for-8 at the plate this season. On a completely unrelated note, don’t be surprised if this team finishes second in the NL Central this season.
Lack of contact plagues Matt Kemp’s first week.
18. Dodgers. Catcher Russell Martin and second baseman Blake DeWitt have combined to walk 11 times this season and strike out only twice. Martin’s on-base percentage is a Bonds-esque .611 so far. Matt Kemp, on the other hand, has walked once and struck out nine times.
19. Pirates. Starting pitchers Zach Duke (3.00 ERA) and Ross Ohlendorf (3.60) have been good; starters Paul Maholm (6.00), Daniel McCutchen (24.30) and Charlie Morton (21.60) haven’t.
20. Nationals. The Nationals won their first road series of the season, taking two of three from the Mets. Last season, the Nationals only won two road series before the All-Star break.
21. Cubs. Coming off poor seasons, Geovany Soto (1-for-11) and Alfonso Soriano (3-for-21) struggled again in 2010’s opening week.
22. Mariners. Speaking of players who struggled for the Cubs in 2009, Milton Bradley was just 1-for-21 in his first six games with the Mariners.
23. Angels. Brandon Wood, who has an opportunity to secure the third base job with Chone Figgins now in Seattle, was 1-for-19 in the season’s opening week.
24. Orioles. That 1-5 record in the first week wasn’t indicative of the way the Orioles played in the first week. Three of those losses were by one run, and in the fifth loss, they had a lead with two outs in the eighth. They expected better than an 18.00 ERA from Mike Gonzalez when they signed the lefty to close games.
25. Mets. What’s more surprising, that Jeff Francoeur hit .476 in the opening week, or that he drew four walks in six games? Considering he walked just 23 times in 157 games last season, we’ll go with the latter.
26. White Sox. As most predicted, the White Sox have been strong in the pitching categories — they had a staff ERA of 2.95 the opening week — and the offense has struggled. Carlos Quentin and Paul Konerko are the only two regulars hitting above .227.
27. Royals. Through the first week, the three veteran hitters the Royals signed this offseason have the three highest batting averages: Rick Ankiel was at .391, Scott Podsednik was at .364 and Jason Kendall was at .316.
28. Indians. It’s not hard to see the walk-off wild pitch Chris Perez allowed against the Tigers as a harbinger of things to come in Cleveland.
29. Padres. After his stellar debut to 2010, it had to be frustrating for the Padres to place Chris Young on the disabled list with tightness in his throwing shoulder. The Padres hope he only misses a couple weeks.
30. Astros. It’s going to be a long season for the Astros.
This story appears in the April 13 edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only sports digital daily, sign up today.
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.
Ralph Kiner was on the phone a few weeks ago, telling stories about his contract negotiations with then-Pirates general manager Branch Rickey. The Hall of Fame outfielder pointed out that he was forced to take a pay cut because his team had finished in last place in 1952 — despite the fact that he led the National Leagues with 37 home runs.
Unthinkable now, right? "That’s the way it was in those days," Kiner said.
These days — as in, the first week of the season — some pretty unthinkable things have transpired, too. The Blue Jays and A’s are first-place teams. Alex Gonzalez entered the week tied for the major league lead in home runs. Martin Prado and Edgar Renteria entered the week ranked 1-2 in the majors with .542 and .524 batting averages, respectively.
That’s the way it is these days.
Which is why this first power poll of the season won’t resemble the one we see when September rolls around. This poll is mostly concerned with a team’s production so far this year, with preseason expectations used to split hairs.
1. Phillies. Two starts, two wins, two walks, 16 innings, 17 strikeouts. So much for the thought that there might be an adjustment period as Roy Halladay joins the National League. The 0.56 ERA and 0.938 WHIP are shiny, too.
2. Giants. In the least shocking start to the season, back-to-back Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his first two games. In a more surprising development, the revamped San Francisco offense averaged 5.2 runs in the first six games. The Giants averaged 4.1 runs all of last year.
Alex Gonzalez comes out swinging and helps the Jays get off to a surprising start.
