Postgame 4/1 – Giants 3 Dodgers 4

Belt’s blast goes to waste, thats all you need to know. The Giants coming out of the starting gates have struggled mightily defensively, not looking at all like the defensive team that took the field last October. Granted, it has been just two games, but 0-2 feels like 0-10 when you’re starting the season.

What went wrong: Defense wins championships as they saying goes, and defense has all but eluded the Giants these first two games. Infield hits and bloopers seemed to be an all too common occurrence tonight, with Sandoval throwing away a bunt play and Sanchez inability to field a dribbler hit back to him. This is exactly what happened to the Giants last year, they tried to play long ball every at bat seemingly and it cost them. It’s still costing them now. When the Giants take at bats with runners in scoring position it’s hard to envision getting an extra base hit or even a single in that situation. The Giants go all or nothing, and they won’t start winning until that changes.

What went right: Once again, the pitching was good, not as good as last night, but good. Sanchez did pretty well for his first start, just giving up bloop hits and infield singles. Dan Runzler was solid tonight and I’d really like to see him take on a greater role within this bullpen. To say the least, have him take on a 7/8th inning role for the Giants right now while Brain Wilson is DL’d just to see what the kid’s got when it matters. Obviously tonight, it was all right for Brandon Belt. A blast to dead center field, his first career home run in his second career game, only to be outdone by Will Clark who homered in his first major league game. Belt had at least two other great at bats that results in line drive outs, Belt was certainly in the zone tonight.

Final Thoughts: As baseball fans in general, you can’t dwell on the past you can only push forward and thats exactly what needs to happen. Just forget about the defensive blunders and a home run heavy offense, and go out there tomorrow with a different mentality. Just go out there tomorrow a different team, boys, a new mindset.

A Few Words Before Opening Day

Almost five months ago the Giants celebrated their first world championship in 56 years. That group of guys will never be forgotten and are put in a whole ‘nother category that guys like Mays, McCovey, Marichal, even Bonds, never got to be in. So as the exhibition season comes to a close, it is important as a Giants fan to cherish last years historical run, but also to recognize that this is a new year, a new ballgame, another race. Predictions don’t mean squat in terms of the upcoming season and throw all expectations out of the window. Don’t expect Buster Posey to win NL MVP or Brandon Belt to become Posey 2.0, just take things as they happen. That is at least the plan I’m taking into this season and I believe it. This incoming year is just the start of another ride, more cheers, tears and jeers to come and all of it is just that much better this year after achieving baseball ecstasy last season. Once again, last year was last year, it was pretty damn amazing but the Giants are being hunted vs. being the hunters. They’re the team every other team wants to take their shots at, and I like it.

“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday’s success or put its failures behind and start over again. That’s the way life is, with a new game every day, and that’s the way baseball is.” – Bob Feller

2011 Playoff Predictions & Bold Ideas + Award Winners

Division Series:

National League:

Phillies over Brewers (4 Games)

Giants over Braves (4 Games)

American League:

Red Sox over Twins (3 Games)

A’s over White Sox (4 Games)

Championship Series:

Giants over Phillies (7 Games)

MVP: Miguel Tejada

Red Sox over A’s (6 Games)

MVP: Adrian Gonzalez

World Series

Red Sox over Giants (7 Games)

MVP: Jon Lester

Award Winners:

American League:

MVP: Adrian Gonzalez – Red Sox

Cy Young: Jon Lester – Red Sox (see a trend here?)

ROY: Jeremy Hellickson – Rays

Manager of the Year: Terry Francona – Red Sox

National League:

MVP: Carlos Gonzalez – Rockies

Cy Young: Roy Halladay – Phillies

ROY: Dominic Brown – Phillies

Manager of the Year : Ron Roenicke – Brewers

Bold Predictions

• Yankees will MISS the playoffs
• Giants will have MORE or an EQUAl amount of 20 game winners as the Phillies
• The Giants will SWEEP the season series with the Diamondbacks
• The Yankees and Twins will play a TIEBREAKER game 163 to decide the AL Wild Card, Twins win
• The Giants will have a 10 game WINNING STREAK
• The Giants will score 100 MORE runs this season
• The Giants will come within THREE outs of repeating as World Champions.

2011 Predictions :: National League Standings

Part 2 of 3 in my 2011 season preview. Once again, without further ado here is how 2011 will play out for the 16 National League teams.

