Well we've got 19 days left until Opening Day, which means it's season preview time. We'll be running it down team by team, with an added new wrinkle this time around: the beer of choice for fans of the team to enjoy whilst watching their team take the field! Nothing like that to help get you through a baseball season, especially if you're from Pittsburgh. Up next: the Houston Astros.
Lineup: Things could get ugly here. Carlos Lee is still decent, but he's clearly on the decline phase of his career. Lance Berkman could have a Hall of Fame case if he hangs around for a few more years - and his production isn't exactly slowing - but he's had injury woes of late, which are only exacerbated by his recent knee surgery that will likely make him miss opening day. Hunter Pence is the only guy outside of those two whom we feel comfortable describing as "above-average," and that's a problem. Up the middle, CF Michael Bourn is fast, which is nice, but Kaz Matsui and Tommy Manzella (Tulane!) are one of the weakest-hitting double play combos in MLB, and J.R. Towles, while once a shining prospect behind the plate, hasn't done much in somewhat limited PAs at the big-league level. Pedro Feliz is a horrendous hitter - which surprised us, but consider (1) that his OPS has decreased every year since the high-water mark in 1999 (.793) and was nearly 100 points lower last season (.694) and (2) that his career OBP is .293 - and hasn't been great shakes with the glove of late, which used to be his calling card. To make matters worse, this team is paper thin at all positions; Jason Michaels is the primary backup at all three outfield spots, Jeff Keppinger is next in line at SS and 2B, and Geoff Blum would get the call if either Feliz or Berkman go down. Yikes.
Rotation: Well, there's at least some hope to be had here. Not much, mind you, but some. Roy Oswalt seems to have been wearing down over the past few seasons, and isn't much above-average at this point even if he can stay healthy. Wandy Rodriguez is the real ace here, as he put together an excellent season last year and is young enough to keep improving...but we don't think we can handle one of the better pitchers in the division being named 'Wandy.' Behind him is Brett Myers, who has, if nothing else, a big name and a World Series ring, and Felipe Paulino and Bud Norris, a couple of young strikeout maestros with the potential for a big 2010. But, again, depth is a problem; Brian Moehler is listed at the 6th starter. Guhhh.
Bullpen: Matt Lindstrom can get K's with the best of them, and Brandon Lyon will do his best to justify his outlandish $15MM contract. He won't justify it, of course, because he's not very good, but he'll at least try. We assume. Bridging the gap to those 8th and 9th innings are...Jesse Fulchino? Tim Byrdak? Alberto Arias? Chris Sampson? Our eyes!
Overall: The fact that we ended the preceding paragraphs with 'Yikes,' 'Guhhh,' and 'Our eyes!' should tell you a lot about the overall outlook of this team. The only way that they avoid being utter laughingstocks is if every single starter is healthy for the entire season. Which surely happens all the time, right?
Predicted Record: 70-92, 5th place NL Central. Hmm. Apparently it doesn't happen all the time.
Beer: Lone Star. Calling itself 'The National Beer of Texas,' Lone Star is for the deluded Texan who (a) counts Texas as a nation and (b) thinks the Astros have a shot. So...Ed Wade.
3/15/10
Season Preview: Florida Marlins
Well we've got 20 days left until Opening Day, which means it's season preview time. We'll be running it down team by team, with an added new wrinkle this time around: the beer of choice for fans of the team to enjoy whilst watching their team take the field! Nothing like that to help get you through a baseball season, especially if you're from Pittsburgh. Up next: the Florida Marlins.
Lineup: A lot depends on three youngsters. Chris Coghlan was the RoY last year, but his inflated numbers benefited from a high BABIP and an surprising - and probably fluky - uptick in power. Cameron Maybin has been tabbed as a top prospect for years now, and may be running out of chances to hold down the CF job for a full season - particularly if he can't stop getting hurt. And Gaby Sanchez was underwhelming in limited duty last season, but has the potential to grow into an above-average first baseman. If Coghlan can repeat his season and Maybin and Sanchez can realize their potential, then this team should be able to hit well enough to compete. SS Hanley Ramirez is one of the top 5 players in the league, Dan Uggla has mammoth power for a second baseman, and while Jorge Cantu isn't 'good,' per se, he should be good for about 25 tater tots. We don't like RF Cody Ross or C John Baker. Sorry, fellas.
Rotation: Josh Johnson is the deserving ace here, but Ricky Nolasco is a diamond in the rough. His FIP was significantly better than his ERA last season, and in 2008 he had a flat-out dominant stretch where he showed impeccable control and strikeout stuff - we'd equate it to a Ben Sheets-style of dominance. Beyond that 1-2, we have a collection of talented question marks: Anibal Sanchez can't stay healthy, 23-year old Sean West has command issues and is a bit too hittable, Chris Volstad has injury issues but can induce groundballs in his sleep, Rick VandenHurk has a big arm but has problematic struggles with the gopher ball, and Andrew Miller is fast ruining his top prospect status with a combined inability to stay healthy and refrain from walking batters. But all in all, having five talented guys to fill out the back three spots of a rotation that's headed by two excellent hurlers isn't a bad problem to have.
Bullpen: Leo Nunez is the closer here, but as it has been since the departure of the erstwhile Kevin Gregg, the job is nominal only. He doesn't strike out enough people to justify all the walks he gives up, and his flyball tendencies are worrisome for a late-inning, high-leverage reliever. Dan Meyer used to be a prospect, but in his 100 MLB innings since 2004, he's got an ERA of 5.09 and a sub-2.00 K:BB ratio, neither of which bode well. Renyel Pinto is the rare lefty who strikes out plenny gentlemen, but his control issues are more pronounced than any of the guys mentioned before. Burke Badenhop and Taylor Tankersley are no great shakes either, and we guess what we're saying is that there's not a lot of talent here.
Overall: A lot needs to go right if the Marlins are going to repeat their 2009 season that saw them in divisional competition. The lineup is top-heavy, with the potential for a fairly massive dropoff if the youngsters don't pan out, and the same can be said of the rotation. The team wishes the same could be said of the bullpen, where there just are not enough reliable arms to go around. The Marlins seem to be perpetually rebuilding, but this season finds them static and probably regressing.
Predicted Record: 79-82, 3rd place NL East
Beer: Land Shark Lager would've been the easy choice, but alas, Jimmy Buffett's tropical brew company no longer holds the rights to the Marlins' stadium. Instead, we're going with Abita Christmas Ale. The recipe is different every year, much like the way the Marlins have a lot of roster turnover every year. And even though there are years when the team is terrible, there's usually something to like here, by virtue of all the youngsters they run out there all the time. Which is like Christmas: even if it's not a great one, it's still Christmas. And sometimes you have a really great one - see e.g. the two World Series titles this team has brought in. Like Marlins players, Christmas Ale is a beer that you're not supposed to get too attached to, but rather embrace the changes every year and anticipate it being really, really great one year.
