MLB FanHouse http://mlb.fanhouse.com MLB FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif MLB FanHouse http://mlb.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Joe Girardi: World Series Champion Manager and Good Samaritanhttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/05/joe-girardi-world-series-champion-manager-and-good-samaritan/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/05/joe-girardi-world-series-champion-manager-and-good-samaritan/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/05/joe-girardi-world-series-champion-manager-and-good-samaritan/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Joe GirardiAs if managing the New York Yankees to their historic 27th World Series championship wasn't enough work for one night, Joe Girardi decided to do some more good on his way home from the new-and-improved Yankee Stadium. This time his work came in the form of humanitarian, not just filling out a lineup card full of baseball players for the entertainment of millions.

At about 2:25 AM Thursday morning, a woman named Marie Henry lost control of her vehicle on the Cross County Parkway in Eastchester, New York and crashed into a wall. Not only did Girardi stop to check on her well-being, but he also flagged down the police.
"He was jumping up and down, trying to flag me down," [officer Kathleen Cristiano] said. "You don't expect him standing by a car accident trying to help."
Cristiano had earlier seen Girardi as he passed through a sobriety checkpoint.

Henry did escape the accident without injury and declined to be taken to the hospital. For those who think what Girardi did was minor, though, you have another thing coming.

According to the police, Girardi ran across moving traffic to get across the highway and check on the accident.
"He could have gotten killed," county Sgt. Thomas McGurn said, adding that responding police units take extra precaution in that area because of the blind curve and speeding cars. "Traffic goes by at 80 mph."
Remember, Girardi had no way of knowing the woman in the accident was unharmed and he put himself at risk in the case he would be able to help an injured motorist.

In other news, Girardi's "Bucket List" is likely starting to take shape.

Major League Baseball player -- check.

Wife and kids -- check.

Major league All-Star -- check.

World Series champion as a player -- check.

World Series champion as a manager -- check.

Run through speeding traffic and be first on the scene to a car accident -- check.

Next stop: Mount Everest? Skydiving?

Godspeed, Joe.

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Joe Girardi: World Series Champion Manager and Good Samaritan originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>joe girardiMatt SnyderThu, 05 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST Some Chin Music for Chase Utley?http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/some-chin-music-for-chase-utley/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/some-chin-music-for-chase-utley/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/some-chin-music-for-chase-utley/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Chase Utley World SeriesPhillies second baseman Chase Utley is having quite the World Series. The perennial All-Star is hitting .333 with five home runs, eight RBI and a disgusting 1.651 OPS. Needless to say, he's as locked in as anyone in the series. Four of those round-trippers came in the two Phillies victories (two in each), which illustrates the point that it is paramount for the Yankees to stop him in order to win Game 6.

Doing so is easier said than done, but former Yankees pitcher and World Series Champion David Wells has an idea: a little old fashioned "chin music."
Chase Utley needs to kiss the Yankee Stadium dirt tonight.

Enough is enough, already. I would never advocate throwing at somebody's head, but there comes a time when you've got to make an insanely hot hitter like Utley squirm.
This was written by Wells himself in a column for the New York Post. He also uses the statement, "Show some guts and knock him on his butt," and discusses the fact that five Yankees hitters have been hit with a pitch while only one Phillies hitter has suffered the same fate.

Wells does point out that, once brushing Utley back, he needs to be pitched outside, "like he's Babe Ruth."

I don't want to completely argue with Wells, as he's an accomplished former major league pitcher with some rings (plus, he threw a perfect game half-drunk!), because I can see the value of brushing someone back off the plate and messing with their comfort zone.

But, instead of chancing automatically putting Utley on base in the first inning of a pivotal Game 6, shouldn't they at least broach the philosophy of not feeding him fastballs in the strike zone? Or at least not directly down the middle of the plate? I understand the menacing presence of Ryan Howard is in the on-deck circle protecting Utley, but Howard's doing his best impersonation of a real-life Pedro Cerrano right now (.158 average, World Series record-tying 12 strikeouts, looks overmatched against breaking pitches).

I'd rather walk Utley with four breaking pitches out of the strike zone -- in hopes he goes fishing and gets himself out -- than take the chance of hitting him with a pitch in order to prove some sort of point. Boomer obviously disagrees. We'll find out the Yankees' decision Wednesday evening.

Some Chin Music for Chase Utley? originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>chase utleyChaseUtleydavid wellsDavidWellsryan howardRyanHowardMatt SnyderWed, 04 Nov 2009 09:10:00 EST Rays Trade Akinori Iwamura to Pittsburgh for Reliever Jesse Chavezhttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/03/rays-trade-akinori-iwamura-to-pittsburgh-for-reliever-jesse-chav/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/03/rays-trade-akinori-iwamura-to-pittsburgh-for-reliever-jesse-chav/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/03/rays-trade-akinori-iwamura-to-pittsburgh-for-reliever-jesse-chav/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In a surprising piece of mid-World Series news, the Tampa Bay Rays and Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to a trade this afternoon. Tampa will send second baseman Akinori Iwamura to the Pirates in return for relief pitcher Jesse Chavez. According to the same report by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (who broke news of the Pirates' involvement in the trade after the St. Petersburg Times first reported an Iwamura trade this afternoon), no cash or other players are involved.

Iwamura, 30, is due $4.25 million in 2010 and the emergence of Ben Zobrist makes that a price the Rays clearly weren't eager to pay for a player who'd likely be a utility man for them in '10. The Pirates, however, are looking to add payroll after cleaning house last year and have a gaping hole at second base, so Iwamura is a logical addition for them.

Chavez was one of the Pirates' most reliable relievers last year. That may sound like damning with faint praise, but he improved his control (he only walked 2.9 batters per nine innings, down from his 3.3 BB/9 average in the minors and his 5.4 BB/9 rate with the Pirates in 2008) and was very good early in the year before hitting a rough patch in July and August.

Tampa, though, can use relievers and Chavez is only 26 and under team control for five more seasons, so he's a solid option for them. So the Pirates get a second baseman that they need, the Rays clear out some payroll and get an extra arm. It seems like the trade works for both sides, except that it weakens an already bad bullpen in Pittsburgh. Given their 99 losses in 2009, though, the Pirates probably have other needs to address before worrying about the bullpen

Rays Trade Akinori Iwamura to Pittsburgh for Reliever Jesse Chavez originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Akinori IwamuraAkinoriIwamuraJesse ChavezJesseChavezPat LackeyTue, 03 Nov 2009 18:56:00 EST Jason Bay Has Options in Free Agencyhttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/jason-bay-has-options-in-free-agency/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/jason-bay-has-options-in-free-agency/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/jason-bay-has-options-in-free-agency/#commentsFiled under: ,

Jason BayThe Red Sox have a storied history of long-term, very popular left fielders patrolling the grounds in front of the Green Monster at Fenway Park.

Ted Williams spent 16 years in left field for Boston, Carl Yastrzemski lasted 11 and Jim Rice played 12 years. If you add the eight years of Mike Greenwell's tenure and seven from Manny Ramirez, those five players have spent 54 of the 69 years since Williams' first year in 1940 playing left field for the Red Sox.

Now, that's job security.

Jason Bay has been playing in left field for a season and a half, and for the first time in his seven-year career is up for free agency. Will Bay continue the trend of longevity? On Thursday, Bay spent some time chatting with fans on WEEI's website. The topic of his impending free agency took up most of the chat even though Bay says he's not sure what he's looking for yet.

"There isn't one important factor.", Bay said when a chat participant asked what factored into which team he would select. "The funny thing is that everybody has an opinion of what I'm waiting (f)or or what I'm doing and I don't even have an opinion, and that's the truth."

Bay's agent, Joe Urbon, told WEEI that he feels Bay will be the most complete free agent on the market (the free-agency period won't open until the conclusion of the World Series, and the Red Sox have exclusive negotiation rights for 15 days after that). "I think the most important thing about Jason Bay is that he is truly the most complete player in this free-agent class. I don't think, I know."

Whether Bay takes his show on the road to test the free-agent market or signs quickly to stay in Boston remains to be seen. Rumors are flying that the Red Sox may be willing to spend $60 million for four years to rehire Bay. Not only is that good money, but it would be a nice fit for someone who admittedly loves the atmosphere in Boston.

"Playing left field in Boston is great for a few reasons. The history of the wall and all the players who have played there in past years make it really special", said Bay in the chat room. He's also a fan of playing for Terry Francona -- and there's much to be said about finding a positive player-manager relationship.

