It’s all about things being broken this week. Broken bones, broken hearts, and as painful as it sounds, even a testicular fracture. Before I become a broken record, let’s just get to the tomato throwin’…
Throwing Tomatoes – Volume IX
Seattle SuperSonics and its Ownership …for packing up and moving to Oklahoma City. It’s always tough to see a team move. I feel for the fans of Seattle… for a lot of reasons. The Mariners enter the season with hype and falter. The Sonics never quite got it done in the 90’s. Now they add a potential star in Kevin Durant, only to have their team pack up and leave for the nation’s heartland.
A-Rod’s Love Life …for finding a way to get all intertwined into the sports pages. If I wanted to read about A-Rod and something besides his game (baseball game that is), I would pick up a Cosmo or People, or maybe even turn on TMZ. The only splitting I want to hear about is his bat after a high-and-tight fastball. Unless soon-to-be ex Cynthia has some more vulgar shirts, perhaps directed at Madonna. Maybe A-Rod has one for Lenny Kravitz… such as: “If You Can’t Say No”, then don’t “Dig In” with an “American Woman”. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
Chris Snyder …for not taking better care of the “family jewels”. Poor Chris Snyder. He’s on the DL. But wait, it gets worse. He’s out with a testicular fracture. A busted nut if you will. The irony is, Snyder was replaced on the Arizona roster by Robby Hammock. Get well soon Chris.
Michael Beasley …for getting injured minutes into the Heat’s opening camp practice. OK fine, so it’s a cracked bone. That still counts as being broken. I get that he can still play, but stemming off the drama that already existed with Pat Riley apparently not being crazy about the pick, now this happens to Beasley in his opening practice? Get ready for some drama on South Beach this year.
George Sherrill …for not trusting his fastball. Blowing a save hurts a closer… and a team. But how about blowing back-to-back games when your team has the lead, two outs, and two strikes in the 9th inning. That’s what Sherrill did last week. I believe both pitches were on hanging sliders too.
The Brett Favre Saga …for not going away. This tomato is not directed at Favre himself, but more so at the rumors and sources that desperately continue to resurrect stories on Favre making a triumphant return to “Cheeseland”. C’mon people, let’s figure this story out and put it to bed.
Aaron Rodgers …for ticking off some of the best fans in football. Aaron Rodgers has upset Green Bay fans already and he hasn’t even taken the field yet. To further explain, Rodgers was quoted as saying “I don’t need to sell myself to fans, they need to get on board now or keep their mouths shut”. I wonder if the Brett Favre rumor came out to try and “stir the pot” more, perhaps making some Green Bay fans long for their Hall of Fame QB to change his mind and return for one more year? Rodgers later apologized, but something tells me he’ll still hear some boos at Lambeau Field when the season starts.
The Colorado and Florida Pitching Staffs …for giving up 35 runs and 43 hits in one game OK, so I throw a tomato at the pitching staffs of the Marlins and Rockies for their Fourth of July slugfest that provided fans with plenty of offensive fireworks. It was like teeball out there. Still, how I wish I was one of the fans sitting in the seats at Coors Field on the night when Colorado walks off with a crazy 18-17 victory over the Marlins. Now that’s exciting!
Troy Tulowitzki …for injuring himself out of frustration. It’s just been one of those years for the Colorado shortstop. This time, he’s visiting the DL due to a cut on his hand (that required stitches). How’d he get it? Try by slamming his bat down, only to have it slice his hand open. That’s call for an extra-large tomato… and a little Neosporin too.
People Drinking Wimbledon “Haterade” …instead of watching the Finals this weekend. Tennis fan or not, if you missed this weekend’s Wimbledon finals, then you missed something special. Especially on the men’s side, where Rafael Nadal was able to knock off five-time Wimbledon champ Roger Federer in a match that lasted nearly five hours.
The Orioles on Sunday … and the fact that they just can’t win. Make that 13 consecutive losses for the Baltimore Orioles on Sundays. Yes, that’s 13. The O’s haven’t won on Sunday since the opening week of the season, with the latest setback being a difficult 11-10 loss to the Rangers at Camden Yards. Maybe the Baltimore faithful can give Adam “Pacman” Jones a call. I hear he can make it rain and he’s free on Sundays until the Fall. Oh wait, that’s… nevermind.