Lineup: A lot depends on three youngsters. Chris Coghlan was the RoY last year, but his inflated numbers benefited from a high BABIP and an surprising - and probably fluky - uptick in power. Cameron Maybin has been tabbed as a top prospect for years now, and may be running out of chances to hold down the CF job for a full season - particularly if he can't stop getting hurt. And Gaby Sanchez was underwhelming in limited duty last season, but has the potential to grow into an above-average first baseman. If Coghlan can repeat his season and Maybin and Sanchez can realize their potential, then this team should be able to hit well enough to compete. SS Hanley Ramirez is one of the top 5 players in the league, Dan Uggla has mammoth power for a second baseman, and while Jorge Cantu isn't 'good,' per se, he should be good for about 25 tater tots. We don't like RF Cody Ross or C John Baker. Sorry, fellas.
Rotation: Josh Johnson is the deserving ace here, but Ricky Nolasco is a diamond in the rough. His FIP was significantly better than his ERA last season, and in 2008 he had a flat-out dominant stretch where he showed impeccable control and strikeout stuff - we'd equate it to a Ben Sheets-style of dominance. Beyond that 1-2, we have a collection of talented question marks: Anibal Sanchez can't stay healthy, 23-year old Sean West has command issues and is a bit too hittable, Chris Volstad has injury issues but can induce groundballs in his sleep, Rick VandenHurk has a big arm but has problematic struggles with the gopher ball, and Andrew Miller is fast ruining his top prospect status with a combined inability to stay healthy and refrain from walking batters. But all in all, having five talented guys to fill out the back three spots of a rotation that's headed by two excellent hurlers isn't a bad problem to have.
Bullpen: Leo Nunez is the closer here, but as it has been since the departure of the erstwhile Kevin Gregg, the job is nominal only. He doesn't strike out enough people to justify all the walks he gives up, and his flyball tendencies are worrisome for a late-inning, high-leverage reliever. Dan Meyer used to be a prospect, but in his 100 MLB innings since 2004, he's got an ERA of 5.09 and a sub-2.00 K:BB ratio, neither of which bode well. Renyel Pinto is the rare lefty who strikes out plenny gentlemen, but his control issues are more pronounced than any of the guys mentioned before. Burke Badenhop and Taylor Tankersley are no great shakes either, and we guess what we're saying is that there's not a lot of talent here.
Overall: A lot needs to go right if the Marlins are going to repeat their 2009 season that saw them in divisional competition. The lineup is top-heavy, with the potential for a fairly massive dropoff if the youngsters don't pan out, and the same can be said of the rotation. The team wishes the same could be said of the bullpen, where there just are not enough reliable arms to go around. The Marlins seem to be perpetually rebuilding, but this season finds them static and probably regressing.
Predicted Record: 79-82, 3rd place NL East
Beer: Land Shark Lager would've been the easy choice, but alas, Jimmy Buffett's tropical brew company no longer holds the rights to the Marlins' stadium. Instead, we're going with Abita Christmas Ale. The recipe is different every year, much like the way the Marlins have a lot of roster turnover every year. And even though there are years when the team is terrible, there's usually something to like here, by virtue of all the youngsters they run out there all the time. Which is like Christmas: even if it's not a great one, it's still Christmas. And sometimes you have a really great one - see e.g. the two World Series titles this team has brought in. Like Marlins players, Christmas Ale is a beer that you're not supposed to get too attached to, but rather embrace the changes every year and anticipate it being really, really great one year.
3/14/10
Season Preview: Detroit Tigers
Well we've got 21 days left until Opening Day, which means it's season preview time. We'll be running it down team by team, with an added new wrinkle this time around: the beer of choice for fans of the team to enjoy whilst watching their team take the field! Nothing like that to help get you through a baseball season, especially if you're from Pittsburgh. Up next: the Detroit Tigers
Lineup: We don't see this group being especially good. Miguel Cabrera is the star here, but he doesn't have much in the way of support. Johnny Damon is the big name addition, but he's only a 3 WAR player, and unless Austin Jackson starts to develop in a hurry, the Damon-Jackson-Magglio Ordonez outfield doesn't pose too much of a threat. Rookie Scott Sizemore will start the season at second base, and has drawn comparisons to Dustin Pedroia, but we wouldn't expect too much out of the first-year guy. Adam Everett, his double-play partner, is one of the best in the business with the glove, but is a very weak hitter. Brandon Inge is reportedly healthy for the first time in years, but he's also getting pretty old and doesn't bring much to the table hitting-wise considering that he's a third baseman. Carlos Guillen is in a similar situation as Inge, as he struggled with injuries last season and needs to return to form - which he may be able to do as a full-time DH. And Gerald Laird is a waste of ABs at catcher.
Rotation: Justin Verlander is a Cy Young-level guy, Rick Porcello had a solid rookie season and should figure to improve, and Max Scherzer is a high-ceiling fireballer who we think is a bit underrated by most. Beyond those three, you're looking at an array of marginal talent and injury risks. Jeremy Bonderman is getting what is probably his last chance to prove that his career hasn't been ruined by a litany of arm and nerve injuries, Armando Galarraga got by on luck for awhile, and in Dontrelle Willis and and Nate Robertson, the team has two lefties with embarrassing contracts. You could do worse than to have three good starters, but if this team has any aspirations beyond divisional competition, they're going to need to get somebody good.
Bullpen: One of the worst units in the league last year, the team hopes that the addition of former Houston closer Jose Valverde and the return of Joel Zumaya will provide a boost this year. But beyond those two, and Daniel Schlereth, many of the same faces remain, including Fu-Te Ni, the man with the shortest last name in baseball history. So that's neat. Anyway, this is a fairly average unit overall we'd say. But then it's just about impossible to project bullpens.
Overall: If this were a younger team, there'd be a lot to like about their chances for the future. There's talent to be had all around, particularly in the youthful core of Verlander, Porcello, Scherzer, Cabrera, Jackson and Sizemore, but the other pieces don't really fit. Damon and Ordonez are both gone after the season, they don't have a viable catcher, and there's not much coming up in the system. 2010 may be their last chance to compete for awhile, but the chances of that happening don't look too great.
Predicted Record: 83-79, 2nd place AL Central
Beer: Heineken. Overpriced because of the foreign flavor - reminiscent of the Magglio Ordonez situation, where the Tigers had a chance to hold him to less than 540 ABs and save themselves $18MM. They didn't, and instead are stuck paying his bloated salary for this season, like the guy who just can't help himself for shelling out for Heiny.
Lineup: We don't see this group being especially good. Miguel Cabrera is the star here, but he doesn't have much in the way of support. Johnny Damon is the big name addition, but he's only a 3 WAR player, and unless Austin Jackson starts to develop in a hurry, the Damon-Jackson-Magglio Ordonez outfield doesn't pose too much of a threat. Rookie Scott Sizemore will start the season at second base, and has drawn comparisons to Dustin Pedroia, but we wouldn't expect too much out of the first-year guy. Adam Everett, his double-play partner, is one of the best in the business with the glove, but is a very weak hitter. Brandon Inge is reportedly healthy for the first time in years, but he's also getting pretty old and doesn't bring much to the table hitting-wise considering that he's a third baseman. Carlos Guillen is in a similar situation as Inge, as he struggled with injuries last season and needs to return to form - which he may be able to do as a full-time DH. And Gerald Laird is a waste of ABs at catcher.