One of the criteria not mentioned by Bay in his chat is playing for a contender. The 31-year-old left fielder has it made in Boston compared to the days he spent in Pittsburgh. A quick scan shows that three playoff contenders could be in the market for a free-agent left fielder. The New York Mets and San Francisco Giants could surely offer similar money to Bay if that four-year, $60 million contract is the benchmark. The Atlanta Braves, who likely wouldn't spend that much money, are also in need of a big stick in the middle of their lineup.

A fourth option may be St. Louis, which is another fanatical baseball-driven town. For the Cardinals to throw their hat in the ring in an attempt to sign Bay, their current left fielder, Matt Holliday, would have to sign elsewhere. Holliday is also eligible to become a free agent when the World Series ends.

The options for Bay are plentiful, as you can see. It's hard to think that he's not going to see how much the market will pay for his services. Wherever he ends up, it's sure to be an interesting ride.

Jason Bay Has Options in Free Agency originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>carl yastrzemskijason bayjim ricemanny ramirezmatt hollidaymike greenwellted williamsKnox BardeenFri, 30 Oct 2009 15:02:00 EST World Series Tickets in Big Demandhttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/world-series-tickets-are-a-sizzling-commodity/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/world-series-tickets-are-a-sizzling-commodity/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/world-series-tickets-are-a-sizzling-commodity/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Tickets for the World Series are as good as gold -- literally.

Worries about the economy have pushed up prices for the precious metal above $1,000 an ounce, a level many fans are willing to pay for good tickets to baseball's championship, which starts Wednesday in New York.

The ticket search engine FanSnap.com estimates that some ticket sellers are asking more than $1,600 for Game 3 of the showdown between the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, greater than the cost of a pair of pearl earrings ($660) round-trip airfare between the city of Brotherly Love and Tokyo ($778) or a half-pound of frozen gourmet white truffles ($1,300).

FanSnap said getting in the door of Citizens Bank Park will cost $650, enough for the standing room only area that are for sale. Since the Yankees became Philadelphia's World Series opponent, Phillies tickets are up 127 percent, according to RazorGator.com, an online ticket marketplace.

FanSnap also says the Yankees are a bargain compared to the Phillies with average ticket listings at $769 and a "get-in" price of $410, which will get a fan bleacher seats for Game 1 at Yankee Stadium. Ticket brokers say that the disparity between New York and Philadelphia prices are a result of an imbalance between supply and demand that will not last.

"We'll be watching prices in Philadelphia and New York very closely in the coming days to see what happens to ticket availability and prices." Christian Anderson, a FanSnap spokesman, said in an email.

The ticket market also fluctuates -- sometimes wildly -- making ticket prices hard to pin down. Moreover, just because someone asks for a high price does not mean they will get it. But demand remains high and some people will go to any lengths to cheer their team to victory in person. One woman was arrested in the suburbs of Philadelphia for allegedly trying to barter sex for World Series tickets.

Over 200 confused fans stormed Yankee Stadium's front doors Wednesday morning -- some waiting some 30 hours in the rain -- when they realized the team was not selling any World Series tickets, according to the New York Post. One Yankee fan told the paper that he was so disgusted that he was rooting for the Phillies.

The New York Daily News reported that the Yankees handed out free baseball caps to the die-hard fans who braved the elements including Nancy Wandell, 38, who waited at Yankee Stadium despite battling a flu bug through the night.

StubHub, the secondary ticket market endorsed by Major League Baseball, continues to see a brisk trade in World Series tickets. Its figures are different than FanSnap because they only include completed or pending sales. FanSnap includes listings from many sites.

StubHub estimates that the average selling price for New York World Series tickets is $698, up $464 from when the Yankees and Marlins squared off in the 2003 Fall Classic. Philadelphia tickets are averaging $977, up from the $903 tickets sold for last year when the Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays.

Prices start to climb higher as the drama builds: Game 2 tickets have fetched $701. Game 3 and Game 4 tickets have sold for more than $1,000 each. Prices plunge again for Game 5 ($875), Game 6 ($658) and Game 7 ($668), which are only played if necessary.

There are other challenges people face going to the game, including a possible transit strike in Philadelphia. Traveling to New York will be no picnic, either, especially during rush hour. Visitors to Philadelphia may also run into difficulty finding a hotel room because thousands of infectious disease scientists are holding their annual meeting while the Series is in town.

"That, combined with visitors for Game Three of the World Series in addition to the fact that Saturday is generally the busiest night of the week, has pretty much filled most of Center City hotel rooms for Saturday, Oct. 31, " said Caroline Beam, a spokeswoman for the Greater Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau.

World Series Tickets in Big Demand originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Jonathan BerrWed, 28 Oct 2009 15:06:00 EST John Farrell Not Interested in Indians Jobhttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/14/john-farrell-not-interested-in-indians-job/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/14/john-farrell-not-interested-in-indians-job/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/14/john-farrell-not-interested-in-indians-job/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's now ten days after the end of the 2009 baseball season and the only thing the Cleveland Indians know about their vacant managerial position is that it won't be filled by Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell. That's because Farrell, who was initially seen as a front-runner for the job, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer today that while he is interested in managing some day, he's not interested in the Indians job and he'd rather stay in his position in Boston.

As the former farm director in Cleveland under Mark Shapiro, Farrell seemed like maybe the most logical choice for the job, but this isn't the first time he's turned a managerial job down. He was believed to be the frontrunner in 2007 in Pittsburgh, where former Shapiro assistant Neal Huntington is GM, but he also asked for his name to be removed from consideration then, as well.

Farrell mentions that he has a "mutual commitment" with Boston, but since Boston granted him the right to interview earlier in the week it's hard to imagine they'd begrudge him leaving for a managerial position. It could be that he simply likes being a pitching coach or working with the current Boston staff and doesn't want to give that up right now or that he feels too much loyalty towards Terry Francona to bail on his contract. Or it could be that he just doesn't want to manage somewhere like Pittsburgh or Cleveland enough to give up his job in Boston.

It is still early in the Indians' process, so Shapiro should still have plenty of time to find a suitable candidate. The Plain Dealer says that he and his staff are currently narrowing the list down to three to five names, at which point they'll begin face-to-face interviews. There are no names named, but Bobby Valentine's name has cropped up in the past week or so.

John Farrell Not Interested in Indians Job originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>John FarrellJohnFarrellMark ShapiroMarkShapiroPat LackeyWed, 14 Oct 2009 12:19:00 EST 2009 MLB Postseason Schedulehttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/11/2009-mlb-postseason-schedule/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/11/2009-mlb-postseason-schedule/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/11/2009-mlb-postseason-schedule/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

With two series over, Major League Baseball has updated the schedule for the rest of the Division Series.

The Rockies and Phillies will play their Game 4 at 4 PM ET if the Yankees-Twins series is still going on. Should the Yankees finish off a sweep Sunday night, the NL Game would move to 6 PM ET.

Series-by-series times are after the jump (all times Eastern).

Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees:

Game 1- Twins at Yankees, 10/7, 6:07 PM, TBS
Game 2- Twins at Yankees, 10/9, 6:07 PM, TBS
Game 3- Yankees at Twins, 10/11, 7:07 PM, TBS
Game 4- Yankees at Twins, 10/12, 7:37 PM, if necessary, TBS
Game 5- Twins at Yankees, 10/14, 8:07 PM, if necessary, TBS

Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Game 1- Red Sox at Angels, 10/8, 9:37 PM, TBS
Game 2- Red Sox at Angels, 10/9, 9:37 PM, TBS
Game 3- Angels at Red Sox, 10/11, 12:07 PM, TBS

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Game 1- Cardinals at Dodgers, 10/7, 9:37 PM, TBS
Game 2- Cardinals at Dodgers, 10/8, 6:07 PM, TBS
Game 3- Dodgers at Cardinals, 10/10, 6:07 PM,TBS

Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Game 1- Rockies at Phillies, 10/7, 2:37 PM, TBS
Game 2- Rockies at Phillies, 10/8, 2:37 PM, TBS
Game 3- Phillies at Rockies, 10/11, 10:07 PM,TBS
Game 4- Phillies at Rockies, 10/12, 6:07 PM (7:37 PM if AL still going), TBS
Game 5- Rockies at Phillies, 10/13, 8:07 PM, if necessary TBS

AL Championship Series

Game 1-Angels at Yankees or Twins at Angels, 10/16, Fox
Game 2-Angels at Yankees or Twins at Angels, 10/17, Fox
Game 3-Yankees at Angels or Angels at Twins, 10/19, Fox
Game 4-Yankees at Angels or Angels at Twins, 10/20, Fox
Game 5-Yankees at Angels or Angels at Twins, 10/22, if necessary, Fox
Game 6-Angels at Yankees or Twins at Angels, 10/24, if necessary, Fox
Game 7-Angels at Yankees or Twins at Angels, 10/25, if necessary, Fox

