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April in Review

Frayed Knot Apr 30 2009 08:25 PM

Well, April almost done (didn't figure in Thursday's games) so I figured this off-day would be as good a time as any to look at how the rest of the league is doing. Marlins: 12 wins - 8 losses; 100 Runs scored - vs - 100 Runs against We’ve seen them 6 times already (2-4) so we’ve gotten enough up close and personal to last for a while - particularly of Jorge Cantu. They famously started the year 10-1 (thanx, Nats) before an 0-7 tailspin was righted by our bullpen on Tuesday & Wednesday Philly: 11 - 8; 118 RS v 108 RA Mostly they’ve been hitting (lead lg in scoring plus HRs) but not really pitching (2nd most runs given up). Rollins has started cold but the other usual subjects are doing what one would expect and they’re getting great early returns out of FA Raul Ibanez Hamel keeps getting minor boo-boos. Lidge has been hittable, and JC Romero is suspended for another 31 games. Braves: 10-10; 82 RS v 85 RA Not a lot of offense so far. Chipper’s hitting (when he’s healthy) as is Kotchman at 1B and CF rookie Jordan Schafer Good top of the rotation from Jurrjens, Lowe & Vazquez, not so much from the back and Jo-Jo Reyes and Japanese import Kawakami. Catcher Brian McCann on the shelf with an eye infection as the result of recent laser surgery Natinals:4 - 17 although their run differential (86 v 114) suggests they should really be more like 7-12. So maybe announcer Rob Dibble is right and this really is a 90 win team off to a misleadingly horrid start due to biased umping and bad breaks. Nick Johnson looks to be healthy and contributing while Adam Dunn is being Adam Dunn. They’ve lost numerous games in the 9th inning already which contributes to the league’s worst pitching staff (and it’s not even close). Cards: 14-7; 119 RS vs 86 RA League’s best record, not only on the strength of Sir Albert and his wrecking crew but also an above-average pitching staff - but one that lost Chris Carpenter for an unknown length again Pirates: 11-9; 101 RS v 74 RA The story so far is pitching. The starting staff of Maholm, Duke, Ohlendorf & Snell combines with a pen featuring Capps, Grabow & Chavez to sport the best ERA in the league. SS Jack Wilson & catcher Ryan Doumit on the DL Cubs: 10-9; 95 RS v 86 RA Fukudome looks to be out of Lou’s doghouse this season with a fast start. Also hot are Soriano, Theriot & Ramirez. Not hot = Lee & Soto, plus Milton Bradley who’s not only cold but injured and pissed off as well (those last two are pretty much permanent conditions). Heilman = 11 G, 11 IP, 1 ER, 7 H, 6 BB, 6 K Reds: 11-10; 78 RS v 92 RA Somehow keeping their heads above water with a bad run differential and the league 2nd worst offense where Joey Votto & Jay Bruce seem to be doing it all themselves. Edwin Encarnacion to the DL Brewers: 11-10; 95 RS v 96 RA Yovanni Gallardo trying to single-handedly keep the pitching staff afloat after losing Sabathia & Sheets Trevor Hoffman just activated and got his 3rd non-Padre save (555 overall; 552 w/SD; 2 w/Marlins about 45 years ago; now 1 for Milwaukee) Astros: 9-13; 78 RS v 92 RA Fewest runs scored in the NL as even Lance Berkman isn’t hitting Much better pitching though from unlikely sources as Wandy Rodriguez & Felipe Paulino are out-pitching Oswalt & Hampton Closer Valverde goes to the DL Dodgers: 14-8; 123 RS v 91 RA 14 & 8 is what you get when you combine the league’s 3rd best offense and 3rd best pitching - although Billingsley seems to be their only consistent starter. Good first month for Orlando Hudson Padres: 11-10; 91 RS vs 107 RA We saw them open CitiField by taking two of three. You figure that RS/RA ratio is going to get them sooner or later. Giants: 10-10; 77 RS v 80 RA When your best hitters are Bengie Molina (better BA than OBA) and Pedro Sandoval (who?) you need all the pitching you can get. Good starts from Jonathan Sanchez, Matt Cain, and, after a rough first outing, Tim Lincecum. Modest results at best from vets Zito & Johnson. D’Backs: 9-12; 83 RS vs 101 RA On the hitting side all those seemingly talented young guys aren’t On the pitching side, Haren & Doug Davis are doing well but Brandon Webb is shelved for at least another month. And now Stephen Drew is injured Rockies: 8-12; 108 RS vs 108 RA Near best scoring and near worst run prevention - but what else in new in that place? And what’s happened to Troy Tulowitski? - .200 BA and recently benched