Rotation: Justin Verlander is a Cy Young-level guy, Rick Porcello had a solid rookie season and should figure to improve, and Max Scherzer is a high-ceiling fireballer who we think is a bit underrated by most. Beyond those three, you're looking at an array of marginal talent and injury risks. Jeremy Bonderman is getting what is probably his last chance to prove that his career hasn't been ruined by a litany of arm and nerve injuries, Armando Galarraga got by on luck for awhile, and in Dontrelle Willis and and Nate Robertson, the team has two lefties with embarrassing contracts. You could do worse than to have three good starters, but if this team has any aspirations beyond divisional competition, they're going to need to get somebody good.
Bullpen: One of the worst units in the league last year, the team hopes that the addition of former Houston closer Jose Valverde and the return of Joel Zumaya will provide a boost this year. But beyond those two, and Daniel Schlereth, many of the same faces remain, including Fu-Te Ni, the man with the shortest last name in baseball history. So that's neat. Anyway, this is a fairly average unit overall we'd say. But then it's just about impossible to project bullpens.
Overall: If this were a younger team, there'd be a lot to like about their chances for the future. There's talent to be had all around, particularly in the youthful core of Verlander, Porcello, Scherzer, Cabrera, Jackson and Sizemore, but the other pieces don't really fit. Damon and Ordonez are both gone after the season, they don't have a viable catcher, and there's not much coming up in the system. 2010 may be their last chance to compete for awhile, but the chances of that happening don't look too great.
Predicted Record: 83-79, 2nd place AL Central
Beer: Heineken. Overpriced because of the foreign flavor - reminiscent of the Magglio Ordonez situation, where the Tigers had a chance to hold him to less than 540 ABs and save themselves $18MM. They didn't, and instead are stuck paying his bloated salary for this season, like the guy who just can't help himself for shelling out for Heiny.
3/13/10
Season Preview: Colorado Rockies
Well we've got 22 days left until Opening Day, which means it's season preview time. We'll be running it down team by team, with an added new wrinkle this time around: the beer of choice for fans of the team to enjoy whilst watching their team take the field! Nothing like that to help get you through a baseball season, especially if you're from Pittsburgh. Up next: the Colorado Rockies.
Lineup: We are huge believers in this lineup. The outfield is insanely talented, going five-deep with good bats. Carlos Gonzalez, Dexter Fowler, Brad Hawpe, Seth Smith and Ryan Spilborghs? Yes please. Troy Tulowitzki is the best thing at shortstop this side of Hanley Ramirez, and Ian Stewart and Chris Iannetta both have big power. Todd Helton, the veteran presence here, just signed a new contract after looking like a rejuvenated man last season, and Clint Barmes, while not especially good, should play well at second base. Overall, there is not much at all to dislike about the hitters that the Rox are running out there.
Rotation: It's a similar story in the rotation; solid throughout, with some star-level players for good measure. Ubaldo Jimenez is an ace, and Aaron Cook, if healthy, is a sinkerballer par excellence. Jorge de la Rosa is a premier strikeout pitcher, Jason Hammel - while he's lost some of the sheen of his top prospect status from a few years ago - should be a serviceable #4 in the weak-hitting NL West, and Jeff Francis was, once upon a time, the best pitcher on this team. We figure that Jimenez and de la Rosa are going to take a step forward this season and be the best two pitchers they have, but a lot rests on whether Francis can regain his old form after a myriad of arm troubles in the past. There's not a lot of depth here, so if Francis falters and the organization remains committed to having Franklin Morales in the 'pen, then we're not really sure what they're going to do.
Bullpen: Huston Street and the aforementioned Morales are a dynamite duo in the back of the 'pen, and while we think the Rockies overpaid for Street on his extension and are making a mistake keeping Morales there, there's no denying that it's one of the better setup/closer combos going. Rafael Betancourt, Taylor Buchholz, and Manny Corpas are also likely to provide plenty of value in the 'pen, making this a strong unit from top to bottom.
Overall: This team looks scary good. They underachieved in the first half of last season, which took some of the veneer of a very solid club, but we fully expect them to dominate this season. They can hit, they can run, they can field (except for Brad Hawpe, who is, like, historically bad with the leather), they can pitch, and they can do all of those things very well. Definitely a team to watch out for in 2010.
Predicted Record: 93-69, 1st place NL West
Beer: We didn't want to do it this way, but the beer has to be Coors, right? Coors Field, taste the Rockies...there really isn't much of a choice. And, yes, we know that Colorado has a proud group of microbreweries that are probably all better choices than Coors, but the fit is just too perfect. Also, we guess you can go with Coors Light if you can't find regular Coors. Which we never can.
Lineup: We are huge believers in this lineup. The outfield is insanely talented, going five-deep with good bats. Carlos Gonzalez, Dexter Fowler, Brad Hawpe, Seth Smith and Ryan Spilborghs? Yes please. Troy Tulowitzki is the best thing at shortstop this side of Hanley Ramirez, and Ian Stewart and Chris Iannetta both have big power. Todd Helton, the veteran presence here, just signed a new contract after looking like a rejuvenated man last season, and Clint Barmes, while not especially good, should play well at second base. Overall, there is not much at all to dislike about the hitters that the Rox are running out there.
Rotation: It's a similar story in the rotation; solid throughout, with some star-level players for good measure. Ubaldo Jimenez is an ace, and Aaron Cook, if healthy, is a sinkerballer par excellence. Jorge de la Rosa is a premier strikeout pitcher, Jason Hammel - while he's lost some of the sheen of his top prospect status from a few years ago - should be a serviceable #4 in the weak-hitting NL West, and Jeff Francis was, once upon a time, the best pitcher on this team. We figure that Jimenez and de la Rosa are going to take a step forward this season and be the best two pitchers they have, but a lot rests on whether Francis can regain his old form after a myriad of arm troubles in the past. There's not a lot of depth here, so if Francis falters and the organization remains committed to having Franklin Morales in the 'pen, then we're not really sure what they're going to do.
Bullpen: Huston Street and the aforementioned Morales are a dynamite duo in the back of the 'pen, and while we think the Rockies overpaid for Street on his extension and are making a mistake keeping Morales there, there's no denying that it's one of the better setup/closer combos going. Rafael Betancourt, Taylor Buchholz, and Manny Corpas are also likely to provide plenty of value in the 'pen, making this a strong unit from top to bottom.
Overall: This team looks scary good. They underachieved in the first half of last season, which took some of the veneer of a very solid club, but we fully expect them to dominate this season. They can hit, they can run, they can field (except for Brad Hawpe, who is, like, historically bad with the leather), they can pitch, and they can do all of those things very well. Definitely a team to watch out for in 2010.
Predicted Record: 93-69, 1st place NL West
Beer: We didn't want to do it this way, but the beer has to be Coors, right? Coors Field, taste the Rockies...there really isn't much of a choice. And, yes, we know that Colorado has a proud group of microbreweries that are probably all better choices than Coors, but the fit is just too perfect. Also, we guess you can go with Coors Light if you can't find regular Coors. Which we never can.
