One of the more interesting debates on the diamond this season is the AL MVP. This season, Angels’ rookie Mike Trout and the Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera compiled two of the best seasons in baseball history, leaving baseball writers perplexed when it comes to voting for the title. My Daily Illini colleague Stephen Bourbon and I break down the race below, beginning with my argument for Trout after the jump. Continue reading
Category Archives: baseball
MVP Race: Mike Trout or Miguel Cabrera?
Video: Weezy’s Sports Corner Ep. 1
Lil Wayne goes an interesting route in his new series of vlogs, titled “Weezy’s Sports Corner”. This is just a basic introductory video explaining Tunechi’s love of sports and who he is a fan of. It will be interesting to see what he has in store for later episodes.
Theo Epstein will have to prove his true worth with the Cubs
With baseball season around the corner, there’s no doubt that Cubs fans are anxious to see what’s in store for their team. Management suffered a complete overhaul of changes this off-season. The biggest of them was the signing of team President Theo Epstein, the man from Boston who is given a lot of credit for ending baseball’s second longest World Series drought (Boston’s last title before the 2004 World Series was won in 1918). As a Cubs fan myself, I’m one of the more anxious fans waiting to see how Epstein plans on bringing the Cubs organization its first World Series in over 100 years. Epstein, however, may not be the savior the Cubs’ faithful have hoped for after all. Continue reading
Filed under baseball, blake pon, chicago cubs, sports
Video: How the Cubs can break their World Series drought
I think I’ve found the key to the Cubs success next year. If every time the opposing team scored a run, we just do this to them. We’d be flawless at home.
MLB Trade Deadline: What will Chicago’s teams do?
Carlos Pena may be one of the Cubs' best trade assets come the deadline
We are only a few short weeks away (July 31, 3:00 pm CT) from one of the most exciting times in regular season baseball: the trade deadline. Unfortunately for Cubs’ fans, this time will likely mean the end of the road for one of your favorite players wearing Cubby blue. For the South siders, you may see a fresh face or two in black and white to help the Sox playoff push.
The White Sox are the only ball club in Chicago right now with a fighting chance to make the postseason this year. The Sox are 44-48 and are surprisingly only five games behind the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central. The Cubs, meanwhile, have been struggling, which has led to them holding the second-worst record in all of baseball at 37-55.
Filed under baseball, blake pon, chicago cubs, chicago white sox
Play of the day: Eric Byrnes owns Harold Reynolds on MLB Network
How much cash did the ex-coworker who Reynold’s sexually harassed pay Byrnes to do this? During the commercial break, Reynolds was put on the 60-day DL with a major concussion.
Filed under baseball, blake pon, play of the day, video
Play of the Day – 4/1/11
Top Play: John Mayberry Jr. hits a walk off single to win game for Phillies
Nothing better than seeing a pinch hitter get the job done when his team needs him most.
Runner-up: Corey Crawford saves lead to Kane goal
This is two-way hockey at it’s finest.
Filed under baseball, blake pon, chicago blackhawks, hockey, play of the day, sports
All In. Chicago White Sox 2011 Season Preview
I’m writing this as I’m watching the White Sox destroy Cleveland 14-0 (and yes, it’s only the 4th inning). Who cares that they lost Lebron last summer, Cleveland sucks anyway, right Joakim? Back to the White Sox though, I’m feeling really good about this season. To be honest, I’ve felt really good about every season since the 2005 World Series, but the Sox have come up short. This year things will be different. We are going to win the division, win the pennant, and win another World Series…..Right???
That prediction may be a little farfetched, since high expectations have doomed the Sox since ’05, the AL East is STILL stacked, and the West always has a couple of contenders. But still, I’m feeling good.
Jerry Reinsdorf finally gave Ken Williams the green light to pursue a big name free agent this offseason, and the green light to spend all his money (if it helped the team).
Williams delivered by signing Adam Dunn to a 4 year, $56 million contract, not to mention re-signing free agent Paul Konerko for 3 years, $37.5 million and free agent A.J. Pierzynski for 2 years, $8 million. Pierzynski statistically may not be the best catcher out there, but he’s a clubhouse, glue guy that everyone on the team loves. Plus, without him, we’d still be complaining about a World Series drought like those little bears on the north side. The Konerko signing was huge. Add him to a lineup that now features the reliable get on base guy Juan Pierre, Alex Rios, Adam Dunn, and Carlos Quentin, and the Sox should compete for league lead in runs scored.