NL Championship Series

Game 1-Rockies or Phillies at Dodgers, 10/15, TBS
Game 2-Rockies or Phillies at Dodgers, 10/16, TBS
Game 3-Dodgers at Rockies or Philliies, 10/18, TBS
Game 4-Dodgers at Rockies or Philliies, 10/19, TBS
Game 5-Dodgers at Rockies or Philliies, 10/21, if necessary, TBS
Game 6-Rockies or Phillies at Dodgers, 10/23, if necessary, TBS
Game 7-Rockies or Phillies at Dodgers, 10/24, if necessary, TBS

2009 MLB Postseason Schedule originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Pat LackeySun, 11 Oct 2009 17:20:00 EST Could Rays, Pat Burrell Be Avenue for Cubs to Trade Milton Bradley?http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/08/could-rays-pat-burrell-be-avenue-for-cubs-to-trade-milton-bradl/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/08/could-rays-pat-burrell-be-avenue-for-cubs-to-trade-milton-bradl/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/08/could-rays-pat-burrell-be-avenue-for-cubs-to-trade-milton-bradl/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

While we're far from trading season -- the Red Sox and Angels haven't even started their ALDS -- winds are swirling in the Windy City because of the presence of resident albatross Milton Bradley. Bradley signed a three-year contract worth $30 million this past offseason with the Cubs and did everything he could during the regular season to make general manager Jim Hendry realize the signing was the biggest mistake of his tenure. Thus, the Cubs aren't exactly being secretive about their desire to trade him as soon as is humanly possible.

Might they look to another outfielder who has quickly fallen out of favor with his team after signing a lucrative deal? The Tampa Bay Rays have shown interest in Bradley in the past, and they could look to deal Pat Burrell after his disastrous 2009 season.

Of course, this situation is far too ideal for the Cubs for it to be a straight up deal. Burrell only has one more year on his contract and he makes less money, on average, per year than Bradley. The Rays aren't exactly the Yankees, so they'd have to be pretty convinced the trade would work to take on the excess salary. Plus, Burrell -- while so laid-back it comes off as apathy at times -- isn't exactly the clubhouse cancer Bradley is. Annoying teammates with a seeming lack of effort or desire is a lot different than outwardly antagonizing teammates, managers, executives, local media and fans.

So, don't expect the deal to be a straight up player-for-player swap.

Bradley had one of the worst seasons of his mercurial career, hitting .257 with 12 home runs and 40 RBI in 124 games. The .775 OPS was his worst since 2002. His defense was suspect as well, but the majority of the problems had to do with his attitude. He was suspended for the remainder of the season with 15 games left due to his constant sideshows.

Burrell also had one of his worst seasons. He set or tied career lows with 16 doubles, 14 home runs, 64 RBI, a .367 SLG and a .682 OPS. His batting average and on-base percentage were also well below his career marks. Late in the season he was involved in a locker room scuffle with team captain Carl Crawford. No details surfaced, but it should be pretty easy to connect the dots. Crawford is the most respected and longest tenured Ray, a stand-up guy who plays the game hard every single day and has no attitude issues. And now the Rays want Burrell gone.

There are multiple outlets reporting the Rays have a strong interest in Bradley and the Cubs are desperate to get Bradley out the door as soon as possible. Thus, the two sides will probably try to compromise in order to get the deal complete. Look for the Cubs to grease the wheels by eating a portion of Bradley's salary and possibly sending a prospect or two the Rays way. They might even take back a contract which the Rays wish to rid themselves as well.

The bottom line is that the Rays don't want Burrell (but like Bradley) and the Cubs don't want Bradley (and don't care how they get rid of him). It's pretty likely they find a way to make it work for both sides.

Where there's a will, there's a way.

Could Rays, Pat Burrell Be Avenue for Cubs to Trade Milton Bradley? originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>milton bradleyMiltonBradleypat burrellPatBurrellMatt SnyderThu, 08 Oct 2009 20:50:00 EST Yankees' No. 4 Starter? Chad Gaudinhttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/08/yankees-no-4-starter-chad-gaudin/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/08/yankees-no-4-starter-chad-gaudin/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/08/yankees-no-4-starter-chad-gaudin/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Though they still have a few more victories before advancing to the ALCS, according to the New York Post, the New York Yankees have already decided that they will be using Chad Gaudin -- not Joba Chamberlain -- as their fourth starter should they get past the Twins in the ALDS. It's a move that seems a bit surprising, considering the Yankees' insistence on keeping Chamberlain in the rotation all year, but it also appears to be the correct move.

Chamberlain was, frankly, terrible down the stretch as a starter. From August 6 to Sept. 30, he made 11 starts and produced a 7.69 ERA. He allowed opposing hitters to hit .321 against him with a .926 OPS. Throughout his career, he's been much more effective as a late-inning reliever, and we saw it again Wednesday night -- when he came in to retire Delmon Young in the eighth inning of Game 1.

Gaudin, on the other hand, started six games for the Yankees this season for the Yankees -- going 1-0 with a 3.19 ERA. He has control problems at times, but his stuff is good as evidenced by the opposing .239 batting average against him in starts for New York. He was worse out of the bullpen, so the Yankees are using each respective pitcher in what seems to be his strongest role.

Gaudin has never started a postseason game.

First things first, though, as the Yankees still need to take two more from the Twins in order to advance. They'll be using A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte and CC Sabathia as their starters for the rest of the series. Game 2 is set for 6:07 PM ET Friday evening.

Yankees' No. 4 Starter? Chad Gaudin originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>chad gaudinChadGaudinjoba chamberlainJobaChamberlainMatt SnyderThu, 08 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST Rocco Baldelli Left Off ALDS Rosterhttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/08/rocco-baldelli-left-off-alds-roster/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/08/rocco-baldelli-left-off-alds-roster/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/08/rocco-baldelli-left-off-alds-roster/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Rocco BaldelliDue to concerns that he won't be healed from a hip flexor injury in time, the Red Sox have opted not to include outfielder Rocco Baldelli in their ALDS roster. Baldelli's not a regular starter, but he would have provided depth off the bench against the Angels. Instead, the Red Sox don't believe he'll be healthy in time to contribute.

Without Baldelli, the Red Sox enter the postseason with Brian Anderson and Joey Gathright as their backup outfielders behind Jacoby Ellsbury, J.D. Drew and Jason Bay. Baldelli, who hit .253 with seven home runs and 23 RBI in 150 at-bats this season, is a more capable hitter than Anderson or Gathright, though both Anderson and Gathright provide better speed and defense.

Rocco Baldelli Left Off ALDS Roster originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>rocco baldelliRoccoBaldelliMatt SnyderThu, 08 Oct 2009 14:20:00 EST Thanks to A.J. Burnett, Jose Molina Gets Playoff Starthttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/06/thanks-to-a-j-burnett-jose-molina-gets-a-playoff-start/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/06/thanks-to-a-j-burnett-jose-molina-gets-a-playoff-start/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/06/thanks-to-a-j-burnett-jose-molina-gets-a-playoff-start/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When September opened, one of the biggest question marks surrounding the Yankees was how much they could trust A.J. Burnett in a big playoff start. He'd just flopped at Fenway Park for the second time, calling into question his fitness under the spotlight and making some Yankee fans worry about their investment in the right-hander.

Those fears subsided thanks to Burnett's strong final month, however. He went 3-1 with a 3.83 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings pitched. What was the difference? Jose Molina was wearing the tools of ignorance for all but one of the seven September outings while Jorge Posada sat on the bench, which is why he'll get the start with Burnett on the mound in Game 2 of the ALDS.

The one time Posada did start, Burnett got crushed to the tune of 11 hits and six runs by the Orioles. That added to a theory about their inability to work together borne earlier in the season, so it's no surprise why Joe Girardi chose not to fix something that doesn't need fixing.

The switch will make the Yankee lineup a little less dangerous, but it's a winning trade so long as it pays off in a strong outing for Burnett. Posada can still pinch-hit for Molina or the Yankees could keep Francisco Cervelli as a third catcher and go with Posada at DH for Game 2 and, if necessary, 5.

That decision, Burnett over Andy Pettitte for two starts, is more surprising than the one to go with Molina. It could be that Burnett's earlier struggles on the road swayed the manager's decision-making or it could be that Burnett's strong finish made him the better choice for what could be a win-or-die game. Either way, Girardi bucked conventional wisdom with that call much more than he did by choosing Molina to work with a guy he's helped to success.