3/12/10
Season Preview: Cleveland Indians
Well we've got 23 days left until Opening Day, which means it's season preview time. We'll be running it down team by team, with an added new wrinkle this time around: the beer of choice for fans of the team to enjoy whilst watching their team take the field! Nothing like that to help get you through a baseball season, especially if you're from Pittsburgh. Up next: the Cleveland Indians.
Lineup: This is one of the better-hitting outfields in baseball. Grady Sizemore is already a superstar centerfielder, and Shin-Soo Choo had a breakout '09. Matt LaPorta remains a bat to watch in left, as he projects to be a star-caliber hitter, and Michael Brantley and Trevor Crowe are two other high-upside guys that could get some play here. Russell Branyan showed that he's been disrespected throughout his career last season, but serious questions remain about his ability to repeat the campaign, given his alarming second half and bad back. Travis Hafner hasn't been the Pronk that earned the big-money deal from the Tribe for several years now, and Jhonny Peralta is coming off a very disappointing season. Luis Valbuena and Asdrubal Cabrera aren't star-level bats, by any means, but they are a capable double play duo, which combined with the upside of Carlos Santana and the somewhat lesser upside of Lou Marson, make them stronger up the middle than most clubs, particularly in the weak AL Central.
Rotation: There is precious little to like about this rotation. Really, unless Fausto Carmona shows that he actually has some clue of where to throw the baseball - see e.g. his near-Cy Young season in 2007 - there is just about zero talent in this rotation. Jake Westbrook is middling at best, and Justin Masterson, David Huff, Aaron Laffey, and Jeremy Sowers are guys whose talent has either gone by the wayside or wasn't there to begin with. Of the group, we'd bet on Masterson having the best season, but he'd be the first sidearming starter we can think of that would have real success.
Bullpen: This group was so atrocious last season that it inspired what is probably our most popular post (here, if you need a refresher and aren't above indulging our shameless self-promotion), and there's not much improvement to be found. Masahide Kobayashi is gone, mercifully ending that experiment, but they're still relying on an aging Kerry Wood to hold down the closer job, and a bunch of guys that we've never heard of to get the ball to him. Ok, well, we've heard of Joe Smith, but that's not necessarily a good thing.
Overall: This team is going to need to flat-out outhit its opponents if it wants even a prayer at .500. When CC and Fausto were at the top of their games, their pitching was gangbusters. But those days are long gone, so it's on Sizemore, LaPorta, Choo, Branyan and co. to keep this team afloat...and we don't think they're really up to the task. There's hope for the future, though, particularly given the weak division and up-and-comers like Santana, Brantley, Crowe, and Marson.
Predicted Record: 68-94, 4th place AL Central
Beer: Great Lakes Brewing Co's Blackout Stout. It's a local beer, which is a nice touch, and with a name like that, it'll help Cleveland fans forget the atrocious efforts of their pitching staff. Bullpen blew a 5-run, 8th-inning lead? No problem if you don't remember it! Plus, it's a 9% beer, so it packs punch like the lineup should. If you wanted a more wholesome, less enjoyable reason to choose this beer, there you go.
Lineup: This is one of the better-hitting outfields in baseball. Grady Sizemore is already a superstar centerfielder, and Shin-Soo Choo had a breakout '09. Matt LaPorta remains a bat to watch in left, as he projects to be a star-caliber hitter, and Michael Brantley and Trevor Crowe are two other high-upside guys that could get some play here. Russell Branyan showed that he's been disrespected throughout his career last season, but serious questions remain about his ability to repeat the campaign, given his alarming second half and bad back. Travis Hafner hasn't been the Pronk that earned the big-money deal from the Tribe for several years now, and Jhonny Peralta is coming off a very disappointing season. Luis Valbuena and Asdrubal Cabrera aren't star-level bats, by any means, but they are a capable double play duo, which combined with the upside of Carlos Santana and the somewhat lesser upside of Lou Marson, make them stronger up the middle than most clubs, particularly in the weak AL Central.
Rotation: There is precious little to like about this rotation. Really, unless Fausto Carmona shows that he actually has some clue of where to throw the baseball - see e.g. his near-Cy Young season in 2007 - there is just about zero talent in this rotation. Jake Westbrook is middling at best, and Justin Masterson, David Huff, Aaron Laffey, and Jeremy Sowers are guys whose talent has either gone by the wayside or wasn't there to begin with. Of the group, we'd bet on Masterson having the best season, but he'd be the first sidearming starter we can think of that would have real success.
Bullpen: This group was so atrocious last season that it inspired what is probably our most popular post (here, if you need a refresher and aren't above indulging our shameless self-promotion), and there's not much improvement to be found. Masahide Kobayashi is gone, mercifully ending that experiment, but they're still relying on an aging Kerry Wood to hold down the closer job, and a bunch of guys that we've never heard of to get the ball to him. Ok, well, we've heard of Joe Smith, but that's not necessarily a good thing.
Overall: This team is going to need to flat-out outhit its opponents if it wants even a prayer at .500. When CC and Fausto were at the top of their games, their pitching was gangbusters. But those days are long gone, so it's on Sizemore, LaPorta, Choo, Branyan and co. to keep this team afloat...and we don't think they're really up to the task. There's hope for the future, though, particularly given the weak division and up-and-comers like Santana, Brantley, Crowe, and Marson.
Predicted Record: 68-94, 4th place AL Central
Beer: Great Lakes Brewing Co's Blackout Stout. It's a local beer, which is a nice touch, and with a name like that, it'll help Cleveland fans forget the atrocious efforts of their pitching staff. Bullpen blew a 5-run, 8th-inning lead? No problem if you don't remember it! Plus, it's a 9% beer, so it packs punch like the lineup should. If you wanted a more wholesome, less enjoyable reason to choose this beer, there you go.
Season Preview: Cincinnati Reds
Well we've got 23 days left until Opening Day, which means it's season preview time. We'll be running it down team by team, with an added new wrinkle this time around: the beer of choice for fans of the team to enjoy whilst watching their team take the field! Nothing like that to help get you through a baseball season, especially if you're from Pittsburgh. Up next: the Cincinnati Reds.
Lineup: There's definite bright spots here...and there's also some dismal bits. First, the good: Joey Votto is one of the best hitters in the NL, Brandon Phillips is a premier second basegentleman, Scott Rolen could well have something left in the bat, Jay Bruce is primed for a monster season, and Drew Stubbs has some real upside. Beyond that, they're hoping that some combination of Jonny Gomes, Laynce Nix, Wladimir Balentien and Chris Dickerson will make for respectable left-field production, that Orlando Cabrera has something left in the tank (he doesn't, really, but that makes him more or less league average, which isn't too bad for a SS), and that Ryan Hanigan and Ramon Hernandez are a capable catching duo (they aren't). So, yeah, there's plenty of star-level talent here, but there's not much depth, and there's potential for this to go downhill quickly.
Rotation: If only Edinson Volquez were healthy, this rotation would be, in a word, formidable. Johnny Cueto and Bronson Arroyo can be counted on for league-average production with some upside on Cueto's part, Aaron Harang isn't far removed from Cy Young-level contributions, and the biggest difference between Micah Owings (Tulane!) and other fifth starters is that Owings' bat is phenomenally good for a pitcher. Homer Bailey is the wildcard here, as the former top prospect showed signs of finally putting it together at the Major League level last season. If he can fulfill his potential, then a rotation that would be in a holding patten until Volquez and Aroldis Chapman are ready to step in, becomes a real force.