That crazy line up isn’t the reason why I’m feeling so good about the Sox. It’s the pitching. Mark Buerhle started his 9th Opening Day game today, and for years he’s been the Sox most durable, reliable, and defensively awesome pitcher. He doesn’t get a lot of strike outs (4.24 per 9 innings last year) and uses a fast ball or a change up 90% of the time, yet he’s still very effective and finishes games in about 20 minutes. Following him in the line up is John Danks, who is arguably the BEST pitcher on the staff. After a great year last year (over 150 K’s in 200 IPs, posting a 3.82 ERA) Danks is in his contract year and is expected to improve those numbers. If he can keep the velocity up and be a little more consistent and effective with his pitch usage, I believe he’ll compete for the Cy Young. The underrated Gavin Floyd may be this years breakout player for the Sox. Fans know what to expect from Floyd, especially considering his “worst” year saw him win 17 games with a 3.77 ERA. Increasing his ground ball percentage to 50% last season helped him alleviate the home run problem he’d been having in previous seasons. Edwin Jackson is probably going to throw like 900 innings this year, which he can handle. Whether or not he actually helps the Sox is dependent on Don Cooper’s ability to help him relax late in games and keep control of his stuff. If he manages to keep his ERA around the 4.00 mark, pencil the Sox in for a 1st place Central finish.
All that without mentioning the money man, Jake Peavy. In a season that ended for him just as he was getting hot and dominant again, Peavy was the piece missing that left the White Sox just short of the Central title. Starting this season on the 15 day DL (probably will miss around 4 starts), it should take him a little to get into game shape. Assuming he averages around 6 innings for the first couple of months, and pitches around 150 for the whole year, he should still be fresh come playoff time. That’s why he’s the X-Factor this year. He has the potential to be any staff’s number 1 pitcher and that’s one hell of an asset to have in the playoffs. Throwing a 4 man rotation of Buerhle-Danks-Floyd-Peavy would defiantly compete with the Phillies for the toughest rotation. If Peavy can get healthy, watch out.
Please stay healthy. Please.
So the rotation is there. What about the bullpen? Former fan favorite (now on Ozzie Guillen’s hit list), Bobby Jenks switched his sock color this offseason, and is no longer with the team. Matt Thornton will most likely assume the closer role, with stud rookie (although he pitched in 21 innings last year) Chris Sale setting him up. Sale is a 6’5″ freak of nature, who could compete for Rookie of the Year if he pitches enough innings. Solidifying the bullpen is former Minnesota Twin, Jessie Crain. Don’t know much about him, but he pitched in the Twins bullpen last year that was flat out nasty, even without Joe Nathan. Once again, on paper, this is another part of the Sox that is very, very solid.
A guy that’s hit .260 his first two years in the league is my MVP? Yeah, I think Gordon Beckham will be that good for the Sox. He’s always been a guy that has pounded doubles into the outfield like they were nothing, and this season some of those doubles may turn into triples, or even homers. The clutch gene is alive and well in this kid, and at the 2 spot he’s going to get on base and wait to be driven in by that crazy 3-4-5-6 stretch the Sox boast. He’s one of the most important pieces this year, and if he’s on, it’s going to be a really good summer.
So to sum things up, here are all my picks. Hopefully the “good guys” can put something special together this season.
2011 Predicted Record: 90-72, 1st in Central
Sox MVP: Gordon Beckham
X-factor: Jake Peavy
Home run leader: Adam Dunn
Breakout player: Gavin Floyd
Filed under baseball, chicago white sox, michael bojda, sports
Is this the year? Chicago Cubs 2011 Season Preview
Will Matt Garza lead the Cubs to the promised land?
For the last 10 years of my life I’ve heard this question asked at the beginning of the MLB season: Is this the year the Cubs finally win the World Series?
The short answer here is “probably not”.
After coming off of a horrific 75-87 year in 2010, the Cubs are looking to rebound with the additions of starting pitcher Matt Garza, first basemen Carlos Peña, and relief pitcher Kerry Wood. But are these newcomers enough to get us a division title?
The answer, once again, is “probably not”.
Notice a trend here? General Manager Jim Hendry seems to have dug a hole for the Cubbies in his recent years with the franchise. Currently, we are in a bind financially due to the overpaying of players like Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome, and Aramis Ramirez. Thankfully, most of these contracts are up at the end of this season. That means no more double play balls from Aramis Ramirez. No more .260 seasons from Kosuke Fukudome. Hopefully in 2012 we can witness Pujols in Cubby blue. But we can all dream right?
But this isn’t about next year. This is about this year.
On the bright side, the Cubs took a 14.6 percent decrease in payroll this season, the first cut since 2005. Also, (not to celebrate an injury) the injury to Cardinals’ ace pitcher Adam Wainwright only helps the rest of the division. Now we only have to deal with Chris Carpenter, who is 35 years old and isn’t the most durable. A division title is definitely attainable if all things go our way.
Another roadblock that stands in our way is the Milwaukee Brewers, who seemed to benefit the most from the Wainwright injury. They are debatably the favorites in the NL Central, after adding pitchers Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum through trades. Offensively, the Brewers pack power with first basemen Prince Fielder and outfielder Ryan Braun, in addition to third basemen Casey McGehee and Rickie Weeks, who combined for 52 home runs last year.
On another note, the Cubs have a bright future in shortstop Starlin Castro and outfielder Tyler Colvin. Castro, at 20 years old, hit .300 and got 31 doubles and 5 triples. Colvin hit 20 home runs as a rookie last season. Hopefully the sophomore slump doesn’t affect either of these guys, or the Cubs will be in big trouble.
We should be seeing a lot of this from Castro
The X-factor for the Cubs has to be Aramis Ramirez. A former 38 home run hitter, the Cubs success seems to revolve around his play. When he’s on, the Cubs are on. Recently he hasn’t been hitting at all, which seems to correlate directly to the Cubs lack of success in the past few seasons. In a contract year, Ramirez needs to get back in form if he wants a job next season or he will be remembered as one Jim Hendry’s many questionable signings.
Pitching is still a question mark. Will Carlos Zambrano remain inconsistent? Will Matt Garza rebound from his less-than-mediocre spring training play? Great pitching for the Cubs seems to be as rare as great quarterbacking for the Bears. Garza should be able to easily dominate in the National League, considering he’s coming from the stacked American League East, where he had to face teams like the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees more than most pitchers. Moving down to the bottom of the rotation is where the Cubs will likely struggle the most. Randy Wells is coming off of a 8-14, 4.26 ERA season. 2008 first round pick Andrew Cashner will anchor the fifth spot in the rotation, after the Cubs released the other fat, angry Venezuelan. Cashner possesses a mid-to-high 90s fastball and a hard breaking slider that resembles a curveball. He’s a former closer and pitched in relief for the Cubs last season. It will be interesting to see how he pans out as a starter at the major league level.
The bullpen may be a pleasant surprise for Cubs fans this season. Jeff Samardzija, Sean Marshall, and rookie Marcos Matteo all look like solid middle-inning options. The acquisition of set-up man Kerry Wood certainly helps. Carlos Marmol may end up as one of the game’s best closers at the end of the year, barring a lack of run support. If the Cubs somehow make a playoff push, I can see him with upwards of 50 saves. Realistically, he’ll get around 30-35.
Overall, 2011 looks like it’ll be year 103 in the longest drought in sports. As a Cub fan it hurts me to say it, but sorry to have to break it to you: we aren’t winning it this year. To make it all up I made a predictions list below:
2011 Predicted Record: 72-90, fifth in the central
Cubs’ MVP: Starlin Castro
X-factor: Aramis Ramirez
Home run leader: Carlos Peña
Breakout player: Jeff Samardzija
Filed under baseball, blake pon, chicago cubs
The MLB’s Next Superstars
Something a lot of so-called “die-hard” baseball fans don’t pay enough attention to is prospects. Every team has a farm system, and that farm system is about as vital as its players on the everyday squad. Teams like the Tampa Bay Rays have spent years at the bottom of the standings in order to build a great farm system. Look where they’re at now: contending in baseball’s toughest division, the AL East. Believe it or not, teams like the Yankees and Red Sox, who seem like they buy every player on the free agent market, also have built their dynasties through the farm system. The Red Sox couldn’t have won their World Series in 2007 without acquiring ace Josh Beckett for then-prospect Hanley Ramirez. The point is, prospects can either blossom into superstars, or you can trade potential to a willing buyer for experience. Here are my top 5 young players (not named Bryce Harper) that are destined for stardom at the major league level.
5. Desmond Jennings, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
Can Jennings fill the void left by new new Red Sox acquisition Carl Crawford? Judging by his skills, Jennings is more than ready to fill it. Drafted all the way in the 10th round in 2006, Jennings has worked his way up the totem pole to be one of the Rays’ best prospects. Jennings’ most impressive skill right now is his speed. In Tripe-A ball last year, Jennings swiped 37 bases in 109 games, getting caught stealing only 4 times (a 90% success rate). He is no slouch defensively either. His speed enables him to get to almost every ball hit in his direction, just like Crawford. At the plate Jennings shows decent plate discipline, generating 47 walks in 458 plate appearances. His bat also shows great contact, hitting about .300 in 5 seasons in the minors. Jennings’ power is up in the air, as he does not hit many over the fence. However, Carl Crawford didn’t hit 15 home runs until his third season in the majors, so power is not out of the question for Jennings. Right now the only thing in Jennings’ way is the Rays’ management. In the off-season, the Rays signed outfielder Johnny Damon to a one year deal, pushing Jennings back on the depth charts. Damon is 37 years old, so one small leg injury to old man Johnny could pave much playing time for Jennings. Look for him to be an everyday starter by next season.