Tyson #### …for only qualifying for the 100m in the upcoming Olympics. #### suffered a severe cramp during the 200 meter Olympics Trials race, therefore knocking him out of the competition for a medal in Beijing. One of the fastest men on the planet, and because of a cramp, he won’t have a shot. Honorary Tomato Throwers of the Week Because those who found success earn a chance to sling one at their opposition
Milwaukee Brewers – at the NL Central after reportedly trading for Cleveland ace C.C. Sabathia Kyle Busch – at the NASCAR field after winning his sixth race of the 2008 season.
This has been “Throwing Tomatoes”… let the countdown begin until the next “Brett Favre to Return” rumor surfaces.
It isn’t quite the All-Star Break for baseball, yet most of the league’s teams are at or past the halfway point of this year’s grueling 162 game season. With that being said, there are certainly a number of teams and players that have already stood out in a negative way.
Yep, they’re askin’ for it. It’s a special edition of “Throwing Tomatoes”… nah, let’s call it a “special delivery”. So get your ammo ready, and let’s start slingin’…
Throwing Tomatoes – Volume VIII ** SPECIAL DELIVERY: Baseball’s Halfway Point
Colorado Rockies (32-50) Eight short months ago, this team was the NL’s representative in the World Series. What happened? A lot of things, including first half injuries to Tulowitzki and Holliday, struggles by staff ace Jeff Francis, and little progress from some of their promising young players. Oh, and Colorado’s pitching staff has a team ERA of 4.70. Only Texas and Pittsburgh are worse.
San Diego Padres (32-51) Injuries to Jake Peavy and Chris Young during the first half certainly didn’t help, but the lack of production by the offense (with exception to Adrian Gonzalez) has been the bigger issue.
Detroit Tigers (41-40) Sure, they’re above .500 and finally getting their act together, but it’s still been a rough first half for a Tigers team that entered 2008 with a boatload of lofty expectations. Offseason acquisition Miguel Cabrera (.279 average, 11 HR, 47 RBI) has been decent since joining the Tigers. Dontrelle Willis, on the other hand… let’s get back to him in a minute.
New York Mets (40-41) and Omar Minaya
Are the Mets suffering from a hangover after last season’s collapse?
That depends on who you ask. Still, this team has way too much talent
to be performing this poorly. Fortunately for Mets fans, the Phillies
are not running away with the East. By the way, Minaya and the front
office deserve a tomato for the way they handled the Willie Randolph
firing.
Cleveland Indians (37-45) One game from the World Series last season, the talented Indians now find themselves in the cellar of the AL Central division. Cleveland’s offense has been abysmal in the first half, batting .246 as a team. That’s good for 27th in the majors.
Seattle Mariners (31-50) After a promising 2007 campaign, the M’s thought they had the door open to the playoffs after acquiring Erik Bedard during the offseason. Instead, Seattle is by far the AL’s worst team. GM Bill Bavasi and manager John McLaren were first half casualties. Who’s next? Troy Tulowitzki (.157 average, 2 HR, 13 RBI) In 34 games this season, Tulowitzki is nowhere near the Mendoza line. That’s a far cry from his 2007 campaign, where he batted .291, with 24 homers and 99 RBI’s.
Barry Zito (3-11, 5.91 ERA) This is not exactly what the Giants were looking for when they signed Barry “The Green Giant” Zito to a monster deal before the 2007 season. What happens if Barry loses 20 games? Shawn Chacon (2-3, 5.04 ERA, and 1 violent act) Chacon didn’t perform well, but more notable was the outburst in which he snapped and threw Houston GM Ed Wade to the ground. Chacon has since been cut by the Astros, and don’t be shocked if he never pitches in the majors again. Francisco Liriano (0-3, 11.32 ERA) With Santana departing, the Twins were depending on Liriano to return to his 2006 form (12-3, 2.16 ERA) after being out for the entire 2007 campaign. Instead, Liriano struggled and was shipped back to AAA. The Twins persevered and have played well anyway.