Bullpen: We're big fans of this group. Fireballing Francisco Cordero is the big money name at the back-end, but guys like Nick Masset, Arthur Rhodes, Mike Lincoln, and Bill Bray are competent as well. Plus, they employ the 5'6'' Daniel Ray-Herrera, who we're sure goes by Daniel because Danny would sound too diminutive, who has become one of our favorite players. And, yes, we count a middle reliever among our favorite players. What of it?
Overall: There's so much to like about this team, and many people are touting them as sleepers this season. Which sort of defies the point of being a sleeper if you ask us, but there's plenty of reasons to be optimistic. They're loaded with young talent all over the diamond, giving them an enviable core of players that could compete for years to come in any division (ok, except the AL East). 2011 may be the real year for this team, but then people thought Texas wouldn't be good until 2010.
Predicted Record: 82-80, 3rd place NL Central.
Beer: Abita Amber. Caramel-kissed beers go very well with chili, which we're told is sort of a big thing in Cincy. Baseball, Skyline, and Abita? We're envious.
Lineup: There's definite bright spots here...and there's also some dismal bits. First, the good: Joey Votto is one of the best hitters in the NL, Brandon Phillips is a premier second basegentleman, Scott Rolen could well have something left in the bat, Jay Bruce is primed for a monster season, and Drew Stubbs has some real upside. Beyond that, they're hoping that some combination of Jonny Gomes, Laynce Nix, Wladimir Balentien and Chris Dickerson will make for respectable left-field production, that Orlando Cabrera has something left in the tank (he doesn't, really, but that makes him more or less league average, which isn't too bad for a SS), and that Ryan Hanigan and Ramon Hernandez are a capable catching duo (they aren't). So, yeah, there's plenty of star-level talent here, but there's not much depth, and there's potential for this to go downhill quickly.
Rotation: If only Edinson Volquez were healthy, this rotation would be, in a word, formidable. Johnny Cueto and Bronson Arroyo can be counted on for league-average production with some upside on Cueto's part, Aaron Harang isn't far removed from Cy Young-level contributions, and the biggest difference between Micah Owings (Tulane!) and other fifth starters is that Owings' bat is phenomenally good for a pitcher. Homer Bailey is the wildcard here, as the former top prospect showed signs of finally putting it together at the Major League level last season. If he can fulfill his potential, then a rotation that would be in a holding patten until Volquez and Aroldis Chapman are ready to step in, becomes a real force.
Bullpen: We're big fans of this group. Fireballing Francisco Cordero is the big money name at the back-end, but guys like Nick Masset, Arthur Rhodes, Mike Lincoln, and Bill Bray are competent as well. Plus, they employ the 5'6'' Daniel Ray-Herrera, who we're sure goes by Daniel because Danny would sound too diminutive, who has become one of our favorite players. And, yes, we count a middle reliever among our favorite players. What of it?
Overall: There's so much to like about this team, and many people are touting them as sleepers this season. Which sort of defies the point of being a sleeper if you ask us, but there's plenty of reasons to be optimistic. They're loaded with young talent all over the diamond, giving them an enviable core of players that could compete for years to come in any division (ok, except the AL East). 2011 may be the real year for this team, but then people thought Texas wouldn't be good until 2010.
Predicted Record: 82-80, 3rd place NL Central.
Beer: Abita Amber. Caramel-kissed beers go very well with chili, which we're told is sort of a big thing in Cincy. Baseball, Skyline, and Abita? We're envious.
3/10/10
Season Preview: Chicago Cubs
Well we've got 25 days left until Opening Day, which means it's season preview time. We'll be running it down team by team, with an added new wrinkle this time around: the beer of choice for fans of the team to enjoy whilst watching their team take the field! Nothing like that to help get you through a baseball season, especially if you're from Pittsburgh. Up next: the Chicago Cubs
Lineup: A lot depends on how well Geovany Soto responds to his disappointing 2009 season. He's reportedly showed up 40 pounds lighter to camp - must've found a new way to curtail the munchies! - and if he can return to his RoY form from 2008, then he, Derrek Lee, and a healthy Aramis Ramirez make for a talented middle of the lineup. Alfonso Soriano was terrible last year, and is far from a sure bet to be healthy this year, but since he'll be keeping Sam Fuld on the bench via the power of a bloated contract, he might as well try to hit like a big leaguer this year. Ryan Theriot is a 3 WAR shortstop, which is always a nice piece to have, but Mike Fontenot and Marlon Byrd ensure that he's the only above-average asset that the Cubs have up the middle. Kosuke Fukudome has good OBP skills, but isn't a great hitter, so a platoon with Xavier Nady makes sense. RF could very well be the most productive OF spot on the team for the first time since Sammy Sosa left.
Rotation: Carlos Zambrano is the nominal ace, but has been trending downward in recent years, perhaps as a result of his enormous workload as a youngster (expect a full post on him shortly). Ted Lilly has been hampered with injuries in Spring Training, and may or may not be fully ready/healthy for the regular season, which would be a severe blow dealt to a group that needs to stay healthy. Ryan Dempster was a bit of a disappointment last year, but that's because his HR/9 normalized (it was an unsustainably low .6 in his banner 2008 season), so Cubs fans should expect more of the same going forward. Beyond those three, who are all potential All-Stars if a few things break right, there's Randy Wells, who was outstanding in his rookie year, but figures to regress a bit this season as the gap between his ERA and FIP was .83 runs, and then a platter of Tom Gorzelanny, Carlos Silva, and Jeff Samardzija, whom we are convinced was rushed up to the Majors on name only. That was a long sentence. And while Carlos Silva is terrible, he's also the last manifestation of the utter debacle that was the Cubs/Milton Bradley relationship. So hopefully we can close the book on that.
Bullpen: It's really sort of incredible how Carlos Marmol does what he does. He's got an electric fastball/slider combo that neither he nor batters can figure out (11.31 K/9 last year...and 7.91 BB/9). Plus, he hits a ton of guys (an eye-popping 12 in just 74 innings). Essentially, every time he came into the game, he was allowing a baserunner. Fortunately, he's nigh-unhittable, and is one of the elite strikeout artists in the game. Quite the high-wire act, that guy. Angel Guzman, a former top prospect, is hurt again, but he's a valuable bullpen piece if he can make it to the team. John Grabow is a skilled lefty who should be an excellent bridge to Marmol, and Sean Marshall can eat up plenty of innings as a swingman. David Patton can get the K's (just short of 9 per 9 last year) but, like Marmol, has some control issues. But he's a ginger, so don't count on him getting it right. Then whoever doesn't make the rotation out of the Silva/Samardzija/Gorzelanny group will be biding their time in here, which isn't a bad thing. Pretty talented group, this.