Thanks to A.J. Burnett, Jose Molina Gets Playoff Start originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>A.J. BurnettA.j.BurnettJoe GirardiJoeGirardiJorge PosadaJorgePosadaJose MolinaJoseMolinaJosh AlperTue, 06 Oct 2009 17:15:00 EST Joba Chamberlain to Work Out of Bullpen On Sundayhttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/03/joba-chamberlain-to-work-out-of-bullpen-on-sunday/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/03/joba-chamberlain-to-work-out-of-bullpen-on-sunday/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/03/joba-chamberlain-to-work-out-of-bullpen-on-sunday/#commentsFiled under: ,

With the playoffs looming, Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters in New York Saturday that Joba Chamberlain will make an appearance out of the bullpen during Sunday's season finale against the Rays. The idea is to see how Chamberlain handles the shorter warmup time after a year in the starting rotation to determine if he is fit to work out of the 'pen in the American League Division Series later in the week.

The Yankees indicated about two weeks ago that they were looking at using 10 pitchers in the Division Series, which would seem to suggest that they're looking at choosing the schedule with an extra off day, allowing them to use three starting pitchers in the series. Since those three pitchers will almost certainly be CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Andy Pettitte, it makes sense to get Chamberlain some relief work before the series starts.

Girardi said he'll be watching Chamberlain "closely" tomorrow, so it's possible that they've already made the decision to go with three starters and are determining whether they want Joba on the roster at all for the first round. Chamberlain said that even though he hasn't made a relief appearance in a year, he's not worried about the change because of his prior experience in the 'pen.

Given that the Yanks will likely need a fourth starter should they make the ALCS, and that Chamberlain may well be that guy (it's either him or Chad Gaudin), I don't know if Girardi would actually keep him off the roster completely, even with his struggles of late. There aren't seven pitchers in the Yankees' bullpen better than Joba, and even though Phil Hughes has his old spot as the eighth-inning guy locked down right now, I think there's still a spot for Chamberlain to fill as the long reliever/matchup guy in the first round.

Joba Chamberlain to Work Out of Bullpen On Sunday originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 20:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Joba ChamberlainJobaChamberlainJoe GirardiJoeGirardiPat LackeySat, 03 Oct 2009 20:31:00 EST Orioles Pick Up Dave Trembley's Option Despite Awful Second Halfhttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/02/orioles-pick-up-dave-trembleys-option-despite-awful-second-half/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/02/orioles-pick-up-dave-trembleys-option-despite-awful-second-half/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/02/orioles-pick-up-dave-trembleys-option-despite-awful-second-half/#commentsFiled under: ,

In a surprising move, the Orioles announced this afternoon that they will pick up manager Dave Trembley's option for the 2010 season. The Orioles are currently in danger of losing 100 games with their 61-98 record and it's their 21-50 record since the All-Star break that made this news particularly unexpected.

It's true that much of the O's talent (particularly their pitching talent) is very young and that this year was going to be a difficult year for any manager. Team president Andy MacPhail acknowledged as much in his statement on the move, saying that record wasn't the only thing he used to evaluate his manager. Even with that knowledge, however, Trembley seemed to be a sure candidate for Monday's chopping block.

Even with this extension, he's likely to be on a short leash for 2010. The Orioles' record has gotten worse in each of Trembley's seasons at the helm, going from 40-53 after he took over from Sam Perlozzo in 2007, to 68-93 last year, and now staring 100 losses in the face in 2009. With Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, and Nolan Reimold all in Baltimore and producing at various levels and Brad Bergesen, Chris Tillman, and Brian Matusz all getting some big-league seasoning this year, the Orioles have to be expecting some improvement in 2010.

That's one thing that the Orioles' terrible second half has obscured; there is some good young talent in Baltimore and this team isn't necessarily doomed to be the AL East doormat forever. Dave Trembley will apparently get one more year to prove that he's the guy that can help that talent succeed at the big-league level.

Orioles Pick Up Dave Trembley's Option Despite Awful Second Half originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Andy MacPhailAndyMacphailDave TrembleyDaveTrembleyPat LackeyFri, 02 Oct 2009 19:51:00 EST From the Windup: And the 'Winner' Is ...http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/01/from-the-windup-and-the-winner-is/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/01/from-the-windup-and-the-winner-is/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/01/from-the-windup-and-the-winner-is/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Milton Bradley Josh Hamilton Brad Lidge
From the Windup is Matt Snyder's weekly look at some aspect of America's pastime.

Instead of handing our hardware to Joe Girardi, Joe Torre, Albert Pujols, Joe Mauer, Zack Greinke and Chris Carpenter (yes, those would be my votes), I thought we'd mix it up a bit. Plus, being a Cubs fan, I'm plenty filled with negativity at this time of the year -- which, really, is normal. So these are the Bizarro World Awards. The Suck Awards, if you will. The envelopes, please ...

NL LVP (Least Valuable Player): Well, let's see ... you sign a multi-year deal, proclaim your love for your new team and promise health. Instead, you end up getting hurt several times, suspended a few more, alienating your manager, general manager, teammates and fan base and, on top of that, post an OPS 224 points lower than last season. Mix in some bone-headed plays and constant sparring in the media, and you have a recipe for destroying a team that won 97 games last season. This is a no-brainer. Milton Bradley in an absolute landslide. I'm embarrassed I ever tried to defend him.

AL LVP: With apologies to Alex Rios and B.J. Upton, our winner here is another player who switched leagues after signing a free-agent contract. Pat Burrell inked a two-year deal to bolster the lineup of the defending American League champs. They got whatever the opposite of a career year is from Burrell. He sported the lowest OPS of his life, a career-low in home runs and has a shot at a career-low in RBI. Talk about a lack of run production from a supposed run producer. Plus, he had a spat with team captain and most respected Ray, Carl Crawford. You think CC grew tired of Burrell's apparent indifference and lack of hustle? That's conjecture, but it certainly wouldn't surprise me. When you play well, being laid-back is OK. When you suck, it comes off as apathy.

NL Anthony Young (Opposite of Cy Young): Brad Lidge was one of the reasons the Phillies were great last year. This year, he's prevented them from being the bar-none best team in the NL. If Lidge threw this year the way he did last, the Phils would have around 100 wins. Instead, they are headed to the playoffs with a huge question mark at the back end of the bullpen. His 7.34 ERA, eight losses and 11 blown saves sound fake. They aren't; just ask Phillies fans.

AL Anthony Young: Fausto Carmona was supposed to join Cliff Lee to form one of the more menacing 1-2 punches in the league. Instead, the Tribe traded Lee and watched Carmona sandwich three different minor-league stops (including one all the way down in Single-A) between a 5-12 record and 6.32 ERA. In 125 1/3 major league innings, he's walked 70 guys and allowed 16 home runs. And 151 hits.

NL Mismanager of the Year: Lou Piniella went with Kevin Gregg as his closer instead of Carlos Marmol. Then he stuck with him too long. Speaking of which, he kept an albatross (Alfonso Soriano) atop the order for far too long. He continued to run Aaron Heilman out in big spots. His fire from the past few years turned into what appeared to be the equivalent of throwing his hands in the air and saying, "I'm not the one on the field." There's more, but we don't have enough time -- or inclination, frankly -- to cover all his snafus. An awful year for Sweet Lou.

AL Mismanager of the Year: Yes, I realize the Orioles have a huge uphill battle in their division, but they are 20-50 since the All-Star break. They've lost 13 games in a row, including a three-game sweep at the hands of the hapless Indians. Dave Trembley needs to find a way to develop his youth a bit better than this. If they plan on contending with this group, and this is the rate they are developing, 2013 seems more realistic than 2011.

NL Most Disappointing Team: Cubs Pretty simple. You take a 97-win team who entered the season with World Series aspirations and instead end up by losing the division by close to double-digits. Can't get more disappointing than that.

AL Most Disappointing Team: Rays Not to be outdone by the Cubs, last year's World Series loser is going to finish more than 20 games out of first.

NL Executive Failure: Jim Hendry: (noticing a theme?) changed the landscape of the NL's best regular season team based upon a three-game sample (last year's NLDS) against a white-hot Dodgers team. Where he could have made tweaks (leadoff spot in the order, promoting Marmol to closer; to name two), he didn't. Hendry also signed Milton Bradley. I've heard the argument that Piniella made Hendry attempt to balance the batting order. If that's the case, it makes Hendry look even worse. The general manager is the boss. You don't take orders from underlings. Oh, and by the way, the Cubs were second in the National League in OPS against righties in 2008. This year? Fifth. Good thing that batting order got balanced.

AL Executive Failure: I'm gonna go with Mark Shapiro here. It's tough to try and mix and match veterans with still-developing youth. In the past two seasons, Cleveland has traded CC Sabathia, Victor Martinez, Cliff Lee and Mark DeRosa while also signing Kerry Wood and trading for DeRosa. They are playing with Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore while trying to develop young players like Matt LaPorta. It's possible for the combination plan to work (see the Dodgers' Ethier/Kemp/Loney/Martin/Billingsley mix with Jeff Kent, Derek Lowe et al in 2007 and 2008), but if it doesn't, the team will need to blow it up and start over. That's where the Indians are now. It's hindsight, but Shapiro has to take some heat for this season.