Eric Gagne (1-2, 6.98 ERA, five blown saves) If you’re like me, you thought the Brewers were crazy to sign Gagne to a ten million, one-year deal, especially after watching him struggle with Boston last year. Salomon Torres has pitched so well in the closer’s role, Milwaukee would be equally as crazy to make a change now that Gagne’s back.
Ryan Howard (.216 average, 113 K’s) While his twenty homers are only three behind the major league lead, Howard has struggled throughout the year. In fact, he’s on pace to eclipse last year’s horrific 199 strikeout total.
Erik Bedard (4-4, 3.79 ERA) Bedard hasn’t exactly been what the Mariners have hoped for this season. Then again, he certainly isn’t the only one to blame for Seattle’s woes either.
Phil Hughes (0-4, 9.00 ERA) and Ian Kennedy (0-3, 7.41 ERA) These were the two young talents that were supposed to help anchor the Yankees’ rotation, while adding youth to an older roster. Neither has panned out at this point. Bronson Arroyo (4-7, 6.19 ERA) After two solid seasons in Cincinnati, Arroyo has struggled during the first half of 2008. Most notable was Bronson’s one inning, ten run disaster against Toronto about a week ago. Homer Bailey (0-3, 8.76 ERA) I’ve always thought it was a bit of a jinx to be a pitcher named “Homer”. Still, one of the game’s most highly touted prospects continues to underachieve in Cincinnati. Dontrelle Willis (0-1, 10.32 ERA, demotion to High-A Lakeland) Willis has been a disaster since joining the Tigers during the offseason. To say Dontrelle (21 walks, 5 K’s) was wild before his demotion to Single A would be the understatement of the year. What’s higher, his leg kick or his ERA?!
Near Misses (Honorable Mentions) Felix Pie, Victor Martinez, Eric Byrnes, Bill Hall, Richie Sexson, Jim Thome, Robinson Cano, Steve Trachsel, Brad Penny, Tom Gorzelanny, Joe Blanton, Pedro Martinez, and Matt Morris.
Honorary Tomato Throwers of the Week Because those who found success earn a chance to sling one at their opposition
Asdrubal Cabrera – at the Toronto Blue Jays during his unassisted triple play on May 13th Jered Weaver – at Mike Scioscia for removing him while having a no-hitter intact Carlos Delgado – at the New York Yankees after having 9 RBI’s on June 28th Mark Teixeira – at the Seattle Mariners after hitting three HR’s on June 22nd
If you get a chance, check out this post’s counterpart, “Gold Stars: Baseball’s Halfway Point”. This has been “Throwing Tomatoes”… now don’t forget to wear red this Independence Day.
Make it a Sam Adams, or maybe a Coors, Cheer on pitching or games with high scores.
Didn’t watch football between Denver and Pitt, Just asked Bill Belichick if he would tape it.
Had to watch Game 7 between the Sox and Tribe, Manny didn’t care, but I felt my own vibe.
In the end, the Red Sox sent its nation into heaven, Tallying a run total that reached the number eleven.
Yet, this game was close, the game was tight. Lofton was safe, and Jake pitched alright.
Pedroia swung a hot bat, and Dice-K did enough, Drew had no heroics, and Lugo’s defense was rough.
Still, a one-run lead for the Sox left after inning eight, When Boston’s bats turned from mediocre to great.
As the game ended, Cleveland’s players didn’t roam, Perhaps because Joel Skinner never waved them home.
Asdrubal’s ‘D’ was clutch, and Victor’s play was stout, The aces struggled, and “Pronk” almost always struck out.
Again, the World Series has arrived, it’s here. Game 1 is on Wednesday, so never fear.
It’s the Sox and the Rox on Fox…
Wednesday isn’t a holiday, but just another “Hump Day”, It may soon be a Denver holiday, because of Matt Holliday.
Colorado will hang a great deal of its chances, On their ace, the underrated, yet very talented Jeff Francis.
Meanwhile, Boston’s ace has shut every opponent down, Colorado will have its hands full when Beckett comes to town.