3. Blue Jays. There were so many bright spots in the opening week — Gonzalez and his homers, Vernon Wells and his homers, Shaun Marcum’s return to the rotation, the outstanding starts by Dana Eveland and Ricky Romero. Hard to choose just one.
4. Twins. Apparently the Twins can turn any reliever into a rock-solid closer. When Joe Nathan, who held various roles with the Giants but flourished when he arrived in Minnesota, went down this spring, the Twins gave the job to Jon Rauch, who had held various roles with his three previous teams. Rauch is 4-for-4 in save opportunities this year.
5. Yankees. Some teams started with easy schedules — we’ll get to the Tigers in a minute — but not the Yankees. They opened with three games in Boston and three games at Tampa Bay, which makes their 4-2 record pretty impressive.
6. Athletics. Speaking of rough openings, the A’s hosted the Mariners — the "it" team of the offseason — for four games, then played three road games against the Angels. Tough slate for a team predicted by most to finish last in the AL West, which makes their 5-2 start pretty impressive.
7. Cardinals. When Matt Holliday signed a long-term deal this offseason, Cardinals fans had visions of the damage the 3-4 combo of Holliday and Albert Pujols could do against the NL. So far, those visions have come true — Holliday entered the week hitting .423 with three homers; Pujols was at .375 with four homers.
8. Marlins. The Marlins finished the opening week with a 4-2 record despite two very mediocre starts from ace Josh Johnson. The 10 RBIs from Jorge Cantu and 3 1/3 scoreless innings from new closer Leo Nunez have been huge.
9. Tigers. The scheduling folks did their best to give the Tigers a gentle nudge into the season, scheduling Detroit’s first seven games against the Indians and Royals, the two teams expected to battle for last place in the AL Central.
10. Red Sox. Entering the week, leadoff man Jacoby Ellsbury had yet to draw a walk; his average of 3.40 pitches per at-bat was 183rd in the majors. Last year, he saw 3.77 pitches per at-bat.
11. Rays. New closer Rafael Soriano has a win and a save in his first two appearances, but he also has allowed five baserunners in those two innings.
12. Diamondbacks. After their forgettable 70-win campaign in 2009, the D-backs will gladly take their 4-2 start to the season, even if it came against the Padres and Pirates. The much-maligned Chris Young is hitting .292 with three homers and 11 RBIs.
13. Braves. Derek Lowe is 2-0 this season despite allowing 10 walks and nine hits in 12 innings covering two starts. (Don’t worry; there will be plenty of time to talk about Jason Heyward …)
14. Rockies. Catchers Miguel Olivo and Chris Iannetta split the first six games. Olivo hit .455 with a 1.500 OPS; Iannetta hit .083 with a .583 OPS.
15. Rangers. Nelson Cruz is angling for a return trip to the home run derby. Cruz, who was the derby runner-up last year, hit four homers in the opening week to go with nine RBIs and a .450 batting average.
16. Brewers. The 42-year-old closer (Trevor Hoffman) has given up three homers and six runs in four appearances. The catcher (Gregg Zaun), who turns 39 on Wednesday, has started the season 0-for-14. The 40-year-old outfielder (Jim Edmonds) has a measly .610 OPS through his first five games. Aside from that, the Brewers are doing just fine.
17. Reds. Cincinnati starting pitchers are a combined 4-for-8 at the plate this season. On a completely unrelated note, don’t be surprised if this team finishes second in the NL Central this season.
Lack of contact plagues Matt Kemp’s first week.
18. Dodgers. Catcher Russell Martin and second baseman Blake DeWitt have combined to walk 11 times this season and strike out only twice. Martin’s on-base percentage is a Bonds-esque .611 so far. Matt Kemp, on the other hand, has walked once and struck out nine times.
19. Pirates. Starting pitchers Zach Duke (3.00 ERA) and Ross Ohlendorf (3.60) have been good; starters Paul Maholm (6.00), Daniel McCutchen (24.30) and Charlie Morton (21.60) haven’t.
20. Nationals. The Nationals won their first road series of the season, taking two of three from the Mets. Last season, the Nationals only won two road series before the All-Star break.