NL Fall-Flat (Opposite of Comeback Player): We're gonna give a group award here to the New York Mets. Can a hamstring pull end your season? A bruised knee keep you out for half the year? It can on the Mets! It's amazing how afflicted nearly an entire team can be for one season. But, hey, they are the "Amazins." It's going to be interesting to see their direction this offseason under embattled executive Omar Minaya.

AL Fall-Flat: Josh Hamilton's team took a huge step forward this season. If he had shown up for the party, they might have made the playoffs for the first time since 1999 under the late Johnny Oates. The anchor of one of the best offenses in baseball in 2008, Hamilton had a .901 OPS with 32 home runs and 130 RBI in 2008. This year, he suffered from injuries in a big way and failed to really help the offense when in the lineup. His OPS (.741) is below average and he's only hit 10 home runs.

From the Windup: And the 'Winner' Is ... originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>brad lidgeBradLidgedave trembleyDaveTrembleyfausto carmonaFaustoCarmonafrom the windupFromTheWindupjim hendryJimHendryjosh hamiltonJoshHamiltonlou piniellaLouPiniellamark shapiroMarkShapiromilton bradleyMiltonBradleypat burrellPatBurrellMatt SnyderThu, 01 Oct 2009 14:45:00 EST MLB Power Rankings: Some Daylighthttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/30/mlb-power-rankings-some-daylight/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/30/mlb-power-rankings-some-daylight/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/30/mlb-power-rankings-some-daylight/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Finally, the regular season is almost over. Most baseball seasons -- especially since realignment and the addition of the wild card -- have at least three heated races down the stretch. While the Braves, Rangers and Giants have tried to make things interesting at different points in time, there is really only one race that's been in total doubt for the entire month: the AL Central. As the Twins and Tigers get set to play the only interesting game of the day, we're left sorting out what has been a relatively boring final month. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, though. A week from Wednesday, the playoffs begin.

  • 1. Yankees | Record: 102-56 | Previous Week: 1
    New York has 102 wins and counting with four games to play. The Yankees already have more wins in a season than any team since the 2004 Cardinals, who won 105. Though they won't be trying to with home-field advantage sewn up, if the Bronx Bombers win out, they will have the second-highest single-season win total this decade behind the 2001 Mariners. - Andrew Johnson
  • 2. Angels | Record: 93-64 | Previous Week: 3
    Yeah, it was quite an emotional scene when all the Angels went out to center field after clinching the division to pay their respects to the Nick Adenhart display on the fence. It probably wasn't so cool that they celebrated in the clubhouse by dumping beer and champagne on his empty jersey, considering that he was killed by a drunk driver. - Jeff Fletcher
  • 3. Dodgers | Record: 93-65 | Previous Week: 4
    Matt Kemp is finishing off a great season, perhaps the first Dodger in five years to go .300-25-100 or better, but he's got this strange split. He's hitting .356 batting seventh or eighth, and .242 batting fourth or fifth. - Jeff Fletcher
  • 4. Phillies | Record: 91-66 | Previous Week: 5
    Yes, the bullpen is a major question mark heading into the postseason, but all the playoff teams have a few of those when October hit. There is talent in Charlie Manuel's relief corps -- no matter how far astray it has gone this year -- and this Phillies team is one win from equaling last year's World Series champion. That team also had question marks -- Jamie Moyer, he of the 4.99 ERA this year -- was Philly's No. 3 starter. - Andrew Johnson
  • 5. Cardinals | Record: 90-67 | Previous Week: 6
    Who really wants to play a team that can toss Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright in a best-of-five series? The two Cy Young candidates can pitch at least three and maybe four games in a short series, which could give the Cardinals a real advantage, even if they draw the NL-best Dodgers in the Division Series. - Pat Lackey
  • 6. Red Sox | Record: 91-66 | Previous Week: 2
    For a team tied for the fourth-best record in baseball, Boston is awfully tough to figure out. The Red Sox have lost five straight, and, more troubling, have reason to worry about their top three starters going into the playoffs. Jon Lester is recovering from an ugly line drive off his leg, Josh Beckett missed his start Monday with "mild" back spasms and Clay Buchholz was bombed for five home runs by the Blue Jays on Tuesday. A week ago, that trio looked like it could form the most formidable rotation among the four AL playoff teams. Of course, it still could. - Andrew Johnson
  • 7. Rockies | Record: 89-68 | Previous Week: 7
    Catcher Chris Iannetta had a rare big moment on Tuesday night, but most of the second half has been about Yorvit Torrealba being the clutch producer at catcher. Torrealba took over the everyday job Aug. 9 and is hitting .325 since. - Jeff Fletcher
  • 8. Braves | Record: 86-71 | Previous Week: 10
    It's hard to use enough superlatives to describe how good the Atlanta rotation has been this year. Three starters -- Javier Vazquez, Jair Jurrjens and Derek Lowe -- have won at least 14 games, and three -- Vazquez, Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson -- have ERAs under 3.00. It could take the Braves to 90 wins, but a loss Tuesday makes it unlikely it will also take them to the postseason. - Andrew Johnson
  • 9. Tigers | Record: 84-73 | Previous Week: 9
    Of the few games each day worth watching, the Tigers and Twins provided two of them Tuesday. The Tigers get the nod for now, based upon Justin Verlander stepping up and getting the job done when his team most needed him.
  • 10. Twins | Record: 82-75 | Previous Week: 8
    When I was ranking the teams Tuesday night -- before the Tigers-Twins game ended -- I actually put the Tigers and Twins tied, ready to put the winner of the nightcap on top of the other. Still, this could change any day, as these two teams are so equally matched at this point. At least there is one great race left for the last few days of the regular season.
  • 11. Cubs | Record: 82-74 | Previous Week: 15
    Despite their 11-17 record in August, the Cubs are still 39-31 since the All-Star break (17-10 in September), an improvement on their 43-43 mark prior. Over a full season, that pace would probably have them in the thick of the NL Central and wild-card races. I'm not saying the Cubs don't need to make some changes this winter, because they do, but the situation probably isn't as dire as it seems. - Pat Lackey
  • 12. Marlins | Record: 84-74 | Previous Week: 14
    Cameron Maybin, one of the key chips Florida received in the Miguel Cabrera trade, couldn't take hold of the Marlins' center field job in 2009, but a promising stint as a September callup makes it seem like it will be his next year. Maybin has a .791 OPS in 23 games this month. - Andrew Johnson
  • 13. Giants | Record: 84-73 | Previous Week: 11
    Brian Wilson is one of only four relievers to have at least 35 saves each of the past two seasons. The others are Mariano Rivera, Joe Nathan and Jonathan Papelbon. Pretty good company. - Jeff Fletcher
  • 14. Rangers | Record: 85-72 | Previous Week: 12
    The Red Sox tried to leave the door open for the up-and-coming Rangers by losing five straight games. Instead, the Rangers let them off the hook by eliminating themselves. Still, the team, front office and fans alike have reason for optimism heading into 2010. There is a good foundation in place for the first time since the Ivan Rodriguez-Juan Gonzalez days.
  • 15. Rays | Record: 81-76 | Previous Week: 16
    With one more win, the Rays will clinch their second winning season in a dozen years of existence. Funny enough, given the talent on the 2009 version of this club and the levels the 2008 team reached, this year will still be seen as a bit of a disappointment, especially because Tampa Bay wasn't at least able to push Boston and New York in September. What a difference a year makes ... - Andrew Johnson
  • 16. Mariners | Record: 81-76 | Previous Week: 13
    Improving the defense was a point of emphasis last winter, and it seems to have worked. Last year the Mariners ranked 26th in the majors in defensive efficiency, which measures the percentage of balls in play converted outs. This year they are second. - Jeff Fletcher
  • 17. Blue Jays | Record: 74-84 | Previous Week: 20
    So Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi says "The division," meaning the AL East "isn't going to change." At face value, he has a point. The economic realities of squaring off head-to-head with the Red Sox and Yankees every year surely makes it difficult for the other three teams to compete. Only the Rays proved it is possible to do so, possible even to take down both teams and win the division outright. Couple their success with Ricciardi's assorted missteps in charge of the Jays and his words suddenly sound more like sour grapes from a man whose days in Toronto are numbered. - Andrew Johnson
  • 18. A's | Record: 75-82 | Previous Week: 17
    Despite what seemed like a horrible year, the A's are just one victory from exceeding last year's total (75). That's the good news. The bad news is they will have their fourth consecutive losing season. - Jeff Fletcher
  • 19. Brewers | Record: 77-80 | Previous Week: 18
    The Brewers demoted struggling veteran J.J. Hardy to Triple-A for two weeks in August for the morally gray purpose of setting his arbitration clock back a year and increasing his trade value. Since returning, Hardy's hit worse than he did before his demotion, hitting .220/.304/.244 in 11 games. Which is to say that the Brewers better not be planning on using Hardy to restock their rotation. If they're serious about doing that this winter, it's going to have to be through free agency. - Pat Lackey
  • 20. White Sox | Record: 76-81 | Previous Week: 19
    A bright spot that can be taken from this disappointing season? Gordon Beckham is a superstar in the making. He's hitting .272 with 14 home runs, 63 RBI, 27 doubles, seven stolen bases and an .816 OPS in 99 games of his rookie campaign. He's also plays solid defense, always hustles and is a positive clubhouse presence. And he just turned 23 two weeks ago.
  • 21. Reds | Record: 75-82 | Previous Week: 21
    Since his return from a wrist injury, Jay Bruce has hit .375/.459/.813 and has hit four homers in his last four games. This season looked to be kind of a lost one for Bruce, who had just a .283 OBP before going on the DL in mid-July, but his tear in September coupled with the Reds very good play (they're 17-9 this month) gives Cincy fans something to look forward to in 2010. - Pat Lackey
  • 22. Padres | Record: 73-85 | Previous Week: 22
    Bud Black probably deserves some second- or third-place votes on Manager of the Year ballots. Any manager whose team plays over .500 in the second half, after falling hopelessly out of contention, deserves some credit. - Jeff Fletcher
  • 23. Astros | Record: 73-84 | Previous Week: 23
    There is one bright spot for the Astros this year: Wandy Rodriguez has finally broken out for a full season after threatening to do so in each of the past three. His 2.97 ERA is matched by 8.6 K/9 and a 2.97 K:BB ratio. It's just too bad that the Astros don't have much of anything besides him, Lance Berkman, Hunter Pence, and Roy Oswalt. Unless they seriously upgrade this roster, 2010 won't look much different than 2009. - Pat Lackey
  • 24. Diamondbacks | Record: 68-89 | Previous Week: 24
    It's been a lousy year on just about every level, but manager A.J. Hinch said they have a shot at getting back to contention next year if they can change the attitude. "We can be a competitive team soon, as soon as next year," he said. "We have to rekindle our competitive juices. Just coming back and wiping the slate clean and starting 0-0 isn't going to be enough." - Jeff Fletcher
  • 25. Mets | Record: 67-91 | Previous Week: 25
    Jeff Francoeur would like a multi-year deal with New York, and on the surface, it might seem like a good idea. Frenchy has hit .308 since arriving in the Big Apple this July, after all. But he'll turn 26 this January and he doesn't seem to have grown fundamentally as a player. The older he gets, the less hope there is that his raw tools will help him blossom into a superstar, and this Francoeur probably doesn't deserve a big extension, not for a team with first-division aspirations like the Mets. - Andrew Johnson
  • 26. Royals | Record: 64-94 | Previous Week: 26
    Zack Greinke (I know we mentioned him last week, but he's really the only thing worth continuing to watch on the 2009 Royals at this point) has one more start: Saturday against the Twins. Considering the Twins could still really need a win, Greinke has a shot to garner his 17th win and cement more Cy Young votes. Plus, if he really deals, he could lower his ERA below 2.00.
  • 27. Indians | Record: 64-92 | Previous Week: 28
    They have fired Eric Wedge. He may have been part of the problem, but he wasn't the problem these last few years. We'll see if they come through in the offseason with an actual plan, not just a patchwork roster mixed with still-developing youngsters and aging veterans.
  • 28. Orioles | Record: 60-97 | Previous Week: 27
    Baltimore is building toward something in 2010 or 2011, but that doesn't mean it won't be a turbulent offseason in the Charm City. The Orioles may need to find a new manager if Andy MacPhail is non-plussed by the job Dave Trembley did -- a possibility that seems increasingly likely with another September Swoon almost in the books. Oh yes, the O's will need a third baseman, a first baseman and a pitcher or two even if Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz can avoid major growing pains to challenge the big boys in the East. - Andrew Johnson
  • 29. Pirates | Record: 59-97 | Previous Week: 29
    They took three of four from the Dodgers over the weekend, but they're still trucking towards the club's second 100-loss season this decade, needing to go 4-2 the rest of the way out to avoid it. That's an awfully tall task with all six games on the road, as the Pirates are a mind-bogglingly bad 19-56 away from PNC Park this season. - Pat Lackey
  • 30. Nationals | Record: 54-103 | Previous Week: 30
    Lost amid all the champagne celebrations this week in Anaheim, the Bronx and Boston was Washington's clinch. The Nationals will finish with the worst record, meaning they will be first in line next June to select phenom Bryce Harper. All joking about the Nats' sorry state aside, drafting Stephen Strasburg and Harper in back-to-back seasons could go a long way toward turning this moribund franchise around. - Andrew Johnson