The Rockies came in winning 21 out of their last 22, But what will eight days off from competition do?
It’s late October, and 70+ degrees before the Boston show, While in Colorado, the Rockies are dealing with four inches of snow.
Still, it’s the Sox and the Rox on Fox…
Atkins, Tulowitzki, Helton, Holliday, and Hawpe, A young core of bats, the NL’s cream of the crop.
Ramirez, Big Papi, Youkilis, Pedroia, and Lowell, Together this Sox offense is clearly on a roll. We’re only a few days away from the World Series on FOX, For now, get your kicks by checking the previous game’s box.
As the series approaches, Boston is likely to have the edge, I’m sure there will be no argument from Cleveland’s Eric Wedge.
But you may hear an argument from Colorado’s manager Clint, Who has his Rockies not losing in a seven game playoff stint.
On Wednesday, Game 1 of the World Series will begin, The question remains, who do you think will win?
Both teams are going to throw in everything but the kitchen sink, Believe me, this will be a better series than many of you think.
Since the beginning of the Wild Card era, there have been numerous
surprises and exciting finishes throughout Major League Baseball. From the Diamondbacks winning on the final
at bat against Mariano Rivera, to Aaron Boone hitting a walk off against
Boston, to the Red Sox erasing a 3-0 deficit, the baseball playoffs have become
borderline unpredictable. One could say
that predicting the playoffs is no longer as easy as X, Y, Z… until today, but
for a different reason.
To help my predictions become “as easy as X, Y, Z”, I looked to three
players that will be factors for each team.
I first looked to a potential X-factor for each team. In addition, I’m inventing two additional
factors: a Y-factor (the player you may not think of immediately, but there are
reasons “why” they are a factor more than others) and a Z-factor (symbolizing
sleeping - or catching z’s, therefore the player I think each team shouldn’t
rely upon during the playoffs). I see
each trio of players to be pivotal in each team’s postseason success.
And now… my predictions for each Divisional Series…
American
League
Los Angeles
Angels of Anaheim VS Boston Red Sox
Game 1: Angels – Lackey (19-9) at Red Sox – Beckett (20-7)
Game 2: Angels – Escobar (18-7) at Red Sox – Matsuzaka (15-12)
Game 3: Red Sox – Schilling (9-8) at Angels – Weaver (13-7)
Game 4: If Necessary
Game 5: If Necessary
X-factors:
Boston –
David Ortiz: Injury or no injury,
Big Papi still has the ability to deliver clutch hit after clutch hit, and Boston will need him to do so in this year's playoffs... more so than ever.
Los Angeles
– Vladimir Guerrero:
Sticking with the potent bats, I’m going with Vlad here, especially considering
the fact that he struggled the last time he faced the Red Sox in the playoffs.
Y-factors:
Boston –
Dustin Pedroia: The potential Rookie
of the Year in the AL has been a spark for the Boston offense. He will need to get on base to not only distract the pitchers, but also to provide RBI opportunities for the potent bats of Ortiz and Ramirez.
Los Angeles
– Reggie Willits: The rookie will be
asked to play CF, replacing the injured Gary Matthews Jr. His defensive play and ability to get on
base will be key for the Angels in this series.
Z-factors:
Boston –
Eric Gagne: Gagne struggled ever
since being traded to Boston at the trade deadline, blowing numerous Boston
leads over the final months. If I’m the
Red Sox, I use him rarely, and not in any close games or tight situations.
Los Angeles
– Gary Matthews Jr.:
Brought in and paid big bucks, Matthews Jr. was supposed to help give the
Angels the extra boost on both offense and defense. However, an up and down season, plus an injury entering the
postseason makes him a non-factor.
KP’s Take:Injuries are key in this series, and the
Angels seem to have more ”damaged goods” heading into Game 1. If the Angels can earn a split at Fenway,
they could have a shot, due to playing so well at home. Either way, I expect this series to go the
distance, and I give a slight edge to the Red Sox.