21. Cubs. Coming off poor seasons, Geovany Soto (1-for-11) and Alfonso Soriano (3-for-21) struggled again in 2010’s opening week.
22. Mariners. Speaking of players who struggled for the Cubs in 2009, Milton Bradley was just 1-for-21 in his first six games with the Mariners.
23. Angels. Brandon Wood, who has an opportunity to secure the third base job with Chone Figgins now in Seattle, was 1-for-19 in the season’s opening week.
24. Orioles. That 1-5 record in the first week wasn’t indicative of the way the Orioles played in the first week. Three of those losses were by one run, and in the fifth loss, they had a lead with two outs in the eighth. They expected better than an 18.00 ERA from Mike Gonzalez when they signed the lefty to close games.
25. Mets. What’s more surprising, that Jeff Francoeur hit .476 in the opening week, or that he drew four walks in six games? Considering he walked just 23 times in 157 games last season, we’ll go with the latter.
26. White Sox. As most predicted, the White Sox have been strong in the pitching categories — they had a staff ERA of 2.95 the opening week — and the offense has struggled. Carlos Quentin and Paul Konerko are the only two regulars hitting above .227.
27. Royals. Through the first week, the three veteran hitters the Royals signed this offseason have the three highest batting averages: Rick Ankiel was at .391, Scott Podsednik was at .364 and Jason Kendall was at .316.
28. Indians. It’s not hard to see the walk-off wild pitch Chris Perez allowed against the Tigers as a harbinger of things to come in Cleveland.
29. Padres. After his stellar debut to 2010, it had to be frustrating for the Padres to place Chris Young on the disabled list with tightness in his throwing shoulder. The Padres hope he only misses a couple weeks.
30. Astros. It’s going to be a long season for the Astros.
This story appears in the April 13 edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only sports digital daily, sign up today.
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.
Chris Bahr, Sporting News
What to expect in the major leagues today:
The great outdoors: Target Field officially opens today.
Tearing the roof off
For the first time since September 1981, the Twins will play an outdoor regular season game in Minnesota this afternoon. The Twins bid farewell to the Metrodome when the Yankees finished a three-game ALDS sweep last October. But don’t expect Twins fans, who will have their first chance to cheer catcher Joe Mauer since he signed his contract extension this spring, to be too downtrodden.
It remains to be seen whether the move outdoors will rob the Twins of a distinct home-field advantage. From 2001 to 2009, only the Yankees and Red Sox had more home wins than the Twins, who went 8-0 at the Metrodome in the 1987 and 1991 World Series.
Another pennant for Philly
For the second consecutive season, the Phillies will raise an NL championship banner in their home opener. And for the fourth time in this young season, they will play the Nationals.
Left-hander Cole Hamels, who was credited with the win in Philadelphia’s 8-4 win over Washington this past Wednesday, will throw the first pitch of the season at Citizens Bank Park. After watching Hamels walk four Nationals in five innings last week, Phillies hope that first pitch will be a strike.
Last week, Ryan Howard and Placido Polanco combined for four homers and 12 RBIs against Washington pitching.
Big Mac returns
Like the Twins and Phillies, the Cardinals will celebrate a division title before their home opener against the Astros this afternoon. Unlike in Minnesota and Philadelphia, however, the batting coach should steal the spotlight in St. Louis. For the first time since 2001, Mark McGwire will don his No. 25 uniform for Cardinals fans, who must choose between a standing ovation in honor of Big Mac’s contributions to the franchise and a public display of their disapproval for his steroids admission.
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
Chris Bahr, Sporting News
What to expect in the major leagues today:
The great outdoors: Target Field officially opens today.
Tearing the roof off
For the first time since September 1981, the Twins will play an outdoor regular season game in Minnesota this afternoon. The Twins bid farewell to the Metrodome when the Yankees finished a three-game ALDS sweep last October. But don’t expect Twins fans, who will have their first chance to cheer catcher Joe Mauer since he signed his contract extension this spring, to be too downtrodden.
It remains to be seen whether the move outdoors will rob the Twins of a distinct home-field advantage. From 2001 to 2009, only the Yankees and Red Sox had more home wins than the Twins, who went 8-0 at the Metrodome in the 1987 and 1991 World Series.
Another pennant for Philly
For the second consecutive season, the Phillies will raise an NL championship banner in their home opener. And for the fourth time in this young season, they will play the Nationals.
Left-hander Cole Hamels, who was credited with the win in Philadelphia’s 8-4 win over Washington this past Wednesday, will throw the first pitch of the season at Citizens Bank Park. After watching Hamels walk four Nationals in five innings last week, Phillies hope that first pitch will be a strike.
Last week, Ryan Howard and Placido Polanco combined for four homers and 12 RBIs against Washington pitching.
Big Mac returns
Like the Twins and Phillies, the Cardinals will celebrate a division title before their home opener against the Astros this afternoon. Unlike in Minnesota and Philadelphia, however, the batting coach should steal the spotlight in St. Louis. For the first time since 2001, Mark McGwire will don his No. 25 uniform for Cardinals fans, who must choose between a standing ovation in honor of Big Mac’s contributions to the franchise and a public display of their disapproval for his steroids admission.
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
Zack Greinke already has allowed more earned runs than he did in the first six weeks of 2009, the Astros already have endured a six-game losing streak and Milton Bradley already has been caught flipping off fans.
And 10 teams haven’t played a home game yet.
That will change Monday and Tuesday as baseball season moves into the very early stage from the very, very early.
Three openers that figure to be a little more special than the rest:
Twins vs. Red Sox
Don’t blame the Twins for watching the Minnesota weather forecasts lately. They will play outdoors at home for the first time since 1981 when they open Target Field on Monday afternoon (4 ET, ESPN).
Denard Span plays meteorolgist ahead of Monday’s opener.
"It’s a little shaky rain-wise for (Monday) but the rest of the week is looking good," center fielder Denard Span said.
Though temperatures in the 70s are expected this week, freezing weather is a threat well into May in Minneapolis. The Twins don’t mind. They are thrilled to be moving into their own ball yard, which has received mostly rave reviews (except for the lack of a roof).
"We’ve been in the other place so long it’s hard to believe it’s our ballpark," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "You walk out and see this beautiful ballpark. It’s going to be an emotional day."
The Twins didn’t let the anticipation of opening a new park or, more impressively, the loss of All-Star closer Joe Nathan distract them in the season’s first week. They won five of seven on a trip that included three wins at Anaheim, an overnight flight to Chicago and two wins against the White Sox. They trail the first-place Tigers by a half-game in the AL Central.
Phillies vs. Nationals
The NL champions could not be blamed if they wanted to stay on the road after their offensive barrage at Washington and Houston. The Phillies pounded out at least 11 hits in each of their first five games and were hitting .337 before the offense slowed Sunday, though they still won behind Roy Halladay.
The Phillies won’t have their ring ceremony until later in the week but there still could be plenty of thrills Monday. They face the Nationals, whom they have beaten in 20 of the past 24 meetings.
Yankees vs. Angels
Expect a spectacle Tuesday when the Bombers open at home and celebrate their latest World Series championship. In addition to a ring ceremony, the club will show off flags for every one of its championships. Considering the Yankees have 27, finding room for them all could be a challenge.
Monday’s other openers:
Astros at Cardinals. The unknown here: Does new hitting coach Mark McGwire get the second-biggest ovation (the biggest is a given) from the Busch Stadium sellout crowd? Competition is stiff: Matt Holliday; Monday’s starter, Adam Wainwright; Chris Carpenter; Yadier Molina, and yes, even manager Tony La Russa.
Brewers at Cubs. Considering the Cubs’ slow start, don’t be surprised if the Wrigley Field faithful let out a few boos. But without Bradley around, who becomes the whipping boy? Alfonso Soriano, off to a 3-for-21 start, is a strong possibility.
Rangers at Indians. Though Cleveland center fielder Grady Sizemore sat out Sunday with a stiff back, he still could play Monday afternoon. The game also is expected to sell out. As of Sunday night, however, neither was a certainty.
White Sox at Blue Jays. A 5-1 trip to Texas and Baltimore has Toronto atop the AL East and should, for now, calm the locals who are still angry that Halladay is pitching in Philadelphia. Pitching rather well, too. He’s 2-0 after a complete-game victory over the Astros on Sunday.
Athletics at Mariners. No team will be happier to be home than Seattle, which has grabbed the early lead for most disappointing team. Thank you, newcomers Milton Bradley (1-for-21) and Cliff Lee (out until May).
Braves at Padres.
Atlanta will be trying to go to 2-1 in openers, having won its own a week ago before losing in San Francisco on Friday. The odds are in the Braves’ favor: The last time they lost a series in San Diego was in 2005.
Diamondbacks at Dodgers. The focus at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday figures to be as much on the box seats near the home team’s dugout as on the field. Will owner Frank McCourt and estranged wife Jamie both show? Who gets the front-row seats? Will Tommy Lasorda play middle man? Stay tuned. The soap opera is far from over.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Zack Greinke already has allowed more earned runs than he did in the first six weeks of 2009, the Astros already have endured a six-game losing streak and Milton Bradley already has been caught flipping off fans.
And 10 teams haven’t played a home game yet.
That will change Monday and Tuesday as baseball season moves into the very early stage from the very, very early.
Three openers that figure to be a little more special than the rest:
Twins vs. Red Sox
Don’t blame the Twins for watching the Minnesota weather forecasts lately. They will play outdoors at home for the first time since 1981 when they open Target Field on Monday afternoon (4 ET, ESPN).
Denard Span plays meteorolgist ahead of Monday’s opener.
"It’s a little shaky rain-wise for (Monday) but the rest of the week is looking good," center fielder Denard Span said.
Though temperatures in the 70s are expected this week, freezing weather is a threat well into May in Minneapolis. The Twins don’t mind. They are thrilled to be moving into their own ball yard, which has received mostly rave reviews (except for the lack of a roof).
"We’ve been in the other place so long it’s hard to believe it’s our ballpark," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "You walk out and see this beautiful ballpark. It’s going to be an emotional day."
The Twins didn’t let the anticipation of opening a new park or, more impressively, the loss of All-Star closer Joe Nathan distract them in the season’s first week. They won five of seven on a trip that included three wins at Anaheim, an overnight flight to Chicago and two wins against the White Sox. They trail the first-place Tigers by a half-game in the AL Central.
Phillies vs. Nationals
The NL champions could not be blamed if they wanted to stay on the road after their offensive barrage at Washington and Houston. The Phillies pounded out at least 11 hits in each of their first five games and were hitting .337 before the offense slowed Sunday, though they still won behind Roy Halladay.
The Phillies won’t have their ring ceremony until later in the week but there still could be plenty of thrills Monday. They face the Nationals, whom they have beaten in 20 of the past 24 meetings.
Yankees vs. Angels
Expect a spectacle Tuesday when the Bombers open at home and celebrate their latest World Series championship. In addition to a ring ceremony, the club will show off flags for every one of its championships. Considering the Yankees have 27, finding room for them all could be a challenge.
Monday’s other openers:
Astros at Cardinals. The unknown here: Does new hitting coach Mark McGwire get the second-biggest ovation (the biggest is a given) from the Busch Stadium sellout crowd? Competition is stiff: Matt Holliday; Monday’s starter, Adam Wainwright; Chris Carpenter; Yadier Molina, and yes, even manager Tony La Russa.
Brewers at Cubs. Considering the Cubs’ slow start, don’t be surprised if the Wrigley Field faithful let out a few boos. But without Bradley around, who becomes the whipping boy? Alfonso Soriano, off to a 3-for-21 start, is a strong possibility.
Rangers at Indians. Though Cleveland center fielder Grady Sizemore sat out Sunday with a stiff back, he still could play Monday afternoon. The game also is expected to sell out. As of Sunday night, however, neither was a certainty.
White Sox at Blue Jays. A 5-1 trip to Texas and Baltimore has Toronto atop the AL East and should, for now, calm the locals who are still angry that Halladay is pitching in Philadelphia. Pitching rather well, too. He’s 2-0 after a complete-game victory over the Astros on Sunday.
Athletics at Mariners. No team will be happier to be home than Seattle, which has grabbed the early lead for most disappointing team. Thank you, newcomers Milton Bradley (1-for-21) and Cliff Lee (out until May).
Braves at Padres.
Atlanta will be trying to go to 2-1 in openers, having won its own a week ago before losing in San Francisco on Friday. The odds are in the Braves’ favor: The last time they lost a series in San Diego was in 2005.
Diamondbacks at Dodgers. The focus at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday figures to be as much on the box seats near the home team’s dugout as on the field. Will owner Frank McCourt and estranged wife Jamie both show? Who gets the front-row seats? Will Tommy Lasorda play middle man? Stay tuned. The soap opera is far from over.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Sporting News staff reports
The Braves were approached about possibly taking part in a rare three-team doubleheader in case Sunday’s game at the Giants was postponed by rain.
Giants president Larry Baer tells the San Jose Mercury News the Braves were asked if they would be willing to return to San Francisco on Tuesday, an off-day, after playing in San Diego on Monday afternoon. The Braves and Giants would play at night, after the Giants’ regularly scheduled game against the Pirates in the afternoon. The Braves would then return to San Diego to resume their series with the Padres
The idea did not go anywhere, the paper reports, because the Braves want to keep Tuesday open if Monday’s game in San Diego is rained out. Wet weather is in the forecast.
Further, the Giants do not have a common off-day until Aug. 26, the Mercury News reports. A makeup on that date would force Atlanta to play for 34 consecutive days, and the players likely would be unwilling to do that.
Sunday’s game finally began after a four-hour delay.
Sporting News staff reports
The Braves were approached about possibly taking part in a rare three-team doubleheader in case Sunday’s game at the Giants was postponed by rain.
Giants president Larry Baer tells the San Jose Mercury News the Braves were asked if they would be willing to return to San Francisco on Tuesday, an off-day, after playing in San Diego on Monday afternoon. The Braves and Giants would play at night, after the Giants’ regularly scheduled game against the Pirates in the afternoon. The Braves would then return to San Diego to resume their series with the Padres
The idea did not go anywhere, the paper reports, because the Braves want to keep Tuesday open if Monday’s game in San Diego is rained out. Wet weather is in the forecast.
Further, the Giants do not have a common off-day until Aug. 26, the Mercury News reports. A makeup on that date would force Atlanta to play for 34 consecutive days, and the players likely would be unwilling to do that.
Sunday’s game finally began after a four-hour delay.
Chris Bahr, Sporting News
What to expect in the major leagues today:
Roy-day in Houston
The defending NL champion Phillies have come out swinging this season, ranking at or near the top in most offensive categories. Conversely, the Astros have struggled to generate offense, although they scored six Saturday night.
This afternoon, the Astros will turn to ace Roy Oswalt to try to silence the Phillies’ bats, but things won’t get any easier for Houston’s hitters. Snapping out of a season-long funk is tough enough, but the odds get even steeper when facing Roy Halladay.
Upside down in the AL West
The upstart A’s are in first place, while the Angels and Mariners are battling to stay out of the cellar. It’s early, but what is most alarming about Los Angeles’ poor start is that it has been at home. Just don’t push the panic button yet. After all, the Angels tied for the majors’ best road record (48-33) last season. And after winning their season opener in 2009, they didn’t move back above .500 until May 9. Still, L.A. could use a strong start from Joe Saunders against Oakland this afternoon.
A family divided
For parts of the 2008 and 2009 seasons, third baseman Andy LaRoche and first baseman Adam LaRoche both were Pirates. However, Adam was dealt to the Red Sox last July, then shipped to the Braves and then signed with the Diamondbacks in the offseason. Andy remains in Pittsburgh, though he will be in Arizona this afternoon as the Pirates and Diamondbacks wrap up their three-game series.
Neither LaRoche is off to a rousing start this season, but their teams have shown signs of hope after disappointing 2009 campaigns (both the Pirates and Diamondbacks finished in last place in their respective divisions).
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
Chris Bahr, Sporting News
What to expect in the major leagues today:
Roy-day in Houston
The defending NL champion Phillies have come out swinging this season, ranking at or near the top in most offensive categories. Conversely, the Astros have struggled to generate offense, although they scored six Saturday night.