MLB Power Rankings: Some Daylight originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>mlb power rankingsMlbPowerRankingsMatt SnyderWed, 30 Sep 2009 14:15:00 EST Josh Beckett Scratched From Starthttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/28/josh-beckett-scratched-from-start/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/28/josh-beckett-scratched-from-start/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/28/josh-beckett-scratched-from-start/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Josh BeckettAccording to reports from the Boston area, Josh Beckett will miss his scheduled start Monday night with mild back spasms. Beckett was set to face the Blue Jays, looking to help play the stopper and end the Red Sox' three-game losing streak.

While it would be nice to run Beckett out there and get a win, the game likely bears little consequence for the Red Sox on the whole. The Yankees have already clinched the AL East, and the Red Sox hold a six-game lead over the Texas Rangers in the wild-card race with just seven games to play.

Beckett is 16-6 with a 3.78 ERA and 1.17 WHIP this season. He's struck out 194 batters and walked just 52 in 207 1/3 innings. If he really has back issues that will linger into the postseason, this is worrisome for the Red Sox. With the phrasing "mild" back spasms and considering the standing of the team, it's likely the Red Sox are just being careful here and making sure Beckett is 100 percent healthy for October.

Michael Bowden will get the start in Beckett's place.

Josh Beckett Scratched From Start originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>josh beckettJoshBeckettMatt SnyderMon, 28 Sep 2009 16:20:00 EST Yankees Capture AL East, Home Fieldhttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/27/yankees-capture-al-east-home-field/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/27/yankees-capture-al-east-home-field/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/27/yankees-capture-al-east-home-field/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Yankees celebrate AL East titleNEW YORK (AP) -- Soaked to the skin with champagne, Mark Teixeira stood on the giant "NY" logo in the Yankees clubhouse and shouted like crazy.

"Tastes good!" he hollered.

Favored to win the World Series since opening day, the New York Yankees celebrated like playoff newcomers after beating Boston 4-2 Sunday to clinch the AL East title and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

Absent from the playoffs last season, the Yankees put a bow on this title with their major league-leading 100th win.

"Everything is clicking right now," winning pitcher Andy Pettitte said. "When you miss out, it makes you a little more hungry to get back there."

Maybe that's why Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and a roomful of All-Star multimillionaires went wild, chanting and jumping and spraying each other with bubbly. Teixeira and many others wore goggles to stave off the sting - of victory, that is.

"I think the way last year ended left a bad taste in all our mouths," manager Joe Girardi said. "There's a lot of excitement. This has been a fun group, and they enjoy it."

Hideki Matsui's go-ahead single in the sixth inning energized the damp fans and put them on notice that a party was coming. The first real bash at the new Yankee Stadium began with a most familiar scene - Rivera on the mound, closing out another clincher.

Catcher Jose Molina leaped up from behind the plate even before Rivera had fielded Jacoby Ellsbury's soft comebacker for the final out. The Yankees swarmed Rivera on the first-base side of the mound while players in the bullpen streamed in.

Nick Swisher wasted no time putting on an AL East Champions hat. The crowd responded with a standing ovation as the Yankees began walking off the field, with Jeter at the front and several teammates pulling on gray championship T-shirts.

"Winning a championship is what I came here for," pitcher CC Sabathia said. "It definitely feels good - first one in pinstripes, first one in the new stadium, first celebration."

The three-game sweep extended the Yankees' winning streak to five. They finished 9-9 against Boston this year, surprising since New York lost the first eight matchups.

"We're going to see them again down the road, we have a feeling," slugger Alex Rodriguez said.

Despite the defeat, the Red Sox remain in firm control of the wild-card race. Their magic number is two to beat out Texas for the final playoff spot.