Red Sox in
5
New York
Yankees VS Cleveland Indians
Game 1: Yankees – Wang (19-7) at Indians – Sabathia (19-7)
Game 2: Yankees – Pettitte (15-9) at Indians – Carmona (19-8)
Game 3: Indians – Westbrook (6-9) at Yankees – Clemens (6-6)
Game 4: If Necessary
Game 5: If Necessary
X-factors:
New York –
Alex Rodriguez: A-Rod is the biggest
X-factor for any team in the playoffs, and the spotlight will be all over him
due to his lackluster playoff performances in the past. After a magical year (possibly his last in
New York), something tells me that Rodriguez is going to break out in a big
way.
Cleveland –
Travis Hafner: Would you call a .266
average, 24 HR’s, and 100 RBI’s a down year?
It is for Hafner, and now more than ever, the Indians need him to step
up and get hot against New York’s veteran pitching staff.
Y-factors:
New York –
Joba Chamberlain: Chamberlain (2-0,
0.38 ERA, 34 K’s in 24 IP) has been dominant thus far, and if New York can keep
the games close against Cleveland’s two aces, it will be necessary for the
fiery rookie to bridge the gap in the late innings, opening the door for the
Yankee bats to take the lead and put the ball in the hands of Mariano Rivera.
Cleveland –
Fausto Carmona: Sabathia is more of a
veteran, and should pitch well. Last
season, Carmona was a young kid, who was painfully wild. This year, he did a complete 180, winning 19
games. However, the playoff atmosphere
is different, and in order to knock off the high octane Yankees offense,
Carmona will need to keep his composure.
Z-factors:
New York –
Johnny Damon: He has played better
of late, but if I’m the Yankees, I would use Matsui, Cabrera, and Abreu in the
outfield more frequently.
Cleveland –
Joe Borowski: I’m not saying “Don’t
pitch him”, but if I’m an Indians fan, I worry as while Borowski had 45 saves,
he also blew eight save opportunities, and had an ERA above 5 on the season.
KP’s Take:The Yankees were dominant throughout most of
the second half of the season. The
Indians have the better overall pitching staff, but the Yankees have the
consistent playoff experience. If New
York can manage to beat either Sabathia or Carmona at “The Jake”, I think New
York can manage to escape and advance to the ALCS in a tight, hard fought
series. It comes down to experience,
and the Yankees have plenty of it… and then some.
Yankees in
5
National
League
Chicago
Cubs VS Arizona Diamondbacks
Game 1: Cubs – Zambrano (18-13) at Diamondbacks – Webb (18-10)
Game 2: Cubs – Lilly (15-8) at Diamondbacks – Davis (13-12)
Game 3: Diamondbacks – Hernandez (11-11) at Cubs – Hill (11-8)
Game 4: If Necessary Game 5: If Necessary
X-factors:
Chicago –
Carlos Zambrano: Struggling often in
the second half, Zambrano is key for Chicago in the playoffs, especially since
he will be asked to defeat Brandon Webb once, and maybe twice.
Arizona –
Chris Young: Someone needs to
spark Arizona’s offense, and while Young hit 32 HR’s during the season, he also
batted .237 and struck out 141 times.
For the Diamondbacks to have a chance, they need him to put the playoff
pressure aside and be efficient at the plate.
Y-factors:
Chicago –
Alfonso Soriano: A .299 average, 33
HR’s, 70 RBI’s, and 19 SB’s is a decent year for many, but for Soriano and his
giant contract, it’s a disappointment.
He has the talent and playoff experience, and that’s why he’s key for
the Cubs.
Arizona –
Doug Davis: Someone has to help
Webb anchor the rotation, and the biggest factor will be Davis, who at times
was solid (144 K’s), but also wild (95 walks).
The D’Backs need him to produce a quality start (or two) in the
playoffs.
Z-factors:
Chicago –
Jacque Jones: After having only 5
HR’s and 66 RBI’s over the season, it’s safe to say that Jones was a major
disappointment, and expect him to be a potential non-factor in the playoffs.
Arizona –
Carlos Quentin: With 5 HR’s and a
.214 average over 81 games, Quentin was a major disappointment on offense. Expect Arizona to rely on others to carry
the team.