National League West:

1. San Francisco Giants (93 Wins): Well, what’d you expect? My expectations in a nutshell for this year are that the pitching will continue to dominate and carry this team, and I also expect the offense to be up from 2010 in terms of team batting average and an overall offensive improvement as a club.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers (89 Wins): What I expect to see from the Dodgers this year is a big rebound from 2011. Andre Eithier and Matt Kemp I predict will have big years in their own mini Cargo-Tulo combo in the outfield for the Dodgers. But what I really ‘like’ about the Dodgers is their pitching and their ability to put together a very solid rotation this offseason. Beat LA.

3. Colorado Rockies (87 Wins): I guess my beef with the Rockies is they can’t be carried all season by three guys which is what the Rockies are. Aside from Ubaldo, Tulo and Cargo there’s not much left for Dinger and the gang. But on the other in hand it will those three in general that will get them as many wins as I predict them having and to once again make the NL West one of the most competitive races in baseball.

4. Arizona Diamondbacks (74 Wins): The Diamondbacks this offseason adressed their issue in the bullpen to an extent as well as brought in a few starting pitchers to compete to make the rotation. I expect their vast amount of young players to expand and improve enough to give the DBacks a 9 game edge on their record from last season.

5. San Diego Padres (63 Wins): Second to worst? you got it. The Padres young pitching ‘studs’ in their starters and bullpen will finally come down to earth this year. They have virtually no offense anymore and they will struggle to support the performances of their starters, much like the Giants have the past nine bajillion seasons.

National League Central:

1. Milwaukee Brewers (87 Wins): The Brewers can give a hand to Wainwright who has handed the Brew Crew the division title with 87 wins. Greinke and Marcum pitching in the offensively challenged NL Central will be a boost for a fantastic pitching staff and propel them to a division title, their second in four years. Oh, they also have those two guys Fielder and Braun, they’re alright I guess.

2. St. Louis Cardinals (85 Wins): Adam Wainwright single handedly changed the standings in the NL Central, he just cost his club the division title. I can’t imagine that whoever replaces Wainwright in the rotation won’t be any better then half as good as Wainwright so they’ll probably make up 11-12 of those 20-22 team wins he’ll give. But ultimately I have the Cards falling to the Crew by two games. Like I said, with Wainwright, the division is the Cardinals to lose. No dice.

3. Cincinnati Reds (85 Wins): As you can see here I predict a pretty competitive balance within the Central. The NL Central champs will not be able to live up to their year they put together the previous season. I don’t their pitching is good enough to hang with the like of Pujols and Fielder within their division. The Reds have good offensive talent, and in 2-3 years they may be up there in the top teams in the National League but next year they’ll have to settle for third. :/

4. Chicago Cubs (84 Wins): I like the cubs this year. If it wasn’t for such competitive balance within the division they wouldn’t have to settle for a fourth place finish. The Cubs have a good, strong rotation going into the year now anchored by the ex-Ray Matt Garza and the Cubs can put together a decent offense. But just by a hair, they will finish in fourth place by one less win.

5. Astros (79 Wins): The Astros did in the second half of last season, exactly what the Padres did in the second half of 2009, and look how the Padres turned out this year. The Astros have some momentum and excitement going into this year and I expect their young players they keep collecting in trades will start to pay off, sooner rather than later. And if these prospects do pan out, then perhaps The Astros might have a winner in the next few years.

6. Pirates (58 Wins): Honestly, don’t get me started. At this point if they can’t put 100% of their money and effort into scouting and drafting then they deserve to be where they are.

National League East:

1. Philadelphia Phillies (99 Wins): The only thing holding back the Phillies from getting 100 wins in the fact they are in the most talented division in the National League. The Phillies ‘Phab Four’ or what will you have the potential to be one of the greatest of all time or the potential to be on of the greatest busts. The Phillies rotation and lineup speaks for itself, all I can say is boy am I excited to watch those Phillies-Giants series this season.

2. Atlanta Braves* (90 Wins): The Braves have darn good starting pitching and a very formidable line up with the additions of Dan Uggla and the rook’ Freddy Freemen who will be their starting first basemen. I think Heyward will have a big year, better then his rookie campaign and I just thing the Braves have an all around good program which is now under the helm of Fredi Gonzalez.