Overall: Many people had pegged the Cubs for big things last season (ahem), which made their above-average season seem like a massive disappointment. In reality, and especially considering the injuries to Soriano and Ramirez, the Cubs performed about as well as we should've expected them to...it's just that the Cardinals far overshot expectations and ran away with the division. Anyway, this club is very similar to last year's, with the additions of Marlon "The Very Definition of Your Average" Byrd and Xavier Nady the primary differences. If Soriano can miraculously put together a healthy season and Derrek Lee doesn't fall off too far from his heroic efforts last season, this team should be right back in divisional contention.
Predicted Record: 84-78, 2nd place NL Central
Beer: Not to repeat a joke, but while Old Style seems to be the natural choice here, we're going to go with Lumpy Dog Light Lager. With all the weight loss on this team, a light beer seems fitting. Plus, it's flavorful enough to be interesting despite being a light beer, much in the same way that the Cubs are interesting despite having been lightly competitive in the past century.
Lineup: A lot depends on how well Geovany Soto responds to his disappointing 2009 season. He's reportedly showed up 40 pounds lighter to camp - must've found a new way to curtail the munchies! - and if he can return to his RoY form from 2008, then he, Derrek Lee, and a healthy Aramis Ramirez make for a talented middle of the lineup. Alfonso Soriano was terrible last year, and is far from a sure bet to be healthy this year, but since he'll be keeping Sam Fuld on the bench via the power of a bloated contract, he might as well try to hit like a big leaguer this year. Ryan Theriot is a 3 WAR shortstop, which is always a nice piece to have, but Mike Fontenot and Marlon Byrd ensure that he's the only above-average asset that the Cubs have up the middle. Kosuke Fukudome has good OBP skills, but isn't a great hitter, so a platoon with Xavier Nady makes sense. RF could very well be the most productive OF spot on the team for the first time since Sammy Sosa left.
Rotation: Carlos Zambrano is the nominal ace, but has been trending downward in recent years, perhaps as a result of his enormous workload as a youngster (expect a full post on him shortly). Ted Lilly has been hampered with injuries in Spring Training, and may or may not be fully ready/healthy for the regular season, which would be a severe blow dealt to a group that needs to stay healthy. Ryan Dempster was a bit of a disappointment last year, but that's because his HR/9 normalized (it was an unsustainably low .6 in his banner 2008 season), so Cubs fans should expect more of the same going forward. Beyond those three, who are all potential All-Stars if a few things break right, there's Randy Wells, who was outstanding in his rookie year, but figures to regress a bit this season as the gap between his ERA and FIP was .83 runs, and then a platter of Tom Gorzelanny, Carlos Silva, and Jeff Samardzija, whom we are convinced was rushed up to the Majors on name only. That was a long sentence. And while Carlos Silva is terrible, he's also the last manifestation of the utter debacle that was the Cubs/Milton Bradley relationship. So hopefully we can close the book on that.
Bullpen: It's really sort of incredible how Carlos Marmol does what he does. He's got an electric fastball/slider combo that neither he nor batters can figure out (11.31 K/9 last year...and 7.91 BB/9). Plus, he hits a ton of guys (an eye-popping 12 in just 74 innings). Essentially, every time he came into the game, he was allowing a baserunner. Fortunately, he's nigh-unhittable, and is one of the elite strikeout artists in the game. Quite the high-wire act, that guy. Angel Guzman, a former top prospect, is hurt again, but he's a valuable bullpen piece if he can make it to the team. John Grabow is a skilled lefty who should be an excellent bridge to Marmol, and Sean Marshall can eat up plenty of innings as a swingman. David Patton can get the K's (just short of 9 per 9 last year) but, like Marmol, has some control issues. But he's a ginger, so don't count on him getting it right. Then whoever doesn't make the rotation out of the Silva/Samardzija/Gorzelanny group will be biding their time in here, which isn't a bad thing. Pretty talented group, this.
Overall: Many people had pegged the Cubs for big things last season (ahem), which made their above-average season seem like a massive disappointment. In reality, and especially considering the injuries to Soriano and Ramirez, the Cubs performed about as well as we should've expected them to...it's just that the Cardinals far overshot expectations and ran away with the division. Anyway, this club is very similar to last year's, with the additions of Marlon "The Very Definition of Your Average" Byrd and Xavier Nady the primary differences. If Soriano can miraculously put together a healthy season and Derrek Lee doesn't fall off too far from his heroic efforts last season, this team should be right back in divisional contention.
Predicted Record: 84-78, 2nd place NL Central
Beer: Not to repeat a joke, but while Old Style seems to be the natural choice here, we're going to go with Lumpy Dog Light Lager. With all the weight loss on this team, a light beer seems fitting. Plus, it's flavorful enough to be interesting despite being a light beer, much in the same way that the Cubs are interesting despite having been lightly competitive in the past century.
3/9/10
Season Preview: Chicago White Sox
Well we've got 26 days left until Opening Day, which means it's season preview time. We'll be running it down team by team, with an added new wrinkle this time around: the beer of choice for fans of the team to enjoy whilst watching their team take the field! Nothing like that to help get you through a baseball season, especially if you're from Pittsburgh. Up next: the Chicago White Sox.
Lineup: And we start off with the weakest link of the team! Gordon Beckham and Carlos Quentin are studly hitters, and Paul Konerko might have a little something left in the bat, and...umm...well, maybe Juan Pierre can repeat what he did last year? You know, the first time he's been worth 2 WAR since 2006. That year. Seriously, though. When your team is relying on Mark Teahen and A.J. Pierzynski to bring some stick to the middle of the lineup, you're in deep trouble. And that's not to mention the fact that Andruw Jones' corpse is going to split time at DH with Mark Kotsay, whom we'd call a corpse if he hadn't decayed into a flat-out skeleton, like, two years ago. If they would just have held onto Josh Fields, moved Beckham to short, Alexei Ramirez to center, and put Brent Lillibridge at second, they could've been onto something...but instead we're looking at a decidedly-below average lineup that doesn't figure to contribute much in the field, either. And let's not forget that they're paying Alex Rios enough money to drown a hippo to hit, like, .200.
Rotation: Ah, but here's where things get good. This team can really pitch, boasting Jake Peavy and Mark Buerhle at the top of a rotation that also includes above-average hurlers John Danks and Gavin Floyd. The fifth spot looks to be up for grabs, but if Daniel Hudson can step up and Freddy Garcia can maybe have a little bit left in the tank, they should be solid all the way through the rotation. We're a bit concerned about Peavy; he's coming off the ankle injury from last season, has questionable mechanics, and a bit of a flyball tendency, but even with some regression from last season, he should still be a frontline guy for the Sox.
Bullpen: There are some question marks here, to be sure, but also some upside. Bobby Jenks had a bit of a down season last year, as his FIP and ERA both went up by over a full run, but he's shown an ability to get strikeouts like he did in his 100-mph throwing past. J.J. Putz is only a few seasons removed from being one of the most dominant relievers in baseball, but he has struggled with injuries in that interim, and so is far from a sure thing. Matt Thornton took a big step forward, though, harnessing his extremely powerful stuff and racking up 87 strikeouts in 72 innings, a performance that has established him as a premier power lefty. Scott Linebrink, though, remains a disaster of a signing, and unless someone like Tony Pena shows that they can handle major innings, Linebrink is going to absorb way more frames than he should.