KP’s Take: Arizona had a great season with timely
hitting and streaky pitching. Still,
Arizona’s youthful offense has never been in the playoff spotlight, and I
further see little depth in the rotation behind Brandon Webb. On the other side, the Cubs have veterans
with experience, and a manager that can inspire a team and win big games. Therefore, I’ll take the Cubbies to advance
to the NLCS.
Cubs in 4
Colorado
Rockies VS Philadelphia Phillies
Game 1: Rockies – Francis (17-9) at Phillies – Hamels (15-5)
Game 2: Rockies – TBD (?-?) at Phillies – Kendrick (10-4)
Game 3: Phillies – Moyer (14-12) at Rockies – TBD (?-?)
Game 4: If Necessary
Game 5: If Necessary
X-factors:
Philadelphia
– Jimmy Rollins: Utley and Howard are
important for the team’s success, but Rollins is the key here, as he’s the
spark that can ignite the offense. Keep
in mind, Rollins had 30 HR’s, 94 RBI’s, 41 SB’s, and a .296 average during the
regular season.
Colorado –
Troy Tulowitzki: The obvious choice is
Holliday, but I’m not worried about him. He will hit. Instead, I consider
the rookie Tulowitzki as the X-factor in the series for the Rockies. As a rookie, there will be a lot of pressure
on him, especially since he has put this team on his back on a number of
occasions.
Y-factors:
Philadelphia
– Brett Myers: While a lot of the
talk will be on the Philly offense, there should be focus on Myers. Converted to a closer due to injuries, Myers
is key to this series, as he could be asked to come in and shut down one of the
best offenses in the league, likely in a tight and high scoring game.
Colorado –
Jeff Francis: This team is all
about potent offense, and playing at Coors Field, pitching is often not
discussed. That’s why I choose Francis,
because in order to slow down the Philly offense, Colorado will need someone to
keep them in games. Who better than the
guy considered ace of the staff, and one that has struggled against
Philly. What better time to finally shut
down the Phillies?
Z-factors:
Philadelphia
– Adam Eaton: Eaton is an obvious
choice, since the Phillies chose to leave him off the playoff roster
entirely. Either way, Eaton was paid a
hefty amount of cash to help the Phillies, and while he pitched 30 starts over
the course of the year, he has struggled often in a Philadelphia uniform.
Colorado –
Jorge Julio: The former Oriole
closer is still wild, and if not for the Rockies offense, he would have blown
the extra-innings game the other night.
Not only did he give up Scott Hairston’s two-run homer in the 13th,
but he also struggled all season, posting an 0-5 record with an ERA above
5. Colorado should focus on other
bullpen arms during key moments in the series.
KP’s Take: This matchup could be the most exciting of
the opening round, if you like high octane offense. Expect some high scoring and close games. The Phillies came in hot, and the Rockies
came in blistering hot. Either way,
something has to give here, and the struggles of Francis against the Phillies,
plus the emotional high Colorado hit the other night are factors here. Therefore, I give Philadelphia the slight
edge.
In a rollercoaster offseason that has provided many fireworks but little firepower, the Baltimore Orioles came through with what could be a significant addition on Monday.The Orioles acquired outfielder Corey Patterson from the Chicago Cubs for single-A minor leaguers Nate Spears and Carlos Perez.While this acquisition is sure to cause a variety of opinions among Oriole fans, I’m one that feels this is a very solid move.Patterson obviously had a very down year in 2005 (.215 average, 13 homers, 34 rbi’s, and a demotion to AAA), but he still has tremendous upside and could just need a change of scenery to get back on track.The Orioles, desperate to make some additional moves to keep up in the AL East, add a player with above average defensive skills and the ability to be a 30/30 player (thirty home runs and thirty stolen bases).Along with the speed and power, Patterson has shown that he can also hit for average (.298 average in 2003).Keep in mind that Patterson is also at a very young age of 26, which fills the profile that Baltimore has been looking for, which is adding a significant player that can stick around in an Orioles uniform for a while and not result in sacrificing the future (in the form of upper level prospects).
To attempt to back the Orioles in their move to acquire Corey Patterson, try comparing his statistics with that of the other potential candidates for the Orioles’ three starting outfield roster spots.