"Hope we win tomorrow," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "That's normally what we do. Play. If you win, move on. If you lose, learn and move on. That's what our next chore will be."

Still to be determined is who New York will meet in the best-of-five opening round, and when. The Yankees will most likely face the AL Central winner, either Detroit or Minnesota.

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New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez reacts after he was doused by teammates celebrating their clinching of the American League East Division title after a 4-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox in their baseball game at Yankee Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
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Once all the playoff teams are determined, the Yankees will get 1 hour to decide which playoff schedule they prefer. They can choose to start on either Oct. 7 or Oct. 8; the earlier start date includes a day off between the first two games.

Boosted by newcomers such as Teixeira, Sabathia and Swisher, the Yankees won their first division title since 2006. They drenched the high-tech clubhouse, with plastic sheets preventing the computer screens at every stall from getting doused.

All alone in first place since July 21, the Yankees can now spend the final week resting players and setting up the playoff rotation.

"I like this team here," Jeter said.

Pettitte (14-7) outpitched Paul Byrd (1-3), and Rivera finished for his 44th save in 46 chances.

Boston put two runners on base in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Victor Martinez's 25-game hitting streak ended when his grounder was ruled an error on second baseman Robinson Cano.

"Hard work, determination and a bunch of great attitudes, when you put that all together you accomplish a lot of things," Rivera said.

After a 63-minute rain delay at the outset, the Yankees beat Boston for the seventh straight time at home.

Matsui met Red Sox reliever Takashi Saito with a two-out, two-run single in the sixth barely in front of right fielder J.D. Drew's dive. Teixeira's solo homer in the eighth provided insurance.

"This team is so talented, this team has so many weapons," Teixeira said. "Hopefully, there are a few more celebrations."

Cautioned catcher Jorge Posada: "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Right now we're very happy with what we've done. Maybe we can do a little more later."

Notes: Cano singled for his 200th hit this year. He joined Jeter as the only second base-shortstop teammate tandem to reach the mark in the same season, the Elias Sports Bureau said. ... The Yankees won their 16th division title since 1969, matching Atlanta's mark. ... Posada sat out again because of muscle spasms near his neck. He's feeling better. ... Boston LHP Jon Lester, hit near the right knee by a line drive Friday night, continued to improve. He might skip a throwing session this week, but remains on schedule for his next start.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Yankees Capture AL East, Home Field originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>FanHouse NewswireSun, 27 Sep 2009 18:16:00 EST J.P. Ricciardi: 'The Division Is Not Going To Change'http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/25/j-p-ricciardi-the-division-is-not-going-to-change/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/25/j-p-ricciardi-the-division-is-not-going-to-change/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/25/j-p-ricciardi-the-division-is-not-going-to-change/#commentsFiled under: ,

J.P. RicciardiWith the season winding down and the Blue Jays headed for their first losing season since 2005, it seems like there's a very good chance that general manager J.P. Ricciardi is going to lose his job when the season ends. His popularity in Toronto is waning and 2009 will mark his eighth season on the job without making the playoffs. The Blue Jays ownership reportedly went over his head in hiring Cito Gaston last year, so the Jays' record this year might be the final straw.

Ricciardi, however, isn't going down looking. When asked about the possibility of being replaced, Ricciardi went on a rant about the difficulties of playing in the American League East before taking a dig at Blue Jays fans for forgetting that the 1992 and 1993 World Series champion Blue Jays both had the highest payroll in baseball.

The quote (with the full version at the link):
"Let me make this clear: It doesn't matter if J.P. Ricciardi is the GM, or Joe Blow is the GM. Two years from now, five years from now, seven years from now, the reality that we face in Toronto is the division is not going to change," Ricciardi said in an interview this week. "The Red Sox and Yankees are not going away. If the Yankees want to, they can take their payroll to $300 million.
There are two points that immediately come to mind when reading this. The first is that Ricciardi is absolutely right; the AL East is ruthless. The Yankees have enough money to fix any problem they have and the Red Sox are both loaded with cash and exceptionally well run. On a year to year basis, it's certainly hard to compete with those two things.

The second thing, though, is that there has been a team that's managed to crack the AL East power structure, the Rays, and they've done it in a worse market than Toronto with a strategy that's not really like anything Ricciardi's tried in his time with the Blue Jays. Toronto tries to compete on essentially the same model that most teams in baseball do: grow talent in the minors and supplement it through free agency. The problem is that it's much harder to make that fly in a division where one team can afford to spend $50 million for the rights just to negotiate with a player and another team can drop a quarter of a billion dollars in one offseason to upgrade its pitching staff. The Rays tried a different route; rebuild the organization from the bottom up and try to beat the Yankees and Red Sox at something they can afford to beat them at - player development.

Ricciardi's certainly got some reason to be upset. He's put together some good teams in Toronto that could've made the playoffs in worse divisions (or, you know, in the National League). The problem, though, is that he was tasked with putting together a playoff team in the American League East. And while that's not an easy task for a team that's not in Boston or New York, the fact is that someone else has managed to do it.

J.P. Ricciardi: 'The Division Is Not Going To Change' originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>J.P. RicciardiJ.p.RicciardiPat LackeyFri, 25 Sep 2009 13:38:00 EST Prisoner Released From Jail to Watch Red Sox Gamehttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/23/prisoner-released-from-jail-to-watch-red-sox-game/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/23/prisoner-released-from-jail-to-watch-red-sox-game/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/23/prisoner-released-from-jail-to-watch-red-sox-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There won't be a happier fan in all of Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday night than Randy Aaron Barker. As you can probably guess by the fact that we referred to him by three names, Barker has had some trouble with the law, but unlike most of those thrown behind bars, Barker's pleas for mercy fell on willing ears.

A judge in Iowa allowed Barker, who is serving a 10-day sentence for interference with official acts and violation of a protective order, to be temporarily released so he could join his father and brother at the game. Barker told the judge that the three of them had been planning a trip to the game for three months, that they hadn't been able to attend a game in 25 years and that baseball was one of the "few pleasures" of his life.

KCCI in Des Moines spoke to Lance Morris who said that Barker has repeatedly harassed his family, including making more than 60 phone calls to his mother in one night. Morris learned of the release by reading the local newspaper, presumably because the judge decided that the family weren't Royals or Sox fans and, thus, unlikely to be in the stands with Barker on Wednesday night.

We may not be talking about an arch-criminal here, but isn't the whole point of putting someone in jail to punish them? Part of punishment is that you don't get to partake in pleasurable things, no matter how few of them there are in your life. While the judge's heart may have been in the right place, his robe shouldn't give him the right to remake Field of Dreams with a three-named stalker playing the role of Moonlight Graham.

If there's justice, which this story leads us to believe there isn't, the game will play out one of two ways. Either Josh Beckett will get shelled and the Royals will run away with a shutout victory, or the cops will escort Barker to the game will take him away after the top of the fifth inning with Beckett en route to a perfecto. It's an official game at that point, and we're real sticklers for the rules in these parts.

Prisoner Released From Jail to Watch Red Sox Game originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Josh BeckettJoshBeckettJosh AlperWed, 23 Sep 2009 19:15:00 EST MLB Power Rankings: AL West Is Besthttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/23/mlb-power-rankings-al-west-is-best/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/23/mlb-power-rankings-al-west-is-best/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/23/mlb-power-rankings-al-west-is-best/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Ichiro Suzuki Vladimir Guerrero Ian Kinsler Andrew Bailey MLB Power Rankings AL West
Heading into the season, there weren't many who were sure about what team to pick in the AL West. The reason wasn't the same as the arguments about who would take the AL East -- where most believed there were three stellar teams. With the AL West, it was because most believed the four-team division would be a bastion of mediocrity. Yet, here we are. Now that the A's are on fire, the AL West is easily the best top-to-bottom division in the majors.