Desmond Jennings’ weaknesses:
- Power
MLB Comparison: Carl Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury
4. Dustin Ackley, 2B, Seattle Mariners
Will Ichiro finally get some help and turn his constant 200+ hit seasons into run production? Offensively gifted Justin Smoak looks nice, but the real savior of the organization is looking like Dustin Ackley. Ackley is one of the University of North Carolina’s most heralded baseball players ever. He was taken number two overall in the 2009 draft by Seattle after becoming the leader in average, hits, runs and total bases at UNC. After splitting time at Double-A and Triple-A, Ackley struggled at the plate, batting only .267 with 7 home runs. He did, however, put up a solid .368 OBP with an impressive 79:74 strikeout-to-walk ratio, which shows a lot about his plate discipline. Ackley seemed to pick it up this fall though, hitting .424 with 5 long balls in only 20 games in the Arizona Fall League. His defense is nothing to write home about. I would say his defense is average at best. Expect Ackley to play see significant time this season and be an everyday player next season.
Dustin Ackley’s weaknesses:
- Power
- Defense
MLB Comparison: Dustin Pedroia
3. Jeremy Hellickson, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
To say the Rays have a pool of future stars in their system is an understatement. Hellickson is yet another prize in the organization ready to explode on the MLB scene. After going an astounding 49-16 in his six seasons in the minors, Hellickson has already made an impact at the major league level. In four stars for the Rays last year, Hellickson went a perfect 4-0, striking out 33 batters in 36 innings. There is no reason to doubt the Rays dealing pitcher Matt Garza to the Cubs due to Hellickson’s maturity. He will be in the rotation opening day, and should be able to produce anywhere between 11-15 wins in his first full season.
Jeremy Hellickson’s weaknesses:
- No go-to pitch
MLB Comparison: Roy Oswalt, Yovani Gallardo
2. Jesus Montero, C, New York Yankees
Signed by the Yankees at only 16, Montero has proved his potential for the Bronx Bombers. A big, stocky catcher, Montero is not the best defensively. Montero’s size limits his quickness in blocking wild pitches and his arm is not the strongest nor the most accurate. The Yankees may try and move him either to 1B or DH eventually. If he does indeed decide to play catcher, he has Jorge Posada and Russ Martin to learn from. Not a bad pair, eh? Suffice to say, he does his best work at the plate as opposed to behind the plate, showing power and hitting for contact at the ripe age of 21. At Triple-A, Montero hit .289 (a minor-league low for him), but had a .353 OBP and hit 21 homers. Remember, he was only 20 years old. With Jorge Posada aging fast, Montero is destined to beat him for the starting job extremely soon. Montero should average above .300 and hit 20-35 homers consistently throughout his career if he pans out.
Jesus Monero’s weaknesses:
- Defense
MLB Comparison: Mike Piazza
1. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Mike Trout is the epitome of a five-tool (average, power, speed, throwing and defense) baseball player. How this guy fell all the way to 25th overall in 2009 still befuddles me. At only 19, Trout is already making it hard on GMs to keep him in the minors. In his two seasons at low A and high A ball, Trout has already amassed a .344 average, 69 stolen bases, 83 RBI and 11 home runs. His discipline at the plate could use a little help, since he struck out 119 times, but Trout still draws a ton of walks: 95 of them in about 800 plate appearances. Trout’s defense is just as impressive as his bat. He supposedly has a 90 MPH fastball, coming from his pitching days in high school. His speed allows him to get to any ball, and I imagine he could throw with the best of them. Although Washington Nationals’ phenom Bryce Harper gets the attention and press, Trout is just about as skilled. Trout is 1b to Harpers’s 1a in terms of potential at the major league level. Trout will likely start this season at Double-A and may be quickly promoted if he continues his tear in the minors. The Angels won’t rush him into the majors just yet, considering the acquisition of outfielder Vernon Wells.
Mike Trout’s weakness: I have no idea
MLB Comparison: Mickey Mantle?, realistically Jason Heyward, Ken Griffey Jr.
Chi Side of Chambana 