First, here are a sampling of some of the aforementioned candidates, with some general background information on each of them.
Corey Patterson – He was donned a future star with the Cubs, but may have been rushed to the majors a little too quickly.Patterson will now have a chance to resurrect his career in Baltimore.
Jeromy Burnitz – Like Patterson, Burnitz is considered an above average defender, with the ability to hit around 30 home runs a season.Burnitz had a verbal agreement in place with the Orioles, but later backed out to sign with the Pirates.
Luis Matos – Matos has had every opportunity to become a fixture in center field for the Orioles, but injuries and lackluster numbers have resulted in a fall from grace with the fans and the Baltimore front office.He could be in a position to retain his job, or may be used as trade bait for other team needs.
Nick Markakis – One of the top prospects in the Oriole farm system (according to Baseball America), and slated to be a future star for years to come in Baltimore,Markakis will have a chance this spring to earn a spot on the major league roster.Beginning the year at AAA may be more helpful.
Val Majewski – Majewski was injured last season, and will have a chance to make the team, and is one the most highly regarded prospects in the Baltimore organization at the current time.
Jeff Conine – An aging veteran and a fan favorite in Baltimore from his past tenure, Conine should provide solid leadership to a young team.By adding Patterson, Conine can now potentially fill the void at first base, which was left vacant by former Oriole Rafael Palmeiro.
Eric Byrnes – Byrnes was given a shot to make the team, but he struggled at the end of the season and Baltimore decided to let him go.However, he was picked up by Arizona, which makes part of me wonder if the Orioles could have picked up his option and packaged him in a deal (with other players) for Javier Vazquez, as the O’s are desperate for a pitcher to lead the starting rotation.
David Newhan – Newhan flourished in 2004 and struggled in 2005.A career minor leaguer in his Texas days, it is still hard to tell if Newhan deserves a starting spot on a team in the majors.
Larry Bigbie – Once thought to be a future star in the Orioles organization, Baltimore finally gave up on Bigbie last season, as the Cubs did this season with Patterson.At the time, the O’s traded him to Colorado, but this season he signed on with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Richard Hidalgo – Hidalgo has been mentioned as a possible Orioles acquisition in recent weeks.He is a player that has struggled mightily at times, but also shown some flashes of brilliance.
Manny Ramirez – For the sake of my argument, I will leave Manny’s stats out of the grouping below.The main reason for exclusion being that adding Ramirez would also mean subtracting Miguel Tejada, which is close to being a wash in the stats department.
Jay Gibbons – I am also leaving out the stats of Gibbons, who according to all reports has already earned the spot as starting right fielder for the Orioles in 2006.
Next, here is a stat comparison for each of the above listed players (Except for Ramirez and Gibbons) for the 2004 and 2005 seasons.Each player is compared among the following categories: age (as of today), games played (GP), home runs hit (HR), runs batted in (RBI), stolen bases (SB), and batting average (AVG.).I have also included a calculation statistic ( (162 / GP) * Stat Value ) to show the approximate season the player would have had if he was on the field for all 162 games.
2004 Season (Actual statistics – Major League stats only)
PLAYER
AGE
GP
HR
RBI
SB
AVG.
Corey Patterson
26
157
24
72
32
.266
Jeromy Burnitz
36
150
37
110
5
.283
Luis Matos
27
89
6
28
12
.224
Jeff Conine
39
140
14
83
5
.280
Eric Byrnes
29
143
20
73
17
.283
David Newhan
32
95
8
54
11
.311
Larry Bigbie
28
139
15
68
8
.280
Richard Hidalgo
30
144
25
82
4
.239
Nick Markakis
22
-
-
-
-
-
Val Majewski
24
9
0
1
0
.154
2005 Season (Actual statistics – Major League stats only)
The Mariners enter the season with hype and falter. The Sonics never quite got it done in the 90’s. Now they add a potential star in Kevin Durant, only to have their team pack up and leave for the nation’s heartland.
one of the fans sitting in the seats at Coors Field on the night when Colorado walks off with a crazy 18-17 victory over the Marlins. Now that’s exciting!