3. Florida Marlins (85 Wins): The Marlins are just playing along with the brand of baseball they have been all along. Not being able to lock up Uggla, they shipped to Atlanta for prospects. Top prospect Cameron Maybin not panning out, ship him to the Pad’s for some relievers. But then you get every few years where all the pieces fall together and the Marlins will go 3/3 in their three world series appearances. Fear the fish.

4. New York Mets (74 Wins): Truth be told, I don’t really like the future of the Mets right now. Their starting pitching is a mess, their stud shortstop in Reyes is on the cusp of becoming a free agent and their $100+ million investment in Beltran hasn’t really gone according to plan. So as of now Mets fans should shut themselves out until July to see if their stars are still hangin’ around and possibly get a glimpse of the returning Johan Santana.

5. Washington Nationals (59 Wins): Sorry Mr. Werth, your $126 million contract just bought you a ticket to the cellar of the division in which you could still be at the top of had you have stayed with the Phillies. A year for the Nationals without Bryce Harper or Stephen Strasburgh will be rough, but on the bright side it’ll result is possibly another #1 or #2 pick in the MLB draft. Don’t worry Nats Nation your year will come in 2015 when the Phab Four is old and the Nationals are ready to roar.

2011 Predictions :: American League Standings

Here it is, the moment you’ve all been waiting for all year. Without further ado, here are your 2011 American League Standings. * denotes the Wild Card winner.

American League West:

1. Oakland Athletics (91 Wins): I believe the A’s pitching will really come together this year just as the giants did last year. In addition to a plethora of solid pitching and bullpen, their line up is formidable against their divisional rivals and the Rangers, Angels and Mariners have not made any significant additions.

2. Anaheim Angels (84 Wins): Most people seem to forget the Angels have a strong core of Dan Haren, Jared Weaver and Ervin Santana who won 17 games. I believe the pitching will live up to its expectations more then last year and the Angels offense will be similar to the A’s but ultimately they fall short.

3. Texas Rangers (81 Wins): How do the American League champions fall from 1st to 3rd in their own division? The subtraction of Cliff Lee, Vlad and probably Michael Young will not be balanced out by only the addition of Beltre. The Rangers pitchers looked even mediocre against the misfits last year so I don’t expect too much of a change for this year.

4. Seattle Mariners (73 Wins): Well there’s not much change to report in Mariner camp this year. They have a 2008 Giant-esque offense to rally behind their Cy Young winner in King Felix and that’s pretty much it. Watch for Dustin Ackley to possibly make a splash in the big leagues some time this season.

American League Central:

1. Chicago White Sox (88 Wins): To be honest the division I probably pay the least attention to in all of baseball is the American League Central. Now that’s to my disadvantage as it’s been one of baseballs most competitive divisions in past years. Look for the strong White Sox pitching to carry a decent offense down to the final weeks of the season where they play 7 of their last 13 games against the Kansas City Royals.

2. Minnesota Twins (87 Wins*): I feel the Twins and White Sox are very comparable teams but I think the White Sox staff is just that much better. Sure the Twins will be pleased with a full season of Joe Nathan and welcome back Justin Morneau with open arms but Twins fans don’t feel bad conceding the division title to the Sox this year, you’ll snatch the American League Wild Card in a one game battle royale in game 163 against the Yankees.

3. Detroit Tigers (86 Wins): Tigers baseball has a bright future. I’m expecting them to contend or receive the division title in the coming years but I think the other two teams above them right now in the standings just bring too much to the table. The addition of V-Mart in the offseason will surely help and they support a decent staff anchored by the young ace Justin Verlander. Maybe next year Tiger fans.

4. Kansas City Royals (79 Wins): I think the Royals will turn a lot of heads this year. In gaining very good prospects in the trade of Zack Greinke plus sporting the best farm system in baseball, Kansas City has the most bright future in terms of the bottom feeder teams. Whether these prospects will live up to the hype is another matter as I could easily picture a story in 7-8 years how the Royals system failed to live up to expectations. But on the other hand don’t be surprised to see a winning season as soon as next year.

5. Cleveland Indians (64 Wins): Funny how a team can go from one win away to be American League Champions to be in the division cellar two years later. The Indians currently hold the longest drought without a World Series winner and the future doesn’t look particularly bright either. Aside from Grady Sizemore and possibly Matt LaPorta, there’s not much else reason to watch Indians baseball.

American League East

1. Boston Red Sox (108 Wins): Am I shooting for the stars with that win total? Probably. Would it be an impossible feat for this lineup and staff? Absolutely not. I expect HUGE dividends from Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford could turn into the best lead off man in the American League if not all of baseball. I may just expect the Red Sox to hold that American League pennant, possibly the World Series trophy come October.

2. New York Yankees (87 Wins): If you read my Twins blurb up there you saw that the Twins will be taking the American League Wild Card this year. So for just the second time in 16 years I believe, Derek Jeter can head up to his mansion in the Bahamas starting that first week of October. In a nutshell: Older Lineup + Bad Pitching + Competitive Divison = No Playoffs.

3. Tampa Bay Rays (83 Wins): To be honest I’m pretty much on the fence about the future of the Rays. I know they have a future ace in Jeremy Hellickson to compliment David Price and an offense led by Evan Longoria but at least for now the Rays will have an off year much like they did in 2009 after winning the American League Pennant.

4. Baltimore Orioles (81 Wins): You read that right, the Orioles will finish dead even at .500. Their line up this year is extremely Yankee-esque filled with aging sluggers but sluggers nonetheless. I have a hunch the Showalter effect plus good talent will show up well throughout 2011. Look out for those birds they’re coming in fast.

5. Toronto Blue Jays (79 Wins): The Blue Jays will get left behind in all the fuss in the AL East this year. The Blue Jays aren’t a bad team by a lot fo means. But trading Shawn Marcum and being in one of the most talented divisions in baseball will not pay off well for Blue Jay fans. I predict a 2068 division title.

Quick Update – February 24

Over the coming weekend I will have my 2011 season predictions posted up for your reading enjoyment.

Friday 2/25 – American League Standings
Saturday 2/26 – National League Standings
Sunday 2/27 – Playoff & Bold Predictions

 

Pretty cool, huh?

Offseason Recap Pt. 2 :: January 20

Well these posts will go few and far between as it is hard to post every day with a little blurb about how Andruw Jones is a Yankee now and the Rockies are throwing out lifetime contracts left and right. So I figure once every 2-3 weeks will suffice during the offseason. So heres the run down:

• Arbitration: Javier Lopez :: $2.375 Mill // Cody Ross :: $6.3 Mill // Jonathan Sanchez :: $3.7 Mill // Ramon Ramierez :: $1.65 Mill // Santiago Casilla :: $1.3 Mill // Mike Fontenot :: 1.05 Mill // Chris Ray non-tendered
• Weight Watchers: Sandoval apparently has dropped somewhere in the range of 15-20 lbs. so far this offseason with a goal of trying to drop 10-15 more. To be honest I was never 100% behind the notion that Sandovals weight was all of the problem for him last year. It will definitely help him from an athletic stand point but if it will help him hit .330 again with 25 home runs seems a little sketchy. I’m calling .295 BA / 27 HR / 89 RBI
• Home Opener Info: This news is old, but for those who may not know the Giants will be raising the world championship banner on opening day and handing out the rings the following day, a bummer if you ask me but whatever it takes to fill more seats even after you win the World Series I guess.
• Bold Predictions: Here’s a small preview to my 2011 season preview I have planned to come out sometime during spring training.

1. The Yankees Will Miss The Playoffs
2. The Giants will have the same number (or more) of 20 game winning pitchers as the Phillies
3. Both Wild Cards will come out of the Western divisions. (A’s + Dodgers)

Offseason Recap Pt. 1 :: November 30

Aubrey Huff: Signed a 2 year $22 million deal with the Giants last week. I do agree this was necessary not only because of what Huff provided last year but with the outlook on next years team. As we saw Huff is not only limited to first base should Bruce Bochy need to shuffle things up. Huff was a big part of the Giants last year on and off the field and even with Brandon Belt going through the ranks in the minor leagues fast, 2 years is ideal for the Giants with Huff.

Juan Uribe: Well I can whole-heartedly say I didn’t see that coming. A three-year $21 million contract with the Dodgers? Say it ain’t so UUUUUREEBAY. I honestly didn’t see one, Uribe getting a three year contract and two, going to anyone in the NL West not named the Giants. Uribe was clutch last year. Him and Pat Burrell won us a lot of games last year and as it looks now neither of them will be coming back next year. (I only see Burrell coming back if at all as a bench player) Anyone who has the guts to say something like “Uribe is dead to me now as a Dodger” can’t really call themselves a true Giants or baseball fan. I completely understand the Dodger-Giant rivalry but look at everything on paper and tell me what means more to you: A lively, vicious rivalry or a championship. At least I’d pick the latter of the two.