Overall: The White Sox are a team with a definite strength in their pitching. Unfortunately, even in the weak AL Central, that's probably not enough to win a division title. We fully expect them to compete - the pitching is too good for them not to, and if Carlos Quentin can stay healthy, they've got at least two potent bats - but ultimately there's just not enough here right now to play significant October baseball. But, hey, Ozzie Guillen on Twitter is really awesome.
Predicted Record: 81-81, 3rd place in AL Central.
Beer: We're tempted to pick Old Style for the irony, but we'll go with Goose Island Honker's Ale. A wonderfully tasty beer from the Windy City, Honker's Ale is underappreciated - like the Sox - but has some real redeeming qualities (viz a good rotation and a 250 lb. closer. Because everyone loves fat baseball players).
Lineup: And we start off with the weakest link of the team! Gordon Beckham and Carlos Quentin are studly hitters, and Paul Konerko might have a little something left in the bat, and...umm...well, maybe Juan Pierre can repeat what he did last year? You know, the first time he's been worth 2 WAR since 2006. That year. Seriously, though. When your team is relying on Mark Teahen and A.J. Pierzynski to bring some stick to the middle of the lineup, you're in deep trouble. And that's not to mention the fact that Andruw Jones' corpse is going to split time at DH with Mark Kotsay, whom we'd call a corpse if he hadn't decayed into a flat-out skeleton, like, two years ago. If they would just have held onto Josh Fields, moved Beckham to short, Alexei Ramirez to center, and put Brent Lillibridge at second, they could've been onto something...but instead we're looking at a decidedly-below average lineup that doesn't figure to contribute much in the field, either. And let's not forget that they're paying Alex Rios enough money to drown a hippo to hit, like, .200.
Rotation: Ah, but here's where things get good. This team can really pitch, boasting Jake Peavy and Mark Buerhle at the top of a rotation that also includes above-average hurlers John Danks and Gavin Floyd. The fifth spot looks to be up for grabs, but if Daniel Hudson can step up and Freddy Garcia can maybe have a little bit left in the tank, they should be solid all the way through the rotation. We're a bit concerned about Peavy; he's coming off the ankle injury from last season, has questionable mechanics, and a bit of a flyball tendency, but even with some regression from last season, he should still be a frontline guy for the Sox.
Bullpen: There are some question marks here, to be sure, but also some upside. Bobby Jenks had a bit of a down season last year, as his FIP and ERA both went up by over a full run, but he's shown an ability to get strikeouts like he did in his 100-mph throwing past. J.J. Putz is only a few seasons removed from being one of the most dominant relievers in baseball, but he has struggled with injuries in that interim, and so is far from a sure thing. Matt Thornton took a big step forward, though, harnessing his extremely powerful stuff and racking up 87 strikeouts in 72 innings, a performance that has established him as a premier power lefty. Scott Linebrink, though, remains a disaster of a signing, and unless someone like Tony Pena shows that they can handle major innings, Linebrink is going to absorb way more frames than he should.
Overall: The White Sox are a team with a definite strength in their pitching. Unfortunately, even in the weak AL Central, that's probably not enough to win a division title. We fully expect them to compete - the pitching is too good for them not to, and if Carlos Quentin can stay healthy, they've got at least two potent bats - but ultimately there's just not enough here right now to play significant October baseball. But, hey, Ozzie Guillen on Twitter is really awesome.
Predicted Record: 81-81, 3rd place in AL Central.
Beer: We're tempted to pick Old Style for the irony, but we'll go with Goose Island Honker's Ale. A wonderfully tasty beer from the Windy City, Honker's Ale is underappreciated - like the Sox - but has some real redeeming qualities (viz a good rotation and a 250 lb. closer. Because everyone loves fat baseball players).
3/8/10
Season Preview: Boston Red Sox
Well we've got 27 days left until Opening Day, which means it's season preview time. We'll be running it down team by team, with an added new wrinkle this time around: the beer of choice for fans of the team to enjoy whilst watching their team take the field! Nothing like that to help get you through a baseball season, especially if you're from Pittsburgh. Up first: the Boston Red Sox.
Lineup: The success of this lineup, to us, hinges on David Ortiz. And since we keep saying that he's done as a good ballplayer, we are sort of obligated to say that we think they're going to disappoint. There's some really good talent and depth here, on the corners and up the middle, but aside from Kevin Youkilis and Victor Martinez, the team is lacking any star-level bats. They're solid through and through, though, as there's not really a weak spot anywhere. Ellsbury, Cameron, Drew, Hermida, Pedroia, Beltre...fine players, all of them, and good enough for the team to be in serious contention. We just don't expect them to win too many games with their bats. Which is fine, because...
Rotation: The rotation is seriously good and boasts plenty of depth as well. Jon Lester and John Lackey are a fantastic 1-2, Josh Beckett is well-suited to a #3 spot, and Clay Buchholz looks more than ready to dominate on a regular basis. So when he's your number four guy, and your biggest problem entering the season is having to get innings for Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, Junichi Tazawa and maybe Michael Bowden...you're pretty well set. Combine that with the defensive upgrade realized by bringing in Beltre and Cameron, as well as shifting Ellsbury to left, and you're looking at one of the best run prevention teams going.
Bullpen: Jonathan Papelbon looked to be on the decline last season, relying too much on his fastball (see e.g. the ALDS when he throw 17 straight) and simultaneously struggling with his command. But even if he continues to regress, there's plenty more power arms in the cabinet, particularly Daniel Bard and Manny Delcarmen. Hideki Okajima has been an effective lefty for several years now, and they've got plenty other prospective guys to pick from to fill out the remaining innings. We don't know that you can call this area a real strength, as the control of the group as a whole is less than stellar, but they shouldn't be an Indians-level disaster.
Overall: The Red Sox look well poised to compete again in the tough AL East. We don't want to say the division could be just as easily belong to the Yankees as well as the Sox or Rays, but it's awfully close to that kind of distribution of talent. If Ortiz rebounds - but he won't! - and the bullpen holds, expect the Sox to be playing into October.
Predicted Record: 92-70, 3rd place
Beer: Sam Adams Boston Lager. Whatever. Drink it up, and try not to choke when you're singing Sweet Caroline for the 5 millionth time (once for each dollar that Jason Varitek will earn this year to hit about as well as a Girl Scout). Or go ahead and choke. Either way.
Lineup: The success of this lineup, to us, hinges on David Ortiz. And since we keep saying that he's done as a good ballplayer, we are sort of obligated to say that we think they're going to disappoint. There's some really good talent and depth here, on the corners and up the middle, but aside from Kevin Youkilis and Victor Martinez, the team is lacking any star-level bats. They're solid through and through, though, as there's not really a weak spot anywhere. Ellsbury, Cameron, Drew, Hermida, Pedroia, Beltre...fine players, all of them, and good enough for the team to be in serious contention. We just don't expect them to win too many games with their bats. Which is fine, because...