Fman99 May 01 2009 06:50 AM Re: April in Review

="Frayed Knot"]Well, April almost done (didn't figure in Thursday's games) so I figured this off-day would be as good a time as any to look at how the rest of the league is doing. Giants: 10-10; 77 RS v 80 RA When your best hitters are Bengie Molina (better BA than OBA) and Pedro Sandoval (who?) you need all the pitching you can get. Good starts from Jonathan Sanchez, Matt Cain, and, after a rough first outing, Tim Lincecum. Modest results at best from vets Zito & Johnson. It's Pablo, not Pedro Sandoval. Nice recap. Makes me wish, again, that we would go back to the balanced schedule, play each NL team 11-12 times, and kick interleague play to the street.

Benjamin Grimm May 01 2009 06:53 AM Re: April in Review

="Fman99":36i5h0en]Makes me wish, again, that we would go back to the balanced schedule, play each NL team 11-12 times, and kick interleague play to the street.[/quote:36i5h0en] I approve of the second part of that, but not the first part. Frayed Knot May 01 2009 06:55 AM I wouldn't want a total balanced sked because I think it's always better to play your own division opponents more often. It's just that between the increased number of teams plus the (gimmicky) IL games the ratio has become so lopsided. The old 18/12 (in division and cross) was fine, the current 19/6 (and even that's not consistent) not so much. Frayed Knot May 01 2009 06:58 AM ]It's Pablo, not Pedro Sandoval. Told ya I didn't know him. For the record to close out April: - the Dodgers win again (over the Giants) meaning they've still yet to lose at home. - and the Cards beat the Nats on - stop me if you've heard this one - a 9th inning bullpen meltdown. metirish May 01 2009 07:04 AM What kind of job would you say Neal Huntington has done so far? Looking at their 25 man roster I see quite a few of the players he got in his two big trades of Nady and Bay are there and playing. Frayed Knot May 01 2009 07:13 AM Karstens & Ohlendorf are the two guys pitching now from the Yanx system that they got in the Nady trade. Both are contributing though I'm not sure either one has a real high ceiling. IOW, they may be useful but probably not build-around guys. The key to that deal for them was minor-league OFer Jose Tabata. Signed very young and very talented right around the same time as the Mets inked Fernando Martinez, they mirrored each other's progress on the prospect sheets until Tabata started to fade last season amid reports of not being in the best shape mentally or physically. He seemed to perk up after the trade but is off to a rough start this year. In the Bay deal Andy LaRoche is the guy who'll make or break that deal from their viewpoint. 3B Andy (brother of 1B Adam) came out of the Dodger system as a fairly highly touted hitter but stumbled badly in his first sustained ML action. Seems to be off to a better start this year. Nymr83 May 01 2009 07:13 AM ="Frayed Knot"] ]It's Pablo, not Pedro Sandoval. Told ya I didn't know him. For the record to close out April: - the Dodgers win again (over the Giants) meaning they've still yet to lose at home. - and the Cards beat the Nats on - stop me if you've heard this one - a 9th inning bullpen meltdown. its going to be impossible to have consistency as long as the divisions have 5/6/5/5/5/4 teams in them.