Miguel Tejada: Hours ago it was confirmed Miguel Tejada will move upstate in the NL West and join the Giants for at least one year, earning $6.5 million. Ironicly to me, it seems this deal nearly mimics what the Giants did in the 2009 preseason signing Juan Uribe, low risk – high reward. A little more risk with Tejada’s paycheck but he can play shortstop or third base and he is a fierce competitor and the bottom line is I’m glad to see him not face the Giants anymore.

Rumor Mill:

• Several baseball sources are reporting mutual interest between the Rays and Giants regarding Jason Bartlett. Bartlett had a career year in 2009 with a drop off last season but I like him, just a good vibe kind of the thing. If it costs a reliever or two and a prospect then I take my chances.
• Not too many teams have been thrown into the melting pot regarding Carl Crawford or Jayson Werth but as I said before I’d still really like to see one of those two in a Giants uni on opening day next year, which is April 1st @ Dodger Stadium.
• Tulowitzki mega deal is absolutely absurd. Baseball is a funny game. Banking on success for the next 10 years from one player is ludicrous. Also, what deal do you think Ubaldo and CarGo will point at when they negotiate with the Rockies?
• Eli Whiteside 7 year, $126,000,001 is close to being finished off reports eliwhitesideforpresident.com

2010 Awards

Rookie of the Year

National League: Thats another check in the awards box for the Giants in the past years. I haven’t done too much research on baseball awards but I’d like to know the last team to win three awards in three years (2 Cy Youngs & ROY), and to put a world championship on top of that? Sounds pretty solid to me. Posey clearly the deserving winner over Heyward, even as an unbiased opinion. He is the sixth Giant to win the award, the first sine “The Count” did it in 1975. Posey has the potential to be the next Derek Jeter or Ichiro in terms of being one of those all star “lock” players no matter what kind of season they have. Who doesn’t want to vote for a “Buster” on their all star ballot?

American League: The cream of the crop of my fantasy relievers, Neftali Feliz stormed away with the AL ROY and rightfully so. He lead the American League in saves for a Rangers club with 90 wins. I don’t have too much input on American League rookies but I would of been extremely surprised had anyone else won the award.

Cy Young

National League: Roy Halladay unanimously took the NL Cy Young this year to no surprise, not my surprise at least. I am slightly surprised with the second place votes seeing as Adam Wainwright took 28 of them with now-minuscule Ubaldo Jiminez receiving only  four votes for second place. Maybe the Giants just faced him too many times but he sure as hell looked like the best Pitcher the Giants faced seeing as they beat Halladay twice this year. As for next year, I like my chances on one of the Giants “Big Four” starters winning the Cy Young for next year, I’d put my money on any four of ‘em. Side note, the Giants were the only team to receive votes for three different pitchers. (Wilson, Lincecum, Cain)

American League: Predicted Winner: Felix Hernandez. Aside from W-L, hands down winner.

MVP

National League: The Numbers:

Pujols gets it for me, with more big flys and RBI’s then Votto. Even with Votto carrying his team to the NL Central crown I’m not going to factor that in. Whiteside is runner-up.

American League: Miguel Cabrera. Hamilton lacked in home runs and RBI’s and really only excelled in average this year. If he was healthy all year he wins it hands down but Cabrera was consistent all year. Yet again, I don’t really care if so-and-so carried his team to the playoffs.

Manager of the Year

National League: It’s close. It’s even closer if I’m not biased as a Giants fan. I’ll put it this way. Going into the playoffs, Bud Black had NL Manager of the Year but I think due to the playoffs Bochy should win it. Will he win it is beyond me. Yes, I am an intelligent baseball fan and I realize voting was done before the playoffs, but the playoffs changed my vote. Either way you look you can’t argue with who wins. Black completely transformed a what was thought to be ‘lost’ organization into almost a division winner. Bochy carried his players through the playoffs and lead them to a title.

American League: Ron Washington. Meh.

In other news….

The Uggla trade to the Braves sort of felt like a punch in the arm For some reason I have some strong desire to have Dan Uggle on the Giants. I love Freddy Sanchez, keep him at second. But I think you could’ve done Jonathan Sanchez for Uggla and then some, and I would’ve given the trade an A+. I’m also astounded the Marlins went inter-division with the trade, in my opinion saying “we give up on next year” to the fans. If anything positive, it makes for a more exciting NL East race.