This afternoon, the Astros will turn to ace Roy Oswalt to try to silence the Phillies’ bats, but things won’t get any easier for Houston’s hitters. Snapping out of a season-long funk is tough enough, but the odds get even steeper when facing Roy Halladay.
Upside down in the AL West
The upstart A’s are in first place, while the Angels and Mariners are battling to stay out of the cellar. It’s early, but what is most alarming about Los Angeles’ poor start is that it has been at home. Just don’t push the panic button yet. After all, the Angels tied for the majors’ best road record (48-33) last season. And after winning their season opener in 2009, they didn’t move back above .500 until May 9. Still, L.A. could use a strong start from Joe Saunders against Oakland this afternoon.
A family divided
For parts of the 2008 and 2009 seasons, third baseman Andy LaRoche and first baseman Adam LaRoche both were Pirates. However, Adam was dealt to the Red Sox last July, then shipped to the Braves and then signed with the Diamondbacks in the offseason. Andy remains in Pittsburgh, though he will be in Arizona this afternoon as the Pirates and Diamondbacks wrap up their three-game series.
Neither LaRoche is off to a rousing start this season, but their teams have shown signs of hope after disappointing 2009 campaigns (both the Pirates and Diamondbacks finished in last place in their respective divisions).
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
Sporting News staff reports
In the wake of umpire Joe West’s criticism that the Red Sox and Yankees play at a pace that is "a disgrace to baseball," Red Sox second Dustin Pedroia responded with some harsh words of his own.
"To call the Yankees and Red Sox, two of the best teams in baseball, ‘pathetic’ and ’embarrassing,’ that’s just ridiculous," Pedroia told ESPN.com. "If he doesn’t want to do Red Sox and Yankee games, he should tell the umpires’ union. Then when we’re in the World Series, he’ll be out of that assignment, too."
Yankees closer Mariano Rivera also weighed in, telling the New York Post, "If (West) has places to go, let him do something else. What does he want us (the players) to do, swing at balls? … We don’t want to play four-hour games, but that’s what it takes. We respect and love the fans and do what we have to do, and that’s play our game."
The teams played three times this week, with the game times at 3:46, 3:48 and 3:21. ESPN.com noted that 11 of the teams’ 18 games last season were longer than 3:21, with only one taking less than three hours to complete. The two teams played the longest nine-inning game of 2009 at 4:21, and had a 15-inning game that lasted 5:33.
West was quoted in Friday’s Record of Hackensack, N.J., as saying: "They’re the two clubs that don’t try to pick up the pace. They’re two of the best teams in baseball. Why are they playing the slowest? It’s pathetic and embarrassing. They take too long to play."
Sporting News staff reports
In the wake of umpire Joe West’s criticism that the Red Sox and Yankees play at a pace that is "a disgrace to baseball," Red Sox second Dustin Pedroia responded with some harsh words of his own.
"To call the Yankees and Red Sox, two of the best teams in baseball, ‘pathetic’ and ’embarrassing,’ that’s just ridiculous," Pedroia told ESPN.com. "If he doesn’t want to do Red Sox and Yankee games, he should tell the umpires’ union. Then when we’re in the World Series, he’ll be out of that assignment, too."
Yankees closer Mariano Rivera also weighed in, telling the New York Post, "If (West) has places to go, let him do something else. What does he want us (the players) to do, swing at balls? … We don’t want to play four-hour games, but that’s what it takes. We respect and love the fans and do what we have to do, and that’s play our game."
The teams played three times this week, with the game times at 3:46, 3:48 and 3:21. ESPN.com noted that 11 of the teams’ 18 games last season were longer than 3:21, with only one taking less than three hours to complete. The two teams played the longest nine-inning game of 2009 at 4:21, and had a 15-inning game that lasted 5:33.
West was quoted in Friday’s Record of Hackensack, N.J., as saying: "They’re the two clubs that don’t try to pick up the pace. They’re two of the best teams in baseball. Why are they playing the slowest? It’s pathetic and embarrassing. They take too long to play."