Rotation: The rotation is seriously good and boasts plenty of depth as well. Jon Lester and John Lackey are a fantastic 1-2, Josh Beckett is well-suited to a #3 spot, and Clay Buchholz looks more than ready to dominate on a regular basis. So when he's your number four guy, and your biggest problem entering the season is having to get innings for Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, Junichi Tazawa and maybe Michael Bowden...you're pretty well set. Combine that with the defensive upgrade realized by bringing in Beltre and Cameron, as well as shifting Ellsbury to left, and you're looking at one of the best run prevention teams going.
Bullpen: Jonathan Papelbon looked to be on the decline last season, relying too much on his fastball (see e.g. the ALDS when he throw 17 straight) and simultaneously struggling with his command. But even if he continues to regress, there's plenty more power arms in the cabinet, particularly Daniel Bard and Manny Delcarmen. Hideki Okajima has been an effective lefty for several years now, and they've got plenty other prospective guys to pick from to fill out the remaining innings. We don't know that you can call this area a real strength, as the control of the group as a whole is less than stellar, but they shouldn't be an Indians-level disaster.
Overall: The Red Sox look well poised to compete again in the tough AL East. We don't want to say the division could be just as easily belong to the Yankees as well as the Sox or Rays, but it's awfully close to that kind of distribution of talent. If Ortiz rebounds - but he won't! - and the bullpen holds, expect the Sox to be playing into October.
Predicted Record: 92-70, 3rd place
Beer: Sam Adams Boston Lager. Whatever. Drink it up, and try not to choke when you're singing Sweet Caroline for the 5 millionth time (once for each dollar that Jason Varitek will earn this year to hit about as well as a Girl Scout). Or go ahead and choke. Either way.
Season Preview: Baltimore Orioles
Well we've got 27 days left until Opening Day, which means it's season preview time. We'll be running it down team by team, with an added new wrinkle this time around: the beer of choice for fans of the team to enjoy whilst watching their team take the field! Nothing like that to help get you through a baseball season, especially if you're from Pittsburgh. Up first: the Baltimore Orioles.
Lineup: There's plenty of good, young talent to be had here. Matt Wieters looks to build upon a solid rookie year in order to blossom into the superduperstar we're expecting him to be, and the outfield is one of the best in baseball, boasting above-average hitters and/or defenders in all three spots. Brian Roberts is well above-average for a second baseman as well, which means that if Miguel Tejada and Garrett Atkins can rebound - unlikely, in our view, but hey, nothing wrong with spreading a little hope - this could be an 8-deep lineup. Unfortunately, Cesar Izturis is good with exactly zero of the following: the glove and the bat. Shortstop's been a problem spot for the O's for several years now, and it doesn't appear to be getting better any time soon.
Rotation: The rotation could be a bright spot in the future, as Brian Matusz, Chris Tillman, Brad Bergesen, Jake Arrieta, and others are all good-to-great prospects. But for this season, they're relying on Kevin Millwood - who could surprise this season - and Jeremy Guthrie - who disappointed last year after a breakout 2008 - to carry them...and that is not exactly a recipe for success. Expect some improvement as the kids take a step forward, but for now this is a unit that's still going to hamstring a potent offense.
Bullpen: Adding Mike Gonzalez was a significant upgrade to the dross that's been clogging up the pen for a few seasons now, but there's not a whole lot of outstanding talent to be had here. Last season, Koji Uehara demonstrated the good control he was known for in Japan while taking hist urns in the rotation, so they've got a reliable swingman...and beyond that, it's up to Matt Albers and the sidearmer Cla Meredith to relieve a rotation that doesn't figure to go very deep into games too often. At least Meredith doesn't have to worry about that extra Y in his name weighing him down when he's pitching.
Overall: The Orioles have the look of a team that's building for the future, and they've got lots of young talent on the roster and in the pipeline, so that project looks to be well underway. Unfortunately, they're playing in the AL East, and simply cannot compete with the three-headed monster that sits atop the division. In any other division, we'd be more bullish on their chances, but until they shore up the rotation - either internally or by shipping out one of their bumper crop of outfielders - they simply don't stand a chance to compete. However, this should be a really exciting team to watch, unless you really dig 2-1 pitchers' duels.
Predicted Record: 70-92, 4th place
Beer: Oak Aged Dark Lord Imperal Stout. At 13% ABV, this is a strong beer for a strong lineup. No, it doesn't stack up alcohol-wise to, say, Tactical Nuclear Penguin (32%; the Yankees), Sam Adams Triple Bock (17.5%; the Red Sox) or even Korruptor (15%; the Rays). Plus, it's oak aged - exactly what the doctor ordered for the up-and-coming O's. Aging, that is, not being put in an oaken cask. Though that might be a convenient way to get rid of Cesar Izturis.
Lineup: There's plenty of good, young talent to be had here. Matt Wieters looks to build upon a solid rookie year in order to blossom into the superduperstar we're expecting him to be, and the outfield is one of the best in baseball, boasting above-average hitters and/or defenders in all three spots. Brian Roberts is well above-average for a second baseman as well, which means that if Miguel Tejada and Garrett Atkins can rebound - unlikely, in our view, but hey, nothing wrong with spreading a little hope - this could be an 8-deep lineup. Unfortunately, Cesar Izturis is good with exactly zero of the following: the glove and the bat. Shortstop's been a problem spot for the O's for several years now, and it doesn't appear to be getting better any time soon.
Rotation: The rotation could be a bright spot in the future, as Brian Matusz, Chris Tillman, Brad Bergesen, Jake Arrieta, and others are all good-to-great prospects. But for this season, they're relying on Kevin Millwood - who could surprise this season - and Jeremy Guthrie - who disappointed last year after a breakout 2008 - to carry them...and that is not exactly a recipe for success. Expect some improvement as the kids take a step forward, but for now this is a unit that's still going to hamstring a potent offense.
Bullpen: Adding Mike Gonzalez was a significant upgrade to the dross that's been clogging up the pen for a few seasons now, but there's not a whole lot of outstanding talent to be had here. Last season, Koji Uehara demonstrated the good control he was known for in Japan while taking hist urns in the rotation, so they've got a reliable swingman...and beyond that, it's up to Matt Albers and the sidearmer Cla Meredith to relieve a rotation that doesn't figure to go very deep into games too often. At least Meredith doesn't have to worry about that extra Y in his name weighing him down when he's pitching.
Overall: The Orioles have the look of a team that's building for the future, and they've got lots of young talent on the roster and in the pipeline, so that project looks to be well underway. Unfortunately, they're playing in the AL East, and simply cannot compete with the three-headed monster that sits atop the division. In any other division, we'd be more bullish on their chances, but until they shore up the rotation - either internally or by shipping out one of their bumper crop of outfielders - they simply don't stand a chance to compete. However, this should be a really exciting team to watch, unless you really dig 2-1 pitchers' duels.
Predicted Record: 70-92, 4th place
Beer: Oak Aged Dark Lord Imperal Stout. At 13% ABV, this is a strong beer for a strong lineup. No, it doesn't stack up alcohol-wise to, say, Tactical Nuclear Penguin (32%; the Yankees), Sam Adams Triple Bock (17.5%; the Red Sox) or even Korruptor (15%; the Rays). Plus, it's oak aged - exactly what the doctor ordered for the up-and-coming O's. Aging, that is, not being put in an oaken cask. Though that might be a convenient way to get rid of Cesar Izturis.
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