  • 1. Yankees | Record: 96-56 | Previous Week: 1
    Despite the best record in the majors, the Yankees have question marks -- notably in the rotation. Andy Pettitte did OK on Monday after skipping a start to rest his shoulder, but A.J. Burnett and Joba Chamberlain have not been sharp, and neither has started a postseason game. - Ed Price
  • 2. Red Sox | Record: 89-61 | Previous Week: 2
    Boston holds out hopes for winning the division, mainly because it visits Yankee Stadium for three games next weekend. If the Red Sox could pull off the comeback in the AL East, it would face the AL Central winner in the first round of the postseason and force the Yankees to play their nemesis, the Angels, without home-field advantage. - Ed Price
  • 3. Angels| Record: 90-61 | Previous Week: 3
    For the first time in franchise history, the Angels have had three consecutive 90-win seasons. This will also mark their first time reaching the playoffs three years in a row. The Angels reached the postseason three times in their first 24 years, and now it'll be six of eight. - Jeff Fletcher
  • 4. Dodgers | Record: 91-60 | Previous Week: 4
    Jon Garland may turn out to be one of the most underrated midseson acquisitions. Garland, acquired from the Diamondbacks just before the Aug. 31 deadline for postseason eligibility, has gone 3-0 with a 2.33 ERA for a Dodgers team that has had to patch together its rotation. - Jeff Fletcher
  • 5. Phillies | Record: 88-62 | Previous Week: 6
    Tuesday's split of a doubleheader in Florida left Philadelphia 46-30 on the road this season, the best such record in the majors. The franchise record is 48 road victories, and the last NL team to play .600 ball away from home was the 2005 Cardinals. - Ed Price
  • 6. Cardinals | Record: 89-63 | Previous Week: 5
    The offense hasn't been consistent at all, but the Cards have arguably the two best starting pitchers in the National League. It's going to be awfully tough for any team to beat them in a seven-game playoff series, with Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright getting two starts each.
  • 7. Rockies | Record: 86-65 | Previous Week: 8
    Troy Tulowitzki is going to become only the third active shortstop to have more than one 800-OPS season before his 25th birthday. The others are Alex Rodriguez and Hanley Ramirez. - Jeff Fletcher
  • 8. Twins | Record: 78-73 | Previous Week: 15
    They're playing great baseball right now, and they control their own destiny, considering they trail the Tigers by 2 1/2 games and have a four-game set in Detroit next week. Thankfully, we have at least one race of intrigue.
  • 9. Tigers | Record: 80-70 | Previous Week: 10
    The Twins have made up five games on the Tigers in the past two weeks. At this pace, Detroit will be watching the playoffs from home after leading the division for an overwhelming majority of the season.
  • 10. Braves | Record: 81-70 | Previous Week: 11
    The Braves went 10-8 against the Phillies, 4-2 against the Cardinals and 4-3 against the Dodgers. So why isn't Atlanta joining those teams in the playoffs? Because it was just 15-14 against the four last-place teams it played (three NL plus Baltimore). - Ed Price
  • 11. Giants | Record: 81-70 | Previous Week: 7
    The pitching-rich Giants have suffered from a poorly-timed starting pitching slump. After pulling within 2 1/2 games of the Rockies, their starters proceeded to have a 11.41 ERA over the next six games, and the Giants lost four of them. - Jeff Fletcher
  • 12. Rangers | Record: 82-68 | Previous Week: 9
    They aren't going to make the postseason just yet, but the direction here is extremely positive. Expect the Rangers to again be in the mix in 2010.
  • 13. Mariners | Record: 79-72 | Previous Week: 14
    Despite talk of his Cy Young candidacy, Felix Hernandez is probably still underrated for what he's done so early in his career. He's won 55 games and he's not even 24 years old. CC Sabathia (60), Dontrelle Willis (58) and Jeremy Bonderman (56) are the only active pitchers to win more games before their 24th birthday. - Jeff Fletcher
  • 14. Marlins | Record: 81-71 | Previous Week: 13
    Hanley Ramirez's .352 average not only leads the National League, but it would be the highest average for an NL shortstop since Arky Vaughan of the 1935 Pirates. In the modern era, only one other NL shortstop has hit .350 -- Honus Wagner, who did it five times in 1901-08. - Ed Price
  • 15. Cubs | Record: 78-72 | Previous Week: 12
    Six games over .500 and they are probably the biggest disappointment of the season -- either them or the Rays, though the Rays have to compete with Boston and New York. It's not the 1970s anymore, when this record would have been welcomed. Expectations are a bit different now, and this is just not acceptable. Jim Hendry should be fired for the Milton Bradley signing alone.
  • 16. Rays | Record: 77-74 | Previous Week: 17
    Tampa Bay is just the third team to have 180 homers and 180 stolen bases, joining the 1996 Rockies and 1998 Blue Jays. Yet none of those clubs were playoff teams. Reason No. 23,525 that pitching is everything. - Ed Price
  • 17. A's | Record: 72-79 | Previous Week: 21
    With the youngest pitching staff in the league, the A's have been better than the league average in ERA, WHIP, hits per nine innings, and walks per nine innings. They also have the league's best bullpen ERA. If only they could hit, this season might have meant more than a good start on 2010. - Jeff Fletcher
  • 18. Brewers | Record: 74-77 | Previous Week: 20
    The Crew has plenty of offense. They need to find some way to get better starting pitching before 2010. You can't just outhit opposition all season and expect to be more than a run-of-the-mill team.
  • 19. White Sox | Record: 73-79 | Previous Week: 16
    What a disastrous season it has been for Carlos Quentin -- following his uber-breakout 2008 campaign. He's battled injuries and inconsistency, though the two could be related.
  • 20. Blue Jays | Record: 68-83 | Previous Week: 18
    Edwin Encarnacion, the third baseman acquired from Cincinnati in exchange for Scott Rolen, hadn't reminded anyone of Rolen before homering twice Tuesday. Still, in 33 games for Toronto, Encarnacion has hit .236 with six homers and 17 RBI. And he has six errors -- one more than Rolen had in his 88 games. - Ed Price
  • 21. Reds | Record: 70-81 | Previous Week: 22
    2010 is going to be a big year for Cincy. The Reds have shown signs of emergence with the kids. They've won seven of 10 now. This followed a five-game losing streak, which was preceded by a stretch where they won 12 of 14. If they can stay healthy and play with consistency, good things are on their way.
  • 22. Padres | Record: 69-83 | Previous Week: 23
    Kevin Correia has put himself into an interesting spot with his breakout year. Correia is 11-10 with a respectable 4.08 ERA, including 4-1 with a 2.67 ERA since Aug. 7. He's arbitration eligible this winter, meaning he's earned himself a big salary bump. Maybe too big for the Padres, who might opt to sell high on him by trading him. - Jeff Fletcher
  • 23. Astros | Record: 70-81 | Previous Week: 19
    What a mess. Nine losses in a row, an aging roster, a fired manager and no real hope on the horizon. They need to blow everything up.
  • 24. Diamondbacks | Record: 66-86 | Previous Week: 24
    The Diamondbacks better be damn sure they can contend in 2010 if they plan on keeping Brandon Webb. The injured ace reportedly won't restructure his 2010 option. After the season, the 'Backs can't be sure they'll be able to re-up with him. Thus, they might be wise to pursue a trade.
  • 25. Mets | Record: 65-87 | Previous Week: 25
    The last few months have been tryouts for 2010, and the Mets have to be wondering what they have in former No. 1 pick Mike Pelfrey, who makes his 30th start tonight. Pelfrey is 10-11, but more indicative is his 5.10 ERA and 196 hits allowed in 171 1/3 innings. - Ed Price
  • 26. Royals | Record: 63-88 | Previous Week: 26
    Last season the Cy Young voters showed they understood the award was for the best pitcher in the league when voting Tim Lincecum the NL winner, despite playing on a sub-par Giants team. This year, they'll realize that Zack Greinke is just as deserving, despite some talking heads acting like he may not win it. His 2.08 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 229 strikeouts, six complete games and three shutouts make him the most dominant pitcher in the majors for 2009. It would be a travesty if he didn't win the award, and the voters know that. You'll see.
  • 27. Orioles | Record: 60-91 | Previous Week: 27
    What is it about the second half that crushes Baltimore? This millennium (since 2001, that is), the O's are 248-402 after the All-Star break, easily the worst mark in the majors. This year's mark
    is 20-43. - Ed Price
  • 28. Indians | Record: 61-89 | Previous Week: 28
    And that's nine losses in a row! You know what the biggest problem is? They can't make up their mind as to whether or not they're rebuilding (trading away high-priced players) or playing for now (signing Kerry Wood, trading for Mark DeRosa before the season). Make a decision, Tribe, otherwise you'll be bad for a very long time.
  • 29. Pirates | Record: 56-93 | Previous Week: 29
    On the other hand, the Pirates have fully committed to the rebuilding effort. They'll be down here for the rest of this season and probably for most of next season. Come 2011 and 2012, though, and they'll have a foundation. This is the way you clean up a mess.
  • 30. Nationals | Record: 51-99 | Previous Week: 30
    Rookie shortstop Ian Desmond, who has hit .343 in nine games since being called up Sept. 4, didn't get out of Single-A until 2008, his fifth pro season. But at Double-A and Triple-A this year, Desmond, 24, hit .330 with 21 steals and a .401 on-base percentage. - Ed Price

MLB Power Rankings: AL West Is Best originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>mlb power rankingsMlbPowerRankingsMatt SnyderWed, 23 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST